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TF3DX surveys the King

By On · Leave a Comment · In Amateur Radio

The designer of the Arctic King, Villi, TF3DX arrived to inspect and salute the King on Thursday along with his brother Gunnar.

In between measurements, we rummaged in my “junkbox” (several outbuildings) for High Voltage RF Capacitors and adjustable Inductors which will crown the King at a later date when 80m capability will be added.

Villi operated TF4X casually in the Oceania DX Contest – CW and in between consuming good food and wine, we also watched the stars and the Aurora and a historical First Ever QSO was made in this contest with KH6ZM in Hawaii on 160 meters.

First Worked All Zones (WAZ) – 160 meters from Iceland

By On · 4 Comments · In Amateur Radio

update March 15th 2010:  I have been awarded certificate number 342 for the 160 Meter WAZ award.

The certificate will be endorsed with this statement: ”  1st 160 WAZ from Iceland “.

To give an idea of the difficulty of this award, the 5 band WAZ Certificate has been awarded to 1674 stations (80m,40m,20m,15m,10m) and only 806 stations have worked all 200 zones.

———————————————————————————————————————————

I have applied for the Worked All Zones Award for 160 meters.   This is one of the oldest and most prestigious award in Amateur Radio – having its start before WWII, and 160m is the most difficult band to accomplish the award on.

Only 335 stations have qualified for the basic award and only 143 stations worldwide have accomplished contacts with all zones on 160 meters.

I applied for the basic award (30 Zones) with an endorsement for 36 Zones confirmed.

Since I applied for the award, I have received the QSL card from XE2WWW (Zone 6) and I have requested QSL cards from several stations in Zone 9 bringing the total number of Zones worked on 160 meters to 38.

I am still missing Zones 2 and 37, which should be fairly “easy” to work once there is activity from these areas.

This is the first WAZ 160 issued to a TF station.

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First !! ever KH2L to TF QSO on Top Band.

By On · 1 Comment · In Amateur Radio

Last year I almost finished a QSO with KH2L in Guam.

The contact was ruined by a  LID with a HB9 call who began calling non-stop on top of the QSO preventing KH2L from hearing his report.

Seconds later the window of opportunity was gone and I have not heard Ed on 160 meters since.

Apparently the LID was cheating by listening on a remote Web based receiver, since he probably could not hear KH2L at all from his own station.

He did not account for the inevitable delays over the internet, causing his transmissions to be completely out of sync with what was really happening.

Although this could be chalked up to a beginners mistake – after all there are many moral aspects of DXing that need to be thought about and we all make mistakes,  a cheater will always be found out eventually.

At the time I did not respond to the LID in any way, but perhaps I should have sent him an email asking for an explanation.

This morning, I saw KH2L spotted on my private DX cluster and immediately listened for him on the JA Beverage but he was quite weak.

The amplifier tripped and another 4 minute wait ensued but KH2L was still there and I was able to raise him for #140.

This is the first ever QSO between Guam and Iceland on 160 meters.

Of course the recording software did not work for some reason, I must usually start a new log file in Win-Test to solve that issue.

The contact has already been confirmed on LOTW.

While checking the LOTW award status, I discovered that I had a confirmation from SV5DKL in Rhodes, Dodecanese, which I had completely overlooked.

The DXCC-160 now stands at 141.

What a pleasure.

First ever QSO with Ogasawara

By On · Leave a Comment · In Amateur Radio

This morning I got up early and called CQ on Top Band.

I was called by KH6ZM in Volcano, Hawaii and we had a QSO-twice !

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and later by JD1BMH in Chichi-Jima in the Ogasawara Islands.

We were unable to complete the QSO on the first try, but I called him a bit later when conditions had improved and we made the QSO solidly.

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This is the first ever QSO between Ogasawara and Iceland on Top Band.

JD1BMH sent me his recording of the QSO.

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Thanks for a new country #133 and WAZ – Zone 27!

I now need QSOs with Zones #2, 26 and 37 to complete WAZ on Top Band.

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4 New Countries with the Arctic King

By On · Leave a Comment · In Amateur Radio

Last night the band was very noisy.  I had planned to stay up all night in case conditions were good but only stayed for a short time.

I was called by 8P9NX in Barbados for a new one and later by VU2BGS and 4S7NE for two more new countries and Zone 22.

Some notable calls were FM5CD in Martinique and UK8DAN in Uzbekistan.

