Monday, October 8, 2012

Ham radio without the radio????

The last few weeks here have been a couple of busy ones. As most of you know who read my blog the Elecraft KX3 arrived the other week. I have spent time putting the rig together as in good QRP spirit I ordered the kit and not the assembled unit. The assembly went very well....there were some bumps  I did encounter along the way. I made a 4 part video series giving updates of the KX3 assembly. This was another project that has kept me very busy and  keeping me away from the blog. Recording the video was the easy part the editing and getting it ready for the blog and YouTube was a long and drawn out process. The video series is very close to completion and it's really my first video series I have had to edit and play with so it's a little rough around the edges. I am planning to have the finished product up on my blog and YouTube this week.....well that is the plan anyway. Then there is the KX3 and my iMac computer...a new adventure for me in the Mac world. I ordered and paid for Macloggerdx, sure there are free programs out there but I opted to splurge for Macloggerdx.  This was but another learning curve for me, I have always used Windows for my rig control, logging and contesting so this is a new horizon for me. I have been "Macing" this week as well trying to get the KX3 to communicate with my Mac software (all is well in that dept now) also getting used to the Macloggerdx program. I am by far not a Mac geek at this point but I have been able to understand and use the KX3 in harmony with Mac!!! So with all this "stuff " that was going on in the shack I have not as of yet made one single contact on my new KX3!!!! Having said that I have not made any contacts with any of my rigs in the shack. I have been reading of band conditions that are up and down, I have heard of great 10m openings and then solar storms that has left a lot of the bands silent.
So this week my goals are....
1. To get the KX3 video up on my blog and YouTube.
2. Learn some more about the Macloggerdx program.
3. Go to the gym three times this week....(non related ham goal)
4. Oh and finally get on a radio and make contacts!!!!

6 comments:

Dick said...

There are other activities when HF conditions are poor...and they have been and are as I type. At least over here. Good luck with your video series. You will have many viewers among the KX-3 community.

VE9KK said...

Good morning Dick, yes I have heard the conditions are not all that great and as a matter of fact on my Iphone this morning another warning came telling of poor conditions.

Bert, PA1B said...

Hello Mike, take your time. Don't hurry, but enjoy the proces. 73, Bert

VE9KK said...

Good morning Bert, yes its a struggle I have when a kit comes in.I want to enjoy it but at the same time I want to get it done and start playing as well.
Mike

David @ Interchangeable Solar Panels said...

Yeah, don't take things too fast. One step at a time and have fun!

VE9KK said...

Good morning David, yes that's true it's all about the fun factor as well!!
Mike