I spent most of the day playing with keying stuff. I built a new circuit to key the radios and the amps with more delay, so the first character on cw wouldn't be chopped. I also hooked up an old w1wef cw keyer to one of the computers...it works fb with n1mm. I had been keeping it as a spare, but I might just leave it on. It sends less choppy than the other klunkers. I've had it since the days of the 486 and CT. (read more)

I also did more prep work on the BIG amplifier. Two of the tubes don't want to light, so W1IM will be stopping in tomorrow afternoon to troubleshoot it. The amplifier is a 4-811A tank circuit built around an illumitronic coil.

Managed to work some DX, too. VE1/DL2JRM was loud here, and he had good ears. Also found ER5GB up on phone. Amazing how the band can seem open somewhere down the CW end, and not up on phone, and vice versa. Tonight was a good example; high in the band, I got 59 20dB+. Down on CW, I was lucky to squeak a 57 to the same places. Could just be my wrist, hihi.

N1BAA was calling CQ on 10. I was inspired, so started my own run. Worked mostly domestics, but could just hear the Canadians. Just goes to show us that yes, in fact, 10m is still propagating on occasion! Call CQ...you would be surprised how open it really is most of the time. The same thing goes for 15 -- call! For those of us who have a radio listening on 15m 24/7 364 days/year (I will sheepishly admit to this), we would be happy to hear something. Anything.

Follow the up-to-the-minute amplifier work on twitter. Will have some pictures, and - who knows - maybe a notebook entry for the contesting compendium. Gud DX!