We normally get 20+ participants and half a dozen tables of stuff at these events, but this year, thanks to an overnight snowstorm that dropped 4 in plus in the area only half a dozen (7 with host) Hams showed up. Pictured are Dennis WAOVJL and Marty AEONR with their door prizes ($1 tickets), an […]

This was the 2nd year of the virus, and only a dozen people showed up for dinner which was very good indeed, wide variety, well cooked and tasty, and only $17 bucks when you got done with lemonade and tax. Up in that first pic, facing us in the far row are Rob NOSNW, Craig […]

You’re working on the code right? But you’re not real good at it. Here’s a boost. They made a movie about the end of the world (nuclear war) back in 1959 called ON THE BEACH. It starred uh, who was that old guy, Gary Cooper or something. No, wait. Gregory Peck (anyone know the difference […]

Don WOAF got his name in QST magazine, the November 2021 issue. He can copy code at 20 wpm. You can do the same, just copy one of their CW practice runs some night, and send in the Hand Written copy. And a ten ($10) dollar check. Here’s the schedule for November 2021 from QST […]

Pictured here is Les WBOKFK of D&L Antenna serving a customer at the ARK-BARK in Bellevue NE on Saturday 02 October. He has antennas and all kinds of needed parts like PL connectors and Coax Seal. Typically 6 or 7 tables full. . One guy had three, like new, Weller soldering guns for real reasonable […]

Location change for the Saturday Morning Breakfasts in Council Bluffs The new Location is Sugar’s Diner, 2725 E Kanesville Blvd.  It’s located in the same strip mall as Bomgaars.  Take the Highway 6 exit from I-80 near Iowa Western Community College and turn west. Due to some recent changes in the dining area at Hy-Vee, […]

You had to stick around until nearly 12:30 to find out who won the main prize, a brand new ICOM 718 which went to Larry NOBKB of Greenfield IA. Matt KBOORN won the last of 3 Baofeng UV5R x3 H/Ts given away, the type that includes 220 besides 2M and 440. . Matt ORN with […]

An ‘S’ meter on your radio receiver is the first indication that you have something better than a kitchen radio. Zenith Transoceanics and later Panasonic series of AM/FM/SW receivers had ‘S’ meters. (my Panasonic RF2600’s meter is switchable, Battery voltage or signal strength) . This meter (above in red) is on a 1980ish Kenwood 680 […]

SWIARC Field Day 2021 was held at George KDONME’s place in SE Council Bluffs. Rick KAORLR was FDay Chairman, and we ran category 4A IA. Gary KC8JOK had an impressive setup, out back behind George’s gazebo, seen here with Gary’s 2kW Honda in the foreground. Actually, Gary is in the orange tent Behind The Gazebo, […]

SPECTRUM ANALYZERs cost a ton of money, good ones go for $10k and up with brand names like HP, Motorola, etc. Geeks buy used ones for a couple k just to have one, but in reality they’re not terribly useful. A Radio Shack scanner is a good substitute for freqs we use. . It’s just […]