cqhamradio.us

Weather Station Back Online

2012-01-30T19:11:00.001-08:00

The weather station has been running for a while now at the new QTH. I finally got some reasonably fast internet access so I've put it back online. The real time data looks good as well as most everything else. A couple of folks asked about where it is located and what type of equipment I'm using.

It's a Davis Advantage Pro II. It's wireless with a rage of 1000' and Solar powered. The temperature and humidity sensors are enclosed in a solar-powered, 24-hour fan-aspirated radiation shield to lessen the radiation effects. The anemometer is mounted about 9' off the ground with the sensor package at about 5'.

The physical location should give a pretty accurate representation of what’s going on. The mounting is intended to let me know what I'm going to be hit with when I walk out the door. There are no obstructions for a good distance around it so it should be pretty accurate.

Tower Base Going in Soon...

2012-01-29T11:35:00.001-08:00

With the weather we're having I've decided to push the tower base
install up a few weeks. Looking at the 10 day forecast the days will be
in the forty's and fifty's with night's above freezing or just below.
But it's Kansas so everything is subject to change. Went out this
morning and took a few pictures of the tower location and the surrounding
area. I plan on documenting the process as well as I can. Should be fun
as well as a good record if anything goes wrong. I am amazed at how
expensive concrete is. I'll post pics here as we go along if anyone is
interested. 73.

Looking from the south the tower will go near the middle

From tower location looking north

From tower location looking south

Looking southwest land drops to the creek

Back on the air...sort of

2012-01-13T19:29:00.001-08:00

Got a Dipole up at the new place and a radio connected but that's about it. It's a lot quieter here in the country and I'm really looking forward to getting the tower back up. Hopefully it will be going up in the early spring before the rains start. I never realized how many cables and connections I had made over the years. Starting with an empty room is a real challenge. So far just getting the first coax line into the shack has been a lot of work. I didn't want to run it in the window so it took more effort to run it into the house and get it into the shack but I think it will be worth it in the end.The only problem with a finished basement is trying to run cables with all the walls and ceiling finished, what a pain!!

I've mounted Panduit around the wall and am bringing the cable into the closet. That will be the equipment closet now. I'm planning on putting the power supplies in there also and control them with a switch on the wall. The computers will eventually go in there also that should get some of the noise and extra heat out of the room.

ST0R Southern Sudan

2011-08-04T22:15:00.000-07:00

ST0R from the newest country finally made it onto the General portion of 20 meters. I was beginning to think they were going to miss us. I came downstairs tonight and they were on 14.145/14.245. Not very loud here in Kansas but loud enough. I was afraid the band would drop out while I was waiting for the amp to warm up so I gave him a call with 100 watts he came back to me on the second call and he was in the log about the time the amp finished it's warm-up.
Their website seems to be down tonight for maintenance hopefully they are uploading logs. 73.

The bands are improving

2011-03-18T17:25:00.001-07:00

The sunspot numbers are increasing and so is the DX. I've been hearing more DX lately and with the CQWW WPX contest coming next weekend it may prove to be one of the best we've had in years!

I worked I2VRN in Italy Thursday morning at 03:20Z on 40 meters. He was 5-8 here in Wichita and he gave me a 5-7. Huge pileup, lots of very loud stations especially from the East.

You don't have to be a big time contester to have some fun in these events. The international contests are a great way to add some new countries to your log, so get on and see what's available. These are stations that usually have a pretty good antenna system and can hear really well. So it doesn't take a mega station to work them. The first night and part of the next day can be pretty busy but after that the pileups get smaller and they are begging for contacts. Give them a shout and add a new country to your log.

Weather system is back up !!

2010-11-10T20:20:00.001-08:00

Managed to rebuild the Boot Record and got the drive back up and running !!
Updates should be back to normal except for the rain totals. Still working on that.

