Tuesday, January 12th, 2010
Received a fun QSL card today from W5WW, a station I worked during the 2007 phone sweeps! This was back when I hadn’t yet achieved the Worked All States award so I send SASE’s for the 100+ contacts I made during the contest. Whiskey 5 Whiskey Whiskey…great call sign!
Tags: Contesting, QSL
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Sunday, November 29th, 2009
Originally licensed in May 2007 as AB1HJ (no-code amateur extra), changed to vanity call W1JKS in August 2007. In these two+ years I have:
- Built and operated an Elecraft K2 kit and many options — most of the first two years QRP only; added the 100W option in time for Field Day 2009.
- Joined the Central Mass Amateur Radio Association, CMARA, and participated in the 2008 and 2009 field days as the 40m co-captain. Ray, KM1D, and I operated tag-team style: Ray on CW and me on phone.
- Participated in three November Phone Sweeps contests. This year only 42 QSO as my voice was shot even before the contest started. I really really need to figure out how to use voice recording to save my voice!
- Received the Worked All States award. All phone QSOs. All with my “QRP-ish” only K2, though technically not QRP at 15W.
- Set up wire antennas in the woods behind my house: a 40 m vertical with three raised radials, and an 80m inverted v with apex at ~25 ft. Both for use with ladder line feed line.
- Gathered a respectable “Junk Box” of electronic parts from various sources, and a decent library to provide information (and inspiration) for homebrewing and experimentation.
- Started learning Morse Code…but I’m still not feeling ready for an on-the-air CW QSO.
- Made many new friends!
73,
de W1JKS, John Samolyk, Franklin, MA, USA
Tags: Antennas, Clubs, Contesting, CW, Field Day, Homebrewing, Kits, People, QRP
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