I meet up with Chris, N9CVR, of The Ham Radio Experience. He shows off his fishing pole vertical antenna and we use it to catch some contacts along the Wolf River at the Mukwa State Wildlife Area, (POTA US-4314).

Check out The Ham Radio Experience: https://www.youtube.com/@hamradioexperience

Ham Things, LLC Fuse Block kit: https://www.etsy.com/shop/hamthingsllc/

More about the Wolf River: https://youtu.be/b913wcueqL0

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The post Ham Radio Fishing Pole Antenna: Catching Contacts on the Wolf River! appeared first on KB9VBR Antennas.

From chapter one of CALLING CQ, written by Clinton B. DeSoto and published in 1941:

Calling CQ! Calling CQ to any amateur radio station!” A thousand times a night that call goes ringing out over the crowded amateur air lanes. It is the general call to any station–an invitation to any other amateur operator who might be listening to step up and chew the rag about anything and everything under the sun.

It is the trademark of the radio hams–that adventurous crew who roam the world at will, a band of good fellows, happy convivial, carefree. This book is their story. In it are tales of their adventures on earth and in the air. Tales of amateur radio….

Then–the question may be heard–what is this amateur radio? What’s it all about? What is it like to be an amateur short-wave operator? Well, it’s like this….

According to the official definition, amateur radio is “radio communication between amateur stations solely with a personal aim and without pecuniary interest.” A comparable definition might describe a diamond as a “carboniferous solid.” Yet, properly mounted, a diamond is a many-faceted gem of dazzling beauty. Amateur radio, too, has many facets.

This is one facet of amateur radio: it is a hobby. “The ordinary life of the ordinary man from whence spring the great majority of hams is a dull, drab and somewhat dreary struggle,” according to one amateur. “Psychologists tell us that periodically one should drop his work for awhile and try something else, that if it be interesting enough one will usually return with renewed interest and zest.” Then this amateur, a successful professional man, continues: “Amateur radio is my hobby. In its pursuit I find the balm of Gilead.”

“Being an amateur gives me the chance to meet people I would otherwise never meet,” says one. “That’s part of it. There’s more to it than that though. If I build a new amplifier or something and make it work I feel that I’m creating something. When I hook up a rig I’ve just finished and I push the key and a fellow in the next state answers me–all this with things I have made with my own hands–why, then I feel like I have accomplished something sort of worthwhile.”

He finds amateur radio “the means of communications with others on equal terms, of finding friendship, adventure and prestige while seated at one’s own fireside,” according to Dr Raymond V. Bowers. “In picking his human contacts out of the air, the amateur is not seen by them…. He is not known by the company he keeps nor by the clothes he wears, but by the signal he emits.

He enters a new world whose qualifications for success are within his reach. A good homemade set gives him more prestige than a commercially manufactured one. There are no century-old class prejudices to impede his progress. He enters a thoroughly democratic world where he rises or falls by his own efforts. When he is W9XYZ the beginner the radio elders help him willingly and when he becomes W9XYZ the record breaker and efficient traffic handler he willingly helps the younger generation. Without a pedigree, a chauffeur or an old master decorating his living room he can become a prince–of the air. At the close of the day, filled with the monotonous routine of the machine age, he can find adventure, vicarious travel, prestige and friendship by throwing in the switch and pounding his signals into the air…”

Read more at RSGB.co.uk

Hurricane Francine strengthened overnight and has become better organized. It’s expected to further strengthen over the Gulf of
Mexico before landfall in Louisiana later today.

PLEASE GO TO THIS LINK FOR MORE DETAILS:

https://www.nola.com/news/hurricane/hurricane-francine-forecast-track-louisiana/article_e7fd5db2-701c-11ef-85f1-77eb1dca1724.html

THERE ARE OTHER SYSTEMS IN THE ATLANTIC THAT BEAR WATCHING.

K5DDT

Our mandatory "bait photo" ~ $35 for a 7" HDMI Display

Those words were barked to a group of US Navy Midshipmen (me included) by Marine Drill Instructors just prior to a barracks inspection during a summer training cruise. 

The Elecraft KH1 isn't even a year old yet. So what am I seeing on the Elecraft KX/KH e-mail reflector?  "Speculation on the KH2" !

Wow! And it that wasn't enough, someone started expounding on what he'd like to see in a KX4!