Later,

Weather Station Update Down

2010-11-03T19:06:00.001-07:00

Weather Station Updates Down
I had a hard drive failure on the computer that takes care
of the weather station so there won't be any updates for a while
until I can get it replaced and set everything up.
Thanks,

Additions to the site...

2010-07-04T00:08:00.000-07:00

I added a few extra pages over the weekend. Now you can get
realtime APRS activity and DX Spots. Also made a few changes
to the weather page. I still can't decide if I like the Live Weather
Display software enough to buy it. So I guess the pink lettering
will be around a while longer hihi.

I lost power on the weather console so there is some historical
data missing but nothing too drastic. If I find the time I'll rebuild
the tables but don't count on it.

I went to the sidewalk sale/tailgate event at the Derby Radio Shack
last weekend and that was a lot of fun. It seems to get better every year!!

What did we ever do before DX Spotting networks ?

2010-04-17T03:54:00.001-07:00

O' that's right we listened to the radio !!
Now we can filter the band we want, the country and even down to the individual station. No need to sit and watch the screen just set an alarm and when your prey shows up an alarm goes off and you get a text message on your cell phone. Pretty space age stuff !!

The big wet snow storm of 2010

2010-02-09T19:17:00.001-08:00

It wasn't suppose to be but just a couple of inches, so no big deal. They weren't too far off
there. I had about 4 to 5 inches at my home depending on where you measured. But it was a
very wet snow. When it was falling there was no wind at all. The snow was coming straight down which
is pretty unusual for Kansas, usually it's going horizontal.
It really just stuck to everything and added up pretty quick. The Mosley is having no trouble at all
but I was glad I had the doublet on a pulley and counterweight system. The snow really stayed on the
ladder line and even on the wire. It got pretty close to the ground but then came back up as the snow
melted and fell off. This will probably be the last snow for this winter.

Quick lookup of Latitude and Longitude

2009-12-19T06:57:00.001-08:00

If you don't need an exact location this website can give you a latitude and longitude from your
zip code. Which is close enough for most applications.

The output looks like this,

Mailing Name	State Code	ZIP Code	Latitude (North)	Longitude (West)
*Wichita*	KS	*67207*	*37.6676*	*97.2266*

http://www.zipinfo.com/search/zipcode.htm

Heathkit SS-9000 and PS-9000

2009-09-19T19:39:00.001-07:00

This is probably the finest rig Heathkit ever produced I picked these up a few months ago and have been checking them out. Everything seems to work pretty well. I've been checking into the Heathkit net on Sundays and the 3900 Club Trader Net also on Sundays. I've made some comparisons with the K3 and it's really amazing how well the 9000 holds up.

The passband shift works great and used in conjuction with the RF control will allow you to get a good copy on most signals. The audio is wonderful. It has that tube sound and feel to it and by backing off the RF you can get it to where all you are hearing is the station you're wanting. The receiver is very quite and the audio just seems to pop out. An outstanding rig, it's just too bad it came too late to really help Heathkit. If you ever have a chance to pick one up, get it! You'll be surprised and you can see how the well to do ops got to live.
It was introduced in 1982 with a price tag of $2795.00 and the PS-9000 Power supply/speaker with dual 12/24 hour clocks was $295.00. That's a lot of money even by todays standard much less 1982 dollars.

If you're into Collins equipment....

2009-07-11T03:56:00.001-07:00

If you like the Collins line of radios and equipment you might want to take a look at the Collins Radio Classics. Lots of pictures and good information. The design of the website is worth a look also some thought and effort went into it's design.
Check it out!

The Bands Seem to be Getting a Little Better

2009-06-04T18:41:00.001-07:00

Worked 2E0CON in England and F8CHM in France in the last few days. Also Martti Laine, OH2BH at his CU2KG QTH in the Azores. He was unbelievably loud at 20 over. From looking at the DX Cluster it
seems lots of DX is being worked. So don't let the low number stop you there's still some good stuff to work out there.

