22 Jan 2011
Nice to get another contest winner's certificate in the post for the 2011 WPX SSB Contest, single-band 10m entry: not bad with a cheap, converted CB yagi :-)Also finally caught up with my QSLing, lots of cards have gone off to the bureau, some direct ones waiting to go.
24 Dec 2011
Thanks to D4C for uploading his log, I now have 80m and 5 Band DXCC via LoTW. Had over 100 on 40, 20, 15 and 10m for some time but 80m has been harder to crack, got there in the end though.Nice start to the Christmas DX season, worked KH6MB and KH7Y on the 40m greyline this morning, also ZL2ALJ on 12m just after sunrise.
17 Dec 2011
Busy period leading up to Christmas, with the ARRL 10m Contest and the Geminids meteor shower.ARRL 10m contest was fun, conditions not as good as a few weeks ago but still some nice DX: BD7NWF, HS0ZCW, T6MO, T6RH, JS6RGY (only JA), VK6IR (only VK), 5R8IC, ST2AR, 3V8SS, DV1/JO7KMB, FM/F6AUS, V25R. And good to work S21B in Bangladesh outside the contest for an all-time new DXCC.
Then up onto VHF (2m) for some meteor scatter in the Geminds meteor shower. Four new squares on 2m: JO61 (DD0VF), JN49 (DJ9EV), JO64 (DL4KUG) and KP12 (OH2ZZ), with OH also being a new DXCC.
4 Dec 2011
Christmas has arrived early, just got a new amplifier, so can now run 400W on 6m as well as all the HF bands. Looking forward to some 6m F2, hopefully next year. In the meantime, it seems to be working well - ZL2ALJ just answered my CQ on 12m, thanks Tony!26 Oct 2011
First, thanks to the T32C expedition for a great job: despite their container of kit not arriving, they still managed to put a good signal into the UK on most bands. Got them on all bands 40m-10m, particularly pleased with the 10m and 12m QSOs as it really didn't look possible until the sun went into overdrive just before the expedition started. A little disappointed not to get the on 80m but few UK stations did, I did hear them one morning, but right in the noise. Still, being on 80m at sunrise did allow me to work TX7M (Marquesas Isl, also in the Pacific).A3WS (12m/17m) currently down and replaced by the 4 ele 10m yagi, to take advantage of the superb 10m propapagtion. Probably going to be swapping these two aerials around throughout the winter, could do with something to cover all bands.
18 Sept 2011
Latest new 'toy' is a Cushcraft A3WS yagi, 3 elements on 12m and 17m. It's been sat on the floor of my garage for the past 2 years, following purchase from a local ham. Decided to put it up 3 weeks ago, now that solar activity is rising.It works well, particularly on 12m: DX worked in the past few weeks includes YB1ALL (Indonesia), 8R1AK (Guyana), TG9AHM (Guatemala), H77REX (Nicaragua), EP4RF (Iran), ET3BN (Ethiopia), T6MO (Afghanistan), VK6LC (Austalia), HL5BLI (S.Korea) and BU2AQ (China), plus lots of Japanese and Americans. And even heard ZL via Long Path the other night just after dusk. Very pleased with this new antenna, particularly as it's not up very high.
26 Aug 2011
Nice surprise in the e-mail today: I won the 2011 RSGB 50MHz Trophy Contest (6hr Single Op Fixed). Been a long time since I won a VHF contest, and I didn't have a particularly formidable station, just 100W and a 5 ele at 25ft. Use of CW and some Es definately helped.15 Aug 2011
After the usual "summer recess" from radio (family holidays, kids off school, just generally enjoying being outdoors in fine weather) I finally got back to ham radio with the Perseids meteor shower.Just prior to this, I experienced the most amazing 2m tropo in almost 30 years on the band. The sea path between SW UK and EA8/CT3 supports a tropo duct several times per year, but never gets far inland. I've operated /P from the UK coast and these sea paths are really amazing, but usually die a few miles in from the coast: this time it reached me, and I was able to hear the CS3BTM/B via the tropo path (ironically, I'd heard this beacon just a few weeks ago for the first time via Es). In the UK, due to it's small size, nowhere is more than approx 70 miles from the sea, but my home is just this distance (about as far as you can get inland) so it is extremely unusual to pick up the sea path - this is the reason VHF is so interesting, there is always something new.
