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Our picks
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Secrets to a great ragchew net?
I've always wondered what the secrets to a great ragchew net are. Net control gets on and calls for checkins... so what does it take to have a critical mass of operators and keep the net alive for years. Thoughts?-
- 11 replies
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The first SSB TXC
K3MRI posted a topic in Nostalgia & History,
Does anyone remember Swan Engineering? For years I had one of their promotional brochures. I had found it in my dad’s stuff after he passed. Like an IDIOT, I threw it away when we downsized; that’s one item I wish I would have kept.
Even more amazing would be if someone on Ham Community had actually seen one of those very early SSB transceivers. Incredibly, you can find one like the one in this photo for a couple of hundred dollars 🥸 Wow.-
- 3 replies
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QSL Card Check @ WINTERFEST 2023
WA8AHZ posted a topic in VWS Discussions,
QSL Card Checking, and information about the 4 Area incoming QSL Bureau are available at WINTERFEST 2023 at Oakton HS on Sunday, March 19th.
For DXCC or WAS Card Checking follow the instructions found at: https://p1k.arrl.org/onlinedxcc/ or use the paper form found at: http://www.arrl.org/files/file/DXCC/Application%20forms/DXCC_Application_Form_Nov_2022.pdf
If you plan to bring QSL cards to check, fill out the record sheet found at: http://www.arrl.org/files/file/DXCC/DXCC%20Record%20Sheet%202013a.pdf prior to arriving at the Hamfest.
The outdoor tailgating area opens at 7:00 am and the indoor market fair opens at 8:00 am. The Hamfest closes at 2:00 pm.
Purchase your admission/raffle tickets here: https://ticketstripe.com/VWS-WinterFest-2023 You do not need to be present to win the raffle. More info at https://viennawireless.net/wp/events/winterfest/-
- 0 replies
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Ole Virginia Hams seeking speakers
KG4NXT posted a speaking opportunity in In person,
Seeking speaker for: Digital modes, antennas, contesting how to, baluns, ununs, kit building
Third tuesday of the month-
- 0 replies
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Manassas Tailgate
KG4NXT posted an event in Club Events,
Welcome to the Manassas Tailgate. June 3rd Rain date of June 10th. The Virginia QSO awards ceremony and certificates will be held here.
Website: https://w4ovh.net/welcome-to-manassas-hamfest/
Email for information: wa2swxdm@gmail.com
Club: Ole Virginia Hams
On site testing?: No
Conferences / Workshops?: Yes
Flea market: Yes
Indoor / Outdoor: Outdoor
Cost: $5 person - or $20 to sell ( includes one admissin)
Ham Community attending?: We will not be attending-
- 0 replies
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New "ROVER" Category for 2023 Virginia QSO Party Explained
KM4SK posted a topic in National and regional contests,
The 2023 Virginia QSO Party Non-Fixed Station Categories–EXPLAINED
Introducing the “Rover” Category (Experimental for 2023)
The 2023 Virginia QSO Party on the weekend of 18-19 March 2023 is fast approaching. To ensure all our non-fixed station operators have equal contest opportunities, the Virginia QSO Party (VAQP) has added a “Rover” category for 2023. The VAQP committee wishes to recognize amateurs whose use of retractable antenna masts, non-mobile support structures, commercial power, or an external operating position would preclude traditional mobile classification. Descriptions of each category and a handy chart follow below.
Whichever of the three non-fixed station categories you choose, stations should identify their callsign with /M (not Rover or Expedition) and operators contacting you must log you as /M to earn three points. For complete VAQP contest rules, go to http://bit.ly/3Y14yXX
Mobile – A station operating from a vehicle which is capable of operating while in motion and operates stationary in the same configuration. The mobile can travel and move at any time without having to disconnect any wiring or change any antennas. A mobile station is self-contained and is capable of legal motion while operating. Commercial power may not be used. Contacts may be made while moving or stopped.
Rover (experimental for 2023) – A vehicle that is not a mobile or expedition station. The rover may make contacts while stationary and/or while moving. The rover may change equipment and deploy antenna configurations. The rover may operate from a vehicle and/or off a vehicle. The rover may or may not use commercial power.-
- 1 reply
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Mastrant North American representative
OL5Y posted an advert in HAM JOBS,
Mastrant is seeking a NA representative
Mastrant, a Czech Republic-based, small but growing designer and manufacturer of very high quality guying ropes and accessories serving the amateur radio market, is currently seeking a North American representative to further grow Mastrant’s presence and sales in the United States and Canada. The ideal candidate would be based in the United States but be able to travel within NA, have or set up their self-employment status, speak and write English fluently, and be legally permitted to work in the United States. In principle, so long as the candidate is sufficiently fit to travel and attend events, there are no age restrictions to this post, indeed a recent retiree may well fit the position.
