In case you haven't heard, Charlie Schlieper (N5TD) became a Silent Key recently. I got the call from Randy, KA5IIA, early the morning after and I was absolutely shocked. Even though Charlie had been in worsening health over the last several months it was still a surprise to many. I did get to see Kay (his XYL) at both the visitation and the funeral. She had been through so much and it showed. She is a strong lady and I'm sure that she will get through this very difficult time.
My thoughts about Charlie go back a long way, all the way to when I was first licensed as a ham. Charlie was one of the guys who taught the class that got me on my way and was one of the VE's at my test session. I sat in his shack several times and we talked radio a lot. I had even helped him repair a radio that had some issues with the audio, only to discover that the mike element needed cleaning and some junk needed to be removed from around it. But ultimately some of the best times of my life were spent with Charlie and Kay, and I will never forget them; those times will always be cherished...forever.
Field Day was something special with Charlie there. Many times he would bring a lot of equipment with him to do satellite work or perhaps digital modes or something else. The stuff he brought would fill up several tables lined up in a row. That was only a small sample of all the gear the man had, and we all knew it. I sat with him several times and watched as he tried to reach the international space station or in previous years, MIR...or anything else that came up.
Charlie was extremely knowledgeable in electronics. No one could touch the man as far as what he knew, and it's possible that he had forgotten more than most of us knew about electronics and beyond. We knew that and accepted that. Education was extremely important to him and he showed that every day. He had said several times that the day would be a failure if he had not learned at least one new thing, and maybe that's something we should take note of.
Field Day is this weekend, and I go into that weekend with a very heavy heart knowing that Charlie will not be out there somewhere. But I do go forward, and I will pick up the torch that Charlie left behind and I will work hard to learn new things and apply what I have learned. That begins with this weekend, as I go to visit Randy down in Magnolia and will participate in Field Day with a Houston-area QRP and AMSAT club there. There will be lots to learn and I plan to get a lot of pictures taken while I'm there. If I possibly can I will get these posted with captions.
In the meantime, my most sincerely condolences and prayers go to Kay, her son Carl and the entire Schlieper family. Your pain is felt by many, and rest assured that we will be there for you if you need us. But do remember that it is only a farewell, not goodbye, and we will eventually see Charlie again. You can bet that he and Bob, W7KPW (also a silent key), are now talking about how they can help God improve his communications equipment...like it needs any help in the first place. But they will try...
See you at FD...and stay tuned.
WR1TX
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Looking Forward to June...
Well everyone, we are well on our way toward summer and it will be here before we know it. For me this summer will provide me with opportunities to pursue ham radio that I haven't had in a long time.
I'm looking at the possibility of operating from Jenny's family's reunion and campout at Lake Whitney June 18-21. If I do that I'll make sure to get some special QSL cards showing my portable operation from there. I'll let everyone know if I do decide to do that.
The following weekend (June 26-28) I plan to be in Magnolia visiting Randy, KA5IIA, and operating with a Houston-area QRP group for Field Day. My car will also be set up for mobile operation, and that is what I'm really looking forward to.
Finally, I'm still working on plans for operating bicycle mobile but the gear will be different from what I had originally planned. I'm now looking at possibly buying the Yaesu FT-10R or -10SR since this series is weather resistant and is Bluetooth capable. With those two options I really can't go wrong there!
I'm also back on the air more at home. I worked AF5DM who lives in Plano on Monday night on 40m CW. We had a great 40-minute chat that could have lasted a long time if we chose to. We are both members of FISTS and SKCC so we exchanged numbers among other information. I should be back on the air later this week.
Stay tuned...
WR1TX
I'm looking at the possibility of operating from Jenny's family's reunion and campout at Lake Whitney June 18-21. If I do that I'll make sure to get some special QSL cards showing my portable operation from there. I'll let everyone know if I do decide to do that.
The following weekend (June 26-28) I plan to be in Magnolia visiting Randy, KA5IIA, and operating with a Houston-area QRP group for Field Day. My car will also be set up for mobile operation, and that is what I'm really looking forward to.
