CW, Awards and Stuff

Not too much going on in my ham radio stuff lately.  After a new midnight job, not much time left for the radio.  I am down to one state for my WAS.

I received my Appalachian Trail Basic Award for contacting every state the AT runs through.  I also got my 3905 Century Club 100 Point Award for various contacts.  Back in the summer, I became a member of the Old Man International Sideband Society, and recently became a member of the Straight Key Century Club.

Right now, I am in the process of learning CW.  I am using a Morse Express T-Tone practice oscillator, and an Ameco K-4R J-38 key.  One day, I've got my sights on a Begali Camelback Key (maybe).  Who knows?

I am hoping things will stabilize out and I can get some contacts going.  With some warm weather, maybe I can get outside for some portable work.  I did get a Youth DX Adventure special event in Costa Rica last summer.  They sent me a very pretty, 4 page QSL card.

I guess that is about all for now.

Steve

Field Day 2012 & Stuff

Well, FD 2012 is over.  I hope everybody got some good contacts.  I didn't spend that much time on the air--worked it in between household chores, meals, etc.  I got 25 contacts on 15, 20 and 40m.  They are now logged into QRZ, and everybody was sent an eQSL.  Hard copy cards are available upon request.  *Hardcopy cards with a SASE were sent out around Christmas for most contacts.

I finally got a second South American Contact this past week--Bogata, Columbia.  That makes 2, after trying for a year.  Yesterday, I got my last state to complete the Appalachian Trail Basic Award for contacting stations in each state the AT goes through.  I'd actually gotten TN before, but it was on an FM sat, whereas it has to be HF.

Speaking of states, I got my home state of Kentucky a few weeks ago.  You'd think that it wouldn't be that difficult to get the state you live in.  It apparently can be.  Now of course, they've come out of the woodwork and I hear a KY station every couple of days.

After trying and trying, I also finally got Alaska.  With a modest dipole that for 40m, is only 1/4 wavelength above the ground, it took me a while.  That leaves me 3 states for my WAS.  I guess I qualify (or will soon) for my 100 point award with the 3905 Century Club Net.  I need to read the rules.

Update

Not too much to report here.  I enjoyed Museum Ships Weekend, and got some good contacts.  I managed to have contacts in Ecuador, the Slovak Republic (and 2 Russian stations a while back), and some more states.  I found out about the 3905 Century Club Net on 40m.  It is a good way to get WAS and other awards.

I decided to hold off on my Extra Class exam until July.  It will be the new material, but with Ham Test Online, it is proving to be a good way to study.  I have the current ARRL book, but I went ahead and got the 2012-2016 book by Gordo to read and compare.

That's about all to report for now.  Hope everybody is getting some good DX.