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Re: QRP Quarterly Mailing
On Thu, May 8, 2025 at 05:04 PM, Donald KM7DG wrote:
The head of the USPS seemed to not put any importance on speedy delivery.The (former) head of the USPS has 10s of million$ invested in USPS competitors, and his companies have active contracts with USPS.? No conflict of interest there, apparently. 73, Don N2VGU |
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CW Practice / Rag Chew
开云体育On May 07 I had a CW practice / rag chew session on
30 meters. I worked four stations:
Conditions were OK with some QSB. SSN = 90, SFI =
154, A = 9, K = 2. I was using my Elecraft K3 at 100 watts
with my 100 foot sloped doublet.
My next CW practice session will be May 09 at 09:00 EDT / 13:00 UTC on 20 meters. Anyone and everyone is welcome. This practice is intended for operators who are new to CW or they need some practice. IT DOES NOT MATTER HOW POOR YOUR CW IS. Mistakes are OK. Poor fists are OK. Slow speed is OK. Really slow speed is OK. This practice is meant for you to improve your CW. I will do my best to adjust to your skill level. Operate at any power level. If several stations show up, I will operate as a round-table control station. I will do it as a round-table so everyone gets a chance to transmit. Please listen to my directions. Details: Date - May 09 2025
Time - 09:00 EDT / 13:00 UTC Band - 20 meters How to find me - I will find a clear frequency and call CQ. Go to the Reverse Beacon Network and search for my call sign AB8DF. That will tell you what frequency I am on. Tune
your station to that frequency and if you hear me give
me a call. If there is a QSO in progress, please wait
for a break in the action. Then send your callsign. If I
hear you, I will invite you to join the QSO and start a
round-table QSO.
Reply to this email if you have questions. IT DOES NOT MATTER HOW POOR CW IS Ed AB8DF |
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Re: QRP Quarterly Mailing
That the problem with all gov't run enterprises: There's no incentive to be efficient. Indeed, it's the opposite. When I was in grad school, a friend of mine went to work for a new agency in DC that had about two dozen workers. He wrote to me about 4 months later and told me his boss told all the workers NOT to process anything in their IN boxes. The work piled up for a week when there was a "surprise" visit from the GAO in responses to their manager's request for more personnel. He got the additional workers. Your status in DC is a function of the number of people under your control, meaning there is no incentive to keep costs down. The agency: The EPA, which now has over 16000 employees. Jack, W8TEE
On Wednesday, May 7, 2025 at 12:34:35 PM EDT, Andrew, W5AWS via groups.io <w5aws@...> wrote:
At least with QRP there is a good chance that one's transmission results in successful communication. Louis DeJoy is responsible for degradation of the post office. Under his tenure as postmaster general, he reorganized operations to supposedly make them more efficient. He has conflicts of interest that make it worth his while to destroy or privatize the post office, driving business to companies with which he is associated. A lot of local mail sorting is now centralized at distant locations, so a letter that is destined across town has to go to a processing center a long way away. I sent a letter to an international destination, it never made it out of the country, returned to me as undeliverable; I had to hand it in again at my local post office for another attempt. Just last week, I had a letter destined across town returned to me marked undeliverable; I telephoned the recipient to check that he was still alive then handed the letter in to the post office desk clerk yet again. On April 29, I sent a registered letter internationally with return delivery notification. It reached the processing center in Coppell, TX, on April 30 at 1808 hrs where it has remained for the last seven days. For about the same cost, I could have sent it in a FedEx envelope and had it reach its destination by now, if not sooner. As you may imagine, in future I won't be using USPS for anything important. Andrew, W5AWS. -=-=-=- |
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Re: QRP Quarterly Mailing
I'm not sure about this, but I read that of the $0.73 is costs for a 1st class stamp, $0.68 is for storage. Jack, W8TEE
On Wednesday, May 7, 2025 at 11:43:54 AM EDT, Steve AA8AF via groups.io <slawresh@...> wrote:
> > I don't know what kind of time frame periodicals are supposed to be delivered, but this sure seems like it took the USPS a long time. > I’m not sure what’s going on with the USPS… recently a 4# package I mailed via “express” and it took 32 days from Dayton OH area to Linn, MO not too far from Springfield.? The trip was bizarre:? 18 days from Dayton to Cincinnati (about 50 miles straight down I-75), 10 days to Springfield, MO, then off to Chicago where it sat, next stop Kansas City, onto Columbia where it sat, then Jefferson City, and finally the destination of Linn, MO.? A veritable tour of the mid-west.? I could have walked it to the destination faster! It’s about the last time I’ll send a package via USPS! I’ve not received my QQ yet.? So, sit tight.? It may get there… sometime… maybe… eventually. Steve AA8AF |
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Re: QRP Quarterly Mailing
开云体育My QQ came two days ago in Traverse City, MI.Dave K8WPE On May 6, 2025, at 9:20?PM, jjpurdum via groups.io <jjpurdum@...> wrote:
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Re: QRP Quarterly Mailing
Mine just arrived today in Cincinnati. Jack, W8TEE
On Tuesday, May 6, 2025 at 08:03:32 PM EDT, Brian KB9BVN via groups.io <kb9bvn@...> wrote:
Mike, My QQ just arrived today in central Indiana.? Mailed on 4/14/25.? 22 days.? Wow.? Mine is also periodical mail. I don't know what kind of time frame periodicals are supposed to be delivered, but this sure seems like it took the USPS a long time. de KB9BVN Brian On 5/5/2025 10:01 AM, Mike WA8MCQ via
groups.io wrote:
Brian, they are NOT sent out
by first class mail in the US.? I can guarantee that. Yours
probably is, due to your position, but the rest of us get them
by "periodicals" mail and I can send a photo of my envelope if
you want proof.
