Here be the collected wit and wisdom from my ham radio diary. Just another vanity project, nothing but a brief record of my radio activities imprinted on the sands of time.
WHAT CHANGED? - Inspired by John, K3WWP's diary, I began keeping a similar daily diary from the radio shack a few years ago. When I stopped blogging earlier this year I decided to begin putting these entries in a public place for posterity.
The Mill Stream - stream of conciousness from a radioman's old mill...
Wednesday, November 05 - Clear. H:67 L:40. I've received a few emails from readers who ask why I waste time reporting on the local weather in these missives. All I can say is, 'habit'. The weather is a universal social lubricant and conversation starter, especially for old men. I can strike up a chat with anyone by saying "sure is crazy weather we've been having lately, isn't it?" Plus, it's practically mandatory in the world of CW where most QSOs begin with signal report, name, location, and local weather conditions. Because of that, I have always taken a look at the weather report when I first walk in the shack and note conditions and temperatures on an index card so I have it handy for the next QSO where it will likely come up.
Tuesday, November 04 - Partly Cloudy. H:60 L:35. Got another LoTW confirmation today, a result of the recent CQWW SSB contest. TO4K, Saint Barthelemy, bringing my DXCC Phone total to 69, up from 64 before the contest.
Monday, November 03 - Sunny. H:58 L:36 - Tomorrow will be 2 minutes 16 seconds shorter than today as the northern hemisphere races toward the winter solstice, the Longest Night.
As usual, I found a little activity on 40 and 20 CW. Hardly a day goes by that I don't make a CW contact using five watts, but when you hear old radiomen complain about the lack of activity they are speaking of longer conversations. Most of the CW used these days consists of brief exchanges minimal information. Like POTA or contest exchanges. Most DX worked is the same. Those kinds of contacts are more satisfying than any FT8 contact, but not by a lot. I think next year I may pursue just two goals. More conversational CW and getting Bouvet Island in the log.
Sunday, November 02 - The time change is always stressful and nowadays takes me about a week to fully recover from it. I preferred the days when Indiana ignored daylight savings time, but those days are long gone. I was in the shack early and decided to hunt a couple of POTA activators on 40m before the ARRL SS activity filled the bands. KB3EOF in Maryland and AC4BT in Virginia.
Saturday, November 01 - Sunny. H:52 L:37 A few more confirmations via LoTW received today. FY5KE on Phone was a good pick-up. I've worked the same station nine times, all via CW. That brings my DXCC Phone total to 68. The last four in that category the result of the recent CQWW SSB contest and there might be one or two more to come in that mix. Doubtful I will get the hundred needed by the end of the year, but it feels like a little progress. The Yasme Foundation announced Grant and Excellence Awards.
Thursday, October 30 - Still dark at 7:45am, good thing the time change is at hand. Several new LoTW confirmations, a result of the CQWW SSB, was welcome today. C5Y was an ATNO and good for credit as Mixed, Phone, 10M, and Challenge. Huzzah! E73RO was new on Phone. And then there was RW1F, a new one on Phone and just received today, but it was for a contact made several years ago. Still valid and I'll take it! So for the month, three new confirmations on the road to DXCC Phone. And oddly enough, while C5Y The Gambia was an ATNO, I snagged C5R on 15 meters this morning via FT8. Weird, huh?
Wednesday, October 29 - H:53 L:41 Chilly rain with more on the way. Northern lights alerts for multiple states so something must be up in space weather too.
Tuesday, October 28 - Weather today was nice, a repeat of yesterday. I listened to FW5K (Wallis and Futuna Islands) for awhile this morning on 40cw. Nice signal. I didn't bust the pile, but I didn't try very hard. Didn't get them during the SSB contest either. They plan to shut down at the end of the month so this one is likely to slip away without getting them in the log. Major concern for Jamaica due to the hurricane. International Amateur Radio Union Region 2 has activated emergency nets on amateur radio frequencies. Keep clear of 7.198, 7.098, 7.268, 14.198, and 14.325 MHz while the event is active.
Monday, October 27 - Partly cloudy. H:63 L:38. Today is day 300 of 2025. Watching LoTW confirmations from the CQWW SSB contest trickle in slowly. Nothing exciting, yet. Not much different than thirty-years ago when I used to bird dog the mailbox to see what the mailman dropped off. Three POTA activators hunted quickly this morning before breakfast. W4VIG, AF0AJ, N8JMS. Total unique parks worked now at 971.
