February 14, 2024, will be etched in the memories of a generation of Oregon residents for more than Romance…
On that date Mount Doom, a little known peak in the Oregon Cascade mountains erupted, then began spewing poisonous gasses that killed every breathing creature for miles around. The gasses were heavy, and settled into pockets everywhere close to the eruption. The emergency was exacerbated by a terrible blizzard sweeping the area within hours after the beginning of the eruption.
An emergency management site was hastily established in Baker City, OR. An amateur radio ARES station was a part of the operation. By late morning of the day following the eruption, the extent of the disaster was beginning to become clear. However, the vicious winter storm had closed roads and airports. Widespread power outages made everything worse, but weather conditions were slowly improving.
The blizzard conditions having slowly abated, Oregon’s governor was able to arrive at the emergency management site in late morning by National Guard Helicopter, and immediately asked for an update on the communities in the mountains near the eruption.
The report was not encouraging. Virtually all forms of communication to the several mountain communities had been cut off, save for one – amateur radio. The governor was quickly escorted to the amateur radio ARES emergency van, parked immediately next a network TV van. The governor requested a briefing. The interview was recorded by the TV network.
“Well, madam, we have identified three communities particularly at risk. They are Vast Gorge, Excrement Creek and Crabtree Hollows. But we have contact with amateur radio stations in each of them.”
“Well, what are they reporting?”
“Vast Gorge has extensive damage. There is no power. No phones, cell or land line communication. A lot of injuries, some deaths. But we have a schedule arranged with the town mayor on Single Sideband voice arranged in anticipation of your arrival. That is in ten minutes.”
“Excellent. What about Excrement Creek?”
“Well, as you know, there are only a few hundred people living there, and normally no ham operators. But we got lucky. There is a back-packer ham radio gal visiting there by fortunate coincidence. She has a 5 watt radio and a wire antenna. She is there because of an operating program called Summits on the Air. She can only use Morse code with her equipment.”
“How can that be any good?”
“Actually, it is huge. She has sent us a lot of traffic. Even though she can only send and receive code on her little radio she is good at it. We’ve gotten casualty reports. Things they especially need. Gas masks, oxygen equipment, stuff for damaged lungs. And she has told us that the locals there are working like crazy to clear a landing spot for helicopters. She has already sent us the GPS co-ordinates, and has answered several questions the State Aviation Director asked about the landing zone. I believe the first helicopter to go there is leaving shortly. She also said she is dying for a cup of coffee. We are sending her a large thermos. ”
“Wow! What is she using for power?”
“Flashlight batteries! But she said they have a car battery for a back-up and that she can go for days with that,”
“Excellent. And what about Crabtree Hollows? It is the largest of the three communities.”
“Well, that is not as good a situation. We have solid contact with a station using a computer data mode.”
“Well, that should be good, right?”
“Uh, um, no, not exactly. We fear the station there may be on an automatic computer program. And probably an automatic back-up generator. We are thus far unable to exchange meaningful information. Early on, we made a contact. It lasted one minute, and we found out that our station was being received loud and clear. Since then we have not been able to even get another contact. But if we change the callsign we are using we can get another contact, once. And all we find out is that again we are loud and clear. The station has been on the air for hours. But that is all anyone can get – a report that they are loud and clear. Once.”
“How can that be?”
“The mode they are using is called FT8. It is proving to be totally useless for any kind of meaningful communication. We fear everyone there may be dead. And now, Madam Governor, won’t you sit here, our schedule with the mayor of Vast Gorge is ready…”
Who were the folks deliberately QRMing (DQRM) the 3Y0J pileups?
In 51 years a Ham Radio operator, I’ve never heard what we just witnessed in almost every 3Y0J Bouvet pileup. Sure, we’ve always had DQRM, but this DXpedition brought out the absolute worst in some dare I say, “Hams” – and NEVER at the level we just heard.
But just who are these knuckleheads? Who are these “radio terrorists” who wake up with the intent to create chaos and harm their own hobby by throwing dits, dahs & carriers – doing their absolute stupid best to disrupt long distance radio communications?
I’ve broke it down into few types of brain dead clowns.
