7th place PACC contest section QRP

My first time I did a complete contest, the PACC contest 2010, I reached the seventh place in section F: SO mixed QRP. So I am very pleased with it. Today I worked SP1QXK on 20 meter with SSB and ON3WAB/P on 40 meter SSB. I did heard some European Stations on 10 meter, but I leave the band for what it is.

On 10 meter I worked OK1UYR (see photo) Martin from Benesov, Czech Republic with BPSK31. I also heard PY2CX (PSK reporter) but I didn't noticed it. With SSB I worked OL8ØOK on 17 meter. I am participant to join the test phase of QRZ.com logbook. My first impression is positive.

Op de tijdelijke 2 meter repeater van Heerhugowaard op 145.762.5 sprak ik Steven PD9SW en Jos PDØJOS. Even lekker gezellig kletsen op 2 meter.

New DXCC Cuba

It has been a long to add a new DXCC to my list. Last night I was listen on 20 meter. Only European stations calling 'State Side' and I could hear stations from the USA, but not possible for me to work them. So I went to 17 meter PSK part of the band. I saw CO8LY (Fernando from Santiago de Cuba) in my waterfall. I tried to work him with QRP, but nope. So I put up the power to 45 watts and now he could hear me. Yes, a new DXCC. I was a bit nervous and because to send Bye 73, I began to send the CQ macro... sorry. Also worked IW5AUD on 17 meter with BPSK31. On 40 meter I worked LZ65P with SSB QRP. To add some new countries this weekend: try to work some stations with the CQ WW WPX Contest (the rules) operators are willing to work you to get some points. Have a nice weekend.

On 10 meter this morning I worked CT1BNW (see photo) Cupido from Portugal, he was using BPSK125. This mode is very quick, though more bandwidth. With BPSK31 on 10 meter I worked ES3RM Mait from Jarvaknadi, Estonia. I worked him before on 40 meter. Other QSO's: on 20 meter E73W with CW and G3JHS with SSB on 40 meter. On 17 meter with PSK31: SP3BGD and DL1KUN.

10 meter was wide open tonight, never heard so loud stations coming in. I worked with SSB UA2FR - S51ZZ - and SP9QMP.

Just 20 meter

This morning I was QRV on 20 meter. My antenna is perfect for 80 and 40 meter, also 20 meter works fine, but for the higher frequencies it's not so good. So why should I constant switch from one band to another. I should stick to one band, e.g. 40 meter. My dipole performs very good on this band. With my FT817 I could only work on 20 and 40 meter, with the antenna set up. So I listen carefully on those two bands, searching for nice stations to work. On 20 meter today I worked OH2FDO/MM he was sailing at sea. (see photo) Also G8YXJ and DF3SU. It's funny to work last two stations because normally I can't work UK and Germany on 20 meter. The last few weeks is a lot of short skip on 20 meter. This late afternoon there was a lot of stations QRV on 10 meter PSK31. I worked before I start cooking: S56VJM - SP9UPV - OK2BH average 1000 km.

Long live QRP

Also on 10 meter QRO rules. It a bit craziness that all that stations pile up for stations I work every day on 40 or 20 meter. Nothing special, just another European stations. No super dx from other continents. Why all that fuss? Only because it Es? It seems that the more power = is less information. Only exchange of name and locater. OK, I try to understand, maybe the Es is for a short while. And you want to work many stations as possible, isn't it? What counts is quantity and not quality of the qso. What a relief to hear IZØIWP/QRP with PSK31 as only station on 10 meter, because it very early and the QRO guys were polish up their lineairs or finals. We had a FB QSO and we took all the time for a proper 2 way qrp QSO. Thank you Max! I had made several qso's on 17, 15, 20 and 40 meter with CW, SSB, PSK31 and RTTY.

