Friday, November 21, 2008
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
What we worked by Call Areas ARRL SS Phone 2008
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Friday, November 07, 2008
While preparing for this year I look back at what happened in last year's ARRL SS Phone Contest
Last year we had a false start with some equipment problems that kept us off the air for the first hour.
The First hour or two are always the most intense in a contest and very true in Sweepstakes.
Rick AE5T and His Son N5OZB beat us out of first place in the state as well as our ARRL Division by just over one hundred Q's (106 q's to be exact)
So we were right on their heels !
A good hour and a half with a Q rate of 90 or more an hour and we could have maintained our status in First place in State and Division
Things were a bit more competitive for the region box...........
Foremost we still maintained showing in this Box
however we fell from 2006 fourth place to fifth , still a respectable finish
Again look at how close this race was !!!
KA1ARB 219,840 M (1374 QSO's)
AE5T (N5OZB, op) 182,560 M (1141 QSO's)
W5JJ 174,880 M (1093 QSO's)
W8JI 166,058 M (1051 QSO's)
KG5VK 165,440 M (1034 QSO's)
Sweepstakes Multi-op style is always fun for me
of course like most that enter contest we love to place high in the finish
This Year I believe the competition will even be tougher
with our founding members of the Louisiana Contest Club challenging
all of us for a place in that Region, Division and State places.
And of course this is the 75th year of ARRL SS
and there will be more activity than there has in recent years, possible more OPS on than ever before.
Providing even higher Q counts for everyone.
In the past our target QSO count for finish was often 1500, this year we need to shoot even higher !
ARRL SS Phone is the week-end of 15 November
The contest starts at 1500 local time that Saturday
73
steve
KG5VK
The First hour or two are always the most intense in a contest and very true in Sweepstakes.
Rick AE5T and His Son N5OZB beat us out of first place in the state as well as our ARRL Division by just over one hundred Q's (106 q's to be exact)
So we were right on their heels !
A good hour and a half with a Q rate of 90 or more an hour and we could have maintained our status in First place in State and Division
Things were a bit more competitive for the region box...........
Foremost we still maintained showing in this Box
however we fell from 2006 fourth place to fifth , still a respectable finish
Again look at how close this race was !!!
KA1ARB 219,840 M (1374 QSO's)
AE5T (N5OZB, op) 182,560 M (1141 QSO's)
W5JJ 174,880 M (1093 QSO's)
W8JI 166,058 M (1051 QSO's)
KG5VK 165,440 M (1034 QSO's)
Sweepstakes Multi-op style is always fun for me
of course like most that enter contest we love to place high in the finish
This Year I believe the competition will even be tougher
with our founding members of the Louisiana Contest Club challenging
all of us for a place in that Region, Division and State places.
And of course this is the 75th year of ARRL SS
and there will be more activity than there has in recent years, possible more OPS on than ever before.
Providing even higher Q counts for everyone.
In the past our target QSO count for finish was often 1500, this year we need to shoot even higher !
ARRL SS Phone is the week-end of 15 November
The contest starts at 1500 local time that Saturday
73
steve
KG5VK
| 3 | AE5T (N5OZB, op) | 182,560 | 1,141 | 80 | M | LA | 89 | 24 | 78 | 470 | 537 | 56 | (+ packet) | |||
| 4 | W5JJ | 174,880 | 1,093 | 80 | M | AR | 97 | 22 | 419 | 213 | 418 | 43 | (+ K5DB) | |||
| 5 | KG5VK | 165,440 | 1,034 | 80 | M | LA | 72 | 24 | 390 | 76 | 542 | 26 | Shreveport ARA | (+ KA5M, KF5XV, N5VU, N5FH, N5SH, K5SL) |
Tuesday, November 04, 2008
The newest Issue of the NCJ should be in your hands by now......
The cover is adorned by a group photo of the founding members of The Louisiana Contest Club
This organization is long in coming and we are thrilled to see fellow Ham Radio ops in our state with like interests in contesting
I recently met most of these fellow contest minded ops at the Plain Ville Hamfest a few weeks ago
and while the overall turn out for the HamFest was small, it was great to sit and chat about challenges we contest ops face
As of this post Mark Ka5m, Tom K5UIC and myself are the only local hams that are current members of The L.C.C.
If you have any interests in contesting why not take a close look at the LCC
here is the link
73
steve
KG5VK
PS I will be giving a presentation at the SARA membership meeting this Thursday
the topic is Tools for Plotting your own Beam patterns
with Plotter software and a some hardware.
