NAQP CW using 2BSIQ

NAQP is an interesting contest: short, intense and high rates. Unlike the major global contests, the rates are not so high that SO2R is gruelling. 2BSIQ is perfectly doable by those of mediocre skill, such as myself. 

I had several challenges in this month's contest, some shared and some unique to myself:

• Conditions: The K-index was 6 early in the contest which mostly affected 20 meters and the low bands. That didn't disadvantage me since everyone was subject to the poor conditions, though perhaps less so for those further south. From this region low angle radiation was preferentially absorbed, favouring low horizontal antennas. For example, on 80 meters the inverted vee outperformed the vertical yagi until late in the evening.
• Antennas: The south-pointing TH6 and the south direction of the 40 meter reversible Moxon were not working. The major impact was on 40 where I only had the high 3-element yagi. As said, low horizontal were superior for the prevailing conditions.
• Preparation: I don't practice SO2R and 2BSIQ. My practice is participating in small contests. Practicing these skills bores me -- I can only take about 5 minutes of Morserunner before getting fed up. Better operators are better because they practice, if only in the days leading up to a contest.

The top 30 low power scores reported to 3830 are shown at right. I did better than I expected, though worse than those with superior skills and tactics, or a superior location. Antenna problems certainly didn't help but that's no excuse.

I parked the Skyhawk (tri-band yagi) at about south-southwest to compensate for the unavailable TH6. The upper 5-element yagis of the 10, 15 and 20 meter stacks were most useful for the western half of the continent so that's where I pointed them; I've done the same in previous NAQPs. 

I didn't worry about the east and northeast since there are few stations in that direction and they can usually be worked on back scatter. On 160 meters I stuck with the southwest Beverage receive antenna and relied on proximity to work the northeast.

The presetting of antenna directions is important since there it's difficult to switch antennas while doing SO2R and especially 2BSIQ. I switch antennas or bands when the rate drops to hopefully reach new stations. Never marry a run frequency; agility is key. Activity in NAQP starts on the high bands and gradually works lower as the contest progresses. You must follow the crowd to maintain a good rate.

My objectives for the contest were only partially about the score. Antenna and propagation challenges removed the pressure to do well. Further, I was not on a team containing high scorers. I felt free to experiment and practice my skills. This is what I set out to do:

• 2BSIQ: NAQP is an ideal contest to practice the skill since the rate is high but not too high. Usually there are no more than 2 or 3 stations calling at a time. Although the exchange is relatively lengthy it is pre-filled by call history in most cases. That saves typing but only if you confirm that the pre-fill matching what is sent.
• Receive switching: There are two alternatives for default receive audio switching, and I wanted to practice this as well. My choice until now has been stereo full time, in which the receivers are heard in one ear all the time unless I override to mono, to focus on one for better copy. The best 2BSIQ ops choose to hear the receiving radio while the other is transmitting the other. It is easy to lose track of which radio you're listening to. If both are receiving you hear one radio in each ear, just like for the first option. I set up N1MM Logger+ function key files for both options so that I could switch back and forth. DXLog has more options using its scenarios feature.
• Antenna assessment: I was curious how the antennas would play. That is, whether the less than ideal choices would affect my score. I'd rather not have done the experiment but with the TH6 and Moxon unavailable I decided that I might as well.

The Icom 7600 was limited to about 80 watts due to a DC cable problem which I couldn't entirely resolve before the contest. The 1 db power reduction likely only had a minor impact. The problem was resolved after the contest.

The solution surprised me. After extensive testing I decide my time was better spent buying a new cable. That was how I discovered that the same cable is used on the Yaesu FT950. I have one -- it's my spare rig. Swapping cables returned power to 100 watts. It takes very little resistance at 20 amps to cause a measured 2 volt drop to 11.8 VDC inside the rig.

Before talking about how I did relative to my objectives, the log analysis is worth a look. You can do the same with the Cabrillo file for many of the major contests online using the CBS tool. I used the web interface which is most convenient.

-------------- Q S O   R a t e   S u m m a r y ---------------------
Hour     160     80     40     20     15     10    Rate Total    Pct
--------------------------------------------------------------------
1800       0      0      0      9     49     32     90     90    7.5
1900       0      0      0     20     55     24     99    189   15.8
2000       0      0      0     25     64     33    122    311   25.9
2100       0      0      1     53     64      0    118    429   35.8
2200       0      0     48     66     26      0    140    569   47.4
2300       0      0     23     14     13      0     50    619   51.6
0000       0      0     60     54      0      0    114    733   61.1
0100       0    100     55      0      0      0    155    888   74.0
0200      14     59     55      0      0      0    128   1016   84.7
0300      73     41      1      0      0      0    115   1131   94.2
0400      34     25     10      0      0      0     69   1200  100.0
0500       0      0      0      0      0      0      0   1200  100.0
------------------------------------------------------
Total    121    225    253    241    271     89   1200

Compared to more skilled operators in this region my performance lags in the opening hours: my rate was about 50% lower. I am focussing on QSOs since multiplier hunting for non-assisted operators doing a lot of 2BSIQ will necessarily suffer. You trade multipliers for QSO points.

The reasons for my under-performance are twofold. One, I persisted with 20 meters at the start when I ought to have avoided it until later. Everyone was on 15 and 10 where the activity was much higher. I've been burned in the past trying too hard on 10 meters leading to the opposite mistake in this contest. I also did more S & P on 10 than I should have, hoping to find multipliers before the band closed. But 10 didn't close early.

15 meters stayed strong for a long time, including short skip to the mid-west US and back scatter from the eastern seaboard. It was a very productive band. My rate increased as the activity gradually concentrated on 15 and 20. Many high scoring stations in this region had more contacts on 15 than on 20. It was that good. I was late to the game. My various high band errors cost me 100 to 150 contacts.

My initial showing on 40 meters was poor, as expected with the high yagi. To deal with it I took my one and only off time from 2300Z to just past 0000Z. That wasn't the ideal off time, however I wasn't do well on 40 and the time fit with my personal schedule (supper time). I operated until 0430Z when I hit my 10 hour quota. 

That at least appears to have been a good decision. In previous outings I would take another 30 minute off time mid-evening to take better advantage of the low bands around midnight (0500Z(. This time the low bands were poor and there were few stations to work in the final hour. Skipping the last 90 minutes of the 12 hour contest worked for me.

Let's return to 2BSIQ now that I've analyzed my tactics and abilities, good and bad. Although I have no detailed analysis, my estimate is that 85% to 90% of my QSOs were by 2BSIQ. The remainder were done using classic SO2R: one radio running and the other hunting. That is far more 2BSIQ than I've done before. That counts as success. 

To be clear, by "success" I refer only to near continuous 2BSIQ operation and not my score. The negatives were fewer multipliers and frequent gaps (2 or 3 minutes without a QSO) that could have been filled by hunting stations. But you just never know since so many multipliers call when you're running, and many of those time gaps were followed by runs of 4 to 5 QSOs per minute. 

