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The NAQCC March 2019 Challenge

All challenge info such as rules are now in the hands of Gary K1YAN. Email him with any questions in that regard at pix_email_k1yan (1K).

The results on this page are the responsibility of Hap K7HAP. Email him with any questions in that regard at pix_email_k7hap (1K).


HOMEBREW GEAR

pix_arc5.jpg (732K)


PREMISE:
If your ham radio career began in the 50s or 60s, the designation ARC-5 probably brings up the image of a compact WW II radio. They were everywhere on the surplus market and most hams of the time probably owned one or two. Originally designed by Aircraft Radio Corporation, there were three models, the Navy ATA, the Army Signal Corps. SCR-274N and the Joint Army Navy ( JAN ) ARC-5. The ATA and SCR-274N were about the same except for paint and labeling, while the ARC-5 was an upgraded model. A 1626 oscillator drove a pair of 1625s to about 85 watts input. They covered 2.1 to 9.1 mHz in segments of about 1 mHz. Compact, simple and available inexpensively on the surplus market, $5 to $10 would do it, made them the budget transmitter of choice for many hams. VHF aircraft models in the 150 mHz range, like the T-23 shown above, were also made. One version had motor driven, rotating drums containing four separate coil sets that allowed remote channel changing. Matching HF and VHF receivers were also on the surplus market.

While not a true home brew project, surplus gear modification for ham use employed much the same skill set as home-brew construction. If you have a military rig that you have modified for ham use, bring it out and fire it up. We are including military radios, that you personally modified, as eligible for this challenge.


TIME FRAME:
The first day of the month 0000Z through the last day of the month 2400Z


RULES:
Make the QSOs necessary to complete the requirements below using your home brew or kit gear. All General Challenge Rules apply in addition to the QSO requirements below.

Twenty five (25) QSOs must be made on at least two different bands and include QSOs from EITHER 6 different states OR 6 different DX entities. Once the US state or DX entity requirement has been met, the remaining QSOs used may be any mix of DX and US stations.

It is not necessary that the station worked be using any home brew gear or be QRP.

Your homebrew gear may be a rig, tuner, key, antenna or station accessory. In the spirit of homebrew, please make it something that you personally built or at least did a significant part of the work. Since we do have to draw a line somewhere on what qualifies as homebrew gear, modular kits (eg. the KX3) and items such as store bought antennas which only require cutting to length and connecting coax and end insulators, do not qualify as home brew gear for this challenge. Please check out your rig and see what it sounds like on the air. Remember chirps, yoops and drifting around a few kHz during each over are no longer as accepted as they were in the 60s !


AWARDS:
A certificate and Participation Point go to everyone who meets the 25 QSO, two bands and 6 different states OR 6 different DX entities requirements, and reports their results before the deadline.

A Participation Point goes to everyone who meets EITHER the 25 QSO, but not both the bands and states or DX entities requirements OR makes at least 10 QSOs and meets the QSO requirements for both bands and states or DX entities , and reports their results before the deadline.


PRIZES:
A choice of an item made by master woodworker Gregg WB8LZG as shown on our prizes page here goes to someone selected via a random drawing from all who participate and submit a report for this month's challenge. A person can only win once, then they become ineligible for future drawings.


LOGS:
For a certificate, submit a statement that you completed the required 25 QSOs and that you met the QSO requirements for both bands and states or DX entities.

For only a participation point, submit a statement that you met EITHER the 25 QSO, but not both the band and states or DX entities requirement OR made at least 10 QSOs and met the QSO requirements for both bands and states or DX entities.

Please send a soapbox comment and tell us what HB gear was part of your station for this challenge. If you think that your HB gear is a bit different ( everybody has seen a K1 or HW- 8 ) or is military surplus include a digital picture that we may post.

Send your results to:

E-mail: pix_email_k7hap (1K) (You must type that address into your email program.)
Subject must read: (your call) NAQCC (month) Challenge
For example: K3WWP NAQCC February Challenge

All entries must be RECEIVED before the 10th of the following month at 2400Z.


Final Results:

 
        QSO  DX  States

PA9CW:   25   6

K1YAN:   25   3    13

K4CML:   27   2    15

PA0XAW:  25  12

W2JEK:   25   3    13

WI5H:    25   2    15

WB4OMM:  38   2    26

W1DLC:   25   2    15

AK3X:    62   8    23

WB5UAA:  40   0    28

G3JFS:   27  17     1

All the above get a certificate and participation point.

All below get only a participation point.

 
        QSO  DX  States

N8XMS:   10   3     7

WT4U:    10   2     8

VE3DQN:  20  13

K1IEE:   13   8     5

KJ4R:    20   3    12

NF1U:    15   2    12

WX1M:    12   2     8

Not eligible for a certificate or participation point for the following reason(s):
@ = Non-member
$ = QRO power

Soapbox:


PA9CW: It was a vy nice challenge. With 5 days holiday it was easy to make 25 QSO's. 
Best DX was 2150 km with UA. I used QCX for 30 meter and KX1 for 40 and 20 meter. CU
in next challenge. 73 Tonnie

WB40MM: Hi All!  This month's challenge was completed with a Heathkit HW-16 that I
built in 1969 when I was 15 years old.  All 38 Qs were made using FT-243 crystals,
a Speed-X straight key, and a homemade G5RV wire antenna.  Worked 26 states, PR, and
Canada.  35W out to a wire antenna using crystals and a 50 year old radio -
unbelievable!.  It was a blast.  Most of these were made during the Novice Rig Roundup,
an annual event that has folks using equipment that was in the novice license era.  Lotsa
fun.  For the full story of the HW-16, take a look at:  https://wb4omm.com/old-stuff-like-me/
and scroll down to "MY ORIGINAL 1971 NOVICE STATION - WN2TAW".  It's a pretty good story.
I hope everyone had fun working this challenge.  I sure did!  72/73, Steve #5913.

