A couple of weeks ago, I worked Dave, AB0DK on 40 meters. As it turns out, he’s also a ham radio instructor and uses my study guides for his classes. Thanks, Dave, for sharing the joy of amateur radio with others and for using my books.
Lately, it seems like I’ve been making more instructor sales. If you’re an instructor, I do offer an instructor discount. You can order as many copies of any of the three study guides for only $10/copy. Email me directly for more details.
I worked the 13 Colonies operating event this year. This is a fun event. You work stations in all of the 13 original colonies, plus special stations in PA and Great Britain, and you can get a certificate, if you like.
A couple of years ago, I worked all 13 on both phone and CW. I missed the GB station, though. This year, I worked them all using a combination of both voice and phone and even bagged GB13COL.
There seems to be a bit of a controversy, though. This morning, when I tried to get the URL for the 13 Colonies website, I found this message:
13 Colonies WEB SITE is down as of 07/14/2019
After many years and hundreds of hours of web design and free hosting, I have decided NOT TO BE A PART OF 13 Colonies any longer.
I have discovered many things regarding 13 Colonies, and I will not share my opinion of this event.
MANY peole have e mailed me questioning the motives of this event, which I will not comment on.
I have nothing to do with the operation of this event, creation of this event, printing or delivering of any certificates or the collection of money sent in.
I personally have not collected any money from this event, and will not and have not taken any payments for my services.
I unlike others have NOT made a profit on this event.
I’m now up to 162 DXCC entities confirmed, thanks to OJ0AW, one of the many Market Reef DXpeditions this summer. If you haven’t worked them yet, there’s still time. A press release on DXNews.Com notes:
The activity is in several phases throughout the summer and may even extend to the hard winter season in order to capture the best low-band openings. It all starts this Saturday June 8t with OJ0AW and OJ0JR. Next, following the international week of July.06 will be OJ0A and OJ0Z. Then the IARU Contest weekend of June 13/14 with OJ0B and then turning to Youth Week of OJ0C from July.15 and IOTA week of July.27 (OJ0DX) and Light House weekend of August.17 – 24 (OJ0O). The OJ0-regulars Pasi, OH3WS/OJ0W, Henri, OH3JR/OJ0JR; Martti, OH2BH/OJ0BH and Pertti, OG2M/OJ0MR will take the slots along with their official duties.
There are twenty-one valid OJ0 licenses. More than 50% are expected to be active during this year. If you work five of them (5) in 2019, a special award will be released. If you work ten (10) of them in 2019, you will qualify for a special award and a symbolic key to the light house. Your log extract should be submitted to Pasi, OH3WS, the contact person between the FLS and the global ham fraternity.
Go get ’em!
Dave New, N8SBE says
Re: 13 Colonies message. Sounds like the team, while pocketing any ‘extra’ money from selling the certificates, forgot to throw a bone to the guy that did the web site hosting for them for free all those years.
I bet that if they had included him in their ‘nefarious’ plans, he never would have said anything about it.
Don’t forget to grease everyone’s palms.
Dan KB6NU says
I was thinking something along those lines as well.
Dale H. Cole K8TS says
Dave;
Just read with interest your blog regarding the new CWC program at ARRL. A level two graduate of CW Academy, I thought I would put in my 2¢ worth. It is a given fact that the 20 wpm threshold is where copying by hand is the break point, and copying by head becomes necessary. By this time you do not copy CW letters, as you well know, but sounds grouped together. It would be impossible for most of us to “memorize” an entire minute, so that we could write down a continuous minute on paper and submit for an endorsement. (I do have the 15 wpm certificate somewhere). I know that I can copy a message at that rate (20 WPM), but I can not write at twenty, and typing at twenty wpm would be somewhat of a challenge. At that speed we are copying sounds, especially adjectives and many nouns. CW short hand is also in use at these speeds. (i.e. the “es”, “ur”, “nr”, “vy” and a host of others, plus the unforgivable “cut” numbers). I think, the ARRL, who has the experience with this program, needs to visit the method. I don’t know this “invigoration” will increase the numbers in participation, but I will still be a non-participant. Copying text at 25 wpm letter for letter, is much different than copying 35 wpm or more with a contest exchange are are two entirely different animals.
As an aside, QST does reject many fine articles each month because there is not print space “budget”, in printing terms. To add space for listing these honorees, what portion of the “budget” has to be removed? Surely it will not be advertising. If there is plenty of space expand now, I must counter, why is it not being used for other articles that may be of interest?
Mike says
Dan, you should go check out the posting on the 13 colonies facebook group regarding that. Ken explains in detail his side of things, and it gives much more info on it.
FYI – a new website has been created…. http://www.13colonies.us
Dan KB6NU says
Ken posted his own comment. Thanks for the link, though!
Ken Villone-KU2US says
The guy that ran the 13 Colonies website was also a colony operator! He did not tell you that he tried to extort $1175.00 Out of the thin air from me, after he volunteered to do this for no gratuity, with the threat that if no payment was made? he would shut down the web site. He then started to say slanderous things, as you read above. Also, the 13 Colonies Special Event is NOT, and will NOT be QRT! as has been messaged. A new web site is up and running. Pocketing extra money?? Because there may be some residual extra $$ does not mean it is being used for personal use! This is not the case, and I have the proof! Case in point! This “guy” accused me of pocketing $85,000.00??? LOL! I have emails to prove all I have stated. My suggestion! Before you go about blogging something like this, do a little research first! My email is public and would be happy to answer any concerns anyone may have.
Dan KB6NU says
Hi, Ken. I didn’t accuse you of anything. All I said was that there seemed to be some controversy. Personally, I think the 13 Colonies is a great operating event!