Finally, I'm still working on plans for operating bicycle mobile but the gear will be different from what I had originally planned. I'm now looking at possibly buying the Yaesu FT-10R or -10SR since this series is weather resistant and is Bluetooth capable. With those two options I really can't go wrong there!
I'm also back on the air more at home. I worked AF5DM who lives in Plano on Monday night on 40m CW. We had a great 40-minute chat that could have lasted a long time if we chose to. We are both members of FISTS and SKCC so we exchanged numbers among other information. I should be back on the air later this week.
Stay tuned...
WR1TX
Monday, May 4, 2009
A Quick Retrospect...From One Year Ago to Now; Also, a Little Philately
Well everyone, it's almost a year since my life turned upside down. The XYL and I had split up in May of last year and we are still separated, and likely to divorce now. We have rarely talked over the last month of more, and she has pretty well made it clear that she just doesn't want to try to reconcile. It's her loss, and I have decided that I need to move on and just make life for myself as good as I can possibly make it. Jenny has been there for me and she certainly deserves the chance to perhaps make it permanent. But certain things have to happen...and I will leave it at that.
For my hobbies, they had to be put on hold for the most part while I got my life back together again. It's not perfect now, but my life is better than it had been. I can enjoy my hobbies to some extent now and the support for them is there as well. That was something I hadn't had in a very very long time, and I do appreciate that. But it's a two-way street, and I continually work to make sure that Jenny gets her due. She wants me to have fun and explore, and do things like I always have wanted to do them if at all possible. I am now doing that, and I have explained in previous posts what I would really like to do and what I am now doing to get there.
I have now lived in Valley Mills, Texas since early November. It's a different kind of lifestyle and pace and it has taken me a while to get used to it. But I'm getting there and I really do enjoy it now. I'm not sure I really want to leave this quiet and peaceful place, located on State Highway 6 about 25 miles NW of Waco in Bosque County.
We will see what happen in time I'm sure. Only God knows what is in store, and He will not give me more than I can handle. But He sure has made life challenging for me!
***********************************
On the Amateur Radio philately front...I have just won on eBay an interesting set of stamps. These were issued by the kingdom of Jordan, and depict a picture of none other than the late King Hussein, JY1. Many of you long-time DXers know that King Hussein loved and supported Amateur Radio, and was even a life member of the ARRL. The monarch was easily one of the most popular and loved hams in the world, bar none. Anyhow, there are 5 stamps in this collection; all of them are in mint condition, never used. One $9.99 bid sealed the set for me. I should be receiving these any day. This comes on the heels of a mint stamp from India showing a picture of Marconi on it. I was happy to see this one come in the mail today.
Where am I getting these Amateur Radio stamps? I have an eBay seller in New York that seems to be able to get these stamps pretty regular. But I'm not alone in collecting Amateur Radio postage stamps from around the world. There are one or two others who bid on these stamps on eBay; we usually wind up bidding against each other. If you want to find out about those who collect these stamps, just do a Google search. I will eventually have a page on my website that is dedicated to Amateur Radio stamps.
Stay tuned...
WR1TX
For my hobbies, they had to be put on hold for the most part while I got my life back together again. It's not perfect now, but my life is better than it had been. I can enjoy my hobbies to some extent now and the support for them is there as well. That was something I hadn't had in a very very long time, and I do appreciate that. But it's a two-way street, and I continually work to make sure that Jenny gets her due. She wants me to have fun and explore, and do things like I always have wanted to do them if at all possible. I am now doing that, and I have explained in previous posts what I would really like to do and what I am now doing to get there.
I have now lived in Valley Mills, Texas since early November. It's a different kind of lifestyle and pace and it has taken me a while to get used to it. But I'm getting there and I really do enjoy it now. I'm not sure I really want to leave this quiet and peaceful place, located on State Highway 6 about 25 miles NW of Waco in Bosque County.