On Friday, May
2, 2025 at 06:23:36 PM EDT, Brian KB9BVN via groups.io
<kb9bvn@...> wrote:
The April 2025 issue of the QRP Quarterly was
mailed out on April 14th, 2025.
We send them out first class mail to the US and use a 3rd party mailing company for the DX issues.? The US Postal system is responsible for delivery. 18 days to deliver first class mail seems to be more commonplace than ever. I don't know why. If your copy has not arrived by May 14th, let us know and we will see what we can do on the shipping end. 73 de KB9BVN Membership Manager -- 72 de KB9BVN -- 72 de KB9BVN |
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Re: QRP Quarterly Mailing
开云体育Mike,My QQ just arrived today in central Indiana.? Mailed on 4/14/25.? 22 days.? Wow.? Mine is also periodical mail. I don't know what kind of time frame periodicals are supposed to be delivered, but this sure seems like it took the USPS a long time. de KB9BVN Brian On 5/5/2025 10:01 AM, Mike WA8MCQ via
groups.io wrote:
--
72 de KB9BVN |
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Re: Michigan QRP Week Zoom Chat
Keep in mind that the 15th is the first day of the FDIM conference. Jack, W8TEE
On Tuesday, May 6, 2025 at 02:48:10 PM EDT, Ed AB8DF via groups.io <ekwik@...> wrote:
 There will be no MI QRP Chat on May 8. It is reserved for the Club’s Annual Meeting. We had thirteen folks join the MI QRP Zoom Chat on 1 May. Please join us Thursday May 15 (and every Thursday) at 4PM Eastern for the Michigan QRP Club weekly QRP Chat where the main topics will be QRP and other ham interests. New hams are encouraged to participate and ask questions. It's fun, it's easy, and it's free. You only need a computer, a smart phone, or a tablet that can connect to the Internet. OR if you can't be close to any of those you can join by audio with any standard phone. Just follow the directions below. No software needs to be loaded or installed. Anyone can join and non members are welcome. Details are here: Zoom ID: 811 0835 6229 Pete WK8S Ed AB8DF Ernie NE3TE Stan WB8QJZ Casey KC9IH Dave N8SBE Stuart M0SGV Yvon AE7YD Jerry KI4O Bill N5IM Harry K9DXA Robert G0RYL John KC1VPP Bill from TX showed up for the second week in a row. Stan has not been doing much with satellites recently. Not that many passes right now that are capable of doing slow scan TV. New Yaesu QRP rig coming out? Will we see it at Hamvention? There was a leak that there is a companion 100 watt amp. Dave had an old 817 and now has 818. The Elecraft KPA100 amp works well with it. Others use a Hard Rock amp. He has been watching the Rat Pack videos and they have a lot of interesting stuff . The most recent one was all about packing for POTA. This was Roberts first time in the chart. He is a homebrew builder. Currently playing with a one tube (valve) regenerative receiver. Stuart has his Michigan Mighty Mite working and will try to get it on the air soon. John is new to the chat. His QTH is in Connecticut. He needs CW practice. He has a QRP Labs rig. Yvon is playing with his new ZBitx. So far he is not impressed. Bill did a POTA this week. The mosquitoes were bad. Used a QMX rig and Ham Sticks which is modified to use a telescopic whip. Ernie suggested trying a performer vertical set up to help get better resonance. Harry just finished a QMX+ and it is not working. Others have been able to get SSB to work on their QMX+. He likes using his Ham Sticks for his POTA operations. He also uses the magic carpet approach. Ed uses one of these adapters with a mag mount. He puts the mag mount on the roof of his car and the adapter allows radials to be attached. Much better than just using the capacitive coupling of the mount for a ground plane. There will be no MI QRP Chat on May 8. The topic for Thursday, 15 May will be TBD. The agenda for the 15 Mayl QRP Chat:
During the open forum anyone can take the floor. We will go one by one until all have had a chance to have the floor. Files, pictures and presentations can be shared if you have any. Please try to stay muted when someone has the floor. Thanks Ed AB8DF |
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Michigan QRP Week Zoom Chat
