Introducing RTQM, QRZ's Real Time QSO Manager

That's the same I wanted to know

 

I am intested in joining up (being a relatively new-active Ham). Thanks for considering me.
All the best,
Victor

 

Very interesting info. Please put me on the list.
73 de Joop

 

I'm also have interest to help testing Beta software.

Rien, PA7RA

 

I'm also interested in testing the beta software.
73 BRam

 

then log in at Log in!

Martin (G8FXC)

 

Where do we access RTQM? I don't find it anywhere on QRZ

 

Please add me to the list for beta testing . Thank you! Dale N5YSR

 

Bonjour. Je suis également intéressé. Cordiales 73. Joel.

 

rtqm.beta.qrz.com

 

I think RTQM needs a contest or some other promotion to get a critical mass of activity on it.

 

I agree. An RTQM-based contest or operating activity would help it gain popularity in the amateur radio community.

Eli AE0HQ

 

When I go there about 0200Z 3/2, I just get a blank map on Win 10/Chrome. I tried some filters - Wow, lots of modes!!. I am only HF SSB, but nothing but blank maps.

I had been on it before, but now I don't find the link other than this post. I thought it was on page 1 of this thread. I may be blind, but I looked through pages 1-9 and didn't find it, so I jumped to the latest here.

Among other ideas UUU posted, I like: “Work as many stations as I possibly can in a 2-hour period, exchanging HONEST signal reports.”

Maybe a QRZ net? Some folks hate nets, but that is my main activity on many different nets.

Eventually, I may do on my own site WØJKT.com (nothing much there yet), and offer to do convention or YouTube (on others' channels, no interest in my own) presentations (never done before for Hams but have been a public speaker on other topics), but don't know presentation software or if anyone would attend

Started a PowerPoint, thinking of SeaPac with a title:
How to Make Less Boring
HF SSB Award Nets

Plan on pictures of my active-tracking worksheets and ideas for staying engaged when 60-100 folks are logged in, and maybe an hour for your turn, yet you have to be ready to be called by others (especially if new or a club station not very active).

I just did WWØWWV on nets, with 76 contacts in a few hours: 52 on 40m and 24 on 75M, all SSB. WWV Club members can use the club call on the first day of each month. For March 1, I was operating from the Meeker, CO area. We submit ADF logs and sign up for time slots so that only one member per band at a time.

Rather than the huge nets like OMISS, I prefer more medium-sized ones, like 3905CC (plan to go to their eyeball in ND this Spring) or my favorite, small net HHH, where I'm Fri night 0700Z for usually 2-3 hours, and some others when needed, as a relay. We typically have 20-50 log-ins, including VKs, ZLs, HP (Mingo) and other DX. Our Alaska regular is always marginal to get contacts, but our Hawaii regular is usually strong for most.

So, a smaller, more HHH-type QRZ net tied into this nice mapping. Unlike most rewards nets, HHH isn't just for awards; we often just contact each other, checking propo, etc., so it's not just a pure awards net - although it's in its title and preamble - vs most other "Award" nets. I no longer chase awards, just participate and give out what others might need from various locations.

 

I think the idea was sound, but probably came ten years too late. These days, almost all HF activity has migrated to one of the FT modes and RTQM has little relevance to them. Pity, really...

Martin

 

From this side of that big pond... I see wall-to-wall SSB signals with the bands open, especially on 40m, where I am mostly, since I am usually on late in the day and a night owl in the US. 160 was very active US in the recent 160m SSB contest, and I only worked briefly, but with about 10 contacts looking for strong signals as I moved from bottom to top of the SSB band, everyone was 59+ both ways. This was mostly US stations, but we also get quite a few Europeans we have to dodge on 40m.

I switch to the stations I access in Croatia and Bosnia, as you come out of the D-layer absorption, and it's often hard to find any empty frequencies on 40m SSB. My problem often is that I don't transmit since it's hard to find English speakers, as I am terrible even with some Northern England accents. At least that is what some have told me, related to my story: that, going to Frankfurt, with a long weather delay at Heathrow, I had two seatmates at various times. One a younger gal from Germany visiting boyfried in London, returning to Germany. And then a nice Englishman. The native German gal had perfectly understandable English (to me), but I could hardly understand the Englishman with an accent.

From my view, there is a lot of SSB activity in the US, as many of us, perhaps old hams (I'm 79) don't just use computers to make contacts. On the other hand, stuff like FT8 is positive since it attracts more younger hams as we old guys eventually die out. I had to pass 13 wpm in 1964, but never used it on the air. But I admire those who are cw skilled, and there are lots of them. I can do my call in my head, but that is about it.

I am 100% HF SSB and can't change this old dog, new tricks... but I see plenty of activity when the good old Sun's cycle is still doing well, even though it's on the downturn. When the Sun doesn't shine with sunspots to ionize the F layer, it's not a lack of hams but propagation. Obviusly SSB needs better propagation than CW or digital. My problem isn't a lack of at least US signals but time, as I am still active in my business.

I was active in the 60s and 70s before going off the air for 40 years. From memory, I don't recall any huge decrease in SSB/AM back then vs the current level, but I am sure there was some, just not to the extent you suggest.

A few years ago, at a low point in the Sun cycle, myself and 2 friends rented the ham cabin on a mountain in Colorado, WØLSD (he had call before it was a popular drug). The bands were definitely dead, even with his big beams and all. But we had a great time with non-ham activity.

BTW, like you, I almost got an FTX-1 for POTA but instead got an FT-710 and hope to start activating POTA, especially when I am in Canada this summer, but I haven't set it up at home yet.