Thursday 28 March 2013

Tuesday - Thursday....

not so many contacts, some fairly local, some a little further a field.....

J5UAP in Guinnea-Bissau  was a new country, N8II was a new US state in West Virginia


UR7UR Ukraine
OK1DDB Czech Rep
9A65S Croatia
IK1FXX Italy
OE5ESD Austria
IZ2NGH Italy
YU1DW Serbia
EA4EOC/P1 Spain
DF5WBA Germany
LZ1DQ Bulgaria
I2ZZU Italy
SP1DTQ Poland
EA3GBA Spain
J5UAP Guinnea-Bissau
YU2NZ Serbia
E71BA Bosnia & Herz
N8II USA WV
IK4RDP Italy
IK2CGH Italy
SP2DWA Poland
IV3VZR Italy


Monday 25 March 2013

sat - mon....

no new countries, no new states, but a bunch of nice QSOs including a few repeats...


SA2BRN Sweden
SN6A Poland
ES5QD Estonia
HF15UM Poland
LZ13FDAY Bulgaria
HG52FC Hungary
DL6UNF Germany
OG3077F Finland
ER4KAA Moldova
4O3A Montenegro
EM70LL Ukraine
OE3SGU Austria
VE1BAD Canada NS
YO5OHY Romania
W2FOC USA NY
SV1ENG Greece
SV2CQB Greece
SP5FCZ Poland
S57S Slovenia
OM3TGK Slovak rep
OM3CAZ Slovak rep
HA8RC Hungary
DL5NAK Germany
IK2ZJR Italy
HA2NEP Hungary
F8FKK France
W3RJ USA PA
SV2CQB Greece
EA7QQ Spain
F5GF France
EA3DD Spain
DL1GLI Germany
CN8GL Morocco
UA5C Russia
DL1ARD Germany
UX7FD Ukraine
S51DV Slovenia
RX6DK Russia
IN3XRF Italy
LY2BBF Lithuania
RX3AGD Russia

Friday 22 March 2013

Wed - Friday.....

a few points of interest.......

Ole in Finland.....OH6MM.... only QSOed him on 20m all three days!  Actually signed off today with "see you tomorrow"

Thursday had two high points.  two new countries.....

SU9VB is a Russian bloke in Egypt
and YV5DTJ in Venezuela was a new CONTINENT as well as a new country.


DL6UNF Germany
OM3CQF Slovak rep
HB9IK Switzerland
OK5JM Czech Rep
DK2VV Germany
OH6MM Finland
HB8FAI Switzerland
IK2ZJR Italy
YO8DOH Romania
DL1JGV Germany
EA2KV Spain
UX7FD Ukraine
EH5SIP Spain
Z33A Macedonia
IK6JOV Italy
9A2UW Croatia
IK1TWK Italy
SP3BEJ Poland
I3DBD Italy
SK0TM Sweden
VE1VEI Canada NS
EA1EZJ Spain
OH6MM Finland
SM4AWF Sweden
HA8WZ Hungary
OK1AL Czech Rep
SP3BQC Poland
YT1KS Serbia
SU9VB Egypt
NG2D USA NY
YV5DTJ Venezuela
I2ZZU Italy
EA4RU Spain
F2TA France
DL5DWF Germany
DL5WS Germany
DK8NM Germany
OH6MM Finland
UR3ABI Ukraine

YV5DTJ makes it to no 4 in my distance chart


ZL2IBF New Zealand
JA7QVI Japan
N2PW USA AZ
YV5DTJ Venezuela
N9RV USA MT


Tuesday 19 March 2013

Monday?

one QSO.  Apparently there was a solar flare of something which wiped any HF acion.

by this afternoon things were back to normal, and a nice wee afternoon was had!

a bunch of the usual European types, with a flash of excitement when I achieved two firsts.

6V7S is my first Senegal contact, and my first station worked split.

thankfully he was working only 1.5Kc up, so I tune the rig to his listening frequency by listening to other folks calling him, then swing the clarifier until I can hear him again.  two calls and he replies to me.  YAY!!