73,

Things to Remember...this weekend and All Year

2009-05-24T06:09:00.001-07:00

Antenna System for the Soviet "Woodpecker"

2009-04-19T07:31:00.001-07:00

Back in the 70's and 80's the "Woodpecker" was a real problem for Ham operators as well as commercial radio stations. These guys put out an incredible signal all across the HF bands. Take a look at the site that is abandoned now. It looks like they had a heck of an antenna system. Click the picture to see more pics and information on the site.

73,

New Infrasonic Quartet Sound Card

2009-04-18T18:55:00.001-07:00

I just installed the Infrasonic Quartet sound card.
This card has 4x4 channels at 24 bit/192 kHz. I'm using it with the LP-PAN Panadapter from N8LP at TelePost Inc. and the Elecraft K3. It makes a great setup and the card is very easy on system resources.
I'm using 2 channels for the panadapter and 2 chanels for the PSK-31 audio into the K3. You can't run them both at the same time...yet.

Mellish Reef VK9GMW

2009-04-18T16:48:00.001-07:00

Well guess it's a rap. Only heard them a couple of times. Worked them on 20 and now they are having problems with the log during the time I worked them. Why am I not surprised...

Hope they find it.

73,

K5D is on a roll, -- btw, He's Listening Up...

2009-02-20T21:40:00.000-08:00

I was just down on 75 meters listening to K5D working the US "by the numbers". It was going pretty good Then after a while I noticed there seemed to be more interference. Then came the tuner uppers and the folks sending CW but of course no call signs. How do they make that wawa sound. There used to be a wawa pedal some of the bands would use but I think this is a little different. Anyway pretty soon the noise level was 30 over. You couldn't hear a thing, of course this is all happening in my left ear because I have the main receiver on K5D's transmit frequency and I'm listening up the band to his receive frequency which is also my transmit frequency. So I have a different bunch of noise in the right side of my head. I finally had to just pull off the phones and take a break.

But there is an unbelievable number of bad operators out there today. They don't listen to the station very long before they start transmitting on his transmit frequency. If they would just listen a little they would hear him say he's listening up. And he's even saying where up he's listening. It doesn't get much better than that. And don't even get me started on the frequency cops. Those guys need to get a life, not even a good life just a life. There are some really pathetic folks with nothing better to do than be jerks. In the meantime K5D is racking up the contacts. Today the count is over 60,000 and they still have a week to go. The third group just arrived so there will be some fresh operators to take the abuse.

I was getting pretty aggravated because it seemed like they were not working much into the General portion of the band. Then today on their website they posted an announcement that they would not be working the ARRL CW contest this weekend and they would spend most of the weekend in the General portion of the bands. What a great choice! They should be applauded for this. I'm sure a lot of folks will now get a chance to work them that otherwise would have missed out. Which will probably turn into some extra support money coming in.

So fire up the rig and get on the bands you've got a good chance of "working a new one" this weekend.

Don't forget, he's working split...

Here comes K5D !!

2009-02-08T11:24:00.000-08:00

Desecheo Island
Number 6 on the DXCC most wanted list !
February 12 - 26

Click the pic to go to K5D website

I'm loving the Elecraft K3 !!!

2008-11-19T19:58:00.000-08:00

I just finished building the Elecraft K3 and it really is a great rig. The audio sounds smooth like a tube rig but with all the advantages of DSP.

CQWW comes and goes....

2008-10-27T10:47:00.000-07:00

So did anyone try their hand at CQWW?

What kind of experience did you have?

Local Ham to be part of TO5DX - Saint Barthelemy

2008-10-17T20:57:00.000-07:00

From QRZ DX Newsletter

TO5DX - ST BARTHELEMY
Joe, W8GEX announces a crew of six operators are ready for
their 10 day operation from St. Barthelemy for the CQWW SSB
Contest as a M/S entry.. They are: Joe, AA4NN; Dave, K4SV;
Joe, W8GEX; Phil, W9IXX; Jim, KØRH and Janet, W8CAA.
Before the contest they plan to be on CW/SSB/SSTV/PSK/RTTY
starting October 17th.

