From bmarx at bellsouth.net Mon Jan 4 17:01:00 2021 From: bmarx at bellsouth.net (Bill) Date: Mon, 4 Jan 2021 17:01:00 -0500 Subject: [QCWA Everglades Chapter #69] M0JCQ's Ham Blog - "Top 10 FT8 Operating Tips" References: Message-ID: M0JCQ's Ham Blog Top 10 FT8 Operating Tips 23 Dec 2020 I?ve been slow off the mark with this blog post, but years ago I posted my Top 10 PSK31 Tips for Beginners guide and it was really popular at the time. I?ve held off writing this post, so that it could be a (hopefully) genuinely useful post, as opposed to just jumping on a hot trend! Over the last few years PSK31 and its variants were replaced by a new data mode? FT8. This data mode has truly come to dominate both the HF and VHF bands, to the extent that it?s becoming rarer to find much SSB and CW activity, regardless of any other data modes on a given band! The following tips are comprised of my experience of using FT8 for a few years, since it was first released back in 2017. I?ve had 3,000+ FT8 contacts across bands from 160m right through to 70cm. 1. Stick to a Single Frequency This is probably where a lot of beginners go wrong. Try and find a clear frequency and then stick with it, regardless of whether you call CQ or respond to others. The /*Hold Tx Freq*/ option is your friend in WSJT-X: Hold TX Freq option in WSJT-X Hold TX Freq option in WSJT-X This will ensure that you always transmit in the same place and importantly you don?t keep hoping around the band. Why does this matter? Well, you?re more likely to be decoded if you?re replying to another station off of his own frequency. If you move to their frequency then you could be competing with other stations. Also we?ve all had it, where we?re happily running on a frequency, then a station works you and then proceeds to stay there and call CQ on ?your? frequency. It?s annoying and typically the other station isn?t even aware they?re doing it! 2. Time Synchronization is Key If you?ve used data modes like RTTY and PSK31 in the past, then you?re probably used to random receive and transmit cycles where you click a signal and transmit as soon as the other station has finished. FT8 (and the other WSJT-X modes) demand perfect timing, so perfect it?s beyond most of us to get right! If you?re computer clock is off by 2 seconds or more, then most likely your signals won?t be decoded by others, and no one else will even see your calls! Your native Windows clock is likely to drift very quickly, unless you keep it trained to an accurate clock via the internet. I personally use Dimension4 to do this. It?s free and every 30 minutes it automatically synchronises my PC clock with an accurate reference online. 3. Learn the WSJT-X Colour Coding WSJT-X helpfully colour codes your decoded messages, so you can spot important messages quickly. If a new DXCC starts calling CQ which you?ve not seen before then this will be highlighted in dark purple (by default), if it?s a new DXCC for you on the band, then it?ll be highlighted a lighter shade of purple. Useful! It?s worth taking a look at the ?Colors? tab within the WSJT-X settings and learning these. This will allow you to quickly act on something you may ?need? like that rare DXCC or that rare grid square. WSJT-X Message Colours WSJT-X Message Colours 4. See Where You?ve Been Decoded The PSKReporter.info website is a very useful tool to find out first of all if you?re getting out, and secondly where in the world you are being heard! This gives you an almost real time summary of the propagation on your chosen band, it?s a great way to just understand the possible HF paths which may be open at a certain time of day. Being received well in JA on 20m My messages were being received well in Japan on this day (using 20m) I typically have this running and check it every 20 minutes to see what I might be able to work or how propagation is changing to favour a certain area of the world. Observing this resource has allowed me to work a lot of DX: Pileup of JA stations on 20m FT8 Pileup of JA stations calling me on 20m 5. Persevere One misconception is that FT8 can be like shooting fish in a barrel, but it?s not always easy to ?work the world?. The vagaries of propagation still come into play. Conditions can change quite quickly with openings appearing and fading out. If a station doesn?t respond to your call straight away, try leaving it calling them for a few cycles. The conditions might just swing in your favour, then they can decode your message. This is another great reason to operate away from the other station?s frequency; you can continue calling them while they?re in a QSO, without you interrupting it and you might end up possibly being worked straight after. I used to give up a bit too quickly, but found that perseverance (especially with DX stations) usually paid off. 6. Enable ?Deep? and ?AP? Decoding Without going into too much technical detail here, your FT8 decoding will be more sensitive if you set your WSJT-X decoding settings to ?