MERRY CHRISTMAS !

Merry Christmas to all...

Chris F8DZY

W7USA (AZ) on 160M FT8 this morning...

Hi, a very nice contact on 160M FT8 this morning 30 minutes after my SR in France : W7USA from Arizona could be decoded through an up & down NA opening !
I was 1st called by WB0TEV from TX but impossible to complete the QSO, then some minutes W7USA Ray answered again to my CQ and we could log each other.
I was also called a little bit later (about 45 minutes after my SR !) by N5XZ from TX but the QSO wasn't completed too. I decoded him till 0820UTC here ! Incredible...
One hour after our contact, W7USA sent me a very nice e-mail to tell me how he was happy with our QSO as I was his very 1st EU on 160M he worked from Arizona !! Ray was sending 30W into a full size inverted V with a 25M high feeding point,.
I am still having fun with my home made inverted L @ 11,50m ! 15 new ones in 3 weeks... 
10 more to work in order to reach the 100, and so a potential 10BDXCC ! ^^
Thanks to you Ray for a so nice radio moment and a new Zone on Top Band.

Chris F8DZY

November's in the log

Hi all, a quick report on November's activity here... a good & active month.
- VK9CZ Cocos Keeling Islands was worked on 20M SSB for a new slot 
- IS0DCR Sardinia was worked on 12M SSB for a new slot
- 9U4M Burundi was worked on 10M SSB, 15M-17M-20M RTTY for new slots and a new mode

 - ZS6TVB South Africa was worked on 17M SSB for a new slot
- J5T Guinea Bissau on 12M CW, 20M RTTY, 40M SSB, 80M & 160M CW for new slots & new bands !

 - VP8CMH/MM close to South Orkney Islands on 20M CW (our 2nd QSO after 17M CW)
- YJ0JA Vanuatu on 20M CW for a new slot
- VP2MDL Montserrat Island on 30M CW
- DU1/SP5APW Philippines from IOTA OC-090 on 20M SSB (#563)
- EG1ET Spain from IOTA EU-077 on 40M SSB (#564)
- HR9/K1XM Honduras on 30M CW for a new band
- 5K1B Colombia from IOTA SA-078 on 17M SSB (#565) & for a new slot too !
- VE7ACN/7 Canada from IOTA NA-075 on 20M CW (#566)
- DU9/R4WAA Philippines from IOTA OC-175 on 20M CW & RTTY (#567)
- T77C San Marino on 80M CW
- Plus some new ones on 160M (T77C, ZA1WW, ZB2X, YL6W, EA8CMX, EA9EU...)

Chris F8DZY

Inverted L 160M @ F8DZY

Hi all, if you follow me on Twitter, you know that since some days, I am erecting an Inverted L for the Top Band...
After a lot of reading on the web and considering the "free" space on my property, I could try a half sloper and the inv L; my choice went on the inverted L.
This antenna cost me 0€.
Material ("in stock" in the garage) :
- (+/-) 42M of electrical wire 2.5mm2 (inverted L)
- 1 PVC pipe (cutted in 2 parts for insulators)
- 1 piece of PVC plate (base)
- another 50cm of 2.5mm2 electrical wire & a plastic bottle (beta-match or "hairspin")
- 1.5mm2 lenghts of wire I had from my previous vertical antenna radials' installation (8 x 48M)
The configuration of the property makes that the horizontal part of the wire seems like a sloper, but it's not... and it works !

 - Insulator (PVC pipe) : the end of the horizontal part of the wire comes here, slice it less or more in order to adjust resonating frequency... On the other side of the PVC is attached a rope, itself attached to a tree, with a counterpoise in order to slice during big winds. (Height about 10,5 meters)

- Look at this impressive sealed box ! ^^
Connection between coaxial and the beta-match is not yet soldered, as I still don't know if this Inverted L will be a permanent or a "winter" antenna...

- Some view from the top of the pylon (to NA), giving you an idea of the slope...

- Some pics during the first attempt... (R was too low)

After several up and downs, I decided to add a beta-match (hairspin) at the base, after several tests, mine is 8 joined turns (the picture below shows one of the first beta match coil tested)

I put 8 x 48m radials as I could, and connected them to the beta-match coil.
I also connected to this part the existing 48 x 24M radials from the HF3B vertical.

First tests were correct, I've been called by ZB2X from Gibraltar on my first CQs, whole Europe is covered (see RBN) . Some minutes later I was heard @ W1NT. A little bit early for NA...

Then I could work J5T from Guinea Bissau at the end of their DX-Pedition for a new one on TB !

During CQ WW, I could add YL, EA9, ZA & EA8 as new ones in some minutes... 

Now we'll see during the next months how it will perform... 

In final, as wrote it DJ0IP, all installations are different and will give good or poor result at different places... You have to test at your turn and find the good match ! Hope you enjoyed the read !

Sourcing : DJ0IP, F6BKD, F6DDR, I1WQR, F5ZV, F5AD, DK5WL, etc...

Chris F8DZY

3C1L & VK9MA's chase : epilog !

Hi, I'm in late with my blog articles ! Radio-activity was good, and no time to update ^^

So, 3C1L was over after a long stay, it was the opportunity for me to add slots and a new band with 17M RTTY, 20M SSB and 80M CW !
So happy with all these QSOs, mostly needed slots... Good job guys & thanks !

 

Then, VK9MA Mellish Reef, I could fianlly add the 20M RTTY for a new mode !

4 QSOs, including 2 bands & 3 modes for an ATNO, that's not so bad ! Thanks guys !!

Chris F8DZY

B7/BD7IHN IOTA AS-094 in the mail !

