Currently viewing the tag: "CW"

Arctic Frustration

By On · Leave a Comment · In Amateur Radio, The Arctic

Conditions on 160 Meters are rather frustrating these days.

My receive ability on 160 Meters outperforms my transmit ability by a large margin, i.e. I can hear more than I can work even though I have the ability to run high power when needed.

I have been trying to work  DU1IST for a long time and I am now hearing him with workable signals, but not even a “?” in return to my calls.

Such a QSO would be a historic first ever between the Philippines and Iceland on 160 Meters.

The reason DU1IST can not hear me, is most likely because of a higher noise level in the Philippines.

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.

Last night I worked DU1IST easily on 30 Meters:

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 hope conditions  improve, this season may be the last opportunity we have in my life time.

 

Alexey, TF/VE2XAA and TF4X

Alexey, VE2XAA – Silent Key (SK)

By On · Leave a Comment · In Amateur Radio, Visitors at TF4M

Alexey, VE2XAA became a Silent Key on August 21, 2011 from a heart attack, only a few weeks after his visit to Otradalur, where he operated TF4X in the IARU Contest 2011.

From Hávamál :

Cattle die, and kinsmen die,
And so one dies one’s self;
But a noble name will never die,
If good renown one gets.

It was a pleasure to meet Alexey and we already talked about his next visit to Otradalur.

VE2XAA de TF4M SK ——————————-

Outside of the contest,  Alexey operated from my station using the call sign TF/VE2XAA.

TF VE2XAA
TF VE2XAA 1

Our last QSO was on the 14th of May, 2011 on 20m CW.

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.

Here is an album of photos I took of Alexey during his visit.

VE2XAA @ TF4X
VE2XAA @ TF4X

Alexey, VE2XAA piloted TF4X in the IARU HF Contest 2011.

63 Photos

During his stay, Alexey suggested some improvements to my engineering  - I have already begun to implement some of his suggestions.

Alexey had prepared to work the contest on SSB and had recorded his contest exchanges into the voice keyer of the radio.   However, he decided to do a CW only effort.  The recording was discovered by chance recently.

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 believe Alexey was very pleased with his visit.   He wrote in my station Guest Book:

…unic place in the planet, unic landscape with real Elves and unic antenna farm. ….In 10-20 years one more forest will cover the place where it was never before.   And on top of the trees the Arctic King with Arctic Quinne will rule their Otradalur Kingdome!

The result of the contest IARU 2011:

total: 1876 QSO, 770400 points,  beside contest 2200 QSO.  Total for 3 days ~ 4000 QSO.

Main station impression:   usually you do not hear the stations calling you.  This problem does not exist in Otradalur farm.   You hear even 160 m band with full daylight days in July!  ”White nights” – is not a problem for Arctic King!

73! Alexey, VE2XAA

Most of Alexey´s TF4X operation was recorded as follows:

VE2XAA@TF4X recording 01

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.

VE2XAA@TF4X recording 02

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.

VE2XAA@TF4X recording 03

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.

VE2XAA@TF4X recording 04

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.

VE2XAA@TF4X recording 05

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.

VE2XAA@TF4X recording 06

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.

VE2XAA@TF4X recording 07

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.

VE2XAA@TF4X recording 08

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.

VE2XAA@TF4X recording 09

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.

VE2XAA@TF4X recording 10

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.

VE2XAA@TF4X recording 11

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.

VE2XAA@TF4X recording 12

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.

VE2XAA@TF4X recording 13

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.

VE2XAA@TF4X recording 14

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.

VE2XAA@TF4X recording 15

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 Lite PicLens

Top Band conditions improving

By On · Leave a Comment · In Amateur Radio

 Yesterday – 9th of December, I heard BU2AQ, in Taipei, Taiwan on 160M.

Despite numerous attempts, I was not able to raise him to give him a quick report, – we have worked twice before on Top Band.

Listen to his contact with SP3DOI 

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.

