covid and hf radios

yes they are flying off the shelves.
out of stock is a common notice you see..
I recently bought a back up IC 7300.
I really miss my FT817nd.
The new 818 looks good but seems like the Collins cw filter is no longer available.
Is this true?
its $170 which is quite steep.
sota offers a digital ssb/cw filter kit for $60 but it requires some modifications to the 818
 not sure I am up for that.....
?????

Long time no post. Bad band conditions

 If you are A QRP operator right now you have extreme patience much more than I.
 The bands are not very good at all ........the qso’s are FT 8 and  FT4 are the only modes guys and gals are able to use

QRP CONTEST ON OCT. 1st

2 hr sprint 2000z - 2200z SSB and CW.
C/O the North Georgia QRP Club.
The Peanut Power Sprint
We need to decide if this will be a group contest (multi) or individuals turning in a group score
See the details on their website

Birds-1 cube sats operational

5 countries worked together to place 5 of these cub sats in orbit.
They were released from the ISS over the weekend and have been
In orbit and operational.
CW beacon, FM voice "song" and data/telemetry are being tramsmitted.
Satview.org and n2yo.com are sites which will help you see when the
"Birds" are near you....

Hay Wagon was LOTS of fun !

FD 2017 -operation Hay Wagon

Hamfest Saturday

The Milford Hamfest was nice.

We saw old friends, and made a few new ones.

The old Ten Tec C22 found a new home, and I

picked up another vibroplex bug for the collection.

Thanks to everyone for stopping by and hanging out

under the canopy shade.

Now lets get ready for field day 2017......

JT 65 is a new mode we will get to learn about

72

Field Day basic info

call sign:    N8Q

class:   2AB

multiplier:    X 5

Location:   classified

Solar, batteries, wire antennas, ssb/psk31/jt65/cw

Cricket Net Tonight 3579.5

Please listen in as most of the kit builders from our Tech Session, check in to our net tonight.
we are very excited to work each other and possibly other crickets too!
maybe we can obtain the 10 contacts needed to get the 4SQRP cricket award!
72

Cricket Kit Build Pictures...we had a lot of fun

Field Day Site and Call Sign

A Field Day Site has been secured and
a Special call sign has been granted.
site is at 688' elevation.
Operation hay wagon

interested operators will be provided  co-ordinates and
call sign info soon.

Remember that the Tech Session build is this
Saturday June 3rd. 10am, FFTWP Police Dept.
downstairs training room.

QRP total off the grid field day

 QRP, stealth battery only field day emergency communications operation/drill
Wire antennas, paper logging.
1 CW Station, 1 Phone station.
All participants wear, tan, brown, green or camo clothing
All participants to have personal survival gear with them at this drill. (ie:bug out bag)
Station area to be covert /stealth / hidden with camo tarp or netting.
One meal to be MRE's, gott canister with water or gatorade..... cooler items ok.
Location will only be disclosed to participants.

In a real incident, its possible the public will panic, mob, rush, and otherwise disrupt any known communications effort.  officals could confiscate known e-comm teams and equipment for various reasons.

Being undercover, clandestine,  and stealth is the best way to survive, pass traffic, and stay connected and informed of whats happening inside and outside the affected area. A stealth comm's center will better avoid chaos.  

If you are a prepper, survivalist, this type of exercise will be more like what will really take place and be needed.

This will not be a welcome center, public proclamation type site.
Plenty of fellowship and social time will be enjoyed, by participants.

Operators will use 5 watts with wire antennas, and attempt to contact as many sections as possible using battery power, solar, or wind. No noise producing generators will be used.

Are you in ?
Are you an amateur radio operator ?
Do you have a preparedness/survivalist interest ?
Will you wear earthy or camo clothing during this drill ?
Will you keep on your person, personal protection, and have a bug out bag/backpack on site ?
Not disclose to anyone the site location ?

This drill will take place June 24-25th.

Post Hamvention Comments

Overall, on a scale of 1 to 10, Hamvention 2017 was an 8, 8.5
The rain really kept the rating from being a 9, 9.5

Too much grass, field usage makes weather a huge factor for Greene Co. Fairgrounds

Meeting old friends, making new ones is the Highlight of the weekend.
Seeing new equipment, and finding all the small parts needed for projects was a plus too.

