M/kc9eci Qrv

[KC9ECI]

I'm on my way to the UK Monday, and should be set up and on the air as M/KC9ECI for the ARRL International DX contest. I should be on all bands and modes 10-80M, holiday style at other times. I've been in touch with the guys at the club station at the Imperial War Museum at Duxford and should get a turn at GB2IWM for a few hours one day as well if all goes according to plan. Keep an ear out for me.

[ky5u]

Good luck amigo and bon voyage.

[KB3LIX]

Have a safe trip, and I will listen for U !!!!!

[N2RJ]

GL, I will listen for you during next weekend's test!

[NN4RH]

Operating QRP ?

[KC9ECI]

In the contest yes. After, yes and no.

[KC9ECI]

The airline called. There is a weather front moving in and they're canceling some of the flights that leave later in the day. Ours is one of those. They've bumped us up to a 2PM flight, so I've had to come home from work early and get some things done.

[KC9ECI]

Hi all-

Yesterday we were supposed to fly out of LaCrosse to O'Hare and then on to Heathrow, but due to weather we ended up flying out of LaCrosse to Minneapolis, to Gatwick. Traffic on the M25 was brutal, but we finally made it to Holbeach. Hopefully I'll find a little free time tomorrow to play radio. Planning CW and digital modes on 20, anytime between 0900Z and 1800Z.

73
M/KC9ECI

[KB3LIX]

I know it's not "KOSHER" but how about do a self-spot (or get someone else to spot ya) on DX WATCH iffin you get a chance to get on the radio.

CW is no good for me, but RTTY works just fine.

Hope to hear ya,

[AF9J]

Have Fun Tom,

If you want non-contest sked, you know my e-mail address. I assume you took the '703 instead of the '706 (you mentioned not being to happy with the '706). BTW, did you get the power supply issue resolved? Oh, are you still interested in an HW-101? I have a line on one. It needs to be fixed, but with all of the work I've been doing on my vintage stuff, I'm willing to take it on. Rich, just wants to get rid of it (he's out of room), so he just wants to give it to me. Let me know, OK?

73,
Ellen - AF9J

[wa9cwx]

Have a safe and fun trip...

I will be looking for you in the contest.

Frank :)

[K8MHZ]

I know it's not "KOSHER" but how about do a self-spot (or get someone else to spot ya) on DX WATCH iffin you get a chance to get on the radio.

CW is no good for me, but RTTY works just fine.

Hope to hear ya,

Just so long as he doesn't use it to send e-mail to Gordon he should be OK.

:D:D:D

[K8ERV]

I'll also listen for you, but since I am only on 2M you will have to talk real loud---

TOM K8ERV Montrose Colo

[K0DXC]

Yesterday we were supposed to fly out of LaCrosse to O'Hare and then on to Heathrow, but due to weather we ended up flying out of LaCrosse to Minneapolis


Minneapolis! You should have come and visited me!!!

[KC9ECI]

It's about half past 1 in the morning local time and I've been up for about half an hour. I'm not sure what's going on, but the whole house and ground shook. I think theree's been an earthquake!

[wv6z]

Have a safe trip.

[kg4kww]

Have a good trip T.

[KC9ECI]

Earthquake confirmed. 4.7 magnatude, epicenter in Hull, Yorks. Felt as far away as Nottingham and London. No reports of damage that I've seen yet, but then I've just gotten up for the day...again.

On a radio related note, the Jetstream power supply that I purchased for use here, even though it claims an input range of 110 to 260 VAC, flashed, made a fantastic sizzling sound and promptly puked out a tiny wisp of smoke as soon as I applied power to it last night. I've been in touch with the club up in Lincoln and they might have one that I can borrow, but I think I'll check around first. I found a place on the net before I left that is local and they can sell me a 3 amp supply for about $40 after the conversion. Dollars to Pounds is in the favor of the Brits at the moment, about 2 to 1.

More to follow as I can.

