CQ WPX 2009 Fin

The CQ WPX SSB contest finished at 8:00 this evening. It was a fun contest. I worked it all weekend for a total of 14+ hours. By the finish I had entered 223 contacts in the log and ended up with over 60,000 points. It was a lot of fun and I can't wait for next years. I had a problem today with 20 meters. We have some sort of noise problem in our area that we have yet to figure out. Anyway, the only band that wasn't affected was 40 meters. Anyway, thank you to all the stations that made contact with me and that I made contact with. Hope you all had as much fun as I did.

Until the next one, see ya on the bands.

73 de AJ4JD,
Tim

CQ WPX Contest

So I've been working the CQ WPX contest this weekend. It's been a lot of fun. Although the weather hasn't cooperated this evening. We were supposed to get some major storms by 9:00pm this evening and I unplugged the HF around 7:30 due to a flash of lighting I saw in the distance while I was outside taking the pooch out. So here I sit at 12:30 with the rain just now moving in and sporadic lightining crashing and can't work the contest. However, believe you me, once there is no more threat of lightining, I'll be back in there.
So to those that are working right now, good luck and 73. Catch you all on the bands shortly.

AJ4JD
Tim

5BWAS Update

I decided I would give an update on my 5 Band WAS status. I've added a couple more states for the WAS and added a couple more bands on a couple of states. I've still got a ways to go. Anyway here it is...


Catch ya on the bands. Now if only I had an antenna up for 15 meters.

73,
Tim

Union County ARES

Well, I thought I would get on here and give an update on ARES here in Union County. As you all may know, I was appointed EC for Union County ARES about a month or so ago. Since then, I've appointed an AEC, Robin (AJ4IJ) gladly accepted the appointment. We've established a NET on the 145.230 repeater here in the Knoxville area every Thursday night at 8:00pm EST. We've also established a meeting place and time in Maynardville, on the first Wednesday of every month at 6:30pm EST at the Hardees in on Maynardville Hwy.

So if you live in our area and are interested in joining ARES feel free to come to a meeting or join us on our NET. Our current plans include recruiting new members, contacting the county EMA and the chairman of our LEPC to find out how we can service the county during emergencies and disasters. We will also be planning other activities and training opportunities as the opportunities present themselves.

So that's really all I've got for now. So until next time... Be on the look out for ARES updates and my other HAM related activities. Oh yeah, I almost forgot, we will be making a blog site for Union County ARES soon so be on the lookout for that as well.

73 God Bless and Good DX,
Tim - AJ4JD

QSO Parties and WAS

Well it has been a little while since I last blogged. So I thought I would sit down and give everyone an update of what has been going on here lately. I've definitely caught the contest bug. The past couple of weekends (ever since we got our shack set up) I've been working different contests that are feasible for me to work. Robin (AJ4IJ) worked the PODXS 070 Club Valentine Sprint. I have to say she did really good too. I've been working the different state QSO parties. I really haven't given them any major effort. I think I worked one station in the Vermont QSO Party, and a handful in the New Mexico QSO Party, as well as the New Hampshire, and Mississippi QSO parties. I did put forth more of an effort in the North Carolina QSO party today. I ended up with 33 contacts and about 1700 points total. While it will not win a prize or anything, it was still nice to work it and see how the radio/antenna/ and new antenna tuner was performing.

In case you didn't know we added a new LDG AT-200Pro Auto Tuner to the shack. It seems to be working really well. So well in fact that prior, I've been having to cut the power back on the upper end of the 75/80 meter band when checking into the Tennessee Phone net as the SWR runs a bit to high for our liking. So now with the tuner in place, I am able to hit 3.980MHz with full power without even blinking. Really, with the antenna, that was the only place we had trouble with as far as SWR was concern. Of course we can't work 15 meters at all but our Windom is not resonant at all for 15. It performs without issue on the other bands though.

I've also decided it was time to update my Worked All States map and have included it for you all to see my progress. I've got a ways to go and I'm going to have to get a 15 meter antenna up if I ever plan on get the 5 band WAS.

Did I mention we got a new FT-1802 to replace the new Radio Shack 2 meter rig. No more noise when we key up from the laptops. I'll have to get a shot of our shack up here soon.

Until next time 73, God Bless, and Good DX,
AJ4JD - Tim