Back to the Perseids, the shower was pretty poor this year: didn't seem to be a large peak, no long 30s reflections as in previous years, just short, weak pings. Did however manage to work 5 new grid squares: EA2AGZ (IN91), SP2HPD (JO94,) SM7FWZ (JO77), DG0VOG (JO60) and OK1DIX (JO70).
1 July 2011
And another good 2m Es opening, with two new DXCCs on 2m: E73LM and SV1OAA. First time I've ever heard Greece on 2m, some people were managing to work 4X Israel.That's 4 major 2m Es openings this summer, and I've worked Russia, Greece and Canary Isl - easily the best 2m Es season since I've been a ham (1983).
11 June 2011
Just worked RV3YM on 2m Es with 100w for a new DXCC and square on 2m. My second-best DX ever on 2m in nearly 30 years on the band (Es to EA8 was the best, a couple of years ago).25 Apr 2011
Another good week on 10m, helped by being off work for Easter Hols. Best DX: 9W2WPZ, CO6CAC, BD7NWS, VK6AJ, 9W2ESM, TJ3AY, 5V7CC, 9M2RDX, TO2FH, FJ/OH2YL, HS0ZBS, YB3IZK, XU7ACY, E21YDP, 9N7DX, 5R8UI, J39BS....phew!Best of all, heard two ZL stations on 10m long-path last night around 2100z, first time I've heard ZL on 10m and still need to work it.
1 Apr 2011
Another superb week of 10m propagation, solar flux has been above 100 for 6 weeks or so (peaking at 155) which has really opened up the high bands.10m highlights:
Sat/Sun - WPX contest, NH7O (Long Path), FY8DK, 4K8M, RF9C, VK6FDX,
VK9CF
Tue - PJ4LS, W0YR
Weds - V44KAI, VP5/W5CW, VE2CSI (Zone 2), K4ADR
Thu - YI9NS, YB1ALL, 4K4K, RW9LL
Fri - A45XR, YB0NFL, VU2DSI, RV9WF
21 Feb 2011
Fantastic few days on 10m, the band really responded to the increased solar activity (SFI kept going up to 125), especially on Fri.Highlights:
Fri - XE2AC, XE2WWW, WP3YM, HR1/K2LCT, VP5/AC8W, TI5/N3KS, J6/VE3CZF,
YV5EAH, WP4OCA, TI8II, 8P9AA
Sat - VU2DSI, A61BK, JY4NE, SV5BYR, TJ9PF (RTTY)
Sun - 4Z4RT, CX2TQ, LW9DHR
Mon - PY3YD, J88DR, VP8LP
14 Feb 2011
After a bit of a stall, the sun has finally woken up again - SFI=107 today, a new record high for Cycle 24 and the first time over 100. Hopefully we'll see 10m opening in response to this.11 Feb 2011
Nice low-band condx over the last week or so, with the following DX worked on 80m: V31YN, EX2A, VK6HD, 5N7M, S9DX, ST2AR, TF3SG and BU2AQ. Heard VP8ORK but just too close to the noise floor.6 Feb 2011
Bands are starting to liven up a bit as spring approaches with some nice DX: VP8ORK, XT2RJA, S9DX, D44TBE, JW8AJA, TJ3AY and 1A0KM.The solar cycle seems to have stalled, with the SFI stuck in the 80s and not much happening on 12m or 10m. Did manage to hear the VP8ORK expedition briefly on both these bands at dusk though, so somer glimmer of hope.
