eComm2009 | Defining The Post Tele-Comm Era | 3 March 2009

Innovation will lead the race upward to the higher ground of wireless communication. Everything is moving toward radio and a specific resource is required to accomplish that task.

Open Spectrum.

• "The fight for open spectrum will significantly determine the future of communications. What if anyone could access spectrum anywhere at anytime; a world without spectrum scarcity?"

eComm2009 | Emerging Communication Conference (link).

73 from the shackadelic.

Spiderbeam U.S.

Just arrived in my email box this morning.

• "Joining the Spiderbeam team and managing its US expansion is Rick Westerman NJ0IP, better known to most as DJ0IP (and DJ2T in contests). Rick has been an active member of the Bavarian Contest Club (BCC) for over 20 years. He has returned from Germany to his hometown of Oklahoma City and set up Spiderbeam-US in Edmond Oklahoma, a suburb of OKC. Rick was first licensed as WN5ETA in 1962 and enjoys contesting, QRP, and 'playing with antennas'."
  

We know Spiderbeam is DXpedition hot and I'm checking out the price point on their 40-foot heavy duty telescoping fiberglass pole.

Congratulations Rick Westerman, NJ0IP and thank you for bringing Spiderbeam's "excellence in quality and customer service" to the United States.

Spiderbeam U.S. (link).

Contest on.

Confirmed eQSL | Are You On The List?

Confirmed eQSL.

• AL9A [Alaska] 20m [1st Q].
• JA1YPA [Japan] 20m [7th Q].
• JA1YPA [Japan] 40m [8th Q].
• JA3YBK [Japan] 20m [5th Q].
• JA3YBK [Japan] 40m [6th Q].
• JA6ZPR [Japan] 20m [1st Q].
• JE1LFX [Japan] 20m [1st Q].
• JE2QNM [Japan] 20m [5th Q].
• JE2QNM [Japan] 40m [6th Q].
• JH3CUL [Japan]40m[1st Q].
• K5TR[Texas]20m[4th Q].
  
• K5TR[Texas]40m[5th Q].
  
• K5TR[Texas]20m[6th Q].
• KL2R[Alaska]20m[3rd Q].
• LU1DZ[Argentina]15m[4th Q].
  

eDX100 = 12 confirmed.
eWAS = 23 confirmed.

eQSL (link).

73 from the shackadelic.

According to Typealyzer KA3DRR Is ESTP

I'm reading "I'm Not Actually a Geek" written by Hutch Carpenter and he introduced Typealyzer (link) which analyzes one's blog content according to Myers-Briggs Personality Test and Typealyzer,

ESTP - The Doer.

• The active and playful type. They are especially attuned to people and things around them and often full of energy, talking, joking and engaging in physical out-door activities.
• The Doers are happiest with action-filled work which craves their full attention and focus. They might be very impulsive and more keen on starting something new than following it through. They might have a problem with sitting still or remaining inactive for any period of time.

My RadioSport passion is thus explained.

Name The Next Space Station Module

The next, next best thing is naming a space station module. Admittedly, such an honor is an ultimate geek experience and takes a few minutes to accomplish. Spin up your neurons, check your guidance parameters, and get NASA creative.

Name Node 3 (link).

Space is far out!

NASA Constellation Program | Kennedy Gets Ares I-X Test Rocket

According to the latest NASA press release dated 20 Feb 2009 the Ares I-X frustrum arrived at Cape Canaveral, Florida (press link).

• "The Ares I-X is targeted to launch in the summer of 2009. The flight will provide NASA with an early opportunity to test and prove hardware, facilities and ground operations associated with the Ares I launch vehicle. The flight test also will bring NASA a step closer to its exploration goals of sending humans to the moon and destinations beyond."

A complex process with big dividends as NASA ramps up our Constellation program. My board is 'green' and 'go' for the moon.

73 from the shackadelic.

Ham Radio Deluxe | Free Amateur Radio Software For Windows

Innovative? Absolutely. Forward thinking? Yes.

Ham Radio Deluxe (HRD) is a suite of free amateur radio software for Windows.

Suite.

• Mapping
• Satellite tracking.
  
• Digital mode program [Digital Master 780 (DM780)] reference (link).
• And a whole lot more.
  

Furthermore HRD gets the future of ham radio and Ian, G0VGS writes a wiki supporting HRD's software suite (reference link). Read the latest HRD news to include future goals (reference link).

A shout out to Simon, HB9DRV who wrote HRD for his innovative contribution to the future of ham radio. As well as Peter, PH1PH (SK) who supported and tested HRD.