The day started well, with BU2AI being logged for a first QSO between Taiwan and Iceland and  Zone 24.

You may listen to the QSOs by entering the call signs.

FIRST !! Top Band QSO with Hawaii from Iceland.

By On · 13 Comments · In Amateur Radio

The night of 09 December was spectacular.   I began the operation with the thought of working on my WAS (Worked All States) award for 160 and as the terminator moved across the US, stations from the western part of the US became audible.

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After a small break, I decided to continue and see if I could get a West Coast US station in the log so I continued on the band.

I think I probably worked all 50 states during this session, I was called by many W6 and W7 stations and several KL7 stations were also logged.

The highlight of the session was being called by KH7C in Hawaii, followed later by KH7XS and KH6AT.

These are the first QSOs in history between Hawaii and Iceland on Top Band and I was really not expecting this to be possible, but the Arctic King and my large Beverage antennas, coupled with a zero-noise location made this possible.

It is also entirely likely that the West Coast USA QSOs made last night are the first in history from TF.

Note:  N6ND informs me that some stations in California have worked TF3CW in January 2008.

Note:  TF3SG informs me that he worked CA and BC on 160m SSB last January.

I have uploaded the log to LOTW.

I recorded the entire session:

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What an incredible pleasure !

The QSO with KH7C:

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The QSO with KH7XS:

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The QSO with KH6AT:

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All my audio files may be downloaded from my web site.

Cluster spots showed the excitement.

N5GH            1822.0 TF4M         GOOD SIGNAL IN MS TONIGHT!         0535 09 Dec   Iceland
W6UQZ-@         1821.9 TF4M         call corr – thumbs!                0535 09 Dec   Iceland
N5GH            1822.0 TX4M         GOOD SIGNAL IN MS TONIGHT!         0535 09 Dec   Not Found
W6UQZ-@         1821.9 TF4A         Grt ears!  TNX new one!            0531 09 Dec   Iceland
K6SRZ           1822.0 TF4M         tnx #121 top band                  0514 09 Dec   Iceland
K7LAY-@         1822.0 TF4M         3 hrs paid off                     0451 09 Dec   Iceland
WO1N            1821.9 TF4M         Good Ears…                       0432 09 Dec   Iceland
K5WK            1821.9 TF4M         going strong                       0411 09 Dec   Iceland
NL7Y-@          1822.0 TF4M         S9 in AK – Amazing                 0341 09 Dec   Iceland
K4SV            1822.0 TF4M         Nice sig QRM by caller SPLIT?      0333 09 Dec   Iceland
W2WC-@          1821.3 TF4M                                            0329 09 Dec   Iceland
W2TN            1822.0 TF4M         Great sigs                         0324 09 Dec   Iceland
WM3O            1822.0 TF4M         tnx for qrming me                  0308 09 Dec   Iceland
KS9W            1822.0 TF4M                                            0258 09 Dec   Iceland
N7RT            1820.5 TF4M         New #222 on 160                    0208 09 Dec   Iceland
W0BKR           1820.4 TF4M         (UP AND DWN)                       0202 09 Dec   Iceland
W0FLS           1820.5 TF4M         just darn loud                     0147 09 Dec   Iceland
W1YIF           1820.5 TF4M         Tnx new one!!!!                    0140 09 Dec   Iceland
W0SEI-@         1820.0 TF4M         HUGE SIG…..TNX                   0136 09 Dec   Iceland
W4QN            1820.5 TF4M                                            0131 09 Dec   Iceland
W4SVO           1820.4 TF4M                                            0118 09 Dec   Iceland
N6ND            1820.5 TF4M         QSX 1820.67 Tnx new one on 160     0118 09 Dec   Iceland
K9US            1820.7 TF4M         very stong tonight                 0052 09 Dec   Iceland
K0PY            1820.5 TF4M                                            0044 09 Dec   Iceland
ZS1REC-@        1820.5 TF4M         Thanks new one!                    0024 09 Dec   Iceland
HI3TEJ-@        1820.5 TF4M         Tnxs fer new one                   0017 09 Dec   Iceland
ZS1REC          1820.5 TF4M                                            0002 09 Dec   Iceland
K0HA            1820.5 TF4M         .                                  2344 08 Dec   Iceland

N5GH            1822.0 TF4M         GOOD SIGNAL IN MS TONIGHT!         0535 09 Dec   Iceland

W6UQZ-@         1821.9 TF4M         call corr – thumbs!                0535 09 Dec   Iceland

