Currently viewing the tag: "Beverage"

First !! QSO with 9M2AX !

By On · Leave a Comment · In Amateur Radio

Today 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:

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Kyo, JR9OPJ made a recording of our QSO

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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.

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JA3FYC who worked me with only 5 Watts, sent me a recording of the QSO

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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

Top Band 05 November 2009

By On · 3 Comments · In Amateur Radio

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.

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The Arctic King proves his mettle in battle

By On · 3 Comments · In Amateur Radio

The TX3A Chesterfield Islands DXpedition is QRV.

They were listening for JA below 1825 with a massive JA pile up which I could hear well and above 1825 for everyone else, but I was not hearing the EU and NA stations well.

I heard ON4UN and GM3POI calling in the pileup – those two have some of the strongest signals out of Europe, but I was not really able to find out where TX3A was listening or to discern his pattern of listening.

So I did the smart thing, I joined the JA pile up and I made the QSO in less than 5 minutes !

I can imagine that the  JA wall must have been MASSIVE at TX3A.

I could sense that TX3A did not really believe that TF4M was for real !

The Arctic King rules the North !

Of course, the on-line logs will determine whether or not I am in the log.

Update: The TX3A on-line log confirms that I am in the log.

QSO with TF4M in the log

QSO with TF4M in the log

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New Shack almost completed

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One operating position is fully functional.   The shack has 4 operating positions and each position can choose any available transmit antenna through a 100 kW Strip Line Matrix Switch remotely controlled.

The remaining tasks are to install panels at each operating position to plug in bandpass filters, install wiring for remote antenna switches and power combiners, install computers at positions C and D, wire up PTT control to the Strip Line Matrix switch (to prevent the possibility of hot-switching) and build an indicator panel for the switch.

I will now concentrate on the farm work until autumn before continuing with the project.

Beverage Antennas at TF4M

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I have finished the Beverage antenna project for the time being.

I built 4 bi-directional Beverage antennas ranging from 170m to 380m long.

The antennas are connected into the radio shack via 5000 feet of RG-6 CATV cable entering via a patch panel and fed into a K9AY RAS8x2 matrix antenna switch which then feeds the 8 directions available into two transceivers.

The picture shows the center lines of the main lobe of each antenna direction. The lobes are quite broad especially on the lower frequencies, so I believe I have relatively good coverage.

New Radio Shack progress

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Most of the cabling work is done. Electric power has been installed, 2x50A via shielded cable and over 20 circuit breakers. The Matrix Strip Line Antenna Switch has been connected, and receive antenna cabling is close to finished. The RX antenna patch panel is installed and connected. 8 receive antenna cables are routed from the patch panel into the Radio Shack and will be connected to a K9AY RAS8x2 receive antenna controller.

cabling
cabling

Equipment room cabling is progressing. The Matrix switch is connected and RX antenna patching is also complete. 2 x 50A Power has also been installed with shielded cabling.

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Beverage Antennas and Graves

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 Otradalur has been inhabited since the earliest settlement of Vikings in Iceland.    The nation converted to Christianity in the year 1000 and it is known that there was a church in Otradalur for over 700 years.   The Church was moved to Bildudalur village around 1907, I believe.

There remains a small graveyard on the property, which gives the place a very nice presence. 

In addition, it is believed that there is a heathen grave site near the sea shore.   

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