Happy New Year 2025 - On Hiatus

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I hope everyone had an enjoyable and wonderful Christmas. We'll be back sometime in early 2025.

Here are a  couple of Blog Posts we are working on.



I don't need 1.21 Gigawatts, a Flux Capacitor or Plutonium to make a QSO






Confessions from a Wanna-Be Engineer












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What Everyone Else is Reading

What Modes/Bands Will You Use IN BETWEEN Solar Cycle 25 & 26?

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What Bands/Modes Will You Use IN BETWEEN  Solar Cycle 25 & 26? As we continue to experience unpredictable HF propagation of Solar Cycle 25, it is not too early to start thinking about the bands and modes that you might find to be the best to operate as we move to that IN BETWEEN period of Solar Cycle 25 & 26.  The last few weeks have been rather challenging on the HF bands with lower Solar Flux Indices and lower Sun Spot numbers and consistent high Solar Winds.   As an avid QRP operator it can make for some dismal days. So here is part of my plan for the impending lull of favorable HF band conditions. It was during in between Solar Cycle 23 and Solar Cycle 24 when I became acquainted with an operator who had become frustrated with trying to make SSB/CW contacts with his FT-817 which he rarely used and was eager to get rid of it. I felt bad about the price he asked for as I knew he could get more but he was VERY eager to be relieved of the FT-817. After receiv...
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"JTTY": A NEW Tool In Our Ham Radio Box!

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I had to get the word out about this new tool for our ham radio box.  This mode falls somewhat inline with my previous blogpost about what bands/modes you may use in between Solar Cycles.  JTTY falls into that category. What is JTTY?  JTTY is NEW part of the WSJT-X suite of Digital Modes.  It is keyboard-to-keyboard Digital Mode transmissions without synchronized time slots as we have been accustomed to with FT4 and FT8 transmissions. That means you can start fast RTTY-style real-time operator-to-operator chats or contest style exchanges at ANY time. This mode uses uses 4-tone GSFK with a bandwidth of about 125 Hz  to 127 Hz, which can deliver about 30 WPM random text and up to 60 WPM for contest exchanges. For 20 meters the QSJT-X teams suggest starting at about 14.090 MHz.  Other suggested frequencies can be found at the following link by  DX Zone JTTY Frequencies Robert W5ITR  " Digital Rancher " has compiled a couple of YouTube videos about th...
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Autumn Equinox 9/22/2026 - Start Of Kit Building Season

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Its that time of year for most of the Western Hemisphere. AUTUMN!  Shorter cooler days and in some areas frosty. Its the season where some of us cut back on our portable activities and operate from the warmth and comfort of our shacks.  Its also the season when some of us pull out our soldering irons and put them to work.  Be it , repairs or maybe kit building, Autumn can be the start of Kit Building Season. For me, I've got a few projects on my To-Do-List. At the top is the completion of my 2nd Low Band QRP Labs QDX Digital Transceiver.  Since we are moving toward the IN BETWEEN of Solar Cycle 25 and Solar Cycle 26 area, it is likely that I'll be operating more Digital Modes and Satellites than Morse Code and SSB. During the Autumn and Winter months my plan is to run the 2nd QDX unit via Raspberry Pi in JS8Call digital mode from my shack; especialy overnight. I may also look at assembling some other kits.  I came across a YouTube video from the guys at Ham Radi...
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