KD4HXT Blog

It seems like I've been gone forever.  Several trips, relatives, and work have kept me away from the radio.  The lousy band conditions don't help.

We have had some interesting QSL's arrive in the mail.  The VP6DX QSL booklet is about the best I've ever seen.  Very well done with a ton of photos and information about the expedition to Ducie Island.  I think most DXers would agree that it was the best run operation ever.  This QSL just backs up the memories!  Well done!

Also received in the past week or so:
TX5C - 30 CW, 20 SSB.  Request sent in March.  Nice card for a big operation.
NS7P - 6 meter SSB - Direct
AE7V - 6 meter SSB - Direct
KD0CIU - 20 meter SSB - Direct with SASE
KI6HLB - 40 meter SSB - Direct with SASE

LOTW continues to bring in confirmations on a regular basis.

Cards that have arrived in the last 2 weeks include:

K7PWL - 20 and 40 meter SSB direct w/sase
KF8UN - 6 meter SSB direct w/sase
N0VZJ - 6 meter SSB direct w/sase
KO9A - 6 meter SSB direct w/sase
N8IEZ - 6 meter SSB direct w/sase
KD4HCR - 20 meter SSB direct
KJ5OA - 20 meter SSB direct

Thanks for he FB cards

We discovered at the Metro Media Ministers meeting that a bunch of the more hip folks are on Facebook.  So I signed up and found that I have a bunch of friends.

A bunch of cards came in last week while I was away.  I'm out of stamps and will report back on the list in a few days.

I've been in Austin, TX for the last week at the Metro Media Ministers summer conference.  Just now getting this contest report out.

Best score ever in this event:

Class: SO Mixed LP

QTH: SJV

Operating Time (hrs): 19

 

Summary:

 Band  CW Qs  Ph Qs  Mults

--------------------------                     

   40:   62    155     21       

   20:  103     87     26       

   15:   17      8      6       

   10:    4      1      1       

--------------------------

Total:  186    292     54   Total Score = 57,078

  

Comments:

 

Wow. At first I thought this event was a bust.  Than the Saturday night 40-meter run was a blast.  The sun went down and the band opened up.  Never even looked at 80.  Missed any openings on 10 or 15. Band condx will make log checking reports interesting.

 

Proof that you can have fun with a Low Loop and 100 watts.

A busy Week of cards, especially with the 6-meter activity.

First NJ6P who I worked on 6-meters CW this week.  Leon left his card in my front door.  Thanks

K5WMH - 6-meter SSB with SASE Direct
K4EQH - 6-Meter SSB with SASE Direct
TO5RZ - 15 Meter CW (said my 17m QSO NIL) Returned direct in 3 months 2 days
N5ZMP - 6-Meter SSB direct
W7ZSL - 6-Meter SSB direct
K0SBV - 6-meter CW direct

Also LOTW has been busy with many returns recently/  Averaging on 12% return on LOTW.

This morning I went to update the software on my I-phone.  Now my phone is rendered useless.  An I-Brick!  Way to go Apple.  Apparently, the Apple servers became overloaded, rendering tens of thousands of phones useless.  Even though I have the older i-phone, Apple wants you to re-authorize the phone.  Why?  This is a huge blunder by Apple.  I left completely un-connected for an un-known amount of time.

Makes Microsoft look much better.

I got home tonight about 6pm.  After doing a few chores I turned on the rig to check 6-meters.  It was wide open.  After finding a clear spot I called CQ and ran 70 QSO's in a couple of hours.   The opening ranged from LA (EL59) through the Midwest up to SASK (DO59) into WA.  Best opening of the e-skip season for me.  Several new grid squares tonight.  Really a blast.

It's been a very busy week and I'm finally getting around to writing this.

Last weekend we took the station on the road to Valley Baptist to setup and operate Field Day.  KD4HXT operated 1A with KI6OII Jason a new ham and his first FD.  With the help of non ham Scott, we strung an 80 meter full wave loop between 2 of the church buildings.  The West side of the loop was at 70 feet sloping down to about 50 feet at the East end.  Fed with open wire line, we had a killer antenna.  We ran all Day Saturday for a total of 15 hours of operation.  700+ Q's and all but 2 states were worked.

 

Worked a brief 6 meter opening on Saturday afternoon during the SMIRK 6-meter contest.  I figured it might be worth submitting the score:
Q: 21 - Q Points: 24 - Mults 12.  Claimed score of 288

Heck it was lots of fun and worked a couple of XE grids in the process.

Today I received a QSL from VY1EI for a 20 meter CW QSO.  Thanks Eric.