Thanks for the kind words, Dennis! We sure had a lot of fun over the years with your club and that one time you fixed the antenna up for us at the Russellville Hamfest! I will never forget those young contest dudes that came through the forum and saw the
Small Wonder Labs QRP rig, asking what is this good for? One of them, got a nice European run and if I remember right? That same year the hamfest was on ARRL CW. It was a highlight reel for sure. I loved seeing their faces and comments as they were leaving
the room.
In the last few years, Kathy calls it my before SK sale, I sold off or thinned out the QRP little rig herd. I still have one of those rigs that cover 4 bands. It is a MRT version, but I can't remember the model. Still brand new and never fired up! I will
probably sell it now that I have the QMX. I still have some kits, but nothing air worthy. Also have the Icom 705, but mainly use that to talk with K5VR on 70cm. Afraid I will drop it if I take it outside, but Pat W5VY uses his 705 for Hilltopping VHF and
UHF! The first rig I never fully understood all it can do!
There are a few things I would change in the QMX. Have a back jack for external speaker, fold up feet in the front ( Danny took care of that for me ), a dedicated mic jack in the back and front for SSB. Oh, I would add enough diodes to drop the voltage down
to 12 volts and below. The range is from 6 volts to 12 volts and nothing below or beyond that range. It would only take about 6 diodes in series to be right in the sweet spot.
Know what you mean about the grass! I have a great mowing machine, but it needed attention and maintenance this week. UGH right in the heat, but saved us about a $1000 doing it myself. I normally check the bolts before mowing season while getting it grease
up. These Diesels tend to vibrate enough to loosen up bolts. The one year I didn't check them, I had Muffler bolts loosen up and even had a rear wheel fall off. I never thought to check those since toque specs are 80 FT Ibs. The Kubota is around 10 years
old and the parts guy says it happens all the time at this age of the mower! They are still making the 1211 model to this day! Those axle lug bots and nuts had some screw up threads and that took a while to clean up the axle holes. Didn't know if a normal
tab would work or not, but I did have a plan B. Thankfully I didn't have to use Plan B!
Welcome to my world on the washer! I do feel your pain! You may have to belly up and just buy a new one? Still, I bet you can find a repairman that has a good bone yard to leaned you the parts to keep that one going until the new parts come it? That is
what my number 1 step daughter did. BTW, she is attached to that unit I bought her as a wedding gift. I keep telling her that their will come a time it will have to be replace and she says NO. Gezz, I think it is now going on 21 years old. I thought it
was going to be this year, but she conned her repairman to keep trying to fix it! It took several tries. The machine doesn't owe her one bit. With 4 kids and a husband it, runs nonstop nearly every single day! Good luck with your repair!
Now that my chores are all done, I am hoping I am good to go for this year's FD! Last year I did all the weedeating and mowing right before FD kicked off. I got too hot and was sick right before Friday. Hydrate well Dennis! Enjoy ARVARF! Please tell the
guys I said hi! This year I hope things turn out differently for me. Kathy spent the whole weekend at BVRC FD. 73 de jay/w5jay..
Subject: Re: [ADXA] Great day, no lip turned upside down now. VEC Cert, new rig, and QSL card!
You and Kathy have always been good ambassadors for ham radio, so it’s fitting that you enlisted as VE’s. I’ve enjoyed it for many years, started sometime in the 80’s. I do ARRL and W5YI and participate in some remote sessions
for both. I was dubious about the remote testing at first, but it seems plenty secure. We test some very interesting people.
I’ve thought about a QMX and I’m sure you’ll have fun with it. I’ve got a QDX (digital only) from the same manufacturer. I’ve got way too many QRP CW rigs. The latest is an
MTR-4B, which also runs off 9V. It’s fun to see how many you can work in a DX contest on a single smoke alarm battery.
I’ll run some CW with ARVARF this FD weekend (not QRP). It won’t be all-out like I used to do with Nick, but I hope to get a couple hundred Q’s or more, along with actually getting some sleep.
Mowed the yard today mid-afternoon and didn’t die. Washing machine quit and the part won’t be available for at least 6 months. First world problems!
73,
Dennis
Well, Well, Well, The Pony- Express finally got out of Central Arkansas and made it to the promise land! No more lower lip syndrome here in NWA! Really would have been happier with LOTW confirmation and not having the card checked!
Also, I got a super neat rig from Danny W5CI. Look at the size of it and will be great to have it portable with an upcoming trip with my grandkids. Trying my best to get #1 grand take the amateur radio test! Thanks Danny! BTW, if you haven't seen this radio
before look up QMX on YouTube, you will not believe what it can do and it fits in the palm of your hand! If you have seen the latest Aurora from Flex, it is using some of the same technology, EER and APD! All bands and modes are included in this radio!
Even runs off a 9 volt battery!
Also got in the mail today, Kathy and I's VEC credentials. It was signed by a very famous DXer K5UR. I guess when I see him at the next hamfest I will have to knell down and kiss the ring again! I always do this. Kathy was excited to see the certificate
and Rick's name and signature on it! Can't wait to help Don K5DB and BVRC out bringing new hams into the hobby.
Great day and such fun that such simple things bring a smile to one's face! Also worked a few new grids 6m off the 80/40 Fan Dipole!
Thanks for the read! I had to brag to the list and do a little show and tell! 73 de jay..