We will see what happen in time I'm sure. Only God knows what is in store, and He will not give me more than I can handle. But He sure has made life challenging for me!
***********************************
On the Amateur Radio philately front...I have just won on eBay an interesting set of stamps. These were issued by the kingdom of Jordan, and depict a picture of none other than the late King Hussein, JY1. Many of you long-time DXers know that King Hussein loved and supported Amateur Radio, and was even a life member of the ARRL. The monarch was easily one of the most popular and loved hams in the world, bar none. Anyhow, there are 5 stamps in this collection; all of them are in mint condition, never used. One $9.99 bid sealed the set for me. I should be receiving these any day. This comes on the heels of a mint stamp from India showing a picture of Marconi on it. I was happy to see this one come in the mail today.
Where am I getting these Amateur Radio stamps? I have an eBay seller in New York that seems to be able to get these stamps pretty regular. But I'm not alone in collecting Amateur Radio postage stamps from around the world. There are one or two others who bid on these stamps on eBay; we usually wind up bidding against each other. If you want to find out about those who collect these stamps, just do a Google search. I will eventually have a page on my website that is dedicated to Amateur Radio stamps.
Stay tuned...
WR1TX
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
More New Ideas...
OK, gang...if I don't already have enough ideas and plans in place to have happen in the future (both near and far-flung) then here's another one: Operating bicycle mobile.
That's right. Bicycle mobile. Are you kidding, you ask? Nope, and here's why:
1) I need to get myself in shape. I'm well overweight (about 70 pounds) and need to lose a good chunk of my gut. I used to enjoy riding bicycles all the time and I know I would love doing it again.
2) You know I HAD to include Amateur Radio in the mix, right? If I'm going to try something new I will always ask if I can include my favorite hobby, and in this case I can. The research is ongoing now, with the radio (Yaesu FT-817ND) and antennas (Hamsticks) already decided. All I need to do is raise the cash to do this.
3) There are already quite a few hams that do this for fun and exercise. (Google Bicycle Hams of America or Ham Radio Bicycling or similar; there's plenty to read up on there.) There's even one ham that I know of that uses only his bike as his means of transportation! (Oh, heck no...I'm NOT going to bike back and forth to work each day; that's a 90 mile round trip...sorry!) Around Bosque and McLennan counties there are plenty of roads and trails to bike on, so it will not be a problem figuring out where to ride. And with the radio gear that I would have with me along with the cell phone, I can easily stay in touch no matter where I'm at.
Bicycle mobile is not the only thing I'm looking at. I'm also looking at operating Pedestrian Mobile. Now you ask the same thing: Why operate that way? I'd rather stay at home and operate in total comfort. Well, the reasons are the same as for bicycle mobile, and it would be fun of course...just like bicycle mobile would be! (Google HFPack for more details.)
There are obstacles to these ideas for sure, but with a little ingenuity and cash I can get it done. Our hobby allows us to experiment and I plan to do this as much as I can! Isn't it what our hobby is all about?
*******************************
Well, it looks like I will be in the Houston area for Field Day this year. Randy (KA5IIA) and I will try to hook up with a local QRP club down there and will do some operating that weekend. It also looks like that I may get the mobile installation taken care of while I'm there! Trust me, that WOULD be nice. We will see, for things may yet change again.
*******************************
It's been pretty wet in the Bosque Valley and elsewhere in Central Texas. No flooding here but Limestone County got hit hard within the last 48 hours of this post with around 7-11 inches of rain! That's a lot of water. Elsewhere, an EF-1 tornado hit NE Williamson County around Jonah and Weir. No one was hurt but a good bit of stuff got thrown around!
*******************************
How many of you got to go to the Belton HamExpo earlier in April? I got to go and I spent some money for once...$205 to be exact. But I needed everything I bought, including around 200 ft of ladderline and a Carolina Windom thrown in for practically nothing! I'm going to get it the ladderline installed once the weather gets better; hopefully that will help me on 80 meters a lot better. Right now I can only use about 50 watts output on 80 or otherwise I get a little RF burn and a little arcing in my tuner. That won't do. Also, I can't get above 17 meters reliably. So I have to try the ladderline and install the Windom. I'll let you know what happens.