I hope you enjoyed Hamvention. Remember to find and attend any local hamfest events in your area.

magazines periodicals and a ssb/cw kit

A local ham recently gave me 3 boxes of QRP magazines, periodicals, and handbooks.
What a treasure. I plan to share these at our meet ups and tech sessions.

Also  received a MMR 40, ssb/cw kit from the famous Hendricks kits.
whenever this project makes it to the workbench, it will be my first attempt at
building a ssb rig.

I hope everyone who can attend Hamvention does so, and will give DARA,
and your fellow hams patience as we discover and fellowship at the new
venue. It being a new location, will bring issues, good and maybe not so
good.

don't forget FDIM in Fairborn, SWODXA dinner Downtown Dayton,
Contest University, and countless other off site activities.

72

Tech session/group kit build June 3rd

CincinnatiQRP will host a tech session on June 3rd.
10am, til..... @ FFTWP PD downstairs classroom.

The kit is called a cricket. Its a newly designed and released
80m, cw only, single frequency, 1/2 watt rig.

New (to me) HF Vertical antenna

Yesterday I bought and picked up an antenna from a fellow SWODXA member.

Its a like new Cushcraft MA8040v, 2 band top loaded vertical.

The tried and true HF2V, was very old and still not right after the tree trimmers dropped limbs on it last year.

Most of the top hat resonator section was left assembled. I measured and installed it yesterday.

Dip on 40 is around 6.800 and on 80 around 3.700

Today Im going to adjust some measurements and try to get it closer to the lower end of both bands for cw/digital work.

A web page about the antenna is here : MA8040V

local radio group kit build right after hamvention

There are 2 great kit builds available and they would be excellent choices for new builders.
First is a solder practice kit pictured below.

Second and more exciting for me will be a neat little rig called a "cricket".
Its a cw , 1/2w, 80m kit with everything needed except a 9v battery and antenna.

Once these kits are made, I will plan, then schedule a net for our group... so we can use these little transceivers. For our morse code newbies, just sending your call slowly during check in will be easy to learn. (or building an auto keyer to mate with the kit)!

These kits are made possible by the great folks a 4SQRP.
check out the web site....(click link below)

4 State QRP Group

this is the cricket....

this is the solder practice kit.....

hybernation/sleep mode over

Hello Fellow QRP'ers
After a long time of no activity here on Cincinnati QRP, Ive wiped away the log in and password dust to reactivate this blog.
I hope those who read this, if anyone, get some benefit from the postings.

Band conditions as they are, QRP operating now requires more patience, fortitude, and effort.

As I type this, the "QRP To The Field" operating event is in progress. I have considered participating, but its cool and wet here today, and suggested locations are near creeks and rivers. Not the highest locations to operate ! hi. I would use an FT817 with an End Fed for 20/40m.

Also look for the 4SQRP group to offer a new kit soon. Its called a cricket. I may try to get several local radio group members to consider a build a thon once they become available.

I now hope to find time to do some QRP operating. Ive not been on HF for some time.
If that's true for you, I hope you will commit a little time this weekend to play radio.

72 ...

Solar cycle decline

As our cycle continues to decline, think about building and erecting better antennas for the low bands.

30 meters and down will have the most impact for dxing and domestic contacts.
Over the holiday weekend, I put up a low dipole here. Its around 250' long but only 15 ft. high.
Using a balun at the feed point, along with a tuner, Im able to get on 40,60,80 and 160m

Ive checked the reverse beacon, and it works. I still need to spend time on the air in the late evenings and nightime making contacts.

Consider your yard size. How long of a wire antenna can you install?
End fed, sloper, dipole, loop skywire, etc.
Put up the longest and highest antenna you can and give it a try....

Are you ready ?

Do you take radio equipment everywhere you go?
Do you have more than one ? (mobile and handheld)
Do you have fully charged batteries, generator, solar panel(s)?
Do you keep HF capabilities with you at all times? (including dipole or NVIS antenna)

HW-8 Picture

It is in very good condition and came with a power supply.
I worked a station in Wisconsin using a cloud burning 2 watts !