• When is a gap so long that you need to QSY or switch to S & P?
• Which mults and how many am I missing by not hunting? 
• Many others are also running all the time so I can't work them when I'm 2BSIQ. Does the rate from 2BSIQ compensate for the loss of not hunting the perpetual runners?

There are no easy answers. My typical tactic when switching bands was to start with S & P and resume running when I encountered a clear frequency. That took no more than a few minutes. Other times I'd pick a clear spot on the rig's waterfall spectrogram after a band change and jump straight into running.

Assisted operators were scoring 50 to 100 more multipliers than I was. The comparison is interesting but invalid since we were in different categories. It only shows the potential of how many mults were available. The comparison that mattered was to other unassisted operators. On that score I didn't fare too badly.

The truly talented unassisted operators would operate 2BSIQ almost full time and ask stations to move to other bands. That may be to the other band where they are running or they'd both QSY to the target band. Many stations are surprisingly accommodating to those requests. On the other hand, some say yes (to be polite?) and don't show up. But if you don't ask you won't get the mult. This is a skill beyond my ability. 2BSIQ and even classic SO2R is difficult enough for me.

2BSIQ in NAQP is easier than in major contests like CQ WW or contests with long complex exchanges like ARRL Sweepstakes. It isn't difficult to pick out a full call with no more than 2 to 3 callers; there can be far more in CQ WW. Nevertheless there are many times that I missed calls or copied only a letter or two because my brain was occupied elsewhere or the signal received on the other radio was loud. 

Copying errors cost time and can be embarrassing when you ask for a repeat more than once. The other op must wonder why I have difficulty copying a loud signal in the clear. All you can do is shrug and continue. If you let it bother you you'll abandon 2BSIQ or SO2R and that will hurt your score. As one friend put it to me, "shameless" 2BSIQ is the way to succeed. That is, don't worry about the mistakes and plow ahead regardless. Annoyed stations will come back or not, but you'll still come out farther ahead. Indeed, everyone benefits regardless since SO2R increases the overall number of QSO points scored by all operators in a contest. It's a matter of perspective.

I remain self-conscious about my mistakes though less than when I first attempt 2BSIQ several years ago. I am also learning and using techniques to improve QSO synchronization so that I make fewer mistakes and drive fewer callers away by unintended dead air. If I lose my run frequency it's easy to find another in NAQP. The loss can be more costly in CQ WW. CW skimmers will quickly spot your new run frequency.

I made ample use of call history in this contest. It is critical that it be used as an aid and never as a crutch. You are busy enough when doing 2BSIQ that the reduction of typing is welcome, but only if you compare the pre-filled name and state with what is copied. There is no excuse for blindly accepting the pre-fill, yet many do. The resulting error rate can destroy your score since call history is often wrong: names change (guest ops, and SK tributes) and people have more than one residence. 

The bottom line is that I'm pleased with my NAQP CW result. I learned what I can do and what I can improve. However, I am not ready to tackle 40+ hours of 2BSIQ in CQ WW, with a dozen callers on each running radio during the peak of openings to Europe. I doubt that I'll ever reach that skill level, and I don't know if I want to try. Maybe it'll be easier when sunspots recede and the high bands aren't all open at the same time.

I made improvements to my operating desk layout a year ago to improve situational awareness. I've kept it that way (see pic at the top). Both radios are up front with the monitor on top. There are several visible indications of the operating state:

• Transceiver LED and meters to distinguish receive versus transmit status
• N1MM Logger+ Entry Window TX/RX button lights.
  
• N1MM Logger+ scrolling text for what is being transmitted, or has just been transmitted

That should be enough. However I find the N1MM indications difficult to follow. The TX/RX indicators are small and must be looked at directly, since they are almost invisible in peripheral vision. The scrolling text is tiny and similarly difficult to see and follow unless looked at directly. Frankly, I don't like it. The rig power meter LEDs are more helpful since they're bright and large.

If you use one keyboard, the logging software places receive focus on the correct radio in this case so that what you type is for the correct radio. Although that would seem to favour use of a single keyboard the situation can quickly deteriorate when both radios are receiving. That is when 2 keyboards can be much better, by removing all doubt as to which radio your typing is for.

The core of the OTRSP commands for the N1MM Logger+ function keys originally come from N2IC and have been widely copied. These ensure that you are only listening to the receiving radio when the other one is transmitting:

F1 Cq,Test {MYCALL}{OTRSPOTHER RX}{END}{STEREOON}
F2 Exch,{SENTRSTCUT} {EXCH}{OTRSPOTHER RX}{END}{STEREOON}
F3 Tu,Tu {MYCALL}{OTRSPOTHER RX}{END}{STEREOON}

I made two function key files before the contest with and without these OTRSP directives. As in the past, it didn't last long. The combination of visible indication deficits and my own skill level defeated my attempts to follow the QSO flow. After 10 minutes of 2BSIQ I reverted to manual stereo control for the remainder of the contest. This involves pressing the ~ key to turn stereo on and off as needed to copy one station without the other radio getting in the way.

It's more work but I was never confused as to which radio I was listening to. Using the keyboard controls is a more sophisticated method of receive audio control than what I began with several years ago. Of course you need an OTRSP device, which in my case is the SO2R Mini.

There is much more to say on SO2R and 2BSIQ but this article is long enough. I may go into more depth in a future article. Not because I'm so good at it, which I am obviously not, but because it might be of interest to those considering SO2R and 2BSIQ. Others might benefit by learning from my successes and failures.

I'll speak briefly about NAQP SSB this past weekend. I made only 100 contacts since the contest doesn't have a great appeal to me other than as a casual operation and to say hello to friends. It can even be quite relaxing on a winter evening. My sole objective was to set the station up for phone SO2R which is more difficult than for CW. TTS (text to speech) has to potential to make 2BSIQ as easy as on CW, but that was not my purpose at this time.

I ran into numerous difficulties getting message playback from the PC to each radio's internal codec and to route the mic to each radio. When you speak the other station's call sign or anything other than play the pre-recorded messages you must ensure the mic is connected to the transmitting radio. You must also use VOX or a foot switch for that radio. I installed two foot switches as many do for improved situational awareness. Switching the mic and transmit focus isn't trivial and I ran into trouble setting this up with the SO2R Mini.

I need to get it working, not so much for myself but for requests I've received from prospective guest ops. This is one more project added to my long list of winter projects. Well, the wind is howling and the snow is piling up so I might as well see what I can do.

Looking Back, Looking Ahead

To mark the new year this article will look back to my activities in 2025 and my plan for 2026. It is a tradition on the blog though not one held to rigourously. It can be helpful to honestly review what was accomplished and how that compares to what was planned. 

You are free to compare what you read below to that year old plan. I will not. My aspirations tend to run ahead of accomplishments since the former is far easier than the latter; that is, words are easier than deeds, which is true of any endeavour. I should also mention that I am an eternal optimist, so these things happen.

2025 accomplishments

Despite my best efforts to be distracted by non-radio activities quite a lot got done in 2025, both with respect to the station and operating. Distraction is okay since this is a hobby not a job. There is life outside of amateur radio.

First up are the antennas. There are new ones and improvements to old ones.