开云体育There will be no MI QRP Chat on May 8. It is reserved for the Club’s Annual Meeting. We had thirteen folks join the MI QRP Zoom Chat on 1 May. Please join us Thursday May 15 (and every Thursday) at 4PM Eastern for the Michigan QRP Club weekly QRP Chat where the main topics will be QRP and other ham interests. New hams are encouraged to participate and ask questions. It's fun, it's easy, and it's free. You only need a computer, a smart phone, or a tablet that can connect to the Internet. OR if you can't be close to any of those you can join by audio with any standard phone. Just follow the directions below. No software needs to be loaded or installed. Anyone can join and non members are welcome. Details are here: Zoom ID: 811 0835 6229 Pete WK8S Ed AB8DF Ernie NE3TE Stan WB8QJZ Casey KC9IH Dave N8SBE Stuart M0SGV Yvon AE7YD Jerry KI4O Bill N5IM Harry K9DXA Robert G0RYL John KC1VPP Bill from TX showed up for the second week in a row. Stan has not been doing much with satellites recently. Not that many passes right now that are capable of doing slow scan TV. New Yaesu QRP rig coming out? Will we see it at Hamvention? There was a leak that there is a companion 100 watt amp. Dave had an old 817 and now has 818. The Elecraft KPA100 amp works well with it. Others use a Hard Rock amp. He has been watching the Rat Pack videos and they have a lot of interesting stuff . The most recent one was all about packing for POTA. This was Roberts first time in the chart. He is a homebrew builder. Currently playing with a one tube (valve) regenerative receiver. Stuart has his Michigan Mighty Mite working and will try to get it on the air soon. John is new to the chat. His QTH is in Connecticut. He needs CW practice. He has a QRP Labs rig. Yvon is playing with his new ZBitx. So far he is not impressed. Bill did a POTA this week. The mosquitoes were bad. Used a QMX rig and Ham Sticks which is modified to use a telescopic whip. Ernie suggested trying a performer vertical set up to help get better resonance. Harry just finished a QMX+ and it is not working. Others have been able to get SSB to work on their QMX+. He likes using his Ham Sticks for his POTA operations. He also uses the magic carpet approach. Ed uses one of these adapters with a mag mount. He puts the mag mount on the roof of his car and the adapter allows radials to be attached. Much better than just using the capacitive coupling of the mount for a ground plane. There will be no MI QRP Chat on May 8. The topic for Thursday, 15 May will be TBD. The agenda for the 15 Mayl QRP Chat:
During the open forum anyone can take the floor. We will go one by one until all have had a chance to have the floor. Files, pictures and presentations can be shared if you have any. Please try to stay muted when someone has the floor. Thanks Ed AB8DF |
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Re: Love me some OLD QRP
Brian: Always keep trying. The XYL's antenna restrictions here make an HOA pale by comparison, but my "invisible" EFHW works, but I have dead zones to South America and Japan. I'm reminded of the Japanese QRP-er who used 500 milliwatts to get DXCC. What most people have forgotten, however, it that he was using a dipole draped out of his window on the 66th floor of a high-rise in Tokyo. Still, if you're having fun, who cares? Jack, W8TEE-
On Tuesday, May 6, 2025 at 12:12:00 PM EDT, Brian KB9BVN via groups.io <kb9bvn@...> wrote:
Jerry, I got my ticket in 1987...because I was interested in Packet.? Also the same year eldest son joined the Cub Scouts.? Also the same year my wife and I became Cub Scout leaders...in 1991 my son crossed over to the Boy Scouts.? Wife retired from Cub Scouts, and I became a Boy Scout leader.? In the meantime, ham radio had to take a back seat...between raising kids, working, and scout leading there was not much time for radio.? In 1995 first son earned Eagle, in 1999 other son earned Eagle.? (yes I'm bragging) BUT in late 1998 a buddy stopped by, he had just passed his General and was getting into CW with a Ten Tec Scout.? I was still licensed, and I had passed the 5 wpm test back in 1987...the idea of HF CW seemed like a good thing to do...so I bought a Norcal 40A kit, a ZM-2 tuner, and made a antenna of sorts and got on the air.? QRP seemed less expensive, building my own antenna was cheap, so I went that way.? Put the attic dipole up in 1999 after discussing it with my QRP Elmer Mac AF4PS at length.? He had a pretty successful attic dipole so I followed his plans.? Luckily my house is 58 feet wide in the attic.? So my 40m dipole is up there with 4 feet on each end turned 90 degrees.? That crazy antenna helped me WAS in 1999 on the Norcal 40A.? Insert hook in mouth...QRP CW had me.? It's been up there ever since and when I am operating from home it's usually what I use.?? Most of my operating these days is with my KX-2 and doing POTA.? Now I will say...1999-2002 or so we had some GREAT band conditions.? It helped.? Attic dipole was installed not because of HOA...but Mrs. BVN said NO WAY to an external antenna in her yard.? We've been married for 46 years this month.? I do have 67 confirmed DXCC entities on that antenna...over 26 years.? May never get to 100. de KB9BVN Brian ? On 5/6/2025 9:39 AM, Gerald KI4IO via
groups.io wrote:
There need to be a special place? in heaven for those QRP'ers
who, for whatever reason, must used attic antennas.
