QSO parties

 I participated in several QSO parties to help the MWA compete in the QSO party challenge. The Pennsylvania, New York and Illinois QSO parties were all within weeks of each other and I was able to spend some time participating in each one. I didn't have very high scores but I did enjoy the activity and had one fun QSO with a Vikings football fan from Pennsylvania--- Ham radio ,always fun!!

73--Tim

Disney trip

After canceling several vacations earlier this year because I had major surgery, we finally were able to plan a Disney trip during the Halloween season. Epcot was also having its annual Food and Wine festival which we enjoy so the many activities kept us busy. Weather was good and the only hurricane did not track our direction although it caused terrible damage for Jamaica and several other islands.

 I did miss the CQ WW SSB contest but there is always next year!

 73--Tim
 

CQ WW RTTY and CA QSOP 2025

 The contest season has started and the first two on the MWA calendar are the CQWW RTTY and California QSO party. The RTTY contest is my favorite of the year, and I participated a good amount over the September weekend. I always run about 60w since RTTY is full duty cycle and it seems to be enough to be heard. I worked 40m thru 10m and was happy with the amount of activity on each band. Conditions were good! I managed 188 contacts for a final score before log checking of 56,618. Thats a little less than last year but still not too bad for Me.

  This weekend was the California QSO party, and I had less time to participate in this one, but I did manage a few more contacts than last year. Conditions on Saturday were not as good as Sunday but both days had enough stations on to keep it interesting. Propagation seemed okay between California and here in Minnesota. Final score was 5320 with 76 contacts.

 73---Tim

  

13 colonies special event 2025

I've missed 3 years of this special event, and I always enjoy participating although some years I have better luck at contacting stations. This year I found it a little more difficult to find the 13 colony stations but still managed to contact 11 of the 13 but barely heard  the WM3PEN bonus station and never heard GB13COL or TM13COL. I sent for the certificate was glad to chase this event. Maybe conditions will be better next year.

73--Tim
 

ARRL 10m contest and some new DXCC additions

 This contest started Friday December 13th at 0000 UTC and ended on Sunday. I only participated on Saturday and just a short time on Sunday. Conditions were very good both days, but I think Sunday seemed best, so it was a little sad not being available much on the last day.

  My antenna is a 10m Yagi at about 25 feet on a short tower attached to a pole building style garage on the back of My property. I used an old piece of Andrews hardline from the outside of My shack to the base of the tower before transitioning to RG-8. I have a tail twister rotor to turn the antenna, but it needs some maintenance, so it's limited on the direction I can turn it before it sticks. Maybe this summer I will get a chance to work on it. I've repaired a ham IV before, so I have some experience.

  I heard and was able to contact lots of Caribbean and south America stations and of course many stateside stations too! This time Europe did not break thru the ether for me as much as normal, but I did have a few contacts with several. I ended up with 123 contacts and no new DXCC's this time, but I did notice looking later at My LOTW log I've had several more confirmed during previous contests. During the CQWW ssb contest in 2021 and 2023 I added one new DXCC during each and recently during the CQWW RTTY I added Belarus and Bulgaria.

happy holidays all and 73

Tim