February 2026
Volume 31 Number 2
Next meeting: 11:30AM March 21st at Round Table Pizza in Martel. Find out more.
Thirty Years Ago, a bunch of local hams gathered for pizza at Mountain Mike’s Round Table in Martel, and the Mother Lode DX/Contest Club was born!
In this issue: Missives from our new Prez and VP! – Monthly features! – lotsa news – bunches of state QSO parties – a look back 10 & 20 years – classifieds – DX – focus contests – more funny stuff! – and more!
2026 Meeting Dates
- March 21
- April – none
- May 16
- June 20
- July 25
- Aug 22
- Sept 19
- Oct 17
- Nov 14 (2027 officer nominations)
- Dec – None (TBD)
- Jan 23 (2027 elections)
From the Prez
Hey DX’ers and Contesters,
Greeting from a getaway weekend in SoCal. Sue K6SZQ had a conference to attend so I became the designated driver.
As you are reading this, MLDXCC elections for 2026 have been completed resulting in a great slate of officer & board members. Going forward, the outlook for 2026 is encouraging. There are various planned DX-peditions and numerous traditional contests. Please avail yourselves to these in an effort to improve your standings and grow MLDXCC.
A quick poll of various members revealed the greatest need to be recruitment of new members. It was expressed that embracement of new modes and HF operations (FT8, POTA, SOTA) will serve to not only attract new members but possibly rejuvenate interest in past members.
As approved in November of 2025, dues are now $30 per year (individual) or $45 per family. Continued payment of your dues is the only means we have as a club have to support DX-peditions, provide for member awards, and ongoing website improvements.
As a club, I feel it is important that we do our best to meet the needs and interest of members. Please email me with your ideas and suggestions. Email address is – nc6r4dx@gmail.com
In an effort to keep members informed, monthly meeting dates have been reviewed & approved by the board. These dates have been given to Jeff (webmaster) and will appear on the MLDXCC web page. Hopefully these published dates will enable you to plan your attendance to MLDXCC meetings.
73, Steve / NC6R MLDXCC Pres
From the Veep
No report.
Treasurer’s Quarterly Report
Next Quarterly report will be in the April Nugget.
Secretary’s Report
Breaking News!
(Imagine the sound of a chattering teletype…)
Ghostbox. Want to dip your toe into SO2R operating on phone or CW, but don’t want to invest in SO2R hardware? If your radios include USB (port, hihi) audio (aka an internal sound card), Ghostbox, a software-based SO2R controller, may be just the thing. It features RX and TX DSP filtering, and even contest recording. It is said to work with DxLog, N1MM Logger+, Win-Test, and any compatible software capable of the OTRSP protocol. Download it here, or read the docs to see if it might work for you.
New FT mode? Just when you thought it was safe… Some folks over in Italy have applied messed around with (Claude) AI “vibe” coding and created FT2. It’s basically twice as fast as FT4 (3.8 second TX time). You can learn about it here, and you can watch world wide activity here. Maybe this FT will be tolerable for contesting?
FT Modes in State QSO Parties. Speaking of… The need to exchange county codes has so far excluded FT modes from being included in most state QPs. The folks in South Carolina have figured out how to use Field Day FT mode to communicate county codes. I haven’t had a chance to totally puzzle out what they are doing, but it involves mapping the Field Day operating Class (e.g. 3A) to their county codes. Check it out here and if you figure exactly what they are doing, let us know!
Direct link to the ARRL Contest Update? Maybe. There is a link at the top of each Update to “view in browser”. For those who may not be able to subscribe here is the link I received for the most recent issue. Let me know if it works for you.
Got news? Send it to me for inclusion in the next issues of The Nugget! – ed.
Recently Posted Articles
QSL of the Month – February 2026 – Bob W1RH
Videos!
Subscribe to our YouTube channel! (We’re up to 8 now! – ed)
DX…
DXpedition Timeline – Via DX-world.net
Upcoming Contests
Mark your calendar with our MLDXCC Focus Contests! Up next is:
- March 7-8, 2026: ARRL International DX Contest – SSB
Focus contests for 2026-2027 should be on the agenda in the next couple of meetings – think about which contests you’d like, and contribute to the decision!
