Blog Permission and recent Activity

Since I'm new to the Blogging world, I don't understand all the proper procedures for My blog content. I recently read a Blog discussing permission and copyrights about both written and photograpic content. It did not directly discuss linking or listing other Peoples Blogs such as Google Blogger allows Us to do but it did start Me thinking about My Blog being linked without My permission. I have linked to a few Blogs I find interesting and because I had not asked Permission I decided to email the Owners . My Blog has only been in exsistance since December 2009 and I had not added these links till much later.
I emailed all Blog owners I have linked and I'm happy to report all replies so far have been positive and I hope to have replies from the rest soon. In My Email I did mention if they did not approve I would Immediately remove the link , although I didn't promise to stop reading their Blogs- wink,wink!!
On another subject--- where did January go ?? I looked over My Logbook and what a pitiful small log it's been! I have been very busy away from the shack and My radios have mostly been shortwave receivers when down here! Most memorable recent QSO wasn't even DX but Jeff from Indiana who I chatted with for quite some time on 40m. -- Thanks Jeff!
73 to all!!

Certificate delivered Yesterday!

I was pleasantly surprised to find a 1st place Certificate from the 2009 Minnesota QSO party in the mail. This is the second Year in a row I won 1st place single Op Phone Only for My County. I have to admit it's not hard too do since i was probably the only Op in this catagory in this County and I did increase My score from last Year. Several Rovers pass thru , some Mixed-mode Ops and at least one Multi-op also pass out QSO's from this County, but I must be the only Op in this Contest catagory. No matter what the circumstances, glad and proud for this award, probably the only award I'll receive in a contest! Oh, except I have been a member of an award winning Multi-op station during the ARRL June VHF contest.
73 and Happy contesting!

Missed the Party, but Lunch was great!!

I checked the bands tonight and 160m seems to be in great shape. Also listened to 40m and what did I hear? CQ Contest the NAQSOP, the North American QSO Party! Too tired,too late of a start and My voice is still giving Me fits-- thats another story, too participate. I thought I remembered this Contest from last Year and checking the NCJWeb website Logs from 2009- there I am! Not quite at the bottom of the heap ,but at least I sent in a log. Several weeks from now I'll be putting in a good effort for the Minnesota QSO Party. I've participated the last two Years and its a real fun contest! I'll write up the results, good or bad!
Two Nights ago I received a Telephone call from a Ham Friend and retired Employee from the Company I presently work for. Seems it was time for Our annual Lunch get together with several other Hams and retired or ex-employees of the same company. We usually fit this in during the holidays ,but We were late this Year. It was very enjoyable and a great time to catch up on the latest projects and aquasitions My Friends have made recently. Several Autotuners ,Amplifiers ,Antennas and even a Garage build were talked about. We all are active Hams but not with the same interests on the bands so don't always chat on the air. We don't always talk to each other on the phones either, something all of Us need to work on!

Thursday Night Thoughts.

Here's a few thoughts I've been mulling over. I noticed My "Followers" is still not working. I joined the Google forum to post the issue of followers not showing up on My blog. My Wife and Kids tried to follow from different PC's and Google Friends like Twitter and Facebook-- shows when they look at My Blog on their PC but only from their PC. Google is aware--We'll see!
I spent some time last night talking to Friends on 146.52, and this reminded Me of a topic discussed recently on an HF Net I participate in which is the lack of activity on The National Calling Frequency. This local area sees a lot of activity on 146.52, even have a daily net on Frequency! I've done lots of traveling around Minnesota and its very quiet on 52-- too bad !
One last random thought is how relaxing it is spending time in the Ham shack this time of the Year. Over two feet of snow on the ground and -10 f typical temperature helps keep Me in! It will be very different around April when it seems like I emerge from hibernation. I do Cross-country ski and snowshoe but only during daylight hours so during the week its basement time!
I have a few projects I need to work on before warm Weather so as they progress I'll maybe write up the progress!

First RTTY Attempt !!

I have had success using most Digital modes including PSK31,SSTV ,Olivia and several others. I had never tried RTTY except for the old Teletype style machines back in High School and of course those were phone line connections. The RTTY I decided to try is the "Radio"version and specifically the contesting variety!

The first full weekend of January is the ARRL RTTY Round-up. This contest is for all Amateurs Worldwide and is not limited to just baudot or ASCII RTTY but also AMTOR, PSK31 and attended Packet operation.

I'm a member of the Minnesota Wireless Association and feel very fortunate to have access to many members and their expertise at many aspects of contesting. I emailed the MWA reflector to ask what program and Logger was recommended for RTTY. One response from Bob, an MWA member , was very detailed and several back and forth emails with great instructions helped Me get started . I use N1MM for My contest logger and also used MMTTY to try RTTY before. These two programs can work together and these were the two recommended to Me.

I should have started this process long before contest time but only had three days to change program parameters and make sure the hardware was correct. With Bob's help I accomplished the programm setup and interfacing. Then shortly before the contest began I copied His Macros' into the program and changed His call sign to mine.Bob included the screen shot at the beginning of this post and mine ended looking very much like his layout. The RTTY engine at lower left, logging middle and band spotting on the sides. A quick test to make sure it works and I was off to another obligation-- a lunch out with My Family!

Several Hours later, after the start of the contest, I was able to be back in My Ham Shack to try RTTY! When testing this set up before I had backed power down to 5 watts and of course forgot and started this contest at QRP levels! Started on 20m and first station was incredibbly P49X, a station in Aruba! I replied and - voila! Reply came back and P49X became My first RTTY contact ever!! At 5 Watts!! It was only later I realized My power level was QRP and after some testing to see what level most stations would reply back to, left it at 40 watts out. Not sure if too much drive,but did not want to experiment trying to increase to about 80 watts, so left it at 40 watts for the rest of the contest.

This contest proved to be a lot more fun than I thought it would be. I knew even before the reply was complete , if it would be a loggable QSO , because most would send My call and QSL or TU ( thank-you ) and then their call and query for another QSO . I did have several issues with macros not being exactly what I needed but was still able to make it manageable. I'm sure some Stations thought My exchange was too long, but didn't bother to complain!

Overall My results for My first time weren't too bad with 5084 total points. Didn't have as many DX stations as I had hoped for but for time spent and being a first timer, not bad!

I'll be better prepared for the next RTTY contest!!