This Weekend In RadioSport | Coloradio Mountain High

RadioSport Asia | All Asian DX [SSB].
Want to challenge Cycle 24 then look for an action packed event this weekend as the All Asian DX v. SSB hits RadioSport arena. Advantage west coast of the United States but the magic of 24 just might entice east coast operators into the foray. There is nothing like logging a Q when the odds are stacked against one's station.

Rules (link).

RadioSport Ru | Russian RTTY WW.
Let's admit, RTTY is the trending RadioSport mode, and RadioSport Ru provides an additional opportunity to develop one's RTTY skill set.

Rules (link).

RadioSport USA | Colorado QSO Party.
Who does not like a good party? If 24 throws a wild card into the game, Colorado, is in the middle of the country. Propagation at the minimum provides ample short or long skip opportunity for anyone, anywhere in the good ole US of A.

Rules (link).

RadioSport USA | Tennessee QSO Party.
The party is 'on' this weekend including Tennessee vying for one's valuable Q for the log. Propagation even with its high A-index will not noise on this event but take heart the K is flat and that's good news. Join the fun this weekend and invest a Q or two in Tennessee.

Rules (link).

Current Solar Flux: SFI = 68 A-index = 6 K-index = 0

N1MM Contest Logger Update Version 9.9.2

Contest courtesy of N1MM Free Contest Logger Reflector.

The latest update is available for download (link) and Tom, N1MM included the following helpful hints.

1. One does not need to download version 9.0 if version 8.12.9 is already installed because everything is fully functional.
2. One may alternate between v9 and v8 just download and install.
3. Do not uninstall then reinstall as versions are stacked.
4. Create a back-up version of one's install directory on a regular basis especially when upgrading from an older version.
   

I need to remember Hint #4 and back-up my install directory onto my 4GB flash memory.

73 from the shackadelic.

3830 Claimed Scores | 2009 YO DX HF | Low Power

All Single Operator (S/O) CW.

• C4Z (5B4AIZ) | 909 Qs | 238 Mults | 21hrs | 1,005,788 Points [CHILTERN DX CLUB].
• LZ9R (LZ3YY) | 915 Qs | 204 Mults | 21hrs | 574,464 Points.
• YT5A (YU7NU) | 580 Qs | 197 Mults | 12hrs | 383,756 Points [YU CC].

All (S/O) Mixed.

• OK1JOC | 408 CW | 145 SSB | 158 CWMults | 15hrs | 341,122 Points [OKqrp].
• YO4HEK | 401 CW | 37 SSB | 66 CWMults | 134,904 Points.
• YO9BXC | 213 CW | 57 SSB | 84 CWMults | 18hrs | 115,247 Points.

All (S/O) SSB.

• I4IFL | 40 Qs | 5,500 Points.
• KS4X | 25 Qs | 16 Mults | 1,792 Points [TCG].

Contest on!

3830 Claimed Scores | 2009 Solvenia Contest Club (SCC) RTTY Championship | Low Power

All Single Operator All Band (SOAB).

• CT1ILT | 882 Qs | 2109 Points | 209 Mults | 19h18m | 440,781 Points [WWYC].
  
• EA3GLB (PACO) | 807 Qs | 1828 Points | 228 Mults | 20hrs | 416,784 Points.
  
• S53F | 601 Qs | 1282 Points | 212 Mults | 21hrs | 271,784 Points [Belokranjec CC].

All SOAB (Assisted).

• MW0CRI | 383 Qs | 851 Points | 125 Mults | 9.5hrs | 106,375 Points [Chiltern DX Club].
• IK1DFH | 291 Qs | 603 Points | 121 Mults | 12hrs | 72,963 Points [RBLOB RADIO GROUP].

Congratulation's CT1ILT on your accomplishment this weekend.

73 from the shackadelic.

3830 Claimed Scores | 2009 Kansas QSO Party (KsQP) | Low Power

In State Mobile Single Operator.

• K5YAA | 1162 CW | 29 SSB | 0 Digi | 14hrs | 170,112 Points [OkDX].
• NA0V/M | 0 CW | 426 SSB | 51 Digi | 16hrs | 20,034 Points.

In State Single Operator.

• KC0AHN | 0 CW | 442 SSB | 0 Digi | 18hrs | 47,736 Points.
• AC0E | 113 CW | 0 SSB | 3 Digi | 4h55m | 14,338 Points.
• WA0ARM | 0 CW | 0 SSB | 55 Digi | 9hrs | 4,620 Points.

Out of State Single Operator.

• N6MU | 115 CW | 131 SSB | 0 Digi | 56,651 Points.
• N4CD | 101 CW | 19 SSB | 0 Digi | 29,767 Points.
  
• K4ZGB | 79 CW | 79 SSB | 0 Digi | 12hrs | 27,455 Points [ACG].

An interesting mix of CW, SSB, and Digital Qs suggesting a developing niche for DigiSport going into the future. I wonder, when digital mode(s), will equal or surpass legacy modes like CW or SSB as low power digital gains popularity in the suburbs?

Contest on!

The Height Of Pathetic

Twitter #hamr network delivered an over-the-top conversation, for me, it is the height of ham radio pathetic. I follow FCC regulations that govern ham radio in the United States and this is beyond the pale of reason. Additionally, read the conversation that followed, ham radio wireless communication is an open source.

Interestingly, no one deciphered the repeater's Morse Code identifier and its signature (5 minutes 35 seconds) follows toward the end of this pathetic conversation.

• Random Ham Radio Troll Fight Audio "Explicit" (link).

The world heard this conversation.

Z'ed L Special

I wonder if antenna popularity ebbs and flows? The ZL Special recently floated to the top of the discussion list on the NCCC reflector and I wanted to learn a little more about this budget friendly antenna system. Does one have twinlead on the shack inventory list?

Basically, this type of antenna is constructed from 300 Ohm twinlead, with satisfactory performance characteristics according to the research material. Essentially, the Z'ed L Special is made out three pieces of 300 Ohm twinlead as each element is a 1/2 wavelength long, shorted at each end like a folded dipole, and a wavelength of 1/8th for the phase line.

Phase line must have a twist in it, according to Tom, W8JI at Tower Talk, this results in cross-fire phasing. An interesting conversation about the performance characteristics of the Z'ed L Special can be found at Amateur Radio UK, "ZL Beams...why?"

I'm searching for an optimal low profile antenna system with performance characteristics equal or exceeding a dipole. Anyone have practical, real world experience with the ZL Special and care to comment?

ZL Special Links.

1. Tower Talk ZL-Special.
2. The ZL Special.
3. Corner of a ZLspecial antenna.
   
4. ZL Special.
5. Koolau Amateur Radio Club | ZL Special.

Antenna.

• Understanding Antennas for the Non-Technical Ham.

73 from the shackadelic.

Top 10 Countries Reading KA3DRR

Thank you for creating a success while supporting my mission through really simple syndication (RSS) feeds, uncommon uses, and my recently launched email option.

Top 10 Countries 2009 August 30.

1. United States | 82 views.
2. Ukraine | 24 views.
3. Spain | 14 views.
4. Denmark | 12 views.
5. Italy | 5 views.
6. Canada | 6 views.
7. Sweden | 6 views.
8. United Kingdom | 5 views.
9. Mexico | 4 views.
   
10. China | 4 views.

Turn on, tune, operate.