QRP Canada

While not strictly QRP, the low of the Solar Cycle has certainly had an impact on QRP activities, and the puzzling delay with regards to the rebound of the Sun spots has surprised scientists and radio amateurs alike.

Yesterday (17 June 2009) at an American Astronomical Society press conference, NASA scientists announced their finding about what appears to be the underlying cause of the sun spots and the solar cycle, a jet stream within the sun that is moving slower than expected this cycle.

As always you can check the current Canadian Space Weather from GoC’s Space Weather web site. Reports are produced by Natural Resources Canada (NRCan), with support from the Canadian Space Agency (CSA). For additional information and image, you can go to the US government (NOAA)’s Space Weather Prediction Cener.

-Michael Taylor, VE3TIX

In case you haven’t seen the web site already, this is another one worth bookmarking, the QRPedia, created by Jason Milldrum NT7S. It is an encyclopedic reference on QRP.

It also hosts The Wilderness Workbench by Stephen Wandling, VE7NSD. One minimalist radio project of Stephen’s that I believe has captured the interesting of many people his building and experimenting with the Flea transceiver by Joan Morros, EA3FXF and Eduardo Alonso, EA3GHS, which has a transmitter based on the Cubic Incher (AE6C, QST July 1982) and a novel receiver design.

Submitted by Michael, VE3TIX

QRP ARCI presents - “Four Days In May 2009” (FDIM)

• FDIM is the premier gathering of QRP enthusiasts - around 400 expected in 2009
• FDIM is an occasion to meet many of the originators of theory, products, literature, high scores and the tallest tales.
• FDIM is an opportunity to show off your favorite QRP project to your peers.
• FDIM is a great excuse to visit Dayton, Ohio USA and Hamvention.
• FDIM was originated for QRPers; is planned by QRPers, attended by QRPers and is about QRP.
• FDIM is about enjoying a few days with old friends, new acquaintances and having a good time.

The venue is the Holiday Inn at Fairborn, Ohio. It’s just a few miles from the Dayton Hamvention (which runs concurrently) and special rates are available.

Note: All Canadians travelling by air into USA need to present a valid passport. Canadian citizens entering the US by land or sea, you are required to have government issued Photo-ID, and are strongly recommended to also have proof of Canadian citizenship (i.e. birth certificate, or naturalization / citizenship card) to avoid delays at the border. For more information see US Embassy in Ottawa and from Canadian Border Services Agency.

More more details, see the QRP-ARCI’s FDIM website.

1200Z on 8 April 2006 through 2400Z on 9 April 2006. You may work a maximum of 24 hours of the 36 hour period.

For more details, see QRP-ARCI Spring QRP Party 2009.

(source: web-editor VE3TIX)

Hello everyone!

After a hiatus, the NJQRP Homebrewer Sprint is on again! And this coming Sunday night, March 22nd is the night. So put down the soldering iron and get on the air and make some contacts with the equipment that you gave your sweat, blood and tears to build!

The original purpose of this Sprint was to encourage the use of homebrewed equipment (kits count!); but we’re not overly picky and we welcome all entries, whether homebrewed or not.

As always, this event which is sponsored by the NJQRP Club is a 4 hour event from 8:00 PM to Midnight EDT. (0000 UTC until 0400 UTC Monday March 23rd for those of you who prefer UTC).

For all the details and the whole skinny - please visit the following Webpage:

http://www.njqrp.org/data/qrphomebrewersprint.html

Special certificates will be awarded; and they will be suitable for framing!

So grab your Tuna Tin, Sardine Sender, Gnat, Flea, Pixie, ATS (any version), KX1, K1, K2 or K3, Warbler (yes, PSK-31 counts too) or whatever have you and join in on the fun!

See you all Sunday night!

73 de NJQRP

(source: Larry Makoski W2LJ on qrp-l, submitted by editor VE3TIX)

Sunday July 27 (today, last minute I know)

The 2008 running of the Adventure Radio Society’s
‘Flight of the Bumblebees’ is on Sunday, July 27,
and runs from 10:00 PDT / 11:00 MDT / 12:00 CDT / 1:00
EDT to 2:00 PDT / 3:00 MDT / 4:00 CDT / 5:00 EDT.

For rules and full details, see Adventure Radio Society’s Flight of the Bumblebees web page.

For details from Radio Amateurs of Canada on the 2008 rules (français) and Entry form (same for français).

And the CANADAY logging Software is hosted by QRP-Canada.

For more information see RAC’s contesting page, or the May/June issue of TCA magazine.

This is a relaxed contest, and in my opinion (VE3TIX) suitable for amateurs new to contesting to practice their technique. Operate and enjoy!

Hello tent packing, wire pitching, paddle pounding, penny pinching, pincer picking Gangue,

Its time for the annual Lobstercon pitching E-mail! Recent developments, Lobstercon-wise, have developed which makes the above subject line quite appropriate…

The Good: Lobstercon2008! is taking place as voted on & reported on July 12th of last year. This years event will take place on the weekend of July 11, 2008. Lobstercon ‘regulars’ in attendance on Sunday of last year discussed the relative merits of the 2008 weekend choices (July 4th or July 11th 2008) and the weekend of July 11, 2008 was chosen. I confirmed the date with the campground that very day when I settled up the accounts. I also called the Salmoncon guys and relayed the official date. I also posted it on my Lobstercon page and the QRP-L list. Nothing has changed. And the price has not changed! A $35.00 registration fee gets you 3 meals on Saturday: wake-up coffee & donuts, BBQ lunch and Lobster dinner. Raffle prizes, unlimited hobnobbing, Lobstercon kit and construction contest are also included. Camping fees are the same as last year. $10 per person per night or $20 per family per night. Registration and camping fees can be paid by Paypal, check or money order. Paypal payments should me made to w1rex ‘at’ megalink ‘dot’ net. Checks and money orders should be made out to ‘QRPme’ and mailed to PO Box 160, Limerick, Maine 04048

Read the rest of this entry »

Two QRP kits sources makes you may not be aware of.

The first is the JUMA kits including the TRX1 and TRX2 transceivers from Juha Niinikoski OH2NLT and Matti Hohtola OH7SV.

The second is the German QRP-project run by Peter, DL2FI and Nikolai, DL7NIK and includes kits designed by German QRP Club DL-QRP-AG include the Cool Blue Radio a 5-band CW transceiver and 5-20 MHz general coverage receiver (CW, AM, SSB), the 8 band QRP CW transceiver, Tramp, and more.

JUMA TRX1

Four Days in May 2008 is quickly coming. It is Thursday 15th May 2008 - Sunday 18th May 2008 this year at Holiday Inn at Fairborn, OH, just a few miles (er, kilometers) from Hamvention.