SSB Sweepstakes is this weekend. I’ve been licensed 40+ years but still sometimes feel like a noob. Recently learned the SS exchange used to be even longer than now. That was in paper logging era too. Holy cannoli. Expecting lots of synthesized voice this year but if you work me, you work me.
November 11, 2025 at 12:38 PM
SSB Sweepstakes is this weekend. I’ve been licensed 40+ years but still sometimes feel like a noob. Recently learned the SS exchange used to be even longer than now. That was in paper logging era too. Holy cannoli. Expecting lots of synthesized voice this year but if you work me, you work me.
Though my station isn’t much for RTTY I play in WAE RTTY to add a few points to Potomac Valley Radio Club total. Everybody works everybody in this one so that helps. Deedle deedle y’all. Get the info from www.contestcalendar.com/weeklycont.p...
WA7BNM Contest Calendar: 8-Day Calendar
www.contestcalendar.com
November 4, 2025 at 12:53 PM
Though my station isn’t much for RTTY I play in WAE RTTY to add a few points to Potomac Valley Radio Club total. Everybody works everybody in this one so that helps. Deedle deedle y’all. Get the info from www.contestcalendar.com/weeklycont.p...
Illinois QSO Party was fun until severe thunderstorm warning for my county required disconnecting antenna & powering down computer. No thunder heard but wind was crazy. One overturned flower pot but otherwise no damage other than to my contest score.
October 20, 2025 at 12:13 PM
Illinois QSO Party was fun until severe thunderstorm warning for my county required disconnecting antenna & powering down computer. No thunder heard but wind was crazy. One overturned flower pot but otherwise no damage other than to my contest score.
Had fun in the California QSO Party. Very few counties missed. Next up, Pennsylvania. paqsoparty.org
October 5, 2025 at 10:05 PM
Had fun in the California QSO Party. Very few counties missed. Next up, Pennsylvania. paqsoparty.org
Planned to do more in RTTY contest tonight but thunderstorm interfered. So I’ll read a book and listen to my dog snore.
September 28, 2025 at 12:08 AM
Planned to do more in RTTY contest tonight but thunderstorm interfered. So I’ll read a book and listen to my dog snore.
Wisconsin POTA plus WA NH IA NJ TX QSO parties this weekend. Lots more fun than having new well pump etc. installed. Bank just inquired if I really wrote check for that hair-raising amount. Yes alas I did. Contest info at www.contestcalendar.com
WA7BNM Contest Calendar: 8-Day Calendar
www.contestcalendar.com
September 16, 2025 at 12:10 PM
Wisconsin POTA plus WA NH IA NJ TX QSO parties this weekend. Lots more fun than having new well pump etc. installed. Bank just inquired if I really wrote check for that hair-raising amount. Yes alas I did. Contest info at www.contestcalendar.com
Made a few QSOs on the weekend but house’s well pump & water pressure tank died so much time went to arranging new equipment & bringing bottled water from storage for drinking & flushing. Installation done now. Not whining. Many people have no access to clean water ever. I am blessed.
September 14, 2025 at 11:46 PM
Made a few QSOs on the weekend but house’s well pump & water pressure tank died so much time went to arranging new equipment & bringing bottled water from storage for drinking & flushing. Installation done now. Not whining. Many people have no access to clean water ever. I am blessed.
Got more contacts in Tennessee QSO Party than expected since people are on 40, my best band for that neighbor state. Still a few blanks in the Route 66 chase. Some calls spotted only middle of the night for my time zone. But I’ve worked most of them.
September 7, 2025 at 7:05 PM
Got more contacts in Tennessee QSO Party than expected since people are on 40, my best band for that neighbor state. Still a few blanks in the Route 66 chase. Some calls spotted only middle of the night for my time zone. But I’ve worked most of them.
