The King

160 meters at TF4M – 07 November 2009

On November 7, 2009, in Amateur Radio, by TF4M

Today was not spectacular.

I heard JA7OEM while still in broad daylight and worked him on the first call.

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.

Later I spent a long time listening for FK8CP who was barely readable today and then I called CQ for a while.

The band was quite noisy and some Russian contest caused a bit of QRM across the band…

I have observed that a lot of the weekend warriors have limited receive capability.

They come on a busy frequency and immediately start calling CQ and it is quite obvious that they are most likely using their transmit antenna to receive with…it´s quite sad really.

This is the main reason that I would really like to see 160 meters free of contesting – except for the Stew Perry, of course…. and free of SSB too, while I´m at it.

Nevertheless, a few JA stations were added to the log, some incredibly weak signals which were quite difficult to copy, I have a feeling that my receive antenna system is being tested with QRP signals from Japan…

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.

Tagged with: 160M • audio • CW • DX • The King

First !! QSO with 9M2AX !

On November 6, 2009, in Amateur Radio, by TF4M

Today there is a light breeze and I took some photos of the King.

I called CQ on 160 meters between 1700 and 1800 local time, still in daylight and was called by 9M2AX and we had the first QSO between West Malaysia and Iceland on Top Band to the best of my knowledge.

I was also called by Jack, VE1ZZ and 24 QSOs were made with Japan during this fine hour.

One or more of the JA stations was QRP.

You may listen to the contacts:

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.

Kyo, JR9OPJ made a recording of our QSO

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 later called CQ between 1945 and 2051 leading up to JA sunrise with another 54 JA stations being worked for a total of 78 JA stations worked in one day.

Considering that working Japan from Iceland on 160 meters was considered impossible until I built my antennas, I am quite pleased.

The highlight of the evening was when VK6ANC called immediately followed by VK6VY.

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.

JA3FYC who worked me with only 5 Watts, sent me a recording of the QSO

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 would like stations who call me using QRP to understand that I do not log their calls with /QRP.

I would also prefer they do not indicate QRP with their call signs as this makes things harder than necessary.

It is difficult enough to pull the call signs out of the noise, without the added complexity of /QRP, when stations call with low power.

All recordings on my website may be downloaded if desired from tf4m.com/audio

[View with PicLens]

Tagged with: 160M • audio • Beverage • CW • DX • FIRST! • Nikon D300 • The King

Top Band 05 November 2009

On November 5, 2009, in Amateur Radio, by TF4M

Conditions today have been poor. No trace of TX3A either on 160 meters or on 80 meters.

I did call CQ on 160 meters with only a few JA stations being added to the log.

The band was very noisy which is unusual here, as can be heard in the recording.

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.

Tagged with: 160M • antennas • audio • Beverage • The King

The Arctic King proves his mettle in battle

On November 3, 2009, in Amateur Radio, by TF4M

The TX3A Chesterfield Islands DXpedition is QRV.

They were listening for JA below 1825 with a massive JA pile up which I could hear well and above 1825 for everyone else, but I was not hearing the EU and NA stations well.

I heard ON4UN and GM3POI calling in the pileup – those two have some of the strongest signals out of Europe, but I was not really able to find out where TX3A was listening or to discern his pattern of listening.

So I did the smart thing, I joined the JA pile up and I made the QSO in less than 5 minutes !

I can imagine that the JA wall must have been MASSIVE at TX3A.

I could sense that TX3A did not really believe that TF4M was for real !

The Arctic King rules the North !

Of course, the on-line logs will determine whether or not I am in the log.

Update: The TX3A on-line log confirms that I am in the log.

QSO with TF4M in the log

Tagged with: 160M • antennas • Beverage • DX • The King

The Arctic King on fire

On November 1, 2009, in Amateur Radio, by TF4M

Initial testing indicated a problem with the King. My Emtron DX-3 amplifier would fault above a power level of approximately 700W.

I fired up the Harris KW amplifier and was able to determine that there was a problem.

Inspection of the feedpoint box showed that the antenna wires had made near contact with the control wires and there had been a small fire inside the box.

I dressed all leads and replaced coax jumpers to the box and between the isolation transfomer and the UNUN transformer for good measure, with freshly made new cable.

I sealed the feedpoint box for the winter and now everything works properly.

I think conditions are poor now, even so the Arctic King provided me with 70 QSOs to Japan and one QSO to Australia on the first day of operation.

I am amazed to put it mildly.

[View with PicLens]