• The reversible 40 meter Moxon was built, raised, fixed, raised again and finally put into service in the early fall. This is now my favourite antenna. Its performance is excellent, instant reversing between Europe and the US, and a low SWR across the band. However the Ham-M used to turn it is under-powered: I had to reposition the mast once so far. It has allow developed a fault which I'll come to a little later.
• I don't use the 30 meter delta loop often since there isn't as much casual DX available as in the past. Its intended use is therefore for DXpeditions. The antenna performs very well on long distance DX. It is all the antenna I need for 30 meters. 
• While not a new antenna, the lower 5-element 15 meter yagi of the stack is almost rotatable. The bracket and rotator are installed and working. However the antenna remained firmly attached to the tower when winter settled in. One or two warm days should see the project through.
• I did less antenna modelling than in past years, reflecting the maturity of the station. I am currently exploring various antenna models for future implementation. Anything interesting will eventually show up in an article.

Other projects were started though not completed by year end. More about those later. A large tree fell across two Beverages a week ago. Fast work with a chainsaw returned them to service in time for the Stew Perry weekend. They'll next see heavy use during the CQ 160 CW contest later in January. 

The TH6 and one direction of the 40 meter Moxon developed faults in the first week of January, just in time for NAQP CW. I hope to be able to  repair both without lowering them to the ground. That will require careful rigging and more clement weather. Maintenance in a large station never ends.

Here is a quick summary of my non-antenna projects:

• Prop pitch motor controller: As reported, it works and is in daily use. However, I have not had time to implement more features such as the all important soft rotation limits -- prop pitch motors have no mechanical limits. 
• New PC: The main station computer was upgraded to deal with increased computing demands of skimmer spots and various contesting features. My early impression is that it helped only marginally. Well, I suppose it was time to move to Windows 11 anyway, and hard drives on old PCs are always a risk. I've had a few computers fail that way. Backups are essential.
• Solid state amps: I began my transition with the purchase of an Acom 1200S. That made it easier for guest ops to navigate the station's complexity. I will continue the migration in 2026. However, both tube amps -- Acom 1500 and Drake L7 -- will stay. The 1500 continues as my daily amp of choice for its clean transmit signal and duty cycle at high power. After repairing it protection circuit glitches occurred twice, and that will require a closer look.

With respect to operating, my interests haven't changed too much: DX, contests, 6 meters, etc. There were guest ops for a few contests, one multi op in CQ WW SSB, and then my own single op contest efforts, including CQ WW CW. Let's look at this in more detail.

With regard to operating there were events worth noting since my 6 meter mid-season update. My 6 meter DXCC worked count increased by 2. I now have 149 worked and 138 confirmed on LoTW. The 3 additions for 2025 were 4U1UN, 9J2FI and C5R. More were heard but not worked, including: VK, EL, 9L, HV and ZS, and others I've previously confirmed like FK, V5, VP8 and many others. There was one notable QSO this fall with an extraordinarily strong ZL1RS (who I've worked before). I worked him again in the first week of January. DX crops up when you least expect it.

With weak hints of a second cycle peak in 2026 we can cling to hope for better DX this spring. But with the number of countries I've worked the diminishing returns are becoming brutal. I've thought about a larger antenna or a stack but I doubt it would help all that much. It's unlikely to ever happen since the cost-benefit ratio is poor. That said, perhaps I'll do it anyway, though not this year.

There is little else to say about the 6 meter season so I was able to replace a season end article with two paragraphs. 

After skipping 2024 we resumed multi-op contesting in 2025. The big event was CQ WW SSB in which we did pretty well in the M/2 category. We were not globally competitive, nor can we be. Unfortunately there is little in the way of bragging rights (or an award) for winning Canada. A second multi-op (M/S) was in the RAC Winter contest. There were just two of us, where he (VA3UMM) did SSB and I did CW.

After failing to once again break 5000 QSOs as a single op in CQ WW CW -- mostly due to poorer conditions and my mediocre 2BSIQ skills -- I have to decide whether to try again in 2026 or to increasingly focus on multi-ops. Although I believe that I can improve my score with practice and effort, I am not very motivated to try in 48 hour contests. Long duration 2BSIQ can be grueling for mere mortals such as me.

2026 plan

New construction has slowed as the station approaches its tenth anniversary. There will certainly be more antennas and improvements to existing ones, but I doubt that any future project will be at the scale of what I've already accomplished. 

Any major improvements to the antenna system will require at least one new tower. I can easily acquire and put up towers so that isn't the problem. The problem is maintenance and the march of time. Eventually my climbing days will come to an end, hopefully later rather than sooner, but the end will come. More towers and antennas will become physically difficult to manage. My current physical condition and strength are excellent, but I must plan ahead.

As mentioned earlier, antenna trouble cropped up in advance of the NAQP CW contest. These jobs have been added to my 2026 project list: TH6 and the "south" direction of the 40 meter reversible Moxon -- it works fine in the "north" direction. Both antennas are conveniently close to each other so I climbed up and had a look. 

The problems were diagnosed and can be dealt with when the weather warms. The 40 meter Moxon will have to come down for repair (again) if I don't come up with a way to access the element switch boxes from the tower. It can be done, however the rigging details are critical.

The TH6 is a continuing problem, and has often failed in wet weather. My patience with this venerable antenna is running thin. When it works it is too narrow band and lossy (due to the traps). Guest ops have difficulty with the high SWR at the upper end of the SSB segments (tuning is optimized for CW).

The present fault appears to be repairable on the tower. I'll do that when the weather cooperates even though I am planning to replace it. I am investigating designs for lightweight mono-band yagis for 20, 15 and 10 meters. All of them will be fixed south for instant switching to the multiplier rich and QSO thin south direction. 

The following is a summary of antenna projects planned for 2026. One or more may be contingent on a new tower since there is little available space on the existing ones, or side mount options where destructive interactions can be avoided.

• Rebuild the 80 meter yagi: The first steps were taken before winter set in. It can proceed in stages during the year, with completion slated for the fall. Summer is the slow season for the low bands so when the antenna has to be taken offline for a few weeks it will not be a problem.
• SSB for the 80 meter inverted vee: The antenna is pretty much unusable above 3700 kHz. A standard dipole, unlike a vertical, cannot have a low SWR from 3500 to 3800 kHz. Although solutions are straight-forward, it's lower priority than other planned projects.
• Add SSB and an efficient 160 meter mode to the 80 meter yagi: The physical rebuild of the antenna is a prerequisite for these projects. It's at high risk of being deferred to next year.
• 12/17 yagi: After installing a 30 meter antenna in 2025, resonant antennas for the remaining 12 and 17 meter WARC bands are desirable. Non-resonant antennas, with transceiver ATUs or tube amps, are how I've operated those bands until now. Since the antenna has to be rotatable there will be a challenge finding a suitable tower position for it.
• Rotating the lower 15 meter yagi: The bracket and rotator have already been installed but I couldn't finish the project before the cold weather arrived. I hope to complete it this winter if the weather cooperates. It will provide more operating agility and stacking gain into Asia and the Pacific.
• More Heliax: I have sufficient LDF5-50 on hand for new runs to the 20-15 meter tower to support more antennas. A new trench will have to be dug before or after the farming season.
• New and improved rotators: I can't escape the need for rotators so I put up with their fickleness. I recently acquired a Yaesu G2800DXA that I hope to put to good use. I also acquired a Green Heron RT21 controller and two Hy-Gain controllers that can be interfaced with a PC. I hope to have all the rotators software-controlled from both operating positions. 
• Beverage replacement study: The never ending maintenance for the Beverages is annoying even though they're easy to repair. Alternatives include BOG (Beverage on Ground) and vertical arrays. Both require pre-amps that are immune to high signal levels for compatibility with SO2R and multi-op contests. That may be difficult. The existing Beverages do very well in that respect.

