From va3rj at torfree.net Fri Jul 11 19:14:24 2014 From: va3rj at torfree.net (NAQCC) Date: Fri, 11 Jul 2014 19:14:24 -0400 Subject: [Fists] NAQCC Sprint Announcement Message-ID: <20140711231426.477F04012682A@sheppard.torfree.net> NAQCC Sprint Wednesday night! Our July sprint is this coming Wednesday evening local time (July 16, EDT - 8:30-10:30PM, CDT - 7:30-9:30PM, MDT - 6:30-8:30PM, PDT - 5:30-7:30PM), which translates as Thursday July 17, 0030 to 0230Z in all cases. I will refer you to the proper URL: http://www.naqcc.info/sprint201407.html There you will find all the details as to time, frequencies and other important information. Certificates: SWA (simple wire antennas) certificates by call area, VE and DX for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place finishers (New!). A Certificate for top score in the GAIN antenna category. Prizes: Too many to list!! - check out the prizes page on our website. This is a monthly event that caters to the CW veteran, the CW newcomer, straight key and bug fans. All are welcome to participate (this includes QRO); but you must use QRP power levels to compete for awards. If you've been hesitant to join in our sprints because you hear other sprints running at breakneck speeds, have no fear. Our sprints are geared to the newcomer to CW and/or contesting. Virtually everyone including the many veteran contesters who regularly enter our sprints will slow down to YOUR speed to help you make your contacts. If you are not already a member of NAQCC... membership is FREE! Now is your chance to join the largest QRP CW Club in the world!! We currently have 7350+ members in: All 50 States - 9 VE Provinces - 100 Countries. Sign up on the NAQCC website today (http://naqcc.info/) and receive a handsome certificate, with your membership number on it, which is good for life. Come join us and have a real good time! 72/73 de Dave VA3RJ NAQCC #0004 for NAQCC http://naqcc.info/ From w2lj at verizon.net Tue Jul 15 20:23:23 2014 From: w2lj at verizon.net (Larry Makoski) Date: Tue, 15 Jul 2014 20:23:23 -0400 Subject: [Fists] 2014 NJQRP Skeeter Hunt Message-ID: <851891.30027.bm@smtp118.sbc.mail.bf1.yahoo.com> Calling all QRPers! The 2014 NJQRP Skeeter Hunt is just a few short weeks away! Get into the great outdoors with your QRP gear and have a ton of fun! All the rules and details can be found at: http://www.qsl.net/w2lj/ And you can apply for a Skeeter Number by sending an e-mail to w2lj at arrl.net Just send your name, your call, and the state you intend to operate from - it's as simple as that! 73 de Larry W2LJ Skeeter #13 --- This email is free from viruses and malware because avast! Antivirus protection is active. http://www.avast.com From karl at fistsna.org Fri Jul 18 10:16:56 2014 From: karl at fistsna.org (Karl) Date: Fri, 18 Jul 2014 09:16:56 -0500 Subject: [Fists] For those working on becoming CW Ops Message-ID: <002401cfa292$eff4b370$cfde1a50$@org> It's time to check in and see how all the soon to be CW ops are doing. Do hope you are sticking with the sessions every day working on your recognition. Remember, please; don't get frustrated, it is a new language. Patience is the key, my friends. It doesn't matter which program you are using, just stick with it. If you have progressed to the point where you are pretty comfortable with recognizing the letters, numbers and punctuation you are hearing, it is time to try some copying. If you are using the K7QO course, the second CD is a good one for copying words. If you are using some other program see if they also have word copying practice. There are quite a few free programs out there you can download, search them out, if you wish. Oh yes, there are some you have to pay for, but they may not be any better than the free ones. Another source is to turn on your rig and just find a QSO that sounds like it is at a comfortable speed and try to pick out as much as you can. http://www.rufzxp.net/ is a great free program that helps with copying call signs. You can go in and slow the speed down to 40 characters per minute, which figures to about 8 wpm. And, you can adjust it up later. Oh yes, it is a free download. Yes, I know you are getting that serious itch to get on the air, but hang on just a little while longer. Get your copying down, in your head, with pencil/pen and paper or typing, your choice. Do not expect to be able to copy 100% at first, but is something you can work towards. Again, patience is the key word. Plus, on air CW is much different than through most programs, you have band conditions, QRM and QRN to deal with. Oh, what are those? Google "Q Codes" and you will find the list, print it off. Good learning tool. While you are at it search for CW abbreviations and print those, too. Interesting note is that CW ops originated the art of abbreviating words and phrases long before texting can around. Now time to fire up your synapses and get your brain working the other way, this is going to help with your sending. You want to be able to think a letter, number or punctuation and know right away what the Morse code "Dit's and Dah's" are, without really thinking about it. Good way to do this is to look at