Route 66 On The Air starts today so I’ll chase those 1x1 calls. Tennessee QSO Party tomorrow. Not easy if lots of them are on 20 which makes sense for them but much of the state too close for me to work on 20. Will prowl anyhow.
w6jbt.org?page_id=15
w6jbt.org?page_id=15
2025 Route 66 On The Air – W6JBT.ORG
w6jbt.org
September 6, 2025 at 10:01 AM
Route 66 On The Air starts today so I’ll chase those 1x1 calls. Tennessee QSO Party tomorrow. Not easy if lots of them are on 20 which makes sense for them but much of the state too close for me to work on 20. Will prowl anyhow.
w6jbt.org?page_id=15
w6jbt.org?page_id=15
The Kansas QSO Party is not your typical state contest. Mostly we chase 1x1 callsigns whose suffixes spell words. This year: KANSAS QSOPARTY SUNFLOWER and (no kidding!) YELLOWBRICKROAD. They have the coolest swag, too. www.ksqsoparty.org
2025 Kansas QSO Party
Kansas QSO Party
www.ksqsoparty.org
August 26, 2025 at 10:49 AM
The Kansas QSO Party is not your typical state contest. Mostly we chase 1x1 callsigns whose suffixes spell words. This year: KANSAS QSOPARTY SUNFLOWER and (no kidding!) YELLOWBRICKROAD. They have the coolest swag, too. www.ksqsoparty.org
From ARRL LETTER: Celebrating its 26th anniversary, the Route 66 special event will be on the air September 6 - 14, 2025, from 0001Z September 6 through 2359Z September 14. Info at w6jbt.org
August 14, 2025 at 11:57 PM
From ARRL LETTER: Celebrating its 26th anniversary, the Route 66 special event will be on the air September 6 - 14, 2025, from 0001Z September 6 through 2359Z September 14. Info at w6jbt.org
Ways to have fun this weekend: Kentucky POTA, Maryland QSO Party, Worked All Europe CW. WAE has serial numbers so can’t just let software parse callsigns & fill in zones. Other than T for leading 0, I dislike cut numbers in serials. If I reply ? then time’s wasted not saved. Your mileage may vary.
August 5, 2025 at 12:27 PM
Ways to have fun this weekend: Kentucky POTA, Maryland QSO Party, Worked All Europe CW. WAE has serial numbers so can’t just let software parse callsigns & fill in zones. Other than T for leading 0, I dislike cut numbers in serials. If I reply ? then time’s wasted not saved. Your mileage may vary.
Made goal in the NAQP CW yesterday. Took time out to eat steaks with granddaughter & son-in-law because “August The Tooth” is special for me. Would have been 50 yrs anniversary with OM now SK. We used to argue about which of us put up with more nonsense. I think in 49 yrs it probably came out even.
August 3, 2025 at 11:56 AM
Made goal in the NAQP CW yesterday. Took time out to eat steaks with granddaughter & son-in-law because “August The Tooth” is special for me. Would have been 50 yrs anniversary with OM now SK. We used to argue about which of us put up with more nonsense. I think in 49 yrs it probably came out even.
Just over 800 contacts in the log now as one of the K2B’s. Things get real slow past the 4th since most hard-case chasers have made their sweeps by now. I’ll go back for another hour this afternoon. I salute our K2B QSL manager for picking up big volunteer job. Info on QRZ.com for how-to QSL K2B.
afternoon.13colonies.us
July 5, 2025 at 3:32 PM
Just over 800 contacts in the log now as one of the K2B’s. Things get real slow past the 4th since most hard-case chasers have made their sweeps by now. I’ll go back for another hour this afternoon. I salute our K2B QSL manager for picking up big volunteer job. Info on QRZ.com for how-to QSL K2B.
I’m now at 749 contacts as K2B. Four hours on air today. Time to shmoose on the front porch with the dog before going to daughter’s house for burgers. #13Colonies
July 4, 2025 at 7:35 PM
I’m now at 749 contacts as K2B. Four hours on air today. Time to shmoose on the front porch with the dog before going to daughter’s house for burgers. #13Colonies
Power outage during the night was repaired in time for me to operate as K2B at 1300z on mains rather than generator. 40 SSB was noisy but I was able to make just over 100 Qs in an hour. Rather than yell into the abyss I went to 40 FT8.
