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4W3DX audio recordings

By TF4M On December 11, 2006 · Leave a Comment · In Amateur Radio

4W3DX, Dili, East Timor

Click on the link below to listen to a recording of my QSO with OE6MBG in Graz, Austria with the MARKONI Rhombic that I rebuilt in Dili. Notice the complete absence of noise and fading on the signals.

This is typical for the performance of Rhombics – signals may be weak but still very much workable.

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I recorded most of my 4W3DX operation (17,000 QSOs). IF I was working JA and USA, then I was using a Force12 C3S antenna at 150 feet and if I was working EU, then I was using the MARKONI Rhombic.:

Period of 10 June 2003 – 14 June 2003

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Period of 15 June 2003 – 20 June 2003

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21 June 2003

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WPX SSB 2006

By TF4M On April 23, 2006 · Leave a Comment · In Amateur Radio

CQ WPX SUMMARY SHEET

Contest Dates : 25-Mar-06, 25-Mar-0, 26-Mar-06

Callsign Used : TF4M
Operator : TF4M

Category : SOSB 20M High

BAND Raw QSOs Valid QSOs Points Prefixes
_____________________________________________________

20SSB 336 336 526 246
_____________________________________________________

Totals 336 336 526 246

Final Score = 129396 points.

EQplus by W2IHY

By TF4M On April 23, 2006 · Leave a Comment · In Amateur Radio

I have been licensed since 1984 and all this time I have never been confident about the quality of my phone signal.

When I started to take part in contests, I graduated to using a headset and a foot switch and I have owned 3 or 4 headsets and again I was never really satisfied with the quality of my audio. The various DSP settings and DX microphone elements seemed to make things worse and I gradually stopped enjoying SSB.

During my time in East Timor, I made thousands of SSB QSOs and I only stopped doing that when rats chewed through my headset cord (HEIL) and finally destroyed the set.

I had resigned myself to operating CW and RTTY only, but I decided to make an effort in the last WPX SSB contest. Apparently no one could hear me, so I only made 300 QSOs for a very disappointing results….

Then I heard Rai, OE4XLC in QSO on 20M and because of his outstanding audio, I stopped to listen for a while. I wrote him an email asking him what he had done to have such a great signal and he pointed me to the EQplus by W2IHY.

I had considered microphone equalization to be only for the extended ssb crowd and this was never my interest, it dawned upon me that if the equalization could result in high quality audio, it could also be adjusted for high quality contest audio.

To cut a long story short, I purchased a unit, and it performs exactly as described.

I consider this unit to be the best investment I have ever done in Amateur Radio. What a pleasure!

Rai, OE4XLC recommended the AKG Headset HSD 200 and I finally found one on eBay at a reasonable price. This headset is of incredible quality.

I can now operate SSB with the confidence that I have a well sounding clear signal.

I can't wait for the next phone contest!

2005 CQ Worldwide DX Contest, SSB

By TF4M On April 3, 2006 · Leave a Comment · In Amateur Radio, Visitors at TF4M

This contest is held every year in the last full weekend of October. The objective is for Radio Amateurs around the world to contact other Radio Amateurs in as many countries and zones as possible in a 48 hour period.

Call: TF/N0HJZ

Operator(s): N0HJZ

Station: TF/N0HJZ

Class: SOAB(A) HP (Single Operator All Band (Assisted) High Power)

QTH: Iceland

Operating Time (hrs): 29

Summary:

Band QSOs Zones Countries

160: 17 5 10

80: 229 11 46

40: 509 16 55

20: 1,572 26 80

15: 1,157 14 58

10: 2 2 2

Total: 3486 74 251 Total Score = 2,030,275

Club: Minnesota Wireless Association

Comments:

I need to thank Thor, TF4M, for hosting my contest operation. Thor is an incredible host who is building up a world-class operation in northwest Iceland.

Thor has three rhombics, one to EU, one to US and one to JA. They performed flawless on 15 & 20. On 40M, I think conditions and some aurora kept me from maximizing a bigger a score. Thor is working on new ideas for 80 & 160 antennas.

Please check out Thor’s location on QTH.com. Thor is looking to have other people operate his station. Check with Thor for details. You will not be disappointed with the radio operation!

Thanks to everyone that worked me. The pile-ups on 15 & 20 were some of the biggest I’ve ever handled. Lots of fun! Anyone have a semi-rare location for me next year?

Rich N0HJZ

Rich has written a nice article about his visit to TF4M.

2004 CQ WorldWide Contest SSB

By TF4M On April 3, 2006 · Leave a Comment · In Amateur Radio, Visitors at TF4M

The objective is for Radio Amateurs around the world to contact other Radio Amateurs in as many countries and zones as possible in a 48 hour period.

Siggi, TF3CW operated TF4CW from my station in the CQ WorldWide SSB as Single Operator, Single Band, High Power.

Subject: CQWWSSB, TF4CW @ TF4M – 20M HP

Q´s Z DXCC

1965 35 105

The Aurora, dancing across the sky, in beautiful green and violet colours, is something else to see. Unfortunately however, it wreaks havoc to propagation, contest or not.

The Aurora factor soared to a 9 (out of 10) for most of the CQ WW SSB weekend.

Such is life at 65°north.

As a result, conditions were very spotty up here, on 20 meters. No real runs to speak of, just short bursts of Q´s. The great Rhombic antennas, and the rest of the fine station at TF4M, saved what could be saved in this contest. Thor has built a super station in west TF land, and it is yet to shine, given good propagation.

However, it was great fun as always. CU in the CW part : The CQ WW rules !

Siggi TF3CW.