/Deep?/ and ?/Enable AP?:/ Enable AP in WSJT-X Enable AP in WSJT-X Deep decoding throws more of your computer power at decoding the signal. While AP (a priori) uses heuristics and known information to decode messages, which otherwise wouldn?t be decoded. Deep decoding comes with a performance penalty, your computer may not decode all received signals before the next time period starts. While using my old shack laptop, I found this to be a problem when decoding a busy 20m band, but after upgrading I use it all the time now. You can always drop back to ?Normal? decoding if you notice this. Enabling AP on the other hand can introduce some unusual side effects with the decoded message. If the callsign looks funny, then it?s probably incorrect. It easy to see which messages had AP applied to them: Decoded message using AP Decoded message using AP Use your brain here ? if it looks funny to you, then it?s probably not right! 7. Can?t Decode a Strong Signal? Lower your RF Gain Sometimes you?ll see a large signal on the Waterfall, but WSJT-X can only occasionally decode it, but at worst just cannot decode any of the messages at all. The station seems to be transmitting accurately timed signals, but nothing shows up, how strange! I?ve noticed this occurring during strong openings, especially during Sporadic-E season on 6m, where strong signals of 10dB+ just won?t decode. I?ve found that simply turning down your rigs RF Gain will allow the messages to be decoded. A simple fix, but if you?ve not used other data modes you might not think to do this! 8. Not Getting Many Replies to your CQ Call? Change Frequency You may find that for whatever reason you are not getting any responses to your CQ calls. This could be down to a number of factors, but it?s always worth checking to see if your chosen frequency is clear within your chosen TX timeslot. If another station is transmitting on your frequency or nearby during your TX timeslot, then other stations may not be able to decode your messages in order to even see your CQ messages. Even if you still can?t see anything else when just receiving during your timeslot, there could well be another station on the same frequency which your DX is seeing, but you?re not. I?ve found it worth while moving frequencies, if you?re not getting much luck, it usually works! 9. Change Timeslots If you?ve spent a while using one timeslot (say even TX), then why not switch to the other one? This might net you a whole new haul of stations to work. For me this usually leads to an (initial) increase in contacts and obviously allows you to work stations not worked in your other timeslot. I tend to keep switching between these timeslots every 20 minutes or so. How to switch TX timeslots in WSJT-X How to switch TX timeslots in WSJT-X A word of warning here: make sure there are no timeslot conventions on your chosen band. VHF bands have a convention where your timeslot is chosen based on your location, in order to prevent nearby stations interfering with each other, when you?re all trying to receive distant and weak DX. Your RF neighbours won?t thank you for breaking this convention. 10. Pay Attention to all Received Messages to Spot DX WSJT-X will decode all messages across the 3kHz spectrum of the band you?re using (or less depending on your radios selected filter). This can result in many decodes on a busy band like 20m. I?ve spotted quite a lot of DX and then subsequently worked them, without ever seeing them call CQ! DX stations are often overwhelmed by stations calling them, so don?t often need to call CQ. By monitoring all messages (not just highlighted CQ messages) in the left hand ?Band Activity? pane, then you might just spot some rare DX lurking. You might also notice a number of other stations calling a DX station during your RX timeslot. A simple switch to the other timeslot and you might just be able to decode and then work them. This has netted me a number of DX stations I would have otherwise missed by just paying attention to CQ messages only! M0JCQ's Ham Blog http://www.hamblog.co.uk/top-10-ft8-operating-tips/ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From bmarx at bellsouth.net Mon Jan 4 17:01:00 2021 From: bmarx at bellsouth.net (Bill) Date: Mon, 4 Jan 2021 17:01:00 -0500 Subject: [QCWA Everglades Chapter #69] M0JCQ's Ham Blog - "Top 10 FT8 Operating Tips" References: Message-ID: M0JCQ's Ham Blog Top 10 FT8 Operating Tips 23 Dec 2020 I?ve been slow off the mark with this blog post, but years ago I posted my Top 10 PSK31 Tips for Beginners guide and it was really popular at the time. I?ve held off writing this post, so that it could be a (hopefully) genuinely useful post, as opposed to just jumping on a hot trend! Over the last few years PSK31 and its variants were replaced by a new data mode? FT8. This data mode has truly come to dominate