More specifically, this is the proposed job description (note that Mastrant is open to modifications to this list inasmuch as said modifications further Mastrant’s goals).
Seek out the larger amateur radio clubs in NA and deliver, either virtually or in-person depending on cost-benefit, presentations of Mastrant products, and antenna guying in general, at their club meetings
Attend medium to large hamfests for the purpose of either selling directly or exhibiting and/or presenting Mastrant products
Write, and have published, magazine or blog articles on antenna guying that highlight Mastrant products
Participate in the formulation of Mastrant marketing strategies for NA
Liaise with and support current and future Mastrant resellers by providing technical support, training or joint sales activities
Contribute to Mastrant’s English-language marketing materials including its printed materials and its growing online activities
Read the full advert in the classifieds.-
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- 0 replies
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Cape May Concrete Ship SS Atlantus POTA Activation K2AA AA2SD
AA2SD posted a topic in Portable & extreme operating,
Thanks to all that contacted me today from Cape May Point in front of the concrete ship. It was a very cold and windy day, but I was able to activate all 4 bands 10, 15 ,20 and 40 Mtrs. You can still see the remnants of the concrete ship, I took these photos this morning with a zoom lens from the beach, check out the You Tube of today. I used a vertical antenna with 4 radials on the ground and activated on 10-15-20 and 40 Mtrs...a fun day with Parks on the Air.
Thanks to all with the help on the spotting pages, we successfully activated this park today!
AA2SD
Scott
https://www.aa2sd.com/-
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- 1 reply
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CQD DE MGY
NS7X posted a topic in Nostalgia & History,
His name was Jack Phillips and he sent the most famous radio message in history. Well, if not the most famous, it was at least among the most infamous. At the tender age of 25, he was the senior radio operator and had already amassed years of experience.
The night his message became famous (April 15, 1912), Jack operated a 600 meter rig running 5 kW, although only about 500 W actually made it to the Twin T antenna array. His spark gap transmitter wasn’t all that efficient, you see.
He operated using the call MGY, the callsign designation for the ship he served on. As an employee of the Marconi International Marine Communication Company, Jack Phillips was well versed in the Marconi radio procedures – including the usage of CQD (meaning – All Stations Distress). So when his ship, the Titanic, collided with an ice berg and began taking on water, Jack signaled to anyone who had a receiver CQD de MGY.
Following the collision, Harold Bride (the junior wireless operator) reported to the radio room. As the ship was sinking, Harold suggested Jack use the newer internationally recognized distress call, <SOS>. Half joking, Harold added, “This may be your last chance to use it.”
Although the Titanic was not the first ship to use the prosign SOS, it was the first (and last) to use both distress signals. Unlike Jack Phillips, Harold Bride was one of the survivors of the disaster.
This is a link to a facsimile of what the CQD/SOS call from the Titanic probably sounded like:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=snkwsU98QlQ
By the way, as an historical side note, the ham radio operators on the eastern US seaboard spontaneously stayed off the air the night the Titanic sunk. They, instead, copied the rescue traffic as it happened in the North Atlantic. The next morning, thanks to the hams copying the names of the survivors as they were transmitted throughout the night, the newspapers were able to publish a survivors list.-
- 1 reply
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HAMVENTION 2023
K3MRI posted an event in Ham Community Calendar,
Ham Community and our various sister projects will be attending and exhibiting at Hamvention 2023.
Find us in Booth 1809 in Building 1.
Drop by to say hello, join us, and pick up this year's giveaway... it's our nicest one so far.
Website: https://hamvention.org
Email for information: tickets@hamvention.org
Contact or support URL: https://hamvention.org/contact-us/
Indoor / Outdoor: Both... indoor exhibitors and outdoor flea market
Rain or shine?: Rain or shine
Cost: $26 in advance, $30 at the door
Ham Community attending?: We will be exhibiting,We will exhibit indoors-
- 0 replies
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17 Knowledge of amateur radio history
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1. How would you rate your knowledge of amateur radio history?
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Very high
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Somewhat high
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Average
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Somewhat low
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Very low to nil
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2. If you could, would you take the time to learn more about amateur radio history? Do you think it could be fun and/or useful to you?
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Yes; fun and possibly useful
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Indifferent either way
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No; waste of time
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3. Would you like there to be more history talks at your club meetings?
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Yes, absolutely
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Indifferent
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No, please no
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- Please sign in or register to vote in this poll.
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