Nomination Shackadelic Awards 2009 for "Best of the Best in Ham Radio."

2009 ARRL International DX [CW] | Results

Spectrum Space/Q-Breakdown.

Country Prefixes.

Q-breakdown By Hour.

Global Zone Count.

Introduction.
This one rocked my variable frequency oscillator (VFO) despite a bearish propagation prediction for the weekend. I enjoyed a few hours of profitable preparation prior to the official universal time coordinated (UTC) roll over. My 88-foot doublet fed with 450 Ohm window line reached toward the ionosphere and I spun the FT-100 dial. The 500 Hz filter and digital signal processor delivered specification performance throughout our RadioSport weekend.

20m.
Competitive spectral space maximus and I worked my searching and pouncing (SP) skill throughout the weekend. However, my proximity to the Pacific, really paid Q-dividends into global zones 25 and thirty-one. The bulk of my logged Qs for this space are Japan and Hawaii. I benefited from, what seems, an uptick in Alaskan contesting as well.

The absolute highlight of the weekend was Saturday afternoon. I heard Europe for the first time in Shell Beach. Stunned? You can bet the bacon. I heard the following Eu RadioSport stations

• 9A1A.
• IR2C.
• EA4TX.
  

Heard the following Asian RadioSport stations

• HS0K.
• BY1LZ.

I did not have enough radio frequency (RF) punch and one will note a significant downward tick in multipliers this year. Project 3BTV is waiting for late spring.

15m.
Saturday produced the best ionospheric conditions for this specific space. I was a little dumbfounded when 15m opened early in the morning into South America. It lasted about an hour then shifted northwest-to-southwest with maximum skip between Alaska and Hawaii. I did not replicate a similar tactic on Sunday morning and weather probably knocked out an early afternoon opportunity as well.

40m.
I dig 40m in the wee hour of the morning but its killing my sleep pattern. One may or may not prepare for a deviation in nocturnal sleeping habits and the work wake-up schedule is my internal alarm clock. Coffee shocks my system and I'm awed out by early afternoon on the second day.

I really want to thank every JA-operator. My score would be dramatically different without your 3-point Q in the log. The bulk of my multiplier portfolio reached into Asia, North America, and South America. The long haul skip after one o'clock in the morning is phenomenal. The benefit of a bearish Cycle 24 beginning.

80m.
I missed the band opening however several JA RadioSport stations moved my s-meter. I did hear C6APG on this spectrum space.

Most Interesting Moment?
Our global cluster networks are transforming RadioSport and the cluster swarm on KG6DX in the 20m spectrum space was gargantuan. The same phenomena replicated itself on 40m as well.

Conclusion.
The 2009 ARRL International DX CW RadioSport event is one for my logbook. I had a lot of ham radio fun and pushed my code speed toward 34 words-per-minute. I logged a few new countries for my 5BDXCC award and my logbook Q-count is over fourteen hundred as well. A great experience indeed!

Contest on.

Bencher YA-1 Low Pass Filter Arrives

Just passing along the arrival of my low pass filter. I plan on installing it between my Yaesu FT-100 and MFJ-949E antenna tuner on Saturday as recommended. Of course, one inserts this type of filter as close to the antenna as possible. Another small engineering step at KA3DRR LowPower, LowProfile RadioSport Contesting at 45-Watts.

Turn on, tune, operate.

2008 ARRL International DX Contest | First Place Single Operator Low Power | Santa Barbara

Shackilicious success rocked my shackaverse at 45-watts into a wire antenna.

73 from the shackadelic.

Thank You For Teaching Me An Important RadioSport Lesson

I make mistakes and will continue making mistakes. Honesty is an admirable quality. What is important is the lesson taken from my experience and applying my hard won wisdom to the next endeavor. The next important lesson is taking responsibility. I have learned that individuals appreciate when I own my mistake.

I, too appreciate forgiveness and then move to the next task at hand.

Thank you for reminding me of the redeeming value of forgiveness. Now, I pick myself up, dust myself off and, get back into competition.

Contest on.

When RadioSport DX Is RadioSport DX Only

What is there not to understand when RadioSport DX means RadioSport DX only? The spirit of the rules, any rules for that matter, suggest prescribed expectations, a specific set of standards, and conduct of one's operation. When, in the rules of any given contest, its objective is clearly stated.

