Celestia Forums

If you're interested -

There's a ham radio contest which starts tomorrow (Saturday, March 24th 2007). I thought perhaps you might be interested. My father (WA2MHA) will be on the air partisipating... I'll be listening in on and off.

The announcement, as per ARRL QST magazine (http://www.arrl.org), March 2007 edition, page 91 (Contest Corral):

CQ WW WPX Contest - SSB, sponsored by CQ Magazine from 0000Z Mar 24 - 2400Z Mar 25 (CW is May 26-27). Frequencies: 160-10 meters. Categories: SOAB, SOSB, SO-Assisted, -HP, LP and -QRP, MS (10 minute rule), M/2, MM, SO-Rookie, SO-Tribander-and-Single-Wire. SO operate 36 hours max with off times at least 60 minutes. Exchange: RS(T) + serial number. QSO points: different continents - 3 points (14-28 MHz) and 6 points (1.8-7 MHz); with North America - 2 points (14-28 MHz) and 4 points (1.8-7 Mhz); with own country - 1 point. Score: QSO points x prefixes worked (for example N8, KA1, HG73, JD1) counted only once. For more information: http://www.cqwpx.com. Logs due May 1 (CW, Jul 1) to ssb@cqwpx.com (cw@cqwpx.com).

Thanks for the info, LordFerret! Yes, I'm interested, but at the present time I no longer have any shortwave/ham equiptment. My fault, as I'm sure my postings on radio waves, etc., may have given everyone the impression that I'm currently active in the radio community. I plan to get back into shortwave listening again, but for now the computer, forums, as well as sky observing with my scope will be about all I have time for.

I sure do appreciate you thinking of me, as well as the kind replies you given to my posts! Please let me know how your father does in the contest!

Sorry to hear that, but good to know there's still interest!

We've had a sad turn of events here... antenna problems (?). I'm not ham technical so I can't explain. We're able to listen, but unable to transmit. It's quite unfortunate too, because with this weather the atmospheric conditions are excellent and there's a ton of traffic. Maybe next round!

Maybe a grounding problem? Hopefully, not a problem inside your transmitter.

Hope you get it figured out, but at least you can listen. Let me know, and have a great day!

We took the unit apart today... tested this and that with a multi-meter. The handset is fine, the antenna is fine. The problem is some manner of relay when the mic is keyed - it's not kicking in. Off to the shop it goes on Monday.

When it rains, it pours. The back-lit LCD on the 2-meter packet-relay unit is now on the out as well... all the numbers look like they're written in Klingon!

Sorry to hear the rig has to go in for repairs! Hopefully, they can fix it as well as pinpoint any other potential problems before they surface!

By the way, I'm enjoying your posting about BILL GATES! Brings out everyone on that, doesn't it? If Gates happens to see it, maybe he can spice up the arguments by suggesting that we all need to pay a fee each time we use Celestia (haha)

Oh, and despite you having to open up the rig yesterday, did you get to hear your dad on the Ham contest (or at least learn how it went)?

Have a great day, and since you're display seems to have started looking like "Klingon", let's hope the tech working on it isn't Klingon!

"Hopefully, they can fix it as well as pinpoint any other potential problems before they surface!"
The only other known problem was trouble transmitting on 40-meters band. But, that might have had something to do with the problem it has now? We'll see soon enough.

No, I didn't get to hear him, he (we) couldn't transmit - I was sitting right there with him. We heard a ton of traffic pretty much all day. I'm sure plenty of people attained much to their credit towards their WAS or WAC certifications. The contest results will likely be published in next month's QST magazine.

Gates? I said what I said. He and Microsoft are an issue... one people should discuss.

Oh, ok, didn't realize that your dad would be using the rig there. But I'm glad you did get to at least listen to all the traffic out there. I'm sure despite not being able to transmit, it was a memorable time you and your dad shared together.

Yes, radios are like cars and computers. When there's a problem, you don't always know if the fix really got the root cause of the problem. Some problems can only be identified when they happen, and often the fix doesn't get the hidden problems until they surface again. But, we'll be postive and hope what they repair on your rig gets everything figured out. Have a great day, and say Hello to your dad for me. He's got a good son.