Today I sent my application for 160M DXCC to the ARRL.
This will be the first 160M DXCC in Iceland.
Band conditions are still poor and the band is quite noisy, but even so I made a few QSOs to JA this afternoon.
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Today was not spectacular.
I heard JA7OEM while still in broad daylight and worked him on the first call.
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Later I spent a long time listening for FK8CP who was barely readable today and then I called CQ for a while.
The band was quite noisy and some Russian contest caused a bit of QRM across the band…
I have observed that a lot of the weekend warriors have limited receive capability.
They come on a busy frequency and immediately start calling CQ and it is quite obvious that they are most likely using their transmit antenna to receive with…it´s quite sad really.
This is the main reason that I would really like to see 160 meters free of contesting – except for the Stew Perry, of course…. and free of SSB too, while I´m at it.
Nevertheless, a few JA stations were added to the log, some incredibly weak signals which were quite difficult to copy, I have a feeling that my receive antenna system is being tested with QRP signals from Japan… 
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Start Slide Show with PicLens LiteToday there is a light breeze and I took some photos of the King.
I called CQ on 160 meters between 1700 and 1800 local time, still in daylight and was called by 9M2AX and we had the first QSO between West Malaysia and Iceland on Top Band to the best of my knowledge.
I was also called by Jack, VE1ZZ and 24 QSOs were made with Japan during this fine hour.
One or more of the JA stations was QRP.
You may listen to the contacts:
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Kyo, JR9OPJ made a recording of our QSO
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
I later called CQ between 1945 and 2051 leading up to JA sunrise with another 54 JA stations being worked for a total of 78 JA stations worked in one day.
Considering that working Japan from Iceland on 160 meters was considered impossible until I built my antennas, I am quite pleased.
The highlight of the evening was when VK6ANC called immediately followed by VK6VY.
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
JA3FYC who worked me with only 5 Watts, sent me a recording of the QSO
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
I would like stations who call me using QRP to understand that I do not log their calls with /QRP.
I would also prefer they do not indicate QRP with their call signs as this makes things harder than necessary.
It is difficult enough to pull the call signs out of the noise, without the added complexity of /QRP, when stations call with low power.
All recordings on my website may be downloaded if desired from tf4m.com/audio
Conditions today have been poor. No trace of TX3A either on 160 meters or on 80 meters.
I did call CQ on 160 meters with only a few JA stations being added to the log.
The band was very noisy which is unusual here, as can be heard in the recording.
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
You MUST hear this wonderful radio program.
from the Radiomarine email reflector:
“Incredible Radio Tales”, the show I did on community radio station KWMR, is once again available on line for your downloading pleasure courtesy of OM Maris who has posted the program on the server of the University of Sussex Amateur Radio Society.
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Many thanks and a tip of the MRHS green eyeshade to all who have made this possible.
VY 73,
RD
=================================
Richard Dillman, W6AWO
Chief Operator, Coast Station KSM
Maritime Radio Historical Society
http://www.radiomarine.org
=================================
During my Arctic Diamonds presentation on the CCF/OHDXF Ferry Cruise in January, – Tonno, ES5TV asked me whether I had any ”normal” antennas to compare my rhombics with.
My answer was a tongue-in-cheek reply to the effect that since I had unlimited space at my disposal, I wasn´t interested in limited space antennas.
A fellow Rhombic owner who indeed has such a comparison antenna sent me the following audio files which demonstrate the difference between the reception of ”normal ” antennas and Rhombics.
The first audio file is of TL0A an Amateur Radio Station located in the Central African Republic, recorded using a huge Log Periodic at 30 meters height.
Most Radio Amateurs would kill to have such an antenna !
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
The second recording is made 3 minutes later, from the same location, but this time using a Rhombic antenna to receive TL0A.
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
A visual comparison of the two files says more than a thousand words:
TL0A on LP antenna
TL0A received with a Rhombic
My Rhombic colleague commented as follows:
”… you will hear what a 30 meter high 6.5 dB gain antenna sounds like with a very wide radiation pattern. It is ideal to pick up all the noise and electrical storms in the equatorial noise zone.
The other recording is 3 minutes later, with a Rhombic with 20 dB gain, 10 meters high, low take off angle- and a beam width of just 10 degrees. It is not so much that the signal is that much stronger, it is that the noise is that much less. Note the ease with which it is possible to pick up and follow S1 stations that are very weak.
A Rhombic is not just about the gain, it is much more about the noise which you Dont Get…”
I rest my case.
Conditions on 160M have been great lately. I have worked dozens of stations in Japan, VK6VZ and NL7Z are in the log as well.
Today, 25th November it all ended. The Aurora is back and has covered the polar regions.
I worked JW5NM in Svalbard – you may listen to the QSO below. Notice the auroral sound of his transmissions.
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
It rained today so I spent the day on the radio instead of outside doing antenna work.
BV1EK was heard with good signals most of the day, but did not hear my calls.
JA7OEM had an amazingly strong and steady signal for hours. We had a short QSO
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
I recorded his CQ call for about 45 minutes.
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Later this evening I called CQ and logged the following DX stations :
RW0LT, JA7EVP, JA9RRH, JL2ONQ and JH2SON.
Thanks to EU stations who stood by while I worked the DX.
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
The soundfile may be downloaded in .wma format here .
Spectacular conditions continued on 160M with the following DX stations going into the log.
JA7OEM, JH1GNU, UA9BA, JA1BK, RU9MX, JR2KDN, JH5FXP, JA7FUJ, JE6IGP, JA3EMU, JA4LKB, JH4AAG, JA9KRO, JA3CJO, JA7EVP, JA2CXF, JH4CES, 7J4AAL, JR7VHZ, JE2OVG and UA9MA.
It was a great pleasure to QSO my good friends Kan, JA1BK and Yuichi, JR2KDN (second QSO !), who have both visited my station, first in Dili, East Timor when I held 4W6MM and 4W3DX and again in this QTH in Iceland.
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Another fantastic opening to Japan occurred last night. I worked the following 19 stations from JA.
JH0ZHQ, JQ2VVH, JJ2LPV, JE7RJS, JA7FUJ, JA4FUJ, JA4CUU, JA1ANR, JR2KDN, JF1FSR, JI1FXS, JA2FBY, 7K4DHB, JA1HSF, JI1NJC, JA3CSZ, JA1GV, JA2TBS, JH7NTJ and JH7PFD.
It was a special pleasure to work my friends Yuichi, JR2KDN and Yasu, JI1NJC who visited me here in Otradalur.
1948 UTC to 2047 UTC
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
2047 UTC to 2115 UTC
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
You may download the event in .wma format 1948Z-2047Z and 2047Z-2115Z
