Congratulations to Harvey and Shirley!

SEA PAC

Leroy’s N7EIE Field Day 2009

Looks like spring has sprung outside, with temps in the lower seventies this week, so must be time for my (semi-annual?) WSN input for the summer. Carol and I have weathered the extraordinary (for here) winter pretty well, and love the four seasons up here. Upon my word, however, I WILL get chains for my little car before next winter. When my Dodge Colt is literally frozen into my driveway after a snow storm, I need to do something.

Carol still hasn’t had any seizures since December, and hasn’t broken any bones since ’07. Any day not spent with her in the hospital is a good day! Health-wise I’m coping as well, with twenty three hundred (walking) miles logged last year. I won’t make that this year.

My TH3 beam continues to make my contesting much easier than with smaller antennas. If can hear the station at an S5 or above, I’ll work them within the first one or two calls. I have done pretty well in most contests I try, even with no sunspots. Sure would be nice if old Sol livens up a bit! What IS a ‘Maunder Minimum,’ anyway?

Looking forward to seeing all you NTS types during my annual Seaside pilgrimage June 6. I’m sure we’ll solve all ham radio’s traffic problems… Or not.

And of course three weeks later you are all invited again to the fourth annual WSN Field Day effort to be held this year back at my home QTH at 8525 Mahonia Ct. SE, Yelm, on Saturday June 27th. We’ll enter as a 1E station again, competing against our 2006 and 2007 scores. I will put more research in to satellite schedules, maybe hoist up my 2 meter and 450 MHZ log periodic underneath the beam, and the house will certainly be air conditioned, not like last year!

CU on the net.

73, Leroy N7EIE

News From Chris KD7REM

Allen,
I will be there tonight (to tell you the truth I was here ready for 6 and then I reread your e-mail and reminded me it's 6:45 now But I may need a replacement next week...will let you know for sure...then I may need replacements for a couple weeks. I'm due to go in, In a week or so for 3 or four bypasses, I thought they were going too put stents in last Friday and I guess it's worse than they thought.
Christopher

 

CW continues to be a viable and popular mode of operation within the Amateur Radio Service. But while popular, its effectiveness still depends upon sound operating practices.

Operator Skill in this regard should not be confused with merely the ability to send and receive a contest exchange at high speed. In decades past, much attention was paid to nurturing the full range of  Proper CW Practices: publishing practical operating aids and advice, mentoring, recognition – and setting a good example.

Experienced operators have no excuse for sloppy or poor practices. New operators hear such stuff and, before long, another lousy practice becomes common place and accepted (what I call I PC, Improper Practice Creep)

By the way of a notorious example my favorite IPC is use of the prosign BK (for break) does not deserve another!

CW operators who are serious about wanting to preserve and promote the mode need to nurture proper operating practices and take more responsibility in fighting IPC.

                                                       by Rob Griffin, K6YR, Chmn PAS, and SM Santa Barbara Section  ( From IMN March NL)

This is a pretty nice feature from ARRL; visit this link:

the page a bit to find 'National Traffic System Resources.'  There is even a 'Frequent Message' page there.