[HBQRP] White Christmas

[Piatt, Darwin]

Greeting to all from Nebraska,

 

Well, Christmas has come and gone and next is the New Year.  2010, gosh, I remember graduating from High School and thinking "1960"?

 

We had a really white Christmas here, like snowed in for 3 ½ days. There was a 7 to 9 foot drift in front of the front door. The snow started coming down Thursday afternoon and it either snowed or blew all day and night until early Sunday morning.  We managed to get out of the housing area last night and take in a move at the local movie house last night. 

 

Santa was really good to me this year; I got the 2010 hand book, the ARRL antenna book and an ARRL 2010 calendar. I found at least two articles in the hand book by N0XAS (Dale), Nice work Dale.

 

With all the snow I even go to go into my 'man cave' and do a little soldering Iron work. Trying to finish a project I've been working on for a friend. Almost there.  I completely re-designed my operating position managing to end up with QRO rigs on one part, QRP rigs on another and odds and end rigs on the 3rd.  I still ended up with room for the computer with set up for HamRadio Deluxe, and PSK. My MasterKeyer (N0XAS) is right next to the Icom 746 and has an extra key line coming out that can be connected to whichever QRP rig needs a keyer at the time.  

I do believe I will never need another keyer, ever.

 

Here is what is on my QRP shelf (all within easy reach). A Heath Kit HW-9 (love it), an OHR-100 (20 meters) with the OHR digital dial. (BTW - the OHR. I think, has the most quiet and best 20 meter receiver I have ever heard in 40 years of playing with CW.) Next is my K1 - 4 bands, a joy to play with. Then comes two MFJ rigs, a 40 meter and a 17 meter.  And don't forget the 80 meter pixie II, the 40 meter pixie II, the 30 meter "My Pixie III". There is a 40 meter DC40A too! Also have a 40 meter SMK-1 which is a hoot to play with.  

 

On the TEN meter shelf is a small FM rig that was an English CB set which was modified by my good friend Larry Bailey W0PYA (G5BRB) that we used while he and I were assigned to RAF Mildenhall, England. Both of the Radio Shack 10 meter rigs are there too, the HTX-100 and the HTX-10. And last but not least is my HY-Gain 23 channel 10 meter FM (5 watts out) modified buy my crazy friend Richard K7SZ (G5CSU) (Rich was there in England with us). 

Which reminds me, I need to get my 10 meter beacon back on 28.2075. reports will get a QSL card.

I have faith, I listen on 29.6 anytime I am in the shack.

 

I will not even go into the shelf titled, Projects to build. At last count there were nearly 20 boxes up there with everything from 2N22XX, BITX-20, SWL30, Another Twofer, another ALT and a SLT, one MKRS-80 SSB rig and lots of stuff I can't remember. You know, the kind where you look in the box and say to your self, I thought I had one of those :-) Sometimes it is just like Christmas just going through some of the boxes to see what is there.

 

Gosh, this got long.  So, now it is your turn, let the rest of us in on what you are working on, what you plan to work on, let's not be so quiet out there.

And if your are having issues with a kit and need some advice, our group is full of real radio Geeks who are always willing to help fix whatever it is.

 

And as a reminder, the next get together of the Midwest Homebrewers and QRP group is Jan 9th.  Bring something you are working and show it to the rest of us. We will take pictures! :-)

 

And speaking of pictures, I will post a couple of my new operating set up, just don't show them to my XYL, if she sees all that, she might not understand why I really, really need that Dual Bander from Doug.

 

Everyone have a safe and Happy New year.

 

72's and 73's from NE. 

Don't forget SKN....

 

Cheers.

 

Darwin (Dar) Piatt - W9HZC

Midwest HomeBrewer's and QRP Group

http://www.hbqrp.org <http://www.hbqrp.org/>