In classic mythology, Cupid is said to carry two types of arrows—a sharp-pointed golden type for arousing romance in those it strikes and a blunt, lead-tipped projectile that causes its unwary victims to run for the hills.
As we celebrate the month in which the cherubic icon makes his annual appearance on Valentine’s Day cards, our thoughts at OnAllBands turn to another passion that doesn’t involve giving heart-shaped boxes of chocolates—namely, amateur radio and warmer days ahead operating in the great outdoors.
It wouldn’t be a stretch to assume that if Cupid were a ham radio operator (call sign LØVEOPS), he’d likely be shooting antennas high into trees rather than raining arrows on the lovelorn. And instead of employing a bow and arrow, he’d never miss the mark with an EZ Hang Square Shot Wire Antenna Launcher Kit—an ideal February gift for that special operator in your life.
The patented slingshot lets you raise your antenna wires by launching them via a soft EZ Hang ball that can easily clear a tree or branch more than 60 feet high or by sending them skyward attached to bright-yellow, one-ounce weights that clear trees up to 100 feet tall.
EZ Hang launchers are constructed of a welded steel double rod. The attached corrosion-resistant casting reel comes with 300 feet of installed 10-pound-test mono-filament line. A quick-disconnect clip lets you easily release launched balls upon their soft return. Kits also include a winder and intermediate line dispenser that has 500 feet of orange braided line with a handle stake to put into the ground to hold the dispenser upright.
NOTE: Some local ordinances and/or state and country statutes prohibit the possession of a slingshot. It is the buyer’s responsibility to obey the law. You must be over 18 years of age to purchase an EZ Hang launcher.
Time to Launch Contesting Excitement in February
Here’s hoping everyone avoids the slings and arrows of outrageous contesting fortune this February. The month includes RTTY action, 2025’s first State QSO Parties, PSK31 on Valentine’s Day, 10-meter and Topband challenges, and much more. Here are a few highlights:
- OMISS (O.M. International Sideband Society) QSO Party, Feb. 8, 1500Z to Feb. 9, 1500Z. Check out these tips for being successful in this SSB-only contest. Per the OMISS website, “OMISS, or O.M. International Sideband Society, has been operating list-type awards nets on the General Amateur bands since 1981. Want to get your WAS quickly? This is a great place to get it done. Do you like to work lots of stations for unique awards? We have several challenging awards to work for, each with an attractive certificate to hang on your wall. Do you like contesting? We hold an annual QSO Party and invite the whole amateur community.”
- CQ WW RTTY WPX Contest, Feb. 8, 0000Z to Feb. 9, 2359Z. This annual event draws more than 20,000 RTTY enthusiasts trying to make as many contacts with as many different call sign prefixes as possible.
- KCJ Topband Contest, Feb. 8, 1200Z to Feb. 9, 1200Z. The Keymen’s Club of Japan, a group established in 1976 to promote CW activity on the amateur bands, will be hosting the 41st edition of this 160M contest.
- ARRL School Club Roundup, Feb. 10, 1300Z to Feb. 14, 2359Z. This bi-annual event is designed to foster contacts with and among school radio clubs. Participants can exchange QSO information with any amateur radio station, so non-school clubs and individuals are encouraged to participate as well. All amateur bands except 60, 30, 17, and 12 meters are permitted.
- NAQCC CW Sprint, Feb. 12, 0130Z to 0330Z. With more than 10,000 members in 103 countries, the North American QRP CW Club hosts these CW sprints throughout the year. Open to licensed and shortwave listeners who have an interest in CW/QRP operation, these events and other club activities encourage “the use of CW and helping all hams increase CW speed and proficiency…using simple wire antennas,” per the NAQCC CW Club website.
- PODXS 070 Club Valentine Sprint, Feb. 14, 0000Z to 2359Z. For those with a soft spot for PSK31 mode, this is a Valentine’s Day treat that will let you make connections without the use of Cupid’s arrow. Work as many stations on 160/80/40 meters as possible using PSK31 mode during a six-hour block. This event is open to all amateur radio operators licensed to operate on the HF bands.
- ARRL International DX, CW, Feb. 15, 0000Z to Feb. 16, 2359Z. W/VE amateurs (anyone from the U.S. or Canada): Work as many DX stations in as many DXCC entities as possible on the 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, and 10 meter bands. DX stations: Work as many W/VE stations in as many of the 48 contiguous states and provinces as possible.
Per the ARRL, the contest’s objective is to “encourage W/VE stations to expand knowledge of DX propagation on the HF and MF bands, improve operating skills, and improve station capability by creating a competition in which DX stations may only contact W/VE stations.”
- CQ 160 Meter Contest, SSB, Feb. 21, 2200Z to Feb. 23, 2200Z. This annual contest challenges amateurs around the world to contact other amateurs in as many U.S. states, Canadian provinces, and countries as possible utilizing the 160-meter band.
Want to boost your Topband capabilities in 2025? Check out the high-performance, 55-foot-tall DX Engineering 160 Meter THUNDERBOLT® Antenna, rated at 5,000 watts SSB and CW. If you’ve got a Butternut Vertical Antenna, upgrade your capabilities with the DX Engineering 160M add-on kit for Butternut HF2V, HF6V, and HF9V models.
- North American QSO Party, RTTY, Feb. 22, 1800Z to Feb. 23, 0559Z. This is the first portion of this annual RTTY contest. You’ll have a second shot at making RTTY QSOs July 19-20. From the National Contest Journal: “The 12-hour format allows participants to do some great contesting, yet still have time for other activities during the weekend. Participants can enter in the single op or multi-op categories and also have the opportunity to combine up to five separate single op scores into a team score.” Find complete rules here.
The North American QSL Party, RTTY, runs simultaneously with the North American Collegiate RTTY Championship.
State QSO Parties for February 2025
- South Carolina, Feb. 22, 1500Z to Feb. 23, 0159Z
- North Carolina, Feb. 23, 1500Z to Feb.24, 0100Z