More activity wanted

On the surface of the sun happens a lot, only we do not benefit so far. Most of us enjoy the Es season, which will reach the maximum in June. In August the most Es will be gone. We must not forget the tropo conditions on 2 meter or 70 cm. Last Saturday was a nice tropo opening on VHF and UHF. But nobody was there! I could hear and open many repeaters in the Netherlands, Germany and Belgium. Though, it was very early in the morning. In the early days, about 30 years ago I could DX on 2 meter repeaters. But now with CTCSS and different shifts is it not always possible. When I hear a German repeater and press the PTT button then I activate the nearest repeater here. Maybe I must deactivate the sub tones.

When I look to the graphic then you see that the linear line for the Solar Flux is totally flat. Only the sunspot linear is slowly in upward progression. The increase of sunspots is always going up and down, like a sinus wave. When I look to it, it seems that we can expect a sunspot peak in the end of June. In the summertime my ham activity is low, because I like to bike when the weather is good and I need some exercise. I like soccer, so I watch the world championship soccer 2010 which start June 11.

WSPR on 10 meter yesterday. Best DX was 4X1RF from Israel. The last two days I worked: PA4SDV - PHØHI - PA2MCE - PDØSTP on 2 meter FM. On 40 meter SSB: GB4GEO (I was looking for GB6GEO but not a trace) - HF1DS - MØWAY - UT5RB and EA5/PA2MPR Willem from Benidorm Spain, we had a nice chat. So, lets see what this day will bring...

Echolink

Some of us say that Echolink is not radio. In a way they are right, but I am glad that I got Echolink finally working. My problem was that I couldn't open my UDP ports. There was something wrong with the configuration of my router. I was looking on the Internet for a solution. I find a program PFconfig. The software promised that it could configure my router. It cost me 30 euro's. When it was installed my router was not listed. Aargh. Still I could not open my UDP ports. My firewall was OK. I was almost giving up for a couple days. Then I tried again. But... Then I was asked for a login and password of the server. Which I don't really know. Then I saw in the preferences that I could choose for a proxy sever. So I did, I choose one from the list. And yes, It does work now!!! First I checked the test server to hear my audio back. First it was noisy and too weak. I must turn off my rig, and turn up the mic gain. I made a qso with PDØMNO Gerard and PA3BAT Roel via a 70 cm repeater. They say my audio sounds good for an Echolink contact. I got a real qso feeling as if it was real radio. I opened up a repeater on 2 meter on Curacao and a repeater in Albany, NY. It's really fun. I think I install Echolink on my laptop so I can make qso's when I am with holidays. With WSPR on 10 meter I was reported by EA1FAU. Tonight I had a QSO with 2EØLXA Adam from Keighley, England and EM7MFF from Lisichansk, Ukraine. Both with 10 watt SSB on 40 meter.

Een halve Falcon

De Falcon Out 250B is totaal 7,2 meter lang. Behalve de lengte is ie ook nog zwaar om in je eentje op te zetten. De buren vonden de lengte ook een bezwaar en ze waren bang voor bliksem inslag. Daarom had ik hem verwijderd. Met de 80 - 40 meter dipool kom ik aardig uit de voeten. Met de MFJ tuner kan ik voor 30-20-17-15 ook uitkomen. Alleen 10 meter was moeilijk. De SWR is alleen goed tussen 28.070 en 28.130 KHz. Goed voor RTTY, PSK31 en WSPR. Maar voor CW en SSB is de SWR veel te hoog. Nu kwam ik op een idee, als ik nu eens de helft van de Falcon opzet. Ten eerste kan ik het ding alleen opzetten, en het is geen enorm gevaarte qua lengte. Dus dat heb ik gedaan. Verrassend is dat ik op alle banden van 160 tot en met 10 meter een prima SWR heb. Of de antenne ook straalt is een tweede. De condities waren gisteren natuurlijk belabberd slecht. Met een Solar Flux van 69 wil het natuurlijk niet opschieten. Op 20 meter en 30 meter heb ik WSPR geprobeerd, en dat ging prima. Op 10 meter was Es volgens VHFdx.com. En inderdaad hoorde ik een paar zwakke SSB stations, de S-meter kwam niet uit de hoek. Toen hoorde ik EA6DX, hij kwam met S 5 door. Ik heb hem een paar keer aangeroepen en uiteindelijk gelukt. Even later heb ik 9A2NA gewerkt, ik kreeg een 59 rapport. Ik probeerde deze qso's in te voeren bij VHFdx.com maar dat lukte niet, een time out elke keer. Het kaartje van die site werd per 10 minuten leger, wat er op zou duiden dat de Es weg was. Of dat er iets mis was met de site. Ik werkte nog IT9BYS die mij met 3-0 nog kon horen en zijn best deed om mij te werken. Daarna hoorde ik niets meer op 10 meter. Ik hoop dat er vandaag weer wat Es is zodat ik de halve Falcon kan uitproberen. Op 6 meter werkt ie helaas niet. De enige band waarop ik niet kan uitkomen. Dat is jammer.