1). FT8ers pissed they don’t know Morse Code. They figured if they wreak enough havoc in the CW pileups 3Y0J would move to their so-called “QRM proof” mode. You know that lazy, mindless automated computer scripted text messaging thingy. Others call it the “Participation Trophy” mode. They are a vengeful bunch! They’ll tell you FT8 is gonna’ level the playing field and save the world. No need for any actual human communication, just hit TX Enable and go eat dinner! They are so lazy, even their husbands hate them.
2). Frustrated Hams pissed they moved into an HOA and found out the hard way they cannot compete with any moderate Ham Radio station with a beam and a couple watts in a major pileup. Propagation is not their friend. Neither are their neighbors.
3). Prospective school shooters. We’ll be reading about these “life challenged” imbeciles some day. They play the victim, but they’re actually the perpetrators of chaos. Most of them were dropped on their heads by their mothers when they were babies, but Mom never told anyone. Mommy just brushed them off and played stupid. Many of them have visible flat spots on their little coconuts. They’re mad at their Moms, but take it out on the DX.
4). Amateur Radio “Tourists”. Yep, that’s why they’re called “Amateur” Radio Operators. They are living proof. They buy new complex radios they haven’t a clue how to operate, let alone operate “split“. They are useless in pile-ups, like a tourist on vacation. They stare at the nice bright colors on the radio screen and take snapshots of waterfalls. They go through life saying, “wow, neato, look at that, is he listening up?” The saying, “ya’ can’t fix stupid” comes to mind. Though, not theirminds.
5). Kilocycle Cops. They love yelling at the Amateur Radio Tourists. UP, UP, UP is their battle cry. When a dozen or more get together they’re worse than the Amateur Radio Tourists. But they don’t care, they think they’re helping. Just who they’re helping I do not know.
6). Jelly Belly’s. Jealous, frustrated operators that can’t get out of their chairs to take a break, breathe some fresh air, get focused, come back recharged and give the good pileup another whirl. No, they’re so out of shape and miserable they’d much rather sit there and take out their frustrations on the same hobby they’re part of. Key up on the DX, post bullshit on the Clusters, rude comments on the DX Social Media, throw carriers for minutes at a time. Real men these Jelly Belly’s think they are. They are a frustrated bunch of Lids because their local Radio Club friends have all worked the DX, but they haven’t.
7). Pirates, Slims. These guys have zero chance of actually making a contact in a DX CW pileup, so they mimic the DX station transmission(s) making other callers think they’re actually working the weak DX station, instead they’re working the weak pirate. “5NN” and “TU” is their calling card. They take immense pleasure in hearing “TU” from the caller. In past lives they were rats.
Off the top of my head, there’s 7 types I can think of.
For many of us, we’ll look back years from now & smile how preparation, skill & moxie overcame all the DQRM to log 3Y0J. For others not so lucky, 3Y0J gave them the CHANCE to work them, and it was these DQRMers who took that chance away.
What say you? A penny for your thoughts, comment away!
The massive 3YØJ pile-ups have begun! 3Y0J trimmed their camp back to two stations, 100 watts, a Honda generator and a couple wire antennas, but man oh man – they made it on the air around 1600Z!
And even better for me, after a long day of not hearing them between unbelievable intentional QRM, lids, kids & space cadets – I worked them with that “human mode” CW just about 30 minutes before their sunrise on Bouvet Island.
I’ll tell ya’ what – this Ham Radio rodeo started in 1972 for me, and here we are 51 years later still having a blast!
DXCC #337 of 340 (active).
After all they’ve been through the last couple YEARS I was only giving them about a 10% chance of actually landing on Bouvet and getting on the air, even less of me actually working them, yet here we are! What an effort by this entire team. Never gave up, never gave in. They are something special. Wowza!
Here’s a few links in one place to help you navigate this DXpedition:
With no log upload until they get back to the vessel I’m not taking any chances missing this DXpedition. I backed up my 30 Meter Q with a 17 Meter Longpath Q this morning.
Confirmed! #337 DXCC in the books. A couple months ago I wrote down a few things I thought could improve my chances of working Bouvet Island. One of my notes was to get something up specifically for 30 Meters. I chose a Comtek 30 Meter 1/4 Wave Vertical from DX Engineering. I put down a Lance Johnson Engineering GP-1 Ground Radial Buss, attached 16 25′ ground radials, mounted the vertical on a 2″ steel pipe, tuned it and man, oh man it paid an almost immediate dividend! What a well built vertical and buss plate!