UA4AAC Russia
9A2YM Croatia
HA8IE Hungary
OE4UFB Austria
DL2DSD Germany
6V7S Senegal
DJ7AO Germany
DL5SVB Germany
HA4AA Hungary
DL6NBS Germany
YO5CDF Romania
EB1AB Spain
DL0FBG Germany
R2ZAB Kaliningrad
UX3HX Ukraine
UW1VA Ukraine
HA7MF Hungary
EA1MV Spain
OK2PBG Czech Rep
OK1MBZ Czech Rep
EA5BLP Spain
RD3ZW Russia


Sunday 17 March 2013

Friday through Sunday, a few QSOs here and there, mainly 20m, an few on 17, all CW.

notable contacts?

4 new US states:  Indiana, Kentucky, Rhode Island & Missouri as well as US Virgin Islands. as well as a repeat QSO with K1PUG


VX3Z Canada ON
OG2W Finland
II0IDP Italy
DL1VJL Germany
DL2RMB Germany
E72TR Bosnia & Herz
SM7DAY Sweden
F8GNV France
DK2SZ Germany
SM4ASX Sweden
DM4SW/M Germany
K1PUG USA CT
PI9ADL Netherlands
DJ7AO Germany
DL3BCD Germany
HA2EOD Hungary
DL9MCO Germany
RA4WC Russia
R6AW Russia
9A3WX Croatia
DL1MDZ Germany
DJ5WG Germany
RO5O Russia
SP6CES Poland
RG3R Russia
RN7F Russia
I1OXO Italy
IK6JOV Italy
EA8BBJ Spain Canaries
RX6DK Russia
ER3MM Moldova
KE9I USA IN
K1ZZ USA CT
AA3B USA PA
N8AS USA KY
N6AR USA FL
KS1J USA RI
K0LUZ USA FL
VE1OP Canada NS
KP2MM US Virgin Islands
NY3A USA PA
K8MR USA OH
K2VV USA MO

so now the top 20 distance contacts looks like.......

ZL2IBF New Zealand 11381
JA7QVI Japan 5729
N2PW USA AZ 4936
N9RV USA MT 4257
K1AY USA FL 4179
N4BP USA FL 4148
N4TB USA FL 4119
W4SVO USA FL 4113
K4WI USA AL 4109
K4MF USA FL 4074
N6AR USA FL 4074
W4DXX USA GA 4068
K0LUZ USA FL 4056
KP2MM US Virgin Islands 3987
PT0S St Peter & St Paul Rocks 3943
NQ4I USA GA 3934
K2VV USA MO 3904
K4TCG USA TN 3899
N4ZZ USA TN 3882
W0EWD USA IA 3871

Thursday 14 March 2013

a few QSOs today.  mainly greater europe.

well, except for JA7QVI that is.....

as usual, the real DX station called me, answering my CQ call.  very low in the background noise, all we could really exchange was callsigns, names and report, but that was plenty!!

todays QSOs.....


OH8MNM Finland
JA7QVI Japan
OK1AL Czech Rep
DL2JRS Germany
IT9FGH Italy
I4CKC Italy
HB9WG Switzerland
DK6UY Germany
DF2MR Germany
YT2ISM Serbia
F5PNM France
DL2SF Germany
DM2BQJ Germany
OK2PHQ Czech Rep
OK2BLD Czech Rep
CT1GTI Portugal
DL6UHA Germany

and the top 5 for distance

ZL2IBF New Zealand 11381
JA7QVI Japan 5729
N2PW USA AZ 4936
N9RV USA MT 4257
K1AY USA FL 4179

Wednesday 13 March 2013

a weekend with a Commonwealth contest so a bunch of Canadian contacts,  and a first for Malta, and Cueta too.  UT7ZZ for the first time on 20m CW who was one of the stations I QSOed on my 1st day on 10m. VE3EJ is there twice, on 20 and 40m


