Meeting Notice, June 16, 2012

It’s that time again.

If you are familiar with the interactive meeting notice skip down to “Topics“. This is an interactive meeting notice. What, you may ask, is an interactive meeting notice? As the phrase suggests, it is a meeting notice which requires interaction by the readers. For example: we need to have topics for presentation at the meeting; we need presenters; we need volunteers to provide lunch; we need to know who is coming to the meeting so the quantity of lunch portions may be determined, and so on. This post will be updated as interactions (comments) are appended.

Topics

  1. Contest Report
  2. Boxboro
  3. Field Day plans

Lunch provider: W1AN

XYL is preparing lunch. Please RSVP as soon as possible so a count may be determined.

Coffee and Drinks by:

Members who will attend: W1PN, K1DM, W1AN, K3IU, KA1GEU, KA1CQR (maybe), W1XX, N6ERD, K1SD

Venue: W1AN QTH, Ledyard, CT

CQWW WPX CW – last major HF contest of the season

CQWW WPX CW is this weekend May 26 – 27… the last major HF contest that counts for the CTRI CG intraclub championship for this contest season.

Up-to-date tips and operating info for the event can be found at the WPX blog here:   http://www.cqwpx.com/blog/

The CQ WPX website – linked to the above site – may be the most comprehensive and interesting site on the web for *a specific contest*…it is really very well done and is a ‘must view’ before jumping in to CQ WPX CW this weekend — check it out!

Even if you have little time available to operate this holiday weekend (and especially if you have a rare-type prefix in your call) you will be in demand for those in the contest… so turn on the radio, call CQ and have some fun.

Additional food for thought…for LoTW users the WPX award program is presently being implemented into LoTW.  Many rare and unique prefixes will be on-air THIS weekend and can soon be applied towards the WPX award electronically.

GL es 73,  Bill W1WBB

 

2011 ARRL 10 Meter Contest results now on-line

Results for the 2011 ARRL 10m ‘test  can be found here:  http://www.arrl.org/files/file/ContestResults/2011/2011-10M-Web-V1_3.pdf  This is an extensive detailed event report with graphs, tables, pictures and in-depth analysis…and a great spot to plan your 2012 10m effort!

Record-breaking activity as anticipated resulted in the highest number of logs ever submitted for *ANY* ARRL contest.   CTRI CG was no exception, breaking our own intraclub best combined score for this event (more than doubling it, actually) with 2,566,664 points and a new high number of ‘official’ club participants at 15.  Great job by so many club members who jumped on 10m, made some QSOs, submitted their logs and hopefully had some fun!

Rick KI1G led the way in CTRI with almost 1350 QSOs and 767k points.  John W1AN had a low-key part-time ‘flea power’ effort from his great station and got the New England high score for Mixed-mode QRP!  Operating in the newly created Multi-Op Low Power category (mixed mode, of course, and just using the spotting network as assistance) this author was able to initiate a record score for New England where none existed before!  Lots of ‘chair time’ and the new Hexbeam certainly helped my effort.

Additional results info can be found here:  http://www.arrl.org/contest-results-articles

Just click on ‘2011 Contest Results’, then scroll down to the ARRL 10 Meter Contest and select from the options such as Printable Linescores, Results Database, Log Checking Report, QST Articvle, etc.

Hopefully, 10m will make a resurgence this year and into 2013 as we near the cycle 24 ‘peak’.

73,  Bill  W1WBB

Important N1MM version upgrade

On Tuesday afternoon the availability of N1MM Logger v12.05.03 was announced with “Important bug-fix for multi ops in WPX CW” in the Subj Line.

Pete Smith, N4ZR, adds the following…

“This version incorporates a bug fix to prevent a database (“3022″) error
when editing the first QSO on a computer that is in a networked-computer
configuration. This could be disconcerting if it happened at the start
of this weekend’s WPX CW. We’re sending e-mail to all the multi-op and
networked-computer single-op users we are aware of, but will probably
miss some, so be advised.

Otherwise, this release involves only minor bug-fixes, which should be
unobtrusive.

73,
The N1MM Logger Team”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Steve London, N2IC, added this in an email…

“It is actually much worse than this !!

It can happen if you edit or quick edit any QSO – the error will appear on EVERY
other computer in the network.