I must be weird as my KX3 is now over a decade old and I'm still as happy with it as the day I got it. Now I know some of you may be thinking, "But Larry, you just purchased and are playing around with that QMX!" And you would be correct. But I purchased that to keep in the car for impromptu bouts of "radio activity". The price point was such that if my car ever got broken into, and the radio should become attached to someone's sticky fingers, it would not cause me to go jumping off a cliff like a lemming. i would be devastated if my KX3 ever got lifted, especially knowing whomever stole it would have no idea what it was and the radio would probably end up in a dumpster somewhere as they would probably not be able to fence it.

And in turn, the purchase of the QMX has deepened my appreciation for my KX3 even more. I wasn't even sure that was possible!

I've noticed throughout my Ham Radio career, from experiences gleaned by being members of various clubs and organizations that, in one sense, there are basically two types of Hams. And these two types are similar to car owners. "Type 1" will buy a car (or a radio) and will drive it until the wheels fall off (or the finals give out). "Type 2" has to trade in their car every couple of years for the flashiest new design with all the newest bells and whistles (same with radios). They are forever looking for that "penultimate".

Mind you, this is just an observation, Not meant to be disparaging to one type or the other. The second type that I mentioned surely spears on the economy, that's for sure. And I guess they also supply the market for those who are interested in a "pre-owned: model, perhaps looking for a bargain.

I guess it all goes back to "whatever floats your boat". And perhaps without the "Type 2a"  the radio manufacturers would never be motivated to come up with new designs. So "Thank You!" Type 2's for keeping the innovations coming. If it was just us "Type 1s" out here, we'd probably still be using radios that weigh a ton and have tubes in them.

72 de Larry W2LJ

QRP - When you care to send the very least!

When we got back from holiday we found these growing in our two tomato bags. Home grown always smell and taste delicious.

V47T Team will be active from Saint Kitts and Nevis Islands in CQ WW DX SSB Contest, 26 - 27 October 2024.

We returned from our week in Malta yesterday to the cold, rain and green countryside. Everyone we met was kind and helpful. It was hot and sunny almost all the time we were there. The hotel and food were excellent.

However, Malta is very built up (the most dense in Europe) and what little countryside there was was rocky and barren.

If you go on holiday for sun, swimming pools and food it might suit you. Overall, I am glad we went, but I doubt we will return.

Often I forget to submit my entry into this UKAC session. With my pathetic score I shall never even be close to winning, but it is good to show my support. 

It is great to see the activity. The "real" stations were working some serious DX.

 Just 3 stations in the UK spotting me so far today.

UPDATE 0940z:  Just 5 UK stations spotting me.

My 500mW beacon has been on since just before breakfast. Just EA8BFK (2880km) spotting me multiple times. I assume this is F2 propagation. 

 One of my Facebook memories today was the circuit for my 10m WSPR RX on which my 10m FT8 RX was based. See my website for details.

 Solar flux is 205 and the SSN 147. A=7 and K=1.

September 10, 2024 Report #4 as of 1640 hrs.

EOC Activation Level: Level 3 (Virtual Activation)
WebEOC Event Name: TW Sep 10-13, 2024
Crisis Track Event Name: TW Sep 10-13, 2024
Sources: NWS Jackson, NOAA

OVERVIEW:

• A significant risk for heavy rainfall (6-10” of rain) is forecast for Wednesday
  through Thursday night across southern and coastal counties including
  McComb, Poplarville, and Gulfport. This area faces likely flash flooding,
  numerous roads may be flooded, closed or washed out. Flooding of
  structures increasing likely and minor to moderate river flooding is likely.
• An elevated risk for heavy rainfall (4-6″ of rain) is forecast for Wednesday
  through Thursday night across much of central and southern Mississippi,
  including areas around Jackson, Vicksburg, Natchez, Brookhaven,
  Hattiesburg, and Laurel. This area faces likely flash flooding, possible road
  closures, and potential minor river flooding.
• A limited threat (2-4″ of rain) extends across the remainder of the state,
  including Tupelo, Laurel, Yazoo City, Greenville, Greenwood, Eupora,
  Columbus, Kosciusko, Clarksdale, Tunica, Southaven, Oxford, Corinth,
  Philadelphia, and Meridian with localized flash flooding possible, particularly
  in low-lying and urban areas.
• An elevated wind threat from Tropical Storm Francine is expected
  Wednesday afternoon through Thursday afternoon in the southwestern
  corner and coastal areas of Mississippi, including Natchez, McComb,
  Brookhaven, Poplarville and Gulfport. This elevated threat includes wind
  gusts of 45-55 mph, with potential for widespread downed trees and
  powerlines, some damage to roofs and homes, many blocked roads, and
  power outages possibly lasting several days. The rest of the state, including
  Jackson, Greenville, Tupelo, and the Gulf Coast, faces a limited wind threat with gusts of 30-45 mph, some downed trees and powerlines, some blocked
  roads, and possible power outages for 1-2 days.
• A slight risk for severe storms is forecast for Wednesday afternoon and night
  across coastal Mississippi, including Hattiesburg, Gulfport, and Poplarville.
  Isolated severe storms with damaging wind gusts and a few tornadoes are
  possible. A marginal risk extends across eastern portion of the state,
  including Tupelo, Columbus, Philadelphia, Meridian, Magee, Laurel, and
  McComb, with the possibility of isolated severe storms, a few tornadoes, and
  damaging wind gusts. The timing for severe weather is mainly late
  Wednesday afternoon after 5pm into early Thursday morning.