You'll notice KØRH is among the operators. The group plans to be very active and work the CQWW SSB contest. But will be active up to the contest as well. They were scheduled to be QRV Oct. 17th but now it looks more like the 18th. For more info go to
Good Luck Jim !!
73,

Willis Island - Coral Sea is Active !!!

2008-10-17T20:20:00.000-07:00

Better check it out it's number 12 on the 2007 100 Most Needed Countries List.
They are going to be active until around 10-27-08.

TX5C Clipperton DXpedition has ended...

2008-03-29T05:07:00.000-07:00

But there is more to the story than meets the eye.
There was more complaining and down right hostility on their website than I have ever seen. A lot of it seemed to center around the way they worked the US verses Europe and I'll have to admit it did get a little annoying.
Right in the middle of a run they would stop working the US and call for only "non US stations". Well this did seem to rub a lot of people the wrong way.

I followed this expedition pretty closely because I have an interest in the history of Clipperton. There has been a lot happen on this very small chunk of land. Everything from murder and madness to cannibalism. Several countries have laid claim to it over the years and now it seems the controversy continues.
One of the main problems I believe was the lack of communication on their website. The updates were few and far between and pretty vague. The ones that were done seemed to mostly talk about what a rough time they were having with the weather and the sun and heat. Had they not read what others who have been there have said about the place.
It's a very harsh environment.
Since returning the website has been updated quite a bit. A lot of pictures have been added and it's a pretty interesting site.

People are getting to where they expect to see pictures or video almost in realtime. Sat phones are available and the service is being donated by the companies most of the time (I think) so why not use it. I know they are not there to entertain us with multimedia presentations but a little would go a long way to keeping people informed and yes entertained.

There were some great operators there! They worked the pileups very well and most of the time came back with the whole call and had it right! They did a great job in much less than ideal conditions. This in no way is a slam to them they did a very very good job.
I do think the website could have been handled a little better.

TX5C - Thanks for putting another far off place in my log!

73, Jeff

OK I heard .82

2008-02-03T12:40:00.001-08:00

But it's still pretty weak!

3Y0E on the air for a few more days...

2008-02-03T10:45:00.001-08:00

Well have you worked him yet? No?
Don't feel bad Petrus, ZS6GCM is the medical officer of the team and newly licensed ham.
He's been using an Icom IC-735 and an Hustler 4-BTV vertical antenna which was made available to him just before the trip by the NCDFX, OKDXA and Bernie ZS4TX.
A pretty slim station and not much experience he seems to be doing very well.

For all the info check out the 3Y0E website/blog.

New Year post

2008-01-03T05:22:00.000-08:00

Well it seems I can only post here once or twice a year so I guess this is it.

Why is that I still have a hard time hearing .82??

I know it's not me because I hear everything else I want to, this seems have been going on for a few years now...

O' well there's a bunch of other repeaters around.

Well I'll stop now before I really piss someone off...see ya.

FCC to Drop Morse Code

2007-01-02T06:50:00.000-08:00

FCC to Drop Morse Testing for All Amateur License Classes

FCC Releases Report and Order in "Morse Code" Proceeding

Just Another Blog

2006-12-01T05:40:00.000-08:00

Just Another Blog

Hollingsworth at Dayton

2006-07-22T07:43:00.000-07:00

Anyone read the comments that Rilley made at Dayton?
If not, check it out in the August issue of QST. He really does make a lot of sense!

Winding Down

2006-02-18T16:10:00.000-08:00

Well it's getting towards the time for 3Y0X to shut it down. They have already shut a couple of stations down and have started air lifting the equipment back on board the ship. Too bad band conditions here in the RF wasteland couldn't have been better.
I have to say it's been fun chasing them and finally working them, but only on one band. But worked is worked now to get the QSL. I can here them now on 20 and it's actually starting to come up a little. Might get'em again, who knows.
Anyway I hope everyone who wanted to had a chance to work them. If you're interested in DX'ing don't forget to support some of the organizations that put up the money for these. Or order something from their website. They will get a portion of the sale. Hey they worked the Space station and they ordered a commemorative coin so you'll be in good company!

