I guess I'm just impure in my ham radio operation. Today I
helped the local ARES/RACES group test communications between a
possible repeater site and various places in town operating my
HT between .1 and 5 watts. Then I went home an fought through a
pileup for XR0YD on 40M CW using 850 watts using only the K3's
memories. Then I got on FT8 at 100W to try to contact a friend
who was in Honduras, but no joy.
When I was lucky enough to contact VE2XK on 6M FT8 New Years
Eve, I used the K3, 100W and my 160M dipole. He came in at -07
dB and received me at -15 dB, FN06 to CM97. Machine generated
signal reports take a lot of the guess work out of how well
you're getting out.
I found FT8 to be ideal for when I was recovering from cancer
therapy. I had no energy and the automatic operation let me be
on the air and have some fun. I'm glad my health is back to a
state where I have the energy to work a contest.
When my wife and I bought a new Subaru Forester, our principle
requirement was a manual transmission. Our 1993 Miata has 300K+
miles and a manual transmission.
Tomorrow, I plan to get out the straight key and try not
embarrass myself too much when I try to check into the CW net.
With luck, my schedule and the contest will let me try to check
into the SSB net. I don't know how much power I'll run for those checkins.
I think my weakest signal situation was when I was activation
Kings County for the California QSO party. I had my 10W K3
operating into a Little Tarheel screwdriver antenna on my car
operating out of a model parking lot. I made a few 80M SSB QSOs,
but every one of the operators I managed to complete a contact
with said something like, "You're way down in the noise, but
we'll make it work." Many thanks to them.
Ham radio is a wonderful hobby, and there are many ways to enjoy it.
73 Bill AE6JV
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Bill Frantz | Security is like Government | Periwinkle
(408)356-8506 | services. The market doesn't | 16345
Englewood Ave
www.pwpconsult.com | want to pay for them. | Los Gatos,
CA 95032
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