Photos from Raspberry Pi running fldigi 27 - March - 2013
Posted by k9zw in Amateur Radio, K9ZW, K9ZW Just Rambled, K9ZW Operations.Tags: fldigi, K9ZW, K9ZW Just Rambled, Raspberry Pi
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K9ZW Raspberry Pi running fldigi
Here is the overall setup. I don’t usually get to set computers up on the kitchen table.
fldigi running Feld Hellschreiber in transmit mode.
Haven’t put it on the air yet – still trying to resolve some of the artifacts from processor overloading.
This is the Raspberry Pi itself, cased in a Pi-Shell.
Lots of cables.
I picked a decent powered hub, and power the Raspberry Pi itself from the hub.
I tried a less costly hub and had keyboard issues wwwwwhhhhhhheeeeeerrrrrreeee it couldn’t read the keyboard and other random reboots.
I really needed the first book. I haven’t dug into the second one yet.
Here is the Raspbian Wheezy default desktop.
73
Steve
K9ZW
Upcoming CQ WPX SSB 23 - March - 2013
Posted by k9zw in Amateur Radio, K9ZW, K9ZW Just Rambled, K9ZW Operations.Tags: Contesting, CQ SSB WPX, K9ZW, K9ZW Just Rambled
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Next weekend is the CQ WPX SSB contest, and I have a chace of putting in a better than average (for me) showing.
Basic contest information (just the info I need):
CQ WPX Contest Dates SSB: March 30-31, 2013
Starts: 0000 UTC Saturday Ends: 2359 UTC Sundayrules: http://www.cqwpx.com/rules.htm
Period of Operation: 48 hours. Single Operator stations may operate 36 of the 48 hours – off times must be a minimum of 60 minutes during which no QSO is logged.
Bands: Only the 1.8, 3.5, 7, 14, 21, and 28 MHz bands may be used.
Single Operator High (All Band or Single Band): QSO alerting assistance is not permitted. Total output power must not exceed 1500 watts.
Or
Single Operator Low (All Band or Single Band): QSO alerting assistance is not permitted. Total output power must not exceed 100 watts.
Single Operator Overlay Categories: Single Operator entrants above may also submit their log for one of the categories shown below by adding an additional line in the Cabrillo log file header called CATEGORY-OVERLAY. All Overlay entries are grouped into high power and low power in the results.
(a) Tribander/Single Element (TB-WIRES): During the contest an entrant shall use only one (1) tribander (any type, with a single feed line from the transmitter to the antenna) for 10, 15, and 20 meters and single-element antennas on 40, 80, and 160 meters.
Exchange: RS(T) report plus a progressive contact serial number starting with 001 for the first contact.
I have several Easter Weekend events at Church and with Family, but I do think I can squeeze in at least a 1/3 available hours effort. SOmewhat concerned that the time slots I have opne are not looking very productive for propagation.
Big thing to get ready is to get a Voice Keyer up and running. I was loosing my voice during the Wisconsin QSO party and was only only a bit more than 2 hours.
I’ll have to decide if I want to run 100w or high power, and if I want to run with assistance or without. Presently thinking Without, 100w power will be the choice.
I should quality for the TB-WIRES overlay endorsement.
Hope to catch you on the air next weekend!
73
Steve
K9ZW
Afterglow – Wisconsin QSO Party 2013 10 - March - 2013
Posted by k9zw in Amateur Radio, K9ZW, K9ZW Operations.Tags: Contesting, K9ZW, K9ZW Operations, Wisconsin QSO Party
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Today was the 2013 Wisconsin QSO Party. I was able to get on the air for over a 1/3 of the time, having family commitments to work around.
All told I logged just over 100 contacts, for a claimed score of 4815.
My station was Single Operator – High Power as I did run the SPE Expert at 400 watts pushing me out of the standard category.
I used N3FJP’s Wisconsin QSO Logging Software, which as always worked the treat.
We have 72 counties in Wisconsin, and I didn’t even log a half (I think I had 33) but had a lot of fun.
