Today´s mail brought me the QSL card from Robert, ST2AR in Khartoum.
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As I chase the Sable Island CY0 DXpedition across the bands, a perfect arctic storm rages outside.
The view from my Shack.
The view from my Shack.
My QSO with K8LEE/CY0 on 10MHz :
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My QSO with N0TG/CY0 on 14MHz:
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My QSO with N1SNB/CY0 on 18MHz:
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My QSO with K8LEE/CY0 on 7MHz :
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He was calling for JA/VK/ZL with no takers, so I dropped my call and worked him. Very smooth if I may say so. If only the Aurora would let up so I could hear and work them on 160 Meters…until now no trace of a signal whatsoever….
In between looking for the CY0 DXpedition, I worked a few DX stations.
My goal is to catch them on 160m, everything else is just icing on the cake.
Mike, VK6HD on 17 meters with an incredible signal, I believe the strongest signal I have ever heard from Australia – my rhombics rock !
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CO8LY in Cuba
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and 5X1NH in Uganda
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Start Slide Show with PicLens LiteAfter completing WAZ160, I found myself in a bit of an identity crisis, filled with malaise and existential angst.
What could I possibly enjoy in amateur radio after accomplishing this?
I decided to look at my log to see if there was another challenge to undertake that would give me pleasure again, and as a result of this I have spent the last several weeks sorting through my Arctic Treasure.
This photo shows a young TF1MM 1990 after I had finished entering data into my logging program from all my QSL cards.
These cards were stored during my years in Hell, and later ended up in one of the outbuildings in Otradalur, where they were exposed to snow and ice for several years.
Since my computer log showed that I had confirmation for several difficult awards, I decided to find those boxes and locate the QSL cards.
Several more boxes of QSL cards turned up – it seemed endless, I guess there must be around 100,000 cards – it appears that I have only lost very few cards during the time I was abroad.
Weeks of sorting all the QSL cards by band followed with the result that I found enough QSL cards to qualify for 5BDXCC – which will be endorsed with 160m for 6BDXCC and 5BWAZ.
The 5BWAZ application is being processed and once I receive the cards back from the WAZ Card Checker, I will send in my application for 5BDXCC.
I have prepared direct QSL requests for the missing zones for 5BWAZ and once they start trickling in, I will start looking for the zones I need to finish all 200 zones.
I have already begun working on my 5BWAS, but this requires another pass of sorting through the cards, since that award specifies that contacts be made from the same location and not from the same DXCC Country.
It seems that I have a new goal now. What a pleasure.
Start Slide Show with PicLens LiteToday´s mail brought me the QSL from HD2M in Ecuador.
My 160 meter country totals now stand at 168 entities worked and 160 confirmed.
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Today´s mail brought me the QSL card of J28AA.
When I worked J28AA he was my last Zone for WAZ160, but a few days later I worked 5H3EE who is also in Zone 37 and I received his card first as previously shown.
My DX total on 160 Meters now stands at 168 worked and 159 confirmed.
His QSL manager sent me an extra card for my collection – Serious DX indeed :
This album contains the most interesting 160m QSL cards and my 160m DXCC.
Some rare entities have more than one card. Received QSL cards will be added to this album as time goes by.
These QSL cards represent my collection of countries for the DXCC160 Award. Some rare countries have more than one card in this album
322 Photos
in today´s mail:
With the LOTW confirmations of ST2AR and J28AA my totals now stand at 168 worked and 157 confirmed.
Start Slide Show with PicLens LiteTwo calls was all it took to add TJ9PF in Cameroon to the log on 160-Meters.
The Arctic King will not be denied.
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My totals now stand at 168 Worked / 154 Confirmed on 160-Meters.
I was called by Mike, 5H3EE in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania on 160-Meters.
Tanzania is in Zone 37 like J28AA whom I worked only a few days ago to complete my WAZ160.
Mike does not have a receive antenna installed yet, and QSB, QRN and QRM made the contact difficult for both of us.
What a pleasure it is to be able to dig out such signals from the noise.
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I sent Mike a note by email and some communication followed, reproduced with Mike´s permission below:
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Hi Thor,
thank you! You really have big ears…
Here still no RX antenna – and much QSB.
Thanks for your patience!
73 Mike
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—– Original Message —–
From: Thorvaldur Stefansson
To: Mike Stange
Sent: Thursday, February 03, 2011 2:09 AM
Subject: TF4M – 160 QSO
hi Mike !
thanks for the QSO on Top !
73
Thor
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Hi Thor,
yea, that was really exiting. Listening to the record I am remembering how the QSO was passing off.
I did not realize, that you have copied me already at my first call. Since I was busy calling VP8ORK on 40m at the same time and was thinking: Well, Thor will not run away so fast, but this guys will do in a few days… I went back to the 40m pile up. Getting aware, that my chances are not big overthere at this time I went back to your QRG after a short time. And I did not belief my ears: You were calling me, YOU MUST HAVE HEARD ME!!!. From now on the story is short: We did make it…Hi.
Thanks a lot for your patience! Thats the QSOs you will always remember, nice stuff…
73 Mike
PS: At the end of the night I did also get the VP8ORK boys…Hi.
PS2: I really have to bring up my RX 4 Square…
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Hi Thor,
no problem, you can put my message on your site.
I did realize during the QSO: Thanks god, that your signal was coming up, when you asked for the RST again. That was a critical moment.
I know, especially in W6/7 several guys are waiting for me. I have all here now for the RX antenna (a HI-Z 4square…I guess, I was one of the last who did get one, before they closed for the lawsuit)…only my space is limited to bring it up in a perfect way. But, I will find a compromise.
Thanks a lot again, 73
Mike