Here are the results of the PA beker contest 2010. PE4BAS has reached the second place. Congrats! I reach as 5th with SSB QRP section. With CW QRP section I reached the 9th place. Next PA Beker Contest is: November 12 and 13th 2011.
Last night I didn't have much time for radio. But for a few minutes I checked JT65A frequency on 80 meter. (3576 KHz) I called with 5 watt CQ and YT2AAA came back for me. I got a -14 db report. This morning with poor conditions on 20 meter I worked YU1OTB with 5 watt SSB. My report 59 and I got compliments about my QRP signal. Later on I worked PF2T Roland on 2 meter, he was mobile on his bike, in heavy rain with his Alinco handheld DJ-G7. which is water proof. We use the voice repeater in Heerhugowaard. The weather is not that good: a lot of rain. Very wet here. Have a good weekend!
It's busy on our radio spectrum. All kind of devices produces RF. Since a week I do have a new wireless router for my home network. I need it because the XYL and kids are using all kind of wireless devices. WiFi, Blue tooth, cordless phones and laptops. When colleagues of the XYL are here, they want to work on their laptops. But a few times a day the Internet was down here. Every time I had to reset the modem and router. No idea what causes it. Now I know, it's me. When I transmit with low power up to 30 watts, I have RFI. The router stops working. I can take all kinds of actions, like decrease RF via power lines. But with 5 watt or less I do not have any problem. So I decided to work QRP only, the best thing to do. All problems are solved instantly. And as you all know, real QRP is more fun, so I am glad that my router prevents me to work more needless power. Thank you.
I was early this morning. I heard T77C (see photo) calling CQ on 40 meter SSB. He heard me and gave me a 59 report from San Marino. My second QSO was with Ben DL7UCW from Berlincher, Germany. Other stations worked on 20 m with SSB: EW1MM and UT1KY. Last night I worked IZ4CZL for the second time on one day with JT65A. Only the second time on 80 meters.
On 20 meter I worked OH1K Jari from Reposaari Island with 5 watt SSB. With 5 watt JT65A I worked on 20 meter IZ4CZL and UA9AET, I was reported in New Zealand ZL2VF again, Brazil PR8ZX, KN8DMK Ohio and N4RP,VA. So 5 watt seems to be enough power to get around.
First I started to listen to CW on 14060KHz. I only heard 1 station with a very sloppy CW, I couldn't make anything out of it. So I moved to the SSB part of the 40 meter band with my FT817. With my 817 I will be heard always. That isn't always with my FT-450 with the same power. So I made a QSO with F4GBW Mike from Roubaix. We have worked before, last year in February. Also worked GX4BJC/A Cliff from Grimsby, UK. We had a nice QSO. It was a special station: G4BJC is the Club call sign for the International Short Wave League, and is administered by Arthur Kinson, G0KOC. The call is available for the League members to operate on a monthly basis from any of the U.K. call areas, using any of the following prefixed call signs Plus /A or /P. On 20 meter I worked IO5ANT and S59EKL with SSB.
Yesterday, when I received PA2PF on 10 meter I saw other signals diagonal on his frequency. I think because both signals are in the same cycle. It look like a Doppler effect, that signal is not decoded. Maybe a airplane refection? Today it was a typical Sunday, not too much time for radio. I did work a few Russian and Ukrainian stations on 17 meter. I did not take advantage of the good propagation and contest on HF. The kids are having holiday this week. So now and then I will do some WSPR-ing. With JT65A I was reported in New Zealand ZL2VF earlier this morning.
ANOTHER X-FLARE, Fast-growing sunspot complex 1161-1162 erupted on Feb. 18th, producing an M6.6-class solar flare. The almost-X category blast was one of the strongest flares in years and continued the week-long trend of high solar activity. NOAA forecasters estimate a 75% chance of more M-flares during the next 24 hours. [source: Space Weather.com]
On DX Sherlock I saw there was propagation on 10 meter. So I let WSPR run on 10 meter. Immediately I received a VK station on 10 meter. I had some appointments outside, so I was very curious what the results will be when I come home again. Wow, I was really surprised. I was reported by several stations in Australia. This is for me the first time I am reported in Australia on 10 meters. This was typical F2 layer propagation,. There was also Es reflection. Reported in Israel and other European countries. 
A very nice list. Most of the VK stations were running 10 or 20 watts.
It is very interesting. Is the signal really wider or it is two signals close together. It is something to keep a eye on. The effect of the latest sunburst of February 4th, seems to be disappointing. Almost no aurora was reported. I think there will be no HF blackout either.
Jelle, mijn jongste zoon hier op een duintop, genietend van de ondergaande zon. Nog een paar jaar en dan willen ze niet meer mee. Dan gaan ze hun eigen weg. Ik had mijn blog even op zwart gezet. Soms vraag ik me af waarom ik blog. Aan de ene kant wordt mijn blog best veel gelezen. Aan de andere kant is er betrekkelijk weinig interactiviteit. 