both the HF and VHF bands, to the extent that it?s becoming rarer to find much SSB and CW activity, regardless of any other data modes on a given band! The following tips are comprised of my experience of using FT8 for a few years, since it was first released back in 2017. I?ve had 3,000+ FT8 contacts across bands from 160m right through to 70cm. 1. Stick to a Single Frequency This is probably where a lot of beginners go wrong. Try and find a clear frequency and then stick with it, regardless of whether you call CQ or respond to others. The /*Hold Tx Freq*/ option is your friend in WSJT-X: Hold TX Freq option in WSJT-X Hold TX Freq option in WSJT-X This will ensure that you always transmit in the same place and importantly you don?t keep hoping around the band. Why does this matter? Well, you?re more likely to be decoded if you?re replying to another station off of his own frequency. If you move to their frequency then you could be competing with other stations. Also we?ve all had it, where we?re happily running on a frequency, then a station works you and then proceeds to stay there and call CQ on ?your? frequency. It?s annoying and typically the other station isn?t even aware they?re doing it! 2. Time Synchronization is Key If you?ve used data modes like RTTY and PSK31 in the past, then you?re probably used to random receive and transmit cycles where you click a signal and transmit as soon as the other station has finished. FT8 (and the other WSJT-X modes) demand perfect timing, so perfect it?s beyond most of us to get right! If you?re computer clock is off by 2 seconds or more, then most likely your signals won?t be decoded by others, and no one else will even see your calls! Your native Windows clock is likely to drift very quickly, unless you keep it trained to an accurate clock via the internet. I personally use Dimension4 to do this. It?s free and every 30 minutes it automatically synchronises my PC clock with an accurate reference online. 3. Learn the WSJT-X Colour Coding WSJT-X helpfully colour codes your decoded messages, so you can spot important messages quickly. If a new DXCC starts calling CQ which you?ve not seen before then this will be highlighted in dark purple (by default), if it?s a new DXCC for you on the band, then it?ll be highlighted a lighter shade of purple. Useful! It?s worth taking a look at the ?Colors? tab within the WSJT-X settings and learning these. This will allow you to quickly act on something you may ?need? like that rare DXCC or that rare grid square. WSJT-X Message Colours WSJT-X Message Colours 4. See Where You?ve Been Decoded The PSKReporter.info website is a very useful tool to find out first of all if you?re getting out, and secondly where in the world you are being heard! This gives you an almost real time summary of the propagation on your chosen band, it?s a great way to just understand the possible HF paths which may be open at a certain time of day. Being received well in JA on 20m My messages were being received well in Japan on this day (using 20m) I typically have this running and check it every 20 minutes to see what I might be able to work or how propagation is changing to favour a certain area of the world. Observing this resource has allowed me to work a lot of DX: Pileup of JA stations on 20m FT8 Pileup of JA stations calling me on 20m 5. Persevere One misconception is that FT8 can be like shooting fish in a barrel, but it?s not always easy to ?work the world?. The vagaries of propagation still come into play. Conditions can change quite quickly with openings appearing and fading out. If a station doesn?t respond to your call straight away, try leaving it calling them for a few cycles. The conditions might just swing in your favour, then they can decode your message. This is another great reason to operate away from the other station?s frequency; you can continue calling them while they?re in a QSO, without you interrupting it and you might end up possibly being worked straight after. I used to give up a bit too quickly, but found that perseverance (especially with DX stations) usually paid off. 6. Enable ?Deep? and ?AP? Decoding Without going into too much technical detail here, your FT8 decoding will be more sensitive if you set your WSJT-X decoding settings to ?/Deep?/ and ?/Enable AP?:/ Enable AP in WSJT-X Enable AP in WSJT-X Deep decoding throws more of your computer power at decoding the signal. While AP (a priori) uses heuristics and known information to decode messages, which otherwise wouldn?t be decoded. Deep decoding comes with a performance penalty, your computer may not decode all received signals before the next time period starts. While using my old shack laptop, I found this to be a problem when decoding a busy 20m band, but after upgrading I use it all the time now. You can always drop back to ?Normal? decoding if you notice this. Enabling AP on the other hand can introduce some unusual side effects with the decoded message. If the callsign looks funny, then it?s probably incorrect. It easy to see which messages had AP applied to them: Decoded message using AP Decoded message using AP Use your brain here ? if it looks funny to you, then it?s probably not right! 