Other contests of note coming up in the next month or so, via contestcalendar.com:
- March 14-15: Stew Perry Topband Challenge (CW)
- March 15 (Saturday evening March 14): North American Sprint (RTTY)
- March 21-23: BARTG HF RTTY Contest
- March 28-29: CQ WPX Contest (SSB)
State QSO Parties (via statesqoparty.com):
- February 28-March 1: South Carolina QSO Party (CW, SSB, Digital (including FT modes, see News above)
- March 1: NSARA (Nova Scotia) Contest, (CW, Phone, Digital (RTTY etc. no FTx)) – 80m only
- March 1: North Carolina QSO Party (CW, Phone, Digital (RTTY etc.) plus separate FTx “Weak Signal” event during the same period)
- March 14-15: Oklahoma QSO Party (CW, Phone, Digital (RTTY etc. no FTx))
- March 14-15: Idaho QSO Party (CW, Phone, Digital (RTTY etc. no FTx))
- March 15-16: Wisconsin QSO Party (CW, Phone, Digital (RTTY etc. no FTx))
- March 21-22: Virginia QSO Party (CW, Phone, Digital (RTTY etc. no FTx))
- April 4-5: Louisiana QSO Party (CW, Phone, Digital (RTTY etc. no FTx))
- April 4-5: Mississippi QSO Party (CW, SSB, RTTY, FT4/8)
Classifieds
C’mon folks, buy this stuff! Maker offers!
For Sale and Wanted: Skip N6NFB is selling a US Tower TX-455 (used, very good) with tilt fixture, Yaesu 800 rotor, and 15 foot mast tube $1100. And also selling a US Tower MA-40 tubular tower. New old stock, still on shipping pallets. $250.
Skip is also looking for “a fairly recent HF radio. FTDX 3000 or similar. My trusty old 756proIII developed a problem during the recent contest and took me out of it. Skip – N6NFBskip@gmail.com
Wanted: Rohn-25 tower sections, bottom plate, wall stand off, & top section. If you have any of thiese pieces, let me know along with the price.
Dave, w6de – 530-409-7877 – v8dave@gmail.com
For Sale: Bob W1RH has a WaveNode WN2 Digital Watt Meter, with four HF sensors. This unit sells new for $385, with a single sensor. I have been using is in an SO2R configuration with a sensor on the input and output of each amplifier.
That way, I can always see my input and output power. Rick, W6SR, who uses my station remotely more than I do, has depended on the software display to know how much power he’s running.
There are several options for the look of the computer display. And there are several other features such as rotator control and antenna switching but I have just used the wattmeter function.
I’m selling this because I have purchased the Flex PGXL amplifier, which has built in and remotable watt meters. It can be yours for $200.
Bob also has for sale an Array Solutions 6-PAK 6 port SO2R antenna switch – $250
Contact Bob W1RH w1rh@yahoo.com.
For Sale: New, never used, EHU for BigIR / $250 or best offer – Thank you, Steve / NC6R nc6r4dx@gmail.com
High Power Antenna Tuners: Have you always wanted a Big Johnson? Now’s your chance! I bought this EF Johnson Kilowatt Matchbox years ago at a hamfest and never used it – darn those resonant antennas – so I have no idea of its actual condition. Is said to be able plenty more than 1000 watts, and can tune a balanced antenna as well as something at the other end of a coax. Includes the directional coupler. $150 or best offer. Jeff WK6I wk6i.jeff@gmail.com.
I also have a big Dentron MT3000A. Same story, never used it. This unit includes an antenna switch, dummy load, and can also handle a balanced antenna. $200 or best offer. Jeff WK6I wk6i.jeff@gmail.com.
Humor!
A few more things that popped up around the web this month:
Send more funny stuff for the next issue! – Ed.
ClubLog DXCC Standings
Standings for 2026 as of 21 February. You can see complete MLDXCC standings on ClubLog here. And if you notice some numbers not quite adding up right – I promise I double checked. ClubLog will hopefully straighten it out soon.
Overall
| 1 | K6YK | 121 |
| 2 | NK7I | 120 |
| 3 | K6RIM | 110 |
| 4 | W1SRD | 104 |
| 5 | NJ6G | 92 |
CW
| 1 | K6YK | 77 |
| 2 | K6RIM | 59 |
| 3 | N05Z | 28 |
| 4 | NA6O | 21 |
| 5 | WU7W | 7 |
Phone
| 1 | K6YK | 31 |
| 2 | K6LR | 17 |
| 3 | WE6Z | 9 |
| 4 | K6RIM | 8 |
| 4 | WC6H | 8 |
| 5 | K6TQ | 6 |
Data
| 1 | NK7I | 120 |
| 2 | W1SRD | 103 |
| 3 | K6RIM | 93 |
| 4 | NJ6G | 92 |
| 5 | W6DR | 86 |
10 and 20 Years Ago in The Nugget
Rick W6SR: “I hope all of you loaded-up band, countries and modes on the VP8STI and VP8SGI DXpeditions? With the high cost, environmental over-site, and danger these two will not be back on the air any anytime soon, if ever.”
