6 meters

I made my first 6m contact tonight.   A new local 6m net was started up on 50.150 usb.  It starts up right after the local ARES net at 8:00 on Sunday night.   I had great reception and everyone seemed to hear me.   I have been curious for a while about how well my antenna works on 6m.  The SWR is real close to 1.2-1.3 but I never could hear anyone on the band.  Net is being run by N4VHF for those curious.

Something new.  Hip Hip Hooray!

Snow Days

I have not seen snow in several years and then over two weeks I have had to deal with snow and ice twice.  

First time, I had a relative pass away and went to a funeral in Ohio and Southern Pennsylvania.  I was ready,  packed the heavy overcoat and was mentally prepared.  Started snowing during the services in Columbus and by the next morning there were several inches of snow on the ground.  They were prepared, roads were clear the next day as we went to the cemetery in Pennsylvania for the burial.  It snowed most of the way there.  Made me a little nervous driving (remember, I am from Florida) and then overnight after the burial, we got 3 inches there.  Getting up in the morning to 13 degrees is a little on the brisk side for me, but i survived.  It was a non-event fro the locals, but for me, an experience.  It was very pretty to look at however:

Second time was back home in Tallahassee.  We had a snow day.  Really an ice day, but things were closed.   As a matter of fact 200 miles of I-10 from the Alabama border to Jefferson county were closed to any traffic.  I can not remember if that ever happened before, but from what I saw, it was the right decision.  In the south, once it freezes, driving skills evaporate and everyone should be off the roads.

Index cards

This might sound like an obvious tip, but it took me a little to figure it out.  I keep trying to remember certain things, Frequencies for nets, etc. and have to flip through my logbook or other papers that I have on my desk.  To make it somewhat easier, I started writing the rings I always am looking for on index cards.  I have 3 or 4 of them with all of the things I keep going back to and it makes my life much easier.    I am sure everyone else already does things like this, or has things memorized, but as a new ham, anything I can do to make my operation more efficient is great.