This organization is long in coming and we are thrilled to see fellow Ham Radio ops in our state with like interests in contesting
I recently met most of these fellow contest minded ops at the Plain Ville Hamfest a few weeks ago
and while the overall turn out for the HamFest was small, it was great to sit and chat about challenges we contest ops face
As of this post Mark Ka5m, Tom K5UIC and myself are the only local hams that are current members of The L.C.C.
If you have any interests in contesting why not take a close look at the LCC
here is the link
73
steve
KG5VK
PS I will be giving a presentation at the SARA membership meeting this Thursday
the topic is Tools for Plotting your own Beam patterns
with Plotter software and a some hardware.
KG5VK is forming a L.C.C. Team for the ARRL Phone SS contest
Current LCC (Louisiana Contest Club) members on the KG5VK team are
1.KG5VK Steve
2. KA5M Marsh
3. K5UIC Tom
You are welcome to join us !!!!!!!!
Click here to go to the LCC site
73
steve
KG5VK
1.KG5VK Steve
2. KA5M Marsh
3. K5UIC Tom
You are welcome to join us !!!!!!!!
Click here to go to the LCC site
73
steve
KG5VK
Thursday, October 30, 2008
A plot of my 3 el 40m Telrex beam which is at 90 feet above the ground
This real world plt was made using the LP-100A vector graphic watt meter and Polar Plot
I know it is a pretty poor scan of the print out
but it shows a nice dip on the backside of the beam
that depicts aprox 18db front to back
Steve
Friday, October 17, 2008
Friday, October 10, 2008
Is attendance at a contest operation worth your time ?
Even if your not an HF op
There is a lot that non HF ops can do during the contest
but the most important thing is to come and have fun !
Things to do during an HF contest if you either do not want to operate or are just not sure if your fast enough or a proficient HF op......
Monitor the bands on The Multi-Op finder rig
looking for band openings and needed multipliers
In sweepstakes there are 80 multipliers available and the team is eligible for the prestigious Sweepstakes mugs once we work all of those multipliers
(In SS The multipliers are ARRL and Canadian Sections for example many states are divided into several ARRL sections) A couple of the hardest sections to work over recent years has been Alaska and North West Terittory (in Canada)
There will also be periods where the contact rate falls way below 60 -90 QSO's per hour !
and even ops that are not fast or real proficient get to work the rigs alongside a more experienced contester (many dedicated contesters including myself started by watching and learning this way)
Several ops show up just for a few hours to watch us dedicated contesters run the rate count whay up over 100 conteacts per hour, visit the antenna farm and tour the shack just before the contest starts or simply enjoy the wide range of "Contest Ala Gourmier Food" we have on hand
One word of caution......
Contesting is an addictive sport !
73
steve
KG5VK
There is a lot that non HF ops can do during the contest
but the most important thing is to come and have fun !
Things to do during an HF contest if you either do not want to operate or are just not sure if your fast enough or a proficient HF op......
Monitor the bands on The Multi-Op finder rig
looking for band openings and needed multipliers
In sweepstakes there are 80 multipliers available and the team is eligible for the prestigious Sweepstakes mugs once we work all of those multipliers
(In SS The multipliers are ARRL and Canadian Sections for example many states are divided into several ARRL sections) A couple of the hardest sections to work over recent years has been Alaska and North West Terittory (in Canada)
There will also be periods where the contact rate falls way below 60 -90 QSO's per hour !
and even ops that are not fast or real proficient get to work the rigs alongside a more experienced contester (many dedicated contesters including myself started by watching and learning this way)
Several ops show up just for a few hours to watch us dedicated contesters run the rate count whay up over 100 conteacts per hour, visit the antenna farm and tour the shack just before the contest starts or simply enjoy the wide range of "Contest Ala Gourmier Food" we have on hand
One word of caution......
Contesting is an addictive sport !
73
steve
KG5VK
Tuesday, October 07, 2008
Mark your Calendar Now !!!!!!!
The 75th year of the ARRL Sweepstakes contest is this year
I will again hoist a team effort during the Phone contest week-end
Mark those calendars for
This week-end I am heading to The Paris Texas Hamfest where I will purchase a few more items to complete the build of my new 75 meter Bi-Square antenna
I will have a Shack familiarization open house early either late this month or a week before the Phone week-end
If you have not yet played in this great contest and are interested in joining our team simply send me an email !
73
Steve
KG5VK
I will again hoist a team effort during the Phone contest week-end
Mark those calendars for
| November 15 - 17 | ARRL November Sweepstakes (Phone) |
This week-end I am heading to The Paris Texas Hamfest where I will purchase a few more items to complete the build of my new 75 meter Bi-Square antenna
I will have a Shack familiarization open house early either late this month or a week before the Phone week-end
If you have not yet played in this great contest and are interested in joining our team simply send me an email !
