I have received my 5BDXCC plaque. To the best of my knowledge, this is the third 5BDXCC awarded to icelandic stations.
The first were TF3Y (30 M and 17 M endorsements) and TF3DC (30 M endorsement).
This is the first 5BDXCC with a 160 M endorsement awarded to a TF station.
The International Radio Club in the International Telecommunications Union, Geneva counts as a separate country in the DXCC program.
Their call sign 4U1ITU is activated regularly, but has been absent from 160 Meters until now.
It took an hour of calling to get their attention through the EU Wall, no easy task since their signals were quite weak with hordes of stations calling.
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This was country #173 worked on 160 Meters.
Update: The Postman delivered the QSL card on January 6., 2012.
Rob GM3YTS & Gav GM0GAV are active from Malawi between 31st October and 13th November 2011.
They use the call sign 7Q7GM and battle high noise and frequent power cuts.
I have called them for hours on end on 160 Meters without any luck. It was also clear that their noise level must have been very high, as they did not answer any of the dozens of calling stations.
Last night the noise on their end must have subsided and once more the Arctic King showed his power.
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My totals now stand at 172 Countries Worked and 166 Countries Confirmed on Top Band.
Despite generally poor conditions on 160 Meters due to the recent Aurora, I heard TL0CW in Bangui, Central African Republic last night.
He is staying in Bangui for only one week from the 25th of October, so it was important that I make the QSO since TL is quite rare DX.
Rudi, DK7PE is on a one man DXpedition around the world and has visited 152 countries and operated from 127 countries!
I was unable to raise him last night, but tonight his signals were slightly stronger and I became convinced I would eventually get through the pile up of stations from Japan, Asia, Europe and the USA who were calling him by the thousands.
At times it was quite obvious that he was having reception difficulties due to QRN, since he would not come back to any of the callers.
It took about two hours of calling to get through, thanks to the magnificent signal of the Arctic King.
This is my 160 meter entity number 170 worked – I now have 166 entities confirmed.
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Siggi, TF3CW visited my station during a working trip and made a few contacts on 160 Meters with the Arctic King using my call sign. - (20. October 1850z – 1925z)
Back at my station after a brief absence due to illness, I find the 10 Meter band wide open. What surprises me is that 160 Meters is wide open for DX at the same time.
It has been common knowledge that with an increase in sun spots, the higher frequencies would improve and the lower frequency bands would be unusable.
This belief probably stems from the herd mentality, where most people move up in frequency as the conditions improve and simply neglect the lower frequencies.
The fact that I am enjoying good propagation on both high and low bands bodes well for the future, since I have not the slightest interest in the higher bands.
I heard VK3PA with good signals, but since we had already worked each other I did not call him.
The first QSO with JA was with JA7NI who was the first ever JA a station to have a QSO with TF on Top Band and around noon today I heard an extremely weak signal calling CQ. - This signal was not audible on my Beverage antennas, but I was able to read him by listening directly with the Arctic King.
It is absolutely mindboggling to be able to work such weak signals – in broad daylight as well, for this to be possible both locations must have excellent receive capability.
T32C was worked on 160 meters at 1141Z – almost high noon at my location!
There is no doubt in my mind that this is the First Ever QSO between Kiribati and Iceland on Top Band.
I did not record the QSO, but I heard them the following day (Oct. 21 at 1140z) with similar signal levels. This recording is made directly from my transmit antenna the Arctic King since they were inaudible on my Beverage antennas.
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The display of Day and Night is taken from VE3NEA´s program – DX Atlas
Villi, TF3DX/M worked them on all bands, 160 – 10 by using his experience and technical abilities to the fullest.
On 160 Meters, the signals from his mobile antenna fed by 100W ( 2.5% of that power is radiated ) may be around 25-30dB lower than that of the Arctic King.
The Arctic King does not have a Salt Water path in this direction as a mountain is in the way and affects this direction.
TF3DX/M worked them on 160 Meters by parking his car practically in the water in a location which gave him a Salt Water path to T32C and y using Gray – Line propagation enhancement to his advantage. Congratulations !
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This brings my 160 meter totals to 169 entities Worked – 164 entities Confirmed.
Start Slide Show with PicLens LiteFrom the NSO Website:
According to scientists at the National Solar Observatory (NSO) and the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL).
Studies indicate that the next 11-year solar sunspot cycle, Cycle 25, will be greatly reduced or may not happen at all.
“This is highly unusual and unexpected,” Dr. Frank Hill, associate director of the NSO’s Solar Synoptic Network, said of the results. “But the fact that three completely different views of the Sun point in the same direction is a powerful indicator that the sunspot cycle may be going into hibernation.”
From N4AA´s QRZ DX newsletter:
SOLSTICE SOLAR FLARE: The first day of northern summer began with a solar flare. Magnetic fields above sunspot complex 1236 erupted during the early hours of June 21st, hurling a coronal mass ejection (CME) almost directly toward Earth. The incoming CME does not appear to be particularly potent; nevertheless, the cloud could trigger polar geomagnetic storms when it reaches Earth on or about
June 23rd. Check <http://spaceweather.com> for movies and updates.
I have been hoping for another Maunder Minimum with excellent Low Band propagation.
Increased solar activity does not equal improved radio conditions in the Arctic – any disturbance in the earth´s magnetic field causes long lasting radio blackouts in the Arctic. This means weeks and months of no propagation at all.
I will be very happy if I never see another sunspot.
CQWW2011 002 by tf4m
Today’s mail brought me the QSL card of CO8LY.
My country totals on 160m are now 169 Worked, 163 Confirmed.
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