DL2MDU Germany.
DJ1ZG/M Germany
DK4WF Germany
RN2FQ Russia
YT7KX Serbia
OK2CV Czech Rep
VE1OP Canada NS
VE3EJ Canada ON
VE3JM Canada ON
VE1ZJ Canada NS
VA3DX Canada ON
VE1AL Canada NS
VE9AA Canada NB
VE9HF Canada NB
VE3RZ Canada ON
VA3GUY Canada ON
VE3IAE Canada ON
9H1T Malta
VE3CRG Canada ON
VE3KZ Canada ON
VE3MM Canada ON
VE3OI Canada ON
VE3EJ Canada ON
DF4LR Germany
YU1SS Serbia
OZ3PAX Denmark
OE8KR Austria
UI7F Russia
F5RQQ France
DM3FZN Germany
HB30OK Switzerland
OZ8CTH Denmark
RN2FQ Russia
RK4YJ Russia
EB2DUU Spain
DJ8AP Germany
OM3TLG Slovak rep
VE2GDI Canada QC
K4MF USA FL
IK7YZL Italy
N4BP USA FL
YO2BF Romania
RU3DUO Russia
ON5TQ Belgium
DL1APY Germany
HB9DNB Switzerland
DK3WM Germany
OZ1ENH Denmark
DL4MH Germany
K1LGM USA CT
DL1ARH Germany
IT9IFI Italy
F8EAI France
OK1MHZ Czech Rep
SP3FGQ Poland
IV3VZR Italy
F5DRQ France
UT7ZZ Ukraine
IX1HNM Italy
W4DXX USA GA
EA9UG CUETA
K9QVB USA IL

and the top 20 has a few new entries over the weekend.


ZL2IBF New Zealand 11381 CW
N2PW USA AZ 4936 CW
N9RV USA MT 4257 CW
K1AY USA FL 4179 CW
N4BP USA FL 4148 CW
N4TB USA FL 4119 CW
W4SVO USA FL 4113 SSB
K4WI USA AL 4109 CW
K4MF USA FL 4074 CW
W4DXX USA GA 4068 CW
PT0S St Peter & St Paul Rocks 3943 SSB
NQ4I USA GA 3934 CW
K4TCG USA TN 3899 CW
N4ZZ USA TN 3882 CW
W0EWD USA IA 3871 CW
KC9KBB USA IL 3869 SSB
KT9T USA MN 3705 CW
K4DY USA NC 3704 CW
W4AAA USA NC 3692 SSB
W0AIH USA WI 3636 CW

Friday 8 March 2013

so the crystals arrived in the post from the very generous Jerry G4GGZ,  and it was the work of a few moments to lift out the 11m and 15m crystals and replaced them with two of the four that arrived.  the switch was a dawdle and took less time than opening up the rig.  the crystals are a hair off what they should be so I need to be careful not to drift out of the band, but I had 2 QSOs on 17m within a few minutes of tuning up the rig.

9A2AJCroatia
OK1KWCzech Rep

the long wire tuned up on 17 very easily with virtually no QRN and was a good 2 s-points louder than the G5RV jr, so my plans to possibly loose the long wire and put up a windom may be put on hold.

no contacts on 12 yet as it was a bit flat.  no doubt as the summer comes in the higher bands will open and there will be the chance to utilise the band a bit more.

so, QSOs since Wednesday,,,,


SM6PDS Sweden
HA2AL Hungary
HB9ATE Switzerland
DL7LHA Germany
OE5ARN Austria
OE5MZ Austria
DL9SCO Germany
OM4KW Slovak rep
DK8AH Germany
IC8POF Italy
OZ3NP Denmark
DL2NOM Germany
IK1QAD Italy
DL2JRS Germany
DL1SDX Germany
UA6GX Russia
VE2WU Canada QC
DL2SWW Germany
DL1NKS Germany
DL4AMM Germany
F6HZS France
DF2IAH Germany
ES6TZ Estonia
DL1VJL Germany
CN8GL Morocco
OK2SGY Czech Rep
DK3NR Germany
EA3CW Spain
DF4EW Germany
9A2AJ Croatia
OK1KW Czech Rep
LY2J Lithuania
HA7LW Hungary
I4CKC Italy
HA3MG Hungary

Tuesday 5 March 2013

antennae.