7. Can?t Decode a Strong Signal? Lower your RF Gain Sometimes you?ll see a large signal on the Waterfall, but WSJT-X can only occasionally decode it, but at worst just cannot decode any of the messages at all. The station seems to be transmitting accurately timed signals, but nothing shows up, how strange! I?ve noticed this occurring during strong openings, especially during Sporadic-E season on 6m, where strong signals of 10dB+ just won?t decode. I?ve found that simply turning down your rigs RF Gain will allow the messages to be decoded. A simple fix, but if you?ve not used other data modes you might not think to do this! 8. Not Getting Many Replies to your CQ Call? Change Frequency You may find that for whatever reason you are not getting any responses to your CQ calls. This could be down to a number of factors, but it?s always worth checking to see if your chosen frequency is clear within your chosen TX timeslot. If another station is transmitting on your frequency or nearby during your TX timeslot, then other stations may not be able to decode your messages in order to even see your CQ messages. Even if you still can?t see anything else when just receiving during your timeslot, there could well be another station on the same frequency which your DX is seeing, but you?re not. I?ve found it worth while moving frequencies, if you?re not getting much luck, it usually works! 9. Change Timeslots If you?ve spent a while using one timeslot (say even TX), then why not switch to the other one? This might net you a whole new haul of stations to work. For me this usually leads to an (initial) increase in contacts and obviously allows you to work stations not worked in your other timeslot. I tend to keep switching between these timeslots every 20 minutes or so. How to switch TX timeslots in WSJT-X How to switch TX timeslots in WSJT-X A word of warning here: make sure there are no timeslot conventions on your chosen band. VHF bands have a convention where your timeslot is chosen based on your location, in order to prevent nearby stations interfering with each other, when you?re all trying to receive distant and weak DX. Your RF neighbours won?t thank you for breaking this convention. 10. Pay Attention to all Received Messages to Spot DX WSJT-X will decode all messages across the 3kHz spectrum of the band you?re using (or less depending on your radios selected filter). This can result in many decodes on a busy band like 20m. I?ve spotted quite a lot of DX and then subsequently worked them, without ever seeing them call CQ! DX stations are often overwhelmed by stations calling them, so don?t often need to call CQ. By monitoring all messages (not just highlighted CQ messages) in the left hand ?Band Activity? pane, then you might just spot some rare DX lurking. You might also notice a number of other stations calling a DX station during your RX timeslot. A simple switch to the other timeslot and you might just be able to decode and then work them. This has netted me a number of DX stations I would have otherwise missed by just paying attention to CQ messages only! M0JCQ's Ham Blog http://www.hamblog.co.uk/top-10-ft8-operating-tips/ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From bmarx at bellsouth.net Fri Jan 8 13:42:59 2021 From: bmarx at bellsouth.net (Bill) Date: Fri, 8 Jan 2021 13:42:59 -0500 Subject: [QCWA Everglades Chapter #69] Stuart Hamfest News In-Reply-To: <0B032A2B-51AA-4FD4-B817-C8903E4EEFBF@mac.com> References: <0B032A2B-51AA-4FD4-B817-C8903E4EEFBF@mac.com> Message-ID: <0d8228be-6e4f-2cac-bb1f-8019bd3aa72a@bellsouth.net> From Barry Porter KB1PA: Dear MCARA Members and Supporters of the Annual MCARA Hamfest: It is with great regret that we announce that the 2021 MCARA Hamfest is cancelled due to COVID-19. For nearly one-year HAM???s around the world have been asked to adjust their plans to avoid social gatherings that could expose them to the pandemic. Our Hamfest is no exception. It is with the safety and health of the amateur radio community in mind that we have made such a decision. We fully expect, and fervently hope to return with a bigger and better Hamfest in March of 2022. Thank you for your continued support. Dave Morris K4AW MCARA President Stuart, Florida (772) 888-5912 From bmarx at bellsouth.net Fri Jan 8 19:00:35 2021 From: bmarx at bellsouth.net (Bill) Date: Fri, 8 Jan 2021 19:00:35 -0500 Subject: [QCWA Everglades Chapter #69] ARLB003 FCC Invites Comments on Expanding the Number of Volunteer Examiner Coordinators In-Reply-To: <20210108213648.297682084BC8@bmail.arrl.org> References: <20210108213648.297682084BC8@bmail.arrl.org> Message-ID: <246e17ea-839e-d992-eded-c3c3419880ff@bellsouth.net> SB QST @ ARL $ARLB003 ARLB003 FCC Invites Comments on Expanding the Number of Volunteer Examiner Coordinators ZCZC AG03 QST de W1AW ARRL Bulletin 3 ARLB003 > From ARRL Headquarters Newington CT January 8, 2021 To all radio amateurs SB QST ARL ARLB003 ARLB003 FCC Invites Comments on Expanding the Number of Volunteer Examiner Coordinators In a January 5 Public Notice, the FCC requested comments on whether the current 14 Volunteer Examiner Coordinators (VECs) are sufficient to facilitate the efforts of their accredited Volunteer Examiners (VEs) in administering amateur radio examinations. The ARRL VEC is the largest of the 14 VECs in the US. Comments are due by February 5, and reply comments are due by February 19. After Congress authorized it to do so, the FCC adopted rules in 1983 to allow volunteers to prepare and administer amateur radio examinations, and it established the system of VECs and VEs. The Public Notice can be found online in PDF format at, https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DA-21-9A1.pdf . "VECs introduced consistency into the volunteer examiner program by centralizing accreditation of volunteer examiners, coordinating the dates and times for scheduling examinations, and managing the various administrative tasks arising from examinations," the FCC said. Authorized VECs may operate in any of the 13 VEC regions but must service at least one region. The FCC pointed out that some VECs now offer remote examinations. "The Commission has long maintained 14 VECs and now seeks to consider whether they continue to serve the evolving needs of the amateur community, or whether there are unmet needs that warrant considering expanding the number of VECs." The FCC Public Notice provided questions for framing comments: * Are the existing 14 VECs sufficient to coordinate the efforts of Volunteer Examiners in preparing and administering examinations for amateur radio operator licenses, or are additional VECs needed? * What needs are currently being met, and which needs, if any, are not? * If the FCC were to allow additional VECs, how many more would be needed to satisfy existing Amateur Radio Service license examination needs? (The FCC indicated that it will likely cap the number of additional VECs at five.) * Given that VECs use a collaborative process to create examination question pools and volunteer examination administration protocols, would additional VECs enhance or hinder this process? * How would increasing the number of VECs address the unmet needs, if any, of the amateur radio community, and what obstacles or complications could result from increasing the number of VECs? Interested parties may file short comments on WT Docket No. 21-2 via the FCC's Electronic Comment Filing Service (Express) at, https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/filings/express . Visit the FCC's "How to Comment on FCC Proceedings" page for information on filing extended comments at, https://www.fcc.gov/consumers/guides/how-comment . NNNN /EX From bmarx at bellsouth.net Mon Jan 11 16:21:43 2021 From: bmarx at bellsouth.net (Bill) Date: Mon, 11 Jan 2021 16:21:43 -0500 Subject: [QCWA Everglades Chapter #69] Hamvention Cancel In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <5db0fefa-c415-f576-8f78-7bfe02c00527@bellsouth.net> Well did not take a Genius to figure this was going to happen. I am glad they did this, otherwise next year Estate sales on Ham Radio equipment will have been overwhelming...-Steve W4DTA Hamvention 2021 Cancelation Release: Unfortunately, several setbacks in the recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic make necessary the difficult decision to cancel Hamvention 2021. Hundreds of volunteers have been working to do everything necessary to bring this Hamvention to the many amateur radio enthusiasts and vendors who support the Dayton Hamvention. Vaccine distribution both in the United States and around the world is lagging behind what was planned. In addition, the emergence of a more communicable form of the COVID-19 virus increases the potential for further public health problems in the next few months. We make this difficult decision for the safety of our guests and vendors. Those who had their tickets deferred last year will be deferred again. Stay tuned for information about a QSO party for the Hamvention weekend. We???ll be back next year!!! Executive Committee, Dayton Hamvention 2021 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- ______________________________________________________________ South Florida DX Assoc. "SINCE 1974" SFDXA WebSite: http://www.SFDXA.com SFDXA Repeater 147.33+ 103.5 Tone To Post: mailto:SFDXA at mailman.qth.net To UNSUBSCRIBE/EDIT: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/sfdxa This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net From bmarx at bellsouth.net