11/06/2003 | KQ6Q The CW SS is my annual station fitness test (tradition restarted in the last ten years).
After my mobilehome park re-wrote the standard lease, leaving out the part about "No Transmitting Allowed",
I put up my antique Webster Bandspanner on a triple mag mount, in addition to my 40 meter Isotron
on a short pole. Made a few contacts. Went to HRO, for the next year had two triple mag mounts,
with three Hustler resonators on each. Made more contacts, on all bands, but logging in
pencil was tedious. Mentioned this at club meeting, WA6ES recommended the N3FJP NovSweeps logging
software. Good suggestion, made more contacts, and a lot easier to send the log in. Discovered that
my 1980 Argosy showed broadband noise where a Scout showed signals - revisited Cornell Drentea's
article on Argosy improvements, replaced 7 small small signal diodes in the IF/Mixer board,
and picked up some 8 pole crystal filters used on the internet. Great improvement! This 2003 CWSS,
I made myself leave the pencil in the cup, used the N3FJP software exclusively, and made more
contacts (135) in more sections (55) than ever. Actually shut down a few minutes before 0300Z
due to 'brain fry'. And resolved that for next year, I WILL have a memory keyer -
my HD-1410 has served well, but it would be really nice to have memory features to take advantage of!
I love the CWSS - see my article on arrlweb "Key Up for CW" before it scrolls off. I may spend more
total operating time on 2m and 70cm FM because I do it mobile around town, but the CWSS is the true annual test
of my station! Thanks to all who worked me!
Fred Wagner, KQ6Q -- KQ6Q