billboards, advertising signs, street signs, pretty much anything and get your brain to send the letters. If you are with someone else who is not a CW op or ham, you might not want to sound these out out loud. There really is a reason for all of this, really. You are learning a unique language. It takes time to get comfortable with it. I and all the other CW ops out there do want you to really enjoy it once you get on the air. Throwing your hands up in frustration, tossing your key in the back of a drawer or against a wall, means we have lost a CW op. We do not want that. We want to meet you on the air and have some great QSO's. So, hang in there, keep up the sessions each and every day, and practice the copying and also the sending in your head. You are getting closer to getting on the air. 73's for this time. Karl, KB1DSB From karl at fistsna.org Sat Jul 19 18:11:54 2014 From: karl at fistsna.org (Karl) Date: Sat, 19 Jul 2014 17:11:54 -0500 Subject: [Fists] FISTS, NA Chapter, KeyNote Message-ID: <008b01cfa39e$74809da0$5d81d8e0$@org> One of the things that active FISTS members look forward to is receiving our NA Chapter KeyNote. With the transition since Nancy, WZ8C became a SK, this has been one area of concern. How does the KeyNote get put together, laid out, sent to the printer and then mailed out. Some of the moving parts to the process were just a matter of setting things in place. Thanks to Dan, KB6NU, we now have someone who has a great deal of experience serving as our KeyNote Editor. Dan is a consummate professional and will not just throw something together and rush it off to the printer and call it done. Dan is a volunteer, like all who serve the NA Chapter. He does, however, have to share his time with earning a living and other obligations. This upcoming issue for which you all have been waiting is in the works. It is a special one as it will be a memorial to Nancy, WZ8C, our founding NA chapter president, as well as a reference issue. The reference section includes the things our chapter has to offer its members which Nancy, along with others brought to fruition, among other pertinent things. I can only ask your patience as this issue is completed and moved to printing. One final note, the NA Chapter will sometime in the future offer the KeyNote in a format which can be downloaded by active members from our web site. This, too, requires some logistics to accomplish. Print issues will continue to be mailed out to all active members, as many have expressed the desire for them in that format as well. 73's Karl, KB1DSB FISTS, NA Chapter, president karl at fistsna.org From karl at fistsna.org Tue Jul 22 20:31:17 2014 From: karl at fistsna.org (Karl) Date: Tue, 22 Jul 2014 19:31:17 -0500 Subject: [Fists] FISTS, North America, Revised Annual Dues (effective 7/22/14) Message-ID: <009101cfa60d$6bfca9a0$43f5fce0$@org> Under 18 years of age - free 80 years of age and older - free Joint HandiHam/FISTS membership - free Family membership (with one member of family as active member) - free College Student - $10.00 per year 65-80 years of age - $10.00 per year Regular membership - $15.00 per year For the following: under 18, 65-80 and the 80 and older groups, you must supply your birth date when you join or renew. HandiHams must forward your current Membership Certificate in the HandiHam program, either life or annual, as per our agreement with them to quality. This can be attached to an email or by mail. If you are a current active (dues paying) member of our chapter and qualify for a lower dues rate contact me by email, off list. I will prorate an extension of your expiration date. This is being done on the honor system. No verification of age is required. However, the chapter does reserve the right to require hard copy verification if it is perceived that abuse is taking place. You may now join or renew with the above rates on our website by going to: http://fistsna.org/howdoi.html . You may pay by PayPal or you may pay by check or money order per instructions on the same page. Free family memberships should download the application form and annotate the active member's call and FISTS number on the application of the family member. 73's Karl, KB1DSB FISTS, NA Chapter, President karl at fistsna.org From karl at fistsna.org Wed Jul 23 12:53:55 2014 From: karl at fistsna.org (Karl) Date: Wed, 23 Jul 2014 11:53:55 -0500 Subject: [Fists] FISTS New Join Versus Renewal by PayPal Message-ID: <013201cfa696$b36faf60$1a4f0e20$@org> GM Folks: I really need your help here. If you were issued a FISTS #, it is yours for life. Whether coming back as active dues paying or asking for the reduced dues you are a FISTS Member. When you renew by PayPal, please hit the correct button, you are renewing your membership. Please do not hit the "NEW JOIN" column button. This is busting my posterior as I am having to search you first to check whether you are already a FISTS or not. No, not looking for a "pity party" here. Just need your help to make my job a little easier. No clarification emails are necessary as I am checking everyone I have received. 73's Karl, KB1DSB FISTS, NA Chapter, president karl at fistsna.org