Projects in the shack will be to modernize the station's capabilities and to make contest operating as easy as possible. More agility in contests and for daily operating will be welcome. It won't come cheap even though I do a lot of home brewing since major hardware will need to be purchased. I might even discard one or more home brew projects and go commercial in the interests of time.

These are the most significant items for the shack and contest operating in 2026:

• Solid state amplifier: The intent is greater agility during contests and less training for guest operators. The latter is particularly important if I follow through on hosting more multi-ops. It's a difficult choice and I am continuing to evaluate the alternatives, yet stay on budget.
• Rewrite of the antenna selection software: I've begun but it is unlikely to be done before the end of this contest season. You would think winter is the ideal time for software development inside a warm shack. Other tasks easily distract me. When it's done, each operator will have their own antenna selection window, antenna choices will be clearly displayed, and expansion and maintenance will be made easier by means of configuration files.
• More 2BSIQ: Despite saying I'd rather not do this and my plan is more focussed on multi-ops, it is an important skill to learn. I improved my desktop layout for SO2R based on a friend's advice, and now I have to schedule practice to hone my skills. Close to 90% of my contacts in the recent NAQP CW contest were done with 2BSIQ. The live training was vital but it cost me multipliers.
• Encourage new contesters: I have started to encourage younger hams to try contesting by inviting them to operate my station. CQ WW SSB and RAC Winter contests are two recent examples. Too many hams of my generation fret about the future yet do nothing about it. The candidate pool is large: there are more hams in our country that ever before, and the same is true in many other countries. Although most are drawn to other aspects of the hobby, competitiveness is inherent to the human spirit. Awareness and opportunity can unlock that potential.

As usual I am over-reaching in my annual objectives. That's okay: it's better to aim high and fall short than to achieve what comes easily.

The blog

My productivity has had a sustained pace for 13 years. I promised myself a few years ago that I would aim for about one article per week, which I managed to do again in 2025 (46 articles). With so much of my available time dedicated to the station there is always a lot of material for the blog. I will never write "fluff" just to meet my schedule. Every article should have substance and be of interest to at least some readers. When I have nothing to write, I write nothing. 

As far as topics go, it should be understood that the blog follows what I am doing and thinking, not what others want or is popular. I aim to please myself and hope that it is interesting and useful to others. I am comfortable with the mix of technical and operating articles I choose to write about.

Despite no promotion the readership appears to have grown. I say "appears" since I do not use any tracking tools. It is based on the number of article hits and referrals (net of spam and bots), and sometimes comments. The previous article about digital seems to have hit a nerve with readers. Links to it have been shared leading to discussion on other forums and bringing some of them here to comment. Rarely does an article get so much reaction.

Although it isn't my intent to be provocative on controversial topics, I wanted to make a firm statement about the issue. I expect most hams to remain entrenched in their views of FT8 and its cousins. I won't shy away from what I believe are important issues facing our hobby that ought to be addressed. We need progress and renewal, not a desperate clinging to a mythical golden age that never truly existed. It's the future that needs our attention.

The blog will continue for as long as I have the drive and there are interesting topics to write about. I don't foresee a slowdown in the near future. 

The future

This fall will mark 10 years since I moved to this QTH and started building my present station. Time flies, and it will keep flying. That raises several questions:

• How much longer will I be able to do tower work?
• Who can I get to do tower work that is economical and knowledgable? 
• When I must downsize, can I keep the station and operate remote?

Entropy never sleeps. I was deeply affected by the passing of several friends and elderly family members in 2025. None of us will live forever.

On the other hand this is an ideal time to invest more in the station. With less time ahead of me I am free to spend more as long as I set aside enough for vital matters. It is time to write my shopping list. So it isn't all bad. I am cursed with optimism.

I look forward to seeing you on the bands in 2026 and for many years to come. 

Digital Modes Have Already Won

As we begin a new year it is traditional to look ahead and to look back on the year that was. I have a forthcoming article about the year past and my station plan for the new year, but in this one I'd like to take a broader view. In particular, the spectacular migration to digital modes on HF.

Let's consider factors that are contributing to the migration:

• No code licensing: CW is a vanishing art. Other than contest weekends and DXpeditions there is little to be found on the bands. When you do find stations to work, they are the same ones you worked yesterday. Which brings us to the next point.
• Less interest in communication: I rarely use the radio to communicate. If I want to talk to someone I text, email or call them on the phone. Years ago friends would arrange skeds or use nets to talk. Commercial long distance services were expensive decades ago! Quick QSOs that stick to the minimum exchange are becoming the norm, inside and outside of contests.
• Stations are smaller: New and young hams are less likely to install towers and yagis. Indeed, many mainly operate portable, leading to the popularity of POTA. Unable to do CW, many find that SSB is difficult with small stations (up to 100 watts plus wire antennas). Concurrently, elderly hams are downsizing and need to get by with small stations as well. 
• Convenience: Digital modes are easy. Connect a USB cable between your rig and PC, download free software, spend a few minutes on configuration and you're ready to go. Watch the signals decode, click on one and work them. The QSO can be automatically uploaded to LOTW and similar services. If you want to know more about the person on the other end of the QSO the software will take you to their web page (usually QRZ.com).
• Easier DX: From smaller stations DX can be reliably worked using digital modes. From all indications, hams young and old, new licensees and old timers, continue to enjoy DXing. Listen to the popular FT8 frequencies and you will be amazed at the DX available that is rarely heard on the traditional modes. Work southeast Asia from eastern North America on 80 meters? Sure! Try that on CW in 2026 and you will be disappointed.

Whatever your opinions about digital modes the migration is undeniable. In preparation for this article I tuned the rig to 80 meters one evening and took the following pictures. The first is the FT8 window at 3573 kHz. The second is a waterfall display of 3500 to 3550 kHz (CW segment) on my Icom 7610. They were taken just one minute apart.

The people have spoken: all hail the new mode king!

If you're active on the bands you already know. The picture is a little better when you compare to SSB rather than CW, but the magnitude of the difference remains huge. The ratio of digital to conventional mode QSOs is at least 5:1 (noted by several QSO matching services), contest weekends excepted. DXpeditions are spending an increasing portion of their limited time on digital modes since that's what people want. They say so when they donate their money.

Many of my generation, along with older hams and some that are younger, are not happy with the change. Griping from the curmudgeon crowd is frequent but growing quieter. They are aging out of the hobby (dying, to be blunt about it) or joining the migration by embracing digital. They know where the activity is and they are attracted to it like everybody else.

