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View Full Version : How come we don't do more on air contacts than we do?



K7SGJ
03-09-2015, 02:38 PM
Carl and I have had several QSOs on SSB and PSK, and it is very enjoyable. Actually, I like it better than exchanges on here and other internet venues. Don't get me wrong, I really like the exchanges on here, too, but putting a voice to the call is cool. I realize some folks don't have a station ready to go, and some are in process. But, many do have the capability to get on anywhere from QRP to QRO. Hearing the other parties voice, and just letting the conversation morph to where ever it goes is really fun. I know this has been kicked around before, but I would like to talk with as many of the Islanders as possible, or even have a go-to frequency or two for Island use to monitor.

I only run an older 100 watt rig, and have a couple of QRP rigs, and the antennas are a 6BTV vertical or an OCD with tuners. Nothing fancy, but it works. I think it would be a real hoot if more of us could chat on the air.

But then, I could be full of shit, too.

W2NAP
03-09-2015, 02:45 PM
But then, I could be full of shit, too.

:v

I don't have any radio stuff cept for a UHF ht and that is it.

W5BRM
03-09-2015, 02:48 PM
I'm busy working and no radio in the truck. I'm going to be home tomorrow thru friday. I'd be willing to give it a shot. I'm not a very well spoken but i think i can grunt out a 73...lol

KG4NEL
03-09-2015, 03:23 PM
Mostly because I don't live in a place where I can set anything up for HF.

Spring/summer goal is to fix that.

KJ3N
03-09-2015, 03:33 PM
If you want to chat with more than 1 islander at a time, you'd need to find a band that would work for most. 20 &40 are the only 2 that leap to mind as being feasible.

Having said that, I'm ready to go on any band, preferable SSB. Ball's in your court.

N8YX
03-09-2015, 05:09 PM
20M works well for me, as I've worked a number of Islanders and Zedizens alike on the band. That said, I've got to test the SB-104A/amp combo out and see if everything plays together nicely.

Anything above 17M will see one of the Paragons or the Omni VI pressed into service, 40 and 75M might employ the SB104A (QRO) or the Omni V (100w). I need to connect the rightmost Paragon/6BTV position up to the station PC and start playing with digi-modes once again. When I had a TS-940S in that spot I played with PSK31 a lot.

W5BRM
03-09-2015, 05:23 PM
17 and up ill probly use the flex 1500. Those freqs are a bit more forgiving for qrp. 20/40 will be the 7200. Dont hv anything for 60 80 or 160

K7SGJ
03-09-2015, 08:06 PM
If you want to chat with more than 1 islander at a time, you'd need to find a band that would work for most. 20 &40 are the only 2 that leap to mind as being feasible.

Having said that, I'm ready to go on any band, preferable SSB. Ball's in your court.


I hate when I find other peoples balls in my court.

I'll have some time in the morning if you want to give it a go. We can work out the time and freq on here prior to......

NQ6U
03-09-2015, 08:21 PM
I had a QSO with Eddie 40m today. We talked about pretty much nothing and had a great time doing it. We also made plans for an on-air code practice session.

K7SGJ
03-09-2015, 08:23 PM
I had a QSO with Eddie 40m today. We talked about pretty much nothing and had a great time doing it. We also made plans for an on-air code practice session.


Well, it IS my area of expertise.

NQ6U
03-09-2015, 08:24 PM
Well, it IS my area of expertise.

No wonder we had fun—two experts on the air at once.

K7SGJ
03-09-2015, 08:25 PM
No wonder we had fun—two experts on the air at once.


And in total agreement, I might add.

N2CHX
03-09-2015, 09:44 PM
I have HF... But I rarely use it. It's upstairs in a small room that is cold in the winter and I have to heat it. But yeah I'd love to get on the air more.

I also have Echolink and have talked to W0TKX and a few others on it. I don't have a lot of time to spend on it though. Here, I can zip in, read some things, write a fast post and zip out pretty quick, in between writing some code or whatever. Can't really do that on the air, unfortunately.

