OK, this time I used my Dentron GLA-1000 (modified with four EL-509s slacking off at 400 watts output) to try and actually have a ‘run’ calling CQ. However, I really had only one decent run and a couple very short runs. In any case, I still had a blast and I’m really pleased with the recordings I used for my voice keying since I had NO requests for repeats when I used it. Of course using voice keying isn’t always the best idea. Use with discretion. But it’s nice to be able to talk the next day.

Here’s a screenshot of my message buffer:

and of course moments after the contest (click image to see full size):

Call: K6JEB
Operator(s): K6JEB
Station: K6JEB

Class: SO Unlimited HP
QTH: EB
Operating Time (hrs): 22:23

Summary:
Band QSOs
————
160: 0
80: 57
40: 112
20: 123
15: 16
10: 0
————
Total: 308 Sections = 75 Total Score = 46,200

Club: Northern California Contest Club

Comments:
A lot of work even with 400 watts! My favorite time was running a small pile-up for several minutes of NCCC KBers. Last Sweepstakes from this QTH, will be moving before next year. Will be hopefully in a better antenna location next year!

I took part in the 2007 ARRL Sweepstakes CW Weekend. Here are my results:

Call: K6JEB
Operator(s): K6JEB
Station: K6JEB

Class: SO Unlimited HP
QTH: EB
Operating Time (hrs): 23:12

Summary:
Band QSOs
————
160: 1
80: 113
40: 124
20: 119
15: 18
10: 0
————
Total: 375 Sections = 79 Total Score = 59,408

Club: Northern California Contest Club

Comments: missed only NL (saw him on the cluster but was never able to hear him). Was mostly S&P with a few runs whenever I could squeeze in and be heard.

Station: I actually operated 100 watts but ran in Unlimited category to be able to use packet spotting (in an effort to garner points for the NCCC versus operating with individual glory as a goal). So my rig was my trusty Yaesu FT-857D putting out a clean 100 watts into my Butternut HF9V, Windom, or shortened dipole for 160m. I use Writelog for logging and of course a Rigblaster Plus for the sound card interface and keying.

OK, I’m back from Pacificon 2007. Will have photos up in the Gallery soon. Also check here for the ‘MultiMedia Meditation‘ I gave on Saturday morning (you will need to view this in Internet Exploder, sorry).

Plenty of exciting things happening in ham radio and this weekend surely conveyed that to the better-than-last-year attendance. The vendor area in the hallway/entry seemed like there were less vendors, but certainly more people. Sunday morning the flea market had about half as many tables as last year. I didn’t find any treasures. Inside the vendor area there were plenty of great displays. I confess my favorite was the Northern California Contest Club.

The Elecraft K3 is now probably the most coveted new rig these days. I think I now know why. The specs are impressive alone, but the expandability of the design makes for some interesting choices for future mods. I heard mention of being able to take advantage of the DSP to handle phasing of the signal out to the two SO-239’s in the back for phasing verticals or arrays.

The QRP Forums were always great. I now know how to do SMT soldering in a much more efficient way.

Best of all was meeting up with friends old and new and hanging out letting our geek flag fly. I can only imagine what that wedding party thought of us sitting at the table drinking and doing Morse Code.

By the way, my main buy this year was the Porta Paddle kit by American Morse. I can’t wait to put it together!
I plan to use it for portable work, go figure.