24 Dec 2010
Our morning greyline on 40m continues to be superb, with lots of QSOs with JA, ZL and VK - many thanks for all the QSOs and I've met some really interesting people, such as the JA with the vimtage Ducati motorcycle and the UA0 in a lighthouse overlooking the sea to Japan. And of course Mike ZL1BVB, who has called me every day.
Christmas is almost upon us, so I'll be off the radio for a few days, but expect me back on the 27th looking for 40m DX between 0800-0900z around 7.007 CW.
Thankyou to JA2FTL, PY6JRP, ZL3PAH, JA7CDK, JA2HNP ZL2ALJ, ZL1BVB, JA1KZP, VK3EGN, AB4KJ, JR2BPV, JA1BWD and JF1CBT for one of the most amazing hours on the radio: I called CQ on 40m and you guys came back, much to my surprise. Fantastic condx on 40m this morning at our dawn, apologies to those who I missed.
My Christmas holidays have just started and we've had 5 days of snow here, so I won't be going far from the shack for the next 2 weeks, and should be on the low bands at my dusk and dawn, 0800z and 1630z, to catch the Greyline.
17 Dec 2010
Geminids meteor shower was fun again this year: condx seemed better than last year, but with a less pronouned peak, as QSOs were made over 3 days. Longer DX too, heard several Ukranian stations on MS for the first time.
Worked YU7PAA (KN04), DJ2QV (JN58), F6DFR (JN24 - new), LY4U (KO24), US2WY/A (KN29 - new). All with 70W to a 9 ele yagi running FSK441.
Screenshot of my QSO with US2YW/A on the 144MHz MS page.
ARRL10m Contest - 144 QSOs (mixed CQ and SSB).
Bit of a struggle at times due to marginal condx, but the band was great when it did open up. DX included VK6IR, VK6AJ, HS0ZGQ, XU7FMZ, CW5W, VU2DSI, ZS6BRZ, Z21DXI, VP5CW, WP3C, HK3O, HI3TEJ - who says that 10m is dead?
CQWW CW contest - all band, low power, 917 QSOs in total.
Great condx, hard to know which band to be on at times e.g. as the MUF rose rapidly after dawn I skipped 15m and went straight to 10m to find a 9V station from Singapore, although my 100W wasn't enough to bag him. Also some loud stations from Japan and China on 40m at our mid-day, which was a surpise, I'd only QSY'd there to catch some local Europeans.
10m band continues to improve and seems to be open most days, though mainly in the morning and to the East. The band is right on the edge, openings are short but there have been some very strong signals. Could still do with just a few more sunspots, SFI peaking in the low 90s then dropping back into the 80s, once we get SFI above 100 then the band should be better.
Stations heard and worked include HZ1PS, FR5EC/P, ZS6X, ZC4LI and HS0ZIN. The Oman beacon A47RB has been regularly heard around 1000z.
CQWW SSB Contest - decided to do a 10m single-band entry. Unfortunately conditions dipped down from earlier in the week but still managed to make 150 QSOs. Some strong signals too inc lots of Russians and South Americans. Didn't work the USA, other gotaways included a VK6 and a HS0, but still promising that the band was opening up.
Setup - Icom IC7400, Hunter amp (300W), 4 ele monoband yagi
Solar flux back up in th 90s and 10m has been opening up the past few days with some great DX...even managed to work the USA when I got home from work. First time that we've had this sort of consistency on 10m this solar cycle.
Nice surprise in the post - winner's certificate for the 2009 CQWW SSB Contest, 80m single-band entry.
27 Sept 2010
First event of the contest season CQWW RTTY - beat last year's score, with over 800 QSOs in the 100W all-band section, good to hear 15m so busy and even some activity on 10m.
Great to catch HC8/K6AW from the Galapagos Isl on 10m as he was warming up for the contest, must've been some side-scatter off TEP: there was some TEP on 10m in the contest, but straight down into S.America. Also some Es - the 10m yagi is still working well and has proved to be a sound investment, may take it down shortly to try out the 17/12m yagi I bought second-hand a few months ago, and put it back up when we get a few more sunpsots.