KJ3N
03-09-2015, 10:11 PM
I'll have some time in the morning if you want to give it a go. We can work out the time and freq on here prior to......

Morning meaning what in UTC? I'm generally up at 12:00 UTC.

NA4BH
03-09-2015, 10:32 PM
We talked about pretty much nothing and had a great time doing it.



Well, it IS my area of expertise.

The prosecution rests, your Honor.



Oh, yeah 20 would be good for me.

VE7DCW
03-09-2015, 11:38 PM
I had a QSO with Eddie 40m today. We talked about pretty much nothing and had a great time doing it. We also made plans for an on-air code practice session.

Carl......... an "all or nothing" kind of guy..... very good! :mrgreen:

PA5COR
03-10-2015, 03:52 AM
Let's see, 6 or more hours time difference, propagation, distance, and me being mostly on 160 ( 1850) might be a hint.
Though I spoke a few on 10 some years back...

K7SGJ
03-10-2015, 09:49 AM
Morning meaning what in UTC? I'm generally up at 12:00 UTC.

Care to give it a go?

KJ3N
03-10-2015, 10:11 AM
Care to give it a go?

Now? I'm guessing 20m? Pick your freq.

N8YX
03-10-2015, 11:01 AM
Now? I'm guessing 20m? Pick your freq.

14.313 is clear at the moment... :whistle:

K7SGJ
03-10-2015, 01:04 PM
Sorry about that. It was so nice out, I figured I'd do a couple of things real quick like. I ended up doing some weed whacking, tilling one of the gardens, and vaccinating the critters. The rest of the day is clear.

KJ3N
03-10-2015, 02:08 PM
So find a spot on 15, 17, or 20 and let me know where.

K7SGJ
03-10-2015, 02:18 PM
So find a spot on 15, 17, or 20 and let me know where.

Okay, stand by.

K7SGJ
03-10-2015, 02:23 PM
14.230

K7SGJ
03-10-2015, 02:25 PM
calling

K7SGJ
03-10-2015, 02:28 PM
sounds like 20 kind of sucks. Let me go up to 15.

K7SGJ
03-10-2015, 02:32 PM
21.350

KJ3N
03-10-2015, 02:32 PM
14.230 is the SSTV frequency.

KJ3N
03-10-2015, 02:33 PM
21.350

give me 5 minutes...

K7SGJ
03-10-2015, 02:35 PM
No problem

KJ3N
03-10-2015, 02:40 PM
Tried calling, heard nothing.

K7SGJ
03-10-2015, 02:41 PM
I can hear you Jim, but you are right in the noise and can't hear me. You want to try another band?

K7SGJ
03-10-2015, 02:42 PM
10 might work

KJ3N
03-10-2015, 02:43 PM
10 might work

SFI is pretty low, but I'm game. Where?

K7SGJ
03-10-2015, 02:45 PM
28.428

KJ3N
03-10-2015, 02:47 PM
28.428

Cool. Right next to the Todd beacon. Go for it.

K7SGJ
03-10-2015, 02:49 PM
Well, that appears to be a bust as well. Anywhere else you want to try?

KJ3N
03-10-2015, 02:50 PM
Well, that appears to be a bust as well. Anywhere else you want to try?

We'll need to go lower. 17 or 20.

K7SGJ
03-10-2015, 02:51 PM
Okay. Find a spot on 17, and I'll look for you there.

KJ3N
03-10-2015, 02:56 PM
Okay. Find a spot on 17, and I'll look for you there.

18.111?

K7SGJ
03-10-2015, 02:58 PM
Okay. I'm there

K7SGJ
03-10-2015, 03:02 PM
Well, I had you for a minute then someone tuned up on the freq.

K7SGJ
03-10-2015, 03:03 PM
Let's give 20 one more go. See what's clear on your end

KJ3N
03-10-2015, 03:03 PM
Well, I had you for a minute then someone tuned up on the freq.