Good on you...
?
KI4IO
Jerry
Warrenton, VA
-- 72 de KB9BVN |
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Re: FDIM 2025 Updates
开云体育Hey Dan...you're on the list...not sure I have your email address correct.Send it to membership@... Thanks! de KB9BVN Brian On 5/6/2025 12:12 PM, Dan KB9JLO via
groups.io wrote:
--
72 de KB9BVN |
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Re: Love me some OLD QRP
开云体育Jerry,I got my ticket in 1987...because I was interested in Packet.? Also the same year eldest son joined the Cub Scouts.? Also the same year my wife and I became Cub Scout leaders...in 1991 my son crossed over to the Boy Scouts.? Wife retired from Cub Scouts, and I became a Boy Scout leader.? In the meantime, ham radio had to take a back seat...between raising kids, working, and scout leading there was not much time for radio.? In 1995 first son earned Eagle, in 1999 other son earned Eagle.? (yes I'm bragging) BUT in late 1998 a buddy stopped by, he had just passed his General and was getting into CW with a Ten Tec Scout.? I was still licensed, and I had passed the 5 wpm test back in 1987...the idea of HF CW seemed like a good thing to do...so I bought a Norcal 40A kit, a ZM-2 tuner, and made a antenna of sorts and got on the air.? QRP seemed less expensive, building my own antenna was cheap, so I went that way.? Put the attic dipole up in 1999 after discussing it with my QRP Elmer Mac AF4PS at length.? He had a pretty successful attic dipole so I followed his plans.? Luckily my house is 58 feet wide in the attic.? So my 40m dipole is up there with 4 feet on each end turned 90 degrees.? That crazy antenna helped me WAS in 1999 on the Norcal 40A.? Insert hook in mouth...QRP CW had me.? It's been up there ever since and when I am operating from home it's usually what I use.?? Most of my operating these days is with my KX-2 and doing POTA.? Now I will say...1999-2002 or so we had some GREAT band conditions.? It helped.? Attic dipole was installed not because of HOA...but Mrs. BVN said NO WAY to an external antenna in her yard.? We've been married for 46 years this month.? I do have 67 confirmed DXCC entities on that antenna...over 26 years.? May never get to 100. de KB9BVN Brian ? On 5/6/2025 9:39 AM, Gerald KI4IO via
groups.io wrote:
--
72 de KB9BVN |
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[QRPLabs] CW Practice / Rag Chew
开云体育On May 06 I had a CW practice / rag chew session on
20 and 30 meters. I worked three stations:
Conditions were not great with lots of QSB. SSN =
108, SFI = 159, A = 29, K = 3. I was using my Elecraft K3 at
100 watts with my 100 foot sloped doublet. I started out on
20 meters but switched to 30 hoping for better conditions.
They were a little better but not much.
My next CW practice session will be May 07 at 18:00 EDT / 22:00 UTC on 30 meters. Anyone and everyone is welcome. This practice is intended for operators who are new to CW or they need some practice. IT DOES NOT MATTER HOW POOR YOUR CW IS. Mistakes are OK. Poor fists are OK. Slow speed is OK. Really slow speed is OK. This practice is meant for you to improve your CW. I will do my best to adjust to your skill level. Operate at any power level. If several stations show up, I will operate as a round-table control station. I will do it as a round-table so everyone gets a chance to transmit. Please listen to my directions. Details: Date - May 07 2025
Time - 18:00 EDT / 22:00 UTC Band - 30 meters How to find me - I will find a clear frequency and call CQ. Go to the Reverse Beacon Network and search for my call sign AB8DF. That will tell you what frequency I am on. Tune
your station to that frequency and if you hear me give
me a call. If there is a QSO in progress, please wait
for a break in the action. Then send your callsign. If I
hear you, I will invite you to join the QSO and start a
round-table QSO.
Reply to this email if you have questions. IT DOES NOT MATTER HOW POOR CW IS Ed AB8DF |
Don N2VGU
jjpurdum
David Wilcox K8WPE
Brian KB9BVN
Dan KB9JLO