It appears the 3Y0J DXpedition is now over. Loading their equipment will take a day or two, then they’re off through treacherous seas to Cape Town, South Africa. To the 3Y0J Team and Crew of the Marama, a big, BIG Thank You from this Ham!
“3Y0J Team Co-Leader Ken LA7GIA reports, “We are at Bouvet. We arrive in one hour. Wx forecast is not too good. There is a 24h wx window on Tuesday noon until Wednesday noon. It is foggy and difficult conditions with high winds. We will assess the situation tomorrow morning at 04:00 local time. If conditions are ok we might attempt to land. But this is not going to be easy. Otherwise we have to wait until Thursday or Friday.”
The 3Y0J Team is receiving Starlink Internet Service at this time. Thank you Elon Musk!
73,
Steve N2AJ
Media Officer & NA East Coast Pilot
3Y0J Bouvet Island 2023 DXpedition”
Let’s hope they can land, set-up, and operate – safely. Looking at the calendar, it’s my opinion they’ll be lucky to get 10-12 days on the air. I know they originally intended 22 days at Bouvet, but I calculate from the Marama Website and their next sailing expedition scheduled to depart Cape Town, South Africa on March 7th – they have to be IN Cape Town by March 1st to turn the ship around. February only has 28 days in it and they have at least 10-12 days (maybe more!) fighting southerly winds traveling north sailing to Cape Town me thinks.
Fingers crossed this dozen operators can activate Bouvet as I’m looking forward to the chance at putting DXCC #337 (of 340 current) in the book!
Here’s a few links in one place to help you navigate this DXpedition:
If they can land and get “radio operational” from Cape Fie in the Southeast corner of Bouvet, we’ll all need some good luck and propagation getting over the 400-700 METER vertical mountain in the short path to North America, let alone the epic pileups full of lids, kids & space cadets. I still think the Long Path will be our best bet, 20 Meters in our mornings around 15 to 1700Z, we’ll soon see!
Since going active just hours before Christmas Day here in Colorado, Thierry FT8WW has been past elusive on CW, and hasn’t been on SSB at all. As of his latest FT8WW Online Log Update, he’s run 89% of his total contacts on FT8 – with only 0.4% CW to North America.
That’s 30 CW Q’s with ALL of North America in just under 6 days, sigh…
And now via the long path over Japan – there’s at least 31…
After seven months of use, I have to say these ear pad replacements are much better than the stock Heil ear pads!
I’m so impressed with them I ordered a second set for my back-up Heil Pro-Set 5 headset!
A couple things – they are really comfortable and my ears fit inside the cushions. Normally that’s a great thing, but if your wife is calling you to dinner or if the kids are yelling, “DAD!” – you’re not going to hear them with your ears fully inside these pads! You’ll hear the DX, but no external disturbances. That can be a good thing while listening for that weak station, or that can be a bad thing if you’re DXing on an empty stomach, bwahahahaha!
In recent memory 3Y0J is the 5th plan (or attempt) to activate the #2 Most Wanted DXCC Entity – Bouvet.
There was ON4WW who had plans back in 2014 (ON4WW Bouvet Plans). The attempt by the 3Y0Z Team in 2018. Another attempt as 3Y0I by the Rebel DX Team in 2019. Paul N6PSE’s Intrepid DX Group plans for 3Y0J in 2021 aboard the Braveheart (before it was sold), and now the most recent plan as 3Y0J by the Norweigan Team headed up by Ken LA7GIA, Rune LA7THA and Erwann LB1QI. There was even some talk a few years ago of Russian plans to activate Bouvet, but I gave those plans zero credibility.
Will January break us of the last decades of inactivity and heartbreak from Bouvet?
Are you and your station ready?
Plans here for the next few weeks include installing another tower for a 12 Meter 3 element beam and a monoband vertical (with elevated radials) for 30 Meters. I should have done this during the Summer when it was warm, but with all the past scuttled plans and attempts, I figured I’d get closer to the expected dates to see if there was a good chance at this attempt, and that’s the price I pay for waiting – now its cold in Denver. But in reality a rare DXCC entity has always been my driving force for bettering my station, I expected it.
