Paul – Page 15 – M0TZO Blog

CQ WPX – If it could have gone wrong, it did

Posted on Mon 07th Apr 08 by Paul

What a disaster.

Everything that could have gone wrong, did for me. I could go into detail, but will list instead.

Uncle passed away
- No operation from France
Finish Radio Shack
Radio/Antenna
- Only assembled days before (thanks James M0BOV)
- To finish, had tools missing (mainly had Metric, and needed 2x Â¼” sockets)
  - Also couldn’t find Self-amalgamating tape
- Weather & Night time prevented this being looked at until gone 5am, 5hrs into contest
- Tried with Antenna horizontal, but stations couldn’t hear me
PC
- Crashed, more than once
  - Installed 2nd Soundcard to handle the Digital Voice Keying. Computer wouldn’t load
  - Removed and PC wouldn’t start.
    - Finally found that Video card wasn’t seated properly
- LCD Screen caused interference on 40m
  - No Filter I could add
    - Quickly brought15″ CRT down
      - Still not able to get signal out

Anyway, not sure how I should finish this article, been looking at for few days. Just the main this is I have definately learnt lessons from this.

So, Plans do not always go to plan, & even if you change you plans everything make seem to be going OK, until the crunch time. Planning is underway for testing radio BEFORE next contest, and to make sure where possible have backup solutions.

RSGB Kenwood Trophy 2008 award winners

Posted on Thu 20th Mar 08 by Paul

So am on my tea-break and check my text messages and find the following from Peter (M3PHP):-

Myself and @Gadget17 have been awarded the RSGB Kenwood Trophy for significant contribution to training in providing hamtests.co.uk Woohoo! (via Twitter magicbug)

I have to call him and find out and he tells me that this morning he woke up to find not only had RSGB Radcom arrived but a letter from the RSGB, on further inspection it turns out that the RSGB Board have awarded Paul (M0TZO) & myself the â€˜Kenwood Trophyâ€™ for our significant contribution to training in providing the HamTests.co.uk website which offers mock questions for all levels of licences. (copied in part from following Peter M3PHP post)

We are of course very proud to be awarded the Kenwood Trophy and will be attending the RSGB AGM which takes place in Bristol on the 19^th April 2008 and commences at 11am.

If you are going to the AGM do say hello you canâ€™t miss us, and of course checkout www.hamtests.co.uk

Countdown to New Shack

Posted on Mon 17th Mar 08 by Paul

The new shack is moving on at a pace now. Spent today painting the ceiling with another coat of paint, even typing this with a little paint still left on hands.

Tomorrow (Tuesday) I will be giving the final coat and touching up the paint on the walls. Also I will be glossing the doors and window sill.

On Saturday James, MÃ˜BOV & Martin M1MRB have said they should be able to come round to help me install my Hustler 6-BTV (I know, about time).

With less than 2 weeks to CQ WPX I have to finish this.

Finally, on Friday will be operating /p with James MÃ˜BOV.

New Dreamhost Private Server

Posted on Wed 05th Mar 08 by Paul

OK, not sure how this will affects my sites, but I have finally been moved to a Dreamhost Private Server.

I am starting at the lowest level, hoping this is all my sites need. But if I need more resources I can easily add from the Dreamhost web panel.

Was a few hiccoughs during the setup as DH network was slow running, but they were sorting the move. All sorted now.

Any problems noticed, please use my contact form.

F/M0TZO 2008 CQ WPX Contest Trip Cancelled

Posted on Sun 02nd Mar 08 by Paul

I have decided to re-write and re-post the post about my trip to France being cancelled as I think I can cope better with the writing now.

My uncle who got me into Amateur Radio and who I was going to visit for a week at end of March this year died 1 month before I was due to leave.

So my grandparentswent to France to sort out the usual things, and I have had to re-think my holiday time.

I have decided in a kind of memorial to still continue with the contest. But this means quickly moving my shack plans forward.

The main bits to paint are the gloss on the doors and skirting boards, and a few bits to touch up here and there.

Then antenna needs to go up. Finally flooring needs to be laid then Desk, computer and of course Radios moved in.

There is also a strong possibility that I will have access to a contest callsign, but will post full details nearer the time.