Sunday, October 26 - Kids and grandkids were over for Sunday dinner today. We had a nice time but in the quiet moments after the chaos I'm left to wonder how many more of these kinds of gatherings we might have left to share. Growing older means facing mortality and that demands I ask the same question about how I spend my hobby time? Am I doing what I really enjoy, because if not, I'm running out the clock for nothing. For certain I want to work Bouvet Island next year. But after that, I can see my chase for DX at HF to fade and who knows what other pursuit will get my attention?
Saturday, October 25 - Made 50 contacts across 20, 15, and 10 meters in the CQWW SSB contest today. Nothing too new and shiny though depending on who confirms via LoTW, some gains could be seen. I was especially happy to work HD8R in the Galapagos Islands, C5Y the Gambia, and GM2V in Scotland which would be a new one on phone. We also learned (again) that I am not terribly interested in contesting. It's just not my thang and it requires incredible concentration for me to stay engaged for 50 contacts. The guys who put "thousands" of Qs in the log during a contest weekend are zombies, I'm convinced.
Friday, October 24 - Went hunting POTA again today. Snagged a few (K2JVB, K4NYM, WZ3J) on 40 CW in the early morning. Then spent time futzing with the logging software to make certain it was ready for CQWW SSB action this weekend. A little later I listened to a long-running HF net who was having one helluva time today because the online Netlogger service was down and net operators were flummoxed with the order of check-ins without that online resource which made me wonder if ham radio could even survive without the internet - a ridiculous thing to even consider, but... I decided to forget about the N1MM+ configuration, I'm paper logging this weekend.
Thursday, October 23 - Windy. Freeze warning for tonight. H:54 L:36. Trying to get ready for the CQWW SSB contest this weekend. Tough to get motivated for a non-contester, but I could really use a bunch of contacts for DXCC Phone. Coffee and 12 meters again this morning. Worked OO7P and DL1FAM before breakfast. Want to work the upcoming XF4B operation from Soccoro Island.
Wednesday, October 22 - Bands were DOA when I got in the shack this morning. Then realized I had disconnected the feedlines due to some thunder yesterday. Antennas reconnected and things started popping. 12m seemed in good shape for early morning and I finally worked ZD7CTO after several previous misses. After that it was R2FAQ, OH6FSO, and DF7II all before breakfast.
Tuesday, October 21 - Sunny. H:61 L:45. First frost of the season is coming soon. 71 days left in 2025. I joined the YMCA today. I grew up there as a kid but last time I had a membership, Jimmy Carter was President.
Monday, October 20 - Sunny. Clear. Cool. H:62 L:39. On 30m early trying to work the 5K0UA operation that just got underway today. No luck. Strong signal, too many calling. Will try again when things have died down a little. I fired up my long lost IRLP node last night. Had to find the handheld batteries and get those charged. Since it was still on this morning I rode along with the "Brew Crew" net via the East Coast Reflector. Nice bunch and plenty of activity if you're looking for a little friendly chatter in the shack.
Sunday, October 19 - Thunderstorms. Feedlines disconnected. We're getting rather deep into the 4th quarter, the end of the year being just around the corner. Hardly a day goes by I don't get LoTW confirmations from contacts made long ago. That suggests LoTW continues to grow and add users despite my frustration with unreliable QSO partners. My current overall return rate is 65.5 percent which means I have to make a hundred contacts to receive 65 confirmations. It's like running with a weight on my back. It's self-inflicted, I prefer CW and, as it turns out, CW ops aren't nearly as reliable in confirming contacts using LoTW. My return rate is over 90 percent for digital contacts meaning the speedier route to DXCC success is via FT8. Something to seriously consider and adjust accordingly.
NOTE: Club Log features round-up - October 2025
Saturday, October 18 - H:82 L:57. Much too hot for my liking. Literally stumbled into the Worked All Germany CW contest today. Had no plan, no goal, no ambition, so I put ten in the log, all on 15 meters then closed the station. DL6KVA, DQ2A, DR5X, DK0OM, DA0R, DL2NBY, DR7T, DL2MDU, DR5E, DK0EL. Homecoming weekend at the local University, too busy for more radio today.
Friday, October 17 - Spent part of the day hunting POTA stations and now my total unique parks worked is 969. Thirty-one more and I'll be done. When I set a goal of working a thousand parks that seemed crazy, and way-off in the future. Now that's within easy reach, perhaps yet this month, I wonder what to "chase" next?
Thursday, October 16 - Cloudy then clearing. H:69 L:48. Not to sound like a broken record, but I had the same experience today with ZD7CTO as I had yesterday. Copied him, called him, he called me back once, then nothing. No complaints as I worked him on this band earlier this year, it's just become a challenge. He's becoming my white whale and I might be getting a little obsessed with putting him in the log again. I could turn on the flame-thrower, but I like sticking to 100 watts on the WARC bands. Will be back at it in the morning.
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 not 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.