30 Aug 2010
Look like autumn (fall) is on it's way, HF bands starting to liven up again:
40m: J28AA (Djibouti)
30m: KH6ZM (Hawaii), 9X0TL (Rwanda)
20m: A61AS (Dubai), HZ1GW (Saudi Arabia), JY5HZ (Jordan)
14 Aug 2010
Extremely successful Perseids meteor shower, 15 QSOs on 2m FSK441 with 10 new squares, with a relatively QRP setup: 70W to a 9 ele yagi. Bit of a strange shower, didn't seem to be any major defined peak, made QSOs over 5 days, although better around 11/12/13.
New squares: JO80 (SP6NXG), JN35 (IK1MTZ), JN03 (F6DRO), JN23 (F1HQM), IO89 (GM0HTT), JN79 (OK1MDK), JN45 (IW2HAJ), JO59 (LA0BY), JN00 (EB5AL), JN13 (F5ODA).
31 July 2010
Testing my 2m gear out in preparation for Perseids meteor shower, tried a random MS QSO with HA2ZV in the afternoon: a couple of good pings but meteors not good and we couldn't complete, reports exchanged but just missed the final 'RRR's. Frustrating, but not bad considering both of us had single yagis and lowish power. Hopeful of making a few QSOs in the Perseids, starting next week.
9 July 2010
Back from my travels, put my 2m yagi up and 1 hr later caught a nice Es opening into Italy and Croation. 3 new grid squares worked: JN65, JN74, JN83.
7 July 2010
Been working away most of the early part of the summer, so missed most of the Sporadic E season. Have managed to catch a few mutli-hop Es openeings on 10m into the USA and Caribbean.
20 Apr 2010
Not a lot of time for radio of late, just the odd few QSOs, but have managed to get a 10m yagi at last: a Sirio SY-4, built for the 27MHz CB band, which I modified for 10m using Eznec modelling data from SV9OFO. Have caught a couple of openings in the last few days, it seems to work fine, signals are typically 3-5 S points up on the 4BTV vertical with the yagi at 25ft, with many reasonable signals on the yagi inaudible on the vertical.
Solar conditions seem to have taken a dive, after a few promising months the solar flux has dropped back into the 70s and stayed there. Good job the Sporadic E season is just round the corner, let's hope for some increased solar activity later in the year, ready for the autumn DX season.
22 Mar 2010
BARTG RTTY was fun, it's not usually a DX contest but managed some good ones, highlight was being called by 2 Alaskan station on 40m at our dawn. I usually keep to 100W for RTTY but I ran the amp for this one, so 300W, making 420 QSOs.
Highlights:
40m: Al9A(Alaska), NL7V(Alaska)
20m: KH6ZM (Hawaii), AL9A (Alaska), KL5E (Alaska), YB0PAH (Indonesia)
15m: VK6HZ (Austalia), YB8EL (Indonesia)
Took time out to pick up a couple of good ones, ZK3OU on 30m (Tokelau) and VP8DNA on 15m (Falkland Isl).
14 Mar 2010
RSGB Commonwealth "BERU" Contest - condx not as good as expected, plus some technical problems inc high SWR on 15m, all of which made it hard work, but a couple of 10m QSOs at the end made up for it: VK6DXI and VK6LW ... didn't expect that.
21 Feb 2010
12m has been fantastic the last week, thanks to the increased solar activity (SFI has been mid-80s or higher every day). Lots of DX inc 5X1BH, D2CQ, TL0A, ZP6CW, J38XX, 3B8DB, A61RJ. Heard VKs the last 2 days inc VK9X Christams Isl but a bit too weak to get with the vertical.
