Confirmed LoTW | Are You On The List?

Confirmed LoTW.

1. JG2KKG[Japan]20meter[1st Q].
2. N5OT[OKLA]20meter[2nd Q].
3. W1WEF[CT]40meter[3rd Q].
4. WX0B[TX]40meter[1st Q].
5. N5NA[TX]20meter[2nd Q].
6. W5KFT[TX]40meter[3rd Q].
7. W0SD[SD]40meter[1st Q].
8. W7RM[OR]40meter[1st Q].
9. P40A[Aruba]40meter[1st Q] note: hardcopy QSL card rcvd.
10. N6TR[ORE]80meter[3rd Q].
11. W6OAT[CA]20meter[3rd Q].
    
12. K9MUG[ALA]20meter[1st Q].
13. N0NI[IA]20meter[5th Q].
14. N6IG[CA]40meter[1st Q].
15. K4XU[ORE]40meter[5th Q].
16. K1KD[MN]20meter[1st Q].
17. N6DE[CA]40meter[1st Q].
18. W6YI[CA]80meter[5th Q].
19. K1TO[FLA]40meter[1st Q].
20. W0TT[MO]20meter[1st Q].
21. WT6G[CA]80meter[1st Q].
22. N4ZR[WVA]40meter[1st Q].
23. NI6T[CA]40meter[2nd Q].
24. AB0S[KS]20meter[1st Q].
25. W6SX[CA]80meter[4th Q].

73 from the shackadelic.

RadioSport Clones Exchange DNA 599

Is the production of cloned DNA 599 coming to an end in RadioSport?

Thoughts?
What purpose is readability [5], strength [9], and tone [9] serving when mass produced within RadioSport? Perhaps the cloned 599 is no more than a longstanding 20th Century artifact whose time for reconsideration has arrived?

I believe so.

Are we improving our skills when 50% of the exchange DNA is replicated by thousands of operators? I'm simply following sponsor rules however the cloning of 599 is reaching mind numbing proportions. Its utility as a functioning strand of relevant information is irrelevant. And any biological system eventually evolves new and relevant DNA essential to its survival. However RadioSport sponsors insist on its continuation when the body itself is rejecting the data.

Other innovative operators have discovered DNA 599 short cuts called cut numbering. Some examples are:

• 5NN
• ENN

And if someone who participates in RadioSport for the first time without knowledge of cut numbering? The result is confusion and corruption of the exchange DNA harming both the sender and receiver. Therefore everything is lost in an exercise of frustration. Additionally, the relevancy of 599 in the contest log is, irrelevant as well. Why then include 599 as a component of one's exchange DNA?

Let's Bring RadioSport's Exchange DNA Into the 21st Century.
We have automated 100% of our message handling capabilities and this may not function under the "last resort" banner. I want to keep this in mind. Conversely, RadioSport is technologically driven and taking two steps back may subtract from the sport. Yet the cloned 599 is not serving the evolutionary needs of the exchange DNA as well.

The creation of new DNA will take experimentation and experimenting is required for the long term health of RadioSport.

• Random number generation per QSO [note: contest logging programs would require a module].
  
• A unique alphanumeric pass code generated for each participant prior to the contest [note: requires pre-registration].
  
• Grid square locator with section or zone.
• Zone or section only.

One can observe a developing matrix of exchange DNA information. Consequently, a new set of questions arises and begs the question, "Who will write the code given the number of established contest logging programs?"

Conversely, one might challenge the question with, "Who wants to be the first to invent breakthrough exchange DNA?"

We are only as bold as our imaginations will go.

On Ham Radio Needs A New Suit | Jamie, NS3T replied "You and others are generating a lot of interest..."

Read comment (link).

Thank you for the compliment as ham radio's blogosphere gains traction. There are as many niches in the blogosphere as there are modes of operating. One can find just about anything of interest and that is exciting for ham radio as a whole.

I remember our interview (link) and we have come a long way since then. Absolutely amazing. And I'm a big fan of radio-sport dot net - your home for ham radio contest news, keep up the great work, Jamie!

Contest on.

Confirmed eQSL | Are You On The List?

Confirmed eQSL --

• AE6RF [California] 160m [1st Q]. New state on 160m.
  
• JA1BPA [Japan] 20m [2nd Q].
  
• JA3YBK [Japan] 20m [4th Q].
  
• JL1OXH [Japan] 40m [1st Q].
  
• JS3CTQ [Japan] 40m [1st Q].
• KL7CQ [Alaska] 20m [1st Q].
• NH7O [Hawaii] 15m [4th Q]. New state on 15m.
  
• VE3UTT [Canada] 40m [4th Q].
• VE6EX [Canada] 40m [3rd Q].
  
• WK2G [Florida] 40m [2nd Q].
  
• WT6G [California] 80m [1st Q]. New state on 80m.
  
• XE2S [Mexico] 80m [4th Q].

Many thanks to those operators confirming their digital QSL card on eQSL services. Logbook of the World (LoTW) confirmations to follow this weekend. Confirmed QSLs is an ongoing blog project.

73 from the shackadelic.

On DXpedition Model | Rick "The Rhino" N6RNO commented, "One of the choices for DXpedition model..."

Read comment (link).

Excellent creative ideas regarding portable ham radio operations during a contest. Likewise pooling resources such as amplifiers, radios, antennas, electrical sources, skill sets, and brain power adds a kilowatt worth of fun as well.