73
Tom
M/KC9ECI

[M0MJH]

Hi Tom,

Hope you're having a good time in the UK. Where abouts are you staying? You mentioned GB2IWM at Duxford but you also mentioned the Lincoln club so I'm not too sure. I'm not a million miles away from 'IWM.

73

Mark
M0MJH

[kr2d]

Earthquake confirmed. .

the Jetstream power supply that I purchased for use here, even though it claims an input range of 110 to 260 VAC, flashed, made a fantastic sizzling sound and promptly puked out a tiny wisp of smoke as soon as I applied power to it last night.

Yikes! Earthquakes, fried power supplies...what next? I'm going to stay far away from you! :D

Good luck and be safe!

[KC9ECI]

Mark-

I'm in Holbeach.

Spent the morning in Boston today. Climbed the Boston Stump again and as it's market day had a good look at the wares being peddled. Planning a short walk down to grab some BabyBel and Guinness in a bit.

Power supply issue hasn't been resolved yet, but in the event that everything goes South on me here, I'll do what I did in Ireland a couple years back...I used the rental car for a power supply!

[KB3LIX]

So, you had to go to the UK to experience an earthquake.......


Sounds like it was safer back in Wisconsin !!!!!!

[M0MJH]

Mark-

I'm in Holbeach.

Spent the morning in Boston today. Climbed the Boston Stump again and as it's market day had a good look at the wares being peddled. Planning a short walk down to grab some BabyBel and Guinness in a bit.

Power supply issue hasn't been resolved yet, but in the event that everything goes South on me here, I'll do what I did in Ireland a couple years back...I used the rental car for a power supply!

Ah, ok. You're a little further away than I thought.

Well, I hope you have a good time over here in Sunny ol' England and that you don't mind being stung for everything! How'd you like paying $7.70c a gallon of petrol? :(

I'm slightly worryied about your choice of food and drink... Babybel and Guinness????

73

Mark

[ab9lz]

Should be Dogwalters and Cracklin.

73 m/4

[M0MJH]

OK, I know what cracklin is... but Dogwalters? You shall have to enlighten me on that one!

[kl7aj]

I'm on my way to the UK Monday, and should be set up and on the air as M/KC9ECI for the ARRL International DX contest. I should be on all bands and modes 10-80M, holiday style at other times. I've been in touch with the guys at the club station at the Imperial War Museum at Duxford and should get a turn at GB2IWM for a few hours one day as well if all goes according to plan. Keep an ear out for me.

Cool! I shall keep my ears on.

[KB2FCV]

On a radio related note, the Jetstream power supply that I purchased for use here, even though it claims an input range of 110 to 260 VAC, flashed, made a fantastic sizzling sound and promptly puked out a tiny wisp of smoke as soon as I applied power to it last night. I've been in touch with the club up in Lincoln and they might have one that I can borrow, but I think I'll check around first. I found a place on the net before I left that is local and they can sell me a 3 amp supply for about $40 after the conversion. Dollars to Pounds is in the favor of the Brits at the moment, about 2 to 1.

More to follow as I can.

73
Tom
M/KC9ECI

Tom,

Had a similar experience last year when my wife and I went to Ireland. The power supply for her wheelchair stated it had a 120/240 input. We plugged it in, and of course we heard the pop. Thankfully it was only a fuse. Of course our adventures didn't end there. I needed a way to open this thing and of course I don't have any tools with me so we had to find a hardware store to buy a screwdriver and hopefully a fuse. It took a day or so but we located the equivalent of a home depot. I was able to get a screwdriver and open the thing to get at the fuse. It turns out that a 120/240 switch was dangling inside the charger and one of the stickers on the outside of the case was covering the hole where the switch would mount! The switch even had two screws hand tightened into the switch, ready to mount! I peeled the sticker off, mounted the switch and inserted a 'temporary' fuse. I guess they figure disabled people would never travel to someplace you might need to change the voltage so they leave the option to switch voltages 'disconnected'. The whole experience certainly added to our stories to tell of our journey to Ireland.

