• Contesting from the West

    Here’s my perspective from the West Coast, looking at what we do that may be different from the tactics of contest stations located further East.

    MORE >>

  • My CW (Morse code) paddles

    Morse code is a joy, and with the right “paddles” it is pure bliss. Here’s an essay on the pursuit of ham radio happiness.

    MORE >>

  • New website “on the air”

    Welcome to the new VA7ST.ca website. Be sure to update your bookmarks to this new location (the old location at www3.telus.net/va7st will disappear soon).

    MORE >>

  • CDE rotator scale: refit for North center

    Depending on your location, changing your rotator control meter’s scale to a north-centered scale could greatly reduce the turning required to work the most popular areas. Here’s a step-by-step guide to making the change on a CDE rotator control — including a printable high-resolution image of the North-centered meter scale.

    MORE >>

  • Analyzing my terrain for HF gain

    Sometimes when my antenna is at 25′, I do quite well into Canada and the U.S — perhaps even better than with the antenna at 45′. Terrain analysis helped end the mystery of height vs. performance at this ridge-top QTH.

    MORE >>

Contesting from the West

Written by admin On June - 30 - 2014 0 Comment

Here’s my perspective from the West Coast, looking at what we do that may be different from the tactics of contest stations located further East.

My CW (Morse code) paddles

Written by admin On September - 30 - 2011 1 Comment

Morse code is a joy, and with the right “paddles” it is pure bliss. Here’s an essay on the pursuit of ham radio happiness.

RTTY contesting tips

Written by admin On September - 25 - 2011 0 Comment

If you’re new to radio teletype (RTTY) contesting, you’re about to fall in love with it. Here are some quick tips to help you get started.

New website “on the air”

Written by admin On August - 9 - 2011 0 Comment

Welcome to the new VA7ST.ca website. Be sure to update your bookmarks to this new location (the old location at www3.telus.net/va7st will disappear soon).

Contest scores and stories

Written by admin On August - 9 - 2011 0 Comment

Want to see how VA7ST has done in contests since 2002? It’s all online in a sortable database — check out my contest scores, and read my 3830 stories about each contest.

End of paper QSLs from VA7ST

Written by admin On August - 5 - 2011 0 Comment

The cost and environmental impact of paper QSL cards makes this aspect of ham radio part of our history, not our future.

CDE rotator scale: refit for North center

Written by admin On April - 11 - 2011 0 Comment

Depending on your location, changing your rotator control meter’s scale to a north-centered scale could greatly reduce the turning required to work the most popular areas. Here’s a step-by-step guide to making the change on a CDE rotator control — including a printable high-resolution image of the North-centered meter scale.

NCJ Profile: VA7ST

Written by admin On November - 1 - 2010 0 Comment

It was a high honor to be chosen for a contester profile feature in the Nov.-Dec. 2010 edition of the National Contest Journal.

A new DX and contesting club

Written by admin On October - 22 - 2010 0 Comment

The new Orca DX and Contest Club serves BC and the northern part of Washington State. I’m the webmaster, so my part has been developing the web site.

The 80M elevated wire vertical array

Written by admin On August - 26 - 2010 0 Comment

Here’s a great 80M antenna: a pair of raised 1/4-wave (68′) verticals in the pine woods, using Christman phasing, and capable of firing in either of two directions. Mine aim east and west.