CLEAN SWEEP! And 10m contest Wrap-Up

I am sorry I have neglected to update this in so long, but I have came back with some important news. I have worked the November Sweepstakes SSB last weekend and with the help of Phil Cox (KC5AMQ), we have earned our first clean sweep! A clean sweep is when a contesting station works every section allotable for that contest, in this case, all ARRL and RAC (Radio Amateurs of Canada) Sections. Through the thick and thin, freezing cold and snowstorms at the Jefferson County Amateur Radio Club Facility (KC2ELX), Phil and I did our hardest efforts to provide the clean sweep, as I did many of the more common sections such as Maryland-DC, North Florida, and Santa Clara Valley for examples; Phil worked out the diamonds in the rough such as Northwest Territories, Yukon, and Nunavut of Canada, Canadian Maritime (Which consists of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island), and Quebec. We totaled out with 318 QSOs and a final score of 52788. We also helped K7SS (Dan Eskenazi) obtain his clean sweep by providing him with our NNY section exchange that he desperately needed!

Aside from that, Phil and I did a good run on the CW sweepstakes two weeks ago, only missing the sections of Vermont, Northern Territories, Alberta, and our own section; Northern New York. We finished the CW Sweeps with a score of 35708 with 227 QSOs.

To break the monotony here are some nicknames for the ARRL and RAC Sections I (and others) came up with

GTA(Greater Toronto Area): Grand Theft Auto
NFL(Northern Florida): National Football League
SFL(Southern Florida): Soviet Football League (Created by Phil)
SB(Santa Barbara): Spongebob
MT(Montana): Mike Tango's (Ironically, those are the phonetics for Montana)
EWA(Eastern Washington): Empty part of Washington
SDG(San Diego): Super Dog
EPA(Eastern Pennsylvania): Environmental Protection Agency
NM(New Mexico): Nothing Much
NLI(NYC/Long Island): Nearly Limited and Impossible
NNY(North New York): Nothing part of New York (There were 6 Operators in this section counting myself and Phil working as a team)

My award for most original Callsign has to go to WA5ZUP (John Elsik of New Mexico who was his ACTUAL first callsign and not a vanity like mine!) WAZZZUP and thanks for the QSO WA5ZUP!


The next ARRL Contest on the docket (and last I will compete in of 2014) is the 10 meter contest, which was on the Weekend of December 13th. I used a homebrew 10m dipole and got 52 QSLs on it.... Only problem I have with it is I am not a major fan of 10m... Call me crazy but I am not a fan of that band... I do not like how it is dependent of the solar cycle and the time of day, and the need of a mulch-element beam to make good contacts on it. Until next time this is N2ASD signing you clear

Vacation wrapup and Something special!!!

Hello Everyone,

I just returned from vacation from Washington state, and I had a very fun time out there! I got to see one of my older brothers for the first time in almost 10 years, and it was very very fun! While I was there, I officially ended my search for a new HF amateur radio rig and here is what I have decided on, in case you missed my QRZ.com webpage update...

What you are looking at is a Yaesu 450D HF/6m transciever, brand new out of the Ham Radio Outlet from Portland, OR. I was going to go there, but my brother had car problems so I decided to order this thing online. To top it all of during my trip there, I did get W1AW Portable 7 in Arizona on 20m using only 5W with this radio, which I think is an achievement of itself. Unfortunately that was the only QSO I could get on HF while I was out there, but I did hear a strong signal the next day from DF2BO in Germany on 15m, but operating QRP I think he couldn't hear me.

  Also, when I returned, I found out I may have to put off my last year of college because plans have changed, I applied to be a Residential Assistant, or RA for next year. I was hoping to use it to make up for what I won't be getting for state aid next year, as I have went over my limit for what I can get through New York state for aid for college. Unfortunately, I did not get the position and I may be considering dropping out of college after I finish this semester. I think I may be able to find work somewhere with my Associate's degree I picked up at least, but only time will tell as I have 7 weeks left this semester to make a decision.

This weekend I will have a Vlog showing the 450D in action on my G5RVjr, and maybe throw a little PSK31 in as well. Until next time this is N2ASD signing you clear, and 73 to you all!

N2ASD Vlog#1: 5Mhz and MW band possibility and the future of N2ASD Portable 7

Hello everybody,

The title explains it all. I talk about how Canada and Cuba have gained access to 5Mhz, along with the future plans of N2ASD Portable 7. Also I have talk about concerns with the Yaesu 897D and how I maybe under utilizing it in my location. Enjoy this short little Vlog as I hope to make more of these in the future!

Until next time this is N2ASD clear.

Future plans for this blog and vlogging

Hello everybody,

As the title of this blog suggests, I am in the consideration of making some major changes to my blog. I feel like I am starting to run out of ham radio related things to talk about, at least for right now, and I want to bring the attention to other things in my life. Things such as video gaming, computer programming, and the like. If you have any suggestions on what I can do to make this blog any better, please leave a comment below.

Also, with the acquiring of a new digital camera which is below I feel like every once a month, as well as special occasions (i.e. radio un-boxings, etc.) I am going to be posting a vlog of what is going on in regards to everything, and not just amateur radio all in 720HD. I am surprised this little thing can shoot video in HD, and it is what made it stand out from other cameras I was considering!

(Sony Cybershot DSC-H55)

Until next time this is N2ASD signing you clear.

2014!? 2014!!!!!

Hello Everyone,

I know it has been over 8 months since I made a post in my blog, but I do apologize. I got caught up in the emotional turmoil called life, which happens to the best of us, even hams. In case you missed my posting on the QRZ.com webpage, I am now without HF capabilities as my beloved Icom IC-725 is not working anymore, as I blew something in the PA circuit during the November Sweepstakes in 2013. Due to its age and scarcity of parts, I decided in the best of my financial responsibility, to sell my old radio for parts. Once I obtain my refund check from college this semester, I will be obtaining a Yaesu 897D, along with a SSB filter as a suitable replacement. Also, in case you missed it, a great antenna designer and amateur legend, Tom Nickish (W8AMZ) has passed away in December, and I would say his antennas were one of THE best ones ever made!!! I have two different versions of the G5RV that was made and sold by him, the smaller, G5RVJR. Which is still mounted to my trailer, and the ZS6BKW optimized edition which I never used outside Field Day.

-New equipment-

You may be wondering, "N2ASD, what new equipment did you get?!" Well, I did pick up a 32' section of Delhi Tower from someone locally at about $80 with 2 rotors and control boxes! Even though they are designed for TV antennas, I do not think that may be hurtful for using them for the new amateur antennas I am looking to get in the near future as I plan on gaining an HF beam for 10/15/20. If the rotors can not handle the load, I will also see what I can to to pick up a Ham-IV rotor.

(New antenna tower, about 32' long, with the rotor covered under a bag to protect from the New York winter!!!)

(A secondary rotor next to a few old lanterns)

Future Plans

One of my biggest, and most anticipated things for me is going to Seattle in March! As much as I look forward to it, the biggest thing I want to do is operate portable on HF out there, but with my college refund taking anywhere from 3 weeks to the whole semester could prove devastating to my plans. I may consider doing a Go Fund Me! Campaign to help make N2ASD/ Portable 7 a reality, or speak with my brother about taking me to a local amateur radio club in the Seattle area so I can use their HF equipment for a few hours if it comes to that, as well as introducing him to the hobby, and maybe try to do a licensing bootcamp so he can pass both the technician and general licenses in one go so him and I could talk on HF. I will keep you up to date as N2ASD/ Portable as of right now is in a tentative stage, and wont be finalized until Febuary.

Until then, this is N2ASD signing you clear.