The call signs of many older hams are frequently seen on FT8 where they find the DX pickings to be good and the computer-assisted mode easy on aging bodies and senses. Like me they may first try CW when they walk into the shack each day and then, perhaps reluctantly, check out what happening on FT8. We're in a technical hobby so it is no surprise that they (we) have little difficulty adapting to the technology. 

With a big signal I can usually get answers to my CQs on CW and SSB when there is propagation. I work many new stations though it's mostly those I've worked before, whether on that band or another. The calls are always familiar. Listen every day and you'll notice that the same few stations are CQing on CW, and when they're answered it's the same stations. Routines like this foster friendships but we can too easily dig ourselves into a repetitive rut. Where's the fun in that? 

Those of my generation you see on FT8 typically fall into one of the following categories, at least based on my experience and observation:

• Filling band-slots for the DXCC Challenge award, FFMA (on 6 meters), DXCC Honor Roll, 5B WAC, 5B DXCC, and similar difficult and therefore prestigious awards.
• Increasing the success rate for working long path on the low bands into Asia and other points on the other side of the globe from us (North America). Signals are terribly weak but workable more often and for longer on digital modes. This is most common on 80 and 160 meters.
• Running robots day in and day out, flipping from one band to another, working everything that moves. The ethics of robots is debatable. I strongly dislike them because they pester me and they occupy valuable spectrum in the narrow 3 kHz windows currently in wide use. Others feel the more the merrier, so if stations work the robot surely both win.
• I notice many stations I remember from past contests but no longer see them contesting today. I guess that as we grow older contests become more of a physical challenge and many choose to "retire" to digital. Older hams that downsize may be disappointed by their relatively poor contest performance and find solace in a mode that is friendly to small stations. 

Above is another view of CW versus FT8. It was taken during the morning of the first weekend of 2026 when 12 meters was open to Europe. CW activity is above average due to the WWA activity in early January. There is still no comparison. 

Of course there are many newly licensed hams that have almost exclusively operated digital. As noted above, they don't know the code and SSB is difficult with a wire in a tree. Unlike when I was young, new hams typically don't have towers nor do they want them. Amplifiers are less common than small QRP rigs that they can take for POTA outings.

As to why I use FT8 and other digital modes is straight forward and practical:

• 6 meters: I first ventured into digital when almost all the activity on 6 meters migrated to FT8. I soon found that it had undeniable advantages compared to CW and SSB. I began an enthusiastic convert. Other than the occasional VHF contest all my 6 meter operating and monitoring is on FT8.
• 160 meters: On most nights there are very few DX stations to work on top band. As much as I like to see the activity I have little reason to call them. I've worked them many times before. When I call it is just to say hello. The bulk of top band activity is on FT8. Like on 6 meters, long DX paths can be short and marginal -- though more predictable than on 6 -- which favours digital. One sunrise between Christmas and New Year's I worked VK5, VK6 and VK9. At the same time no DX was heard on CW.
• Insurance QSOs with rare countries: If I can only make one QSO with a rare DX entity I don't want it to be digital. My preference is CW first and SSB second. If the DX shows up on FT8 before I've worked them I'll go ahead and work them if I can. That's my insurance contact just in case I fail to work them on CW or SSB. 
• Curiosity: Technology is a great attraction. Digital modes require sophisticated algorithms to have them perform as well as they do. I have played with FT4 and MSK144, just for the fun of seeing how they work and what can be done with them. In time I may use other digital modes if only out of curiosity. The technology underlying digital modes is truly a marvel.

Contests

What about contests? There are digital mode contests, just as there are for other modes. To date they have had only modest success. I can't speak for others but I can tell you what I think.

Contest success (high score) is determined by operator skill, station capability and location. The latter two are common across all modes. It is skill that is where the difference between modes is significant. Digital modes are synchronous which constrains operator agility. Further, algorithmic decoding removes operator copying ability (whether CW or phone) from consideration. 

Where does that leave operator skill? Even when I use FT8 it is often quite boring. The challenge is often just trying to scan the long list of decoded messages to find a station to call. Of course I can auto-respond (and override if I'm quick enough) or program a robot to do it for me, but it is not at all like contesting with conventional modes. It leaves me cold.

It can be better, just look at RTTY. That is also a digital mode. The differences are that it is asynchronous and operator skill is required in manually selecting and collating information from two or more decoders. The SO2R and 2BSIQ challenge is similar to that for CW and SSB. Although I have no interest in RTTY I can understand why other contesters take to it.

There is no fundamental reason why FTx modes must be synchronous. I can easily conceive of ways to make it asynchronous and therefore more interesting for contests. But if that's done, are we merely reinventing RTTY? Perhaps it would be an improvement over RTTY, but one of degree not kind. 

It will be a while yet until digital displaces conventional modes for contesting. Indeed, it may be that CW will become a primarily radiosport mode. For milder forms of radiosport, such as POTA, both digital and CW are popular. This is expected since both are friendly to the low power and small antennas typical of these lightweight portable operations. 

But, how do I feel about it?

Enough about the facts and cataloguing what I and others are currently doing. The important question is whether it is enjoyable or fulfilling? Should I go further with digital?

That question cannot be answered by pontificating. You have to get out there and do it. I've already listed the limited uses I make of digital mode (primarily FT8), so I pushed myself out of my comfort zone and did a little DXing on 3573 kHz. Not new countries -- although I tried that, too -- but just calling DX stations or CQing.

I limited myself to 100 watts to see what can be done without a dominant signal, but with my vertical yagi. That's still a lot more antenna than most have on 80. I worked several Europeans, and one each in South American and Australia. This was just after sunset and then the following sunrise. That's when interesting "gray line" openings occur, including long path to southeast Asia at sunset.

I noted quite a few people I know from contesting and DXing. It seems that they also like to go where the opportunities are. There are quite a few DXers that flip between CW and FT8 during the same openings. We may prefer CW but many are not shy about filling those band-slots any way they can. When the DX is on FT8 you must go there to work them. Many rare DX stations also flip between CW and FT8, often choosing the latter when CW doesn't garner the QSOs. You do what gets the job done.

Back to my experiment. While it was nice to work new DX stations on 80 meter FT8, I can't say that it felt enjoyable. The only time my interest level rose was when I heard a really difficult DX station to work, whether rare, on the other side of the planet, or via an unusual propagation path. A surprising number of DX stations replied to my CQs, and of course many DX that I called didn't appear to hear me. The latter isn't surprising since so many hams live in noisy cities and cannot put up more than simple antennas.

It should also be pointed out that the crowding in the FT8 windows is immense. WSJT-X algorithms are very good at decoding overlapping signals even when the overlap approaches 100%. As activity grows that isn't good enough. It's been almost 5 years since I wrote a speculative article about digital's future evolution yet little has changed. Why don't all modern rigs and operating software support larger windows? We certainly have the technology to do it. Nevertheless the evolution remains very likely in my opinion, though slower than I expected.

