VP6DX | A Legacy Of 183,686 QSOs...

Imagine.

The DXpedition that took Ham Radio by storm wrote itself into history. Quiet reigns on that Pacific atoll but the legacy of VP6DX will live on. The number of QSOs suggest 183,686 different storylines and the global Ham Radio community shared in the VP6DX adventure.

The buzz stretched wide and far touching nearly every operator who has access to the Internet. Some went without sleep in the hope of working the signal radiating from Ducie Island. Others, like myself, enjoyed a new multiplier during the ARRL International DX CW contest. I applauded the team's operating techniques, good sportsmanship, and sheer style.

This team took command of the airwaves and lead the way.

VP6DX is an example of what Ham Radio can achieve when years of practice, innovation, imagination, and experience hits the ionosphere. This team is the new example of leadership and the new standard of operating technique. VP6DX restored my hope and confidence that Ham Radio is not slipping toward oblivion.

Instead, VP6DX is the turning point, as an operation that brought out pride to be a Ham Radio operator.

This weekend Ducie is silent but the memory of 183,686 QSOs achieved legacy status.

Krasimir, LZ1GL -- Leaves Comment

Whose got the King Kong of RadioSport exchanges? Well, according to Krasimir, LZ1GL it's the Bulgarian exchange and the LZ Open 40-Meter contest is the name of the game.

Read Krasimir's comment here.

Exchange up!

RadioSport Eu -- LZ Open 40-Meter CW Contest

This hot one arrived in my email box this afternoon.

The LZ (Bulgarian) Open Contest Club sponsors the LZ Open 40-Meter CW contest scheduled for April 5th at 0000 - 0400 UTC.

This year, the contest sponsor, is looking for record participation at the international level. Morse code is the soundtrack and the exchange is wildly cool.

No multipliers. The contest is all about Qs and skill.

Krasimir, LZ1GL said, "We want to hear your signal!"

Contest on.

Laird Campbell Memorial Station--W1HQ Blog

Someone hit Headquarters (HQ) with 220 volts because there is a heart beat on the monitor. I checked around the blogosphere and no buzz about W1HQ's blog. Is there new energy at the Laird Campbell Memorial Station? I believe so.

Someone is jazzed about Ham Radio and it is Katie, W1KRB (Membership Manager) and Sean, KX9X (Contest Manager). Right on.

Welcome to the blogosphere W1HQ and blog on. I'm looking forward to reading about the adventures of the Laird Campbell Memorial Station!

Someone pass me a slice of pepperoni pizza, please.

HAMigg Retired

Christian, DL6KAC who innovated HAMigg as a social bookmarking and content submission experiment for Ham Radio is history. A noble experiment indeed and one ahead of its time. Thank you Christian for your vision and imagination. He is now working on a new contribution for our thriving Ham Radio Internet community. The very best from KA3DRR to DL6KAC.

Onward to the future.

HamSphere News

Latest news from HamSphere.

HamSphere.

• Audio timeout and program stop after 0-5 minutes. Fixed!
• Failure to load Main Class in Linux and Mac. Fixed!
• A total of 1423 users have downloaded the software so far.
• 825 call signs have logged on to the system.

I enjoyed my first vQSO on 40-Meter SSB with Werner, DJ6ZX who answered my CQ. We QSY'd to 7.060 after establishing our QSO on 7.055 and ragchewed for 30-minutes. Our QSO had ionospheric qualities as if operating HF for example, static and QSB. I ran 75-watts and enjoyed our friendly chat. My experience was a lot of fun.

VP6DX--The Greatest DXpedition Ever

I'm witnessing Ham Radio DXpedition history and the VP6DX team destroyed previous records and established themselves as 'Best Ever'. I'm stoked and it's showing in this post. This team is smokin' the ionosphere while bringing a lot of joy to operators spanning the globe.

Me included.

• "On 2008 February 25 Monday at 0437z, after 13 days 7 hours and 37 minutes of continuous operation, RA0ALM contacted the Ducie Island expedition on the 10 MHz band for the expedition's 168,723rd contact." VP6DX

VP6DX is setting the bar awfully high for the next team willing to go after a page in Ham Radio's history book. Check out their statistics along with an impressive 168,723 QSOs.

DXpedition History--VP6DX.

• Largest number of RTTY contacts, previously held by the Swains Island N8S expedition of 2007 April.
• Largest number of SSB (voice) contacts, previously held by the Comoros Island D68C expedition.
• Largest number of contacts on the 40m band, previously held by the Libya 5A7A expedition of 2006 November.

All of this and more at the bottom of the cycle!

Thank you VP6DX.

Weekend Wrap-Up

I'm getting ready to wrap-up the weekend and here's a summary of activity while 10 to 12-foots waves batter our coastline.

Summary.

• Contest Exchange & Cut Numbers, "Am I a contest exchange clone..." Read more.
• Name the Snake, "The stuffed yellow python mugged with ARRL Membership Manager..." Read more.
• Watch The Megatron: CQ 160 SSB & NAQP RTTY, "If you're not in the contest this weekend, why not, view the action..." Read more.
• Adventure Now: "Moon 2.0", "The first privately funded team of explorers who successfully..." Read more.
• Virtual Ham Radio, "Something is quietly going on in the world of Ham Radio and it is virtual Ham Radio..." Read more.

If you're interested, click on the FEEDJIT widget, and one will discover my geo-traffic overlay on a Google map. Additionally, Today's Popular Pages For Map Area and Country Page Views For Map Area, fun stuff.

Everyone have a pleasant work week and all the best till the next posting.

73 from the shack.

Virtual Ham Radio

Something is quietly going on in the world of Ham Radio and it is virtual Ham Radio. Ham Sphere adds a new definition to the meaning of Ham Radio operating. Also in competition with Ham Sphere is QsoNet and its virtual ionospheric experience as well.

For me, virtual Ham Radio is the recruiting bandwagon for our hobby, why do I say that?

• Virtual Ham Radio is a great training tool.
• Basic version of Ham Sphere is free.
• Accessibility from a laptop connected to WiFi at an airport to one's personal computer at home.
• Start-up cost is nearly $0 in terms of equipment.
• No antenna systems.
• No RFI problems.
• No license.

I'm a link and an email from introducing someone to the fun and excitement of Ham Radio. The NexGen of Hams are steeped in Internet usage and what is important is accessibility. If someone is visiting my station, they cannot bring the station with them, after a visit. But with virtual Ham Radio, one can email the link, download the software, and enjoy Ham Radio without ever opening a license manual.

Imagine that. It is the power of the Internet to bring about change while bypassing traditional regulations, rules, and conventions. Soon, forums of non-licensed virtual Ham Radio operators, will spring to life with all the trappings i.e. awards, contests, QSL cards, log books, etc.

Just suppose with me for a minute. What would happen if the American Radio Relay League offered virtual Ham Radio to a non-licensed individual on its website?

The great experiment of letting go of Morse code as a licensing requirement, like it or not, moved Ham Radio in a new direction. Some but not all are inspired and learning the art but, virtual Ham Radio without a license represents a new direction as well.

Virtual Ham Radio circumvents the tradition of traditions; testing and license. Would an individual, once exposed to the fun and excitement of virtual Ham Radio, want to seek out a license? Maybe. Maybe not. Perhaps it depends on packaging and marketing.

Ham Sphere and QsoNet are innovative and accessible for a licensee and the non-licensed. Both have greater appeal moreso than the great Morse code experiment. Furthermore, virtual Ham Radio has enormous positive potential for the hobby depending on its acceptance within the greater community.

Something is quietly happening to Ham Radio and its virtual.