North American QSO Party + ARRL January VHF Contest

Hi Bee Gee!
One week from today until my tests.

Unfortunately, I do not yet have VHF/UHF capabilities to even listen.

All I have is my old Icom IC-751A that I had to dig out of storage and a dipole trimmed fr 40 meters so I can listen on HF until I pass my exams. Best of luck in the QSO Party today.

BJ radionut said:

I'll be spending most of my time watching 6 meters...Band showing signs of life.
Activity always increases during contest weekends.
I do not get excited about NA Qso Party unless I see Hawaii or Alaska spotted on the bands.
I have WAS(Work All States) so many times, I do not even keep track of stateside contacts on HF anymore.
I've been chasing "grid squares" on 6 meters last 4-5 years...much more of a challenge than just chasing states.
I'll work 6 to 10 states (0-1000+ miles) every morning on 6 meters, just working Meteor Scatter...Sunrise EST +/- hour

Good Luck on your tests.
All the Best
Gary

TO ALL on the forum: Gregg (YR) is a friend of mine from looong time ago...
We had mutual Elmer's back 40+ years ago...
I got my Ticket in 1979.
Gregg says he is "finally" getting his...
We will see !!!~!~!~

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Thanks, BJ!

It is awesome to finally get in touch with you after all of these years. It's not that you are difficult to find, the difficulty was in locating the right contact information in order to say hello.

I am definitely committed to this 100% to test for the technician and general next weekend.
After looking at the question pools I feel that it cannot hurt to take both tests on the same day as I see that there are more than a few questions on the General that are basically the same as the Technician (may be asked in a different way). It cannot hurt to try since I am already there and the basics are fresh in my mind.

As for the Extra, well I want to stick around as a General (provided I pass it) and learn more as an operator before I dive into that. After all, learning and experience are what make Amateur Radio unique and rewarding.

Unfortunately, I do not yet have 6m capability to monitor outside of KiwiSDR and so far I have only been able to locate one station on the SDR map that actually does 50. Most seem to be 0-30m on average.

Best of luck today and hope to be able to contact you on the bands one day very soon.

Miss Ya Brother.

Greg

Played a little last night 2M ssb. Grabbed 2 new grids north of me. One I've worked before but its unconfirmed so hopefully we can prove this one. Worked a couple buddies in the grid south of me on 432 ssb this morning. This lights the fire under me to improve my station.. get the yagis up and get ready for the June VHF + contest.

BJ radionut said:

I'll be spending most of my time watching 6 meters...Band showing signs of life.
Activity always increases during contest weekends.
I do not get excited about NA Qso Party unless I see Hawaii or Alaska spotted on the bands.
I have WAS(Work All States) so many times, I do not even keep track of stateside contacts on HF anymore.
I've been chasing "grid squares" on 6 meters last 4-5 years...much more of a challenge than just chasing states.
I'll work 6 to 10 states (0-1000+ miles) every morning on 6 meters, just working Meteor Scatter...Sunrise EST +/- hour

Good Luck on your tests.
All the Best
Gary

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Hey Gary,
So how did it go on 6 meters last evening?
I did do some listening while studying for my tests very early this AM (0200 ET) and heard a few European stations including a fairly strong one from Serbia and a S. American Station from Chile on 40 meters.

BTW: If you guys ever want to come to visit us there is plenty of room (we have a fully furnished 1 BR guest house so don't ever feel that you are imposing) We are on 6 acres here in the middle of the wilderness of Suwannee County FL without the Dualing Banjos


Have a great week ahead brother.

Greg

It was an Amazing Contest.I worked Three stations on 2 meter SSB & One on 432 SSB.I was exhausted after all of that logging.All Four contacts came on Sunday because I never heard anyone on Saturday.I never connected my 6 meter antenna since I wanted to do some testing of my Cushcraft 215WB which was just put back on the tower at 52 ft just last week.

SIX-SHOOTER
aka:W4KVW EM80

SIX-SHOOTER said:

It was an Amazing Contest.I worked Three stations on 2 meter SSB & One on 432 SSB.I was exhausted after all of that logging.All Four contacts came on Sunday because I never heard anyone on Saturday.I never connected my 6 meter antenna since I wanted to do some testing of my Cushcraft 215WB which was just put back on the tower at 52 ft just last week.

SIX-SHOOTER
aka:W4KVW EM80

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Man, you must be exhausted!

Hey, you don't live too far from my neck of the woods.
Hopefully, after I pass my test(s) this coming Saturday I will be able to catch you around the bands. I will try to make sure that it is not on a contest day so you won't be so exhausted from logging. lol

I don't yet have 6 meters or 2-meter capability. Hopefully, I will after I pass my tests

I was looking for a reputable place/person in this area that can look at my Icom IC-751A just to make sure that it is in the best operational shape.

I have read about the known issue of the plastic trimmer capacitors on PLL unit needing to be replaced with ceramic and since I bought this off of someone about 9 years ago that knew nothing about it, I cannot tell if that has been performed already.

I did see that Paul Hansen, W6XA in the N. Central Georgia area has a very good reputation, especially with Icom, but I would imagine that shipping & insurance could be a bit pricey?

I have known Gary (BJ) W9FNB for many years and lost track of him until just this weekend. I owe a lot to Gary as he and our Elmer Lou 40 years ago helped to shape me into who I am today when we both lived in the same small town. Great guys for sure.

Talk to you later.
73s

Greg

YR Mason FL said:

Man, you must be exhausted!

Hey, you don't live too far from my neck of the woods.
Hopefully, after I pass my test(s) this coming Saturday I will be able to catch you around the bands. I will try to make sure that it is not on a contest day so you won't be so exhausted from logging. lol

I don't yet have 6 meters or 2-meter capability. Hopefully, I will after I pass my tests

I was looking for a reputable place/person in this area that can look at my Icom IC-751A just to make sure that it is in the best operational shape.

I have read about the known issue of the plastic trimmer capacitors on PLL unit needing to be replaced with ceramic and since I bought this off of someone about 9 years ago that knew nothing about it, I cannot tell if that has been performed already.

I did see that Paul Hansen, W6XA in the N. Central Georgia area has a very good reputation, especially with Icom, but I would imagine that shipping & insurance could be a bit pricey?

I have known Gary (BJ) W9FNB for many years and lost track of him until just this weekend. I owe a lot to Gary as he and our Elmer Lou 40 years ago helped to shape me into who I am today when we both lived in the same small town. Great guys for sure.

Talk to you later.
73s

Greg

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Not sure where you are but DV Electronics has been doing work for me since the early 80's & he works on both Amateur Radios & CB Radios & he's also a Ham Operator & good technician.His name is Ed & his number is 904-282-0983 & he's Open on Saturday,Tuesday,Wednesday,& Friday.He is located on CR-218 just outside of Middleburg,Fla.Give him a call & see if he can take care of you & tell him I said,HELLO.I actually made Two more contacts on Sunday so I'm even more exhausted than when I typed the earlier message. {:>) LOL

SIX-SHOOTER
aka:W4KVW