Despite my DX focus, quite a few W/VE stations called me. I've noticed that many stations on digital modes will call anyone they haven't worked before, and they will do so regardless of your stated preference: e.g. "CQ DX". Some are robots although most are not. I don't feel guilty not responding to them. 

Where does this leave me? Operating digital modes on HF is a personal decision, not one of right versus wrong. As I've said before: never mistake a personal preference for a universal truth. To do so is to slap a label on your forehead for all to see what you are. You will draw scorn, not converts to your view of the world.

It's likely that I'll increase my HF digital operating as time goes by since that may be where the activity is. My one strong opinion is to stay out of digital contests because skill plays a far lesser role in one's competitiveness; it's regimented by the current technology. Even DX pile up techniques are largely useless since it devalues skill and station building. Of course for many that's the attraction! C'est la vie.

Repairing Antennas With a Chainsaw

During a windstorm a week before Christmas two of the reversible Beverages failed to reverse. This often happens when the wind brings down a tree, usually dead or dying, or the long wires twist and tangle due to oscillation. It's become a regular part of station maintenance. Although I hate doing it it's still more convenient than alternative low band receive antennas. So I gripe and carry on.

Unfortunately this happened the day before the RAC Winter contest (Dec 20). Top band isn't a popular choice for that contest so it wasn't critical, besides which the weather happened to be unpleasant. Since ours was a two-person multi-single (M/S) with just one transmitter I headed into the bush during the contest to inspect the Beverages while he continued to operate.

As I feared the outage of two Beverages on the same day was no coincidence. A dead tree had fallen across both antennas. This was possible since the east-west and northeast-southwest reversible Beverages cross. You can safely do that with Beverages since their radiation resistance and mutual impedance are very low.

With the wires scrunched together the differential (transmission line) mode for the reverse direction fails while the common mode direction continues to function. That is, if the wires don't break. Reversible Beverage operation is explained in an earlier article and in ON4UN's excellent book: Low-Band DXing.

The above picture misrepresents the scale. The trunk of the dead tree was shoulder height. It was massive and could not be shifted more than a few centimeters by hand. That would have been a bad idea in any case since the wires were trapped beneath it. 

In a way this was fortunate since the wires (for the east-west Beverage) weren't pulled downward too far. That was likely why the #17 aluminum electric fence wires that I use didn't break.

It was a long trudge through the bush and fields back to the house (~300 meters) since the damage was near the far terminations of both antennas. I returned to the contest while I charged the chainsaw battery. That afternoon I returned to the site to deal with the tree.

It took less than an hour to do the job, including walking there and back. Chainsaws are wonderful tools when you live on a property like mine. Nevertheless it was important to work methodically for safety to myself and the Beverages. A lot of limb clearing was done before I started work on the trunk. Only then could I safely free the wires. Notice how they bounced back into position. Once they were clear I could finish chopping up the tree without further risk to the antennas.

The bush is an unmaintained area of my property. It is many acres in size. I only chopped the tree into small enough pieces to toss them out of the immediate area to make it safe for the antennas and for walking. Although most of the wood can be used as firewood it is not easy to haul it out of the bush. It will likely be left where it is.

I walked along both antennas to check for additional damage. That's a lot of walking since these are long antennas: 175 and 165 meters. The PVC pipe that supports the crossing antennas was still bent because the wires had been pulled out of position. It took only a minute to knock the pipe back into position while straightening the antennas. 

The wires that had twisted together in the accident were separated. The pipe still has a slight bow in it though not enough to be a concern. Beverages are not fussy antennas. Most of the PVC support pipes are similarly bowed.

The evening after the RAC contest I tested the Beverages. Both worked as they should in the forward and reverse directions. That was the only successful antenna repair job for which the only tool I used was a chainsaw. Hence the somewhat whimsical article title.

Early in the new year I'll return to the bush and spend a few hours clearing trees and limbs that threaten the Beverages. There are many -- it's always surprising how much growth there is over the summer, even during this drought year. Brush clearing has become an annual winter ritual.

The Beverages worked perfectly a week later during the Stew Perry contest. As always I am amazed how well these simple antennas can pull weak stations out of the unrelenting noise on top band. It is quite likely that they've added more multipliers to my contest logs than any other antenna in my station. They don't get used a lot but when they are they shine.

I thought I should end this tale with a cautionary note. If you have an antenna that resonates too low in the band and it must be shortened, I advise you to put down the chainsaw. This is a case where more conventional tools will serve you better, and keep you out of the hospital. 

Of course I jest. Still, be safe out there. Chainsaws are wonderful tools but dangerous in careless hands. They've become as essential a tool at my station as winches, wrenches and soldering irons. 

There are many online resources and videos by experts on the selection, safe handling and maintenance of chainsaws (battery or gas). Felling dead trees can be especially dangerous. I won't presume to teach those skills.

PC Migration in the Shack

Technology changes fast. Call it Moore's Law if you like, it is true that our computers and related technology can do more, and do it faster, as time moves on. This has been going on for decades and isn't likely to end anytime soon.

It is unsurprising that software and equipment in our shacks exploits that power. We have direct-sampling SDR in our transceiver, standalone SDR, loggers with massive databases and search features, online real time data collection, analysis and dissemination to characterize on air activity, and so much more. And it's remarkably inexpensive. With a little learning it isn't difficult to build custom equipment that can greatly aid the enjoyment of our hobby.

But technology doesn't come entirely free. The technology you own has to be replaced, and quite often, to keep up with the resource demands of new applications and services. That costs money. Perhaps worse is the migration: moving our applications and data from one computer to another, and reformatting or transforming data formats. We may also have to adjust our operating practices to make the best of new products and services. As they say, the only constant is change.

I recently purchased a new PC to replace the one that runs most of the station. The old one -- only about 6 years old, can no longer cope with the data processing requirements, especially during contests. It bogs down, and that impacts my effectiveness. It also run Windows 10 which has been forced into obsolescence. 

Aside from the Windows 11, the new PC has a higher speed microprocessor and attendant peripherals, including more and faster RAM, SSD rather than a hard disk, and more wireless options (Wi-Fi, BT, etc.). What have been eliminated are an Ethernet port, CD & DVD drive, and VGA video. Luckily I have an ample supply of cables, monitors, keyboard and so forth that are compatible with the new PC. Many others will have to buy more than just a PC when upgrading.

This article is not a migration guide, whether for ham radio or general computing. There are ample online references to help with that. I won't suggest any since I don't know which guides are best and I picked from several to get a diversity of ideas. I've migrated computers many times in the past but with every technology change the process is different. In two cases it was forced by a hard drive (HDD) failure. I hope that you keep up to date backups.

My sole purpose is to give you an idea of what I had to go through considering the size and complexity of my station. You may find it interesting. Hopefully it won't be as difficult in your station.

Why Windows?

While there are alternative OS's such as Linux and iOS, most of the software I use (as do most hams) only supports Windows. Eliminating Microsoft's OS from my station isn't practical and would make any migration far, far worse. I use Linux at home for other purposes but not for the computers running the station.

