Condition were much better this year than last year for sure, but you guys in Texas and parts back east had a much better go of it than the west coast did - or at least in my part of California. Although Sat was open most of the day, it wasn't as good as it had been the week prior. Signals were up and down and there were also several time throughout the weekend where it dropped out all together for a while. All in all, it was good and had a load of fun with 150 Q's and 91 grids worked from the Upper Mojave Desert.  Maybe next year I'll be back East in EM24 for the June test. I had planned on it this year but those plans got changed for me

Gene W5DQ

Problem is many don't use eQSL (I upload QSOs to eQSL for folks like you but don't need the replies as they aren't any use to me) and DO collect cards for various awards. If someone requests a card from you, it is customary they supply the postage both ways. If you don't have paper cards (since you don't collect them maybe you never got any to send) then I could see where that would be an inconvienence. One thing I did for our club since we're small and only get a few hard card requests, is to buy a custom rubber stamp (from the Sign Man of Baton Rouge, LA) to stamp local postcards with a QSL fill-in block on the back. The local museum sells a wide assortment of postcards from local artists and photographers. Simple and easy. Just a thought I would pass on....

Gene W5DQ

My reply was based on the accepted 6M band plan that most groups reference. 50.125 is listed as a US calling frequency (just as 50.110 is listed as the DX window) and if it is to be used as such, then long running QSOs and long strings of Q's should probably not be done there. I try to use it as a calling frequency and if I am wrong then I guess alot of groups including the ARRL are wrong to recommend to do that. And you're 100% correct, there is no regulation that says that any freq is reserved for any function except maybe the Alaskan Emergency Channels in the 5Mhz band so one can legally operate anywhere the FCC rules says to. It is just a gentleman's agreement and if no one wants to abide by it then why bother publicizing it as such.

Yes, when the band is open contacts can be made anywhere within the limits of the FCC regs. It is when the band is starting to open or is very sporadic that the idea of a calling freq allows one to monitor the band without sitting at the dial spinning up and down the band listening to static.

73,

Gene W5DQ

That TS-940S is mine. It was stolen and I can identify it easily. It is large, heavy and says Kenwood on the front. It has a large round knob in the front just under the display. If you box it up and return it to me, I won't have to call the authorities 

Don't you know Christmas isn't supposed to happen until December. I think if I were you, I'd send the wife out on more 'treasure hunts'. Maybe next time she'll find a Flex 5000 and an Alpha amp for $50 and a free tower to boot!!

Congrats on a super find.

Gene W5DQ

Steve,

Sorry, I'm a little tardy in replying.

Yes, I've worked W8IF. He indeed has the tower farm for 6M. I'm not sure what they are all for but he is definitely into 6M.

BTW did you work the VHF contest this weekend. Openings weren't too bad up here in DM15 but nothing like they have been having in the east to EU and now today I see TX area is wide open to Japan. Too bad I'm stuck at work, drooling over the VHFDX.NET activity map!!

73

Gene W5DQ

What you experienced was the much publicized ARRL VHF/UHF June QSO Party. It will happen again the first weekend (I think) of September 2010. Same every year. Last year the propagation stunk and I didn't hear a blessed thing on 6M. This year, it cooperated and there was a really nice opening for most of the US and EU for both days of the contest. Here in the Mojave Desert in grid DM15, we had a decent opening both days starting around 1900-2000Z (11AM - 12PM local) and lasting almost non-stop (except for a few dropouts) to some parts of the midwest/southeast/east coast FL to CT until 0000-0100Z (5 to 6 PM local) . Never had any openings into EU from here but I did see some west coast stations working into HI and AK but I listened wishfully and never heard any activity from those areas. It appeared however that I had a direct pipeline into Texas over to Georgia for most of the weekend. Luckily, I did snag 4 of the final 6 states needed for 6M Worked All States during the contest  .

Using a 7 element yagi @ 40' and about 800W peak, I managed to pull down 150 QSOs and 91 unique grids for a score of 13650. Not sure where that might put me in the rankings and I might have gotten more Q's but I took breaks to let a buddy who was about a mile away from me work looking for new grids during the contest. When I was on running a string, he could not operate as his receiver was overloaded. So we took turns working. Sharing is more important than winning in my book. Maybe we should team up and run as a multi-op  .

Hope everyone did well in the test. I plan on being on 6M and possible 2M in the Sept test.

73

Gene W5DQ

In 2006 I worked exclusively 6M from SW Arkansas (EM24) at a location of appx 3500 ft ASL. I ran 100W (FT-100D) into a KU4AB loop at about 16 foot on a PVC mast. I logged 168 contacts during the time I worked FD which was less than 12 hours. We had a few decent openings during FD that year. The next year, I work one (1) 6M contact all FD from California (DM15). Just like 6M normally, it is usually feast or famine 

That is the key to using 6M on FD .... OPENINGS!

I would setup a 6M station and take turn monitoring and operating it. Like normally, a great opening is a blast to work and will give newly minted hams a taste of what a full fledged DX pileup can be like once they upgrade past Technician Class.

