K0MLF/7

We hiked to the Almaden Quicksilver Mine County Park and I brought my KX1 and Buddipole parts. I forgot the DC barrel connector for my LiPo battery pack and forgot a pole for the Buddipole, so I had to use 1.5W to a wire in a tree. K0MLF/7 Don near Zion, Utah and I had a nice CW QSO on 7.035. Don said he knows the San Jose area, and that it was 90F where he was. I took a picture of my KX1 as I was packing it up; I didn't use it with the ground radial coiled up... I'm hoping to get the new shock-corded mast from the Buddipole folks of they have them at Pacificon.

Labels: QRV, QSO

- posted by Leigh @ 19:45 z 0 comments

 
OH2MM DE ZF2NU
I turned on the K3 in the morning and heard the tail end of a call on 12M, nothing on 10M, but OH2MM calling a fluttery CW CQ on 18.082. I answered Ole with 60W to the Cushcraft R6 and got a 569 and sent 579 "FINE DX CALL," Ole said about ZF2NU as we bid 73.

Labels: DXPedition, QRV

- posted by Leigh @ 14:38 z 0 comments

 
V31MR QRV ZF2NU
First contact on our Cayman Islands DXPedition as ZF2NU is V31MR on 10.109 with 100W to a Cushcraft R6 and Elecraft K3.

Labels: DXPedition, QRV

- posted by Leigh @ 00:05 z 0 comments

 
JA1CG
JA1CG Haru 120M north-north-west of Tokyo, Japan gave me a 5x9 and I sent 5x7 on 14.305 with my K3 ar 120W into the SteppIR.

Labels: QRV

- posted by Leigh @ 22:40 z 0 comments

 
WB6W es K6ACJ
I talked to WB6W Glenn in Arizona and K6ACJ Bill on 80m CW with the loop and K3. QSB was heavy on Glenn and I copied a 569 QSB report from him, but Bill and I exchanged 599. I used the DSP NR and the 200Hz filter and Attenuator to copy Glenn; every 20 seconds or so he was quite copyable but then the deep fade set in.

Labels: QRV

- posted by Leigh @ 06:40 z 0 comments

 
K9YC
I talked to K9YC Jim in Santa Cruz, CA on 160M CW with my 10W from the K3 to the loop. Jim gave me a 599 and I also sent 599 before he went off to finish some pumpkin pie. That was my first 160M CW ragchew in a long time...

Labels: QRV

- posted by Leigh @ 05:48 z 0 comments

 
AmTech Day
We went to AmTech day and made no QSOs but showed off the K2, Buddipole, 5W flexible solar panel, and Don Brown charge controller. KI6IMM ran talk-in on his 200mw Radio Shack HTX-200.

Labels: QRV

- posted by Leigh @ 19:00 z 0 comments

 
ARRL DX Contest

Labels: Contest, QRV, QSO

- posted by Leigh @ 23:59 z 0 comments

 
W8LSV
w8lsv Bud in South Haven, MI gave me 599 on 21.010 with 15W to my SteppIR pointed east.

Labels: QRV

- posted by Leigh @ 17:45 z 0 comments

 
NH6P
I worked op Fred NH6P in Hawaii on 7037 for a 559 and sent 599 S9+. K2 5W, SteppIR 40m dipole at 255 degrees.

Labels: QRV

- posted by Leigh @ 07:06 z 0 comments

 
QRV PARC

Today at lunch I took the Buddipole and KX1 outside at PARC. It was windy so I used the bag to Velcro to the railing and then the tripod. It was too windy to enjoy myself, but I did hear quite a bit of band activity.

Labels: QRV

- posted by Leigh @ 00:54 z 0 comments

 
QRV Amsterdam Sunday

It was a bit colder today and there was some rain, but I had a sked to meet PE1E Peter again at 1200J/1100Z in Museumplein, in Amsterdam. Peter was a bit late due to bicycle trailer trouble on the way, and as his trailier had his K2, HLA-300 amplifier, MFJ tuner, and assorted gel cells large and small, sandwiches, and coffee, it was important!

While waiting for Peter I set up with my KX1 and Buddipole at a park bench a safe distance away from the US embassy and its guard house and vertical antennas. While I was setting up, another ham PA3DMI stopped by and we chatted a bit; the OM told me that 20m was open and that CW was active.

My first contact was IK2RMZ Martin in Barza, Italy at about 1140Z on 14.048. Although he was calling "CQ EU TEST," Martin was happy to ragchew for a few minutes, and we also exchanged FISTS numbers. Martin gave me a 449. He was running 75W to a 2-el Yagi, and wished me a pleasant stay in Holland.

Next I worked RN4WA for "599 30" and sent "599 27" at 1155Z on 14.034.