WSPR 160 m

Like Adam and others, I SWL a lot on all frequencies available. I want a general coverage receiver in the shack one day. I like the feel of a standard radio like the ICOM R75. I like the old S-meters. But... I like the ICOM PCR-1500 also. I can let it run on a laptop, just watch the video. Yesterday I was Whispering on 160 meter (Summer Project). At day time I heard nothing and wasn't heard by anyone. But with dusk the stations were coming in.

I was using my indoor miracle whip with a 10 meter wire and the FT817 with 2 watt output. Best DX LA3JJ 818 km. WSPR spot database.

The Miracle Whip and wire in the windowsill.

62

Today is my birthday. Yes, I am 62 years now. This photo was taken Saturday at Rozendaalse Veld near Arnhem. It's beautiful nature there and so called: quiet area. In the back you see my son. We (My daughter and me) were in Arnhem to visit the concert of Lady GaGa. 25.000 people there. It was for my daughter her first live concert. Lady GaGa is not really my music, but I did it for her.

Today I will be active with WSPR on 160 meter, Summer Project.

Receiving myself

VHfdx.com reported tropo conditions on 2 meter between England, Netherlands and Germany. So I thought I let WSPR run. Unfortunately there was not too many stations QRV on 2 meter. Strongest station is always DL1DBC. But it was very strange to receive myself on 2 meter. PC4T was reported by PC4T. On HF nothing much to hear. Above 14 MHz the band completely dead. Best signals on 40 meter. I did work with 10 watt BPSK31: IW2CXB - DB7GE - RA2FU - RW3DVG - DM2TN - OK2ACF. I was reported by: EC5AQF - F1MBC - PE2RHD - SM6FMB - 3A2MB (Monaco - Still on my wish list!!!)- HB9SOF - F5RSS - DB1SO - DL3ZZA and M6PCZ (Paul).
On 80 meter I worked with my 10 watt BPSK31: DO8JC and DK8CX.

HF handy

It's a pity that the Mizuho MX7S HF handy is no longer in production. It would be wonderful for portable operation. Just for holidays to take it with you. Have a nice weekend, 73 Paul

Still active

The Volcano on Iceland is still active. Next week my xyl is going for a horse back riding in Ireland. First she'll have to fly to Belfast, from there with a hired car to Sligo, Ireland. I do not hope that the dust from the volcano will be a spoilsport for her.

On 10 meter I worked 9A1CCB and E7ØEPC with PSK31 and PSK125.

New DXCC

On 30 meter I worked SM7WVZ/QRP with BPSK31, he was running 5 watt into an indoor dipole. Also worked YO5BBO on 30 meter. On 40 meter I worked LA5UJ and F5KCU with BPSK31. On 10 meter was a Es opening and I worked OK2JNB but I lost his signal in the return. I worked a new DXCC country Faroe Islands on 10 meter OY9R with BPSK31.

My DX for today was UN7TDB from Kazakhstan on 17 meter, distance 4925 km. Also worked on 17 meter IN3BJS and SP3FCO.

More luck on 10 meter

There was an opening with Es on 10 meter. First it seems to be negative for the Netherlands, but finally signals were coming through. With WSPR I have been reported by PAØO and EA1FAU. With PSK31 I could work UR5WCQ and RV3LE.

