KB6NU's Ham Radio Blog

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Operating Notes: Touch-a-Truck, QSO Parties

Posted: 10 May 2016 07:59 PM PDT
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I started out last weekend by helping out with a public service
event—Touch-a-Truck. This event is designed to get kids and their parents
out to see some awesome vehicles and to introduce their parents to some
local community service organizations. The kids get a balloon and to sit in
a fire truck (see below) and blow the horn, while the parents find out
about groups likeÂ*Washtenaw Success by 6 Great Start Collaborative andÂ*Safe
Kids Huron Valley.
Photo by AB3DC.

We had eightÂ*volunteers from ARROW, our local amateur radio club. At right
are Dinesh, AB3DC and Joe, AC8ES. Also on hand were Jim, WD8RWI; Jeff,
W8SGZ; Ed, AB8OJ; Thom, W8TAM; and yours truly.

Party on

Also this weekend were several QSO parties, including the New England QSO
Party, the Indiana QSO Party, the 7th Area QSO Party, the Delaware QSO
Party, and the Florida QSO Party. I heard them all on 40m, but I only
worked the NEQP. Logging multiple QSO parties at the same time is just too
confusing. Its too bad you cant open up multiple instances of N1MM, so that
you can work multiple contests at the same time.

Solar storm abating

If Â*youve been on the bands, then you know. We got hit with a solar storm
on Sunday. Conditions were so bad, that I just gave up trying to make any
HF contacts on Sunday evening. Yesterday, wasnt so hot, either, but I did
manage to eke out a few QSOs.

Today, finally, it seems as though conditions are getting back to normal.
Signals were stronger, and I was able to make a couple of nice contacts
today.

One good thing about the poor conditions. Its gotten some more hams to
think about learning CW. Thats been a big topic of discussion on
/r/amateurradio.

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