This is an update of some of our activities from the month of June, 2025.
A little late getting this one out, again.
One of us had a couple of CW (Morse code) rag-chews (long, informal conversations) on HF.
A comrade built the QRP Labs QMX transceiver, which is quite a capable rig for the money. It’s also a lot of components packed into quite a small package, which makes assembly somewhat difficult.
Another comrade built a flower pot antenna for the 6 meter band and checked in on their local net. For some reason flower pot antennas don’t seem to be very popular in the US, despite perhaps being the quintessential “stealth” antenna.
Another comrade built a 40M Pixie kit and an end-fed halfwave antenna. No contacts yet, but it’s a fun first kit.
Field Day was at the end of June, and a few of us went out and participated in different ways. One comrade made their first HF phone contacts using gear provided by a local club. Many clubs will operate a GOTA (“Get On The Air”) station for Field Day where anyone can sit down and use the club call sign to get some experience using an HF radio.
Another comrade operated Field Day from a somewhat remote location, and made a few SSB contacts on 40 meters using a 17 foot telescopic whip, and a DIY loading coil at the base to make the normally 20m antenna resonant on 40m.
Here are just a few things we found on the Internet this month.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E-_MmZAddhQ
SaveItForParts – There’s a Spy Plane Circling My Neighborhood
We ran across a cool zine about turning data into sound using a program called Minimodem
https://iffybooks.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Iffy_Books_Minimodem_Zine.pdf
There is much to say about the recent flooding in Texas. We’ll save our observations for another post.
June 25th was the 149th anniversary of the death of George Armstrong Custer at the Battle of Little Bighorn. Rest in Piss. Land Back. All Power to All the People.