15 Feb 2010
Phew, just finished WPX RTTY, gave a real serious effort this year. 840 QSOs and the first real signs that we've come off the bottom of the solar cycle: 20m open to the whole of the US inc KH6 well after dark, 15m open to Japan and Asia in the morning and US inc West Coast in the afternoon, and even a few F-layer sigs on 10m. My (claimed) score of 1,271,476 points would have won the low power section in 2009 (when I came 2nd with 635,964 so I've doubled my score) , but as condx were up this year it may not be a winner, we'll have to wait and see.
9 Feb 2010
Focussed more on DX'ing than contesting in the last few weeks, superb condx now that the sunspot cycle is finally taking off, and we're heading towards the Spring equinox:
Highlights:
80m - R1FJM (Franz Joseph Land), J79CBS (Dominica), HI3TEJ (Dom. Rep),
PY2XU/PY0F (Fernando De Noronha), J28AA (Djbouti)
30m - V85SS (Brunei), KH6MB & KH7XS (Hawaii), VK3XU
(Australia), R1ANP (Antartica)
17m - 9M2MT (W.Malaysia), JL1MWI (Japan), A61BK (UAE)
With Cycle 24 at a new high (SFI 95), looking forward to the CQ WPX RTTY in 4 days time.
30 Jan 2010
Another busy month: some contests (ARRL RTTY RU, BARTG RTTY Sprint, RSGB AFS Contests), some DX, and some unusual but very welcome Es on 10m and 12m over 4 or 5 days.
Highlights:
80m - VP8DMN (Falkland Isl), TX3D (Austral Isl)
40m - KH6MB (Hawaii), TX3D (Austral Isl)
30m - 7P8BA (Lesotho), T6AG (Afghanistan), VP8DMN (Falkland Isl), OR4TN
(Antartica)
17m - XW3DT (Laos), ZD7FT (St.Helena Isl)
Also been having a play with WSPR. Amazing what 5W can do, have been heard in VK on 30m and 40m, and this morning a W7 heard me on 80m just after our dawn.
4 Jan 2010
End of another busy Xmas holidays, plenty of time spent on the radio, mainly dawn and dusk on 80m (thanks for all the new US states) and 30m, plus the ARRL RTTY RU contest.
Highlights:
80m - JD1BLY (Ogasawara Isl), JA7BXS (Japan), JT1CO (Mongolia), AA7A
(USA AZ)
30m - JT1BH (Mongolia), ZL2AGY (NZ), HS0ZBS (Thailand), 9M2TO
(W.Malaysia)
Unfortunately just couldn't find time for the RSGB VHF Xmas Cumulatives, nor the Quadrantids meteor shower, so no 2m activity this Xmas.
23 Dec 2009
Just had one of those "magic" QSOs that reminded me why I love amateur radio so much. Had a spare 10 mins after a day out with the family in the freezing cold (-4C at 10am) so sat in the shack, not much happening on any of the bands, tuned to 30m and heard a weak CQ, which I thought was a VK7, but he faded out. So decided to call CQ up the band, and was answered by K6III in California - not particularly rare, but when the band is dead and you have a fairly ordinary set-up, a signal like that coming up out of the noise is what makes this hobby special.
22 Dec 2009
Now on a nice 2-week Xmas break, and settled WX in the UK so I can leave the 80m vertical up. Having great fun on 80m: JT1CO, JA7BXS, ZL3NB, UN9M, plus lots of US inc a few new states. Hoping to get some West Coast before the end of the holiday.
7 Dec 2009
Now active on the 30m band for the first time (well, I had one QSO with a friend in ZD8 many years ago).
Added a new top section complete with 30m trap to the Hustler 4BTV....which is now a "7BTV", 10/12/15/17/20/30/40 all on one aerial with a single feed :-) Seem to be working great: DU, XV, 9M all in the first few days.
30 Nov 2009
CQWW CW Contest - a fairly casual effort, utilising whatever free time I could find over the weekend. Didn't start so good, shack PC failed on Thurs necessitating a hasty XP re-build, just got there in time. Condx seemed a bit worse than of late, although 15m was in good form to the USA.
