Interesting article on John Graves Simcoe.  It made me think of a discussion I had years ago with one of the managers at the Bruce plant who was also a local farmer.  That discussion was on why the concession roads are 2 km (actually 1 1/4 mi.) apart.  I attached a small text file of our discussion.

If you go to Alberta, you will find all the country roads (section lines etc ) are 1 mile apart.  I will leave it to you readers to figure out why :-)

73
Dave, VE3WI

  units.txt (Size: 1.26 KB / Downloads: 12)

I have been having CAT control problems with my logging program (CQRLog). It is an excellent piece of software but yesterday, during the contest, it refused to talk to my radio. I have been able to resolve the problem. It wasn't CQRLog that caused it but the pernickety Hamlib software. Anyway, it meant I had to hand key every QSO instead of using CQRLog's built-in memory keyer.

I decided I would use the contest to grab some Canadian contacts for the GBARC Winter challenge. So I cherry-picked the contacts and managed to QSO with stations in 6 provinces:

BC: VE7NZ 14047.95 16:26z
NS: VA1MM 14049.60 16:41z
NS: VE1ZA 14021.28 17:41z
NB: VE9OA 14042.10 20:00z
AB: VE6SX 14043.77 20:06z
SK: VE5MX 7025.00 20:58z
ON: VE3FP 7035.96 21:06z

The QSO with Adam VE3FP was not pre-arranged; I just came across him calling CQ while I was scanning the bands. Adam had a good strong signal which surprised me because we are so close I didn't expect to hear him on 40m.

Now I only need 4 provinces plus the territories before the end of winter!

In the current ARRL National Contest Journal, there is yet another write-up on how to install solder-type PL-259s, with a wrinkle:

For those of you who still use the solder type, there is a better (but pricey) variation that is new to me.  The Amphenol Connex #182120, is mostly identical to any PL-259, but as you can see below, instead of 4 tiny holes where you solder the shield braid, it has 2 larger slots.  This makes soldering easier and more secure.

I found them at Digi-Key.ca for $13 each (ouch!). RF Connection down in Maryland has them for $8.00 CDN each, (still ouch!). 

A cheaper way to accomplish much the same thing might be to open up the holes in a standard PL-259 with a Dremel.

I'll stick to crimp connectors, but these are an interesting alternative.

73
Dave, VE3WI

Net Controller - VE3OZW Richard

Topic for discussion -
1. Do you have noise on HF?  If so, how did you remove it?  If not, are you able to share any tips and tricks with the group?
2. Do you have a favourite holiday drink or treat that you enjoy at this time of the year?

VHF (no echolink stations tonight due to computer requiring a reboot after power outage)
VA3MFO Jim 
VA3KOT John
VE3WI Dave
VE3DGY Doug
VE3FP Adam
VE3RQY Greg
VE3BQM Bernie
VE3MIO Maureen
VE3VCG Marvin
VA3EAC Janet

HF
VE3BQM Bernie (net controller due to long band and heavy static crashes)
VE3RQY Greg
VA3KOT John
VE3DGY Doug

Thanks everyone, 73 to all, VE3OZW

Here is an interesting bit of trivia. A link to famous radio hams and what they did for a living. 
I only seen two Canadian hams. One more should have been added to this list is Johnny Cash, who 
was proficient with Morse Code. He served as a radiotelegraph operator in the Air Force in the early '50s.

https://hamradioinsider.com/famous-radio-hams-and-what-they-did-for-a-living/

NCS: John VA3KOT
Topic: GBARC Winter Challenge

Check-ins:
VHF
VA3TS Tom Shallow Lake
VE3VCG Marvin Paisley
VE3BQM Bernie Owen Sound
VE3WI Dave Port Elgin
VE3RQY Greg Owen Sound
VE3RWY Rob Owen Sound
VE3FP Adam Elmwood
VA3EAC Janet Paisley

HF 3777KHz
VA3TS Tom Shallow Lake
VE3BQM Bernie Owen Sound
VE3RWY Rob Owen Sound

The IC-7300 (and maybe others) has a tiny battery soldered on the board, to keep the clock running when the DC power supply is off.  If the battery is allowed to completely discharge a few times it will refuse to take a charge.  Then, when you fire up the radio the clock will be wrong. 

There are various hardware fixes you can imagine - from easy to difficult.  Or, you can just leave the PS on all the time.

Another fix (workaround?): ICOM has just released free Windows software that will reset your radio clock from your PC.  This Youtube video tells all about it:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fcZwl48N...sReplaceUs

73
Dave, VE3WI

Topic of discussion, What are your opinions on the Hobby of Radio and its future

VHF
KO4DXQ, VE3GIO, VE3DGY, VE3EFQ, VA3MFO, VE3MIO, VA3KOT, VE3BQM, VE3RWY, VE3VCG, VA3EAC, VE3WI,  VE3OZW, VE3RQY, VE3FP

HF
VE3FP, VE3VCG, VE3GIO, VE3MIO, VE3WI, VA3KOT, VE3BQM, VE3OZW, VE3RWY

Couple of weeks ago after working SST(Slow Speed Test) I received an email which sort of baffled me for a bit. By the way, SST is a mini one hour cw contest where max speed must be less than 20 wpm. and is held weekly on Fridays and Sundays. Unlike SKCC (Straight Key Century Club) contests where straight key must used, in SST any key/paddle may be used and helps to advance ops to toward the CWops 25 wpm requirement.

When this email showed up in my inbox, I didn't know what to think of it. Did I work this guy? Not in my log but obviously SST. 

I realized the guy cut a piece of his decoded cw software and it sent it me. Not sure why, but after the email exchange he just wanted to let me know he heard ve3fp in SC.

This is just to show how bad cw decoding can mean even at slow speeds.

First part should have read :
SST VE3FP CQ SST VE3FP VE3FP CQ SST NK3H GA ADAM ON .........
the rest if you can figure it, good luck. 

In my opinion the best decoding cw software is located between your ears. 

What do you think ???  



Here is the transcript

rbruff@aol.com
to me

Q SST VE3FPICQ SST VE3FP VE3FP ETEQ SST 3P EE HINK3H GA ADAM ON E5IN V IRT*ITCHTU EPE IEQ SST XE3FPEQ SST VE3FP EE*Q SST VE3FP 55ET9N EI 5DM E T T T TEO S ER E I T A E T E E EE E I

M 3EE 5;Q SST VE3FP CQ SST VE3FP EEE<AR>Q HST VE3FP VE3FP S*Q SST VE3FP CQ ST VE3FP

Submitted by email from Marvin VE3VCG and published unedited.