Upon checking my records, I found that I have never received a QSL card from BU2AQ, although I have worked and confirmed another station from Taiwan – BU2AI.

My cards for both contacts with BU2AQ will be posted on Monday.

This bodes well for the winter DX season, I am still missing several Asian countries – including China…

7Q7GM – Malawi

By On · Leave a Comment · In Amateur Radio

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.

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.

My totals now stand at 172 Countries Worked and 166 Countries Confirmed on Top Band.

TL0CW – Central African Republic

By On · Leave a Comment · In Amateur Radio

 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.

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.

 

TF3CW visit

By On · Leave a Comment · In Amateur Radio, Visitors at TF4M

 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)

TFM 4147 DxO
TF3CW operating TF4M with the Arctic King
Start Slide Show with PicLens Lite PicLens

ZD8D DXpedition 2011

By On · Leave a Comment · In Amateur Radio

 A German group is on a DXpedition to Ascencion Island and I worked them on 40 Meters CW.

I need ZD8 on a couple of bands so will keep looking for them.

Here is what their signals sounded like.

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.

ST0R – Southern Sudan

By On · Leave a Comment · In Amateur Radio

 Southern Sudan is being activated as a new entity with the call sign ST0R.

Pile ups have been fierce but I was able to work them on 30 Meters.

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.

And on 40 Meters SSB:

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 pile ups have been very chaotic and unruly, it seems that constant calling is in vogue and in addition extremely bad behavior  may be observed on the transmit frequency of the DXpedition making copy extremely difficult.   On top of all this jammers are out in force as well, creating a most shameful spectacle.

EI2KC writes about the ST0R pile ups in his post.

I agree with Andrey, RW3AH in his post, that this is probably the result of dropping the morse code requirement in Amateur Radio licensing.  

We now have many former CB freebanders within our ranks who bring their criminal mindset to our hobby now that the only requirement for an Amateur Radio licence is enough money to buy a radio.

 To the ST0R team: Thank you for going there and making the effort and thanks for all the excitement!

I found ST0R on 20 Meter CW in a free for all huge pile up this morning.  It took only a couple of calls to get into the log and since it took a few tries to correct my call,  I was greeted by name by the operator (RA9USU) 

ST0R on 20M CW: 

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 recording runs for a minute after the QSO to give an idea of the massive pile up.

Here is a video from RW3AH of the ST0R 20m pile up:

Wednesday July 27.:  This morning they were quite light on 17 Meters, but I decided to try anyway.  When I heard the operator say UP8 I immediately gave my call a few times on that frequency which resulted in the valuable contact.   

ST0R on 17M CW:

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 spent a long time calling ST0R on 80 Meters when they first came on, but without a dedicated 80 Meter antenna I am simply not making it through the EU wall.

Later I was ready when they started operation on 40 Meters CW and snagged them within a minute of calling.  The operator started listening low in the band moving slightly up with each QSO – such predictable operating makes it relatively easy to work the DXpedition – good work. (RA9USU).

ST0R on 40M CW

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.

This is what the pile up looked like on the display of my SDR receiver.  (click on image to see it full size)

ST0R 40mCW
 

Thursday, July 28:

Things seem to be calming down a bit.  After monitoring 17 Meters SSB for most of the day, their signals improved a bit and it only took a couple of calls to make the log. 

ST0R on 17 Meters SSB:

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.

TF4M QSO ST0R
 

They have now been QRV on 80 Meters for a couple of nights.  I have called them endlessly without luck since I do not have a dedicated antenna for 80 Meters (under construction – will hopefully be ready this winter) and have been using my USA Rhombic which has a poor radiation pattern at such a low frequency although it accepts the power readily.

I heard TF3SG work them – congratulations Guðmundur! – and it took me an hour more to finally work them.

ST0R 80M CW:

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.

ST0R 20M SSB:

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.

Now I am waiting for them to show up on Top Band and if I can contact them there I will be well pleased.

Start Slide Show with PicLens Lite PicLens
Performance Optimization WordPress Plugins by W3 EDGE