K1YAN: Used a ZM-2 QRP tuner and a SW Labs DSW40, a 3 watt monoband QRP rig, both from 
kits on 40 and the ZM-2 and a KX3 on 20. No joy with the 40 and 20 meter 500 mW Rockmite kits.

N8XMS: The home-brew challenge is always my favorite one each year and I usually use 
it as an excuse to get all of my old projects back on the air.  But this time I barely 
found enough operating time to use my home-built Elecraft K2 to make the minimum number 
of QSOs to earn a participation point.  I had 10 Q's with 10 different state/DX entities.  
One of them was with the tiny country of Andorra so that was a highlight for me.  
Unfortunately my schedule for April isn't looking much better but I'll sure give it a try.

PA0XAW: My good old HW-8 and the home made 26 meters long wire did the job. Only one QSO 
on 80 meters with OZ. Nice challenge and my HW-8 seems to be ready for the summer holidays.
73, Age

VE3DQN: I was disappointed that I couldn't get my newly built-from-scratch tube 
transmitter on the air for the March Homebrew Challenge. Needs more trouble shooting. 
Seems almost cheating to qualify for a Challenge point using home made wire antennas, 
but I used several of them, sometimes in "challenging" circumstances. 

W2JEK: This was a good challenge and a change  from the call letter challenges. My rig 
was an OAK HILLS RESEARCH OHR-500 with WM-2 Wattmeter and DD-1 digital dial. Used 20, 
30, 40 and 80 M bands for 3 DX and 22 qso's with 13 states.

WI5H: I used a remotely tuned homemade loop to work 25 contacts, 2 DX and 15 US States. 
The RIG this month was not one of my HB rigs or my KX3. I ran a Flex Radio Systems 6500 
carefully adjusted to be certain I was really QRP since I had no prior history with the 
transceiver. I worked 80, 40, 30 and 20 meters for my contacts. I was remotely controling 
the Flex with a Flex Maestro (control panel) via an Ethernet network connection. 
A learning curve for sure, and a fun NAQCC Challenge as usual. 73/72 CU AGN.. Mike 7128 

WT4U: I qualified for a participation point, and just barely, by completing 10 QSOs 
to 8 US states and 2 Canadian provinces with a homebrew car-mounted N2CX 3-band vertical 
made out of a fishing pole, a hamfest coil, 2 gelato lids, a BNC connector, a carefully 
flattened alligator clip, 16.5' of wire, a lag bolt & nut, PVC, and sheet steel I cut, 
punched, & mangled into a mounting bracket. Started too late for full points, but I'm 
glad this forced me to get the thing done because I'm really enjoying it and ready to 
try POTA. Gets out really well and leaves the residential QRN behind.

AK3X: This month used my OHR100A (80 meter) and my Small Wonder Labs DSW-40, DSW-30, and DSW-20. 
Those rigs still work just fine and always put a smile on my face. 72, Peter

K1IEE: Used the little Heathkit HW-9. This was a busy month and had to struggle for
operating time. I did use both 20M and 40M. Thanks to all 73 Dick

KJ4R: Nice change of pace this month from the letter challenges.  I used my PFR3B for 
most of my QSO's  through 3 different home brew antennas and a home brew tuner.   Had 
a busy month at work and a hiking trip over the last weekend, so did not quite finish 
this one up. Had fun and hope others did too.  73, Ed 

NF1U: Not my favorite type of challenge.  Used a home brew 160ft OCD with HB 4:1 current 
balun. Seems I just didn't have the interest to spend the time playing this month.  Looking 
forward to the April Alphabet challenge.

W1DLC: I used my 40m Oak Hills Research 100A transceiver with a homemade dipole; my 20 
meter Oak Hills Research transceiver with a 4 element tri-bander. Both OHR units were 
used with the DD-1 Digital Dial.  I lowered the power on my Yaesu FT890 to 5 watts and 
worked 80 meters on a homemade dipole.  This was my first experience with 80 meters, and 
I really enjoyed the band.  This challenge was dedicated to my father, the first 
W1DLC.....all the more reason to complete it!!

WB5UUA: I put together a homebrew 6L6 and a kit Eico receiver back in 1976 shortly 
after I received my callsign WN5UAA.  Neither one worked very well since I was only 
13 years old and didn't have any help.  Both were lost over time.  A couple years ago, 
I put together another 6L6 and did it right this time.  (pics on QRZ).  It's basically 
a Heathkit AT-1 on steroids!  I reduced loading to 5 Watts and did this challenge, the 
Novice Rig Roundup and an SKCC WES with it.  There's just *something* about establishing 
communications with someone hundreds and sometimes thousands of miles away with something 
you put together with individual parts!  Especially when some of those parts are tubes 
and crystals and it only puts out 5 watts!  72, C U AGN, Guy

WX1M: Tough challenge, I committed to my K2 @ 3 Watts. Antenna is a 43 foot vertical wire 
10 feet above ground with raised radials. Band was very quiet here.  Well spring is 
here hope to get some time in on the April challenge.

G3JFS: Conditions continue to disappoint and I found qrp operating to be very hard work 
throughout the month. On checking my log I was very surprised to find that I had 
completed the challenge on day 6. I also managed to make at least one contact per day 
during March and for interest my totals for the month were - 64 contacts  using  the 
160, 80, 40, 30 and 20 m bands. 33  DXCC, 1 US state, 1 VE state. 5 Continents - 
AF, AS, EU, NA and SA. I also had a miss with VK3IA on 40 m, who tried many times 
but could not get my full call.  73 Peter