What a great day…..

The title says it all…  Today we went and played in the park…and we had a blast…

Ante VA2BBW

Bob VA3QV

Martin VA3SIE

Scott VE3VVF

David VE3ZZU (David is on the Right)

with visits from

Bob VA3RKM

VE3JRY Gilberte was also a visitor but was camera shy…

We had agreed to meet at Starbucks at the Elmvale Plaza and then head over to Vincent Massey Park as a group.  Scott who was coming from home in the South and Martin who was coming from another appointment went directly to the park so Bob, Ante and David met for a coffee then headed over…

Scot was waiting for us when we got there and his Ten Tec 40m cw Kit Radio along with a 40m dipole supported by Shakespear Wonder Poles  (20 foot at the apex and 10 feet at each end).

It did not take me long to get unpacked and find two friendly trees so I could string out the W3EDP and get it hooked up to my FT817 along with the LDG QRP Autotuner.

Now I had a couple of sked that I wanted to complete but other than that I wanted to give Ante some radio time as this was his first outdoor event as a Polar Bear and the main contest of the day was the Polar Bear Midnight Madness Event.

Martin was using his KX1 along with a verticals for 20,40 and 80m as shown in his Youtube video (below)

My first contact was a sked with VE2KH Jean Paul from Rouyn- Noranda Quebec which is about 250 miles NNW from Ottawa.  Its close to Kirkland Lake Ontario and I believe his Ice Fishing Shack is on the same lake that Norm VE3NLH has been known to frequent.

He was a solid 5 X 7 here in Ottawa and the report from here was the same and as he was using an IC 703 Icom this was a true QRP Contact.

And I’m willing to bet it was warmer at his Ice Hut on the lake than it was at the picnic table in Ottawa…

We had had a good QSO earlier in the day on 40m before I left home to head out and we had set up the 40m sked for later in the day.

In the park we managed a 5 min or so QSO before he headed back out to check the fishing lines and I had to make the 2nd sked of the day.

I left 40m and jumped over to 80m for the 2nd region Traffic Net on 3.925 which runs at 1345 eastern.  AK2Z Doug was the Net Control and I checked in with him and then had a short QSO with Arnold N1JX after the net.  Ante was looking a bit anxious so I just jumped to 20m and checked in with the Maritime Mobile Service Net on 14.300 and the NCS for the hour was in Florida.  An acceptable signal report  was given concidering I was QRP and then I passed the station over to Ante…

He had borrowed a straight key from Martin and was ready to get started…

Military CW Key strapped to his leg

Now I’m not sure how many contacts Ante made but he sure did have lots of fun and a really silly grin on his face for most of the afternoon.  One contact stands out and that was the one he made with W3FF in Redding CA.  Budd was running 3 watts at his end and Ante was using 5w.  In case you thing the callsign sounds like one you have heard before Budd is the inventor of the Buddipole Antenna System and an avid Portable Operator.

Now if when you followed the link to Budds QRZ Site (above) you will notice that is 2350 miles from Ottawa to Redding CA which at our end works out to be 470 miles per watt using a simple wire antenna up at about 20 feet above the ground.

Now to be honest I am not sure how many contacts were made in total as Martin was making contacts, Ante was making contacts, Scott was making contacts and I made a few contacts but I know everyone had fun…

Martin as you know has a blog and no doubt there will more info there and I’m sure that Scott has updated his blog as well or will be soon so you could check there as well…

Amateur Radio is a hobby and hobbys are supposed to be fun and today that statement is the truth…

We had a blast… or as Martin would say “a  hoot”

73bob

Still going out (in the Rain)

Well this morning weather in Ottawa has forced a slight change in plans…  The light rain with the plus 3 deg C will mean that we will be operating from the covered area in the park.  This is in an area with lots of trees which will make it easier to string out the W3EDP but harder to put up the “ClonePole” without bashing it against a tree so it will stay at home.

The above video is from Last Years FYBO (2009) and we will be in the same location today.

Confirmed Radios and Operators so far are Martin VA3SIE with his KX1 and Bob VA3QV with my FT 817.

In addition we are expecting Doug VE3DLJ, Ante VA2BBW, Dave VE3ZZU and  Bob VE3MPG to show up as well.  The weather is wet but the operating position will be covered so it should be tolerable.  We should be operating mostly CW and Martin and Ante are into that mode and I promised to loan Ante my 817 and Martin is bringing the straight key.