Only one

There was Es, so I tried WSPR on 10 meter. I did receive nothing, and I was reported by IZ2RLX, just 1 station. I think my dipole is not sufficient for 10 meter, though the SWR is perfect. But if it is radiating enough, I doubt it. On 30 meter yesterday I have a new US State: Vermont, my 14th state with WSPR. A new DXC as well: India. That makes it 40 DXCC with WSPR. This afternoon I worked with QRP OH9NB on 20 meter with CW. He had a 16 elements antenna, 60 meter up. The noise floor was very high today. On 40 meter S9. On 20 meter S5. I heard only 2 CW stations on 20 meter. Maybe I try later on this evening to make a qso on 40 meter.

Sometimes...

Sometimes I hate contests, especially when they occupy special frequencies. I was planning to do some PSK and QRP CW. But... there was a RTTY contest going on. Nothing is holy anymore. They occupy QRP frequencies, PSK frequencies and even JT65A frequencies. Now I know why I quit ham radio in the late eighties. I was fed up with this ego centered radio operations. And yes, when we can't fight them, we join them. The only opportunity to work another station. OK, I stop complaining on this Monday morning. Saturday my daughter was having her birthday, she is 12 years old now. What a beautiful girl she is, I am a proud dad, with such a girl.
Just turn on the rig, on 20 meter I can hear only one CW station, and very weak. On 30 meter I did hear some CW activity.

FT817 and Miracle Whip

A nice video from 2EØHTS. He made also a tripod for the Miracle Whip. Its a good idea. Maybe I will use it for portable use. My eldest son gave me a notebook which I can use for PSK in combination with the FT817. Have a nice Sunday, 73 Paul

Good Old 40 meter

We are not lucky in the Netherlands for taking advantage of Es on 10 or 6 meter. Propagations for simple, low profile stations is not good enough. So I went back to 40 meter, the only reliable band for sure contacts. So I worked with PSK31: S51AY, IZ2OBS and UT1UW. With SSB I worked F8CHM with a very strong signal as always, and with CW two special event stations RP65A and RP65Z. Today the XYL and daughter return from holidays in Rome. They had a fine time there. We communicate with each other with SMS.

On 10 meter I had a nice cw qso with I1REG, and on 15 meter with PSK31 I5PGG. It is since a week I do hear signals on 15 meter.

Mixed-Mode-Dipole

Robert Victor VA2ERY shows the Mixed-Mode-Dipole from the Miracle Antenna makers. It could be a concurrent for PAR End Fedz. This antenna is good for 30-20 and 17 meter, and with a tuner up to 10. The wire is only 10 meter long. More info >>>

This morning I worked on 40 meter SSB with F/ON4LO/P and TM7DR. On 17 meter I worked RK6CI Vasiliy from Kropotkin, Russia also with SSB. My DX for today: 2701 km. On 50 meter I picked up the signal of PA5JS on 50.230 the MS frequency with JT6M. So far no Es yet, but you'll never know what happens in a few hours.

Active Sun

Though we have sunspots at the moment, because of a geomagnetic storm (G2 Class) there is almost no F2 - F1 layer propagations. On photo a coronal mass ejection (see movie) If you will make radio contact by Aurora then is this the moment. There is Sporadic E direction north-west south east. England - mid-Europe.

The situation around 14.00 UTC on 6 meter. No Spor.E in the Netherlands. I was too late with WSPR on 10 meter. About 12.00 hours I let WSPR run. I only was spotted by EA1FAU.

Stats

When I look to my stats, I am very pleased with such a record. My blog is nothing special, is my opinion, but OK, thanks for dropping in. It has been quiet on my blog. My kids are having holidays for 14 days. My XYL and daughter are having holidays in Roma, Italy. My son and me are staying home, but are doing other things. So, there is not much activity from this side the coming 14 days. Maybe some WSPR on HF and 2 meter. Yesterday, I was reported by EA1FAU on 10 meter with Whisper.
Tonight on 40 meter I worked G3HNC Bert from Castleford, England and OE6JFG Franz from Krieglach, Austria (for the 3th time) with PSK31. On 10 meter I worked CN3A from Safi, Morocco with CW (Distance 2519 km).
73 Paul