pix_logo01 (5K)NAQCC News

Nov 27, 2010NAQCC Web Site Issue #131

In this issue:
1. December Challenge
2. November Sprint Results
3. General Club News
3a. Chapter News
4. Elmer Project
5. Latest Award Winners
6. Member Spotlight
7. News Items and Articles by Our Members

1. DECEMBER CHALLENGE: This is another open-ended alphabet challenge like the astronomy challenge a few months ago. We are not giving you a word list. You are free to make up any words you can that relate to the weather - clouds, temperature, rain, meteorology, and so on. There are also a couple other twists thrown in by Tom also, so as always, read and understand the rules thoroughly before embarking on the challenge. This will be the last alphabet challenge with an open word list, and the last in which contest QSO's will be allowed. Beginning in 2011 all alphabet challenges will have word lists, and all challenges must be done with regular non-contest, non-sprint QSO's except our June extra FD challenge.

Full Challenge info here.

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2. NOVEMBER SPRINT RESULTS: Was that a huge black hole that enveloped a huge portion of the USA for our sprint? Except for a few isolated locations, poor conditions prevailed that evening. However that didn't daunt our wonderful members in the least and once again we went over 100 logs. That makes 8 straight months we've done that now, thanks to you and your enthusiasm for YOUR club.

That's enough of my comments. Let's look at the stats now:

StatsCurrent
Month
Previous
Month
All-Time
Record
Mo/Yr
Logs1061081358/10
Participants1571682118/10
Total QSO's1073125119298/10
Hour 1 QSO's61669810288/10
Hour 2 QSO's4575539216/10
20M QSO's01610006/10
40M QSO's55193812778/10
80M QSO's5222977652/10
Avg QSO's per stn10.111.619.19/06


AWARDS
SWA Category
DivisionWinner
W1K1IEE
W2W2SH
W3KB3AAG
W4K4BAI
W5W5YDM
W6KI6NTB
W7AA7CU
W8N8QY
W9W9CC
W0N0TA
CanadaVE3RCN
DXNP3CW
Other Categories
GainNG7Z
First time entrant
high scorer
K5SEE
Knob/handle
drawing
KX9N

Congratulations to all including winners and non-winners. Actually everyone who participated and sent in a log is a winner because you have helped show the ham radio world that there are many folks still using and enjoying CW on the ham bands. That's one of our main goals here at the NAQCC.

Very special thanks to those who reported their results even though they made only a few QSO's. Your reports are important also.

We had a total of 8 stations who didn't submit a log show up 5-28 times in the 106 logs we received and cross-checked. Hopefully they and many others will be back next month AND submit a log. Remember submitting a log doubles the strength of your statement that you support CW operation.

We welcome these hams who submitted a sprint log for the first time. We hope they will continue to participate and report their results:
K5SEE NE5DL KA0RJY N3GGT KI0J KI6NTB W4CUX KX9N WA2CCD KI6IMK WV3U WF5W KN5L AI4SV

GOLDEN LOGS. Everyone who submits a log with exactly the correct format as defined in the rules plus has every bit of info (numbers, states, etc.) correct in the log gets a listing in the GOLDEN LOGS section in the results. Many clubs penalize mistakes in logging, some to the point of disqualification if there are too many mistakes. We don't do anything like that other than fixing a score if a mistake changes it. Instead of penalizing errors, we will reward perfection.

There also is going to eventually be some sort of prize in conjunction with the GOLDEN LOGS. We haven't decided the details yet.

We hope that is an incentive to run a fine-tooth comb through your logs before submitting them.

GOLDEN LOG's were submitted by 43 participants this month. To see if you were one of the 43, check the results page.

Top 5 (+ ties) list of most GOLDEN LOG's since we started keeping track in March 2010:
WB8ENE - 9 (all)
N8XMS - 7
KD5MMM - 6
K0HJC - 6
N9KR - 6

Thanks to all GOLDEN LOGgers for making my cross-checking job that much easier.

Full sprint info here.

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3. GENERAL CLUB NEWS:

pix_blueball (1K) - WOW! Our membership drive we conducted this past week netted us over 400 new members with a few more still coming in. I would estimate 80-85 percent named an article in the QRZ.com web site as the source of how they found out about the club. QRP-L used to be the top source in our drives, but as President Tom WY3H said to me, "Probably most who subscribe to QRP-L are already members." It entailed a lot of work processing those applications which is one reason this newsletter is a day or so late being posted. Special thanks go out to Rick AA4W who printed and emailed a membership certificate to each of the new members. That is probably even more work than entering members into our database, web site page, and mailing list. I know because I did that printing job myself (in addition to the other work) before Rick became our certificate printer.