N5GH            1822.0 TX4M         GOOD SIGNAL IN MS TONIGHT!         0535 09 Dec   Not Found

W6UQZ-@         1821.9 TF4A         Grt ears!  TNX new one!            0531 09 Dec   Iceland

K6SRZ           1822.0 TF4M         tnx #121 top band                  0514 09 Dec   Iceland

K7LAY-@         1822.0 TF4M         3 hrs paid off                     0451 09 Dec   Iceland

WO1N            1821.9 TF4M         Good Ears…                       0432 09 Dec   Iceland

K5WK            1821.9 TF4M         going strong                       0411 09 Dec   Iceland

NL7Y-@          1822.0 TF4M         S9 in AK – Amazing 0341 09 Dec   Iceland

K4SV            1822.0 TF4M         Nice sig QRM by caller SPLIT?      0333 09 Dec   Iceland

W2WC-@          1821.3 TF4M                                            0329 09 Dec   Iceland

W2TN            1822.0 TF4M         Great sigs                         0324 09 Dec   Iceland

WM3O            1822.0 TF4M         tnx for qrming me                  0308 09 Dec   Iceland

KS9W            1822.0 TF4M                                            0258 09 Dec   Iceland

N7RT            1820.5 TF4M         New #222 on 160                    0208 09 Dec   Iceland

W0BKR           1820.4 TF4M         (UP AND DWN)                       0202 09 Dec   Iceland

W0FLS           1820.5 TF4M         just darn loud                     0147 09 Dec   Iceland

W1YIF           1820.5 TF4M         Tnx new one!!!!                    0140 09 Dec   Iceland

W0SEI-@         1820.0 TF4M         HUGE SIG…..TNX                   0136 09 Dec   Iceland

W4QN            1820.5 TF4M                                            0131 09 Dec   Iceland

W4SVO           1820.4 TF4M                                            0118 09 Dec   Iceland

N6ND            1820.5 TF4M         QSX 1820.67 Tnx new one on 160     0118 09 Dec   Iceland

K9US            1820.7 TF4M         very stong tonight                 0052 09 Dec   Iceland

K0PY            1820.5 TF4M                                            0044 09 Dec   Iceland

ZS1REC-@        1820.5 TF4M         Thanks new one!                    0024 09 Dec   Iceland

HI3TEJ-@        1820.5 TF4M         Tnxs fer new one                   0017 09 Dec   Iceland

ZS1REC          1820.5 TF4M                                            0002 09 Dec   Iceland

K0HA            1820.5 TF4M         .                                  2344 08 Dec   Iceland

FIRST !! ZL to TF and FK to TF contacts on Top Band.

By On · 1 Comment · In Amateur Radio

This morning I got up early and checked 160 meters for activity.

I immediately heard ZL3IX at his sunset and worked him for a first QSO between TF and New Zealand on Top Band.

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The picture is taken from DX Atlas by VE3NEA and shows the Gray Line at the time of our QSO.

ZL3IX QSO TF4M

ZL3IX QSO TF4M

I then  called CQ and was answered by ZL3NW and later KL7HBK and FK8CP for another first QSO between New Caledonia and TF.

ZL3NW QSO TF4M

ZL3NW QSO TF4M

And a little bit later the Gray Line was enhancing signals into New Caledonia.

FK8CP QSO TF4M

FK8CP QSO TF4M

W8JI also called me with a strong signal and I was pleased to learn that he has heard about the Arctic King :-)

This audio file contains all these QSOs.:

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I believe that band conditions were rather poor, signals were weak and some of these QSOs were extremely difficult.

I made a few recordings of other stations :

KL7J:                                                 

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JT1CO :                                            

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KL7HBK:                                        

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The Mongolian station had good signals but I was unable to raise him.

What a wonderful morning and an omen of things to come.

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TF3DX/M works JA on Top Band

By On · 4 Comments · In Amateur Radio

Villi, TF3DX the designer of the Arctic King antenna worked JA7FUJ last night on 160 meters from his car.

This is the first time such a QSO takes place between Iceland and Japan.

To put this in perspective, with 100 W feeding the mobile whip – even perfectly tuned, only 1 W is radiated.

To compensate for the low efficiency of a mobile antenna, Villi drove to the sea shore where he was able to take advantage of the excellent conductivity of salt water.   The noise from the city was also reduced considerably at this location.

Congratulations OM !

TF3DX/M

TF3DX/M

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