The contest calendar had two events that interested me. The FOC contest and the Alabama QSO Party.
I've wanted to participate in the FOC "event" (it's not actually a contest). So I dug up the rules and looked over what the exchange was supposed to be.
Now that I've been using N1MM for a lot of things, I've learned how to pull up the Call History files of a contest (a very valuable resource) and I tune my function-key macros to be simple.
I didn't get a lot of contacts in the FOC. I was sort of distracted actually. My shack has been established for a while since the big move from the out-building to the space in the garage. I have it pretty much the way I want it. Simple. I don't have a tower of radio's on shelves like I used to.
I just run the K3 with the new KPA-500 and the KAT-500 connected. I went back to my original MFJ-25A power supply (I have a decent high power DC supply, but I need to re-wire the garage to run it).
I still have the IC-9700 to setup and the rotator for the satellite antennas to build. It seems that the shack move has so many moving parts. I was also thinking that the S.A.T. device I bought with the I-9700 needs to be figured out. Apparently this little device does all of the work to track the bird (satellite). When I used to run working satellites, I had to manually track the Azimuth and Elevation by hand.
But as I said, I was distracted. The surface of the bench I built had a plexiglass cover. I put the Yaesu map of the world under the plexiglass so I have a rough guide of some of the Zones and Prefixes. The other day during my CWOps class, the topic came up of Belarus and I thought the prefix was EW? So I looked at the map and the map seems to be out of date ! I couldn't find Belarus on the map. It was part of the Soviet Union then, I guess.
I wish Yaesu would update that map they produce. There's not a map like it (the font and color selection seems good and easy to read). But I will look online for a new map anyway.
Ever since I put a 24 hour UTC clock in the shack, it has been nice to be able to glance up and see when things are supposed to happen (contest wise) -- and the built in thermometer is nice too. I haven't had to turn on the furnace in the garage all summer. I installed one in February and it is ready. As Fall starts to progress, it may be necessary to use it.
The real distraction was just that I've been overloaded. I have a big contest coming up -- Salmon Run and I am very excited about this contest. I'll be pairing up with a new friend of mine, Rusty W6OAT and working at his station. We'll be using his call-sign. But I think I'll be operating for a lot of the contest. Of course Rusty has the good ear for CW (excellent ear for CW, no kidding around here). I'll need his help in a lot of ways.
But it's Saturday night and although I'm a bit wiped out, I was planning on just getting some sleep. Yet, on the night-stand was a copy of The Complete DX'er. One copy of many. My first copy I bought was the 3rd edition and for some reason I loaned it or it went astray during a office move. I just don't know what became of it. So I had to buy a second copy (2nd edition) and I put that in a book cover and it doesn't leave the shack. But, the other day I was looking for it and I just forgot it was in a brown paper bag book cover and I overlooked it. I panicked. Where did that book go? Did I lose another one? So I went online and found a retailer who was selling a 1st edition, but for $13. A bargain. Seldom do I see it sold for less than $50. So I snapped it up.
Why is the book so important? Well when I read it, it's like talking to an old friend in ham radio -- retelling the same advice again, and the way Bob (W8KNI) writes the book, it's so easy to read. As it happened I was about to call it a night, read a little and then go to sleep. But the first chapter (again) got me excited about chasing DX. I wondered --- I bet there is some DX out there? I told the XYL -- "Oops, not going to bed after all." She was up anyway doing some chores herself and my late night radio work doesn't phase her at all. Especially on the weekend. I even made a "Hotel-like Do Not Disturb" sign that I can hang on the garage door handle -- that sign means "If you can avoid it, don't interrupt with questions." It isn't absolute, but it at least lets me avoid any awkward problems when I'm in the middle of a CW QSO.
So, I put the book back down, put my shoes back on and made a fresh pot of coffee (Just like Bob) and now the radio and amplifier is warmed up.
I'm going to find what is on the band and if nothing is there, I'm going to try to scare up some DX with CQ -- in CW of course.
Today I re-sorted the ham shack a little -- I went to the local TAP Plastic and ordered a sheet of 1/4" plexiglass that is 8 feet by 22 inches. It now covers the entire working space, not just the radio area. It looks a lot better and I can put more maps and reference material under the sheet now.
ps.
The reason why I wanted the book the other day was due to a concern about the CW Ops class. We are learning about QSO and Stories. We're asked to listen to QSO and Stories (MP3 files). We were also given a set of Pangrams (sentences that have words where all 26 letters are used in the sentence -- The Quick Brown Fox Jumps Over the Lazy Dog, etc..).
I decided to write some software to convert the Pangrams we were given into MP3s. So I did.
You can find them here: Pangrams from CW Ops
Then I decided that I'm going to convert all of the funny/instructional "QSO" from Complete DX'er into MP3's as well. That's still in work. But I'll finish it soon.
Tomorrow I need to get to the shop and machine parts for Rob, N7QT -- I need to make him some 'cap hats' for the fiberglass masts he's taking to H40. But that can wait until morning.
For now, the coffee has finally stopped dripping and my cup is ready for a night of DX'ing.
No comments:
Post a Comment