| Date | User | Challenge | Status | Toot summary & link |
|---|
| 2025-01-05 16:34:31 | stu@gott.social | 1 | Success! | Slow learner here. Re-reading the #HamChallenge info page, I'm supposed to add #HC01S to get credit for completing my QSL card. While I designed the front shortly before CY25 started, I designed the back and ordered cards during (and partly because of) the challenge. I'd say that's in keeping with the spirit of things. Shout out to ux5uoqsl.com, the Ham who's making my cards. |
| 2025-01-05 22:59:43 | stu@gott.social | 43 | Progress update... | Follow up to the #3DPrinted printables #977882 single lever paddle: it works surprisingly well! Actually kind of mind blowing. Things I've learned: ... I know what my design will be for #HamChallenge HC43 |
| 2025-01-08 11:44:03 | stu@gott.social | 2 | Progress update... | So far for HC02, I've only been able to use websdr to monitor for NCDXF/IARU beacons. Thanks to others for pointing out that that's an option. Haven't been able to pick anything up yet. I'll hopefully get a chance to put up a portable antenna over the weekend and give it a try locally.#HamRadio #AmateurRadio |
| 2025-01-12 01:15:26 | stu@gott.social | 2 | Success! | Declaring #HC02S a success. Overall I heard eight beacons on 20m, seven on 17m, nine on 15m, six on 12m, and five on 10m.I went from being aware "beacons existed" to understanding exactly how the NCDXF system can be used to check current HF propagation conditions around the world without any internet connection (once I can copy #CW callsigns at 22 wpm that is ). That alone is well worth a checkmark in the W column.#HamRadio #AmateurRadio |
| 2025-01-13 01:00:37 | stu@gott.social | 3 | Progress update... | For #HC03 I'm resorting to Web SDR because my current antenna maxes out at 40m.Looking at the ARRL band plan, I see that 3.79 to 3.8 MHz is the range for DX contacts on 80mTuned in to 3.795 LSB and found a QSO in progress between K4ISV in Kentucky and a station in Italy! Since I didn't think to write down callsigns until the other station signed off, I'm not counting success yet. But I'm on the right track at least.#HamRadio #AmateurRadio #HamChallenge |
| 2025-01-15 08:19:56 | stu@gott.social | 3 | Success! | #HamChallenge #HC03S After a decent amount of time listening via WebSDR I managed to overhear two back to back QSO'S on 3796 LSB. Calling station was DK2RL, and stations that answered the call were K2CD and N1BNC. |
| 2025-01-18 14:53:44 | stu@gott.social | 4 | Success! | For #HC04S, I chose to research my original callsign since it's much more challenging.The tricky part about researching KC0LKB is that it was issued back when the FCC was barely starting to digitize their license database, so online records are spotty. My call was issued in September 2001. I can't find original records of when KC0AA or KC0AAA were issued, but KB0ZZZ was issued on March 15, 2000.Both my current and original callsigns are 1-up lineals, so have no previous owner. |
| 2025-01-26 15:34:46 | stu@gott.social | 5 | Success! | For #HC05S, I updated quite a bit of my info on qrz.com weeks ago when I realized it was wrong, but waited until this week to update my bio, which basically just lists the modes and freqs I'm able to use.Also set up an account on hamqth.com. |
| 2025-02-02 14:44:23 | stu@gott.social | 6 | Progress update... | HC06: list of contest calendars in addition to WA7NBM's (quite comprehensive) list:https://www.dxzone.com/catalog/DX_Resources/Contest_Calendars/#HamRadio #AmateurRadio |
| 2025-02-07 20:13:11 | stu@gott.social | 6 | Progress update... | The Friday #SST is coming up in just under an hour. I can't toss up an antenna for this one, but might try to listen in on web SDR if I can. That way I can get a feeling for if I'm over my head or not. 😆 My goal is to try the Sunday SST for #HC06#HamRadio #AmateurRadio |
| 2025-02-10 03:04:04 | stu@gott.social | 6 | Success! | Putting #HC06S in the "W" column. I managed 8 QSOs on the 20m band as part of this evening's #SST.Counting the 4 #POTA hunts I managed in the hours leading up to the contest, that makes 12 QSOs in #CW. Not bad for my first day.There are technically other week's challenges I could also count for this, e.g. "try a new mode" or "have a QSO in CW", but I have other goals in mind for those weeks.#HamRadio #AmateurRadio |
| 2025-02-10 21:57:21 | stu@gott.social | 7 | Progress update... | For #HC07 I looked up some upcoming DXpeditions for the week using ng3k.com's calendar.D4DCX is active now.These callsigns start tomorrow: ZF2EZ, H7RRC, YN6RRC, S21ZN, VK9, and V73WW.Feb 12th: C6ADA, and TZ1CEFeb 14th: C5DXLeaving the challenge open for now to see if I can spot any of them on the air. |
| 2025-02-15 23:48:05 | stu@gott.social | 7 | Success! | #HC07S I never did catch any of the DXpedition stations active this week actually on the air, but I tracked 10 of them to see when I would know they were on the air. V73WW was especially active this week. Hats off to the team for really working it. |
