Bits and pieces from the QRP in box as 2004 draws to a close

Club News

There is a new QRP club on the scene, The North America QRP CW Club. The club's Web site has details on membership and club activities, which include the NAQCC QSO a Day Award. The idea is to make at least one CW QRP contact on each day of the coming year. Thomas Mitchell, KB3LFC, and John Shannon, K3WWP, established the club in October. There are no membership dues, and the NAQCC says its philosophy is "No dues, just do!" Its emphasis is on communicating using QRP on CW with simple wire antennas. The club's membership is approaching 400, according to Larry Makoski, W2LJ, and it's open to QRP enthusiasts worldwide.

Last June the NorCal and New Jersey QRP Club announced plans to merge. The resulting American QRP Club (AmQRP) pulled together two QRP organizations that have been very active in encouraging homebrewing and kitting of QRP equipment. This past fall, however, NorCal reasserted its status as a standalone club, although it remains loosely affiliated with AmQRP in a manner similar to that of 4 States QRP Club, NorTex QRP Club, QRP Maine, and the Arizona ScQrpions.

The AZ ScQrpion/W5JH Paddle kit reportedly will be available in early 2005.

An improved version of NorCal's BLT (balanced line tuner) is now available.

Kit News

Speaking of the Arizona ScQrpions there is rumor that their fine kit, the AZ ScQrpion/W5JH Paddle will again be available in early 2005.

From NorCal comes the new and improved BLT (balanced line tuner), described as "a simple Z-Match tuner that works from 10-40 meters." The new version features Pittsburgh construction (similar to Manhattan style, but with the pads etched on the board) and a new clam shell case.

Nets

My last column gave incorrect times for the Ten-Tec Users Net. Kevin Anderson, K9IUA, wrote to say there are actually two Ten-Tec nets, both on Sundays. The 20-meter net, a general net for all Ten-Tec owners/users, meets at 2030 UTC on 14.337 MHz. The second net, which convenes at 2200 UTC on 7.51 MHz, focuses solely on the manufacturer's newer, software-derived radios, such as the Jupiter, Pegasus, Argonaut-V, and the Orion.

If you know of other QRP related and/or QRP equipment users nets, please e-mail me the day, time and other details. I will compile and post a list on my Web site.

The Heathkit QRP Modifications Web site of Chet Sprinkle, K8YTO, offers information on updating and/or improving Heath QRP rigs such as the popular HW-8.

Mailing Lists, Bulletin Boards and Web Sites

QRP-BB Forums is a great new online QRP resource created by Jeff Davis, KE9V. The bulletin board has a number of forums for QRPers.

Rich Arland, K7SZ, is looking for anyone interested in forming an Argonaut Users Group for the model 505, 509 and 515 QRP rigs. Please contact him via his e-mail address on QRZ.com.

Chet Sprinkle, K8YTO, has undertaken a project to collect and share modifications to the very popular Heathkit QRP radios. His collected Heathkit QRP Modifications information, covers the HW-7, HW-8 and HW-9 radios and is arranged in a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet. Microsoft offers a free downloadable Excel viewer for those who may not have the Excel program.

The Eastern PA QRP Club's Appalachian Trail Award promotes hiking the trail and operating QRP. In this 2001 photo, Ron Polityka, WB3AAL, operates from the Appalachian Trail in the vicinity of the Delaware Water Gap in Pennsylvania.

Calendar of Events

I need your help. On my Web site I attempt to maintain a listing of QRP Get Togethers and Operating Events. If you are responsible for or involved in any of these activities, drop me an e-mail with dates and details.

Also on the subject of calendars, it is not too late to order your copy of the 6^th Annual QRP Contest Calendar, put together by Ron Polityka, WB3AAL, and the Eastern PA QRP Club. The 2005 calendar offers a Field Day theme (and you have to order by January 15, 2005).

While visiting the Eastern PA QRP Club Web site, check out the information on its Appalachian Trail Award.

Broken Links and Corrections

One of the greatest strengths of the Internet is its constant growth, change and development. Unfortunately this can also be one of its weakest links (bad pun intended.) You know the drill. You find just the right resource and the page is full of great links. Unfortunately, you also discover that many of the links are dead or have changed.

Well, the same thing can happen when you go back and read my previous QRP Community columns. Occasionally the links that appeared in those earlier editions have changed--sometimes this happens within a matter of days from the time the column's posted. I know this can be very frustrating, so I try to maintain a page with corrections and updated link addresses for many of my columns. You can find this information on the QRP Community Home page of my Web site. If you find a broken link in my columns or on my Web site, let me know, and I'll attempt to locate a valid URL for you (and for everyone else who was afraid to ask).

Reader Feedback and Author's Comments

Thanks for all your e-mails. I really enjoy the feedback and welcome your comments and suggestions.

As 2004 draws to a close I am again reminded what a great group of people make up the Amateur Radio community. I would like to wish you all Happy Holidays and a Great New Year! I hope to meet you on the air in '05--QRP of course.

Editor's note: Anthony Luscre, K8ZT, an ARRL Life Member, lives in Stow, Ohio. He has worked in the field of medical microbiology for 18 years and is now a Technology and Computer Coordinator for a local school district. Luscre is an avid QRP operator having earned DXCC, WAS and WAC using no more that 5 W output. Readers are invited to contact the author via e-mail, k8zt@arrl.net or visit his Web site.

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