pix_blueball (1K) - Second WOW! The NAQCC has its own domain name for its web site in addition to 1,000 times the amount of web site space. Within the next couple months, the NAQCC will have the URL of naqcc.info on a server with 10 GB of space. That will allow us to do a lot more on the web site than we could with our current 10 MB. Thanks to an anonymous donor for funding the first two years of the domain name and web space. We'll have more about this in upcoming newsletters. We'll also announce it via our mail list when the new web site becomes available.

pix_blueball (1K) - Just a quick reminder we're continuing with the hidden call sign idea originally suggested by Bill KB3XS. Somewhere in this newsletter is a call sign of a member in a place that is definitely out of context and containing a mix of upper and lower case letters. If it is YOUR call sign and YOU find it, email pix_email_naqcc (1K) BEFORE the publication date of the next newsletter (December 11) and win a gift certificate for 100 NAQCC QSL cards produced by the CheapQSLs.com company run by Hal K6RF (#0171) and donated by the NAQCC thanks to your generous monetary donations to the club. So far we've had 33 hidden calls and only 6 'eagle-eyed' winners - KD1R, KM6NN, K4UK, K5RIX, N9AKF, W1ICU. We haven't had a winner now since issue 119_120 published June 5 of this year.

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3a. CHAPTER NEWS:

Here is where our club chapters present news about their chapter activities. We currently have two chapters - European and Minnesota. We're looking forward to expanding that roster. Chapters are more or less independent local gatherings organized by members in a geographical area and subject to a list of guidelines under the auspices of the NAQCC. If you would be interested in starting a chapter in your area, let us know and we'll send a copy of the guidelines.

EUROPEAN CHAPTER:
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Items in this section are from EU Chapter President Matt MW3YMY unless otherwise credited. Questions or comments should got to pix_email_mw3ymy (1K)

Support for the European Chapter is constantly growing. Although still a work in progress, the website is up and running for the EU Chapter.

As ever, any comments/suggestions/questions about the chapter are very welcome. The address is: pix_email_mw3ymy (1K)

MINNESOTA CHAPTER:

Items in this section are from MN Chapter member K0HJC unless otherwise credited. Questions or comments should got to Chapter President Rich, WD0K at WD0K@arrl.net.

Greetings from the Minnesota Chapter! Activities by Chapter members include KD0V's code classes, K9OSC's CW SS QRP Scores (227 QSO's, 61 sections), the November Sprint and brunch with 11 hams and spouses. December brunch will be in Apple Valley, MN. See our Website, http://www.naqccmn.com/ for details and directions!

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4. THE NAQCC ELMER PROJECT:
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The Elmer project is co-ordinated by Karl N3IJR (L) and Ron K5DUZ. If you are interested in helping out or need help with any CW and/or QRP matters contact:
K5DUZ - pix_email_k5duz (1K)
N3IJR - pix_email_n3ijr (1K)
Elmer's tip: For those new to ham radio (and that's really who these tips are especially designed for), this is a good time for those who have all-band rigs. With winter coming, the lower bands (160 and 80) will have much less QRN and more activity as a result. With the sunspot cycle starting to kick in, the higher bands (20 through 10) will have more frequent and better openings. So don't forget to make use of that all-band rig and explore every band from 160 through 10 meters depending on the time of day. 160, 80, 40 and maybe 30 when its dark, and the others during the day.

Many examples of good operating practices can be found on the Elmer Project page of the web site and on K3WWP's Web Site

NAQCC QRS Net Report
Date(UTC)   NCS        Participants
11/15/10     WY3H       9 - WY3H K3WWP K3VIG N8IUP N9RLO AC8AP N2YHQ
                            AF3Z W2HI
11/22/10     WY3H      11 - WY3H K3WWP N2YHQ K1IEE N8IUP VE3FUJ N9RLO
                            N5RDN W4HH VA2BBW WB0QQT
Our net is now in it's winter schedule. The time is Sunday 8:30 PM ELT (Monday 0130Z), and the frequency is 3575.0. This allows for better conditions as 40 meters is now in very long skip at net time with the earlier sunsets.

Briefly, our net procedure is as follows:
CQ NQN DE N3AQC QNI
NQN standing for Naqcc Qrs Net. QNI being the net QN signal for check In now. When the NCS (Net Control Station) sends QNI, just send your call letters once, and then follow the instructions from the NCS. Be sure not to leave the net because after everyone is checked in, all will get a chance to make comments in turn.

From Tom WY3H - The net is quite informal and everyone is invited to check in. If anyone is not familiar with net QN-signals that's OK too (we really don't use them much). The NAQCC would also like members to step up to volunteer as Net Control ops. You don't have to commit to every week. What we are asking members is to try being an NCS just once. We have received several inquiries from our West Coast members regarding a net in that region. We are pleased with the response. May I suggest that when a West Coast net is started, and I hope that is soon, that we have enough NCS volunteers to take turns running the net. If anyone wishes to formulate concrete plans for a weekly net, please contact Tom, WY3H at: pix_email_wy3h (1K)

We need YOU to make our Elmer project work. If you need help hc036 (1K) with any ham radio matter or are willing to help others with your expertise, please contact our Elmer directors:
K5DUZ - pix_email_k5duz (1K)
N3IJR - pix_email_n3ijr (1K)
WY3H - pix_email_wy3h (1K)

Also see Elmer Project on the web site.