Here is e-mail I sent out to a number of networked-computer users. Please feel
free to pass it on:

—————————————————–

If you are planning on using N1MM Logger for 2012 WPX CW, it is very important
that you use version 12.05.03, which can be downloaded from the N1MM Logger web
site (www.n1mm.com).

A serious problem was recently found that causes error message 3022 to be
displayed on all networked computers if a QSO is edited with the “Quick Edit” or
“Edit QSO” feature. This is fixed in version 12.05.03.

In addition, a new feature was recently added that removes all QSO’s from a log.
This is very useful for removing QSO’s that were made as “practice” before the
start of a contest.

– Added WIPELOG text command and confirmation window. Entering “WIPELOG” in the
Entry Window callsign field will remove all QSO’s from the currently active log
on the local computer. To clear all QSO’s on all computers in a
networked-computer configuration, type WIPELOG on each computer.

Please forward this message to others who may be using N1MM Logger in a multi-op
(networked-computer) configuration in WPX CW.

Thanks and 73,
Steve, N2IC”
==============================================

 

Elecraft K3 Information for NP3U

For the several of us guys owning Elecraft K3s and those planning on going to NP3U in February, here is a link to a pretty “Nifty” resource. This link takes you to the web site of a company NOT affiliated with Elecraft who has published a compact K3 Mini-manual. I have seen one but have not yet actually studied one; however, it has gotten rave reviews on the Elecraft reflector. It is 4.5″ x 8″ with 24 laminated pages of detailed instrtuctions and helpful information. I am planning to buy one to use as a reference in developing a training cirriculum for the K3 in our lead up to NP3U. I have no financial relationship with Elecraft or the Nifty! Accessories™ Company. Well… over the years I’ve spent a lot of money at Elecraft, but you know what I mean. 🙂

http://www.niftyaccessories.com/Elecraft_RefGuide.htm

Boxboro Food for Thought

I thought I would recap my comments from Saturday’s meeting regarding Boxboro. Tom Walsh, K1TW, called me last week to discuss our club’s plans for Boxboro and to see what the convention committee can do for us. Tom, as some of you may remember, was the convention’s volunteer coordinator before he left for CA in 2007. He’s back in New England and taking over the reins once again.

As it does every year, the convention needs volunteers in order to run smoothly and get everything done. This year, as in years past, they are asking for volunteers to contribute two hours of their time to activities like ticket selling/taking, hleping with the forums, doing odd jobs, or counting money (no, you don’t get to keep any of it). The majority of the need is with ticketing, and the busiest time slots are Saturday and Sunday mornings from 8 am – 12 am, but can start as early as 7 am. The work is fun and easy, and goes by very quickly if you take an early time slot. If you’d like to volunteer some time please let me know. We already have 7 volunteers, so it looks like CTRI will lead the way again this year! The sooner we give him names the better, because we get first pick at time slots.

Tom also mentioned that with the WRTC occurring in New England, he thinks the convention is in a good position to help advertise it and increase interest, and if done correctly, the convention will benefit as well. What he wants to know is what we as contesters think the convention could do to help publicize the WRTC, and how we might be able to do that while increasing interest in the convention as well. If you’d give this some thought and pass along your ideas to me I’ll make sure Tom gets them. Thanks in advance.

As if that weren’t enough to stimulate your brain, Tom also wants to know what the convention can do to help publicize CTRI. This could take the form of supporting a forum, or providing a booth in the exhibitor’s hall as in years past, etc. Our continued strong support of the convention has not gone unnoticed, so if you can think of anything you’d like to see them do for us, please pass it along.

I think the big message here is that, as has been said many times, we are recognized and appreciated not only for what we’ve done within the sphere of contesting, but also for what we’ve done to help make the convention the success it has been over the years. Again we’re being given an opportunity to make ourselves heard and known better, so I’m asking that everyone take a few minutes to come up with some ideas. All hams in New England will benefit if we do.

73,

Pat, NG1G

Minutes, Meeting of April 21, 2012

Mike reminded us that  NEQP was couple of weeks away. Discussion of members’ plans and last year’s results.

Boxboro is how we make money. Last time we didn’t make a whole lot of money (less than a year’s expenses while we usually make 2.x times that much).

We couldn’t field a big enough team to perform like previous years.

Raffle now would cost each member an assessment of $???. Would it be better to have dues and cut out the middleman?

 

 

Field Day operate RTTY practice for Peurto Rico – require rigs to be bbrought in, pcs and network for N1MM, operate sat till 9pm or so and call it a day.

