KC4HW At WW4LL With Friend
Posted on 11/17/11 by AA4YL
I've attached a photograph of Jim, KC4HW and 8 year old Robey that was taken in my shack during the CQWW SSB contest. At the time, Jim was running the mult radio and we experienced visitors from the neighborhood.
Robey, his mother, father and sister all of which had a keen interest in learning more about amateur radio (except Sis who was too young to know what was going on). Jim was amazing with the group, putting a set of headphones on Robey, working mults, then showing him on the wall map who he had just spoke to on the air. Robey was facinated by the magic of ham radio and told Jim that he plans to build his first transceiver.
I know this goes without saying for all who know Jim, but what a wonderful experience it was having him with us over the weekend and he is a testimant to the hobby in taking the time and showing unending patience with young Robey. As we all know, first impressions sometimes last a lifetime, and I'm sure this one will be for Robey.
Great job Jim and thank you!
Fred, WW4LL
WRTC Tent Fund
Posted on 11/14/11 by AA4YLHey Everyone,
First want to thank these folks for their donation for 2014 WRTC.
I know that 2014 seems a good ways off and that there is plenty of
time, but the reality is that the demand for economic resources will
begin starting next year.
Our goal is to reach $1000 for club sponsorship for this event. With
over 90 members, this should not be a problem with the start that we
already have. Donation of $10 or whatever you think is appropriate.
Just send your donation to:
ACG/WRTC 2014 Fund
c/o Tom Hardison, K4ZGB
14767 Lonnie Shirley Rd
Northport, AL 35475
Got questions, just let us know and we will try to get answers.
Thanks
Jim/KC4HW
ADMIN note: According to Tom, K4ZGB, the balance in the fund now stands at $515.00. Great news!
ACG At Montgomery Hamfest
Posted on 11/14/11 by AA4YLA wee bit chill in Montgomery, one of the temperture boards I saw showed 26 degrees when I was getting into town. That temperature apparently did not discourage folks from coming out to the Hamfest.
As many of you know the Montgomery Hamfest is small in stature but generally considered to be a very nice "down home" hamfest. The thing I like about it is that it not so big that people don't just come by once, but make several trips by to see what you got and to talk to you.
We had two new members sign up:
AK4KN, Ken Brittin, Montgomery. Ken is new to ham radio getting his license through a VE testing session with the Heart of Dixie ARC (W4HOD) in Loachapoka, AL.
AE4TX, Scott Parvin, Hayden, AL (right around Warrior, AL). Also, new to ham radio just this year, Scott is a school teacher in Hayden. Scott said that his son, 5 years old (and Dad) are working on their CW.
Addtiaonlly, N4KH, Jim Spikes, Huntsville, Al, who recently joined the ACG also was in attendance. Jim had a very nice effort in SS CW this year. He said that he was more of a CW op and an alternative mode operator. Welcome each of you. It was nice to meet all of you and we will be looking forward to your participation with the ACG.
One never knows who will show up and there were several ACGers and AQP visitors that stop by the booth: K4ZGB, AA4YL, KA4PKB, WA4LR, KW4J, N4JF, N4JDU, W4ATK, KM4JA, KK4BJV, KF4LM, W4OZK, W4TKI, W14P, K4WI, K4JAF, WA4WLI, KN4OK and KI4ACW. 23 all total. I was surprised that so many ACGers and visitors made it
AA4YL, Cheryl made some very nice tri-fold brochures to put on the table. This turned out to be handy when talking to prospective/interested folks. Thanks Cheryl–great job.
KA4PKB, Bob, from the Heart of Dixie ARC, Loachapoka, AL, indicated that the W4HOD/0 (North Dakota) NAQP RTTY article will be published in the Jan/Feb 2012 NCJ. This should be a great article. Thanks to Bob, KA4PKB and Cheryl, AA4YL for a job well done!
Afterward KA4PKB, AA4YL, K4ZGB and myself all went to lunch at the BBQ joint that we have gone to in the past. Unfortunately, everybody else had other plans, too bad, because the BBQ was as good as always.
OK, well, ZGB and I did some trading on a 10m antenna, ACW and I did some trading on a VHF antenna and some tower hardware, I brought two boxes of little stuff that I did not have much use for
anymore and sold some of that, I only brought one boxes back home– this was a good thing. hi hi
If you did not make it this year, you missed a good time. Perhap you can catch it next year.
Take care and hope to see you around the Ham Radio Campus!
Jim/KC4HW
Ham Radio is a Contact Sport!
CQ WW SSB
Posted on 10/23/11 by AA4YL
Well the grand daddy of all contest series is just about ready to get underway. Yup the CQ WW SSB and CW events.
Hope all will make a showing whether full time, part time, assisted, etc. The high bands apparently will be in the best shape since the end of the last cycle. This should bring lots of op's to the radio especially on 10mtrs.
As for 10 mtrs Mother Nature (propagation/sunspots) is the true equalizer. The past few days I have spent some time on the 10 mtrs and found myself giving same signal reports to stations running 50-100W with dipoles as I was receiving with a KW out and stacked 5 el yagi's.
So here is a great opportunity to take advantage of propagation and create some serious fun for minimal to small stations. Get on and light it up is what I am trying to say. 15 and 10mtrs have lots of spectrum to operate in, twice the punch bowls of 20mtrs and below especially on SSB.
So give the "alternate mode" a go this coming weekend.
My plans for a multi-op outing for KY5R have had to be cancelled due to a family health issue. I hope to spend some time on all the bands myself and hand out some Q's as time permits.
http://cqww.com/rules.php
Good hunting and get on the air,
GD Tim, KY5R
WRTC Tent Sponsorship
Posted on 10/11/11 by AA4YLThe ACG is making an effort to raise funds ($1000) to sponsor a station ( tent) during the upcoming 2014 WRTC (World Radio Team Championships) which will be held somewhere around Boston, MA during the summer of 2014.
You can view a video the sponsors have created at www.wrtc2014.org. Also take time to look at the past 2010 WRTC held near Moscow,RU at www.2010wrtc.ru which if you do will give you a great perspective of the 2014 event.
This event is the premier radiosport competition in the world. It pits operators which have to qualify to be considered eligible to participate over the 4yr period between events and brings them to one geographical location with identical operating locations and antennas, The participants supply their own equipment which has been honed for this type of head-head competition.
The undertaking to organize and support such an event is phenomenal. The event provides lodging, transportation and sightseeing/social events for all participants during the week leading up to the competition, the weekend of the IARU Contest in July.
Also the towers, generators, antennas , rotors and connecting cable for well over 50 stations is another logistics hurdle which is supplied by the sponsors can be overwhelming.
So take a look at the website and please do not fail to ask questions in regard to any facet of WRTC 2014. This is a far piece away however the sponsorship "window of opportunity" is narrow time wise.
Tom, K4ZGB Treasurer of the ACG will be accepting donations to be deposited in a separate account. Checks should be made out to ACG.
In closing remember the ACG is a prolific plaque donor for most all major contest which is funded through our yearly dues. This is event (WRTC) is an exception and I believe the upstart ACG has the " fire in the belly" to become an active player in such a world class events.
No donation is "too small or too big". Let's wrap up this project ASAP . Pass the word to fellow ACG members who may not check this reflector often or their e-mail regularly. Let's introduce the ACG to the world wide amateur radio operator population in 2014.
Let's roll on the "Tent project".
TNX for your anticipated participation and GD,
Tim, KY5R