Your CqpTeha2008 Mediawiki post is an excellent example of ham radio team work at its finest with photographs. Your terrain analysis is compelling and highlights the effects of geography on one's chosen operating location and signal quality. The filter plots are a classroom worth of instruction for me and packed with learning potential as well.

There are many choices for ham radio operators interested in contesting but need a lot more room for a 2-ton signal heard amongst RadioSport titans. Likewise, one is in the great outdoors with fresh air filling the portable shack and great views in all directions. Not too mention stellar food cooked on an open fire or portable grill.

As mentioned in your comment, finding the right combination of skill and talent, is important. Additionally, one must consider multi-multi, a multi-two, or multi-single and I'm liking the idea of sharing the contest time budget. My bones tire easily these days and a bullpen of ready operators increases the fun to Q ratio.

I can only imagine how quiet spectrum spaces sound without man made hash or power line noise.

The blue sky is no limit when your data is added into the DXpedition model. You got me thinking, Rhino!

73 from the shackadelic.

On HamSphere | Spiveygc commented, "[T]o date my HamSphere Log numbers over 3,421 contacts."

Read comment (link).

Great log numbers and HamSphere is a new ham radio experience. Your comment suggests several thousand are taking advantage of Kelly, SM7NHC's idea. That is great news.

I'm curious. Are you interested in obtaining a license with its full compliment of operating privileges as well? I do understand that HamSphere is a gateway into ham radio. The next evolutionary step in the ham radio experience is a license. However, are there reasons, that do not create the necessary appeal to obtain a license?

Any feedback is helpful. There are many who are working to understand what the obstacles are and how to overcome those obstacles. We want the facts and we want to face this reality. The future of ham radio depends on a forthright, factual, and frank discussion about this matter.

Many thanks for leaving your comment and all the best on HamSphere.

73 from the shackadelic.

ARRL 160 Meter Contest Results

Your looking at 3830 Score Rumors (link) screenshot and I enjoy publishing my raw score.

CQ Contest Digest publishes all the raw scores submitted to the 3830 list (link) at Contesting The Sport of Amateur Radio (link). If I recall correctly, many contesters still show up on 3.830, to discuss their scores and highlights. This is a longstanding tradition going back to the legacy days of RadioSport.

I enjoyed operating the Top Band at the monster wavelength using my sub-optimal antenna system and 50 watts of ham radio fun. My antenna tuner did not sizzle bacon but I sure had a sizzling good time. I almost achieved Worked All California (WAC) missing only LAX, ORG, and SDG. And I did not hear any King Henry Sixs this time around as the PAC multiplier eluded me.

Band conditions remained much of the same however who cares. The idea is just operate and let the world beneath the ionosphere know that ham radio is the best bacon in town.

Turn on, tune, operate.

Ham Radio Needs A New Suit

Ham radio needs a new suit. And let me be clear about a motto learned in Air Force basic military training, "Lead, follow, or get out of the way."

A series of blog postings rolled through ham radio's blogosphere suggesting new direction is rising above the din of naysayers. A cluster of highly motivated, forward thinking operators are asking fundamental questions. Twentieth Century organizational answers are not working and 21st Century organizational methods are.

New Direction.

• KB6NU's "I'm Tired Of Pessimism".
• KE9V's "Nabobs Of Negativity" and "Political Captial".
  
• K0NR's "Moving Forward Or Stuck In The Past?".
• K3NG's "How Do We Fix the Amateur Radio Numbers Problem?".
• FRRL's "Amateur Radio Clubs: Good to great; Good to gone; Lost in Mediocracy".

No Lone Voices In The Wind.
Our new suit is in the blueprint stage. However how our suit will look is in our hands. The everyday ham radio operator who operates, innovates, experiments, learns, with a vision of the future is the key. Read G4VXE's "What A Difference One Person Can Make..." and understand the meaningfulness of operating on one's chosen spectrum space. Certainly, our naysayers have a home and their voices are heard but, given today's technological reach there are no lone voices in the wind anymore. Neither can naysayers dominant conversation anymore.

Size Does Not Matter Anymore.
The over arching theme in the collected postings is an anthem of change, new direction, and making a difference. The methods applied such as national organizations driving change is least effective. Perhaps we may consider a contemporary metaphor, "Too big to be effective."

I submit that 21st Century organizational principles are smaller units of individuals collaborating, creating, and communicating on ideas. The idea is the antenna. The number of individuals involved may reach a threshold of 31 or less. The time frame of the organization relies on idea execution afterwards the informal team disbands yet the antenna remains.

Small is flexible, versatile, and fluid. Likewise small is least vulnerable to conflict, clique, and turf protection. This is an anecdotal observation based on 20-years of subjective experience. Admittedly, I'm biased toward small units who successfully achieve their mission or idea.

Bigger Vision.
We are at a time to think bigger vision again. Is our VHF/UHF spectrum allocation ham radios answer to WiMax? What about a transponder on the moon transmitting digital SSTV and Morse code in conjunction with a digital bulletin board? I'm just thinking out loud but it is imagination that will get us there. And capturing the Millennial imagination is one of our top priorities.

There are alcoves of bigger vision parsed across the Internet. And our naysayers had their moment in ham radio history. They are history. The time is here for all us to begin creating ideas for the new suit called ham radio. Let's make a difference through collaboration, creativity, imagination, and communication. After all we are ham radio operators and it is what we do best.

73 from the shackadelic.