I heard a carrier for a bit. I really think 20m would be much better.

K7SGJ
03-10-2015, 03:07 PM
20 it is. See if you can find the sweet spot.

KJ3N
03-10-2015, 03:08 PM
20 it is. See if you can find the sweet spot.

How about right near the band edge? 14.346.5?

K7SGJ
03-10-2015, 03:09 PM
okay calling

K7SGJ
03-10-2015, 03:23 PM
Well, it worked for a little bit. We'll give it another go when condx are better. Good to talk with you.

KJ3N
03-10-2015, 03:27 PM
Well, it worked for a little bit. We'll give it another go when condx are better. Good to talk with you.

Same here.

The solar numbers just aren't all that good today. 40m in the evening might be worth a shot.

N8GAV
03-11-2015, 12:48 PM
I'm on 40 all the time, mostly 7,200 listening mostly. I have worked Dave W0TKX on 75, met Ron W3WN and family as we took in a Prates game. I would like to meet more on the air or in person.

n6hcm
03-12-2015, 03:25 AM
in my case, while i'm licensed for HF i'm not set up for it. no time, no money (really: tuition, tax time, fixing the flood downstairs), ...

K7SGJ
03-12-2015, 08:27 AM
in my case, while i'm licensed for HF i'm not set up for it. no time, no money (really: tuition, tax time, fixing the flood downstairs), ...

Those things, like showers, are of little importance.

Radio and doughnuts are what it's all about. And I thought it was the hokey pokey was what it's all about. Who Gnu?

NQ6U
03-12-2015, 03:13 PM
Radio and doughnuts are what it's all about.

Radio-controlled doughnuts. John IZE has one.

NA4BH
03-12-2015, 03:32 PM
The WIK and the IZE. All we know is bushtit.

VE7DCW
03-12-2015, 03:40 PM
Here we go making "the WIK" sound legendary again!..... Blasphemy! :wtf:

KG4NEL
03-17-2015, 03:12 PM
Those things, like showers, are of little importance.

Radio and doughnuts are what it's all about. And I thought it was the hokey pokey was what it's all about. Who Gnu?

Don't forget Hoverounds.

NQ6U
03-17-2015, 03:18 PM
The WIK and the IZE. All we know is bushtit.

Mohammed Ali told WIK that he was the greatest.

koØm
07-13-2015, 10:34 AM
If you want to chat with more than 1 islander at a time, you'd need to find a band that would work for most. 20 &40 are the only 2 that leap to mind as being feasible.

Having said that, I'm ready to go on any band, preferable SSB. Ball's in your court.

Missed you last night on 40 meters JT-9; you were calling "CQ DX". I waited for a couple of cycles and then called you but, you were QSY or QRT.

.

KJ3N
07-13-2015, 11:45 AM
Missed you last night on 40 meters JT-9; you were calling "CQ DX". I waited for a couple of cycles and then called you but, you were QSY or QRT.

Probably QSY. Since I only call "CQ DX" when I'm on 80-10, if no DX responds, I move to another band. I think I went through 20, 30, 40, and 80 without a hint of DX.

Not sure if you're using JT Alert, but if you are, send me a text message the next time you see me and I'll call you. I never put out a general "CQ" unless I'm on 6m or 160m.

KG4CGC
07-13-2015, 11:00 PM
I just put up an inverted V East West for 10m and a sloper North South for 10m. 65 and 60' respectively. I thought I made a doublet for 20/40m but it turns out it works on 80m. I don't math gud. Um, I should do a thing now for 20/40m. Twut though?

WØTKX
07-13-2015, 11:38 PM
Well, someday soon the thunderstorms will mellow out, and we'd be able to converse on 80.

Band gets good when it goes long in the winter. Can you do 60 meters?

KG4CGC
07-14-2015, 12:16 AM
If me, nah. Does not have 60m.

