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.
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And on 40 Meters SSB:
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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:
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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:
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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
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This is what the pile up looked like on the display of my SDR receiver. (click on image to see it full size)
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:
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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:
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ST0R 20M SSB:
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Now I am waiting for them to show up on Top Band and if I can contact them there I will be well pleased.
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