QRP the new challenge

QRP is the challenge. The equipment is small and not expensive. See this wonderful small transceiver: the MFJ-9020 a CW transceiver for 20 meter. Only 209,95 dollar. And MFJ has more to offer. A ATU and wire and go for it. I use a Miracle Whip, and so does EA5BLP. Read his quote (Miracle Whip Yahoo Group):

"We have all kind of strange QSL. Far islands, remote countries, unknown paradises....And one day we discover the intimate feeling of qrp. We have been working perhaps with a home made linear amplifier (or commercial) , 1 Kw radiating from our beam. But we are not this kind of people who needs competition for feeling alive. So, one day we decide to live a very intimate feeling. We take our poor qrp rig and walk on the mountains or near the sea. What we are looking from is not to be the best, but demonstrate to ourselves that we can do a good job out from the bands proud noise. And we do with our excellent whip!! I had big pile ups with JA stations. Now, I know that less is more. Well, I discovered this life mystery long time ago. But the question is to experiment it. This whip is a good help.
73 dx!! Juan, EA5BLP"

I must confess, I was a QRO myself for years. It was obvious for me to work everything I heard on HF. I had no other thoughts. But in the end there was no challenge any more. JA, VK, LU... no problem. But life could be so simple and have fun too. QRP is the answer. I know Wally, PA3BTT who build his own SW20+ (Smallwonderlabs) and is QRV with 2 watts. Also a nice transceiver. QRP is good for our environment, less power consumption. That's another point of view. Have a nice weekend!

On photo I8KRT, Nic from Sorrento, Italy. I worked him on 20 meter with CW. Also worked on 20 with CW: 4KT17X from Azerbaijan; RW3YA, George from Briansk, Russia; RW9JZ, Leonid from Surgur, Russia (4067 km).
On 40 meter with CW: S5ØIPY, Marjan from Slovenia and DJ8WO, Dieter from Clausthal-Sellerveld, Germany.

Today I made a few CW QSO's to practise my CW skills. I worked YO7AHR Tyti from Craiova, Romania; 4JT17X, a memorial station from Azerbaijan, my 56th DXCC country QRP on 20 meter and LY1000N from Lithuania on 40 meter and LZ40ATSA, Special Event Station - 40 years Air Traffic Services Authority ATSA from Sofia, Bulgaria (photo). Tonight I met Milos YU2MMA on 40 meter with CW. We worked many times before, under my previous call. Also LZ2VU Peter from Kubrat, Romania and HA8BT Joska from Mezobereny, Hungary.

Island of Man

I was happy to work Stuart GDØOUD from the Island of Man, my 55th DXCC QRP with CW on 40 meter. Conditions were also miserable but I was able to work the island GOZO - Malta Charlie 9H4CM with BPSK31 on 20 meter this morning. Also worked RZ3OA Alex from Voronezh, Russia with BPSK31 on 20 meter.

Vandaag waren de condities op de HF banden echt bedroevend slecht. Er viel bijna niets te beleven. Voor het eerst heb ik sinds 25 jaar weer een verbinding gemaakt op 2 meter. Ik woon vlak bij de repeater PI3ALK, dus heb ik een roep gegeven. Daar kwam ik PA3RGH, Ruud uit Opmeer tegen. Ook PA3RA, Roel en PD4DBI Kees waren even op ALK. Ik werkte gewoon met de FT817 (5 watt) en een whip antenne op de set. En dat lukte aardig.

Today I made a few CW QSO's. GMØFFB Stephen (photo) from Scotland on 40 meter CW. Also DM5MU Andy from Leipzig, Germany.

With BPSK31 on 20 meter this morning: UA9AM, Yuri from Malkovo, Russia and UN9M, Joseph from Uralsk, Kazakhstan.

I almost worked a station from the USA (WB3JSW) but a strong signal came upon us. And we lost each other in the QRM. It is strange I do not have worked a station across the big water so far. Why? I don't know. In eastern direction I worked 9200 km. Now the same direction to the west, I should worked the West Coast.

Luxembourg

Today I worked LX2FC Claude from Differdange (photo) Luxembourg. I was searching a long time for Luxembourg, but now I got it. With BPSK31 on 40 meter. Yesterday US5ZCW on 20 meter, today EW6FW, Sersh from Vitebsk, Belarus on 40 meter BPSK31.

53 DXCC Thailand

I was happy to work E20WXA, Chai from Bangkok, Thailand on 20 meter with BPSK31. I was a complete surprise. He gave me a 599 report. He was also very strong. So, you can see what is possible with 5 watts QRP, especially with BPSK31. Wow.