WV6Z
07-27-2015, 09:13 PM
Speaking of doing more on the air. Thanks for all of your help and hard work Charles! Kind of surprised that our pipeline for communications between each other was not markedly improved, but it sure is great to have arm chair copy like we have these past two evenings. Anyway, be that as it may, I do now have the option to go vertical only which I haven't been able to do for a few years now. Looking forward to more rag chew sessions as well as adding a few more participants to the fray. Was nice to have William in Greer pop in and join us for a few minutes tonight too. Funny how no matter where you are or go band wise, eventually more find you and jump in. :)

KG4CGC
07-27-2015, 09:25 PM
Hello, Tom! Great to see you here on The Island or "Hamis Land" as is oft referred by myself. (syntax is off tonight)
Yessir! Six Zed and I have enjoy a couple of nights of 10m local chewing of the rag. Even though we're about 13 miles apart in a straight line, it takes me nearly an hour to get there. That being said, I'm somewhat down in a valley (an actual valley type terrain) at approximately 960 ASL while the Grand Exalted Poobah is at a nice peak of 1400'.

We did do a QSO about, oh, last May on 75m but conditions were prime while 10m sucked. Tried 75 last night and it vacuumed hard therefore we tried 10 and for whatever reason (you don't have to explain it to me) it's like someone opened up a pipeline. The difference between now and then is that I have erected 2 dipoles for 10m high up in the tree(s). N/W and E/W although I'll need to take the N/W down and reorient it to match the performance of the E/W with respect to the apex of the feedpoint and check for possible premature weathering in the solder joints.

There will be more antenna work in the near future for 20 and 40 meters.

WV6Z
07-27-2015, 09:40 PM
Oh and with regard to going up to the big hills sometime soon Charles, I still have that monstrous quad mag mount affair that I ran on the roof of the Civic and a fist full of Hamsticks! I'm sure the old TS-430s would enjoy a trip to Caesar's Head Mtn.

KG4CGC
07-27-2015, 10:06 PM
Oh and with regard to going up to the big hills sometime soon Charles, I still have that monstrous quad mag mount affair that I ran on the roof of the Civic and a fist full of Hamsticks! I'm sure the old TS-430s would enjoy a trip to Caesar's Head Mtn.

We'll take cigars. I'll still enjoy one of those once or twice a year.

WV6Z
08-09-2015, 07:10 AM
We should have done this! :(

KG4CGC
08-09-2015, 07:52 AM
We should have done this! :(

Any plans for Shelby?

n2ize
08-14-2015, 03:50 AM
Carl and I have had several QSOs on SSB and PSK, and it is very enjoyable. Actually, I like it better than exchanges on here and other internet venues. Don't get me wrong, I really like the exchanges on here, too, but putting a voice to the call is cool. I realize some folks don't have a station ready to go, and some are in process. But, many do have the capability to get on anywhere from QRP to QRO. Hearing the other parties voice, and just letting the conversation morph to where ever it goes is really fun. I know this has been kicked around before, but I would like to talk with as many of the Islanders as possible, or even have a go-to frequency or two for Island use to monitor.

I only run an older 100 watt rig, and have a couple of QRP rigs, and the antennas are a 6BTV vertical or an OCD with tuners. Nothing fancy, but it works. I think it would be a real hoot if more of us could chat on the air.

But then, I could be full of shit, too.