2009 ARRL International DX Contest.

• "1.1. W/VE amateurs work as many amateur stations in as many DXCC countries of the world as possible on 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, and 10 meter bands." (reference link)

Our first stated sentence clearly spells out the objective. We must work as many amateur stations in as many countries, other than our own, on as many possible spectrum spaces. One might conclude the debate but it does not end on line one. Others, within our RadioSport community, suggest logging other W/VE stations contrary to the spirit of the sponsor's rules.

I do not agree with logging other W/VE stations during a DX RadioSport event especially when our objective is clearly noted. The lions share of this burden would fall on competitive multi-multi stations, single-operator 2 radio(s), and multi-singles.

I, for one believe that any dilution of the rules of competition would --

• Diminish the spirit of competition.
  
• Foster stagnation of station innovation.
  
• Enable an entitlement attitude.
  
• Promote second rate growth within our RadioSport community.
  

What about raising the bar for our casual operator instead of lowering the bar? I understand, our counter argument, that our casual operator is the bread and butter of RadioSport. That saying 'no' on this occasion may damage future opportunity when invoking our Amateur code.

Friendly.

• [S]low and patient operating when requested; friendly advice and counsel to the beginner; kindly assistance, cooperation and consideration for the interests of others. These are the hallmarks of the amateur spirit.

The first step in any competitive sport is understanding the rules. Perhaps, we might improve how we promote the game and, not take for granted that everyone understands the rules. For me, friendly advice and counsel to the beginner is defined as; not enabling substandard operating practices for example, a RadioSport DX event means RadioSport DX-only when otherwise not stated. Anything less would diminish the spirit of amateur radio competition.

I arrive back at my point, "Easy is easy but adversity defines."

On the other hand, for me, RadioSport is competition where technology meets humanity. I believe, when we raise the bar, those who are earnest will follow, those who do not are least likely to bring innovation into their station. We would, in effect, deny that operator an opportunity at experiencing one of the pinnacles of a RadioSport DX event. On the other hand, we would burden those who engineered, innovated, toiled, and sacrificed to achieve their goal.

We must not open our logs to everyone during a RadioSport DX event. Our rules are implicit when RadioSport DX means RadioSport DX-only. We can better promote the strategic health of RadioSport by not lowering the bar, extend our hands toward the innovator, and offer productive guidance to our beginners.

Contest on.

My 10,000 Hour RadioSport Challenge | 9,997.5 - 24 = 9,973.5 To Go

Read first (link).

The 2009 ARRL International DX [CW] contest is one for the history books. And I will follow up with my debriefing this weekend. I had a lot of ham radio fun and want to take a little more time writing about the joy of extreme wireless.

I'm still glowing like a 6146 in a Heathkit DX-60 after hearing Europe in Shell Beach on Saturday afternoon.

Contest on.

On Celebrating KA3DRR's 2 Year Anniversary | Alan, VA3STL commented "Congratulations....Thank you for the excellent blog!"

Read comment (link).

I'm having a whole lot of ham radio fun and my endeavor continues gaining a few more decibels. Thanks for your support as well!

73 from the shackadelic.

On DXAnywhere Gets Google Mashup | Peter, M3PHP commented "[S]eems to be popular with a lot of people..."

Read comment (link).

You are changing 'how' we conceptualize cluster networks with the addition of your mashup. Ham radio operators are decoding signals and pumping this information into the networks. We could not visualize our information until your mashup. Is this organic parallel processing or crowd sourcing? Additionally, we may consider the effect of propagation in real time, with your adjunct visual component.

I would like to see station data on the networks such as type of antenna, height of antenna, type of transceiver, and estimated power output. I noted this weekend, a few more low power stations, populating my N1MM Contest Logger. There was an uptick on sunspot count as well. Perhaps such data would lend itself to propagation studies as one's antenna system is a variable.

Many thanks for your exemplary effort at DXAnywhere.

73 from the shackadelic.

On Putting The Ham In Ham Radio | Bob, K0NR replied "[L]ay off the CW for a while."

Read comment (link).

Bob? You're harshing my shackaverse! And thanks for poking fun as well. Best wishes from the shackadelic.

Turn on, Tune, Operate.

2009 ARRL International DX CW | Day Two

"I'm hearing Morse code?"

Radio Dawg visualizing the next multiplier for my RadioSport log.

Shackwhacked after coffee pot number? I forget.

I'm having a lot of fun this weekend populating my RadioSport log while searching and pouncing. A spectacular event happened inside the KA3DRR shackadelic. I heard Europe for the first time on 20m, wow, what a shackilicious experience.

Contest on.