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.

Are Hams Getting Apathetic?

I haven't written much lately.  I have noticed that while I get a lot of hits, nobody leaves comments, and I would guess nobody links my blog to anyplace else.  I have also noticed that as many members as Ham Radio Nation has, most polls get a weak response.  To make that worse, the number of people who vote or make comments is only a fraction of the number of people who look at the poll.

My main reason for not babbling on with a lot of trivial posts has to do with the fact that I don't want to hopelessly bore somebody who hits this link.  While it lists noteworthy accomplishments and events, I don't go on about what I ate for breakfast, or every time I did something mundane.

Some ham clubs report weak memberships, and sad participation in club and community service events.  Getting young people involved should be a primary goal with hams.  A local high school in my town just got a class of new hams, and their own station call sign.  But, they only get to talk to local hams on the repeater, and don't have any equipment that is their own.  Their teacher told me that they are getting bored.  We will spend tax dollars to get new furniture for the school board, but is it too much to ask to invest in some radio equipment for students?  The science link, such as astronomy and physics, and math link to ham radio is obvious.  Classes that deal with electricity such as electives and vocational education have a definite link.  The benefits of a lifelong and potentially life-saving hobby seem obvious also.

I notice in my own club that a majority of hams are retired...some for quite a few years.  Where do we get the new blood.  According to statistics, there are more hams being licensed.  We have a responsibility to keep them interested, so those numbers reflect active hams, and do not reflect a lot of inactive licenses waiting to expire.  At least that's my thought for the week.

Oh yeah, I misplaced one of my portable antennas--a 20m EndFedz.  If anybody knows where it is, let me know.  :)