Hi, fast QSLing for B7/BD7IHN from IOTA AS-094 Hai Nan Island !
Worked on 20M CW, it is my 530th confirmed island...

Chris F8DZY

R71RRC Arakamchechen Island IOTA AS-071 in the mail !

Hi, all is in the title, just received R71RRC QSL IOTA AS-071 : so far from coconuts & sandy beaches... congratulations guys ! This is my 529th confirmed island !

Chris F8DZY

VK9MA Mellish Reef IOTA OC-072 : the chase !

Hi, finally the so expected VK9MA expedition is on air !
Starting on a week-end, huge pile-ups were previewed, and they were...
I tried on Saturday 4th in vain, tried again on Sunday morning in long pass where they signal was stronger, no more luck...
Then, at their SS, turning the beam on short pass was necessary and VK9MA signal peaked to S6, but too many callers...
Busy at home, I wanted to see what the sigs looked at in the middle afternoon and surprise, they're still on 20M CW and pile-up seems more readable (but still 9 or 10kHz wide !).
Sorry children, Dad have to try ! ^^
10 minutes later, I was answered by VK9MA for an ALL TIME NEW ONE !!!
Thanks for my 321st DXCC and 561st worked IOTA !

On Monday 6th, they are booming on 17M CW !
5 minutes only to find the good split and "in the log" again for a new band...

To be continued...

Chris F8DZY

3C1L Equatorial Guinea : the chase !

 
Hi, I'm having big fun chasing 3C1L from Equatorial Guinea ! 
Before and after 3C0L from Annobon Island, I could log several new slots & new bands for this rare-on-air DXCC...
It started on October 20th with a 1st QSO on 20M CW for a new band, then, after Annobon return (where 4 QSOs -all new- were logged here), serious things could begin !
On November 1st, a 15M CW QSO, they were 599+20dB !!
On November 4th, I could log them on 10M CW (new slot !) in the afternoon & on 40M CW in the evening just after they QSYed from 30M (new band !) !
On November 5th, I could work them on 15M RTTY on my 1st attempt (15M was definately the stronger band from here)...

...and finally, after several days trying, I could be heard on 30M CW (new band) !

They should go QRT on November 12th, good luck to all !

Chris F8DZY

September & October's in the log...

Hi all, no report in September simply because only 2 QSOs during this period but they were good ones :
- VK3CWB from Australia worked on 80M ! Thanks Moz for finally giving me VK on 80M ! (new band)

 

  - AT7M from St Mary's Island IOTA AS-096 (#554)

Then, October was more exciting and the log was almost exclusively filled with IOTAs !
Starting with VP8LP from Falkland Islands (IOTA SA-002), worked in FT8 on 10M for my very first try in this mode... 
I just wanted to try it, I'm not in love with digital modes but if it can give me a new one or a new IOTA, it's good to know ;)
Then, S9YY & S9CQ (IOTA AF-023) from Sao Tome & Principe Islands were worked on 20M & 10M RTTY for 2 new slots !

 

- RI1F (IOTA EU-190 NEW) was logged 3 times (20M SSB, 17M SSB & CW) offering me 2 new slots, one new mode (SSB) for Franz Josef Land and my #555th worked island...

- OX3XR (IOTA NA-018) Peter was worked on 40M CW for a new slot with Greenland :

 

- II3J (IOTA EU-130) was worked on 40M CW , this reference was already worked in 2005 but still no QSL even after several reminds...

- KC4AAA Antartica (IOTA AN-012) was worked on 20M SSB for the pleasure of a new worked base !

- DS3EXX from Korea was worked on 17M SSB for a new slot

- 3C1L Equatorial Guinea was worked on 20M CW for a new band ! 

- S21ED & S21ZDC were worked from IOTA AS-140 (#556) including & 15M SSB QSO for a new slot...

- S21ZAS  was worked on 17M CW from IOTA AS-127 (#557)

- VK5CE/8 Craig was again on another IOTA trip, this time from OC-198, giving me my #558th worked island on 20M SSB...

- H40GC Temotu Province (IOTA OC-100) was worked on 40M CW for a new band...

- SV2ASP/A Monk Apollo was worked on 20M CW (new slot)---

- 3C0L Annobon Island (IOTA AF-039) was worked 4 times / 4 new slots (2 new bands) :

 

- VU7T Lakshadweep Islands was worked on  17M CW & 20M RTTY for 2 new slots :

- 3XY3D/P was worked on 15M SSB from IOTA AF-096 (#559)

- EA6VQ (IOTA EU-004) was worked on 15M CW for a new slot (any EA6 on 12M for me ??? ^^) : 

- 9Y4/DL1QQ from Trinidad & Tobago Islands (IOTA SA-009) was worked on 10M CW (new slot), 12M & 17M CW...
- RI1ANO (IOTA AN-010) was again worked on 10M SSB for a new slot with Antartica...
- S01WS Western Sahara was finally worked on 80M CW for my last needed band !

- TI8II Carlos was worked on 12M SSB & EY7AD was worked on 20M SSB, both for new slots and both after years without QSO, very nice to meet them again on air !
- E44WE from Palestine was worked on 15M RTTY for a new slot :

- KH0/OH1JD from Mariana Islands (IOTA OC-086) was worked on 20M CW for a new slot...
- YB8RW/P was worked on 20M CW from IOTA OC-145 (#560)...

If you follow me on Twitter, you also know I received a batch of QSLs from world traveller Vlad UA4WHX after his recent Africa's activities (+ Estonia)... 

That's all folks !

Chris F8DZY

IOTA 500, IOTA NA & IOTA West Indies received..

 

526 IOTAs credited, 555 worked at this day... let's go to the 600 !

Chris F8DZY