Tue Jan 12 12:30:28 2021 From: bmarx at bellsouth.net (Bill) Date: Tue, 12 Jan 2021 12:30:28 -0500 Subject: [QCWA Everglades Chapter #69] How To Solder(not) References: <5a6589bf-7b64-9904-a068-6d406acfd6d2.ref@bellsouth.net> Message-ID: <5a6589bf-7b64-9904-a068-6d406acfd6d2@bellsouth.net> An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: cnemmfhehiookihm.png Type: image/png Size: 327415 bytes Desc: not available URL: From bmarx at bellsouth.net Fri Jan 15 08:33:58 2021 From: bmarx at bellsouth.net (Bill) Date: Fri, 15 Jan 2021 08:33:58 -0500 Subject: [QCWA Everglades Chapter #69] W9EVT's Vast Collection of Vintage Ham Radio Equipment References: Message-ID: In case you haven't looked at this collection lately...I sat next to hi at a Collins dinner a few years ago. A fascinating conversation it was: - Bill W2CQ https://www.qrz.com/lookup/w9evt -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From bmarx at bellsouth.net Fri Jan 15 09:15:12 2021 From: bmarx at bellsouth.net (Bill) Date: Fri, 15 Jan 2021 09:15:12 -0500 Subject: [QCWA Everglades Chapter #69] Many movie lines are timeless ....(but made for ham radio) References: Message-ID: From another list" Most of us love watching movies. Many movie lines are timeless and we still quote them today, in normal conversation. Some of them seem to have been written just for Ham radio use. Check these out: 1) When the bands are blacked-out by a solar flare: ? ? "Luke, there was a great disturbance in the force." 2) After several attempts to copy a weak station, you finally throw in the towel: ? ? ?"Coach, sometimes you just gotta cut a man loose." 3) Something in your rig makes sparks just as a contest is winding down: ? ? "I love the smell of ozone in the morning. Smells like victory" 4) ?Here?s your official FCC Radio Badge?: ? ? ??Badges? We don?t need no stinking badges.? 5) ?Your radio is messing up my TV show?: ? ? ??Frankly Scarlet, I don?t give a damn.? 6) You just cracked a huge pile-up: ? ? ?Yo Adrian, I did it !!!!? 7) You?re helping W8ERD put his big loop back up: ? ? ?We're gonna need a bigger boat.? 8) You?re pondering a tower climb with inadequate safety equipment: ? ? ?"...You've got to ask yourself one question: 'Do I feel lucky?' ? ? ? Well, do ya, punk?" 9) ?Do you have a permit for this Ham radio??: ? ? ?"Excuse me while I whip this out." 10) A huge M-Class flare wipes out the bands during the Texas QSO Party: ? ? ? "Houston - we have a problem." 11) A ham responds to your CQ by simply throwing his call out, so you?re not sure who he is calling: ? ? ?"You talkin' to me?" 12) Someone?s having trouble copying you so you fire up your amp: ? ? ?"Say hello to my little friend!" 13) And finally, your neighbor says you?re QRMing his TV but his problem lies elsewhere. He threatens to contact the FCC: ? ? ? "Go ahead, make my day." -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From bmarx at bellsouth.net Sun Jan 17 08:47:20 2021 From: bmarx at bellsouth.net (Bill) Date: Sun, 17 Jan 2021 08:47:20 -0500 Subject: [QCWA Everglades Chapter #69] Recording from 1956 In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <5b6adea6-bb45-f214-0e6a-406ee7b09aa3@bellsouth.net> /From Norm W4QN:/ Very prophetic - can't vouch for the narrative, but it seems good. *How old were you when this was recorded?* * * https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gLS4qfapZ2w -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From bmarx at bellsouth.net Sun Jan 17 09:47:40 2021 From: bmarx at bellsouth.net (Bill) Date: Sun, 17 Jan 2021 09:47:40 -0500 Subject: [QCWA Everglades Chapter #69] Recording from 1956 In-Reply-To: References: <206051362.2675728.1610857005274@mail.yahoo.com> Message-ID: /*OK Norm said he got caught LOL:*//* *//*It isn't true...*/ https://observers.france24.com/en/20201021-debunked-viral-PSA-video-1956-coronavirus-fake-news On 1/17/2021 8:45 AM, Bill wrote: > Very prophetic - can't vouch for the narrative, but it seems good. > > *How old were you when this was recorded?* > * > * > https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gLS4qfapZ2w > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From bmarx at bellsouth.net Sun Jan 17 17:26:17 2021 From: bmarx at bellsouth.net (Bill) Date: Sun, 17 Jan 2021 17:26:17 -0500 Subject: [QCWA Everglades Chapter #69] A warning from the FCC regarding the use of radio equipment In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: FroM Tony N2MFT: WARNING: AMATEUR AND PERSONAL RADIO SERVICES LICENSEES AND OPERATORS MAY NOT USE RADIO EQUIPMENT TO COMMIT OR FACILITATE CRIMINAL ACTS https://www.fcc.gov/document/amateur-personal-radio-users-reminded-not-use-radios-crimes -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From bmarx at bellsouth.net Thu Jan 21 11:59:09 2021 From: bmarx at bellsouth.net (Bill) Date: Thu, 21 Jan 2021 11:59:09 -0500 Subject: [QCWA Everglades Chapter #69] The HamCation QSO Party