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- Written by: Maintenance Guy
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Bring a project, a story, a packet of biscuits, a friend. It doesn't matter.
I'll be bringing my laptop and doing a brief demo of my latest build - a software development.
I'm writing a suite of programs to manage my radio activities, so on-air operations both in the field and back in the shack. It's a simple concept, designed to make managing my activations, QSO's and associated notes easy to capture, organise, view and share, and it works like nothing else that I know of.
The first part is a lightweight field-logging component which is easy to use and fault-tolerant. It's at the working prototype phase, and just needs a few minor changes but is fully working and field-tested.
I'll do a short presentation, and if there is any interest, I'll maybe do a proper talk on it later in the year. Here's a sneak-peek of the main operating screen:
Maybe see some of you on Friday evening.
73
Berni M0XYF
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- Written by: Maintenance Guy
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I spend too much time wandering around YouTube watching various technical channels to learn more about the topics which interest me.
I thought that a few members may also be interested in this particular video, as it combines several strands of geekery, crossing-over between similar hobbies and niches. I promise that it specifically includes a segment on amateur radio! I don't think Mark sold it to the public particularly well, but we'll all get it.
Some of you may have come across Dominic Chinea who appears on the TV show 'The Repair Shop', as does Mark Stuckey. Dom's YouTube channel often covers engaging projects (mainly restoration), but this week's episode takes a visit to Mark Stuckey's own house and workshop. The tour starts in a shed and moves onwards and upwards from there...
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- Written by: Maintenance Guy
- Category: News
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Bob has sent a message to let us know that he has hit a significant milestone in his Parks On The Air hunting activities.
It's quite a feat when you actually stop and think about it. Three and a half thousand UNIQUE parks contacted around the world.
Well done Bob. As we get a bit older and maybe a little less mobile, we can all continue to talk to our friends and enjoy a technically challenging hobby on a global playing field.
Below are a few of the stats:
POTA STATS 04/18/2026
Hunter Standing: 667
Parks Hunted: 3503
Awards: 48
Badges: 39
Endorsements: 127
Early Shift QSOs: 3199
Late Shift QSOs: 268
DX Entities Hunted: 32
States (Need AK HI): 48
Total POTA QSOs: 13683
CW: 11437
MFSK (FT8 FT4): 385
SSB: 1861
Congratulations Bob. More than that, I'm glad your're still enjoying your radio and breaking new ground.
Bob passes on his best wishes to all at MSARS.
Berni M0XYF
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- Written by: Maintenance Guy
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Ken G3WYN has decided to move the Sunday morning net back to 80m on the original frequency of 3.740 MHz plus or minus QRM.
I think several of the regular participants have been finding it increasingly difficult to both hear and be heard on 40m of late, as band conditions have become pretty disappointing.
Please call-in to the net if you get a chance. It's a good excuse to get out in the garden and create yourself a new 80m antenna at least.
Regards,
Berni M0XYF.
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- Written by: Chris G4ZCS
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Following on from last month, I have had a little luck and a little problem.
The problem was that the shack RF suppressor choke decided to stop working. So a quick check and I found an open circuit in the band selector switch circuit. So a temporary lash up using the 40m band choke selected for 12m. It will have to do for a while.
The month started off with 135 DXCCs in the log and a big one to chase, Bouvet Island down in the Antarctic sea. I was listening to see if I could hear them with nought for a couple of days. Then on the 3rd, 12m FT8 sprung into life. In spite of calling 3Y0K from his third CQ, no reply. On the 6th he was working NA but I thought I'd try anyway. He seems to have had a filter to lock EU out, but about tea-time I got a reply but no confirmation. However two days later I got a complete contact for another ATNO, and it's confirmed. Whoopie!
In the meantime, J51A kept popping up, so I worked him, again, 5 band slots!
So back to the RF suppressor problem. A careful inspection highlighted an un-soldered connection.
After finding the soldering iron, I re-made the joint and hey presto! It all works again.
With all this activity going on I discovered that I had qualified for another certificate. Over the years I have been working the Bulgarian Saints station, 75 in all to date. The colourful certificate is a bit religious (unlike me) but will look good on the shack wall.
As things were quiet, I decided to have a play with FT2. Thanks to Berni who got me off the starting blocks and then Steve GJ6WRI who helped by sending the latest version of one of the programs.
This still has bugs (loads of them) which I am sure will be sorted soon. So a quick look at the log and IK0QKN is safely logged as my first FT2 contact. On the evening of the 23rd I managed to work 14 quick-fire, using a paper log & search & pounce. I can now see why the auto CQ button has been included. More of this later.
Back to DX working and a longish list of ATNOs including XX9W, S21WD, and T88KH. The IOTA count is 25 including 3Y0K, CY0S and S21WD. My grand DXCC total now stands at 295, only 5 more to the magic 300!
This month was the CQ WW WPX contest on SSB. Unfortunately my voice was not up to much, so I just contacted a couple of rarer DXs for the points.
Perhaps it is a coincidence, but I haven't heard the interfering over the horizon radar this month, suggesting the source might have been in the middle east. Long may it remain silent.
So as we come to the end of the month with a clock change, not too bad a tally. Hopefully a few more next month.
PS. Can anyone help please. I worked a station call E97YNO/P in grid BL 84 (near Hawaii)
Any ideas what this is about?
Cheers & Good DX,
Chris, G4ZCS
