Friday, Nov. 11, 2011: As of this morning 1114 QSO's are on LOTW.  The remaining are RTTY QSO's that were made on the last day, Nov. 8. Be patient.

Thursday, November 10, 2011: I returned from St.Croix (KP2) late Tuesday night; November 8. I made over 1174 QSO’s. Operating time was 18 hours over a 6 day period. We were not active during the 30 hours of 21:00 GMT Sat. Nov. 5 to 03:00 GMT Mon. Nov. 7. I was operating with K1ZE and N3XF in the ARRL Sweepstakes CW contest.

All the logs have been uploaded to LOTW; however, only 417 QSO’s are actually in the system. 757 QSO’s are still in the queue. The LOTW, per the website has delays.

I was disappointed that I could not get more than 30-40 watts output with my K3. Increasing power above 40 watts would shut down the K3. The power supply apparently was at fault. When I returned home, I was able to get full 100 watt output.

Highlights of the trip. Day one. Running on 10 meter SSB and getting great reports from U.S.A. and JA stations. After the run I realized that the K3 was set at 25 watts, because the last time I used the K3 at home was with the KPA500, where both the K3 and the KP500 are interfaced. When I increased power, that’s when I found out that I could only transmit at 30 watts. Highlight #2 was on Monday, Nov. 7 on 10 meters. In the morning I was having a great run into Europe when a European station stated that a HS0ZIL was calling me. I worked the HS0 and continued my run into Europe. Later in afternoon, on 10 meters CW. JA’s were extremely loud and I enjoyed another great pileup.

I thank everyone out there for their patience, especially some of the stations who had weak copy on my signal. 73’s.

I just made some major changes with the station. I now have a K3 #4199 and KPA500 amplifier #165. I won the K3 in a Yankee Clipper Contest Club raffle in March of 2010. I received a basic 100 watt K3. Not a bad return; a $2,000 radio for two $25.00 raffle tickets. I sold an IC7000 and purchased the K3ATU and assorted filters for the K3.This past winter I sold my FT1000MP and purchasedthe sub receiver for the K3 along with the recorder and few other bells and whistles. In April, 2011, I ordered the KPA500 and Ireceived the kit on July 13th. Assembly took around 4 hours. The amp went on the air July 16th and work flawlessly with K3.

My antenna system here is a inverted L with 30 radials for 160. I use the inverted L on 30 meters with the K3ATU. Inverted V's for 80 and 40. An alpha delta DX antenna that I use for 30 with the ATU, although that antenna is about to be removed. Finally, I have a 3 el steppir at 32 feet. At this location the only other antenna that I had was an ATB34 at the same height. The ATB34 sits in storage, just in case. The tower has been up since 1980. All my DX chasing has been done at 32 feet. Not really bad: The results 338 confirmed with 3 more to do.

I was formerly K1YRP until Nov, 1996 when I picked up the call W1EQ. I hold USACA #342 (worked all united states counties).I took an voluntary early retirement package from Pratt and Whitney Aircraft in January of 1995 after 33-1/2 years with the company. I then worked for Tuscarora, Inc. as a Regional Quality Manager until 2001. Took an early retirement and continued to work as a consultant for the company until January of 2003. Some people never get an early retirement package, I was lucky to get two. I presently teach college courses, on line, at Quinsigamond Community College in Worcester, Mass.Also, I am an part time Academic Adviser at the Southbridge campus of QCC.

As of 10/25/2011 my DXCC totals are 338 MIXED, 319 CW, 303 SSB,167 RTTY,1963 CHALLENGE. WAS Triple Play LOTW #5 issued 1/17/2009. See you in the pileups!!!!!