Some will nevertheless persist: there are ways to run most Windows applications on Linux and iOS. That's swapping one set of difficulties for another, and it's usually more difficult for a worse result. I have no reason to do so. This is a ham shack, not a religious crusade. Yet there are certain to be readers of the blog that have taken that road and are itching to preach the gospel. Please don't be that person.

Cleaning Windows 11

Removing all the "cruft" from Windows is easy but tedious. I followed several online guides on how to go about it. I uninstalled the Microsoft components I don't need or want, turned off the most annoying features of software that cannot be removed, and adjusted the behaviour of Files Explorer and other components. These are a few of the ones that applied to my ham radio applications:

• Turn on the display of file extensions and hidden files. There are so many applications with unique file locations and file types that I find it helpful to make these details visible.
• Ensure that file types (file extensions) default to the appropriate application. Don't assume that the Windows defaults are useful and sensible. It can be particularly useful to associate Notepad to files like .ini, .mc and similar settings files found in N1MM and other applications to make them easier to inspect and edit.
• Services like OneDrive -- I disable it and rely on manual backups -- are not compatible with N1MM Logger+ and various other applications. You must move databases out of its sight or you'll end up with corrupt data. 

While not "cruft", there are important Windows settings to consider. For example, for digital modes and voice message recording and playback, navigate to the audio settings and turn off all audio processing (mostly on the audio input) -- processing may be enabled by default. You will likely have to adjust the mic and speaker level since the defaults may not reside within the required level setting ranges needed in WSJT-X, N1MM Logger+ and other applications.

Windows increases the amount of security screening for applications with every release. That is reasonable. Enhanced security can prove challenging for the many ham radio applications that are not digitally signed or not distributed by Microsoft and other certified vendors. You'll have to work your way through the various security prompts ("are you sure you want to run this?") for each installed app. I even get splash warnings every time I run some custom applications. It can become very annoying.

Again, this is not a Windows guide so I won't delve deeper into the topic in this article. You may run into Windows security hurdles beyond those I've mentioned so be prepared to spend more time than expected on the migration.

File transfer

This is the easy part of the migration. There are many modern methods that are convenient and fast for moving large quantities of files between computers.

Three are shown in the picture: Wi-Fi, flash memory drive and portable hard drive. I find the last of those the easiest: the transfer is very fast. The USB HDD holds 1 TB, is cheap, and doubles as a backup device for all of my computers.

Although Wi-Fi may seem a good choice, I find that it's difficult to navigate Window's obscure local networking "features" to access the required remote drives and folders. Its terminology and restrictions make an easy wireless connection unfathomably difficult.

Aside from application folders and files, don't forget application installers. Ham radio applications tend to only last as long as the developer cares to do so. Once they abandon it, the application may be difficult to locate other than on predatory sites. I always save a local copy of install executable files. 

Most of those files will never be used since updated versions are supported and available online. But when you need one that has since become obsolete you'll be thankful that you kept it around. Most of those old installers work fine on current Windows versions.

Serial ports

When you plug a new device into a USB port on the computer, a COM port is assigned. With the increasing amount of computerized equipment in our shacks there are many ports. It is your job to know which newly assigned COM port is associated with which device. If you use a USB hub (you have more USB devices than ports on the PC), use it during the connection process for the new PC.

It is helpful to have the Device Manager open when connecting USB devices. Watch for the new COM port to appear and write it down. Better, keep the information in a file on the computer; a text file is all that you need.

The COM will not be assigned until a driver is found. For some devices, such as the Silicon Labs driver for many rigs such as my Icom transceivers, the driver must be installed before the device is connected.

Follow the manufacturer's recommendations on device driver selection and use. Otherwise Windows may choose one that will not work properly or at all. Drivers such as for FTDI and CH340 devices can be loaded by Windows though it is not always easy. You may have to use the Windows update feature to find and load the driver. Once you have the correct driver beware that Windows may choose to update it during its usual update process. That may not be what you want.

Some devices will only work with a COM port lower than 10. Connect those first since they are incrementally assigned. The assignments can be changed later though with some difficulty. I prefer to avoid the necessity.

If you use applications such as com0com or VSP Manager (among many others) that create virtual serial ports and enable connections to and sharing of physical COM ports, you'll have to install those as well before the applications that use them will function. Again, keep detailed notes. I need virtual serial ports for the SO2R Mini.

Microsoft tries hard to put peripherals to sleep. After each serial (USB) peripheral (transceiver, SO2R device, etc.) is connected, assigned a COM port and the driver installed, the Device Manager's power management pane should be opened to disable the sleep feature. Occasionally a Windows upgrade will reverse the action so it can be worthwhile to periodically look for that check mark.

Transceivers

Modern rigs typically connect to the PC via USB. As a minimum this is for CAT control and for an increasing number of rigs it also supplies a virtual soundcard for audio (e.g. digital modes and phone contest messages). 

Virtual soundcards are assigned generic names that can be ambiguous when you have several transceivers and audio peripherals. Either document the assigned names or rename them to what you find useful. Virtual soundcards are not limited to transceivers, extending as well to VNA software, SDR, and SO2R devices.

Digital modes

WSJT-X can be annoying to initially set up. If you don't yet have a transceiver connected (CAT and soundcard) it can be futile to jump into the settings. The reason is that it won't let you save most or any of them until there is a functioning radio connection. It's very annoying. WSJT-X is wonderful software expect for the UI (user interface). 

You'll have to transfer (manually or otherwise) the specific parameters of the rig and soundcard selection. Colours, decoding level, spectrogram and other features will require similar setup. If you use the application in conjunction with a logging program such as HRD or N1MM, you'll have to go through that set up as well.

The log files must be copied to the new PC if you want WSJT-X to correctly identify stations worked before, grids and countries needed, etc. I took the most recent log and ADIF files from the old PC and carefully copied them to the new PC. 

• wsjtx.log
• wsjtx_log.adi 

The WSJT-X log file directory is deeply hidden within Windows so rather than find it yourself, open the log window from the Files menu. When copying the files to the new PC, make sure that WSJT-X isn't attempting to log a QSO; preferably do it without yet having used WSJT-X on the new PC, not even to monitor. 

The next time you start WSJT-X it will load the copied files and notify you in a message that is visible for just a few seconds. You should also load the latest country file, and update it from time to time. WSJT-X has a button to take care of that regular task. 

Migrating WSJTX-improved is the same as for the general release. Since I do not use JTDX or other digital modes software I have no migration advice to offer about those.

LOTW

An unexpected gap appeared when I tried to upload a log to LOTW for the first time on the new computer using TQSL. Since the signed digital certificate is tied to the device, a new one must be requested. I haven't done that yet. It's one more inconvenience to deal with.

Update 2025.12.18: I was wrong. The certificate can be transferred by backing up the certificate from the Certificate tab in TQSL, transferring the backup file to the new PC and then loading it. My thanks for those who contacted me to point out my mistake. 

Browser

I use several different browsers. I have one that strictly enforces privacy to protect me when viewing many web sites, especially those that I've never visited before. Another has strong ad blocking to block malware using ad networks as a distribution vector, and when using a variety of internet services that are overbearing with respect to ads. I use another browser to work on the blog since Blogger is incompatible with some security settings I enable. It's confusing but effective for my style of internet usage. If you use just one browser the migration will be easier.