For my part I hope to check into the 2rn Traffic net on 3.925 at 1345 eastern and the Ontario Phone Net on 3.742 at 1600 eastern

Will be playing on the usual QRP CW Freqs depending on band conditions but when its my turn at the mike I will be sliding up to the usual HF Pack Freqs and seeing who is out there…

Hope to hear you…

73bob

HamAntenna Testing on Saturday

Well I got the new antenna so it only seems fitting I take it out to play and see how it does…

The CN32 Horizontal is a 2m to 40m  Horizontal Polarised Adjustable Rigid Dipole antenna that works well in a Portable situation.  According to their advertising it will also handle up to 150w for those of you  don’t like QRP Operations  Its compact design in the un assembled mode is a plus for those who back pack their antennas to the field.

Only things not included would be  vertical support and COAX.

I decided to go with a 7 foot long telescopic painters pole (just under 4 feet long collasped) that I had from a previous project as the vertical support and it will function as a walking stick for me while en route.  Everything else including the 15 feet of RG8X fits nicely in my backpack beside the FT817 and battery pack etc…

On nice thing about this set up is that I also got the vertical bracket which lets me use this antenna as a vertical instead.  Add a counterpoise and a “C” Clamp to attach the bracket to your picnic table and it looks like this…

NO THATS NOT ME IN THE PICTURES…

So for me it works out to be a bonus…  I get a Horizontal antenna for 40m NVIS along with 2m to 40m regular stuff.  If I so desire I also get a 2m to 40 vertical .

All the above pictures were taken from the Hamantenna.com website and as I am using them to say nice things about his products and I am using his products I guess there should be no issues with me using them.

The final test will come tomorrow when I set up in Vincent Massey Park and test it all out but so far they seem very well designed and built so I am expecting nothing but good things if the conditions cooperate.

As a parting comment if I use my pair of 80m hamsticks in place of the coils I would also get 80m giving me 2m to 80m in a portable antenna.  Once the nice weather gets here I will take the camera out and take pictures of each band setting so you can see how it looks and perhaps a couple of videos on Youtube so you can hear how it works as well…

Enjoy your weekend….

73bob

Some new antennas heading this way

On the home front a bit of good news…  I was successful in the purchase of a 6-40m “BuddiPole Style antenna” which I will be hopefully picking up later tonight here locally in Ottawa.

No its not me in the picture

Although I do prefer wire antennas (full size) for portable operations the ease of setting up a small tripod and installing the antenna with no fuss and no muss along with no tangled lines in trees has me thinking of a change.  With the better band conditions making contacts easier on 10,12,15,17 and 20m perhaps this is a good time to try it out.

The second antenna I am looking at is a real (not a “style”)  Buddistick antenna which is reality if 1/2 of a buddipole and used in a vertical configuration along with a single wire counterpoise (or a few if you feel so inclined)  I have a line on one here in Ottawa and currently we are a few dollars apart in the negotiations game but I feel confident.  If I am not successful then theres always buying one retail from the states where the prices are a bit more stable.  I heard that Bud will be at Dayton (like he is every year) so that is also another option.

Once again thanks to Buddipole for the pics…

Now another bonus to the Real Buddistick is that it comes in its own rather neat carrycase so it will fit in my backpack for those taking public transit to the park days.  Less luggage to offend with.

The plan would be to use the “Clone pole” along with my FT897 and 80m Hamstick Dipole Setup to operate 2-80m with my transportable station and then use the FT817 and the “Real Stick” to operate 2-40m as a backpack transportable “Portable Station”  Including the W3EDP in the backpack will give me the added 80m band if needed and a different multiband antenna should the vertical not be working as planned that day.

The added advantage of trying the Buddistick on a SOTA event where the trees may not cooperate or even be there is also a big plus.

Given the level of my physical conditioning having a small as pack as possible could make a SOTA DXPedition a reality.  Failing that I might have to get “Toby” to act as a pack animal (Just like Rooster and Peanut) but in this case I will just get him to carry the defib unit in case I need a boost

You want me to do WHAT!!!!! and go WHERE???

Toby questioning my sanity again!

