May 31st 2023 K9ZW Hits 42,000 QRZ Logged Contacts
While on a teleconference with Dale N9JSX and Bill KC9YBL I was working FT8.
Hit a logged 42,000 logged contacts at QRZ.com while someone else was recounting their Navy exploits. (I was in the Army, the others were Navy).
Interestingly more DX remain unconfirmed than domestic. Hence the low country count.
Thinking I may hit 50k logged before the end of the year if I push at it a bit!
73
Steve
K9ZW
Nice weather and a list that will never end, so my slow-walking any new posts continues.
A friend who writes better than I, though he is prone to rebuilding his blog often, is Jeff KE9V at https://ke9v.net/
Check KE9V’s blog out, as he is in the writing mood these days.
Only caveat is copy for you own use anything you want to keep as a reference from his writings, as he does purge & revamp.
Tell KE9V that I sent you!
73
Steve
K9ZW
Not an unexpected event given the lengthy period of production, announced at the 2023 Hamvention Banquets was the end of Flex-6700 production.
In the form-factor there had been the Flex-6700, Flex-6700R (receiver only version) and Flex-6500. The Flex-6300 was similar form-factor as well.
Production and new sales of the Flex-6300, Flex-6500 and Flex-6700R had already ended. The first two when the Flex-6600/6400 series was launched and the receiver may have always been a limited production on demand product. I don’t recall seeing a receiver version actually.
I unboxed my first Flex-6700 one month less than a full ten years ago – https://k9zw.wordpress.com/2013/06/27/photos-from-flex-6700-unboxing-june-21st-2013/ – which is serial number #11 and the third radio released outside of FlexRadio.
The longevity of the series is impressive – I am on my first Flex-6700 as I type this post, some 40,000+ QSOs and 10 years later.
My second station out on Washington Island also uses a Flex-6700 and I have a spare. (My third station uses a Flex-6600M).
The Flex-6600/6400 series was designed to allow for the modularity to allow more future upgrades, which the more densely packed Flex-6700’s format limited.
Support and Pre-Loved sales continues for the Flex-6700.
From an email from FlexRadio to customers:
FlexRadio has announced end-of-manufacture for the FLEX-6700. Existing orders for the FLEX-6700 will be completed however, effective May 18, 2023 we will no longer be accepting new orders for the product. FlexRadio will continue to support the FLEX-6700 as always, including warranties, repairs and continuing SmartSDR software updates.
At this time we are not announcing any additional changes to our radio line-up.
Additionally a new Maestro version (“C”?) was announced at a higher price point.
73
Steve
K9ZW
Edited 25MAY23 to add the quote from FRS’s email
Playing with GridTracker alongside WSJT running FT8. Dale N6JSX and I were talking about some added features for WSJT that he was interested in, and he did some research finding this package.
Seems like a mutli-tool add on, took less than a minute to setup, and is a welcome addition.
Here is a screen shot of a QSO with a JA station:
K9ZW to Japan QSO in Progress
Not found any significant issues and honestly I am still working through all the features.
Link: https://gridtracker.org/
73
Steve
K9ZW
Been working remote a couple days, being a bit under the weather. Over my working from home lunch hour, I finished assembly of the TuringPi Cluster.
Some pictures:
all assembled on the bench, will get an enclosure when they are ready
All parts in place! Yeah!!
Lots more —
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