Years ago I built a Rockmite. It is a fun project. When I finished it, I didn't take the time to put the antenna connector on it or the dc plug, I simply use alligator clips to get everything working. I remember calling CQ for a few minutes made a QSO, which the station on the other end actually recorded to let me know how my 400 mw sounded. Pretty cool and this milliwatt stuff isn't all that bad.
While cleaning my shack a few years later, since I had never used the RockMite since that first QSO, I threw it away. The day after the garbage man took it I'll admit I was a little remorseful. Ever since I have been watching the auction sites for a Rockmite to replace it. I didn't want to go to all the trouble to build another one, I just wanted one to have and play around with occasionally. The other day that replacement arrived at the house. I hooked it up and called CQ for an hour, some of you may have seen my spots on QRPspots.com. A few guys tried to hear me but couldn't. Today I came home from work and hoped to make a QSO with a local during the afternoon and called CQ for another hour. Lastly I tried again tonight. No joy. Probably 2.5 hours of CQing with the Rockmite and no QSO. So it is a little frustrating. What else could I have done with my life during those 2.5 hours. After calling so fruitlessly with a QRPp, rock bound rig, the KX3 now looks like a QRO rig.
Oh well, I'll try it again. QRPp is a little like fishing, they might not bite today, but they might be tomorrow, at least that is the optimistic way to look at it.
RockMite
Mike,
ReplyDeleteI can imagine filling that 2.5 hours with a lot of worse stuff, too! But you have the right attitude, tomorrow is another day, and you just might be pleasantly surprised.
Great blog!
73 de Larry W2LJ
Hello Mike, As a 100% CW operator until now, I recently took part in the CQ WPX SSB contest and I felt from my chair, because of the great results. My FT-817 with 2.7 watts was heard, even in SSB. But the trick is to answer CQ's. 73, Bert
ReplyDeleteBert,
ReplyDeleteThanks for the comment and I think most of us are tainted with a little SSB operating. I agree with the strategy to answer CQ's, but the RockMite is crystal controlled, so you would have to wait for someone to come by your frequency. I had hoped someone would hear me calling? But so far, they have not. It someone would called CQ on 7028.7, I would be grateful;-)
72,
Mike AD5A