| 2025-02-21 03:46:42 | stu@gott.social | 8 | Success! | #HC08S I have a small handful of people I know who are interested in #HamRadio but not licensed yet. A coworker, a neighbor and a family member. I've talked multiple times to the neighbor and coworker recently. I'll encourage my family member more when he's ready. |
| 2025-02-24 02:59:10 | stu@gott.social | 9 | Progress update... | #HC09 is upon us. The closest 10m repeater is W4GL in Sumter SC, a good 75 miles away. I have no idea if I can work that.Not sure when I can put up an antenna, but i'm about to learn if an FM signal can reach that kind of distance from my QTH with the equipment I have. |
| 2025-03-02 14:39:46 | stu@gott.social | 9 | Progress update... | Hoping to attempt #HC09 today. Just my luck that the solar flux index is 145, so band conditions are only "fair" on 10m. Unsure if that will play a factor if I'm attempting ground propagation to W4GL, approx 70 miles away. |
| 2025-03-02 21:29:29 | stu@gott.social | 9 | Progress update... | #HC09 remains open.It turns out W4GL's 10m repeater isn't around anymore. Tried for W4APE, but at 130 miles away that's almost certainly in my skip zone. I was using a dipole at 19 feet above ground. Honestly I wonder if this requires an NVIS setup.Curiously W4APE's output frequency appears to be using the simplex calling frequency. That's probably a no no, but I was transmitting on the input freq, which was legal.I ended up packing up with no contacts due to cold. |
| 2025-03-03 03:42:07 | stu@gott.social | 10 | Progress update... | With last week's still open, I'm looking ahead to #HC10. While i'm sure the ISS counts as an amateur radio satellite, I'm choosing to ignore that one. Why? Because I already listen to and track the ISS constantly. To me the Ham Challenge is about learning and trying new things.So this week I will track AMSAT-OSCAR-7. This space machine has quite a storied history!One downlink is 29.4-5 MHz. Wait a sec... Does that count a 10m repeater? 😂#AmateurRadio #HamRadio |
| 2025-03-06 12:16:10 | stu@gott.social | 10 | Progress update... | #HC10. Still working on this one. I'm using an Android app called "ISS detector", which has a for-purchase extension to track all ham radio satellites. I'm perfectly aware of where Oscar 7 is in the sky, I just can't detect a signal.I either need to stalk a different satellite or get around to building a Yagi.Another tool worth looking at is stellarium by the way. |
| 2025-03-16 15:26:46 | stu@gott.social | 10 | Progress update... | #HC10 with a new dongle in hand, and after some fiddling, I've got a really solid SDR setup. I had to move from raspberry pi to laptop for , so it'd be klunky to relocate this arrangement.Also, thunderstorms today.Here's to hoping that 3:15PM pass of HOPE-1 can be heard from indoors. I'm specifically targeting CW becaons so I can observe Doppler shift.Meanwhile, time to check when the NOAA birds wander by and muddle through that as well. |
| 2025-03-16 16:21:52 | stu@gott.social | 11 | Progress update... | #HC11, NOAA-19 just made a pass overhead. With my SDR finally working I tuned in to 137.1 MHz. As the satellite transited above 45° I saw an absolutely clear signal trace in the waterfall. But I couldn't pick it out of the noise floor. I knew my antenna type and placement was suboptimal, so now to think on how to adjust things. |
| 2025-04-20 01:16:08 | stu@gott.social | 16 | Progress update... | Struck out on my HC16 attempt today. 20m was busy but nobody seemed to hear me. Support Your Parks Weekend tends to be a bit of a zoo. Every park I could hear was a pileup.It's always fascinating how HF travels. I heard Portugal on SSB and Oregon on CW. |
| 2025-04-20 22:36:48 | stu@gott.social | 16 | Success! | #HC16S made contact with WI2X from NY on CW. The bands are still inexplicably terrible for supposedly good conditions. I was spinning and grinning for an hour when that station suddenly burst in loud and clear.Now chasing MN. Which fades in and out, barely audible.I'm hearing zilch on SSB. This is why I like morse. It works when voice doesn't. |
| 2025-04-22 00:30:35 | stu@gott.social | 17 | Success! | #HC17S the closest repeater to me is WA4USN, the Yorktown repeater. She's only one of two repeaters I seem to be able to reach from my location.She's a fickle mistress. I get constant complaints that my audio is super quiet when I check in to the local nets. |
| 2025-04-29 11:47:24 | stu@gott.social | 18 | Progress update... | For #HC18 I got a digital hat for raspberry pi so I can DIY a hotspot. I own primarily Yaesu gear while most hams near me seem to be into DMR, so will need the internet to connect to more remote hams. I've been meaning to try C4FM at some point anyways.Not sure I'll get around to actually assembling said hotspot this week, but its on my to do list. |