Norm N6JV gave us “TUBE WARS – EPISODE 1 The French Empire Strikes Back: le TM (FOTOS).” An interesting tale of desertion and new technology, go check it out!
Dennis NJ6G reminisced: “About one month after I was licensed, my wife was sitting next to me one evening when I tuned in KH6IB in Hawaii calling CQ on 20m. I’d heard him before but hadn’t been able to establish contact. This time he didn’t get away, I got him! Wow, I talked all the way to Hawaii on this thing! We were both so happy. Two days later I got CE4WJK in Chile. Hey, a foreign country! I called Vina and told her what I did. “Why aren’t you working?” she asked. “I am, but I just talked to a guy in Chile!” I replied.”
From the January 2016 meeting minutes, “WA6ZTY, WX5S & KD6WKY, and Vina K6VNA were voted in as members. Dave K6KNS is now Extra Class.” More from Dave “I bought a new Kenwood TS-990S transceiver. It was a reward to myself for passing the Extra Class license exam recently. So I now have my Yaesu FT-DX3000 for sale…”
Norm, N6JV “would like to up-date the “member’s stations” section of our website. Many of the pics are old and outdated, and many of us have moved. So please send Norm a photo of your smiley face at your station, as well a photo of your antenna system.”
So what do you think, should we have “members’ stations” on the website again? Let us know!
Lots of news in February 2006:
President Rich NU6T: “Congratulations to everyone who managed to work 3Y0X, XF1K and K6VVA/6 [Farallons!] this month… Are we interested in some friendly internal club competition using scores from the contests we already enter? Back when I was a fencer, we had fun with an event we called “A Day on the Green”. One of the events everyone seemed to enjoy was a group event where we pinned a balloon over our hearts. The last one with an un-popped balloon was the winner. Just to even things out, the top fencers wore big balloons and the beginners had small balloons. Pure fun.”
From the January 2006 minutes: “Regarding Field Day this year, Rick, N6RK, suggested that the club check into the use of N1MM’s MM as the logging program. The program can be downloaded from the web, but is quite huge. Discussion followed regarding the pros and cons of CT, TR, NA, MM and WriteLog – whatever will be used will need to be compatible with Windows.”
Norm N6JV provided a fascinating multi-page report on the 2006 DXpedition to “XF1K, Baja California Sur NA-124. After several successful IOTA operations off Baja California and in the Sea of Cortez by the XF1K team, the last group in the area that was high on the needed list and that did not require special logistical arrangements was the Baja California Sur State South East group, NA-124. This group consists of Ballena, Cerralvo, Espiritu Santo, Gallina, Gallo, Partida, Reina, San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose and Santa Cruz.” Go read the whole story!
Ken K6TA had an important announcement: “The DX Advisory Committee has been asked to study a proposal to amend the DXCC Political Entity Rule. At the February MLDXCC club meeting I would like to have a discussion and input from our club members at the next meeting.”
Ray Parker, ND6S, “…suggested resumption of a weekly net for announcements of DX-peditions, IOTA, upcoming contests and advice for new and/or prospective members. Ray will be net control for February, beginning with the first Tuesday. The Amador County Amateur Radio Club (ACARC) repeater (146.835, PL 100, minus offset) will be used and the net will start at 8:00 PM.”
Treasurer Carolyn Wilson, K6TKD: “The following people have NOT paid their 06 dues: W6AJW “Chuck” Farr, W6de Dave Engle, WB6GEF Dave Green, K6GT George Daughters, N6GWT Joe Grace, WK6I Jeff Stai,W6ISO Kit Kohlmoos, K6KM Bill Snider, WL7NN George Van Lone, K6QG Lyle Bradt, M6RER Ginny Snider, N6TV Bob Wilson, KF6T, Jack Morgan, K6TTT Jack Costa, N6XI Rick Tavan, AE6Y Andy Faber.” Tsk tsk.
Did these snippets from years ago trigger any good memories? If so, please send them for inclusion in the next issue of The Nugget!
Resources
Check out the Resources menu up there at the top of every web page for useful DX and contest info.
Prepared for the MLDXCC by Editor and Webwookie Jeff WK6I. Please do send me any corrections, omissions, or material for future issues of The Nugget. It is much appreciated!
Leave a Reply