Month: October 2005

QSL Card

Wikipedia says: QSL, or QSL card, is the confirmation of a QSO (a radio contact) between two radio amateurs. “QSL” is a Q code, which means “I confirm contact with you.” A QSL card is a (usually postcard-sized) hardcopy, containing the specific details of a QSO. It usually contains the callsign of both operators, the time and date of the QSO (usually in GMT), the radio frequency used, the mode of transmission used, and RST (Readability, Strength, Tone) reports exchanged. RST is a numeric code, that indicates how well (or badly!) the radio signal was received. Sometimes the QSL card will contain an image, perhaps of something associated with the operator’s home town. QSL cards are very important to the radio amateur since they confirm that a QSO took place and are used as proof when applying for a Ham Award.

… and a little more information from Amateur Radio Victoria: A QSL card contains some basic information – the amateur station’s callsign, location, licensee’s name and postal address, and often details about the amateur station equipment. It will also include details of the contact, the date/time, frequency, mode of transmission, and signal report. QSL cards should not exceed 140mm by 90mm or be less than 125mm by 80mm. They must not be printed on lightweight paper (such as 80gsm copy paper). Preferred weight is in the range 120 -180gsm. The callsign of the station to receive the card is written on the top right hand corner. The card size and placement of the recipient callsign were made standard worldwide some years ago to make it easier to sort and handle large quantities of cards. The QSL Bureaux only exchange cards between themselves, and there are a very few countries which don’t have a bureau. In these cases, radio amateurs wanting a card from a non-bureau country must QSL direct by using the normal postage system.

… I’m working on my own QSL card.

Checked into the HARENET66

This is a fun net! Here’s a short description from their website:

“What the Hell is a HARE66? The Hampton Area Radio Entertainment (HARE)Net started years ago with QSO’s on the 147.165 repeater and we never left; just moved to 50.266! Now we are branching out on several other frequencies.”

These guys are a riot!

JOTA – 48th Jamboree on the Air – 15-16 October 2005

JOTA is an annual event in which about 500,000 Scouts and Guides all over the world make contact with each other by means of amateur radio. It is a real Jamboree during which Scouting experiences are exchanged and ideas are shared, thus contributing to the world brotherhood of Scouting The JOTA is a world-wide event. Units may operate for 48 hours or any part thereof, from Saturday 00.00 h until Sunday 24.00 h local time. It is for members of the World Organization of the Scout Movement (WOSM), and also for members of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS).

World Scout Frequencies:

Band
SSB (phone)
CW (morse)
80 m
3.740 & 3.940 MHz
3.590 MHz
40 m
7.090 MHz
7.030 MHz
20 m
14.290 MHz
14.070 MHz
17 m
18.140 MHz
18.080 MHz
15 m
21.360 MHz
21.140 MHz
12 m
24.960 MHz
24.910 MHz
10 m
28.390 MHz
28.190 MHz

Also on EchoLink: HB9S (World Scout Bureau)

The amateur radio station of the World Scout Bureau in Geneva, HB9S, will transmit directly from the office building for the 48th JOTA. Both HF radio and Echolink will be used. Your operators this year are:
Jochen Sulovsky, DK8ZM; Ernst Tomaschek, OE1EOA; Yves Margot, HB9AOF and Richard Middelkoop, PA3BAR.

While browsing the website I saw that there are weekly and monthly scouting nets that take place worldwide:

SCOUT NETS

Country day time frequency netcontrol
Denmark Saturday 13.00 GMT 3.740 MHz  
European Scout Net Saturday 09.30 GMT 14.290 MHz PA3BAR
Japan 3rd Saturday of month 23.00 local 21.360 MHz JA1YSS
Norway Saturday 15.30 local 3.740 MHz  
Sweden Saturday, even weeks 15.00 local 3.740 MHz  
Sudan Sunday 12.00 GMT 21.360 MHz ST2M
United Kingdom Saturday 09.00 local 3.740 MHz G3BHK
United States Sunday 20.30 GMT 14.290 MHz K2BSA
World Scout Net*) 1st Saturday of month 22.00 GMT Echolink 131124 PA3BAR

*) connect to node 106440 or 131124.

Been busy with…..


– Tried to contact KD6EUG (at his alternate QTH in Mi-Wuk Village, CA) via EchoLink last night, no luck. I tried on two different EchoLink repeaters: one near Tuolumne (N6EA, 146.115) and another near Modesto (WA6OEC, 441.350).

Going to try again tonight and see if we can make contact.

– I got NOVA for Windows up an working.
“Nova for Windows has become the most popular Windows-based satellite tracking program in the world. In use by NASA, the U.S. Air Force, industry, and thousands of amateur radio operators, Nova sets the standard for excellence.” [It’s a great program.]

I can use NOVA to track amateur radio satellites, the International Space Station, and the Space Shuttle (when it’s up).

– Sparked up the RX-320 this morning and got Radio Sweden (15.240 MHz).

“The year 2005 marks the centenary of the birth of Greta Garbo. One of Sweden’s most famous exports, her name still evokes glamour and mystery.”

“Join Radio Sweden’s Juan Navas for a special half hour program looking at the life and times of one of the world’s biggest stars, Greta Garbo.”
More about Greta Garbo

Morse Code… the saga continues


I’m making slow, steady progress learning Morse with the help of Ham University (see Oct 8). I’ve just started on lesson 23 – which means I have the following letters/characters to go: J, K, =, Q, X, /, V, Z, ?, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 0.


ARRL’s station (W1AW) offers and over the air practice:
Slow Code = practice sent at 5, 7-1/2, 10, 13 and 15 words per minute (wpm).
Frequencies are 1.8175, 3.5815, 7.0475, 14.0475, 18.0975, 21.0675 and 28.0675 MHz.
Monday – 7pm
Tuesday – 10pm
Wednesday – 7pm
Thursday – 10pm
Friday – 7pm

The gameplan now is to take Element 1 (the Morse Code 5 WPM exam) on 22 October in Elizabeth City, NC – sponsored by The Albemarle Amateur Radio Society (TAARS).