References: <85baa06b-5e69-6baa-51b2-2308ce72b4ad.ref@bellsouth.net> Message-ID: <85baa06b-5e69-6baa-51b2-2308ce72b4ad@bellsouth.net> Clubs ? Please share with your membership. The HamCation QSO Party has been organized to create a fun way for amateurs to celebrate the Orlando HamCation experience over the air.? The QSO party will replicate the camaraderie and social experience of attending HamCation and provide a way to have fun on the radio since HamCation 2021 will not be held due to Covid-19. The HamCation QSO Party will be a 12-hour QSO Party on the HamCation weekend of February 13, 2021 from 10:00 am EST Saturday to 10:00 pm EST Saturday. It will be a CW and SSB on-the-air operating event on 80, 40, 20, 15, and 10 Meters, during which anyone can work anyone! Categories will be High Power (more than 100W output), Low Power (100W output or less) and QRP (5W output or less).? All participants will be single operators, as there is no multi-operator category. Information exchanged during a QSO will be NAME, STATE/PROVINCE or COUNTRY and the outside temperature at your QTH.? We are including temperature at your QTH as a way of highlighting Orlando?s mild February weather. There will be special event stations to heighten the fun and challenge of participating in the QSO party.? Nine Special Event 1x1 stations will be active that will spell out ?HAMCATION?, such as K4H, W4A, K4M, etc. Scoring and Reporting: ??? Each QSO will count as 1 point.? Stations may be worked once on each band and mode. ??? All entrants will report their scores on www.3830Scores.com. ??? Submitting of logs is not required, nor will they be collected. Final results will be based on the information submitted to 3838Scores.com. ??? Guests operating at a station must use their own callsigns and submit their scores individually. ??? A copy of the HamCation QSO Party rules may be found at: ?https://www.hamcation.com/special-event-station Plaques and Certificates: ??? ICOM-sponsored Plaques will be issued to the top winner in each Category. ??? All Participants who work all nine of the 1x1 HamCation stations will be able to download an ICOM-sponsored certificate for this special achievement. ??? All participants will be able to download an ICOM-sponsored certificate for their participation in this historic event. HamCation QSO Party Committee Copyright ? 2021 Orlando HamCation, All rights reserved. You were added by the request of the Florida Contest Group to distribute information on an upcoming QSO Party during HamCation weekend in February 2021. Our mailing address is: Orlando HamCation PO Box 574962 Orlando, FL 32857-4962 Add us to your address book -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From bmarx at bellsouth.net Fri Jan 22 16:36:57 2021 From: bmarx at bellsouth.net (Bill) Date: Fri, 22 Jan 2021 16:36:57 -0500 Subject: [QCWA Everglades Chapter #69] Radio Amateur is Co-Leader of Just-Published Blood Plasma Research Study References: <52ab2ff2-a687-af5e-c4d2-d044478b5356.ref@bellsouth.net> Message-ID: <52ab2ff2-a687-af5e-c4d2-d044478b5356@bellsouth.net> Radio Amateur is Co-Leader of Just-Published Blood Plasma Research Study /From The ARRL Letter for January 21, 202//1/ Scott Wright, K0MD -- a well-known amateur radio contester and past editor of the /National Contest Journal/ (/NCJ/) -- was a co-principal investigator of a research project into the use of convalescent plasma to treat COVID-19 patients. The study, Convalescent Plasma Antibody Levels and the Risk of Death from COVID-19, appeared in the January 13 edition of the prestigious /New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM)/. The study began early last April under the co-leadership of Wright and Dr. Michael Joyner, MD, both of the Mayo Clinic; Dr. Peter Marks, MD, PhD, Dr. Nicole Verdun, MD, of the US Food and Drug Administration, and Dr. Arturo Casadevall, MD, PhD, of Johns Hopkins University. Dr. Marks is AB3XC. The Mayo Clinic was the lead institution for the program. Initially heading up one segment of the study, the Mayo Clinic asked him to formally step in as co-principal investigator and to assume the forward face with the media. "We report a 6.3% absolute reduction in mortality for those who received high-titer convalescent plasma, and a 36% relative risk reduction in mortality for those who received it while not on a ventilator," Wright summarized briefly. "We are hopeful it will have an impact globally where more advanced -- and expensive -- therapies may not be available." The US Convalescent Plasma Expanded Access Program was a collaborative project between the US government and the Mayo Clinic to provide access to convalescent plasma for patients in the US who were hospitalized with COVID-19. The government-supported study collected and provided blood plasma recovered from COVID-19 patients containing antibodies that, it was theorized, could help these individuals fight