Logs, Logs, and More Logs

Over the years I have utilized many different methods of logging my amateur radio contacts. I normally use a paper log, but I also often have used computer logs. In my early days as a ham, I used a software program that ran under DOS called "Hyperlog". In those days the computer had not become a major part of most ham shacks, but Hyperlog was a simple little logging database and I enjoyed using it.

As the years went by I stopped using Hyperlog, and tried a few other logging programs. In the meantime, the "ADIF" and "Cabrillo" standardized formats were developed, and Hyperlog's programmer discontinued the product. I currently use three different logging programs - they all have their strengths - and they all can produce compatible files. One is ACLog by N3FJP, which is very simple in its design; another is the logging module included in Ham Radio Deluxe, which has some nice integration to other sections of the software; and the third is Win1010, by K4HAV, which is designed to handle the many unique logging aspects of paperchasing for 10-10 International Net.

I recently discovered a diskette containing a backup of some of my Hyperlog data, from my days as KB5UEV and a few months of KI7RK. It was a challenge just to read the 3.5" floppy disk, which has already become obsolete; when I finally did, I realized that the data was in a unique ascii separated database file and I had no idea how to convert it. So I posted a request to the 10-10 e-mail reflector, and fortunately for me, Jim Hardy K4HAV stepped in and performed the conversion for me. The log turned out to be an incomplete record from those days, but it did have about 860 QSO's, including two special ones:

- 8/25/1992, with W5VIB - I checked into the Sandoval County RACES Net, and logged it as "My first QSO ever!"

-10/17/1992, with K4PSR - Bill, "10-10 #57564 will send info". Bill sent me a complete copy of the 10-10 News, and was encouraged me to join 10-10. Sadly, Bill is now a Silent Key, but I wonder if he noticed that I became Treasurer of 10-10.

It will take a very long time for me to get all of my past logs into the computer, if I ever do. I've got enough QSO's for many, many different awards but I've never organized them to claim more than a few. It's kind of fun to post 15-year old QSO's to LOTW and eQSL and discover that the other side of the contact has already QSL'd the contact!

I think that amateur radio logs were a requirement in years gone by; an FCC inspector could show up at your house and demand to see the log, and woe to anyone who could not produce it. I'm not sure they are actually required anymore, but it's hard to imagine not documenting your QSO's somehow. Some of my logs are simply copies of contest logs, which I used to prepare and score manually; others are fancy notebooks, and some are freebies given by manufacturers. It's always fun to look back and bring back some memories from the old logs.

Signals From the Moon

I'm sitting here listening to signals from the Moon!

No, I haven't lost my marbles. There is an experiment underway by the "HF Active Auroral Research Program (HAARP)" and the "Long Wavelength Array (LWA)" in New Mexico on 6.7925 MHz. They requested that amateurs monitor the test, so I tuned in, and sure enough, there are the signals. They're sending 2 second unmodulated CW transmissions (sort of like a long Morse Code key press), followed by a 3 second wait.

I'm copying the transmissions at S9+20, and the echos are coming in at S1-S2.

Who knows why they are doing this, it's a military thing so maybe there is some secret purpose. I think we have already pretty well established the distance to the moon, but you can do a quick calculation to see why they are using the 2-second transmissions - the return signal follows them quite nicely.

Amateurs have been doing "Moon Bounce" for many years, but not on 40 meters! There has to be some serious power going into this test.

The picture above was taken in my backyard last year using a CCD camera on a 4" refractor.

A New Beam for W7FPX

This afternoon, I helped my friends Jim, W7FPX and Larry, W7LB, set up a new Cushcraft MA5B beam on Jim's roof. It's a nice compact little antenna that can work on 5 bands (10, 12, 15, 17, and 20 meters). Here is a picture taken late in the afternoon, just before I hoisted it into the rotor. It was great to see Jim again, it wasn't too long ago that he was a member of a small group of us that would take telescopes out to dark sites for observing sessions.
I had some other ham radio fun today as well, I worked my first-ever RTTY contact during the ARRL RTTY Roundup. I wasn't making a serious contest effort but I did decide to use the contest to learn how to use my DM780 software to operate RTTY. I was successful in getting it to work, although I must admit that I think PSK31 is a superior (and more efficient) mode. But it's all part of the fun to try out new operating modes. I made 10 contacts in the contest and will send in my log to help for checks against logs of the more serious contesters.
I also made one Kid's Day contact with my two younger sons. They talked to a 13-year old in New York, she is already a General class licensee.
It appears that NASA identified a sunspot a few days ago with reversed magnetic polarity from the previous cycle, indicating the start of the new cycle. This is exciting news for us hams!

Straight Key Night - Happy New Year!

The ARRL's Straight Key Night is going on right now as I type this. It started last night at 5:00 p.m. local time (which is 0000 UTC) and goes through until 2400 UTC. I've spent a few hours on it, mostly listening but I have made a few QSO's. My CW skills are not great but I can do a fair job copying up to about 15 wpm; above that, I'm not yet confident enough to jump into a QSO although I can usually pick out most of the words. Sending is always easier than receiving, but even there I tend to make mistakes after I've been operating for a while and get tired.

I've never done a lot of CW operating and one of my New Year's Resolutions is to start doing more of it. I've got both the straight key as well as an electronic keyer paddle - both of them made by Bencher. One problem with CW is that a QSO takes a longer time than on voice. A typical brief CW QSO might take 15-30 minutes, so to do CW requires a bigger time commitment. And time is something I never have enough of. It also requires a greater level of concentration. But it's really a lot of fun and I know that the faster you go, the more fun it gets.

My first SKN contact last night was with N6WK, who is one of the founders of the Straight Key Century Club (SKCC). Gordon holds SKCC #3T and I was pleased to add him to my log.

We're taking a family hike today so I'm probably finished with SKN for this year unless we get home before 5. It was a great kick-off to a fun year in ham radio!