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5. AWARD WINNERS THE PAST TWO MONTHS:

CERTIFICATES:

1000 MPW:
0096 - KC2VBU 10/10/10
0097 - KC2VBU 10/10/10

ENDORSEMENTS and/or WEB SITE LISTINGS:

None

Full List of all award winners here.

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6. MEMBER SPOTLIGHT:
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This section is managed by Paul N8XMS and any questions about it should go to pix_email_n8xms (1K). Paul selects members at random and asks them if they would like to be featured in the Member Spotlight in the newsletter.
Rob Steenburg KA8JBY #4496

Picture of KA8JBY

I was interested in radio as a youngster. With the help of my dad, Stu (KB8DEO) and my metal shop teacher, Don (WA8EVP), I earned my Novice ticket at age 15 and got on the air with a Viking Ranger, Allied A2516 receiver and 40m dipole. I later upgraded to General and started severe storm spotting. After graduation, I donated the Ranger to my high school club (WB8DRZ), returned the Allied receiver to my dad, and eventually joined the Air Force. Over 24 years as an AF meteorologist, I started a wonderful family and barely touched radio.

In 2007 while stationed at Wright Patterson AFB in Dayton, I went to the Hamvention with my son Daniel. We met Ellie (N0QCX) and Rip (NV0M) of the Boulder Amateur Radio Club Juniors at the Youth Forum. Coincidently, my follow-on assignment was as an Air Force Liaison to NOAAs Space Weather Prediction Center in Boulder.

Before leaving Ohio, I learned my high school radio club disbanded long ago and returned the Ranger to my dad. I took it with me to Boulder, along with the Allied receiver, an Icom 728, and my original Nye Viking straight key.

Daniel earned his Technician ticket with BARC Jr's help. I was back on the air with the Icom, but the Ranger required intensive care. With long-distance help from Randy (W5KCM) and in-person help from Virgil (W0INK), we eventually resurrected it. Together, Daniel and I also restored an old ARC-5 (BC-458A) and designed and built the accompanying power supply.

In 2009 I retired from the Air Force and began a new career as a NASA physical scientist. Apartment living kept me from setting up my boat anchor station, so I decided to try QRP. I built 2 Rock Mites (30m and 40m), attached End Fed Half Wave antennas and was astounded when I made contacts as far away as Hungary. (HA3FTA - 11530 miles per watt!) I've since refurbished a Wilderness Sierra. All together, I have logged over 100 non-contest QRP QSOs. I'm usually on 40m and operate, as I did in the 80's, strictly CW.

73 72 Rob KA8JBY ---

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pix_sm_kd2mx (13K) 7. NEWS ITEMS AND ARTICLES BY OUR MEMBERS: This section is a forum for you to tell other members what you've been up to on the ham bands or to submit an article dealing with some aspect of CW and QRP operation or equipment. Send your news items and articles to our news editor Paul KD2MX at pix_email_kd2mx (1K). Deadline for submitting news items for the next newsletter is November 12. For your convenience any links in this section will open in a new browser window so you can come immediately back here to the newsletter just by closing that extra window.

DISCLAIMER: Any views expressed in this section are those of the member submitting them, and may or may not be those of the NAQCC or its officers.

pix_blueball (1K) From John K3WWP #0002 - Mike KC2EGL and I had another session on Thanksgiving Eve. We came up with a sturdier mast of pvc pipe for our portable antennas and took care of updating the NAQCC prize info. Other than that, not a lot of news as I've been busy processing the 400+ new member applications and working on getting our new domain name and web site space set up. I probably won't even have much time to get in the CQWW DX contest this weekend. Also I still need to get my QSO of the day for today (27th). Just too much to do and not enough time. However I am glad the club is becoming more and more popular by leaps and bounds even though it does increase my work load.

pix_blueball (1K) From Zoky 9A3HP #2374 - Here are photos of the current radio instruments that I use. You can find information on my station configuration on my web site too http://www.9a3hp.page.tl. There is also information on QRP, antennas, some old radios, and our high-altitude balloon project. Come check it out!

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2-12 Mhz Army Receiver


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Other Equipment & Yugoslav Army Key


Club email address - pix_email_naqcc (1K)

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Past on-line newsletters beginning with issue #042 are now archived on the site. So if you missed seeing any past issues, you can check them out in the archives.

Unless otherwise credited, all items are written by K3WWP.

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