Stay tuned...
WR1TX
That's right. Bicycle mobile. Are you kidding, you ask? Nope, and here's why:
1) I need to get myself in shape. I'm well overweight (about 70 pounds) and need to lose a good chunk of my gut. I used to enjoy riding bicycles all the time and I know I would love doing it again.
2) You know I HAD to include Amateur Radio in the mix, right? If I'm going to try something new I will always ask if I can include my favorite hobby, and in this case I can. The research is ongoing now, with the radio (Yaesu FT-817ND) and antennas (Hamsticks) already decided. All I need to do is raise the cash to do this.
3) There are already quite a few hams that do this for fun and exercise. (Google Bicycle Hams of America or Ham Radio Bicycling or similar; there's plenty to read up on there.) There's even one ham that I know of that uses only his bike as his means of transportation! (Oh, heck no...I'm NOT going to bike back and forth to work each day; that's a 90 mile round trip...sorry!) Around Bosque and McLennan counties there are plenty of roads and trails to bike on, so it will not be a problem figuring out where to ride. And with the radio gear that I would have with me along with the cell phone, I can easily stay in touch no matter where I'm at.
Bicycle mobile is not the only thing I'm looking at. I'm also looking at operating Pedestrian Mobile. Now you ask the same thing: Why operate that way? I'd rather stay at home and operate in total comfort. Well, the reasons are the same as for bicycle mobile, and it would be fun of course...just like bicycle mobile would be! (Google HFPack for more details.)
There are obstacles to these ideas for sure, but with a little ingenuity and cash I can get it done. Our hobby allows us to experiment and I plan to do this as much as I can! Isn't it what our hobby is all about?
*******************************
Well, it looks like I will be in the Houston area for Field Day this year. Randy (KA5IIA) and I will try to hook up with a local QRP club down there and will do some operating that weekend. It also looks like that I may get the mobile installation taken care of while I'm there! Trust me, that WOULD be nice. We will see, for things may yet change again.
*******************************
It's been pretty wet in the Bosque Valley and elsewhere in Central Texas. No flooding here but Limestone County got hit hard within the last 48 hours of this post with around 7-11 inches of rain! That's a lot of water. Elsewhere, an EF-1 tornado hit NE Williamson County around Jonah and Weir. No one was hurt but a good bit of stuff got thrown around!
*******************************
How many of you got to go to the Belton HamExpo earlier in April? I got to go and I spent some money for once...$205 to be exact. But I needed everything I bought, including around 200 ft of ladderline and a Carolina Windom thrown in for practically nothing! I'm going to get it the ladderline installed once the weather gets better; hopefully that will help me on 80 meters a lot better. Right now I can only use about 50 watts output on 80 or otherwise I get a little RF burn and a little arcing in my tuner. That won't do. Also, I can't get above 17 meters reliably. So I have to try the ladderline and install the Windom. I'll let you know what happens.
Stay tuned...
WR1TX
Sunday, April 5, 2009
New MySpace Site
I now have a new MySpace page where I have a couple of pics and two music playlists. I would really like to have everyone who reads this blog and has a MySpace account to jump on board. Check the website here and let me know what you think. I could really use some help with backgrounds, videos and other things. There will be a link from my main website that will be available.
Stay tuned...
WR1TX
Stay tuned...
WR1TX
Saturday, April 4, 2009
The 2009 CQ Magazine WW WPX Contest
Last weekend I participated in the 2009 version of CQ Magazine's WW WPX Contest with the intent of testing out the delta loop I had set up for HF and to give out some points to those who were going to turn in a log. I wound up with 68 QSOs and 5 DX countries for the short time I operated. 20 and 40 were the bands I used. Best DX: Isle of Man...MI0M on 20. Not bad! But I need to work on the antenna some more so I can run full power on 75/80 meters. I can run only about 60 watts and I get into the TVs in the house even then, so I have to limit my operating on that band and work on some better feedline and do some filtering. I know that I have at least 5 cards to send to those on eQSL that want mine so I guess I'll get that done.