the disease. Wright said that in contrast with most studies, the investigators designed and carried out the research without help from National Institutes of Health (NIH). "It was an enormous project, not to mention that over 105,000 people enrolled in the study," Wright said. "The /NEJM/ paper is a subset analysis of 3,000 or so subjects. We did a lot of innovative things with the FDA's permission to make this a study that quickly enrolled patients, physicians, and hospitals." Wright said the study participants cooperated with all but five hospital systems in the US and had sites in all US territories overseas and military facilities. "Our physicians locally at the sites enrolled twice as many minority subjects as any randomized clinical trial ever," Wright said, and we had about half men and half women as subjects -- something most trials struggle with." The study has attracted some media attention. Wright was interviewed by NBC News. "We were happy to have some media interest, especially given the other news in Washington, DC, that overshadows this naturally," he said. "It is just a great feeling to have it published and peer reviewed." -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From bmarx at bellsouth.net Sat Jan 23 08:42:57 2021 From: bmarx at bellsouth.net (Bill) Date: Sat, 23 Jan 2021 08:42:57 -0500 Subject: [QCWA Everglades Chapter #69] New Product Site References: Message-ID: - Bill W2CQ Looking for a solution to CI-V problem in linking my radios and interface I found an interesting site with some well thought out and reasonably priced Hubs and other things. I emailed him with some questions about my issue and he answered me promptly and Honestly each time...Rare in today's world. AND all the time as he is trying to get through a Case COVID himself. __ Here is the introduction on his Product page: /In this section, you will find our list of available products from our famous CI-V family of Hubs (*CT-17Bs*), available in 5, 6, 10, 11, and 12 ports, with the possibility of splitting our 10, 11, and 12 ports *CT17Bs *in two separate hubs./ /They are available with *USB*, *Bluetooth*, and in single or dual interfaces./ /Also available to you are our *IAB1 (5 ports) *and *IAB2 (8 ports) *family of products for either 8 pins Din ports ICOM Radios (*756, 746, 9700, etc...*) or 13 pins Din ICOM Radios (*706, 7000, 7100, 7300, etc...*) we even have an *IAB2 *version with both the *7 and 8pins* connectors for those with older radios that want *8 output*. The *IAB *family of products gives you easy access you control pins on these like *PTT, ALC, MOD, AF, BAND Voltages, etc...*/ /Let`s not forget our *remote antenna switch* available for *Dual Radio SO2R (2X6)* or *Single Radio (1X6)* setup and the *antenna interlock daughterboard* for the 2X6 that will not only prevent you from transmitting on an already in use antenna but will also *ALARM *you about it!/ Links to the Site and Products are below: *https://ve2dx.com/* *https://ve2dx.com/products * **/ / -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From bmarx at bellsouth.net Thu Jan 28 10:35:37 2021 From: bmarx at bellsouth.net (Bill) Date: Thu, 28 Jan 2021 10:35:37 -0500 Subject: [QCWA Everglades Chapter #69] What the Heck Is That...? References: <3506e85d-f14d-335e-5ba7-6855e70bf696.ref@bellsouth.net> Message-ID: <3506e85d-f14d-335e-5ba7-6855e70bf696@bellsouth.net> From Ed N4II: __ A site with many samples of the various signals you may hear on the band. Audio and what and where they come from. ___Signal Identification Guide_ https://www.sigidwiki.com/wiki/HF -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From bmarx at bellsouth.net Sat Jan 30 09:54:56 2021 From: bmarx at bellsouth.net (Bill) Date: Sat, 30 Jan 2021 09:54:56 -0500 Subject: [QCWA Everglades Chapter #69] "Silver Keys" References: <9e07809a-8f35-355b-f80b-d122813fda3f.ref@bellsouth.net> Message-ID: <9e07809a-8f35-355b-f80b-d122813fda3f@bellsouth.net> /This was posted on the CWops Reflector by K8MP: - Bill W2CQ/ ?Silver Keys? /with credit to:/ (?The Ballad of The Green Berets?, Staff Sgt. Barry Sadler, 1966) Snagging signals from the sky, Sleepless men with sleepy eyes. Men who code instead of say. Die Hard men of the USA. Silver Keys upon their desks. These are Hams, America?s best, Ten-thousand men will ?test today. Only one wins the USA. Trained in use of every band. Trained in combat with just one hand. Men who ?test by night and day. Butts in seats, to win the USA. Silver Keys upon their desks. These are Hams, America?s best, Ten-thousand men will ?test today. Only one wins the USA. Just upstairs, his dinner waits. ?I?ll be right up.? Again he?s late. He?d rather starve than lose his freq. Saying, ?Tests ain?t won, by the weak?. Silver Keys upon their desks. These are Hams, America?s best, Ten-thousand men will ?test today. Only one wins the USA. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: