Here be the collected wit and wisdom from my ham radio diary. Just another vanity project, nothing more than a brief record of my radio activities imprinted on the sands of time.
WHAT CHANGED? - Inspired by John, K3WWP's diary, I started keeping a diary from the radio shack a few years ago. When I stopped blogging I thought I would edit those daily missives into a less verbose monthly summary (see August 2025 below). But it became obvious this was more work than I wanted to take on. It's easier to just put the actual diary entries directly online.
Wednesday, October 15 - I've been copying ZD7CTO during early mornings on 12 meters using FT8. I tried to work him today without luck. I captured a single return from him, but nothing more. I've worked Derek before, the last time in March of this year. I've got a theory that propagation is enhanced between here and there around the equinoxes. There might also be some aethereal magic at play given our positions above and below the equator. Saint Helena isn't particularly rare (#203 Most Wanted) but its location in the South Atlantic between Africa and South America is very interesting to me. Will try again tomorrow.
Tuesday, October 14 - Sunny and warm. H:77 L:47. Received an LoTW confirmation today for a 12m contact made with SE100SSA, a Swedish special event station. The Swedish Amateur Radio Association, SSA, was founded September 10, 1925. To commemorate this and more than 100 years of amateur radio in Sweden, eight special event callsigns were activated from September 10 to October 12, 2025 and one of those was SE100SSA. Pleased to have that special one in the log.
Monday, October 13 - It's harvest time in the Heartland and the crops are quickly disappearing from the fields as the streak of good weather is leaving farmers with no excuse to get the season wrapped up.
A futile 30 minutes spent this morning calling the E51MWA North Cook Islands operation. They had a good signal here on 17 CW but I struck out. There should be future opportunities as the operation is planned to run until the 20th of this month. After that I set the K4 to five watts and worked N9ANA, KZ9V, KB3EOF, and AF0AJ all doing the POTA thing on 40 CW. My total unique park count is 960.
Saturday, October 11 - Clear skies. H:72 L:50. Another beautiful day in the Heartland. No rain in the forecast until next weekend. That will probably change. A little antenna and feedline work today. Taking advantage of the weather to get a few things done that I won't be willing to do in cold weather. One confirmations received via LoTW today was from YS1CH for a 10 meter contact a few weeks ago. El Salvador isn't an ATNO, but it was new on that band. Cesar is in my log several times on 15, 12, and now 10.
Friday, October 10 - Sunshine. Cool. H:68 L:37. Another busy day with not much time for radio though I did manage to hunt a few POTA contacts. K2JVB, KG2GL, K8RP, K4OLS.
Thursday, October 09 - In a note to the QRP-L mailing list (subscription required) N6HI, John noted today being the five year anniversary of operating his IC-705 HF transceiver. He lives in an HOA condo in Chandler, Arizona and uses a single 20-foot piece of wire for an antenna. His results? Running 5 watts or less: 24,239 QSOs. 157 Countries. Running one-half watt or less: 20,026 QSOs. 87 Countries. Maybe I'm amazed.
Wednesday, October 08 - Clear. Cool. H:68 L:44. Fall weather. I paused my Audible subscription today. I love audio books but without the commute to work anymore I simply can't consume all the hours of book listening that comes my way. Got flu and Covid shots today. I've grown fond of 12 meters during this solar cycle. Had a nice time this morning working EU using low power on that band. DL5AN, SE100SSA, PA6T, OR7K, OZ6G, DL2DXA.
Tuesday, October 07 - Temps H:75 L:57. Rain. Today is day 280 of 2025. 75 days until winter begins.
Feedlines disconnected when the thunder rolled in last night. Listening off and on around 14.060 I caught K2JB (W4C/WM-028) calling CQ SOTA this afternoon. Worked him and noticed that was my first SOTA contact since March 2024. New confirmations received overnight via LoTW: E70T, FJ/SP9FIH, KP2B, OX3LX, ZS6ZA. One QSL card received via direct mail today: TO3K - the Italian operation on Mayotte Island.
Monday, October 06 - Could today be the last day of summer? Local forecast is for much cooler temps beginning tomorrow. I'll believe it when I see it. Today temps: H:79 L:61. Been watching clouds gathering all morning as rain is expected tonight and tomorrow. We sure need it. I'm putting down Fall weed and feed on the lawn this afternoon in anticipation of at least a little precipitation.
Fifty more unique POTA sites hunted and my total will have reached 1000 unique sites, my goal for ending the hunt. No more POTA for me after that. It's been fun and it certainly provides easy daily CW contacts, but that will be enough for me. Four more in the log today, all on 20 CW. AD2MM, KT7RC, KG2GL, and WI0S. I received an LoTW confirmation from VP8ON, an ATNO for the Falkland Islands. Huzzah!
Maybe I'll play in the monthly Spartan Sprint tonight?
Sunday, October 05 - Lazy day. I did work VP8ON on 30 meters in the evening. I've worked the Falkland Islands five times and have ZERO confirmations. Maybe this one will be different and I'll pick up an ATNO?
Saturday, October 04 - Sunny and clear. Temps H:85 L:61. Maybe a little cooler tomorrow. I hunted a handful of POTA activators with the K4 turned down to 5 watts today. W2GR, KE4EA, K1SN, W4MY, WG0Y. The activators didn't seem to notice the difference. By early evening the California QSO Party was whipping the waters into a froth. I jumped in on CW and made a few Qs, but then got back out. I'll return to it when the CA stations are a little hungrier. Before the UTC day ended I caught ZW3DIB on Taquari Island located on an inlet between Brazil and Uruguay. It's included in the Brazilian Islands Award.
Friday, October 03 - I made a couple of obligatory calls on 6m around noon today. Nada. Moving down the bands I made a quick stop on 10m where I snagged VP2MAA. Montserrat isn't a new one, but I did need it on 10m and it looks like he confirms via LoTW regularly. Fingers crossed. I wasn't interested in anything else there so I moved to 12m. Buried amongst the usual suspects was 3B8HK. Mauritius Island is another one I have worked before, but not this year and never on 12m. Got him! What's more, Mike confirmed our contact within minutes.
Thursday, October 02 - Sunny skies and warm in the Heartland. Temps H:81 L:50. Worked another small cache of POTA activators on 40 CW this morning. N4JAW, NA9M, WI0S, K2MJP. I really enjoy hearing those activators signing with "72" which means they are QRP. When I think of decoding signals from the field I imagine someone with a low-powered transceiver and a wire antenna operating from deep in the woods. Reality is most POTA activators probably operate from their truck in a parking lot using 100 watts. Still, when I copy their "72" my imagination runs wild and I find that a lot more satisfying. For me anyway.
Wednesday, October 01 - I generally walk two miles each morning when it's not raining. That hasn't been a problem lately. We haven't seen much precipitation in these parts for a couple of months. That will likely change before long. This morning there was a satisfying crunch as fallen, dried leaves underfoot were being returned to dust...
Received an LoTW confirmation for the VK9NT 2025 DXpedition today. I've worked Norfolk Island before so it wasn't an ATNO, but it was new on 10 meters. Another DXCC Challenge band slot filled. Huzzah! The pathway to Oz was wide open in the pre-dawn on 20 meters. I worked seven VKs in short order. It's nice when propagation offers such rewards. Of course the ZLs were in the mix as well and I'm glad I was there to enjoy it all!
Tuesday, September 30 - Sunny and warm. Temps H:82 L:55. Put a couple more POTA activators in the log this morning. W4DHW and KM3STU. Both on 40 CW. As of this morning my total number of unique POTA locations worked was 941. A couple more DXCC Challenge slots were filled, 5B4AMX, GD0TEP and HZ1TT. Band conditions were pretty good this morning, it should be interesting to see if they hold up tonight.
Monday, September 29 - Today is day 272 of 2025. Just 83 days until winter begins. And it's sunny and hot. Again. Temps H:85 L:56. When will Autumn arrive? Fall used to begin in September in Indiana. Now it arrives about mid-November. We're being robbed of autumnal pleasures thanks to the endless summers of climate change.
My log shows one year ago today I made my first contact using the Elecraft K4 which means its now a year old and the warranty has expired. Gulp! No problems and the last transceiver I ever intend to purchase has performed every bit as well as I expected when I ordered it. More than 25 years an Elecraft fan, I still have the K2, K1, and KX3, all in good working order, all acquired along the long and winding ham radio road.
Sunday, September 28 - Sunny, clear, hot. Temps H:89 L:57. Enjoyed the birthday celebration yesterday with the entire family and followed that up with dinner here at our place with them today. All's quiet here as everyone has gone home. Too much football this weekend so I snuck out to the shack for a little quiet time and read the latest NAQCC newsletter.
Saturday, September 27 - Clear skies this morning. Temps H:80 L:51. Listening to the Treasure Coasters net on 7153 KHz this morning as usual. No time for radio after that. Going to celebrate two grandaughters birthdays, age 5 and 9 at their house this afternoon. Then some house guests overnight back here. I doubt there will be time for radio today.
Friday, September 26 - Foggy morning in the Heartland. Temps H:75 L:54. Three more POTA worked in the morning. All on 40 CW. WS0SWV, KM3STU, AC4BT. I spent less than 30 minutes in the K1USN SST sprint in the evening and worked ten stations. A big RTTY contest gets underway tonight but I couldn't get motivated enough to join in.
Thursday, September 25 - WX here is cloudy with some rain. Temps Hi:74 Lo:60. Windows in the shack are wide open. Snagged three POTA activators today. W2C, AF0AJ, and WR4P. All CW. I could have worked more, but what's the hurry? I don't enjoy life at a contest pace. It's a hobby. Slow down. 90 days from today is Christmas.
This summer has been one of the most brutally hot and humid I can recall. Pure misery. And then during the last week of the month a cool front came along. Things turned comfortably cooler. It's almost too good to be true and I remain suspicious that Old Sol is going to burn us at least once more before the season officially ends. Autumn can't come fast enough for me. Bring on the pumpkin spiced lattes and golden leaves!
DX Chase - HF band conditions were mostly "meh" in August and that fanned the flames of the summer doldrums. There was, however, a noticeable uptick in activity on 10 and 12 meters late in the month. These bands have seemed dead for much of the summer and I had about decided work there wouldn't return until later in the year. I was wrong. One evening was an all you can eat smorgasbord of South American cuisine on 12 meters and enjoyed every bit of it. Nothing new there, I just enjoy exchanging fist-bumps with friends in SA. Feels like high school geography class all over again when I look up those worked. I still need Guyana (8R) to have worked the entire continent, but I haven't so much as even heard a station there. Fingers crossed that will change one of these days.
I managed to fill a handful of Challenge slots, plus I received confirmation for TO3K, Mayotte Island, an ATNO. So there was some small progress made in an otherwise dreadfully slow month.
Current DXCC Standing: 177/166
Sometime during the month the total number of QSO records I have uploaded to LoTW passed the 15,000 mark. This has resulted in just under 10,000 confirmed QSO records to date.
Just for fun - the last few evenings of the month I've been hanging out on 20 CW just tuning around. That process has yielded several enjoyable chats with DX stations. Brief. Not rushed. Casual. Nice. One of those was with Dave VP9/G4OSY vacationing on Bermuda. Such a pleasure. I need to seek more of these.
Failure to Communicate - I tried to snag the 3G1P (Ilotes Pajaros, SA-100) operation for a few days without success. I'm not into IOTA, but this one was especially unique and possibly never to be re-visited. It would have been nice to have it in the "bank" in case I ever do begin chasing islands. I understand landing on these rocks required operators to swim ashore, not a regular DXpedition occurrence. I heard them several times though they never heard me. The operation was cut a little short due to weather so that opportunity may have been lost forever...
Do you believe in magic? When I was a kid I had a six meter transceiver. We all did, it's how the locals stayed in touch. Probably like two meters today. But in those days commercial transceivers never included 50 MHz. We had to make do with lunch pail shaped single-band transceivers from Heath. But six meter AM and the neighbors television didn't play well together and television was on its way up while six meters was on the way out. For a season the six meter band with it's weird propagation was the sole domain of those few hams who chose to make it a primary focus.
Then about thirty years ago manufacturers began adding 50 MHz to their new all-band HF transceivers. Interest in the Magic Band was renewed. One characteristic of the band is that it's always dead. Until it isn't. You can listen for days or weeks without hearing a peep then suddenly one day, sometimes for only one hour, all hell breaks loose and the band is filled with activity. That's why they call it the 'Magic' band. These days the action on six is almost exclusively via FT8 and working billions of others on six became a new obsession. Mostly for those on top of the Honor Roll who have little left to chase and they look for new things to collect.
I'm not passionate about six meters. Never have been. Randomly I will drop down there and send a CQ or three. Usually never get a response and leave. But sometimes I do make a few contacts on six meters. I log those like all the others, but there is no special effort on my part to add to those totals. One of the measures of success on this band is the ARRL VUCC 50 MHz certificate. It requires confirmation from 100 unique maidenhead gridsquares. A few months ago I figired I'd check on my totals and saw that I was sitting at 90. If I qualified for the wallpaper I would apply for it. But there I sat at 90 for months. Then a few days ago the band did one of those magic openings and I was able to pick off a dozen contacts. Only one of them DX, and that was Cuba, but there were some new grid squares in the bunch. I became hopeful I might wrap up VUCC 50 MHz that night. But when the dust settled I was sitting at 98 which gives me some hope I will cross that threshold yet this year. I guess I do believe in magic!
