This Weekend In RadioSport | Amateur Radio Spectrum Needs You

RadioSport USA | North America QSO Party v.CW
The North American QSO Party hits ionosphere near the speed of light. Want to push a few electrons through copper wire? Want to experience RadioSport where every station pumps 100-watts of radio frequency energy?

Hamapalozza!

Dipoles. Long wires. G5RV Junior in the attic. Verticals in the corner of a city lot. Loops secured inside the shack. The North American QSO Party is tailored for low power, low profile RadioSport.

I'm greeting our new year and new decade with passion for ham radio. My objective through 2010 is operate, operate because of the challenges on the horizon. The important thrust is dusting off those dormant high frequency radios and join the fun sponsored by the National Contest Journal.

Rules (link).

73 from the shackadelic on the beach.

P.S. I'm operating a Yaesu FT-100 into a vertical (10m, 15m, 20m) with fourteen 1/4 wavelength radials and a bent center fed doublet (80m, 40m) supported on a 33-foot push up, fiberglass mast.

RadioSport History | CQ World Wide DX CW 1970

I'm reading through the history of CQ World Wide DX CW beginning with 1970 and looks like the Big Guns in California were having a lot of fun.

The Northern California Contest Club sponsors the K6RU Memorial Trophy honoring Cam Pierce, K6RU. The memorial trophy goes to the top scoring California Multi-Multi station. Additionally, Mr. Pierce played a fundamental role in the development of the Northern California DX Foundation beacon system as well as serving on the Board of Directors.

What I take for granted today was not standard three decades ago. I chuckled when the author of the article said, "We do not expect you to put your log through a computer."

Technology and computerized logging has come a long, long way.

There is not much of a propagation is everything gap as the first paragraph of the article mentioned, "Even 10 meters produced some good activity."

The reigning Multi-Multi station was W4BVV and one competitive category existed other than Multi-Multi or Multi-Single; everyone competed as single operator. One notes significant growth across three decades into low power, QRP, rookie, and extreme.

73 from the shackadelic on the beach.

Reference: Anzalone, F. W1WY (1971, September). CQ Magazine: 1970 CQ World Wide DX (C.W.) Contest. pp. 52 - 112.

CQ WPX Releases Survey Findings | What Is Our Favorite Mode?

What is the meaning of 52% of respondents prefer Morse code in relationship to 35% of those surveyed enjoy single sideband? Entry level operators (0 - 9 years of experience) are more likely to operate sideband in contrast master level operators (50+ years of experience) favor Morse code.

Overall results are striking as sideband operation declines across a continuum of RadioSport experience beginning at the 10 - 19 year data point.

I'm curious if a positive relationship exists between years of RadioSport experience and serious competitor trying to win (average years of experience equals 21.0) (n = 893) or part time operator (average years of experience equals 17.9) (n = 1391) trying for highest possible score. The average experience level when groups are combined is 18.6 years.

An average of 3.1 years separates serious competitor from part time competitor, perhaps, 17.9 years is a pre-requisite experience level from advanced to master in addition to serious resource commitment toward Box scores? The preferred competitive category is Morse code?

Read WPX Contest Survey Results #1 - Participants and Survey Results - What is our favorite mode?

73 from the shackadelic on the beach.

Project K6MM's 160m No Excuses Vertical

I'm purchasing required material for Project K6MM's 160m No Excuses Vertical from our local hardware store. The next step in the process is scheduled for next weekend at KI6QDH's garage. We will paint and drill. I'm not endorsing Pismo Bob's Hardware however I'm supporting our local business.

I explained to the owner that I'm a ham radio operator whose building an antenna system. We exchanged pleasantries and his son rang up the cash register. Imagine that.

Material.

• 1 x 10 SCH40 PVC Pipe = $4.99
• 1-1/2 x 10 SCH40 PVC Pipe = $9.99
• 2 x 10 SCH40 PVC Pipe = $12.99
• Duct tape, 60 yards = $7.99
• Paint, Black for plastic = $6.99
• Tax, Sales computed at 8.75% = $3.76

73 from the shackadelic on the beach.

Acronyms:
PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride)
SCH40 (Schedule40)

My 2010 Ham Radio Goals

Why is goal setting important? Goal setting if for nothing else is direction and purpose. We enjoyed a lively #hamr discussion on Twitter this weekend regarding personal goals. Some operators will continue building equipment, add new modes of transmission, or return to the airwaves.

The focus is advancement of radio as an art and owning goals is an important component in this process.

In addition, significant competition for our attention span is underway and Read Write Web ran an authoritative article, The Attention Economy: An Overview (link). Attention principles and concepts are driven by new media propagated through the Internet.

Are we fully engaged as a group of concerned operators whose future relies on the overall success of ham radio?

My on-going goal is to reach as many ham radio enthusiasts as possible. The medium is my blog and future newsletter, currently, one can either subscribe via really simple syndication (RSS) or email routed through FeedBurner.

Please share my URL with others through this year because I'm competing for attention in the attention economy.

2010 Ham Radio Goal(s).

1. Build K6MM's "The No Excuses 160m Antenna" by the end of February. I'm purchasing PVC sections later this morning at our local hardware store in Pismo Beach.
   
2. Build 15M and 20M mini yagi(s) based on "KJ5VW 20 Meter Mini Yagi" design by the end of July for ContestPeditions within our local area.
3. Initiate construction of single operator 2 radio (SO2R) station by the end of December. I want to discover if SO2R is possible within a confined space arrangement.
   
4. Launch Project Amateur Radio Operator Club (AROC) in the Five Cities area. Our mission is operate, operate, operate while promoting the advancement of radio as an art. Admittedly, thanks to Ric, K6VVA, I'm beginning the process of finding an abandoned AM station in our local area. His ContestPedition to KMFO is a stellar seed idea for those considering operating locations. My closure month is December.
5. Subtract 250 hours from my 10000 Hour RadioSport Challenge by the end of December.

Goal(s) need to be difficult to achieve yet within one's reach and skill set(s). Direction and purpose are end results of goal setting. My productivity tools include Google calendar, Klok for personal time tracking, and a to-do gadget from Microsoft.

What are your goals for 2010? I'd like to hear about them and we can help each other remain accountable through the year.

73 from the shackadelic on the beach.