A beautiful day outside
Despite it being another cool day for me (42 degrees is miserable for us transplanted Floridians), I was outside to enjoy some amateur radio operations. I had actually been excited about this weekend for about two weeks - there was the 10-10 Winter QSO Party and the DXpedition to Cuba. It was in my calendar and everything.
I went out a little before noon and set up my Buddipole antenna and portable shack. If you don't know already, my "shack" isn't in my warm, toasty home. No, it's completely enclosed in a convenient "flight case" (the same thing used by musicians to move around their expensive equipment).
When we selected the condo that we're rented, we didn't select it for ham radio use. In fact, I wasn't even licensed yet. It was to be near the water and the marina our boat is located in. Now that I'm into amateur radio, its not ideal. No permanent antennas, and no warm permanent shack inside the house.
The benefit of portable operation is that I got to be outside. It really was a beautiful day.
Anyway, I set up the Buddipole for 10 meters. While not my first foray into this particular band, my last time on it wasn't very good (it was when my radio was still having serious issues). I dialed up the radio and got my first QSO.
The benefit of portable operation is that I got to be outside. It really was a beautiful day.
Anyway, I set up the Buddipole for 10 meters. While not my first foray into this particular band, my last time on it wasn't very good (it was when my radio was still having serious issues). I dialed up the radio and got my first QSO.
Before I knew it, I had received many contacts from many new QTHs. The propagation was fantastic. I received contacts from all over the country, including North Dakota, Minnesota, Texas, California, and more. I worked a contact from the Azores too. I listened to strong signals from Hawaii and more, but I was running out of time and they were in the middle of a very healthy rag-chew. Next time.
I think 10 meters may be my favorite band now.
I think 10 meters may be my favorite band now.
10-10 Winter QSO Party
The 10-10 organization, dedicated to promoting use on 10 meters, ran a QSO party. I thought it was great fun, and all the members I talked to were great. They kept handing out 10-10 membership numbers, which I found out later I needed to collect 10 to join the organization.
Sadly, I missed that number (because it was getting dark and by then I was frozen in place). I'll try again tomorrow to pick up the last few that I need.
I will say that its almost like collecting baseball cards - once I realized I needed to get to 10, I almost pushed through the cold to grab those last few... Next time!
Sadly, I missed that number (because it was getting dark and by then I was frozen in place). I'll try again tomorrow to pick up the last few that I need.
I will say that its almost like collecting baseball cards - once I realized I needed to get to 10, I almost pushed through the cold to grab those last few... Next time!
Up! Up!
I also heard K1N (a DXpedition operating for Navassa Island) and KG4YL (part of the Cuba DXpedition). I heard K1N first, and not realizing what it was, I nipped in 28305 and tried my luck. When the operator called "QRZ?" I tossed in my callsign. He didn't seem to hear me, so I tried again.
That's when I looked up K1N on QRZ.com, and I realized that this was a "big one". He was probably operating split, which I had never done before. My suspicions were confirmed when I heard another callsign go out, and someone called out: "UP UP, he's operating split!". Oops.
So, split operation is when he is transmitting on one frequency (in this case, 28305) and listening on another. Apparently, he was listening between 28310 and 28345. I tried for awhile (once I got my Yaesu FT-897 set up properly) but I never did get noticed. However, I learned how to do it right, so next time, I wouldn't be the lid stepping on the DXpedition (sorry!).
With KG4YL, I liked that she made it clear what she was doing. Every time she said her callsign, she added "UP 5", which made it easy for me to avoid the mistake of stepping on her. I caught her as the band was fading, and tried my luck, but I didn't get worked. I learned a second important note for operating split - don't forget to turn off split operation when you're done. I attempted to work a different contact around 28444, before I realized I was still transmitting on her listening frequency! (Sorry again!)
That's when I looked up K1N on QRZ.com, and I realized that this was a "big one". He was probably operating split, which I had never done before. My suspicions were confirmed when I heard another callsign go out, and someone called out: "UP UP, he's operating split!". Oops.
So, split operation is when he is transmitting on one frequency (in this case, 28305) and listening on another. Apparently, he was listening between 28310 and 28345. I tried for awhile (once I got my Yaesu FT-897 set up properly) but I never did get noticed. However, I learned how to do it right, so next time, I wouldn't be the lid stepping on the DXpedition (sorry!).
With KG4YL, I liked that she made it clear what she was doing. Every time she said her callsign, she added "UP 5", which made it easy for me to avoid the mistake of stepping on her. I caught her as the band was fading, and tried my luck, but I didn't get worked. I learned a second important note for operating split - don't forget to turn off split operation when you're done. I attempted to work a different contact around 28444, before I realized I was still transmitting on her listening frequency! (Sorry again!)
Final Thoughts
I spent an entire afternoon chasing QSOs, and I really had a great time. Since I was outside for so many hours, I really saw the band change from Europe/eastern US to western US/Pacific ocean. It was really neat. I like 10 meters a lot - I really think I'll be operating on it a lot more. And I still need a few more 10-10 numbers so that I can get my own number!
So, despite a few embarrassing mistakes, it was still a really great day. I learned how to avoid those mistakes in the future, so I'll be a better operator for it.
So, despite a few embarrassing mistakes, it was still a really great day. I learned how to avoid those mistakes in the future, so I'll be a better operator for it.