New Antenna is Almost Ready!

We've been working on adding a s9v18 here.  A HUGE thank you to the XYL for helping me with running radials.  I finally received the LMR-400 feedline on Friday, right before I had to head up north for a fantastic fishing weekend for a buddies bachelor party.  Today I was finally able to put that feedline into the ground/house and try out the antenna...with only 20 of the planned 32 radials into the ground, none of which headed east, I was able work Germany, Netherlands, California, Belgium, Canary Islands, and France... and the night is still really young.  My wife had to listen to me switch between the vertical and the fan dipole at least five times ( with all the relays in the LDG at-200 rattling away each time) before I was REALLY happy with the noise level on the new vertical.  As a side note it's a huge improvement on noise on 14.230/SSTV.  Now I just need to lay the last 12 radials and it should be even better.  Anyway, hoping to meet you on the air.... especially if your on digital in WY since that is the last state I need for digital WAS.... 73, de N0QBX

VHF QSO Party this weekend!

Got home from work tonight and 6m JT65 was awesome!  Worked my first non-US station (VE) plus made a couple handfuls of US QSOs... All leading up to the VHF QSO party this weekend.   I'm excited, if it stays this active it's going to be a fun weekend.... better than the 10 10 psk contest last weekend (sorry, love 10m and psk31, but that was slow).  Only have the dipole up for 6 still, but I have high hopes for the contest, honestly don't know why I like 6m so much compared to hf, but the extra challenge is neat.... I could work these same stations on 20 or 40 any night of the week but on 6 it's exciting.  Anyway, enough for this go around, can't wait to see you this weekend!  73 de N0QBX sk.

6m JT65 Fun

    After discovering the fun of 6m I promptly worked at finding the jt65 frequency.  There was a bit of conflicting information on the web so I pulled up hamspots.net and watched 6m until it was clear that 50.276 looks to be the happening place for jt65.  It sounds like a lot of DX may use JT6M instead but for now I was sticking to what I knew.  Over a couple of days I've made a number of contacts including the one shown above.  As you can see, after the quick exchange with AE7KL in Utah he let me know I was his first 6m contact.  That was exciting, especially since it's my first week on 6 as well!  It's been fun so far, and the VUCC is adding another award to chase.  Now I can't wait until next weekend for the VHF QSO Party.  Wonder if I have time to build a Moxon or Hentenna to improve on the old dipole before the weekend....  Hope to catch you all on the magic band in the near future!  73 de N0QBX