Here is what the output log looks like:
START-OF-LOG: 2.0
CREATED-BY: N3FJP’s WIQP 2.0
LOCATION: WI
CONTEST: Wisconsin State QSO Party
CALLSIGN: K9ZW
NAME: Steve Weinert
ADDRESS: 3616 Shepherd Lane
ADDRESS: Manitowoc, WI 54220
EMAIL: k9zw AT mac DOT com
ADDRESS-COUNTY: MAN
CLUB: MANCORAD W9DK
OPERATORS:
CATEGORY: Single OP Fixed
CATEGORY-POWER: HIGH
CLAIMED-SCORE: 4815
SOAPBOX:
QSO: 7000 PH 2013-03-10 1852 K9ZW MAN N0XT MN
QSO: 7000 PH 2013-03-10 1853 K9ZW MAN KX9M WAU
QSO: 7000 PH 2013-03-10 1854 K9ZW MAN KE9N IRO
QSO: 7000 PH 2013-03-10 1856 K9ZW MAN KC9FFJ DAN
QSO: 7000 PH 2013-03-10 1856 K9ZW MAN KC9CDW MAN
QSO: 7000 PH 2013-03-10 1857 K9ZW MAN W9AV DAN
QSO: 7000 PH 2013-03-10 1902 K9ZW MAN W0ER BUR
QSO: 7000 PH 2013-03-10 1904 K9ZW MAN K0NLR GRE
QSO: 7000 PH 2013-03-10 1910 K9ZW MAN N9EZF FON
QSO: 7000 PH 2013-03-10 1913 K9ZW MAN NI9Z PRI
QSO: 7000 PH 2013-03-10 1917 K9ZW MAN K9BTQ MIL
QSO: 7000 PH 2013-03-10 1920 K9ZW MAN WA9FCL MAR
QSO: 7000 PH 2013-03-10 1922 K9ZW MAN N9PAR BRO
QSO: 7000 PH 2013-03-10 1923 K9ZW MAN WA9LJK DAN
QSO: 7000 PH 2013-03-10 1924 K9ZW MAN W9DUB MIL
QSO: 7000 PH 2013-03-10 1925 K9ZW MAN KF0Q MN
QSO: 7000 PH 2013-03-10 1926 K9ZW MAN WX9EP CHI
QSO: 7000 PH 2013-03-10 1927 K9ZW MAN N2BJ IL
QSO: 7000 PH 2013-03-10 1929 K9ZW MAN KB9VBR MAR
QSO: 7000 PH 2013-03-10 1936 K9ZW MAN N9NE POR
QSO: 7000 PH 2013-03-10 1937 K9ZW MAN K9PG IL
QSO: 7000 PH 2013-03-10 1937 K9ZW MAN N9YJ IL
QSO: 7000 PH 2013-03-10 1942 K9ZW MAN NV9W MAN
QSO: 7000 PH 2013-03-10 1944 K9ZW MAN W9WLX MIL
QSO: 7000 PH 2013-03-10 1948 K9ZW MAN W9VCL SHE
QSO: 7000 PH 2013-03-10 1951 K9ZW MAN KG0O MN
QSO: 7000 PH 2013-03-10 1952 K9ZW MAN KA9VHG ROC
QSO: 7000 PH 2013-03-10 1952 K9ZW MAN KA5NJA WOO
QSO: 7000 PH 2013-03-10 1953 K9ZW MAN KC9UHH MAN
QSO: 7000 PH 2013-03-10 1953 K9ZW MAN KB9VQM FON
QSO: 7000 PH 2013-03-10 1954 K9ZW MAN KC9IL IL
QSO: 7000 PH 2013-03-10 1954 K9ZW MAN K9BTP ASH
QSO: 7000 PH 2013-03-10 1955 K9ZW MAN K9WM GRA
QSO: 7000 PH 2013-03-10 1956 K9ZW MAN W0HI OH
QSO: 7000 PH 2013-03-10 1956 K9ZW MAN N9GQ ROC
QSO: 7000 PH 2013-03-10 1957 K9ZW MAN N8DKA MI
QSO: 7000 PH 2013-03-10 1957 K9ZW MAN W9JA LAC
QSO: 7000 PH 2013-03-10 1958 K9ZW MAN W9MP BAR
QSO: 7000 PH 2013-03-10 1958 K9ZW MAN NV9L KEN
QSO: 7000 PH 2013-03-10 1959 K9ZW MAN W9JET PIE
QSO: 7000 PH 2013-03-10 2002 K9ZW MAN AA9SJ SHE
QSO: 7000 PH 2013-03-10 2003 K9ZW MAN K9OC WSB
QSO: 7000 PH 2013-03-10 2004 K9ZW MAN W9GL DAN
QSO: 7000 PH 2013-03-10 2006 K9ZW MAN W9JFM KEW
QSO: 7000 PH 2013-03-10 2007 K9ZW MAN W9HAM BRO
QSO: 7000 PH 2013-03-10 2008 K9ZW MAN KC9E MRN
QSO: 7000 PH 2013-03-10 2008 K9ZW MAN K9QCEA EAU
QSO: 7000 PH 2013-03-10 2008 K9ZW MAN K3ZO MD
QSO: 7000 PH 2013-03-10 2009 K9ZW MAN K9JIG BRO