Pileup was 5-6 deep for over an hour. #13Colonies
Pileup was 5-6 deep for over an hour. #13Colonies
July 2, 2025 at 7:05 PM
Power outage during the night was repaired in time for me to operate as K2B at 1300z on mains rather than generator. 40 SSB was noisy but I was able to make just over 100 Qs in an hour. Rather than yell into the abyss I went to 40 FT8.
Pileup was 5-6 deep for over an hour. #13Colonies
Pileup was 5-6 deep for over an hour. #13Colonies
Happy Canada Day to all my friends up north. As one of the Virginia K2B team I made 259 contacts in 2 hours on 40 SSB this morning on day 1 of the 13 Colonies special event. Info on this week-long event is at www.13colonies.us
The Annual 13 Colonies Special Event
www.13colonies.us
July 1, 2025 at 3:46 PM
Happy Canada Day to all my friends up north. As one of the Virginia K2B team I made 259 contacts in 2 hours on 40 SSB this morning on day 1 of the 13 Colonies special event. Info on this week-long event is at www.13colonies.us
Ditzy Dog says this is the place to be when it’s already hot outside at 8:30 in the morning.
June 25, 2025 at 12:42 PM
Ditzy Dog says this is the place to be when it’s already hot outside at 8:30 in the morning.
Made my (very modest) goal in the ARRL Digi contest because conditions were somewhat better today than yesterday. I actually had a bit of a run on FT4.
June 8, 2025 at 5:00 PM
Made my (very modest) goal in the ARRL Digi contest because conditions were somewhat better today than yesterday. I actually had a bit of a run on FT4.
Fortunately these weak signal modes are not totally slam dunked by solar shenanigans. I plan to operate.
[ARRL News] ARRL International Digital Contest Presents Fun Despite Active Sun ow.ly/bnGw106baBL #ARRL #amateurradio #hamradio
[ARRL News] ARRL International Digital Contest Presents Fun Despite Active Sun ow.ly/bnGw106baBL #ARRL #amateurradio #hamradio
ARRL International Digital Contest Presents Fun Despite Active Sun
The American Radio Relay League (ARRL) is the national association for amateur radio, connecting hams around the U.S. with news, information and resources.
ow.ly
June 6, 2025 at 4:40 PM
Fortunately these weak signal modes are not totally slam dunked by solar shenanigans. I plan to operate.
[ARRL News] ARRL International Digital Contest Presents Fun Despite Active Sun ow.ly/bnGw106baBL #ARRL #amateurradio #hamradio
[ARRL News] ARRL International Digital Contest Presents Fun Despite Active Sun ow.ly/bnGw106baBL #ARRL #amateurradio #hamradio
I’ll be one of the K2B ops from Virginia.
[ARRL News] 13 Colonies Event Founder Passing the Reins After 16 Years ow.ly/alor106baEI #ARRL #amateurradio #hamradio
[ARRL News] 13 Colonies Event Founder Passing the Reins After 16 Years ow.ly/alor106baEI #ARRL #amateurradio #hamradio
13 Colonies Event Founder Passing the Reins After 16 Years
The American Radio Relay League (ARRL) is the national association for amateur radio, connecting hams around the U.S. with news, information and resources.
ow.ly
June 6, 2025 at 4:37 PM
I’ll be one of the K2B ops from Virginia.
[ARRL News] 13 Colonies Event Founder Passing the Reins After 16 Years ow.ly/alor106baEI #ARRL #amateurradio #hamradio
[ARRL News] 13 Colonies Event Founder Passing the Reins After 16 Years ow.ly/alor106baEI #ARRL #amateurradio #hamradio
Made a few contacts on 6m FT8 this morning. Nothing new or exciting but signs of life on 6 always make a day better.
June 5, 2025 at 5:13 PM
Made a few contacts on 6m FT8 this morning. Nothing new or exciting but signs of life on 6 always make a day better.
This is a nice surprise in my inbox. This was the weekend with 4 contests involving umpteen states. Sending certificates electronically makes a lot of sense to lower costs and reduce volunteer workload. Thanks, Hoosiers.
June 3, 2025 at 5:26 PM
This is a nice surprise in my inbox. This was the weekend with 4 contests involving umpteen states. Sending certificates electronically makes a lot of sense to lower costs and reduce volunteer workload. Thanks, Hoosiers.