73
Steve
KG5VK
Tuesday, September 02, 2008
Paris Texas Hamfest
Woo Hoo!!!!
Time is getting short!!!
The 4th annual Paris Texas Hamfest will be here before you know it.
When: October 10 and 11
Where: 570 e center st.
Paris Tx. 75460
Costs: $2.00 admission, $15 tables, $10 unlimited tailgate space
This year will be a two day EVENT !!
Friday: Big Fun!!
- Dealers, campers and outdoor vendors setup at noon.
- Doors will open to the public at 5:00 pm
- HamJam 08 !! J.D. Moss and the Texas Highwaymen will take the outdoor stage for a live Concert at 7:00pm (bring your lawn chairs)
- Doors to the main hall close to the public at 8:00
- Overnight camping, tent or RV will be permitted. Hook ups $15
- Overnight security will be provided inside of the building by Phred ‘08
- Concert will be over around 10:00pm.
- Lots of local restaurants will be open.
- Staying over night? Call the Paris Holiday Inn direct at 903-785-9510 and be sure to mention Hamfest for the special rate!!!
Saturday:More Fun!!
- Dealer setup at 6:00 am
- Doors open to the public at 8:00am
- New dealer guests this year will include Austin Amateur Radio Supply, Clear signal Products, GLA Systems (Texas Bugcatcher) , HF Projects and more
- Well over 150 door prizes will be given away starting at 8:30am from sponsors such as Yaesu, Comet antennas, Pro-cuts Paris, Electric Radio, ARRL, Cable X-perts, Borden Radio, N3FJP software, Nifty Accessories, Michael Todd Computers and communications, H. Ward Silver N0AX, Radio Daze, Cheapqsls.com, QRZ.COM, HI-Q Antennas, Sirloin Stockade Paris, SteppIR, Oreilly’s Auto Parts, ABC auto parts, DX engineering, World Radio Magazine, CQ magazine, Phred ‘08, A & A Engineering, Softrock, The Paris Texas Radio Group and more!!!
- Live music by the band "14th Street Reunion" and "Crosstown Connection"
- Contests This year include Global Mobile II, and 80 meter Shoot Out and a 2 meter shout out with cash and Trophies awarded for all 3 contests.
- VE testing
- The Best BBQ you have ever had will be served around 10:00am
- Grand prize awarded around noon!!
As you can see there will be lots going on and we would love to have you here!!!!
If you need more information please go to www.paristexasradio.com/
Tables and vendor space will sell out , book now!!
We are still looking for volunteers, door prize sponsors, event sponsors , a group or club that would like to come up and sponsor a foxhunt and more.
Thanks to The Paris Texas Radio Group, K95.5 FM , The Paris Texas / Lamar County Chamber of commerce, The Red River Valley Fair Assoc, The ARRL , QTH.COM, EHAM.COM , Pitcock’s Wrecker Service, Ted Randall and the QSO radio show, Lamar county Electric Co-op and many others for making this event possible.
Saturday, August 30, 2008
use of a second rcvr with a buffer amp between it and the RCVR Input of the FT-1000MP
Click here for more info
From SoftRocks to other SDR receivers
several ops are using these to enrich operation of the FT-1000MP
thru creation of a Band Scope
73
steve
From SoftRocks to other SDR receivers
several ops are using these to enrich operation of the FT-1000MP
thru creation of a Band Scope
73
steve
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Marsh KA5M sent me these great links of the FT-1000MP
click here to see a set of movies located on U Tube that maximizes your performance from the FT-1000MP
There are a total of three of these movies !
Marsh thanks for the tip !
Mean while I found this little tip site click here
73
steve
KG5VK
There are a total of three of these movies !
Marsh thanks for the tip !
Mean while I found this little tip site click here
73
steve
KG5VK
Monday, August 18, 2008
I might try and play in this one......
I might try and play (for a limited time) in this one..........
Steve
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Coming up next on the contest calendar is the Ohio QSO Party, this coming
Saturday, August 23, from 1600z to 0400z August 24 (noon to midnight EDT). OQP
is sponsored by the Mad River Radio Club.
With there being five weekends in August this year, we are blessed with a
weekend largely to ourselves, sharing only with the Hawaii QSO Party. Not RTTY
contests, no European contests, no VHF contests. Those come the following
weekend.