TIMING:Wednesday through Thursday night.

RAINFALL (MS): https://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/

• 4-7″ of rain is expected across much of central and southern Mississippi,
  with locally higher amounts possible. This covers a larger area than just
  southern Mississippi.
• 2-4″ of rain is forecast for northern Mississippi and the southeastern corner
  of the state, also with locally higher amounts possible.
  FLASH FLOODING POTENTIAL (MS): https://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/
• Flash flooding is likely in the elevated threat area. This includes the
  possibility of some roads being flooded/closed and some structures possibly
  threatened with inundation.
• In the limited threat area localized flash flooding is possible, particularly in
  low-lying and urban areas. Minor river flooding is possible in both threat
  areas.

WATCHES/WARNINGS (MS): https://alerts.weather.gov/cap/ms.php?x=1

• Tropical Storm Warning – Until Further Notice: Lincoln, Pearl River,
  Southern Jackson, Southern Harrison, Southern Hancock,
  Northern Jackson, Walthall, Southern Harrison, Pike, Amite, Northern
  Hancock, Northern Harrison, Wilkinson, Southern Hancock, Stone
• Storm Surge Warning – Until Further Notice: Southern Harrison, Southern
  Jackson
• Tropical Storm Watch – Until Further Notice: Greene, Perry, Adams,
  Forrest, Franklin, Lamar, Copiah, Covington, Jefferson Davis, Simpson,
  Jefferson, Claiborne, Marion, Lawrence, Lincoln
• Flood Watch – Until 9/12/2024 @07:00 CDT – Wilkinson, Amite, Pike,
  Walthall, Pearl River, Northern Hancock, Northern Harrison, Northern
  Jackson, Southern Hancock, Southern Harrison, Southern Jackson,
• Flood Watch – Until 9/12/2024 @ 1300 CDT: Madison, Leake, Hinds,
  Rankin, Scott, Newton, Claiborne, Copiah, Simpson, Smith, Jasper, Adams,
  Jefferson, Franklin, Lincoln, Lawrence, Jefferson Davis, Covington, Jones,
  Marion, Lamar, Forrest, Wayne, Perry, Greene, Stone, George
• Flood Warning – Until 9/12/2024 @ 0700 CDT: Hancock
• Flood Warning – Until 9/13/2024: Harrison, Pearl River, Pike
• Flood Warning – Until 9/14/2024: Harrison
• Tropical Cyclone Statement – Until 9/10/2024@18:30 CDT: Wilkinson,
  Amite, Pike, Walthall, Pearl River, Northern Hancock, Northern Harrison,
  Northern Jackson, Southern Hancock, Southern Harrison, Southern Jackson,
  Claiborne, Copiah, Simpson, Jefferson, Adams, Franklin, Lincoln, Lawrence,
  Jefferson Davis, Marion, Lamar

I appeared on ABC radio last night discussing the tech news with Philip Clark. "Google's new "pixel 9" phones were revealed last month, and this morning, Apple hit back with new products, including a new iPhone. Tech Guru Peter Marks, software developer and technology commentator from Access Informatics with Philip Clark on Nightlife and the latest news and issues in technology." You can listen

Kolkata: The organisation of ham radio operators in Bengal has written to the principal secretary...

This was St John’s Co Cathedral in Valletta yesterday. I prefer East Anglian simple churches! It seems there is gold leaf everywhere.

My 2.5W 6m FT8 has been on for the last few hours. Spotted by 7 stations (mostly England) with the furthermost DK8NE/6 (702km). See map.