From bmarx at bellsouth.net Wed Jul 3 10:03:50 2019 From: bmarx at bellsouth.net (Bill) Date: Wed, 3 Jul 2019 10:03:50 -0400 Subject: [QCWA Everglades Chapter #69] World Wide Radio Operators Foundation Announces Global Digital DX Contest In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: From Tony N2MFT: World Wide Radio Operators Foundation Announces Global Digital DX Contest 07/01/2019 image.png The World Wide Radio Operators Foundation (*WWROF* ), in collaboration with the Slovenia Contest Club (*SCC* ), has announced the World Wide Digi DX Contest (*WW Digi* ), which it hopes will become an annual event. The inaugural running of the 24-hour contest will take place on August 31 ? September 1. The new contest aims to tap into the enthusiasm being generated by the new digital modes pioneered by Joe Taylor, K1JT, and the /WSJT-X/ Development Group. Participants will use FT4 and FT8 on 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, and 10 meters. The WW Digi will utilize a distance-based scoring system, with participants earning points based on the distance between grid square centers of the two stations in a given contact. ?This will encourage operators to seek out long-distance, weak-signal contacts that highlight the technical advantages of the new digital modes,? WWROF?s announcement said. To encourage activity across all bands, each new two-character grid field contacted on each band will be a multiplier. The final score will the product of total contact points and grid square contacts. Single-operator and multioperator entries are invited to take part. ?The contest has been designed to enable making contacts utilizing standard /WSJT-X/ software behavior, making it easy for non-contesters to participate,? the announcement said. ?At the same time, the contest supports some new techniques that will encourage operating innovation, such as permitting stations to work up to three ?QSO streams? on a band at one time. Robotic operation is specifically prohibited in order to keep the human element as part of the game.? Similar worldwide DX contests are planned for August through November. Plaques will be awarded to top scorers. (*Contact* WW Digi Contest Director Ed Muns, W0YK, to sponsor an award.) Downloadable electronic certificates will be available for anyone who submits a log. WWROF plans to have results available within 90 days of the contest?s conclusion. WWROF is dedicated to improving the skills and fun of Amateur Radio operators around the world by utilizing education, competition, advancement of technology, and scientific research, promoting international friendship and goodwill. It is a nonprofit, donor-supported organization. http://www.arrl.org/news/world-wide-radio-operators-foundation-announces-global-digital-dx-contest From bmarx at bellsouth.net Sat Jul 6 20:18:47 2019 From: bmarx at bellsouth.net (Bill) Date: Sat, 6 Jul 2019 20:18:47 -0400 Subject: [QCWA Everglades Chapter #69] A Blackstar During the Solar Minimum Low: Solar Storm Forecast 07-06-2019 Message-ID: <7d381a06-7f00-9d66-e41c-700ef2737b45@bellsouth.net> TamithaSkov https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q066gUaSsAU&feature=em-uploademail From bmarx at bellsouth.net Sun Jul 7 07:55:19 2019 From: bmarx at bellsouth.net (Bill) Date: Sun, 7 Jul 2019 07:55:19 -0400 Subject: [QCWA Everglades Chapter #69] Chasing Grids - GridMapper Message-ID: <4ae8e190-7ecb-b19d-aed1-3b95e3bb0873@bellsouth.net> /From the WSJT Group: Upload an ADIF file it tracks them for you.../ -Bill W2CQ WG7J's GridMapper v1.6.8? - Please upload an ADIF v2 file, and we will plot all worked grids! http://wg7j.reinalda.net/gridmapper/gridmapper.php From bmarx at bellsouth.net Sun Jul 7 07:59:25 2019 From: bmarx at bellsouth.net (Bill) Date: Sun, 7 Jul 2019 07:59:25 -0400 Subject: [QCWA Everglades Chapter #69] More Chasing Grids - GridMapper In-Reply-To: <4ae8e190-7ecb-b19d-aed1-3b95e3bb0873@bellsouth.net> References: <4ae8e190-7ecb-b19d-aed1-3b95e3bb0873@bellsouth.net> Message-ID: Here's another way from the same group...some say it's better. "Download the #1 utility from my QRZ page...it will extract unique grid entries from an ADIF file. https://www.qrz.com/db/W9MDB de Mike W9MDB" /From the WSJT Group: Upload an ADIF file it tracks them for you.../ -Bill W2CQ WG7J's GridMapper v1.6.8? - Please upload an ADIF v2 file, and we will plot all worked grids! http://wg7j.reinalda.net/gridmapper/gridmapper.php From bmarx at bellsouth.net Sun Jul 7 08:38:00 2019 From: bmarx at bellsouth.net (Bill) Date: Sun, 7 Jul 2019 08:38:00 -0400 Subject: [QCWA Everglades Chapter #69] Site For Amateur Radio Operators Using macOS and iOS: Message-ID: *Updated site for Amateur Radio Operators Using macOS and iOS:* -Bill W2CQ https://www.machamradio.com/ From bmarx at bellsouth.net Wed Jul 24 08:00:25 2019 From: bmarx at bellsouth.net (Bmarx@bellsouth.net) Date: Wed, 24 Jul 2019 08:00:25 -0400 Subject: [QCWA Everglades Chapter #69] Fwd: HAL - founder SK References: <418139435.5963892.1563963490648@mail.yahoo.com> Message-ID: > HAL Communications Cofounder, President Bill Henry, K9GWT, SK > A cofounder and later president of HAL Communications, George W. ?Bill? Henry, Jr., of Monticello, Illinois, died on July 17. An ARRL Life Member, he was 78. HAL Communications formally got its start in 1972 among hams and graduate students at the University of Illinois at Urbana, but the company?s history goes back a few years before. > Henry once explained that the name HAL was chosen by partner George Perrine, who picked the name because it was ?one letter ahead of IBM.? > HAL Communications grew into a successful supplier of RTTY and digital communications modems, terminal units, and software, including CLOVER. Henry sold his stock in the enterprise to Barrett Communications in Australia in 2012, which continues to operate HAL Communications as a standalone business unit. > From bmarx at bellsouth.net Sun Jul 28 13:22:08 2019 From: bmarx at bellsouth.net (Bmarx@bellsouth.net) Date: Sun, 28 Jul 2019 13:22:08 -0400 Subject: [QCWA Everglades Chapter #69] =?utf-8?q?Dan_Romanchik_-_KB6NU?= =?utf-8?q?=E2=80=99s_Column_Dan_Romanchik=2C_KB6NU?= References: Message-ID: > Can you copy at 20 words per minute by hand? > By Dan Romanchik, KB6NU > About a month ago, this email from the ARRL was send to the CWOps mailing list: > From: Fusaro, Norm W3IZ [mailto:w3iz at arrl.org] > Sent: Monday, July 1, 2019 4:00 PM > Subject: W1AW Code Proficiency Certificate > > Greetings Morse Code Enthusiasts. > > I have some exciting news that I want to share with you! The ARRL has reinvigorated the W1AW Code Proficiency Certificate program. Several things have changed beginning with our new sponsor, Vibroplex, a legend in Morse telegraphy equipment. If you see Scott Robbins W4PA and the Vibroplex team at a hamfest or convention please be sure to thank him for his support. The Vibroplex logo will appear on the newly designed certificates (see below) and in the award recipient page that will appear every month in QST. > > That?s right, each month in QST we will publish the most recent recipients of the W1AW Code Proficiency Certificate, beginning with all the 2019 recipients. As a bonus, we are sending all the 2019 CPC holders a new certificate at no cost to replace their older style award. > > The award is available to anyone who copies one solid minute of code during the qualifying runs. Complete program details can be found on the web at http://www.arrl.org/code-proficiency-certificate. > > And to make the award available to more people we will double the number of opportunities to copy the CW text. Beginning September 2019, the qualifying runs will increase from twice per week to four times per week. > > I am sharing this advanced notice with the Morse code clubs so that you can share it with your members. I have attached PDF files of the new certificate and the announcement that will appear in August QST, available in digital format July 8. I hope you are as excited about this as I am. > > In closing, I want personally thank all of you who promote the use and proficiency of Morse code on the air waves and ask that you challenge your club members to submit their copy for the W1AW Code Proficiency Certificate. > > 73, > > Norm Fusaro, W3IZ > Director of Operations > > Almost immediately after I posted this to my blog (at KB6NU.Com), my friend, Paul, KW1L, replied, ?How does one copy legibly at 40 wpm?? When I replied, ?Typing,? he countered, ?On page 98 of the July 2019 QST, it says, 'Legibly copy at least 1 minute of text by HAND...'? > To this, I replied, ?Well, I guess you and I are both screwed then. I can?t copy by hand at 20 wpm, and it?s really not worth it to me to practice and get that fast. I?m guessing that I?m not alone in this regard. The upshot is that the ARRL is going to be sending out a lot fewer of these Vibroplex certificates than they think.? > I then emailed W3IZ for a clarification. He shot back, ?By hand is to mean not using a code reading machine.? I suggested that he clarify this, both on the ARRL website and in QST. Of course, they haven't yet taken my suggestion, and the website still reads, ?Copy one of W1AW's qualifying runs and submit one minute of solid copy (legible).? > ============================= > Dan Romanchik, KB6NU, is the author of the KB6NU amateur radio blog (KB6NU.Com), the ?No Nonsense? amateur radio license study guides (KB6NU.Com/study-guides/), and is one of the presenters the ICQPodcast (ICQPodcast.Com). Feel free to reply to his CW CQs at any speed you so choose. > > NOTE: You can find an image of the new certificate at https://www.kb6nu.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/2019-Code-Proficiecncy-Certificate-Vibroplex-768x597.jpg > > https://www.kb6nu.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/can-you-copy-at-20-wpm-by-hand.docx > > From bmarx at bellsouth.net Mon Jul 29 11:10:42 2019 From: bmarx at bellsouth.net (Bmarx@bellsouth.net) Date: Mon, 29 Jul 2019 11:10:42 -0400 Subject: [QCWA Everglades Chapter #69] Ft Pierce HamFest August 10th Message-ID: Fort Pierce HamFest - Saturday August 10, 2019 8AM - 1PM (6AM - Setup) $7 Admission Indian River State College 3209 Virginia Ave. Talk-In 147.345 PL Tone 107.2 All Indoor - No Tailgating For More Information: FPARC.net