QSO: 7000 PH 2013-03-10 2009 K9ZW MAN NK9U DAN
QSO: 7000 PH 2013-03-10 2010 K9ZW MAN KB0INZ MN
QSO: 7000 PH 2013-03-10 2010 K9ZW MAN NW9T IL
QSO: 7000 PH 2013-03-10 2011 K9ZW MAN WV9E LAC
QSO: 7000 PH 2013-03-10 2011 K9ZW MAN K9KR RAC
QSO: 7000 PH 2013-03-10 2012 K9ZW MAN K0ZR VA
QSO: 7000 PH 2013-03-10 2012 K9ZW MAN AC9DE DAN
QSO: 7000 PH 2013-03-10 2013 K9ZW MAN KX9DX IL
QSO: 7000 PH 2013-03-10 2013 K9ZW MAN W9JE DOO
QSO: 7000 PH 2013-03-10 2014 K9ZW MAN N8XX MI
QSO: 7000 PH 2013-03-10 2015 K9ZW MAN W0IU MN
QSO: 7000 PH 2013-03-10 2015 K9ZW MAN K9XB SHE
QSO: 7000 PH 2013-03-10 2016 K9ZW MAN K0CD STC
QSO: 7000 PH 2013-03-10 2016 K9ZW MAN N9MW GRE
QSO: 7000 PH 2013-03-10 2018 K9ZW MAN KC8BNP IN
QSO: 7000 PH 2013-03-10 2020 K9ZW MAN KA9FZR MIL
QSO: 7000 PH 2013-03-10 2021 K9ZW MAN N8TC MI
QSO: 7000 PH 2013-03-10 2021 K9ZW MAN AB9IO WIN
QSO: 7000 PH 2013-03-10 2023 K9ZW MAN W9EAU EAU
QSO: 3500 PH 2013-03-10 2029 K9ZW MAN W9EAU EAU
QSO: 14000 PH 2013-03-10 2032 K9ZW MAN AC5O LA
QSO: 3500 PH 2013-03-10 2353 K9ZW MAN WW9R WAU
QSO: 3500 PH 2013-03-10 2354 K9ZW MAN W9QL IL
QSO: 3500 PH 2013-03-10 2355 K9ZW MAN W9MP BAR
QSO: 3500 PH 2013-03-10 2356 K9ZW MAN KC9FFJ DAN
QSO: 3500 PH 2013-03-10 2357 K9ZW MAN KB9KEG GRL
QSO: 3500 PH 2013-03-10 2359 K9ZW MAN AB9XI WAS
QSO: 3500 PH 2013-03-10 2359 K9ZW MAN KC9CDW MAN
QSO: 3500 PH 2013-03-11 0001 K9ZW MAN N9WQ FON
QSO: 3500 PH 2013-03-11 0002 K9ZW MAN K9KR RAC
QSO: 3500 PH 2013-03-11 0003 K9ZW MAN AG9G PRI
QSO: 3500 PH 2013-03-11 0004 K9ZW MAN K9GS WAU
QSO: 3500 PH 2013-03-11 0009 K9ZW MAN K9KL BRO
QSO: 3500 PH 2013-03-11 0010 K9ZW MAN KB9OWD DOD
QSO: 3500 PH 2013-03-11 0012 K9ZW MAN K9WC GRL
QSO: 3500 PH 2013-03-11 0013 K9ZW MAN KO9LR GRE
QSO: 3500 PH 2013-03-11 0015 K9ZW MAN KC9BLE BRO
QSO: 3500 PH 2013-03-11 0016 K9ZW MAN KF0Q MN
QSO: 3500 PH 2013-03-11 0017 K9ZW MAN N9UA WIN
QSO: 3500 PH 2013-03-11 0017 K9ZW MAN N9NE POR
QSO: 3500 PH 2013-03-11 0019 K9ZW MAN ND0L OUT
QSO: 3500 PH 2013-03-11 0023 K9ZW MAN KB9VXJ DOO
QSO: 3500 PH 2013-03-11 0023 K9ZW MAN W9JFM KEW
QSO: 3500 PH 2013-03-11 0024 K9ZW MAN KE9N IRO
QSO: 3500 PH 2013-03-11 0026 K9ZW MAN W9LW IN
QSO: 3500 PH 2013-03-11 0027 K9ZW MAN W9NAW PEP
QSO: 3500 PH 2013-03-11 0028 K9ZW MAN KX9M WAU
QSO: 3500 PH 2013-03-11 0030 K9ZW MAN WV9E LAC
QSO: 3500 PH 2013-03-11 0030 K9ZW MAN W9AV DAN
QSO: 3500 PH 2013-03-11 0033 K9ZW MAN K9IAC MIL
QSO: 3500 PH 2013-03-11 0034 K9ZW MAN N9EZF FON
QSO: 3500 PH 2013-03-11 0035 K9ZW MAN W9PN ROC
QSO: 3500 PH 2013-03-11 0038 K9ZW MAN KB9LIE LAF
QSO: 3500 PH 2013-03-11 0041 K9ZW MAN KB9VBR MAR
QSO: 3500 PH 2013-03-11 0045 K9ZW MAN NK9G MIL
QSO: 3500 PH 2013-03-11 0046 K9ZW MAN NQ9A DAN
QSO: 3500 PH 2013-03-11 0055 K9ZW MAN KA9BAE DOD
