VaQP Prep (< 6 days out) and USPS drops the ball (again)

This evening I am charging up batteries used in small devices, making sure all cables are still where I last left them, and that all of it works (bluetooth GPS for CQX, bluetooth Moblinkd TNC2 for APRS). I am finalizing mapping and creating of gps coordinates for CQX.

Today I had the misfortune of having my USPS driver deliver two packages I need for VaQP to a neighbor a street over from me. I was notified of the delivery 10 minutes before he even showed up in front of my house (I was outside going thru my truck 30 min prior). I asked him, as he was about to leave my mailbox at the street, so where are my two packages? Let's just say he was confused and ran over to where he 'thought' he left them but they were not there < 15 minutes after he 'left them' (at the wrong house). I have made two trips to the neighbors house, no one is home so either they went out after putting my packages inside their home or they are away and a neighbor that's collecting their mail and packages didn't see that it's not theirs or someone else snagged them up. I reported it to Amazon, they want me to wait 24h. Good thing I still have time for another shipment. I hate USPS.

Murphy's Law...watch out for it!

David, kk4zuu

VaQP - Mobile Power

This year I needed to replace my vehicle's 12v starter battery with one that can also function as a deep cycle battery as well as replacing my flooded deep cycle 12v battery that's been with me for five years (camping, and ham radio -both in the shack and mobile). I wanted to remove the risks of flooded batteries (off-gassing while charging [explosive/harmful hydrogen gas], spill risk, maintenance requirements) so I started looking at alternatives.

My first battery replacement was the replacement of my trucks 12v flooded starting battery with an Odyssey 75/86-PC1230DT battery, it's made in the USA and rated for starting and deep cycle duties of 55Ah with a rating of 400 cycles at 80% depth of discharge (DoD). The battery charges back up in 4-6 hours per specifications, I don't plan to ever take more than a 20% DoD without starting the engine.

My second battery replacement powers my HF mobile radio. This quest lead me to Bioenno Power and their 12v LiFePO4 battery line of products. I did some battery math and figured my standalone deep cycle flooded battery rating of 70Ah provides 21 Ah at a 30% depth of discharge (DoD). I use a battery booster to hold battery output to my gear at 13.6v. I selected the Bioenno Power 30Ah battery pack, specifically item BLF-1230LB and it's optional AC/DC 6A charger (no DC-DC charger option).

Bioenno Power has a specific set of web pages and data for ham radio applications here.

Why a 'smaller' battery? The vendor states an 80-85% DoD possible with their LiFePO4 battery cells for 1,000+ cycles and no damage or impact to the life of the cells. The model I selected weighs 8.8 lbs, the flooded deep cycle battery I replaced was some 45+ lbs. The battery has a two year warranty vs a 1 year warranty on most dual purpose flooded acid batteries.

Lastly, I needed an AC source to provide power to charge my LiFePO4 battery, and to charge my laptop. I have a GoPower 150w Pure Sine Wave inverter for this task.

I am spooling up for my third year of four being a mobile in VaQP, I learn more each time.

73,
David, kk4zuu

VaQP (Virginia QSO Party) 2018 - DC Load Testing

I am running a DC/AC load test on my mobile gear, nothing too exciting but it's important to know how much power I need and what I need to bring/replace.

VaQP (Virginia QSO Party) 2018

I am getting ready for my favorite hamradio activity, I am planning to be a /M (mobile) entry this year. I was /M in 2015 and 2016 and I was at home for 2017 (where my son and I won the High Multiple Operator Single Transmitter category).

Tasks:
- Route mapping
- Lodging plans
- ham software updates/tests
- Consolidate equipment

My route this year will be in the mountains of Virgina along the Blue Ridge Parkway headed south. I have done the Skyline Drive 'thing' twice and I need a change of pace.

Stay tuned!
kk4zuu

Icom IC-7200 & Kent TP-1B Twin Paddle Settings

I will share the settings on the Icom IC-7200 to use the Kent TP-1B Twin Paddle (Iambic keyer).

These are for practicing your CW without transmitting, the audio will come out of your IC-7200's speaker at 20 wpm (words per minute, you can adjust down/up as needed).

Key SPD 20
CW Pitch 60 (hz, set to the tone you like to hear and eventually transmit)
Side LVL 70 (seventy percent speaker level, additionally controlled by volume/SQL knob)

CW Norm L
BK-In of (this prevents transmitting)
BK-Delay 80
Key RAT 30
Key Pol n
Key Type EL

The above settings will, along with wiring your Kent TP-1B keyer to the 1/4 phone jack that came with the radio, will permit CW practice.

73, David kk4zuu

CWOPS - learning CW (a.k.a. Morse code)

I am privileged to be in the fall session of the CWOPS, consisting of an online class of fellow hams that want to learn and improve on CW (Morse code).

I have purchased a Kent paddle (twin key), it's connected to my Icom IC-7200 via the CW 1/4" jack in the back of the rig. I can hear the dit's and dashes over its speaker.

I am learning CW because I want to learn it, it will be neat to be able to carry a super small HF kit when doing outdoor activities. It will motivate me to get outdoors more, exercise more, etc.

We have our first meeting this afternoon to check out our setup, our classes are two nights a week (Tue & Friday evenings, 7pm EST to about 8pm EST). We are given lesson plans and asked to study 30-45 minutes a day (about 10 letters/words to remember per session).

I am looking forward to the course.

73, David kk4zuu

13 Colonies as K2B

I operated as K2B on digital modes during 13 Colonies, QSL to:

https://www.qrz.com/lookup/K2b

David