The deadline for submitting comments for the FCC NPRM that could deregulate GMRS and eliminate repeaters (including ours) is fast approaching. The deadline has been set for August 8, 2010. This is the deadline that you must file your comments with the FCC. Full details on the NPRM (notice of proprosed rule making) can be found at this link. Please take the time to submit a comment and ensure that we have access to this vital radio service in the future.

It was time for me to break my FT-817 out of the closet for a bit. First I had to justify continuing to own the radio that generally resides in a tupperware box, and second I had to send my Icom 756ProII off to service to repair the CAT section of the radio. I decided that I would spend this QRP time on the air running battery power and operating SSB instead of CW or PSK31.

Well as the Weather here has been very nice in New York for the past week (70-85) I decided to pack up the FT-817ND and my two trusty portable antennas. My Buddipole and PAR EF 10/20/40.

The QRP month for me has come and gone, but I learned some good stuff and had a really good time. First of all, I have to say that I had a lot more fun that I really thought that I would. It was work at times, I didn’t pull in any new DXCC but I still managed to have a load of QSOs and enjoy myself.

Well, the month has started out busy for me at work with lots of changes happening there, but I have still managed to get focused and operate a bit. I’ve only been active on 20 meters so far, as I’ve been away for a few nights in a row. The propagation report hasn’t been the greatest either, with the solar flux at 71, K index at 2 and A index at a whopping 22. Surprisingly, conditions weren’t too bad and I have the chance to make my first few QRP contacts of the month. I ran the rig at full power yesterday to start off the month (all 5 watts).

While my primary focus over the past six months has been HF DX chasing (and I’ve done a good job at that) I’ve decided to take a month to do nothing but QRP operation, and hopefully expand that to the occasional portable HF QRP operation as well. I’ve had the FT-817 around for a year or so, but just haven’t put it to regular use. I’ve made a few contact on it, including New York on 60 meters, Italy on 20, and a few other random QSOs. My plan is to use it exclusively for the rest of the month and go from there.