(Picture courtesy DND)

I can just imagine the SARTECHS now saying things about old men and mountains as they get dropped at the summit from the Cormerant to bring me back.  Perhaps this idea of mine should be re thought just a bit…  The people at 424 squadron work hard enough already without having to jump in to help me complete a QSO…

Anyway at this time its just a dream and a collection of antennas but lets see what turns out once the nicer weather gets here…

73bob

Upcoming QRP Event

UPCOMING QRP EVENT

(CLICK ON THE LOGO TO GO TO THE WEBSITE)

Maplecon 2010

A Gathering of QRPers in Ontario

August 20-22, 2010

Now I got wind of this event from the Ottawa Valley QRP Society Yahoo Group Site and thought I would bring it to your attention. Of course for more information click on the Maplecon Icon (above) and check out their website.

View Larger Map

Seeing that its only 3 hours away from Ottawa I think that their is an excellent chance I will be attending for the 3 days and at this time am planning to bring my QRP/Station along with the equipment for my (currently under construction) RaDAR Station.

More on this as we get closer to the date

The recap of the weekend & upcoming events

I did get a bit of radio time in on the weekend but nothing really out of the ordinary or rare…

A few VHF FM Ragchews and a lot of HF Nets especially on 80m.  I did manage to check into the Trans Canada Net (14.140) on the 20m band on Sunday around 1400 EST and its aways good for the ego to get in on the first call.  Most likely the NCS in VE7Land had a beam aimed east but my signal off a chunk of wire was good enough for him to hear it so I am happy.

I am noticing that 40m is starting to make a comeback and I had a great QSO with Nick VE3NJG on the Sunday Morning Roundtable Net ( 7.055 lsb) which runs from 1100 EST and would be concidered the warm up for the Ontario Swap Shop which starts at 12 noon on the same frequency/mode.

And PLEEZZZEEE before the self appointed Band Plan Cops start to complain please remember that 7.055 is within the Canadian Voice Portion of the 40m band.  Stations with HF Privs can operate “Voice” there if they happen to be in Canada at the time.  When in Rome….  instead its “When in Canada follow IC’s rulings”.

Anyway like I said the band conditons were good enough for me to listen to the Roundtable Net then the Ontario Swap Shop so 40m was stable for over 2 hours.  40m was my fav band a few years ago and if it continues like this it will be again…

I had a couple of chats with Martin VA3SIE over the weekend and it looks like we will be putting some sort of group activity on the air for a couple of events that are coming up.

At the end of March there is the Polar Bear Moonlight  Madness Event (PBMME) and I believe a few of us will be operating for that one.  Although I am not a Polar Bear its a fun way to pass a day playing radio.

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At the beginning of May there is a SOTA event which has “peaked” (sorry I just had to say it…) my interest and although there are more details to be worked out as there are not that many Summits close to Ottawa and so any attempts to operate SOTA will be a major DXPediton for us.  The ski hills will have closed for the season which will be a bonus (no crowds)  but the ski lifts will most likely be closed as well which means humping equipment up the hills after a long drive…

Check back here or at Martins Blog for more information closer to the dates…

Now after the Polar Bears but before SOTA is the South African Radio Leagues RaDAR Contest.  These guys by North American Terms would be a HF Pack Style Group with an ARES Twist.  They set up and play radio in the great outdoors but when they do its with the principal that they are fully self contained and require no support from the outside world and also they are able to operate for a period greater than 24 hours.

If the bands were to cooperate I would love to support this group in the contest by setting up my portable QRP Station with a directional 10-15-20m antenna aimed South East from Ottawa and see what I could do or at least see if I could hear anyone.  If the weather cooperates that Day perhaps an attempt will be made.

Enjoy your week and only 5 more days to the weekend…

73bob

Ever notice…

…that I post more on the weekends???  Seeing that I’m retired I can’t figure out why but I seem to have more to talk about on Saturday and Sunday than I do on Tuesdays and Wednesdays…

Anyway…  In the email inbox came the monthly reminder that my copy of World Radio Online was waiting for downloading off the CQ Website.

If you click on to the World Radio Online Logo (above) you will be brought to the website and then just follow the instructions to Download Your Copy.

As always thanks to the good People at CQ Magazine for giving us a freebee and if you click on the CQ Logo you will taken to their website.

73bob

Forgot a birthday…aw shucks

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAR  “Amateur Radio World of VA3QV”

HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY TO YOU!!!!

Picture courtesy Cakes by Ashley (http://cakesbyashleigh.com)

You realize how hard it is to find a picture of a ham radio birthday cake on the internet?