I've currently got 3 for HF

a half size G5RV, a long wire and a slinky spring dipole.

my big problem is I don't have a lot of space.

looking from above, my G5RV is at 90 degrees or so. the long wire runs along 3 sides of my garden.  and the slinky is snuggled up under the eves at the end of the house.

Currently my HF set is a FT 101B with 10, 11, 15, 20, 40, 80 & 160m

10m is OK when it's open

11m doesn't get used at all.

15m I've made 1 QSO on....

20m is by far my best band and I spend the vast majority of my time there.

40m is grand but nowhere near as good as 20

80m has static at s9 or higher ALL the time.  I've made less than 10 QSOs there.

there is SOMETHING wrong with 160m  Maybe the crystal, maybe a loose solder joint in there.....

so.

the PLAN is to pull the crystal for 11m and swap it for 12.  I've had a very generous offer from another ham to send me a crystal free oc charge, so I'm a happy bunny on that.

Is 80 worth the hassle?

probably not.

so I'm considering the possibility of having another go at a windom.

I reckon I can fit one that will work up to 40m along the side of the house.

Probably initially instead of the slinky which frankly is as much use as a piece of wet string.

I'll keep you informed!!!!!!
and after all the weekend US SSB, it's back to reality!

conditions were pretty flat yesterday and today so while I made a few contacts, no records broken!


OK2BBR Czech Rep
II7ICE Italy
EB4IC Spain
DL1DGS Germany
DK3YH Germany
PA0HTT Netherlands
IZ7AVY Italy
II1ICS Italy
LZ20TRC Bulgaria
ON5RO Belgium
ON4LDU Belgium
UA6LSS Russia
DA0YL Germany
OK2QX Czech Rep
F2QJ France
DL1SDZ Germany
DJ7AS Germany
F5LBG France
UA3QDC Russia
F6DFK France
IK5SRD Italy
SG0U Sweden
EA1BSU Spain


Sunday 3 March 2013

so, after a few QSOs using CW on friday, I'm afraid I sucommed to the lure of SSB and the ARRL DX contest.

a bunch of US & Canadian QSOs separated by an early morning CW contact in Russia


RN8BX Russia
DK3DK Germany
IZ5OVP Italy
DJ7YN Germany
DJ3QW Germany
OE9SLH Austria
EA7GW Spain
RK3QM Russia
LY5W Lithuania
EA8TH La Palma 
K3LR USA PA
K3ZO USA MD
W4AAA USA NC
N1UR USA VT
VY2ZM Canada PE
W4SVO USA FL
W3LPL USA MD
W2PV USA MA
W2RE USA NY
NC1I USA MA
N2NT USA NJ
VB3E Canada ON
K1LZ USA MA
K1ZR USA NH
K3WW USA PA
WK1Q USA CT
N3UM USA MD
VY2TT Canada PE
AA3B USA PA
UA5HTT Russia
K2AX USA NJ
W0AIH USA WI
N2RJ USA NJ
NC1I USA MA
KA1ZD USA CT
W4RM USA VA
K3TC USA MD
NE3F USA PA
KB1H USA CT
VE3RA Canada ON
KW8N USA OH

No new states, but a couple of new entries on the top twenty distance QSOs  WOAIH was duplicatedwith a SSB contact today after the CW contact two weeks go.  W4SVO goes in at the longest SSB QSO


ZL2IBF New Zealand
N2PW USA AZ
N9RV USA MT
K1AY USA FL
N4TB USA FL
W4SVO USA FL
K4WI USA AL
PT0S St Peter & St Paul Rocks
NQ4I USA GA
K4TCG USA TN
N4ZZ USA TN
W0EWD USA IA
KC9KBB USA IL
KT9T USA MN
K4DY USA NC
W4AAA USA NC
W0AIH USA WI
W0AIH USA WI
K4MA USA NC
N8BJQ USA OH