Good Luck,

Gene W5DQ

I'm happy for and envious of those of you that actually heard E4X well enough to put them in the log. From our locality, only one of our group actually made it thru the mess to log them. I only heard the incessant trash from the tuner-uppers, the lids, the simplex callers, and of course the ever present '20+ over' DX cops that spewed a constant stream of 'UP', 'LID', 'QSY', etc., etc.  I guess those narcissitic A-holes (and you know who you are) who 'police' the DX calling frquencies figure they are doing everyone a favor by controlling the situation. For me, all they did was cover up any chance I had of working E4X when I actually could start to hear them thru the QRM enough to possible try and work them. If only the DX cops would ID once in a while we could thank them personally for the great service they do for the DX fraternity as a whole .... like go to their QTH and knock over their towers or cut chunks of of their coax or some other form of compensation for a 'job well done'. Am I sore ... sure, you bet. It's bad enough to put up with the jerks that do the QRM. Even worse when a bunch of self-righteous bozos makes it worse by adding to it in the idea of preventing it. Kind of like trying to put out a fire by throwing on a liquid, but just so happens the liquid is gasoline!

I know I'm preaching to the choir here but I sure I can safely say that some of the people on here are the DX cops themselves. You know if you're one of them and I just want to wish all DX cops everywhere ever form of malady that Mother Nature can bestow upon your QTH!!!!!

Exactly why I have started re-using IRC's again @ $2.20 ea. I figured that I'd pay the extra 20 cents on this end and increase my chances than have the DX station just keep 2 bucks and throw my card in the buro pile. I have gotton most of the cards I need already and only send direct for those that I really desire now so I am not just throwing IRC's at random into the mail. So far IRC's seem to holding their own in returns with almost 100% occuring and most within 2 to 3 weeks turn around time.

Yes I hate it when I pay 2 US$ to some DX station just to have had the priviledge of saying "59" and "thanks" and get no card in return but that's the chances you take in the DX game!!!

Gene W5DQ

With regards to the 'wrong call area', blame the FCC for that one. The rules changed a long time ago whereby anyone can have any call anywhere just about. I am guilty. I have a "5" call in California and I do not sign "/6" or 'portable 6' because I am not. The call is assigned to my home QTH and while there, I am not required to sign otherwise.

On 6M, there are basically two formats of operations; fast contest-like exchanges and basic ragchew QSOs. The fast contest-like exchanges are used by those stations that are collecting grid squares for awards or just to make as many QSOs as possible in a opening. These usually consist of, at a minimum, the calls, reports, and grid squares of each station. Sometimes, if the tempo warrants it, name and QTH (city, state) will be included. I live in what can be considered a rarer (but not rare) grid (DM15dp) and when there is a big opening like last Wednesday evening (6/3/10), I run with call, report, grid and name and that's it. While in this format of operations, I paper log since I can't juggle chainsaws and peel an orange at the same time (i.e. I easily get lost in the speed of the contest-like atmosphere). On wed 6/3 between 0225Z and 0400Z, I logged 95 QSOs for DM15. I had a pileup that was just enormous and I tried to work as many as possible in the opening. None of those were more than 30 seconds long.

Also one thing to keep in mind in this sort of operating, NEVER, repeat NEVER do this on the calling frequency of 50.125. I hear stations that get on the calling freq and run 5, 10, 15 minutes calling and working stations. This is not fair to others who might want to use it. Find a secondary frequency, check if its clear, goto 50.125, call CQ and say listening on the alternate freq. Goto the alternate and call QRZ'ed and see if anyone followed. Repeat as needed.

The other format of basic ragchewing is just that; ragchewing. It is done off the calling freq and is like any other band where ragchewing occurs. I do this form too when things are a bit quieted down and I am not being barraged with calls for my grid. If you want to chat, I would recommend that you listen to the station you're about to call and see what mode of operating he is using. May be that they are looking to catch a few new grids and doesn't want to exchange trivial information at that moment. Or they could be looking for a good old fashion ragchew and you'll be able to get their street address if they'll give it.

One more thing, just because, as you put it - you don't give a damn about grid squares - doesn't mean the rest of us don't. It all depends on what the other station is attempting to do at that time and place. Just be aware that grids squares are now a major piece of the puzzle to the Magic Band and have been for a while. I have over 1000 QSO's on 6M over the last few years and have logged almost 300 grids squares and I'm always looking for new ones. What's yours? 

73 and hope to catch you on 6M. I'll give you my address. 

Gene W5DQ (in California)

I don't collect QSL cards because I need some personal verification of my accomplishments but rather to fill a need for external use. They do however make nice conversation points with visitors to my shack. Most folks who come by have never seen hamradio nor know anything about technology to any degree so talking about the performance specs of my Force 12 antennas or the features of my rigs would probably be a bit over the top. However almost everyone takes some form of geography in school and knows something about the world's geographical boundaries. Telling them that I communicated with some other folks on Peter I Island and showing them the 3Y0X fold out QSL card really ties it all together and allows me to introduce them to ham radio in a way that they can remember and understand.

