I earned a DXCC award in less than a year in 2011 using the DXLab software suite and LOTW. DXLab is feature packed, works well with LOTW and is well supported. And free.

http://www.dxlabsuite.com/

I never bothered much with other online services for logging and QSLing since they don't really count for much. Real QSL cards are fun but after some years go by I really only treasure the old ones that I got when I was new at all this.

Good luck,

Geoff

I think the "average" speed for domestic QSOs is closer to 17 WPM (here in the USA, anyway). You'll hear some in the 20s and beyond, you'll occasionally hear some at 5 WPM, but the majority are between 14 and 20.

Most tests and DX are 30+ WPM but that doesn't mean you need to be proficient at prolonged copy at those speeds to work it. You just need to be able to copy callsigns at that speed, even if you have to listen a few times.

My comfort zone for QSO is maybe 18 or 20 WPM, maybe even slower if it is a long QSO, but thanks to RuffzXP I can copy call signs at 40 WPM. But, I get in to trouble fast if they want to chat that fast, which wasn't very often when I was active at it  

73, Geoff

Looks great, have fun camping.

Targeting ads at young people's sense of irony is common these days. Did you think it was targeted at hams?

I think now in iOS 6 there's a Do Not Disturb mode and you can add exceptions...I know this doesn't help you but maybe there are others in the same boat with iPhones.

Selectivity > sensitivity.

It's difficult to compare modern receivers of different price points and vintages until you compare them under harsh conditions, like say a crowded CW QRP sprint. Comfortably copying a weak signal that is right in between stronger signals and digital QRM is when you'll know where your money went.

Also, modern DSP noise reduction, if you have much of a need for it, is better than it used to be.

The 7200 looks really good in olive drab, should have always been an option.

I imagine that to really show the difference you need to try both in a QRP sprint. Doing some random SSB or pedestrian CW probably won't show much difference. Where the KX3 probably shines is in weak signal, crowded conditions work.

I'll be in my 60s!

I think as long as people chase DX there will be individual brains decoding CW.

Yes. Known issue with both pro and non-pro 746. I've owned a 746pro since 2004. The radio is trying to protect it's finals. Some say aggressively so.

Via WB8B QRZ page re: Icom 746: " over sensitive swr power fold back at only ~1.5:1"

http://www.eham.net/ehamforum/smf/index.php?action=printpage;topic=23258.0

On this page: http://forums.qrz.com/archive/index.php/t-311813.html?s=219ad21a2869fc0edeef1dc3d9f452cd
W1QJ states: "My radio Icom 746 has an aggressive swr foldback circuit. It begins to fold back at 1.2 to 1 swr and it reduces power quickly. "

On this page: http://forums.qrz.com/archive/index.php/t-21244.html
KD5NCO states: " I also know that with this rig [746pro] any SWR at 1.5:1 will cause the power (70W) to fold back to about half (35W) and any SWR above 1.6:1 will drop the power like a rock."

Solution: Use a tuner.

It is a 746 pro and it is normal for that rig to start cutting power output when the SWR gets above somewhere between 1.4 or 1.5. Get a tuner if you need to.

There's no rules or power requirements per say it's just a not-so-secret handshake amongst QRP enthusiasts. Not all of them embrace it but many do. I usually respond to it with 73 out of sheer habit.

It's the QRP version of 73. Do more with less.

A modern smartphone has maps with real-time traffic info. Saved us some time during a road trip this summer when the highway came to a crawl and we used the cellphone to show us where to get off and how to navigate through the nearby town and where to get back on the highway. It's surprising how many people I talk to who don't realize their cellphone will show accurate real-time traffic conditions for major roads and highways. Google's product is best but the new iOS map app has it too.

It was fun to watch the web-cast. Here's an animated gif of the capsule interior shortly after Felix's jump.

http://i.imgur.com/E00nl.gif