Bookmarks have to be transferred and login credentials must be re-entered, among many other tasks where data on the old computer aren't present on the new one. Luckily there is not a lot that is strictly necessary for the station since most of my browser use is on other computers.

Loggers

At present I only use N1MM Logger+ for all my contest and daily logging needs. That simplifies matters somewhat. Unlike WSJT-X (see above) the directories that contain all of my extensively customized files and settings are easily accessed and copied.

The relevant directories and files encompass: old and current databases for myself and guest operators, function key definitions, and voice messages. In this migration I did not copy over the old .ini settings but I probably should have. It took longer than expected to configure N1MM on the new computer. I thought it would be easier since the hardware settings are not really transferrable due to the different COM ports.

The details that needed attention included: Winkeyer settings (COM6 above), audio interfaces, broadcast UDP addresses, OTRSP connections (COM22 above), window appearance and positions, call history and check partial files, and individual features selected via the menus, among others. It took a while to fully recreate my preferences.

Custom software

My home brew antenna selection software was not trivial to migrate, but I've done it before and I didn't expect it to be a problem. Despite that, there are multiple steps and my documentation is sparse. There is, as yet, no configuration file -- there are hard coded parameters to be changed -- and installation of required software and libraries. These include:

• Python. Since Python is popular it has a rapid development cycle. I had to deal with new versions of the software, libraries and development tools. Most are upward compatible but not always.
• Many libraries are distributed with Python while less popular ones must be installed separately. It isn't difficult except for the details which I don't remember clearly since I don't often do it. The Pywin32 library installation is particularly difficult, requiring a two-step process -- it provides access to the Windows APIs that allow me to control window focus for compatibility with the logger software.
• COM port assignments must be changed in all applications, including my own, that access transceivers and other peripheral equipment.
• Integration testing with the Arduino-based switching software and hardware.
• Even after all was done, Windows 11 security continues to dislike Python apps and complains. I haven't yet figured out how to stop the warnings, but they are transitory notifications and can be ignored. There are certain to be other applications that trigger the same warnings.

There were no changes to the Arduino software since it, of course, doesn't run on Windows. However the Arduino IDE and libraries had to be installed and tested on the new computer. This was also necessary for my other Arduino projects and products that use Arduino boards such as the SO2R Mini.

EMI

A new computer requires EMI protection. Since most of the cables already have chokes installed, the primary concern is the computer power supply and monitor. I installed more chokes even though I didn't observe new problems while operating, either to or from the computer and its peripherals. Something requiring attention is certain to arise eventually. I was running low on ferrite chokes so I ordered a bunch at the same time I purchased the PC.

Going live

The migration as I've described it sounds painful. In reality it wasn't that bad, perhaps a few hours spread over a week. I could resume operating before the migration was complete. About the only thing I've yet to do is to test SO2R and networking for M/2 contests. I don't expect any problems with those. I have a guest operator for the upcoming RAC Winter contest and I'm hoping that the station works as it should!

All that said, I hope I don't have to do this again for several years. Usually that works out since computer resource consumption grows at only a moderate pace and Windows 11 should remain current for at least another 5 years. My older computers with Windows 10 can remain as they are. The security risks are low since they are rarely used outside of contests. 

One of the spare computers will be converted to Linux for non-radio use. Mostly that involves just a browser,Open Office and a few other widely available application for document creation and processing. I count at least 5 computers currently in the shack, and a few more scattered around the house that still work but are too old to be of use. 

Eventually they'll go to electronic recycling after the hard disk drives are destroyed. Any discarded smart device needs to be wiped of all personal information. Physical destruction is a last resort but don't hesitate when the need arises.

Deluge of Electronic QSLs

I have had a frustrating few weeks, peppered with friends dying, the distraction of major contests, failing (and repairing) equipment, de-"crufting" a new Windows 11 PC for the shack, and absolutely awful weather. Winter has arrived with a vengeance. Another 20 cm of the fluffy white stuff is falling from the sky as I type these words. Tomorrow I'll have to spend an hour or two clearing it. Very pretty but annoying as heck.

This is therefore an opportune time to grouse about a topic that has become increasingly annoying to me and to many others of my acquaintance. I have to purge this now before I must put on a happy face for the rapidly approaching holidays.

I make a lot of QSOs. Really a lot. For example, in the recent CQ WW contests I logged 8000 and 4500  contacts during the SSB and CW weekends, respectively. My LOTW (Logbook of the World) account is well into 6-digits of uploaded QSOs. It is no surprise that I get many more QSL cards than most hams. All are unsolicited.

My QSL policy is strict and, to be clear, many hams find it objectionable. That is not my concern. I do QSL 100% but only by uploading to LOTW. I make this clear on my QRZ.com detailed profile (sign on to view) and whenever I am explicitly asked on air. 

Cards received via the bureau or direct mail get thrown into a box and promptly forgotten. While I appreciate the sentiment there are too many and I feel no obligation to deal with them individually. I haven't even had printed QSL cards to send for close to 30 years.

Yet the influx has grown worse in 2025. Many QSL senders who have themselves realized what a burden it can be just to send cards (which is certainly easier than processing received cards) have resorted to online services that email electronic QSL. Upload your log files, and with a click you can send hundreds or thousands or electronic QSLs.

Just today I received no fewer than 10 cards from one station that worked me on pretty well every band in every contest I entered this fall. This has descended to the level of spam or telemarketing calls and scams, and the old standby: junk mail.

Many of these QSL services have an opt-out policy to cease these mailings. A few hams have told me that they've tried to opt out and the email deluge continues. They complain, yet the unwanted email continues to fill their inboxes.

I am not so polite. I was never asked to opt in so I feel no obligation to opt out. Every new service or sender that emails electronic QSLs to me is put into a filter: they either go to the spam folder or trash, depending on my mood. If enough recipients flag these messages as spam it soon becomes a broad email policy. That means email from those domains is flagged as spam before it reaches us. I consider that acceptable. 

Perhaps you chase operating awards that accept electronic QSLs. Many will not while many sponsors of lesser known awards use the honour principle: they'll believe you if you tell them you've confirmed working the required stations. And, no, I won't seek out and upload my logs to every QSL matching service and award sponsor on the planet.

If you are a user of one or more of electronic QSL services you may be offended by how I treat their emails. I am not alone. I have a blog in which I can easily publish my views while many hams of my acquaintance do as I do but without any public pronouncements. Most of them are contesters like me who also make thousands or tens of thousands of contacts every year. Their received electronic QSLs are silently discarded or filtered.

I know that this article may come across as a rant from an angry old man. What you can't see is the smile on my face. I am caricaturing my attitude to make a point. In truth I'm more amused than annoyed by the matter. Filtering the deluge of electronic QSLs is easy. It's hardly any trouble at all.

The deluge of electronic QSL emails can distract from my on air activity, which is what really matters. If I were to spend more time on bulk QSLs that arrive daily and that I neither need nor want, I am less active. Time is a limited resource. I make my choices accordingly. Others may choose differently, which is their prerogative.