QSO: 3500 PH 2013-03-11 0057 K9ZW MAN K9VS WAU
END-OF-LOG:
Tomorrow evening I will recheck my log and submit it.
Given our wet damp weather, this was a really fun way to spend (part of) a Sunday afternoon.
73
Steve
K9ZW
2012 CQ WW DX SSB – K9ZW’s Log Analysis Report (now this is cool reporting!) 24 - February - 2013
Posted by k9zw in K9ZW Just Rambled, K9ZW Operations, Amateur Radio, K9ZW.Tags: K9ZW, K9ZW Just Rambled, CQ WW DX SSB
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Just received an email with links to my log analysis for the 2012 CQ WW DX SSB Contest. I did get four hours on during the contest in October: http://k9zw.wordpress.com/2012/10/28/casual-contesting-2012-cq-ssb-ww/
The report provided is an amazing analysis and the CQ WW DX team has really provided some useful feedback.
In my case a few errors cost me nearly one out of five points claimed.
The summary is:
153 Claimed QSO before checking (does not include duplicates)
144 Final QSO after checking reductions398 Claimed QSO points
330 Final QSO points84 Claimed countries
81 Final countries42 Claimed zones
42 Final zones126 Claimed mults
123 Final mults50148 Claimed score
40590 Final score19.1% Score reduction
4 (2.6%) calls copied incorrectly
0 (0.0%) exchanges copied incorrectly
0 (0.0%) band change violations
5 (3.3%) not in log
0 (0.0%) duplicates (Removed without penalty
0 (0.0%) calls unique to this log only (not removed)
Here is a link to a pdf of the entire report analyzing my submitted log: 2012 CQ WWDX K9ZW Log Analysis Report
Even in my casual style of operations for this last CQ WW DX SSB Contest I could have improved if I was certain my call was logged by the other station correctly and if I was a bit more careful in my logging.
Really appreciate the fine analysis!
73
Steve
K9ZW
Looking into 2013 for K9ZW Operations 31 - December - 2012
Posted by k9zw in Amateur Radio, K9ZW, K9ZW Just Rambled, K9ZW Operations.Tags: K9ZW, K9ZW Just Rambled
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On the theme I posed about what are your amateur radio 2013 plans, a couple items that are on mine:
Use-it-or-lose-it - Plan is to put every bit of gear on the air during 2013, or weed it out (sell/gift/landfill…). Unbuilt/unrestored projects are the exception. Presently I have two vintage stations and a couple other transceivers to put some air time on.
Build It before Buying More - No more new kits until everything on the shelf is built and troubleshooting is finished. Would only make an exception for a unique or limited time opportunity. Current inventory of kits is an almost complete QRPometer, a small solid state Amp, a complex LED clock and a couple Nixie-Tube clocks.