Since I am an avid wallpaper collector, I do direct QSLing for many of my contacts - especially the rarer locations. I can understand the desire to NOT QSL if one is not into awards or such but I can say with experience that should one change their mind about the necessity of QSL cards for awards later on, it might be too late to get them. Such as the case of Father Moran 9N1MM. I recently read where some hams were trying to find any method to obtain a QSL card from his station as he is now an SK and his logs are long lost.

I answer every QSL I get whether it has a return postage or not, if direct. If by buro, I return them by buro - usually 2 to 3 times a year to make it worthwhile. In fact I just sent out about 2 pounds of cards via the ARRL Outgoing Buro.

I also use LOTW and eQSL. LOTW is used to capture credits for DXCC entities for awards. I use eQSL mainly for those that want to collect eQSL electronic cards. I, myself, have no need for them as I think eQSL is not very accurate as I am always getting QSLs to nonexistent QSOs. And if I get one more eQSL with the photo of that darn sailboat at anchor of some white beached island, I'm going to go bonkers. Seem like that photo is everyone's favorite stock QSL photo on eQSL.COM.

As the QSL manager for our local club, I don't see a lot of QSL cards but on occasion we do get some especially after Field Day. Instead of ordering cards for the club and having to store them, the club purchased a rubber stamp with a custom designed QSL data block stamp on it. The data block has the club call and then standard QSL info spaces with line showing the club URL on the internet so they can visit and find out more about us. We buy local postcards and stamp the back, fill it in and send it out. Cost the club about $25 for the stamp and should be good for thousands of QSLs.

Whether you choose to QSL or not is a personal choice. I choose to and enjoy it as much as the operating or technical craft parts of ham radio. Whichever, enjoy the hobby to the fullest.

73

Gene W5DQ

I agree. For serious DXCC via 'digital', it's RTTY. I just submitted the remainder of my stack of cards for RTTY and that should put me at 117 for RTTY DXCC. Too bad there isn't a 5 MODE DXCC awards as I have PHONE already and am about to submit for RTTY and CW.

Good Luck in your RTTY project. RTTY is a blast and I have taken the bug to heart doing RTTY contesting now.

73

Gene W5DQ

If your string is too short, after you cut the coax to that length you may find that you need to sprinkle on more magic pixie dust and apply the ol' standby 'coax stretcher' to get it it reach ..... or just move the amp close to the exciter 

Gene W5DQ

Beyond the issue of liability for some "un-educated/informed/whatever you want to call it" person trying to build a amplifier with lethal voltages and ends up frying themselves and/or starting a fire, etc. etc. etc., I have a hard time envisioning a solderless amplifer kit. Unless the kit is built to the point were all the 'kit building consumer' has to do is stuff in the fuses, mount the meters and attach the knobs, almost every amplifier I have had the joy of cracking the cover off of had hard soldered connections in the tank circuit and the power supply. I don't think I would like design of a HV board being connected with a plug-on connector to supply circuit voltages nor would bolt together tank circuit wiring be efficient after age allowed the connections to oxidize.

Having worked for Heathkit back in it's heyday and repairing some of the work that 'kit builders' back then did, I agree that seeing a kitted amplifier these days probably is just a dream.

But should it come along, count me in for one providing the cost isn't going to be overly excessive. I'm going to follow this with great interest.

Good Luck in your venture,

Gene W5DQ

Being the our local club's 2nd VP and Program Chairman, I am in the same boat. Having many new hams from our training sessions, I didn't feel like we should overwhelm them with a barrage of information but I did feel like the club owes them exposure to topics that would be both helpful and information while also being interesting to those more 'seasoned' hams.

To that end, I created a small (6"x9") double sided survey and topic interest form. I went thru the ARRL Handbook and the test question pool as well as what I knew was the interests of some our more experienced members (those who might be interested in doing presentations) and created a list of about 35 topics and grouped them under major interest classifications such as ANTENNAS, OPERATING, HOMEBREWING, etc. with topics ranging from very beginner like "How to properly use the local repeater" or "How to build a simple J-pole antenna" to more advanced topics such as "Proper grounding techniques for your shack and tower" to "Setting up for EME using JT65A mode". I asked each club members to select 8 topics they would be interested in. I took those results and subtotaled them into the top 2 or 3 from each interest group and then set about finding folks to create and give the talk. I also asked each member to fill in 2 topics from outside interests that they thought the entire club might like to hear about. I did the same sort of processing for that data. So far this year we have had programs on '6M: The Magic Band', 'The Strange Antenna Contest', 'a local search and rescue group's presentation', 'A Beginners Guide to HF Communications'. Next month's topic is to be 'History of Shipboard Comm Systems' to be given by a Certified Engineer with years of experience in Maritime Systems.

I also compiled a short survey on non-personal information related to operating, experience, capabilities, desires to help/teach, etc. Of this data, I compiled the statistics and presented that to the club membership. This data also will be used to create programs and events tailored to the desires and likes/dislikes of the club as a whole. 

The amount of resultant data will allow program topics and events to be identified for the club meetings and outings for many months to come since we only have 9 meetings with programs a year. Jan is club dinner, and July is is club picnic and Aug is club ice cream social.

Hope these ideas help out. It is a somewhat thankless job trying to organize a club's programs and maintain interest for all involved.

Gene W5DQ