I was away from the internet environment at home for a few weeks because I had decided to change my internet provider.
My previous provider was OCN which is a separate company of NTT and its internet access fee was relatively expensive. It was around 70 dollars a month and my one is optical networking. I have taken it granted and my family members had their each mailing account which was never used. My router was broken and couldn’t access the internet about ten days ago and I asked NTT to come to fix it but they said it cost a bit though the router was a rental one. It seemed to be a good chance to search a new internet provider and I bought a new router and canceled the contract with OCN. Commuting to some internet cafes, I was looking for more reasonable internet providers.
One morning, after our daily SKED with Isao, JQ2SFZ, a very strong signal called me and it was Shin, JA1NUT. He asked me why I disconnected the internet and I explained him the story above. He said ” how about Plala? I guess it’s reasonable”. He apparently has thought that communications expenses at his clinic and home were expensive. So I checked a website and got some information of Plala and other internet providers.
I was surprised to see the cost of Plala and it is only 9 dollars a month!
I guess it depends on what service we get from the provider but it’s totally different from OCN even though both belong to NTT group.
Today I got my account and could access the internet through Plala… And you know what? Plala is much faster than OCN on my optical networking. Stress free when watching YOUTUBE. WHY?
I purchased this Richard Dawkins’ book to maintain and improve my English reading skill. Away from reading and writing my second language, I noticed a loss in my literacy and decided to buy a good book which was on an article of KE9V, Jeff’s blog.
It contains a lot of technical terms of science and biology so that it will be a perfect study for me.
I do want to spare more time to read books but these hectic days prevent me from having such relaxing time. But I’m sure I will take this book anywhere in my daypack.
I changed my antenna to CP-8040 which is a dual band GP produced by Diamond several weeks ago.
I had languished over pulling my R-8 down and erecting this antenna of 40 & 80m. But my R-8 had a little SWR problem and it needed some adjustment so I decided to do some physical labor on a warm autumn day. Pulling down R-8 was really a tough trade but assembling CP-8040 and installing it on the top of the mast was very easy with its light weight.It took only about 40min. to build it from scratch.
It seemed to be enough for me to QRV on only two bands, 40 and 80m, to chat with fellow CW ops in Japan because the SSN had kept its level zero for a long time.
The antenna has worked pretty well though I need a little more power to have constant QSOs on 80m but I was satisfied with it. I have planned to put it on another mast top on the roof and was going to rent an aerial platform apparatus before snow comes.
This morning, I enjoyed the SKED QSO with my friend Isao, JQ2SFZ on 40m and went up to 20m after the QSO. Mysteriously, my CP-8040 can emit RF on 20m without any SWR problems. Even without ATU, it doesn’t shake the needle on the SWR meter at all. I heard W6XR calling CQ on 14.018MHz. His signal was 569 to 599 with some QSB. I tried to call him and he soon replied. He gave me 569. I thought he was in CA but I heard he sent his QTH was NY.
I was surprised when I looked up his callsign on QRZ.com to know he surely lives in the state of New York.
Hmmm.
My signal leaped the arctic and reached east coast with only 50w.
It’s getting interesting and I think I can spare some more time to sit down in front of my rigs.
The fiction stories of Jeff, KE9V will appear serially again on CQ Ham Radio Magazine from January to June, 2010.
The editor told me that they would like to meet reader’s requirements and asked me to contact with Jeff. I emailed Jeff and he was willing to provide us his works.
I have to translate “Tragedy on the trail” first and forward it to CQ publishing co. by middle of November. That story is quite long and we have to split it into two parts.
It feel honored to do this work again and hope a lot of people will read his stories on the magazine.
My K2 has got fixed and come back, so my FT-1000 was removed again and is now sleeping under the blanket. Mostly, I use Elecraft K-1 except for the QSOs with my buddies who check-in our round table QSOs or SKED.
This is really a simple shack and may be totally different from those of other OMs. I have FT-1000, TS-2000 and other QRP rigs but they are rarely used on my operation desk. They are also taking a nap on the shelf. I have other key and paddles but I mainly use this Begali Sculpture because it suits with my fist well and I am fond of its design very much. I sometimes use my straight key; Himound HK-1Z, but I have a bad fist when I pound it.
I have two kinds of license. One of them is for my 50w portable operation and another one is for 200w home shack operation, but I usually operate with only 5w even when I get on the air from my home except for my SKED QSOs.
In terms of ” love of possession”, currently, I have nothing that I want.
Of course I always hope to have a better antenna system but my Cushcraft R-8 should be a good one for my limited house lot and it will take an active part when the SSN hits the peak with its unique low-radiation-angle.
I used to have a much bigger shack like yours when I was a house-renter. It was equipped with the transceivers that covered 80m (3.5Mhz) to 1200MHz and 3 computer monitor displays; one linked to a PacketCluster utilizing a TNC, one for my logging software and the other one was for the internet. My antennas at that time were 5 element monoband Yagi of 21MHz and 2 element HB9CV for 7Mhz. They were mounted on the top of a 16m-mast and I chased DXCC on SSB with shouting on the microphone everyday but without my family get-together.
I sometimes want to go back to those good old days but to be honest, I don’t need those pilot’s-cockpit-like shack as long as I operate CW. I don’t chase DXCC anymore, not completed it though, and I only pursue and enjoy CW-contacts with buddies overseas. For me, my simple shack is amply sufficient to get on the air and I feel comfortable with listening to the pure CW note from these Elecraft rigs, which I think they are the best ones for CW enthusiasts.
Recently, I have come to think that those fancy rigs or systems which I used to have don’t give me a push in the back.
Only the power of our dreams gives us inspirations and expands our horizons of this world.
I purchased this Richard Dawkins’ book to maintain and improve my English reading skill. Away from reading and writing my second language, I noticed a loss in my literacy and decided to buy a good book which was on an article of KE9V, Jeff’s blog.
This is a photo of my current shack.