On photo YL3GBF, Janis from Liepaja, Latvia. I worked him on 40 meter with BPSK31. Also worked UT1EW, Vasilij from Krivoj Rog, Ukraine. And EA3EOM, Pere from Els Requers, Spain. On 40 CW I worked HA5AEK, Bandi from Budapest, Hungary. Sometimes it is difficult to copy all the fast CW signals. But by doing it I will learn. I like the speed of 25 words per minute the most. Too slow is also difficult to copy.

The Miracle Whip

Here is the Miracle Whip Antenna in use by Juan EA5BLP. How simple ham radio can be. What else do we need more than a small rig and a handy antenna and a Morse keyer. When I go with holidays I take my FT817 and MW antenna in my backpack, 10 meter wire and I am ready to work thousands of miles. This is another way to enjoy ham radio. I know their are a lot of radioamateurs who are cynical about 'Miracle antennas' and they tell us that something like that doesn't work. But I can only tell you that my experiments with the MW are satisfying. Even when the sunspots are extreme low or absent, even then I can make daily contacts all over Europe and sometimes outside Europe. QRP means you have to explore your operating skills. Listen carefully for stations who are calling CQ. Most of the time I listen for 80% and transmit 20%. A few QSO's a day is enough for me.

Today I worked with BPSK31 on 40 meter: OK1AKU, Stepan from Chodov, CZECH REPUBLIC. And DL2UWL, Manfred near Munich, Germany. And the last one for today: SV2MKV Nikos from Thessaloniki, Greece - distance 1928 km.

This is a photo of Andorra, one of the small countries I like to work. I do have worked 52 DXCC countries but I have to work a few more to have all of Europe. My wanted list is: Sardinia (IS), Georgia (4L), Corsica (TK), Iceland (TF), Faeroe Islands (OY), Luxembourg (So close but hard to get)(LX), Monaco (3A), Liechtenstein (HB0), Cyprus (5B), Moldavia (ER), Albania (ZA), Madeira (CT3), Ils. of man (GD), Jersey (GJ), Guernsey (GU) and Gibraltar(ZB). Yesterday I almost work a LX station with BPSK31, but he was lost in QSB. OK, that's my next project. No long distance but to make Europe complete.

This Afternoon I worked with BPSK31 on 20 meter: UT2UQ, Victor from Kiev, Ukraine.
On 40 meter: HB9CQT, Hans from Kirchberg, Switzerland. I lost him in the strong QSB in the second part of our QSO. And G8ZSG, John from near Plymouth, England. He is not in the callbook of QRZ.com.

On photo Les MW0LES from Neath, Wales. It was our second QSO, the first QSO was on January 16th 2009. I worked him with BPSK31 on 40 meter. Also worked with BPSK31: OK2PLH, XYL Zdena from Chrudim, CZECH REPUBLIC. DB4SP, Erwin from Heilbronn, Germany and YU1LC, Radovan from Serbia on 20 meter BPSK31.

Conditions are very poor today. I worked 2EØEMF on 40 meter with BPSK31, Wayne from Nottingham, U.K. I lost him in the second part of our QSO. I don't know what happens but I could not pick up his signal. And OE5DXO, Rainer from Haibach, Austria with SSB on 40 meter.

Tonight I worked EG2ANT Special Call ANTARCTIC ACTIVITY week, with BPSK31 on 40 meter and also 9A5BDP, Zare from Dalj, Croatia. New DXCC is the Azores CU3ED, David from Angra Do Heroismo. I am very happy with this contact.

PACC contest

I worked only for 2 hours PACC contest. I made 23 contacts over 14 DXCC countries. New country was EK6TA, Hovik from Artik, Armenia. I worked only with SSB because CW is still too fast. Hi. Maybe next year. The 20 meter band was pretty busy, and it is nice to hear so many stations calling PA.

On photo ON3SSE, Serge from Andenne, Belgium with BPSK31 on 40 meter. In July we'll have vacation in the neighbourhood, in Durbuy. I will operate with the call ON/PAØPSY/P for 2 weeks. Also worked: F6AEW/P Claude from Laval, France with SSB on 40m. With BPSK31: EB1EOZ, Jose Antonio from Oviedo, Spain on 20m and 2WØSKW from Swansea, Wales, UK on 40m. I lost the last part of the QSO cos' I did something wrong... sorry.

Down at the bottom

As you can see, we are at the bottom of the sunspot cycle 23, and there seems to be no end to it. And today is the PACC contest. I don't know if I will participate. My daughter is ill and I have my shack in the living room. So... OK, I will see. Maybe a few QSO's. Have a nice weekend!

On photo Z36N, Tone from Stip, Macedonia. We worked on 40 m with BPSK31. Also worked: DM5OKR, Axel from Ilmenau, Germany and M1REK, Ray from Congleton, England. The last part of our QSO was going wrong. QRM? I dunno...

How sure is sure?

