Lone Prairie Radio

I keep confusing myself about QRP. Ninety-five percent of the time I absolutely love it. I'm totally fascinated by it. And in many ways it takes me back to the glory days of when I was a novice running about 35 watts out. Not a whole lot more than I'm likely running QRP on my FT-817. Then I have days like today. Days when I frustrate myself with total failure to reach anyone. Twenty meter CW and SSB. Thirty meter CW. Forty meter CW. Not one QSO. Yeah, I know. That's the challenge. But gee, it would be nice to at least get SOMEONE out there to hear my little two watts limping through the air from that little Miracle Whip sitting on the hood of my Ford Ranger. The loyal truck parked in a quiet rural park in Conroe, Texas. A beautiful little park situated under bright, sunny skies. Skies that were pleasantly breezy with 75 degree temperatures. Hmm. Maybe I remembered the beauty of QRP. It's more than the QSO. It's the whole package, isn't it? Yeah. A great

W8SU did it again. He sent along a picture of an old issue of "Popular Electronics". February of 1955 to be exact. What memories. I’m betting I’m NOT the only one who grew up devouring every issue of this magazine. Hey, between it and "Electronics Illustrated", I was kept up to date (for the time!) with all the latest electronics info a kid could handle. Lots of dreams. I still remember the adventures of Carl and Jerry from "EI"... Of particular note is an issue where the pair conspired to cheat at a spelling bee by taking a little earpiece apart (You know. The kind that came with your six transistor radio), taping it on the arm of one of them, attaching a miniature (for it’s time) receiver that he kept under his shirt, and the other conspirator sending the correct spelling of the word from the audience in CW, to be translated by the feel of the diaphragm on the skin. Wild! Anyway, the cover of the issue sent to me by Bob includes a basic novice transmitt

After I published my last blog entry, I received a series of emails from W8SU, Bob Ballantine. Bob is a wonderful OT who worked with my grandfather, the original W8CEI, back when radio operators were a breed apart. They worked phone and cw, sure. But they also kept their radios functioning. And some went through a lot just to do their jobs. My grandfather was with the Ohio State Patrol for thirty years before retiring and moving over to the Ohio Highway Department. At any rate, Bob sent along a photo of the swearing-in ceremony from 1953. W8CEI is the far left, back row. Yeah, he looks a bit old to be getting sworn in. Well, as Bob explains, it became state policy to swear in everyone, regardless of length of service. Hmm. Seems like some governmental functions never change, eh? hi hi Anyway, thanks to W8SU for sending along this great shot that I'd never seen before. He also sent some pictures of facilities that I'll include in later blogs. And one is a tower I'd give my e

I see I last added an entry back in July, 2008. Wow. Guess I'd better get a bit more into this. Today I'm adding some old QSL cards to my web site, http://www.w8aq.com/ . Some of cards well as W8CEI's (my grandfather). But also, I just acquired a QSL card from the original W8AQ, Everett Gibbs, from back in 1956, as I've posted here. Ev was a member of the ARRL A-1 Operator Club and was apparently a VERY talented ham radio op! I'm proud to have acquired a call sign used by such a ham. Even more interesting is the fact I've been able to QSO with W8AO, a good friend of Ev's who actually tested and got his ham license at the same session as Mr. Gibbs! Pretty amazing! QSLs are sort of fading out these days but I still very much enjoy them and find them a great link to the early days of this still fascinating hobby.