Promised town do it this year, but they said we couldn’t use facility this May and June.

Operate in W1AN’s outbuilding.

 

Meet at W1PN’s QTH in May.

make final decision on what to do for FD

W1AN have PCs and N1MM setup ready

Boxboro — is it going to happen?

1×1 ops w/o stn can visit at w1an

Original 13 colonies 6/30-7/5 – URL

JFK carrier to RI 2-3 years

Mystic Seaport – Chas Morgan whaling ship restoration – launching will be historic event — special event stn?  Motion passed to have w1an approach them.

Consider mass migration to Dayton next year —

 

w1an demo of rf noise detector —

 

 

May 19th meeting of CTRI CG

Gang,

If you are planning on attending the meeting on Saturday, please make sure you let Ed, W1PN know right away.  If you have not signed up for the meeting, then there will be no lunch for you should happen to show up.  Let’s please be courtious about this so our hostess doesn’t have to react to our lack of RSVP.

Thanks.  Mike, K1DM, president.

1×1 Call Sign Cabrillo Files

Gents,

Please submit to me the Cabrillo file(s) from your operations under your 1×1 call signs as soon as possible. Importing the data into a spreadsheet is slightly labor-intensive, and I’d like to be able to have it all done before the 1st of June.

If recent QSL card deliveries are any indication, we might have well over 100 requests in total. As of today I have 28 requests, including one certificate request (based on only one QSO!), and I know other members are receiving cards directly.

If anyone has questions on what exactly I need, or how to export the data, please let me know and I’ll be happy to help. Same goes for signing/uploading logs to LoTW. As soon as I can rectify my inability to include media files in my posts, I’ll upload the instructions for everyone to use. That should happen Saturday after the meeting.

Thanks for your cooperation.

73,

Pat, NG1G

Meeting Notice, May 19, 2012

It’s that time again.

If you are familiar with the interactive meeting notice skip down to “Topics“. This is an interactive meeting notice. What, you may ask, is an interactive meeting notice? As the phrase suggests, it is a meeting notice which requires interaction by the readers. For example: we need to have topics for presentation at the meeting; we need presenters; we need volunteers to provide lunch; we need to know who is coming to the meeting so the quantity of lunch portions may be determined, and so on. This post will be updated as interactions (comments) are appended.

Topics

  1. Contest Report
  2. Boxboro
  3. Field Day plans
  4. LOTW handout including How To for 1×1 calls.
  5. Winning the World from NP3U in 2013  DECISION TIME

Lunch provider: W1PN

XYL is preparing lunch. Please RSVP as soon as possible so a count may be determined.

Coffee and Drinks by: W1PN

Members who will attend: W1PN, K1DM, NG1G, W1AN, K3IU, W1WBB, NR1H, KA1GEU, K1SD, WE1H, N6ERD

Venue: 7 Juniper Ln, Johnston, RI, 1100 to about 1400

Top Honors for KI1G & KS1J – 2011 CQWW RTTY!

Hearty congrats to Rick KI1G for achieving the highest score for *any* Single Operator in *the World* during the 2011 CQWW RTTY Contest and winning the World – Single Operator Assisted High Power All Band category and associated plaque with 6.4M pts…while establishing a new North American record!  Amazing effort Rick!!

Jim KS1J placed in the “Top Five” United States for Single Operator Assisted Low Power All Band in this contest…another outstanding effort!  **Well done to these fine CTRI CG contesters.**

Full details in the May 2012 CQ magazine with on-line results I believe in early June.

BTW, the May issue cover photo features WA1VQY of Tiverton, RI… the town Fire Chief here in my town of Portsmouth, RI — and a big-time ‘boat anchor’ collector (and avid CW op) looking at his shack.

Bill  W1WBB

Yemen DxPedition 7O6T

Socotra Island (IOTA AF-028; CQ Zone 37), Yemen 7O6T

The Yemen DxPedition has been underway for several days. This is a rare DXCC country near the top of the most wanted list. I think it’s number 6. We worked them on two bands as K1T during the NEQP and last night they were loud on both 160M and 80M. Unfortunately they were not copying anybody well so I could not add those bands to my log. Maybe tonite?

It may be a long time before Yemen is active again considering the turmoil there. They are easy copy on both 20M and 15M, so see what you can do.

73,

John, W1AN