Yeah, yeah...I know...

Eric...WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?

I am not used to this blogging thing...and I am trying to get better. In the meantime, I have doing a LOT. Ask me...really...and I'll tell you. but let's move forward! what am I working on right now...?

1. I am FINALLY re-stripping and painting the 20' tripod tower that will be installed on the 2nd floor deck.

2. I am moving PC's around...new PC for the Hamshack, changed out a network switch, completed a cutover to AT&T U-VERSE, and beefing up the server and data handling.

3. Still playing with APRS, I have anew tracker, and moving towards getting an RMS Packet station on the air.

There's more...but's that's all I can think of right now. Try and keep up!

Well, Not Too Bad...

Worked NH, CT, CA and WA today from a sloper and hamstick on 20m. Not too bad! There was a fair amount of noise occasiaonally, but PSK was good. Pictures coming...

QRV from EM78 Lawrence KS!

I am currently QRV from Lawrence KS, EM78iw on 20m around 14.285 +/-. Using a sloper, alos may put up a vertical for 20 and 40 later.

On The Road Again...with HF!

I will be leaving later this afternoon for an extended tour through WI, MO (2 weeks) and possibly IA (if I don't come home for the weekend 27th-28th). I will have my TS-450 with me, but will only have Hamsticks for 20m and 40m, so probably no late night ops. :-( I will post here as I determine operating times/bands/freqs. It will be mainly Digital modes (mostly PSK/RTTY) with some phone.

Thanks John...

While by chance traveling through my hometown of Park Ridge, IL on the way from one school to another, I had the great fortune to stop by the home of my VERY FIRST elmer- John Wendt, W9HNA.

When I was a young kid growing up just down the block from my Friend Eddie's house, his Dad, would patiently answer my questions, inspire me to try building small electronic projects, show me all his COOL (at least to a 10-year old kid) Knight and Hallicrafters tube rigs and even gave me a chance to talk on his 2m radio! John was the man that first 'lit the flame' in me that would 28 years later result in me getting MY license and doing what I do now with Amateur Radio. I 'found' him again a few years ago and have kept in touch periodically through the NORA-Glenview repeater and a luncheon he invited me to. this though was the first time that I had the chance to sit down one-on-one with him and his wife Lorraine and really catchup on what's been going on. But there were things that for some reason never occured to me to tell him- so I am saying them now, before I forget again and it might be too late.

They say that one of the measures of a man is the legacy he leaves. Usually these things are said after one passes on, but I wanted you to see it while you are still here... You introduced me a wonderful new world that years later has resulted in new friends and new experiences. I only hope I can pass your legacy on and bring more people into this great hobby and service of ours.

Thanks John.

School Club Roundup at Munhall Elementary School!

more...

A Little Catchup...

Hi all...it's been kind of busy, so I haven't had a lot of time to spend here- so what's been happening?

I finally submitted my FRRL Bill Erickson HF Challenge scores- I fealf that I did pretty good this year, all things considered. This was the first year that I entered in a "Limited" class (digital) so I was hopeful. Anyway, we found out how we did at...

The 2009 FRRL Banquet! Again this year it was held at Walter Payton's Roundhouse in Aurora, IL. It was fun to 'get away' and enjoy down time with some friends, a GREAT dinner and a fun activity- a beer 'tasting' where we were taught about the differences between 'good' beer and 'bad' beer. We also had a comedian and a magician. AND- I found out I scored 3rd in Limited class and 2nd in Ragchew classin the HF Challenge! All in all, a great night, I'd say. :-)

I have had some great conversations with other hams on the road, including one near Indianapolis with another ham from of all places...Woodridge! His name was (Ranc?) and he is W9YOY. we had a fairly long QSO on both simplex and through one of Indy's repeaters.

I also attended the WCRA Mid-Winter Hamfest Jan 25, in the new Main exhibition building at the Kane County Fairgrounds. It was a well-attended show, and we successfully held a multi-county ARES booth with 6 counties participating!

Other than that, I am waiting for a break in the weather so I can take the rig with me again on the road and try some portable HF. That's about all for now...

KC9FQV does the RTTY Roundup!

Well, my 1st 'major', 'real' contest under my belt...all by myself! Yep, I did the RTTY Roundup this past weekend, and I had a great time. RTTY is actually a fun mode...the contacts are short, it moves fast and keeps you going! Here are the results:

30- states and provinces
4- DX entities
2,176- claimed score

not bad for about 7 hrs of 'up' time. I think I will do this one again...oh, and I like fldigi- I think it is now my new digital program. :-)

Happy New Year!

From the KC9FQV Hamshack to your Hamshack...Happy New Year! May all your DX be good DX.

Eric KC9FQV
Marilyn KC9KJV
Sarah (soon)