Nobody knows what the future holds, but history suggests it may be decades (if at all) before Bouvet will be activated for Ham Radio again.
I plan on working them on every band I can. Hope you do too.
What have you done to your station for this anticipated activation and what are your goals? And don’t say FT8 or logging in to a remote station because I’ll delete it, bwahahahaha!
With the results in from the recent DXpedition to Banaba (T33T), I’d say we’re well on the way to having a major part of Ham Radio and DXing become nothing more than lazy, mindless computer scripted text messaging – that’s FT8. And like I’ve heard from many real “communicators” in our hobby, “that ain’t Ham Radio!”
The stats: Of 97,193 logged during the T33T DXpedition:
96.6% FT8/4
3.56% Phone
0.005% CW
Take from that what you will but there’s a bunch of us that see just how far this FT8 cancer has spread in 4 years.
I recently saw these on the Internet, think I may spend some of the money I’ve saved NOT donating to these lazy, mindless computer scripted text messaging DXpeditions on some new wearable gear to the next Ham Radio Swapmeet:
And since I’ve learned a thing or two about you folks that are tripping over yourselves in support of this lazy, mindless computer scripted text messaging app called FT8, your “in support of” comments will be canceled here, just as you have deleted, blocked, locked and canceled our comments all around town. Just a thought – perhaps you can convey, discuss and communicate your thoughts through FT8? Oh wait….
Drake MS-4 Speaker Replacement – that little cackle in my MS-4 Speaker’s been buggin’ me. Nothing intolerable, just annoying. Anybody that’s been around awhile knows these old 50+ year old rigs have a wholesome, full sound – a real pleasure to listen to. I like listening to their warm tones while working in the shack. But after decades things wear out – and then they develop an annoying cackle (where have I heard an annoying cackle before?).
So while listening on 20 Meters a few evenings ago I decided to Google if anybody still made a replacement speaker. I found a new one for $37 at Surplus Sales of Nebraska: SPKR-4-57
It arrived today, just a couple days after I ordered it.
The new speaker is quite a bit heavier than the old one – in fact, it’s over double the weight! 28.8 ounces versus 13.7 ounces. The magnet is quite a bit larger and heavier, even though they’re both 5″ X 7″ speakers (optical illusion in the pics).
Here’s a couple pics of the R & R:
Here’s a short video of the Drake B Line with the new speaker mounted in the MS-4. Ahhhhh, beautiful, warm, wholesome audio again (and NO cackle!):
Astron power supply meter lights sure don’t last long (at least the “bulb in meter” style ones). It very well may be the newer backlit LED meters they sell now will last, but that’s not an option when this old Astron has worked so well, for so long. I need lights, not a new power supply. Anyway, I finally got tired enough of not having those old meter lights to let me know with a quick glance that my Astron RS-35M power supply was on, so I did a little something to correct that.
Two 3/16″ holes centered in the meter tops, a pair of modified Hy-Gain LED Iluminator KITS and a little hot glue later and voilà, I can see again!
A few pictures, before, during, and after (click to enlarge):
There’s a growing movement in some Ham Radio circles that if you’ve ever worked an “entity” previously, you should relegate yourself to the sidelines in order to allow some “little pistol” a better chance at working that “new one”.
Really?
Nonsense! After building a station through just under 50 years in Ham Radio, I will work who I want, when I want, where I want. You have a better “chance” at winning the lottery than me not participating in a pileup for somebody I feel like chasing.
Time, money, knowledge, signal, skill – all earned for what? To sit on the sidelines?
While working a pileup on 20 Meters, my friend Meralda VP6MW surprised me, not that she was on her radio from Pitcairn Island, but she surprised me with the strength of her signal!
Well, today she got her new Hex Beam operational she received from Stan KE5EE. I’m a believer!
