nice conditions today on 10 meters

I heard my first station ever, from Vietnam this morning.  What a treat.  I run a BirIr vertical so stations that others hear I often struggle to hear.  Running barefoot, I could not break the pileup.  But still a treat non the less.
I hope you signals are full quieting.
73 and good dx
Leslie, ad5wb
League City, Texas

updates to my ham radio hobby

My last entry in this blog was right after the 2013 Museum Ships Weekend in early June.  Shortly after that, my family and I moved off the island (Galveston Island) and onto the mainland.  We now live in League City, Texas.  I kept my station, on the island, on the air until the last moment.  My last contact from Galveston Island, NA-143, was on June 27.  K4IMB, Doug was my last contact.  Thank you Doug!  We moved on June 28.

I set my station up, on July 19.  I am still operating with a temporary station at my new qth.  I currently run an IC-7600 into an ALS-600, (currently in the shop) which feeds a Transworld 10-20 meter vertical.  I have to pull the antenna coax and antenna control cable through the window when I wish to get on the air.  HI!  No 40 meters yet.My first contact was with a state side special event station, W2R.  My first dx, July 19, was TR8CA, Alain, in Gabon.  It was not my first time to work Alain.  But, perhaps my most pleasurable.  It was good to know that even with my temporary set up I could work dx!

It has been a transition.  I have never known ham radio without living on the island.  My introduction to vhf and hf was grounded around being on NA-143.  I truly enjoyed putting the island out.

I have permission from the HOA to install my BigIr vertical, if I can get the neighbors permission.  I have 1 of 2 signatures.  I hope to start on the install before years end.  This go round, I will add the 80 meter coil, to the BigIr.  I hope in the next 30 days or so to be QRV 80 - 6 meters.

I will add more updates regarding the contest season and more to this blog in the near future.

I hope to work you on the bands.
73 and good dx
Leslie, ad5wb

a couple of more photos and videos from 2013 MSW

Mark, the Bosun for the Elissa, has a strong interest in ham radio.  His support was invaluable.  We were able to get him on the air on Sunday.

Husband and wife tag team, working the pile up.

Video from Sunday showing operators at work.  You can hear James making a qso.

One of the regular cruise ships.  It came in sometime Saturday night.  All day Sunday we heard chimes, bells, announcements etc until she left that afternoon.

The event was fun.  We added at least three stations to the event this year.  Last year we had on station on hf and one for a local vhf net.  This year we added an additional hf station, we also added a vhf ssb station and a satellite station.

I will come back and try and post a summary soon.

73

Leslie, ad5wb

photos and video from Day 1 2013 Museum Ships Weekend

Here are few photos from Saturday June 1, 2013; day one of Museum ships Weekend.  We operate dockside.  Boy was it hot!  Feeling a little toasty Sunday morning as we prepare to go back out.
The Elissa is operated by the Texas Seaport Museum.  Last night, they held their annual Plankholders event. So we had to vacate around 2200z.
Well, here you go:

Three of our operators straining to hear through the noise.  The Elissa in the background.

The 1877 Tall Ship Elissa.  Notice the missing deck.  they are in the process of redecking the entire ship.

As previously posted one of our operators giving new meaning to the term operating barefoot.

A view of our operating position from onboard the Elissa.

Our operating location.

A short video showing our operating positions

Operating outside at a remote location has it's challenges.  We had a few technical issues that delayed us getting on the air.  they also restricted us band wise for a while.  But, other challenges include the qrm from the "locals".  HI!

I will try to post a few more photos and such from today's operation.

Very 73 and good dx

Leslie, ad5wb

operating barefoot

One of our intrepid operators gives new meaning to the term operating barefoot!  HI!

2013 Museum ships Weekend

A Sleep at the Mike

Last night I worked Reunion Island on 20 meters.  So today, while calling a station in Togo on 12 meters, I was looking at a map online to verify where Reunion Island is located.  Of couse I was day dreaming and calling the Togo station at the same time. 
Don't you know, he came back to me and before i could get out of daydream and respond he moved on and then went QRT 3 calls later.  HI
Teach me to daydream!
I have worked Togo on a few bands but not on 12 meters.  So, it would have been a band fill, not an all time new one.  Still, I am dissapointed in myself.  This guy has been there are almost two weeks, and this was the first time I heard him.  He goes QRT on 11/4.  I have company at the house until then.  So...
Maybe next time.

73 and good dx
Leslie, ad5wb
Galveston Island, Texas 

post contest season ruminations

It was fun and exhausting.  I added two contests to the schedule this year; the Tennessee Qso Party and the winter NAQP.  It was my first time for both contests.

Conditions were horrible for the NAQP.  Really made it where it was tough to keep going.  Calling and calling and no response.  I knocked off early in fact.  I finished in the upper one third of five land logs.  Maybe I am not serious enough. HI HI.

The Tennessee QSO Party was okay.  Still at times I called and could not find a station from Tennessee to come back to my call.  But those I did work were nice people.  Preliminary results show me as the leading out of state SSB hi power op. 

The HI qso party was in late August.  For some reason I thought it was later in the year.  But, never mind, there is was.  Having lived on Maui twice, I really enjoy working the islands.  I hope one of these days to go back where the weather suits my clothes.  Due to a variety of issue I did not get the chance to really work the contest, this year.  My operation time was very limited.  Somehow I came in first in my category from five land.  I can only think that the ops in Hawaii had mercy on a kama'aina and pulled me out when I called.  For that mahalo nui loa bra.

I previously wrote about the IOTA contest.  Provisional results were released last week.  While I exceeded my best, it was not enough to move me up in the standings this year.  I stayed in 8th place for my category: island fixed station, hi - power, phone only, un assisted.  I did operate 11 of the 12 hours this year.  Maybe next year I will make all 12 hours.  I don't really expect to ever win this contest, still I do enjoy the IOTA.  This year my work schedule really impacted my endurance.  I was real cognisant of the fact I had to travel the next afternoon.  My errors were not too bad this year, though I did lose one multiplier due to bad copy.

Let's see, I don't think I made any entries about the Texas Qso Party. 
My best ever TXQP.  I worked all 18 hours, as usual.  It sure is nice to be able to get a good nights sleep between days of operation.  No real technical issues, thankfully.  I worked approximately 250 more stations than last year and had 26 more multipliers.  Overall, I am very happy with how I did.  I really did/do want to take 1st in my category this year.  But, time and the committee will tell.  HI HI. 
It was a long contest.  A back injury suffered in May definitely made it self known during the contest.
I did work some real dx during the contest on 20 and 40 meters.  I think two of the dx stations I worked may have been 10 miles away across the bay.  I think I even worked one station that may have been 4 miles or so away.  Serious DX.  HI HI . 
Nice to work my friend Rafael, XE1RK in Mexico City during the contest.  Huge signal as always.  I was also honored to have the dxpedition XE1L/XF3 on IOTA NA-183 give me a call.  Thank you Luis.

So there we go.  A years contest season summed up.  It was fun. 
I hope to do it again.  I hope I had the chance to work you.

Until next time.
Very 73 and good dx
Leslie, ad5wb
Galveston Island, Texas