Tonight I am saddened

Tonight I got word that the pet that was like a child of mine for nearly 8 years passed. "Maggie" May Doodles was the name I called her by. She slept with me every night. We walked the local streets every day. She layed in my lap when I was sad or worried. She never asked me for a thing, but she gave me all her love. You will be missed dearly Maggie...Run wild and free...

 12.22.99 - 10.31.14

2014 CQ WW SSB Contest

Pretty much just fooled around in this contest, but by my log, I have 37 (31 on 20M/6 on 40M) contacts with a multiplier of 47 (38 on 20M/8 on 40M) for 4,512 points...I have had more fun with this than anything I have done so far. Lots of new places contacted...See my log at the bottom of the page.
I put the End-Fed back to 31 feet length, no counterpoise...It seems to tune the best at this length with the 9:1 UNUN. It is now 30 feet in the air from my back balcony to the corner tree. It tunes 40 down to 20M fine, but puts RF in the shack from 17M-6M...I think this is because my coax run is too short, I do not have a proper RF ground, and I am not using a counterpoise. If you stand just 50 yards away, the antenna disappears from site...HI HI  Next year I think I will try Isotron Antennas, unless I find something better for my situation.

73!

Current HF Antenna Doing Well

I am using one of my 9:1 UNUNS with 36 foot of #14 coated wire slung from my back porch up into a tree...The box end is at about 25 feet, and the end of the wire is about 35 feet high...Doing much better this way than as a flat horizontal...hears and gets out much better. I am NOT using a ground or counterpoise...First contact in this configuration was S58N from Slovenia in ONE call....

73,

New Callsign

I have been waiting for it for over 10 years now, but I finally got my Initials as a Vanity Call...I am now:

W2RWL

73!!!

New DX-Cluster site

There is a new DX-Cluster site on the Web. Make your way to:  https://dxheat.com/dxc/  and check it out!
Easy to use and up to date...

73,

N2OMK - Bob

9:1 Ununs

I wound 3 of the 10 T130-2 Toroids with 9 trifilar windings to make 9:1 UNUNS for end fed antennas...
I tested one, and it handled a 5 minute keydown with 100 watts CW into it.....It did not get hot at all....
I will have to wait until next month to put one up outside and test it out on all bands...I need a better tuner and cash for the PVC parts and hardware.

Here is a site that explains what to do with these:  https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=sites&srcid=ZGVmYXVsdGRvbWFpbnx0aGV3b29kbGFuZHNhbWF0ZXVycmFkaW9jbHVifGd4OjYzMDVmODk0NjQ0Zjkz


73!

Doing well with just my 20M dipole...

I can tune it on the 40M, 20M, and 10M bands...It does best on 20 where it was cut though. I have been working quite a few DX stations as of late. Just take a look at the bottom of this blog and see my recent contacts...

73,

Yaesu FT-100 is here...!!!

Well, I am finally getting back on HF bands with a new to me Yaesu FT-100 HF/6/2/440 rig. This was the 4th rig I ever owned. I started on a Tempo One, then a Kenwood TS-520S, then a Kenwood TS-440S, then the Yaesu FT-100. Will have to bring it to the MoST to see how it does on the antennas there. I still need to buy a tuner and make my antenna. I am looking at an End-Fed vertical using a 9:1 balun and 31' of wire on a 33' Telescoping pole. I lengthened my 10M Dipole to a 20M Dipole and contacted Croatia on 50 Watts...Not bad.

73s!

Comet GP-15 up and running

Well, here is the Comet GP-15 Tri-Bander up and running at about 45 feet off the ground, and about 475 feet above sea level. I have about a 60 mile radius 2 Meter coverage. You can just barely see my temporary 10 Meter dipole installation. That is the red wire from the pole to the lower steps.

73s,

My 2Meter coverage area

Well, I can get up north to Watertown (just barely), South to Binghampton (again just barely), East to just past Rome (no Albany), and West out past Auburn...Not a bad coverage area...
Not much activity on 10 and 6 Meter FM lately...

73s,

N2OMK

New Wouxun KG-UV950P Quad Band Mobile installed

Just purchased a new Quad band (10, 6, 2, 440) mobile rig...I bought the programming cable and software with it. It was a breeze to program with the 950 commander software. I also purchased a Comet GP-15 (6, 2, 440) base vertical Ground Plane antenna, but it will have to wait to be put up. I need to borrow an antenna analyzer to tune it. 6M and 10M repeaters are fun! I will have to see how much farther I can get out with the Comet Antenna over the Arrow Ground Plane. The Comet is supposed to have the highest gain of any GP antenna out there. We shall see...
So Sorry Yaesu....

73! - N2OMK

Australia is done

Finally got an Australian station on 10M PSK31 the other day...that is 3/4 of the way around the globe on 20 watts...Impressive!

73,

Will Winter ever end???

Well, the last snow storm brought down my 10 Meter dipole. Too cold and too much snow to throw it back into the tree...Will have to wait for the weekend at least.... :(

73,

Doing good so far

Been making a ton of contacts on 10 Meter SSB and PSK31. With 20 watts and a dipole at 30 feet, I have gotten into Germany and Brazil...Not bad I guess...

73s