Author: ww4dx

One of the best tools I began using to assist in working DX is HamClock. I had several Raspberry Pi’s hanging around, so I took one, re-imaged it, installed and configured the Linux version of HamClock. Found an old LCD monitor with a HDMI input, wall mounted it next to the station, and been happy with the performance every since. VOACAP has been fairly accurate in it’s DX propagation prediction.

The Palstar HF-AUTO and LA-1K really shined this weekend.

It was very nice having a little extra power available this weekend during the CQ WPX contest. As most of us realize, it’s your antenna system and operator skill that makes or breaks your station during a contest. I have always said, most anyone can get on-air and talk about the weather and yesterdays news, and other meaningless bullshit, but it takes more skill to efficiently operate your station in not so ideal conditions.

However, having a little extra power available to feed into my antenna system really made a difference. With both the Palstar HF-AUTO and LA-1K being fully automatic, no fiddling with tuning controls made this one of the easiest contest we’ve worked, ever. Hear them. Work them.

We found between 800-900 watts PEP out is all we needed to break most pile-ups. Very seldom did we ever have to make more than one or two attempts to be being heard. The Yaesu FTDX101MP (and knowing how to properly operate the transceiver) performed wonderfully. Did not make any changes in any of my normal settings. Did however run about 3dB’s of audio compression.

Overall a wonderful, very productive weekend.

Trolling the Dallas Doofus is so easy….

He’s takes the bait each and every time..

What he fails to realize is, this website is monetized, and each time he comes here, it’s puts $$$ in my pocket.

Bradley, WZ4C stopped by and worked several hours of the contest from the bunker. As always, had a blast.

Had been postponing doing a major transmission line re-wire, ever since adding the Palstar LA-1K and HF-AUTO. Well, that’s finally behind me. Finished up changing out any inferior connectors, and replaced any RG-213 that was not the DX Engineering brand. Apparently I had a connector or two that was not up to snuff, and causing an erroneous SWR reading on 10 meters. That issue is now 100% solved.

I have setup a live stream from my SDR located in High Shoals NC, and re-broadcasting it on YouTube. You can hear firsthand what 2 LIDS full of hate sound like on amateur radio. The ARRL has already taken action against WA4OPO, revoking his ARRL Volunteer Examiner credentials.

Email me with your phone number and I’ll provide the link so you can hear just how disgusting these 2 are.

will go to just to have a call-sign with their initials.

When the FCC created the call zones, the intent was to provide the approximate location of where the station was operating from. The idea had the same intent of the call-signs of commercial broadcast stations. Yes, KDKA in Pittsburgh, PA is an exception.

Unfortunately (IMO) many amateurs are abusing the vanity call-sign system just to have a call-sign, that to them has a special meaning. By abusing I’m speaking of having a call-sign that is not in your call zone. Is this an illegal practice? No, not at all. However it is very inconsiderate.

My call-sign is a vanity call. WW4DX. However when I was considering changing my call-sign, I was keeping the 4, that indicates that I’m in the southeastern US.

Let’s take a look at a call-sign from one of our local LIDS, that is in total disregard of the call-sign area. NCOG for example. NC, represents North Carolina. O possibly represents his IQ. The G represents an initial of his first name. His adopted son has a call-sign in the 2 call zone (New Jersey/New York), just so he too can have the initial of his name in his call-sign.

Illegal? No.

Inconsiderate? Yes.