[KC9ECI]

I left a small Radio Shack power supply in Ireland a couple years ago at my in-laws place...it's now here in the UK in the garage and I'll have to dig it out tomorrow. The noise from the power converter is horrible, but if all else fails, it's an option. Of course getting some wire and running off the rental car battery is also an option. Hopefully I'll make it in to Lincoln tomorrow and I know there is a shop there that has what I need. I just cringe at paying $40 for something I'd get at home for $20. The exchange rate is horrid.

The BabyBel and Guinness was just a snack, the cheese was for my daughter and the beer was for me. Supper tonight was bangers and mash. And beans. It was nice. The wife had polished off the better part of a bottle of white wine and I've caused St James Gate to up it's production by consuming mass quantities of Guinness.

I stopped in a Tesco earlier this evening and was shocked that an 8 pack of Guinness is about 10 quid. That works out to be about $20. I pay less than that at home, usually only about $10 to $12. I see that Pringles still sell the Paprika flavored chips here, as well as a couple other flavors, including a prawn cocktail. Blah!

[KB3LIX]

Paprika pringles.................


YUK !!!!!!

[KC9ECI]

Paprika Pringles are tasty! I also scored a can of Char-Grilled BBQ Beef flavOUred Pringles last evening that aren't too bad either.

Back on topic, I'm heading out to the famous J Birkett in Lincoln shortly to try and secure a replacement power supply. If I can't find what I need there, there is *gasp* Knight's CB in Kirton in Lindsey and from their website, it looks as if they have a few small power supplies as well. With luck, I should be able to be on the air by this afternoon sometime...still early in the day for you folks back in the States.

[m0dcd]

Tom,
Hope you're sampling real food and drink over here as well as playing radio. Have you sampled the local beer out of a hand pump yet?
Have fun in the contest!

[M0MJH]

Paprika Pringles are tasty! I also scored a can of Char-Grilled BBQ Beef flavOUred Pringles last evening that aren't too bad either.

Back on topic, I'm heading out to the famous J Birkett in Lincoln shortly to try and secure a replacement power supply. If I can't find what I need there, there is *gasp* Knight's CB in Kirton in Lindsey and from their website, it looks as if they have a few small power supplies as well. With luck, I should be able to be on the air by this afternoon sometime...still early in the day for you folks back in the States.

Good luck at J Birketts as well, it can be like alladins cave but when you walk in it looks like a large junk box with stuff absolutely everywhere from what I remember!

[KC9ECI]

Alladin's cave of wonders doesn't even begin to do justice to J Birketts. The newest thing in there was the proprieter and I'm fairly certain that he was one of the original crew that built the cathedral. Heck of a nice guy though. He directed me to Maplins where after a bit of searching, I was able to come up with a nice liner supply that will give 5 amps continuous and 7 amps surge for about 20 quid. Had a fantastic chicken tikka at the Woodcock out along the A57, then met the club at the Pyewipe Inn and had a blast meeting them. Funny, but back home there is a club that has a huge meeting space and hardly any members. This club has a small metting place and it was shoulder to shoulder, lots of chatter and just a blast. One older member came in, plopped down in front of the most substantial straight key you've ever seen and commenced to pump. Had he been pumping water, I think he'd have filled a tanker.

Anywho, power supply situation is all sorted out and I should be on the air Friday. That is after I take my daughter to the sweet shop for ice cream.

[ab9lz]

OK, I know what cracklin is... but Dogwalters? You shall have to enlighten me on that one!

Last I had one was in a pub in Putney, technically I think it's called gruit... brewed with heather... the problem (depends how you look at it) is that heather has an ergot like fungus on the bottom side that can (on occasion) add hallucinogenic qualities to the drinking experience.

73 m/4

[KC9ECI]

Heading to Duxford today. With luck I'll get to operate from GB2IWM.

[KC9ECI]

It's good to be home!