I still need to somehow set up a sloper for 20 meters and up in order to use the higher bands more efficently. The loop will tune fine for up to the very lower part of 15 but that's it. I want to use 15, 12 and 10 meters but can't get there with the loop the way it is now. This project is number 1 on my list.
Not much else right now...still have some things on the back burner but will eventually get to them.
Stay tuned...
WR1TX
I still need to somehow set up a sloper for 20 meters and up in order to use the higher bands more efficently. The loop will tune fine for up to the very lower part of 15 but that's it. I want to use 15, 12 and 10 meters but can't get there with the loop the way it is now. This project is number 1 on my list.
Not much else right now...still have some things on the back burner but will eventually get to them.
Stay tuned...
WR1TX
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Things Do Change, I Guess...
Well gang, things do not necessarily go as planned. The trip to Magnolia had to be postponed, and there were good reasons for that. It will be rescheduled and the trip and intended installations will take place.
I have also made changes to my website. For quite some time I had planned to set up a STORM SPOTTER CENTRAL section on my website. I had done a lot of work on it but much more needed to be taken care of. I never had the time to do what was needed and I also realized that there were several out there that didn't like the idea of such information to be made available by yours truly. Work constraints had also played a role in my lack of time. So I decided to just drop the idea for now. The SSC section could return, but for now it's simply on the back burner.
*****************************************************************
I did have a hair-raising event happen last night. For those who don't know, I have sleep apnea...and it can be a problem. It started back in the late 80s when I began to gain weight and it continues to this day. Well, last night I had a pretty bad apnea case. My throat had tightened up and some stomach bile had backed up into my throat at the same time. I woke up and it took a long time for me to get my breath back but I did. It was pretty scary.
At least I know what happened and what caused it. Simply put, my diet is totally out of whack and I do not get enough exercise at all. I know what to do and how to do it and I'm going to put an end to this. For those who have sleep apnea, you know exactly what I'm talking about. For those who don't, look it up and read about it. It's actually a pretty dangerous condition!
I'll keep everyone posted from time to time on how I'm doing with my diet changes and such. My exercise will commence TODAY, and I plan to involve Amateur Radio by way of crossband repeating off the 147.180 W5BCR repeater. I've done it quite a few times and it's fun!
Stay tuned...
I have also made changes to my website. For quite some time I had planned to set up a STORM SPOTTER CENTRAL section on my website. I had done a lot of work on it but much more needed to be taken care of. I never had the time to do what was needed and I also realized that there were several out there that didn't like the idea of such information to be made available by yours truly. Work constraints had also played a role in my lack of time. So I decided to just drop the idea for now. The SSC section could return, but for now it's simply on the back burner.
*****************************************************************
I did have a hair-raising event happen last night. For those who don't know, I have sleep apnea...and it can be a problem. It started back in the late 80s when I began to gain weight and it continues to this day. Well, last night I had a pretty bad apnea case. My throat had tightened up and some stomach bile had backed up into my throat at the same time. I woke up and it took a long time for me to get my breath back but I did. It was pretty scary.
At least I know what happened and what caused it. Simply put, my diet is totally out of whack and I do not get enough exercise at all. I know what to do and how to do it and I'm going to put an end to this. For those who have sleep apnea, you know exactly what I'm talking about. For those who don't, look it up and read about it. It's actually a pretty dangerous condition!
I'll keep everyone posted from time to time on how I'm doing with my diet changes and such. My exercise will commence TODAY, and I plan to involve Amateur Radio by way of crossband repeating off the 147.180 W5BCR repeater. I've done it quite a few times and it's fun!
Stay tuned...
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