For you skimmer fans out there, here is your opportunity to test things
under real contest conditions. OQP already allows packet for single ops, so
adding a skimmer into the mix is no problem. 20 KHz of bandwidth will cover 99%
of the CW activity, so there will be less of a processing requirement. See
how well you (or your skimmer) can find those usually weak mobiles stations as
they move from county to county.
A note for the left coasters: we now award a plaque to the top station in
the Mountain or Pacific time zones. So being out of range for the daytime 40
meter activity will not leave you out in the cold for one of our beautiful
plaques.
Visitors to Ohio are welcome! If you are anywhere close by, drive on over
and do a mobile or rover effort.
Full info is available at www.oqp.us
See you Saturday!
73 - Jim K8MR
OQP Chairman
Steve
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Coming up next on the contest calendar is the Ohio QSO Party, this coming
Saturday, August 23, from 1600z to 0400z August 24 (noon to midnight EDT). OQP
is sponsored by the Mad River Radio Club.
With there being five weekends in August this year, we are blessed with a
weekend largely to ourselves, sharing only with the Hawaii QSO Party. Not RTTY
contests, no European contests, no VHF contests. Those come the following
weekend.
For you skimmer fans out there, here is your opportunity to test things
under real contest conditions. OQP already allows packet for single ops, so
adding a skimmer into the mix is no problem. 20 KHz of bandwidth will cover 99%
of the CW activity, so there will be less of a processing requirement. See
how well you (or your skimmer) can find those usually weak mobiles stations as
they move from county to county.
A note for the left coasters: we now award a plaque to the top station in
the Mountain or Pacific time zones. So being out of range for the daytime 40
meter activity will not leave you out in the cold for one of our beautiful
plaques.
Visitors to Ohio are welcome! If you are anywhere close by, drive on over
and do a mobile or rover effort.
Full info is available at www.oqp.us
See you Saturday!
73 - Jim K8MR
OQP Chairman
It's is good to be home
We are now home from our ten day trip to Atlanta (to photograph Pools for Blue Haven Pools) and Huntsville where we attended one of The Best Ham Fest www.Hamfest.org
I am now sitting in front of Two Ft-1000MP's and feel like I am in Ham Radio Operator Heaven
but of course I will now need to add more filters to my old friend (the Ft-1000MP which I have owned for some time before adding the newest one) is not as populated with filters as the new one is !
Had a ton of fun in Huntsville and am already making plans to go back next year.
I will be spending more time on cw, playing with Skimmer tools
of which Rick K4TD did an excellent presentation on at Huntsville
His presentation went beyond just what the tool (skimmer) is
but how to manage all that data without being overloaded and unable to make good choices with it (the data given to us during a contest from Skimmer)
73
steve
I am now sitting in front of Two Ft-1000MP's and feel like I am in Ham Radio Operator Heaven
but of course I will now need to add more filters to my old friend (the Ft-1000MP which I have owned for some time before adding the newest one) is not as populated with filters as the new one is !
Had a ton of fun in Huntsville and am already making plans to go back next year.
I will be spending more time on cw, playing with Skimmer tools
of which Rick K4TD did an excellent presentation on at Huntsville
His presentation went beyond just what the tool (skimmer) is
but how to manage all that data without being overloaded and unable to make good choices with it (the data given to us during a contest from Skimmer)
73
steve
Saturday, August 16, 2008
down hill slide from Huntsville to Home (Louisiana)
It's Saturday night
Not that late, it's only 2145 local
I am beat but so thrilled to have made the journey to the Huntsville Ham Festivities
This evening we had a good dinner and great company
We all got to listen to Ann Santos WA1S
she is a talented and competitive young lady
I also got to learn about Faros software (yes where have I been, as Faros has been around awhile)
Any way, I have the knowledge of a few more tools to implement before ARRL SS this year
And Skimmer will have me in there for the CW portion of the contest as well
It has been a fun trip and I am looking forward to the last few hours of the Hamfest before we head west and home.
73
steve
kg5vk
Not that late, it's only 2145 local
I am beat but so thrilled to have made the journey to the Huntsville Ham Festivities
This evening we had a good dinner and great company
We all got to listen to Ann Santos WA1S
she is a talented and competitive young lady
I also got to learn about Faros software (yes where have I been, as Faros has been around awhile)
Any way, I have the knowledge of a few more tools to implement before ARRL SS this year
And Skimmer will have me in there for the CW portion of the contest as well
It has been a fun trip and I am looking forward to the last few hours of the Hamfest before we head west and home.
73
steve
kg5vk
Friday, August 15, 2008
K8KI in Huntsville, Alabama
Bob K8KI
my host in Huntsville, Alabama
for the big Huntsville HamFest
73
Steve
KG5VK
Thursday, August 14, 2008
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