Years ago me and a couple of the Island cats hooked up on a 2 meter VHF repeater in my area. It was great, Had an awesome chat. It was around rush hour during the winter and a lot of locals out of NYC started coming in on the drive home. And, those Islanders who participated got a chance to hear my glorious New York City regional accent...LOL. Anyway it was fun and I'd like to do it again, if not on vhf then directly on HF. If I can get an antenna up like my last one I know I can get a good signal on 160, 75, 40 and 20 at least. AM of course... :snicker:

koØm
08-26-2015, 11:08 AM
Years ago me and a couple of the Island cats hooked up on a 2 meter VHF repeater in my area. It was great, Had an awesome chat. It was around rush hour during the winter and a lot of locals out of NYC started coming in on the drive home. And, those Islanders who participated got a chance to hear my glorious New York City regional accent...LOL. Anyway it was fun and I'd like to do it again, if not on vhf then directly on HF. If I can get an antenna up like my last one I know I can get a good signal on 160, 75, 40 and 20 at least. AM of course... :snicker:

Last night, on JT-9 (or JT-65) I made contact with a member of the Island but, he didn't respond to my "Ham Island 73".

.

WØTKX
08-26-2015, 09:31 PM
Years ago me and a couple of the Island cats hooked up on a 2 meter VHF repeater in my area. It was great, Had an awesome chat. It was around rush hour during the winter and a lot of locals out of NYC started coming in on the drive home. And, those Islanders who participated got a chance to hear my glorious New York City regional accent...LOL. Anyway it was fun and I'd like to do it again, if not on vhf then directly on HF. If I can get an antenna up like my last one I know I can get a good signal on 160, 75, 40 and 20 at least. AM of course... :snicker:

It was fun. I still hear "your" voice when I read your posts. :stickpoke:

KG4CGC
08-26-2015, 09:38 PM
So who's doing what?

PA5COR
08-27-2015, 08:30 AM
Me n 1.850 chatting away with local jojo's

W2NAP
08-27-2015, 09:05 AM
as I said before W2IBC-R 699227 echolink or 42145 Allstar (just wouldn't connect from another repeater) I don't care what anyone talks about, have at it

KG4CGC
02-03-2016, 04:47 PM
Anyone want to try 80m sometime tonight after 10pm Eastern time? One of the antennas I have should work x-cont.

NQ6U
02-03-2016, 05:24 PM
I'd love to, but I don't have an 80m antenna.

W2NAP
02-03-2016, 05:37 PM
Anyone want to try 80m sometime tonight after 10pm Eastern time? One of the antennas I have should work x-cont.

doubt you could hear me.

KG4CGC
02-03-2016, 11:54 PM
OK. Anyone want to try Thursday night?

Or how about this, pick a time and a frequency. No 60M here.

During the day, whatever. BTW, 10's been open.

WØTKX
02-04-2016, 11:07 AM
No promises, Thursday Night (tonight) might work.

KG4CGC
02-04-2016, 01:13 PM
OK ... okie doak.

W2NAP
02-04-2016, 02:49 PM
OK ... okie doak.

mashed potatoes.

KG4CGC
02-04-2016, 08:27 PM
mashed potatoes.

okie doak

W2NAP
02-04-2016, 08:42 PM
okie doak

uhhhh

uhh

mashed potatoes.

WØTKX
02-05-2016, 10:35 AM
Sorry.

Betts is having a hard time after her arm operation.

I put on the nurse outfit last night.

No time for rayyydio. :(

KJ3N
02-05-2016, 11:45 AM
I put on the nurse outfit last night.

Was it as kinky as stampeding cattle..... through the Vatican?

WØTKX
02-05-2016, 12:06 PM
No, she's just in pain. And I'm just... stupid, ya know?


https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/56/2f/e0/562fe061a6d5907d814a2adbe60068d0.jpg

WX7P
02-07-2016, 11:38 AM
No, she's just in pain. And I'm just... stupid, ya know?


https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/56/2f/e0/562fe061a6d5907d814a2adbe60068d0.jpg

Let me know when and where you get on 75/40.

The 3840 bunch is loud here. I'm sure I'd have no trouble hearing you.

K7SGJ
02-07-2016, 02:43 PM
No, she's just in pain. And I'm just... stupid, ya know?


https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/56/2f/e0/562fe061a6d5907d814a2adbe60068d0.jpg


Shirley there are enough drugs for two.

Tell her the New River Rat wishes her a speedy recovery. Unless you think it might set her back.