At this point I was approached by a Finnish national TV crew who were filming a short segment on Amsterdam, and they asked me a few questions, and shot some scenes of me using my KX1 and Buddipole, plus a few shots of the equipment.

As they were walking away, I heard W1MK and got a PA/WA5? out of him and then SRI. And simultaneously, Peter arrived with his newly-repaired trailer full of equipment, so after the busted QSO with W1MK we started to set up Peter's K2 and QRO gear.

While Peter unpacked, I worked YU1AAV Zoki on 14.005 at 1219Z for my last contact on the KX1.

With Peter's K2 and my Buddipole, we worked SSB, starting on 15m and moving down to 17m. We had no QSOs until get hit 20m:

• 4O60BH in Montenegro for a RST:5x9 on 14.197 at 0230Z
• U4MIR Alexander in QTH:Moscow for RST:5x6 on 14.184 at 0245Z
• My last contact was M0BNA Garry who was very chatty from Englnad and had a great signal on 7069.34 LSB at 0325Z.

In addition to the Finnish national TV crew, we were also visited by a few curious onlookers:

• A woman who asked if I owned a cell phone with which to call America
• A number of Dutch couples who politely asked questions
• An inquisitive London teen on roller-skates with whom we engaged in philosophical debate
• Three dogs who choose to mark the plastic bag of BNC jumpers.
• A collection of footballers (soccer players) their and their scout, with whom we had to negotiate field use

Peter and I parted ways and hope to meet again, either in person or on the air. And I think he's going to order a Buddipole.

Labels: QRV, QSO

- posted by Leigh @ 17:53 z 0 comments

 
QRV Amsterdam

This morning I walked along the canals to Rembrandt's house, which is now a museum, and bought some etchings printed at the museum from first-generation copies of Rembrandt's original copper etching masters. Afterwards, I stopped at the cafe In De Waag for an espresso (which was great) and a salad (which never arrived); disappointed but running out of time, I headed over to Manekinpis for vlammes frites instead.

I had arranged to meet Peter PE1E at Museumplein at 1500J for outdoor operating. I took the tram and met Peter, who was already set up, and waiting for me to arrive with my Buddipole. I brought my KX1 and Peter his K2, but unfortunately I forgot my KX1 key, having left it in the Pelican case I used for travelling. But Peter was well-prepared for SSB, with his K2, an HLA 300W amplifier, a variety of SLA batteries, and an MFJ tuner.

The MFJ tuner was a little balky until we moved the Buddipole further away; later we noticed the DVM on the battery went up to 15V when we keyed down, so it must have been RF feedback.

Peter and I each made a few contacts in the "LZ contest" where our part of the exchange was RST and ITU Zone, which a kindly OM told us was 27. We made a few contacts on 20M SSB with the Buddipole as an L, and then moved to 40M dipole.

We warmed ourselves with coffee and chocolate that Peter had kindly brought, and talked to a few passers-by, including PD3AD, who was looking forward to an upgrade to get HF privileges, having had some experience with multi contesting at his local club.

Just about everybody had trouble with my call PA/WA5ZNU/P except for the last contact, who got it on the first call.

• IV3UHL 5x9 28 14.244.28 0320Z
• LZ1YE 5x9 SZ 14 0325Z
• RA1AGL 5x9 29 14 ~0400Z
• EW9LO 5x9 29 7071 ~0415Z
• IK1YEO 5x9 28 7052 ~0430Z
• SP9LJD 5x9 28 7058 ~0430Z

After this point we both got too tired and cold, and agreed to meet again tomorrow at 1200J/1100Z. And I promised to bring my key.

Labels: QRV, QSO

- posted by Leigh @ 18:39 z 0 comments

 

Photos from Amsterdam

Labels: QRV, QSO

- posted by Leigh @ 07:50 z 0 comments

 
PE1E DE PA/WA5ZNU
I just worked PE1E Peter in Amsterdam, The Netherlands (JO33) on 145.6375 MHz via the PI3ASD repeater, which is 500mW. Peter is a K2 owner and he and I plan to be QRV from Museumplein on Saturday at 1500J with K2, KX1, and BuddiPole. No pictures yet but I hope to post some afterwards.

Labels: QRV, QSO

- posted by Leigh @ 22:26 z 0 comments

 
I parked at the SF Baylands in Palo Alto, and used my 17m Hamstick on the car, and the K2 at 10W. I worked JH1OCC Yuu on QRGh18.153 for a MYRST:5x2. I sent TXTST:5x7. Yuu is near Tokyo and we spoke in Japanese briefly as well. 2140Z

Labels: QRV, QSO

- posted by Leigh @ 01:04 z 0 comments