73'

Finally worked him !!

2006-02-15T21:34:00.000-08:00

OK, I worked 3Y0X on 14.195 listening at 14.240, it sure took a while, bad propagation the first few days. Now have to wait and check the log to make sure I'm in it.

Things sure have changed a lot. If the weather is ok they should upload more logs tomorrow using the Sat Phone. It's pretty good to be able to check their log the next day and make sure you're in it...hopefully if not you'll have time to work them again...

They are sounding pretty good now not a big signal about S3-5 but good audio. Gary has been the op now for several hours.

O' wait, I think I've got it !!!

2006-02-13T20:55:00.000-08:00

I'll bet it's those no-coders, after all if everyone had to know CW it would keep the undesirables out. That's what I've heard anyway....

73'

Log updates are suspended and Frequency cops?? Who are these people?

2006-02-13T20:31:00.000-08:00

Guess they are having problems with the LAN...Can't understand why...20 degrees, high winds, located in tents, ummmm nope I don't see the problem.

BTW, has anyone been listening to the frequency cops??

They are in there calling people dummy’s, ignorant, stupid and asking them "what part of split don't you understand. I really hope these guys are not part of the 3Y0X group. I'm sure they are not but it does get pretty aggravating trying to hear 3Y0X and having these guys come in and blast someone for calling on his transmit freq.

Not everyone knows these things usually run split. Why not just explain it real quick and you'll probably keep two or three more that are on freq. from doing it.

What a great introduction to DX'ing and Ham Radio for the new hams who just run up on a great DX catch. They don't know what's going on and even a lot of "old timers" make the mistake of calling before they realize what's happening.
Anyway just thought I would vent a little.

73,

3Y0X Working Europe Now...

2006-02-11T09:15:00.000-08:00

Very faint every now and then, keep an eye on the DX spots.
Anyone worked them? Make a comment.

New Info on 3Y0X is up on the website

2006-02-05T08:51:00.000-08:00

The group is at sea and only a day or so out from Peter I. They have been active as XR9A/MM it looks like a few thousand contacts so far. Keep an eye on the DX spots for them!

Disembodied Spacesuit is Latest Satellite

2006-01-28T13:59:00.000-08:00

Talk about recycling, The "SuitSat" is a Russian space suit with Batteries, radio transmitter and some internal sensors for temperature, battery condition and a few other assorted bits of information. The suit does not have any of it's temperature controls running so as to preserve battery power so it's going to be rough conditions for the equipment inside.
It's an idea from the ISS team to recycle some of the suits. It transmits in several languages and there are clues to some special things for school students to do.
Check out the article at Red Orbit.com

This sounds like a lot of fun

Visit www.SuitSat.org for launch updates and sighting reports.

Peter I onThe Air Soon...as 3Y0X Don't Miss Out!

2006-01-24T19:57:00.000-08:00

Well, from what I can tell it looks like the Dxpedition will be on the air sometime around Feb 7.
It was cancelled last year maybe they will have better luck this time. They are set to land on Peter I on Feb 6 depending on the weather.
I just dug out my QSL card from the last expedition to Peter I and I had worked them on Feb. 14, 1994 so it has been a while since the Island has been active. Hopefully propagation will be as good this time. BTW that contact was on 10 meters.

I think they are in transit now, if so they will be using the callsign XR9A a special Chilean Antarctic callsign for the trip to and from Peter I. Their website is probably the best source of information.

They will be working all bands using SSB, CW and Digital.

Good Luck!
Let me know if you work them!
73' Jeff

Welcome to CQHanRadio.us

2006-01-24T17:46:00.000-08:00

Glad you could drop by. Check back to see where this site is going in the future. I've started making some changes so check it out from time to time. 73'