Highlights....as usual, all with the verticals:
80m - NP4Z, 8P5A, FM5CD, 6Y1V, HC8GR
15m - 9J3A, VK6AA, V47NT, A25NW, HC8GR
10m - No signals this time
10 Nov 2009
Solar activity has dropped back a bit, although the Solar Flux hasn't dipped below 70 for nearly a month. Consequently HF has continued to be pretty good, with great condx to the Far East and Pacific early in the mornings (0700-1000z).
Highlights....as usual, all with the Vertical:
40m - P29NI (Papua New Guinea)
17m - BD5BAJ (China), VK4BX (Australia), DS1REE (S.Korea), 8Q9LM
(Maldive Isl), JT1AS (Mongolia)
15m - VU2XO (India), DU3MEL (Philippines), BX2AAL (Taiwan), Z21BB
(Zimbabwe), ZD7FT (St.Helena)
12m - VR2PX (Hong Kong), 5N0OCH (Nigeria), ZS2EZ (S.Africa), VQ9LA
(Chagos Isl)
26 Oct 2009
CQWW SSB Contest - decided to do a single-band high power entry on 80m (319 QSOs), but condx so good on 15m and 10m that I made a few "checklog" QSOs on these bands too....over 150, including a few new DXCCs on 15m.
Highlights:
80m - VP5T (Turks and Caicos Isl), 8P5A (Barbados), 4U1UN (UN HQ New
York)
15m - B1Z (China), VR2YYW (Hong Kong), HT2V (Nicaragua), AA4V/VP9
(Bermuda)
10m - 9K2HN (Kuwait), ZS9X (S.Africa)
Excellent higher band condx are a result of increased solar activity, solar flux peaked at 76 in the past few days, even this modest improvement allowed 15m to open extensively, and even 10m to open up too. Again, it finally looks like the new solar cycle is starting to increase after such a long wait, although seasonal effects certainly have a part to play, Oct is always one of the DX months (fantastic F2 to Pacific on 6m many years ago).
18 Oct 2009
Amazing what difference a few sunspots can make, the solar flux only dipped into the 60s for 4 days this time and has been in the 70s most of the time, feels like the new solar cycle is on the increase. HF feels like the best it's been since 2005.
Great condx to the Pacific on a number of bands in the last few weeks, 17m has been busy, and even 15m has been open to JA and VK.
New ones:
40m - TX5SPA (Austral Isl), FK8CP (New Caledonia)
20m - V8JQM (Brunei), TO7RJ (Mayotte)
17m - 9K/K6PAU, ZL4IV, lots of JAs
15m - HS0ZIN, TY1MS, 3B8CF, 3 x JAs in the JARTS RTTY contest
28 Sept 2009
CQWW RTTY Contest - decided to have a relatively serious go at it this year with my lower power (100W) setup.
Set a target of 500 QSOs and got 737, 15m much busier than expected and quadruple the usual QSOs on 80m thanks to the loan of a vert, rather than the usual low dipole. Hard work on 15m due to low power - heard but missed JA, E21, VU, V5, and several YBs.
Thanks to Simon G4SGI for loan of his Cushcraft 40/80m vertical, it really made a difference, even though I only had time to lay out 8 radials.
13 Aug 2009
Perseids meteor shower - my 4th major meteor shower since starting out with FSK441 on 2m.
Condx not quite as good as predicted, but still bagged a few good QSOs with some nice strong reflections, the best being LY2WR in KO24.
Really could do with a pre-amp on 2m, location here is decent enough and aerial high, but 150ft coax run is not helping, even if most of it is LDF5-50.
14 Dec 2008
Geminids meteor shower - 2m FSK441. Reflections better than expected, nice defined peak and some new grids on 2m.
F1DVP (JN12), EA1CKL (IN82), IZ5ILX (JN54), TK5EP (JN41), S54T (JN75), F1NSR (JN33), I3VWK (JN55).
Back to G0HVQ main page