With everything that has been going on here with the SPAR Winter Field Day, the 2010 FYBO along with the Ontario Phone Net to be honest I just plain forgot…

Anyway…

February 10 2008 was the first posting on this blog…

So after just over two years and 930 blog enteries, 451 comments, and 83,000 visitors we are still here and going strong.

Thank you for your support…

“Dang this ham radio stuff is one heck of a hobby eh!!!”

Photo courtesy VE3MPG

73bob

The secret is out…

Well its not really a secret but in my email mailbox yesterday afternoon the February Issue of the Ottawa Valley Mobile Radio Club Newsletter “The Rambler” arrived before the club meeting…

Right on page 1 was information about the two HF Nets that the club sponsors which are the 40m Pothole Net and the 80m Pothole Net which as mentioned in the past both occur at 1000 Eastern and Saturdays the 40m Net on 7.095 and Sundays Net on 3.760 (both lower side but you should of known that)

Page 1 also informed us that the guest speaker for the evening was my “Partner in Crime” from a few DXPeditions and special event outdoor stations Martin VA3SIE.  Maple Island, Bate Island and several FYBO’s along with many afternoons in the park prove that Great Minds think alike or Fools seldom differ…  Your Opinions may vary…

Martin at the 2010 Winter Field Day

Martin spoke on his efforts with the SOTA Program.  This would stand for Summits on the Air and between the  SOTA Website, the SOTA WIKI and Martins Blog you should have all the information you need on this topic.

Above- The site of Martin’s first SOTA Activation

Its something I would like to try this year when its not as cold, muddy, slushy or all of the above.

But Martin being a bit younger and a bit lighter seems to enjoy it and with the typical Ham Bravado if he can do it…  I can try it…  Now is someone would just show me where the elevator to the summit is…

As we continued on through the Rambler the work of Maurice-Andre VE3VIG is highlighted with the information package for upgrades at the VE3JW Amateur Radio Station at the National Museum of Science and Technology.

Picture courtesy OVMRC Website

You can read about it on pages 8, 9 and the beginning of page 10 of the newsletter and it will be quite a feat to get it all done.  This will take a lot of time to set everything up and as you can see by reading the article a really big chunk of change.  The club is fairly well off on a financial side so they can afford it.  This will be discussed at the March General Meeting and most likely voted on at the same time.  Its a heck of an ambitious project and I wish them well with it.

Anyway the newsletter did not lie…  I did enjoy myself at the meeting and I even won one of the door prizes.  For those of you who saw me there going crazy with my digital camera you gotta be patient as I can’t find the little cable that runs from the camera to my computer…

Out of 10 pics this was the only one that turned out…

Its in the shack somewhere and once I find it I will edit this article to add some pics from the meeting (if any of them turned out)

I guess its a good thing that Photography is not my hobby as I really just can’t get this stuff figured out.

Thanks go out to the OVMRC for hosting the event and giving me an enjoyable night out…

73bob

Is it “Top Secret???”

Today I decided to surf a few of the local clubs (Ontario) websites and take a look at their newsletters and see whats happening in my province  for February in Amateur Radio.

I was very amazed to see that many websites were not up to date and the Monthly newsletters not posted…

Now there is no law that says that a club has to post their newsletter on their site but I would think that as the club website is the only way for a new amateur (either to the hobby or the area) to get information on the Amateur Radio Activities in the area the clubs would be doing their best  to keep their sites updated.

By keeping your site current you prove to the world that your club is active…

The same goes for posting your clubs newsletter on line.  It lets me and others know whats happening in your location.  Lets me know if I want to drop in for a visit while on vacation or if I want to listen for that special event station.

The club website is the greatest weapon you have to inform the outside world on whats happening in your area of the world and that generates interest in your local club or nationial organisation…

Now my opinions here are nothing new and I have been outspoken on this for many years now.  If you were to go to the Ottawa Valley Mobile Radio Club Website and then look for the October 2005 Newsletter on page 3 near the bottom of the first column you will see the following:

“I firmly believe that an up to date web site is a sign of a properly run operation. Fortunately our esteemed Webmaster agrees with me, as he seems to be updating the site about twice a week. His time is spent behind the scenes, but no less valuable.”

I wrote that column almost 5 years ago and feel the same way now…

Your website and its content is the greatest asset your club has to inform the general public and the amateur community all the great things your club is doing.

Its even better when they can find out what you are doing rather than what you did.

By this I mean its not a state secret…  Keep your websites up to date…  Keep the newsletters posted…  COMMUNICATE… as thats what amateurs do best.

73bob