SWDCARC

SouthWest Dallas County Amateur Radio Club

Contributed Article

Error 603

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They say that CW is for those hams who don’t have much to say but prefer to take a

long time saying it. Maybe that’s why I like it. Or maybe I’m just weird that way. Ever

since I got my license a year and a half ago I’ve been more interested in CW than the

other modes. I started out well by taking the CW Academy course. But I’ve struggled

since then to get from the 15 wpm plateau up to 20 wpm.

Steve Parks offered to help. He set up a schedule with me a couple weeks ago for

Wednesday nights on 40 meters. The first week was pretty rough but I somehow got

through it and Steve was gracious enough to agree to a second week.

So on Wednesday night I fired up the rig and listened for his call. He called and I

answered. He called again and I answered again. He called again… and it dawned on

me that something was wrong. Then I realized — as I was sending, I heard my side

tone but also continued to hear my receiver. That shouldn’t be! It meant I was not

transmitting.

[Read more…] about Error 603

National Parks on the Air

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Npota

National Parks on the Air

A Little Bit about NPOTA: One of my favorite things to do on the air is contesting. I would much rather have a competition on the air, than ragchew. I like the idea of relaying short pieces of information in an exchange format, and making contact, for just a moment, with someone across the country or the world. I like seeing the tally of stations that I have contacted scroll up the contest log on the computer screen. So when the ARRL announced that there would be a yearlong contest that was in support the centennial of the National Parks System, I got pretty excited. I immediately started plotting all of the fun that I could have with this contest. Unlike other contests (sans Field Day) in which I had been participating from my QTH, this one offered the opportunity for me to get off my lazy duff and start exploring the National Park System. The combination of radio and getting the family out to see some of our amazing parks, as well as perhaps further excite the kids about ham radio? I’m in! Now, here is how the contest works. There are “activators” and there are “chasers”. An activator is someone who goes out to a national park, sets up and runs a station, and chasers are the ones making contact with the park stations. It’s like having two separate contests running off of the same game. Ultimately, all of the scoring is done through the Logbook of the World (LOTW). An activator must have all of the gear located within the National Park Service unit, and must make at least 10 confirmed contacts for the activation to be counted.

Have I left anything out? Yes! But the ARRL has done a very good job of providing all of the materials and rules on their website. Start there to get all of your NPOTA questions answered. (http://npota.arrl.org & http://www.arrl.org/npota-rules) My First Activation: I obtained my first chaser contact back in January, but what I had been looking forward to is a trip that I was taking to Hot Springs, AR, with my wife over the Valentine’s Day weekend. This would be my chance to try out being an activator, and it would give me a chance work the bugs out of taking my ham shack mobile. After buying a few needed items (a lead acid battery, a cooler to put my radio and connectors in, and some wire to make myself a quick portable 20 m dipole), I spent several hours organizing all that I would need out in the field. I went as far as setting up my radio complete with portable power in the back yard with my antenna set up between two trees like I expected it to be out in Hot Springs. Satisfied with the organization, I was ready for the weekend.

setup
Figure 1 – My Rig set up in Hot Springs, AR the afternoon of 12Feb2016

Friday (12Feb2016) we were off to Hot Springs. After a day of travelling, I wanted to check-in with the Rangers and let them know I was going to be there and operating. I was a little nervous about this process because they have the right of final discretion, and could have denied me access to use the park for this purpose; however, I found that the rangers were just as excited to have me there as I was to be there. There were excited to repost all of my pictures that I had shared on the ARRL-NPOTA Facebook page on their Facebook page, and invited the public to come up Sunday and see what all the fuss was about. A quick stretch of the dipole between two trees, about 5 more minutes of setup time to ensure that the antenna was still resonant, and I was off and running. After a long day of driving, I decided to keep things a bit simple and stick with SSB on 20m. I called, “CQ CQ CQ National Parks on the Air, November Papa Three Zero, calling from Hot Springs, Arkansas, this is November Five Victor Delta Quebec”

No response. I called again. No response. After my third cast of CQ out onto the airwaves, I was spotted. The pile-ups started coming fast and furious. Everyone was getting in line and on top of each other to get their NP30 Chaser credit. I was only able to put a little time into the two activations while in Hot Springs, but in total I made 72 contacts, and now I definitely have the bug. It was a LOT of fun. I am already plotting my next activation. Stay Tuned…

 

antenna
Figure 2- NP30 Activation 12Feb2016.
lotw
Figure 3. Logbook of the World. The new version has park information included!
  • Be sure to check in with the rangers. They are in charge of the site. You are just a visitor there!
  • Be Organized Take a computer and log electronically. (I use the N3FJP software. It is awesome.)
  • Be sure you have updated your TSQL software for Logbook of the World (currently v2.2). You can now indicate the park location in your LOTW logbook (very important for being an activator).

“I don’t park cars.”

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Steve
In front of me stands an elderly woman. We will refer to her as Mary. She is driving what I would approximate to be a 1978 Buick LeSabre. I’m not a super huge car guy, but I have driven a 1973 Impala and am fairly well versed in driving of older model cars. I worked for Enterprise Rent-a-Car in a prior life and am extremely comfortable parking cars.

But let me back up a moment. Our esteemed President (Barry Fulfer KF5JPE) asked for some volunteers to help out the Windsor Park Baptist Church put on their Easter production. I am a big believer in volunteer work and thought I could double dip ham radio and volunteering. As I have mentioned many times in this publication, I do not own a V/UHF radio. Fortunately a friend was willing to loan me an HT and ultimately Jerry convinced me to use one of his Chinese beauties!

When I arrived at the church Jerry was very clear, our job is to fill the lot as orderly as possible. On the Southwest side of the lot is the area where eventually Jesus is hung on the cross. (A pretty powerful moment, even if you’re on parking lot duty.) Jerry was very clear, this is an area they really try to be discreet about people parking, headlights and noise can be very distracting. The GroundWire Lester Wong K5ITO Jerry Keltner KB6OJE 2 As fate would have it, I am now standing in a quickly filling parking lot in the Southwest corner with an irritated woman staring at me. I jumped straight into the car.

“HOOOOOOOOONK”

I look at the steering wheel. I don’t believe I have touched anything.

“HOOOOONK” “You’re honking the horn!” Mary shouts.

The thoughts that went through my head were not particularly honoring to the cause that we were supporting at that exact moment. I knew I was honking the horn, but couldn’t figure out how. I’m pretty sure Mary had a custom extension placed under the driver’s seat so that it could be further forward than stock. Being six feet 230 pounds, I am most assuredly filling the entirety of the cockpit. But I’m not touching the steering wheel.

“Its under the dash” Mary shouts.

There directly in front of my knee is a small round thumb knob. If you push it, it will recess and sound the horn. Let this be a lesson should you meet Mary or anyone else who refuses to park a car.

Once I figured out how to contort my leg in such a way that I was not sounding the horn and scaring everyone, I was able to put the car in the parking spot first try. I peeled myself out of the driver’s seat. I’m confident it looked about like a sea lion rolling up onto an iceberg. On second thought it was nowhere near that majestic.

I hand Mary her keys. “Thanks” she says.

“You are most welcome, I hope you enjoy the show. Let me know if you need help getting out.” I look down the hill and Jerry is staring at me. I’m pretty sure he was smiling, but it was a very puzzled smile.

 

All in a day’s work I guess.