WICHITA FALLS MAN
HOME - ABOUT - DIRECTORY
PAGE 170
09-09-2024 - Good Morning! It's 8:30 AM, and the 20-meter band is beginning to come alive. I've already had several cups of coffee and now it's time to see if I can snag a few Parks on the Air® stations today. I joined the Straight Key Century Club this morning. The SKCC is a good source of information and activities of interest to me.
09-08-2024 - I got the Bencher paddles out of the closet, plugged them into the Yaesu 857D, switched on the keyer, and paddled away in practice mode. The experience brought me no joy. I tried to imagine getting really good and fast with the paddles. Even that thought brought me no joy. The straight key brings me joy. I know there will be a sending speed limit with the straight key, but I'm okay with that. I'll always work to increase my receive speed, but that's for the shortwave listener in me. I might revisit this issue in the future. Or, I might not.
09-08-2024 - I made contact with N9ANA at Des Plaines State Fish and Wildlife Area (US-4120) in Illinois on 20 meters (14 MHz) CW (Morse code) in the Amateur (ham) Radio Parks on the Air® program.
09-08-2024 - I made contact with WG8X at Andreoff State Wildlife Area (US-9444) in Ohio on 20 meters (14 MHz) CW (Morse code) in the Amateur (ham) Radio Parks on the Air® program.
09-08-2024 - Good Morning! It's Simplex Sunday, a day to give those Amateur Radio repeaters a break and flex those simplex muscles. It's like giving your generator a regular run. Use the more inclusive two-meter FM simplex. Analog, please! GMRS users, you can play, too! My coffee is ready. I'll have a cup while I listen to CW (Morse code) on the 40-meter Amateur Radio band and plan my Hobby Radio day!
09-07-2024 - I made contact with NA9M at Nevin Springs State Fish and Wildlife Area (US-10650) in Wisconsin on 20 meters (14 MHz) CW (Morse code) in the Amateur (ham) Radio Parks on the Air® program.
09-07-2024 - A recent news item concerns the possibility that one of our undersea cables could be sabotaged. There is related online talk about ordering Amateur (ham) Radio equipment. I don't think most of these people are interested in becoming "hams" but want some form of utility radio. Maybe they'll get a Baofeng, and I'll never hear from them.
09-07-2024 - I made contact with AB9CA at Hemlock Bluff State Nature Preserve (US-4204) in Indiana on 20 meters (14 MHz) CW (Morse code) in the Amateur (ham) Radio Parks on the Air® program.
09-07-2024 - I made contact with KA0CSW at Greenleaf State Recreation Area (US-6465) in Minnesota on 20 meters (14 MHz) CW (Morse code) in the Amateur (ham) Radio Parks on the Air® program.
09-07-2024 - At 7:15 AM, I see only one Parks on the Air® station on the POTA spotter page, and I cannot hear it. Spinning the dial reveals that 20 meters is still a little sleepy. I've worked 327 unique parks since the beginning of the year. If I get one or two a day, I'm happy. If I get zero, I'm still happy.
IF YOU ENJOY MY POSTS, please make your next AMAZON purchase using THIS LINK, or any other affiliate link on this site. If you do, I will earn a small commission but it won't cost you extra. You can buy radio stuff or any stuff but, for me to earn a commission, you have to purchase within 24 hours of adding the item(s) to your shopping cart. I'm thanking you in advance because AMAZON, correctly, doesn't identify you to me.
09-06-2024 - At 4:45 PM, it's more code practice from the American Radio Relay League (ARRL) on 14.047.50 MHz. What's on your VFO?
09-06-2024 - I made contact with K3WT at Pine Bend Bluffs SNA Scenic Reserve (US-10727) in Minnesota on 20 meters (14 MHz) CW (Morse code) in the Amateur (ham) Radio Parks on the Air® program.
09-05-2024 - I made contact with KD8BBK at Salt Fork State Park (US-5670) in Ohio on 20 meters (14 MHz) CW (Morse code) in the Amateur (ham) Radio Parks on the Air® program.
09-05-2024 - I made contact with K4QD at Lake Panasoffkee State Conservation Area (US-5670) in Florida on 20 meters (14 MHz) CW (Morse code) in the Amateur (ham) Radio Parks on the Air® program.
09-05-2024 - I'm listening to an American Radio Relay League (ARRL) code practice session on 7.047.50 MHz while watching a Netflix movie. I've seen the movie before, and the Morse is slow, so it should be okay.
09-05-2024 - I made contact with AC4BT at George Washington Memorial Parkway (US-0670) in the District of Columbia on 20 meters (14 MHz) CW (Morse code) in the Amateur (ham) Radio Parks on the Air® program.
09-05-2024 - I made contact with NV4H at Grand Canyon National Park (US-0030) in Arizona on 20 meters (14 MHz) CW (Morse code) in the Amateur (ham) Radio Parks on the Air® program.
09-05-2024 - At 6:45 PM, I hear that elusive Alaska Parks on the Air® station again. He's barely readable on my ground plane antenna. There's no sense in interfering with others trying to make contact, but I'll get him one of these days.
09-05-2024 - I made contact with N8JMS at Four Mile Creek State Park (US-2055) in New York on 20 meters (14 MHz) CW (Morse code) in the Amateur (ham) Radio Parks on the Air® program.
09-05-2024 - Good Morning! I just ordered a 1960 copy of CQ Ghost Ship, a book by Walker A. Tompkins, K6ATX (SK). It's one of the Amateur (ham) Radio books I read in 1966. Others were Death Valley QTH, DX Brings Danger, Grand Canyon QSO, and SOS at Midnight, all by Tompkins. These books were updated in paperback (featuring more modern equipment) in 1985 or so and sold by the American Radio Relay League. Nope! I want the original hardcover versions. As I did with SOS at Midnight, I paid too much for CQ Ghost Ship, but the nostalgia value is worth it.