Review, Repair and Upgrade Process - Time to pull our the TDR, Megaohmer and Meters and check over every bit of the station. Time to re-waterproof outside connections and finish the lightening protection upgrades. There is a vertical antenna that needs to get on the air by being wired in. Time to swap rotors for the rebuilt one and send the old one out for overhaul.
Get some new Hams started or Help Hams upgrade - I’ve been busy enough that I’ve used it as an excuse to drop my Hamcram, Elmering and VEing efforts. Time to right that omission and help others get started or uprgaded.
Learn the New Flex-6000 - When that radio shows I need to set aside a significant amount of time to learn it inside & out! No point in having a high performance radio and not knowing how to use it.
Put a little backbone into making CW QSOs - As a with-code Novice (KB9GPN) who upgraded through to Extra I have no excuse for the paltry ten or so CW QSOs being my total morse effort in over twenty years. This one is ALL up to me putting a bit of effort in and being brave enough to get on the air with my weak CW skills the way they are. Without that practice K9ZW is not going anywhere with CW.
So there you have it – six simple easy targets that will hugely enrich what I can put into Amateur Radio and what I might gain from being a participant.
The unwritten seventh goal is to basically do what I have been doing all along – get on the air, make contacts, spend some time contesting, some time chasing DX, some time on Digital Modes, some time Rag Chewing, some time writing for this blog, and some time regularly checking into nets – especially the 160m net.
YMMV (Your Milage Might Vary) if you made the mistake of trying to adopt my goals, rather than correctly setting your own goals.
Now to get at it….
73
Steve
K9ZW
Casual Contesting – 2012 CQ SSB World Wide DX Contest. 28 - October - 2012
Posted by k9zw in Amateur Radio, K9ZW, K9ZW Operations.Tags: CQ SSB WW, K9ZW, K9ZW Operations, Society of Midwest Contesters
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Has been the CQ World Wide DX SSB Contest. Contest this weekend, and true to form there have been plenty of distractions. Tom KC9JGD had a chance to visit home from University 6 hours drive away, my father needed some help which Tom KC9JGD, Vic KC9NWB and I spent a few hours at, we had a dinner engagement dating from before I realized the contest was this weekend, an appointment out of town that took four hours, the Green Bay Packers had a football game in during the contest (who schedules these football games, really… <grin>) and mother nature through in a charming wonderful weekend of weather begging for one to go outside (and do those chores….) … whew…..
Despite the conflicts I did get in two two-hour slots and ran up 50,000 points fairly quickly.
This contest is always a favorite as the report is simple – Signal and Your CQ Zone (Click for Zone Map) (mine is 04) and off you go.
The rules take a bit of study as you cannot hop around bands on a whimsy, a new Zone or a new Country is worth more than more contacts from places you already worked on that band, and domestic QSOs are basically worthless once you get one per USA Zone.
It also is a contest that is good fun whether you work it “contest serious” or “in between all that stuff in life style” like I did.
I spent a fair bit of time on 10 meters, picking up a number of first time DX on 10m along the way.
Again I used N3FJP’s CQ WW Contest Log Program, which though it lacks in “Eye Candy” having screens like an old Windows 3.21 Program, does the contest logging job precisely and with little bother.
I’ve been a bit off contests as of late, having known each contest weekend that I am short of time and have too many conflicts to put in a real effort.
The 2012 CQ SSB WPX was almost an afterthought, as I knew I could only get on a short while.
But it turned out to be a blast – when I ran up 5,000 points I wasn’t vert thrilled, and when I came back on I thought “let me just double that up to something over 10,000 points and I’ll get back to other things.”
When I passed 10,000 suddenly I was self-challenging myself to get to 20,000, then 40,000 points. Knowing I had obligations that wouldn’t move or go away, I raised the bar to 50,000 points and at 153 QSOs I passed that mark up.
Yes, only a trivial amount of QSOs. I went unaided (no spots) and just worked listening the band from end-to-end which netted me some great multipliers.
Took only a few moments to upload my log to me off-site storage, and to email it to the contest robot. At first I had two errors – nothing in a mandatory “Locations” header line and a typo in the club (Society of Midwest Contesters). The error message was clear and a minute later a successful resubmission of my log was acknowledged by the contest robot.
Good fun and recommended!
73
Steve
K9ZW
