My primary interests are Satellite operation and VHF DX operation. I am also active
on WSJT (FSK441 and JT44) and PSK31 on 50Mhz and 2m,
as well as experimenting with other modes such as
SSTV and RTTY on VHF.

I have been active on the 6m band since February 2001, when I made my first contact with
7Q7RM Ron.This was closely followed by EY8MM Nodir. After this I was hooked. The following
month saw a total of 40 contacts into Europe.
In August 2001 I met Hal ZS6WB, South Africa's leading 6m DXer. Through his assistance and guidance
I now have 72 countries and over 270 grids worked, and over 1500 QSOs in my log!

I have been involved with WSJT operations from the start in South Africa, and over Christmas 2001
activated 5 rare grids (KF26, KF27, KF28, KF36, KF38) for the SA gridhunters. On 13 January
2002 I participated in the second WSJT QSO on 2m between Division 6 and Division 1 (a distance of
1254km) with ZR1AEE. During the inaugural PEARS Digital Contest in 2003 I achieved third place overall, and completed 2m MS contacts with both ZS1NAZ and ZR1AEE during the contest.

Satellite operation began in February 2003, thanks to extensive help from John Sygo ZS6JON. During a visit to John's QTH in 2002 I had worked David VK5DG via AO-40, and this had dled my interest in satellite. During December 1986 I had experimented briefly with the RS satellites, and had worked 3 stations using 2.5W on the uplink, and receiving the downlink on an FRG7 with a piece of wire lying in the garden as an antenna! AO-40 was a different ballgame! As I already had an Icom IC910H, I set about assembling the rest of a station (downconverter, dish, 70cm crossed yagi and AZ/EL rotator). During my preparations John kept my interest alive, and we made contacts via UO-14 and FO-29 along the way. On 3 February 2003 I was ready, and worked DK1KQ for my first AO-40 contact. My first day on the satellite saw me log 12 stations (7 DL's, a GW, an XE, a VE, an F and ZS6JON!). I was now well and truly running on satellite! By the time I left Johannesburg ZR6DXB had been heard in 60 DXCC entities and 159 gridsquares. My application for WAC on satellite has been submitted, and once all the cards are in I will submit an application for VUCC for that callsign. The highlights of my satellite operations were undoubtedly working VP2EAG in Anguilla (the only South African to do so) and contacts with ZL2ALP and ZL2MN after several weeks of attempted skeds. ZL is particularly difficult from South Africa due to angle and time differences, and when both John ZS6JON and myself completed contacts with both ZL stations we were very satisfied indeed (it was shortly before 1.00am local time).
Upon arrival in Port Elizabeth the satellite antennas were the first things to go up, even before my final move was completed. First contacts were made on 24 August 2003, with DL2MHO being the first call in the log. 11 stations were logged on a brief operating period over the weekend of 24/25 August, including the GB5FI Flatholm Island expedition. Operation began in earnest on 21 September 2003, and there are now 40 DXCC entities and over 100 gridsquares in the log!
Erection of my VHF antennas was finally completed in January 2004, with considerable help from Ken ZS2BWB and Cyril ZR2H (now ZS2EJ). This installation comprises a Cushcraft 17B2 long yagi for 2m and an M2 6M7 50MHz yagi. Both are approximately 10m off the ground. Each antenna is on it's own mast, with a CD45II rotator to turn it. The masts are steel lower sections, with aluminium 5m top sections. Each have a set of guys ropes, and a wire HF antenna is on each mast - a G5RV on the 6m mast and a Webb FST broadband wire antenna on the 2m mast.

ZR2DX is now active and looking for contacts on VHF and satellite! In preparation for the proposed regulation changes which will permit ZR licencees access to portions of the HF spectrum, a Cushcraft R7 vertical has been erected as well....

BACK TO ZR2DX HOME PAGE