Congratulations Meralda, here’s the recording from our QSO:
Dear Member, At the 2024 ARRL Annual Meeting held in January, the Board of Directors unanimously voted to approve the establishment of a committee to assure the existence of a set of ethical standards and guidelines for Board Members as called for in ARRL By-Law 42. In addition, the committee was tasked to review By-Laws 42 […]
The ARRL Teachers Institute on Wireless Technology is growing next year, and a number of social media stars are coming together to help it happen. On Saturday, November 30, a live fundraiser telethon is set to take place on the Ham Radio Crash Course YouTube channel. Host Josh Nass, KI6NAZ, will be joined by several […]
ARRL® The National Association for Amateur Radio® announces the results of the 2024 ARRL Division elections.In the ARRL New England Division, Tom Frenaye, K1KI (1,593 votes), of West Suffeld, Connecticut, was declared the winner, defeating current Director Fred Kemmerer, AB1OC (1,452 votes).Frenaye has previously served on the ARRL Board of Directors in several capacities, including […]
The National Conference of Volunteer Examiner Coordinators (NCVEC) Question Pool Committee (QPC) has removed one Extra Class pool question and one General Class pool question from use. Both Extra pool question E2A13 and General pool question G8C01 have been deleted from use on examinations as the two questions each have more than one correct answer. […]
Only five new sunspot groups emerged this week. First was onNovember 7, next on November 9, two more on November 11, and anotheron November 13.Average daily sunspot number declined from 193.4 to 141.6, whileaverage daily solar flux went from 248.4 to 203.7.Predicted solar flux is 145 on November 15-16, 155 on November17-18, then 145 on […]
Results are published, and the numbers are in. They paint a picture of a very active 2024 ARRL Field Day. Nearly 1.3 million contacts were reported during the 24-hour event. That is up from 2023’s 1.25 million contacts. That’s likely indicative of the continued rise of Solar Cycle 25 leading up to the event, but […]
FT4GL Automation. So how can it be this automated FT8 operation from Glorioso (FT4GL) has been approved for DXCC? The post FT4GL Automation first appeared on N0UN.net.
FT4GL Glorioso On The Air! Well, "Kinda". That's funny. I just pulled the Club Log stats. Don't even need to explain (.0007). Those that know, know! hahahaha! The post FT4GL Glorioso On The Air! “Kinda” first appeared on N0UN.net.
Cure for stray RF on my signal. And here's the $10 permanent fix: Also works on decoupling magnetic field hum from a pole pig transformer in a linear amplifier. The post Cure For Stray RF On My Signal first appeared on N0UN.net.
DXer vs. TXTer. They are not the same. Dom, T32TT calling N0UN on "Phone" from East Kiribati: (video). Guess this picture says it all: Lazy is, as lazy does. The post DXer vs. TXTer first appeared on N0UN.net.
Yaesu SP-8 Speaker Replacement. A good sounding, easy to find replacement - the Visaton R10S 4 inch 8 Ohm speaker. Also fits the FPS-101 and SP-101. The post Yaesu SP-8 Speaker Replacement first appeared on N0UN.net.
A friendly reminder for all you Lazy, Mindless, Automated Computer Scripted Text Messengers out there - you want to RR73 the virtues of FT8 from the rooftops The post Ham Radio TXTpeditions first appeared on N0UN.net.
When I saw the spot from W3LPL's DX Cluster skimmer for XV9Q, I thought there's absolutely ZERO chance I'd hear Viet Nam on 30 Meters CW at 9:00 AM our local time. But what do I know? The post XV9Q Viet Nam 30M CW first appeared on N0UN.net.
7O8AE & 7O8AD Yemen DXpedition. A two man low power DXpedition from a rare DXCC Entity with an emphasis on CW & Phone with the CW Op running FT8 on the side. The post 7O8AE & 7O8AD Yemen DXpedition first appeared on N0UN.net.
TXTpeditions (Formerly DXpeditions): Current TXTpeditions as of this Blog Post: T22T - 100,034 Q's: .5% CW, 1% SSB, 98.5% FT. ZD9W - 6,518 Q's: 0% CW, 0% SSB, 100% FT. The post TXTpeditions (Formerly DXpeditions) first appeared on N0UN.net.
February 14, 2024, will be etched in the memories of a generation of Oregon residents for more than Romance…
FT8. Over a year and half ago I wrote this post: 
9N7CI Nepal On The Air!
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