Operating

Jason Milldrum on December 31st, 2011

This post is a bit late, but I wanted to be sure to document my first attempt at a SOTA activation and what I learned from it. The title is probably a bit harsh, but the eternal pessimist in me couldn't help it. I decided to attempt a SOTA activation after seeing a lot of [...]

Continue reading about SOTA Fail on Clatskanie Mountain

Jason Milldrum on October 17th, 2011

I don't know exactly why, but I've had a bit of an obsession with the T32C DXpedition to Kiritimati since they got started a few weeks ago. Maybe because I found them easier to work than many of the DXpeditions that I've tried before. The fact that they are a very well-run operation has something [...]

Continue reading about Two Watts Across the Pacific

Jason Milldrum on September 29th, 2011

During some discussions with AA7EE regarding a seeming lack of 20 meter propagation between us at any time right now, we both decided to do a bit of research into what was even feasible according to predictive software. Dave went to the VOACAP web service from OH6BG to get some nice plots which showed that indeed [...]

Continue reading about VOACAP For Linux

Jason Milldrum on January 30th, 2011

You QRP guys probably already know this, but I'm hoping that some of my non-QRP readers will check this out as well. QRP ARCI, perhaps the world's largest QRP club, is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. As part of its golden anniversary celebrations, the organization is running a special event throughout the year. Each [...]

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Jason Milldrum on December 22nd, 2010

Over the last few days, Jennifer has been off work, so I've been able to spend more time in the shack working on Project X. I only recently made my first QSO with the prototype rig (I think propagation was unfavorable for me when I was trying late in the evenings), so I've been leaving [...]

Continue reading about This Is What Radio Is All About

Jason Milldrum on July 1st, 2010

I recently stumbled upon a fascinating Wikipedia page that just might describe a phenomena that I bet just about every one of us CW ops have experienced at times. You've just finished off a marathon CW effort such as a contest or Field Day and finally get a chance to lay down, close your eyes, [...]

Continue reading about Ghosts In The Ether

Jason Milldrum on June 21st, 2010

Perhaps that's a bit melodramatic, but my time for operating and homebrewing is going to be severely curtailed very soon. Baby Boy Milldrum will be arriving any day now (the estimated due date is July 22) and we're in full-blown panic mode as we finish the last minute preparations to get the baby's room ready, [...]

Continue reading about Last Chance Hammin'

Jason Milldrum on May 4th, 2010

Family commitments and issues have kept me from doing much radio related stuff lately, which is why I haven't blogged much recently. When I have had some spare time, I've been using it to complete the documentation for my FDIM 2010 QRP Challenge entry, which I finally finished and submitted last night. After attending a [...]

Continue reading about A Brief Update

QSY

Jason Milldrum on February 16th, 2010

I've noted with quite a bit of interest the recent surge of comments on QRP-L favoring a QRP exodus up from 7030/7040 kHz to [part of] the old Novice watering hole of 7100 to 7125 kHz. The esteemed Arnie Coro, CO2KK seems to have ignited the fire with this post to the reflector: Dear amigos [...]

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Jason Milldrum on February 14th, 2010

This weekend, I've been participating in the SKCC Weekend Sprint when I get the opportunity in between other obligations. At about 0900 local, I heard F6HKA on 20 meters coming in pretty well with a very fluttery signal. As you can see on the azimuth map for my QTH, the path to France goes right [...]

Continue reading about Over the North Pole