Last weekend I worked the 2015 ARRL CW DX contest. I could not put in a full-time effort, so I entered in the "Assisted" category. This allows you to use a Telnet (or other) spotting service that provides a realtime list of active stations that you can work. It also highlights potential new multipliers. I... Continue Reading →
Don’t Ever Do this – Flaming Someone that asks a question to an email reflector
Here is a response I got when I asked a question on a Ham Radio Forum about people's experience using RF Sensing External Antenna Tuners with a particular radio: ************************************************************************************ Let's play a game: It is called... "Find the Provision." Here is how it works: 1 Start a stopwatch. 2 Do a Web search to... Continue Reading →
Comparing the ICOM IC-7600 and the Yeasu FTDX-3000 – UPDATED 1/21/2018
No more updates to this Post. Interesting developments in the marketplace. The prices on used IC-7600 radios are crashing, apparently as a result of the introduction of the IC-7300 and the IC-7610. I still love both radios, but at these prices, it would be hard to turn down a 7600. Whichever way you go, enjoy... Continue Reading →
FTDX3000 USB Virtual COM Ports
Setup of the USB interface with the FTDX3000 is very simple but it can seem confusing. It is only confusing because people may not be familiar with the idea of a Virtual COM Port, which only exists inside the USB connection between the FTDX3000 and the PC. Yeasu has done a nice job of implementing... Continue Reading →
FTDX3000 USB Interface with N1MM+
This note is to help you setup your FTDX3000 with N1MM+ using WINDOWS (I am using WINDOWS 7). I am using only the USB interface. So the Radio has one cable to the PC, the USB cable. BEFORE YOU CONNECT THE USB CABLE, install the FTDX3000 USB Driver from Yaesu using the instructions that come... Continue Reading →
2014 ARRL Sweepsatakes – Much Fun but no Sweeps
I enjoyed working the ARRL Sweepstakes again this year. I operated in both CW and Phone this year. My major effort was in CW, where I managed a personal high score, finally breaking the 100K point barrier. For several years I have been wishing I was involved with a Club that could use my scores... Continue Reading →
ARRL Sweepstakes CW (SSCW) 2014
Here we go again. Time for ARRL Sweepstakes CW (SSCW) 2014. Same plan as always - main objective is to get a personal high score. Secondary objective is to get that elusive "clean sweep" - all US and Canada Sections in one weekend. I have been within 1 or 2 sections the last several years,... Continue Reading →
“Updgrading WINDOWS XP” – a Walk Through Hell
Well my main Shack PC was running XP. It is "no longer supported" by Microsoft - which may mean it is finally stable. I was going to just keep it, but the Microsoft-subservient software vendors do not make updates for XP. This is their part in helping M$ to force you to upgrade. So I... Continue Reading →
Mobile Antenna Testing
I was doing some testing of mobile antennas on my F-150 this weekend. I had a mag mount on the roof, and a door-edge mount on the rear door. Both had NMO mounts, so I could easily move antennas between the mounts. Here is what I found: I had an HT (Kenwood TH-F6A) connected to... Continue Reading →
IC-7000 and N1MM Interfacing
Getting prepared for the upcoming VA QSO Party (check it out if you want to work a great contest this March). My plan is to operate mobile this year using an IC-7000. I used it in the past with N1MM just for frequency control. This year I plan to use N1MM again, but adding the... Continue Reading →
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