160M QSOs to JA

On February 26, 2008, in Amateur Radio, by TF4M

The 160M conditions continue to be excellent.   On February 26  I made a dozen QSOs with Japan and I was also called by HL3IUA for a second QSO on 160.

You may listen to my QSO with JA7NI:

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A longer recording of my QSO with JA7NI is here.

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A one hour recording of all QSOs made on 160M on 26th February, 2008 may be played

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I am keeping a close watch on the measured K-Index in Leirvogur, Iceland displayed on TF3MA´s web site which seems to correlate well with the good conditions we have been experiencing. 

measured K-Index in Iceland - last 7 days

 

 

26 February

conditions are detoriating, I heard a JA station around 1700Z but was unable to raise him.  Later I had contacts with JA7NI    

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and JA7FUJ on 160M.  

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The K-Index as measured at Leirvogur Magnetic Observatory is now rising and only two JA QSOs were made.

(linked from TF3MA´s   (SK) website – the graph shows the K-Index for the last 7 days as measured at Leirvogur Magnetic Observatory in Iceland.)

7 day K Index

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CQ WorldWide 160M DX Contest CW 2008

On January 29, 2008, in Amateur Radio, by TF4M

CALL: TF4M

230 QSOs. 1214 QSO points
x 50 Multipliers
= 60700 Claimed score
My first time in the contest and a great learning experience.

Many fine signals on the band, but I had great trouble being heard even by the
strongest stations.

I heard many JA stations, but they never heard me calling.

K1TTT picked me up on the first call though, he must have a beverage pointed to
TF!

It is painfully clear that my reception far outperforms my tx signal.

I plan to build new TX antennas closer to the sea. My tx antenna is 500 meters
inland situated in a valley so it is shielded by mountains in several
directions.

I have a very quiet location and I can hear extremely weak signals with perfect
copy even though they are not workable.

Sunday had a massive storm and my open wire feeders kept shorting out so did
not get back on until late afternoon again.

TX: FT1000mp MkV + Emtron DX-3 at 1KW, YCCC Double L fed with 800 meters (2,400
feet) of open wire feeders.

RX: reversible Beverage to JA , ‘dipole’ with 100meter legs lying on the
ground.

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New 160M listening antenna

On January 25, 2008, in Amateur Radio, by TF4M

I have been fairly active on 160M lately with the result of working JA and HL and it has become obvious that the receive capability of my station is far superior to my transmit capability.

My only receive antenna has been the reversible beverage to JA, on the reverse heading it hears well into SA but is very poor into EU and NA.

I have therefore not been able to work many stations who were calling me and yesterday I built another receive antenna for 160M.

It´s a wire dipole with 200 meter long legs strung out on the ground perpendicular to the JA beverage.

During snowstorms, when the noise on the TX antenna reaches 50 dB over S9 and the JA beverage has a noise level of S9 this new antenna is almost completely quiet.

It is really amazing to hear, signals are relatively strong and this will enable me to continue working even during snow storms.

I hope to build a new TX antenna closer to the sea along with permanent RX antennas for next season.

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”FIRST !!” HL/TF QSO with HL3IUA

On January 23, 2008, in Amateur Radio, by TF4M

 Last night had very good conditions and I was called by HL3IUA who answered my CQ and we made what is most likely the first ever TopBand QSO between HL and TF.

 I also made 13 QSOs with JA stations in approximately one hour.

It appears that with my beverage antenna for JA I can hear the JAs better than they can hear me.  I am also helped by the extremely low noise level at my location.

However, last night we had a snow storm with high winds and ice and my amplifier kept tripping due to high SWR at times.  This cuts out the  amplifier for two seconds and completely prevents damage to any components in the system, but is rather uncomfortable regardless.

 

Kaz JA8ISU sent me an audio recording of my QSO with JH8SRI .

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”FIRST !!” JA/TF QSO on 160M ever.

On December 31, 2007, in Amateur Radio, by TF4M

31 December 2007:

I called CQ on 160M after a nice dinner (wild hare) and was called by JA7NI on 1822 kHz.

We exchanged 559 signal reports both ways for a solid QSO.

I believe this to be the first ever QSO between Japan and Iceland on Top Band and therefore a historical event.

JA7NI – Thank you!

I am using a KW into a YCCC Double L antenna fed with 3000 feet of open wire feeders.

Update January 02, 2008:

I repaired the feedline to my 170 meter long Beverage antenna pointing towards Japan.   Upon entering the shack, I found JL8GFB calling CQ with a nice 559 signal, he answered my second call and gave me a 599 report!

This QSO was followed by JR7VHZ we exchanged 559 both ways and I was also called by JF1IXE who was 539, but did not hear my reply this time.

JA7NI called in again with a 579 signal and was followed by JA7OEM.

I am having some problems with the balun transformer at the antenna side, and just before dark I drove out to the antenna and lengthened the top leg of the antennna in the hope of getting the SWR downwards a bit.

These are exciting times!   I did not think a TF/JA QSO was even possible over this polar path.

TF3HR pointed out that the auroral activity is unusually small, smaller than we recall having ever seen it.  Normally Iceland is covered by the yellow part of the map.  Perhaps this is the reason these QSOs have been possible.  I think this is a very rare occurrence indeed and I will do my best to make as many QSOs with JA/VK/OC as possible over the coming days.

I heard VK3ZL with a 539 signal and called him for a while, but was QRMed by stations in EU who started to call me and ruined the chance of a QSO!

Try to understand that JA and VK may be easy for EU stations, but these are stations that never before have been heard or worked in TF.

I am sure that the JAs and VKs would appreciate a QSO with TF too so EU please stand by.  I can work EU at any time and I expect to be QRV on the band a lot.

JA6GIJ, JA3EMU and JA4LKB were logged as well bringing the total of TF to JA QSOs on 160 meters to 7!

auroral oval

January 03, 2008

The excitement continues!  at 1634 I was called by JA7NI who had a whopping 599 signal,  followed by JA1EOD, JA5DQH and JA8ISU in the next 5 minutes – a PILEUP from JA on 160 meters!

Later, JA4LXY and JA3ONB made it into the log before conditions died.

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