I am not really a QSL card collector. I got plenty in boxes but I never looked at it twice. I am not going for awards. So... Since my return on air last august 2008 I made a lot of contacts. Most of the contacts promised a QSL card 100% sure. But how sure is sure? I do not received one card since then. Huh? Well, only one QSL card by mail from Bill GØNGE (thanks!) one hour after the QSO.

So I decided to stop with paper QSL cards. If any one want a QSL card from me, send me a request by mail and you will get one by mail. 100% sure. Send your request to: pa0psy@multiweb.nl

I heard EG7BMC with a special call. It's about a missing girl.

RASE Dx Group members will be in the air with the special index search EG7BMC (Finding Marta del Castillo), girl of 17 years disappeared on January 24 in Seville and to this day remains unknown.
The intent of this poster is to spread actiividad search image in the form of QSL all over the world. We will be in the air from 9 to February 15 can be extended by up to 28 different causes.

All I can do to help is putting the picture on my website.

PAØPSY

Today my callsign PA9B is no longer valid. My new (old) callsign is PAØPSY again. This was my first callsign and I am pleased to have it back again. I couldn't get the old callsign out of my head, especially with CW. In the early years I made almost all of my QSO's with CW. In august last year, after an period of 20 years, I changed it to PA9B. I saw that PAØPSY was still available at Agentschap Telecom, and before someone else will take 'my' callsign... you know.

Stations I worked today with BPSK31 on 20 meter: SA2YLM , Maria (Young Lady Maria) from Abborrtrask, Sweden. It is the first time I worked a woman operator. My Digipan Makro was made with 'dear OM' Sorry Maria. I saw it to late on my screen. EA3/EA8TL, Jorge from Spain. UA9UDC, Vladimir from Berezovski, Asiatic Russia, distance: 5010 km. And with my new callsign: RN6BY, Alex from Novorossiysk, Russian Federation. Distance: 2565 km.

On photo Andy EW3DQC from Moscow, Russia. I worked him on 20 meter with BPSK31. Also worked: UT6IS, Victor from Makeevka, Ukraine; EW6AG, George from Gorodok, Belarus; and YO6EX Sico from Medias, Romania. Conditions stay poor on HF. I wonder when the sunspots will return.

In the evening I heard on 20 meter several Brazilian stations with BPSK31. The band look closed... I couldn't work them. On 40 meter I worked HA6NL, Laci from Zagyva, Hungary.

Op de foto zie je OH7FES, Ari uit Lieksa die tegen kwam op 20 meter met BPSK31. Verder heb ik gewerkt: RZ9UI, Alex op 20 meter met SSB. Dat was voor vandaag. Ik ben voorlopig even 3 dagen niet QRV. CU.

Vandaag waren mijn schoonouders 50 jaar getrouwd. We zijn even naar Brabant gegaan om met z'n allen te eten. Om mijn pannenkoek met gember, ijs en slagroom te laten zakken even nog wat QSO's gemaakt op 40 meter met BPSK31. Ik heb de volgende stations gewerkt: S57NCP, 9A4RC en HA1DRA.

Fritzel FB13

De Fritzel FB13 (foto PE2EK) is jarenlang mijn antenne geweest. Met CW en 200 watt PEP heb ik zo goed als de hele wereld gewerkt op 20, 15 en 10 meter. Ook de nodige instraling gehad bij buren, en dat was minder leuk. Dat noopte mij noodgedwongen om QRP te werken. De inspanning die dan geleverd moet worden stond mij wel aan. Ik was ook de problemen met instraling kwijt in TV's, platenspelers, orgels en wat dies meer zij. Wat verrassend is dat ik met 5 watt heel vaak 58 tot 59 rapporten krijg met stations die 20 tot 60 keer meer vermogen hebben. Dat geeft te denken. Vanmorgen werkte ik YT1MZ, Zoran uit Lapovo, Servië om 6.18 uur op 40 meter met SSB en OK1JN, Ivan uit Jablonec, Tsjechië met SSB. 's Middags nog met F5ZN, Chris die moeite had om mijn signaal uit de ruis op te pikken op 40 meter. Er was veel qrm en qsb op de frequentie. Toen ben ik even geswitched naar BPSK31 want daar kom je met QRP nog aardig door. Ik werkte daar OE1MBU/6, Marcus uit Trofaiach, Oostenrijk en IZØFJR, Vito from Roma op 40 meter.

29 March 2009

I would be wonderful when all broadcast stations are gone from the 40 meter band section 7.100 -7.200 and it's going to happen on 29 March 2009. In two months time we will have more space on 40 meter. I hardly can't wait. The 40 meter band is my favourite band cos' you can work 24 hours on 40 meter. At night and in the early morning you can work rare DX. I worked Puerto Rico also at night on 40 meter with 5 watts SSB. This morning I worked DL6SX, Arno from Friedenfels, Germany on 40 meter. And that's nice of the 40 meter band: short skip at daytime. I can work whole Europe with my 5 watts.