This QTH belongs to Robert AB1NJ, I worked him with JT65A on 20 meter. And what a nice QTH! And no problems with the neighbours about antennas and LFI and TVI. I was monitoring the JT65A frequency on 20 meter, because I can tune the rig on one dial frequency, and just watching what comes along. My second QSO was with UN7GN Valery from Kazakhstan. The rest of the day just listening. I was reported in ZL, I heard Chile, Brazil, Japan, Philippines, USA, Indonesia, Canada and Australia. And of course a lot of Russian and European stations. Well, with a SF 113 and SN of 90 it can't go wrong.
Taiwan is my 91 DXCC with low power. I worked BV7RC Kenzo Ito on 20 meter with JT65A. Though the SF is 107, conditions are not great (yet). 30 meter and higher is poor. The fact I worked Taiwan was a matter of luck. I was listen and watching the JT65A frequencies. As usual a lot of Russians and Ukraine stations, suddenly there was BV7RC calling CQ. I was there to answer.
The sun is active again. There is a strong solar flare heading our way. We can expect aurora tomorrow February 15. Maybe a HF black out. Amateur radio astronomer Thomas Ashcraft recorded these sounds at 19 to 21 MHz. [listen] The noise floor rises with 10 db. Read more: Space Weather.com
I worked RD9FD this morning on 20 meter with CW.
As I wrote yesterday, I do not participate with the PACC contest this year. Last night I thought they cancelled the PACC, because I almost heard nothing on 40 meter and 80 meter. Only a few stations. Last year both bands were very crowded. This morning it was different. 20 meter and 40 meter were very busy. So I gave some points away. First I was calling CQ on the QRP frequency on 20 meter. Nothing. Then I went for the contest to 20 meter SSB. With my FT817 and 5 watts I worked 20 countries and 7 Dutch provinces. Made 44 QSO's. Best DX was 5B4AIF (photo) Cyprus. For the rest of the day I join my family again.
As most of my readers know, I don't like contesting. So if I am QRV, you can find me on 30 or 17 meters this weekend. Yesterday I was running 50 milliwatt on 40 meter WSPR. Best distance was UA3ARC 2146 km. That is 26.648 MPW or 42.880 km/watt. Today on 20 meter PSK31 with 2 watt: SQ8NGH, RV3LE and IC8AMR. On 17 meter: UTØED. 
Do we realize how wealthy we are? When you own a transceiver or other expensive radio stuff, you are one of the riches. When you see a map with radio activity, you also see a lot of blank spots all over the world. E.g. Africa and South America. Not because there are no radio amateurs over there, no it says something about lack of money. It’s a rich men’s hobby. Even the low profile amateurs with our FT817 and wire antennas. We are wealthy. And a lot of us yearn to posses that blank spot on the map. Very, very rich radio amateurs go with their expensive radio equipment to a far away island and satisfy the folks at home with a 599. And don’t think you have worked a indigenous ham radio operator. Oh no, I will not disturb your dreams but it was a rich man with a hobby. [Watch]
This morning I worked E77AW and UA1AJ with CW on 20 meter. With BPSK31 I worked on 17 meter: UA6CET, and on 20 m: RV3LZ and UA1ALW.
It could be a perfect day for working DX. The Solar Flux is 90 and SN 71 and a K index of 0. I was calling CQ with 5 watt CW on 40 meter and worked SP1JXJ Andy. I was reported by K3LR (Photo) Timothy from PA. On 80 meter I was reported by NØRQ (TX) and N4RP (PA) Now I am listening on 20 meter QRP. I hear 4Z5NX/QRP calling CQ. He is almost every day qrv on 20 meter. Yesterday I heard a contest on 2 meter. I did not participate but gave a few points. I worked PF2T and PAØMIR. Anyway, I stick to 20 meter QRP this time to see if I can catch Dick (N2UGB) there.
I heard 4Z5NX/QRP calling CQ on 20 meter. He was calling: 'No QRO, only QRP' He was running 1 watt and I could easily copy him. I tried with 1 watt also to call him but he didn't hear me. I tried several call's on 20 meter, but without result. So I moved down to 40 meter and call CQ on 7030 KHz with 1 watt. DL7DO/P Ralf came back for me (Photo) he was with holidays along the Baltic Sea near Lubeck. Running 5 watts. My second QSO was with G4WSX John, who was calling me but I could hardy copy him (10 watts) but later on his signal was coming up to 599. It's always very satisfying to make contacts with very low power. On 17 meter I worked K8CW Alan from the USA with CW.
With Reverse Beacon Network I can where I was heard with my 1 watt CQ calls. Only once on 20 meter. On 40 meter more luck.
Yesterday I worked RA3YBU Sergy from Bryansk, Russia with PSK31 on 40 meter. Also IK1VCO Angelo from Novara, Italy. I was first transmitting with JT65A, but there was a strong YO station with 75 watt, so it was hard to pick up weak signals. There is an increasing number of QRO stations on JT65A. So I went to PSK frequency. There is more bandwidth to avoid too strong stations. I downloaded the new version of Fldigi 3.20.34, still a fine program. New is MT63. And a lot of improvements. Check it out. [link]
After listening to several DX stations I found out that there are still radio operators who don't know what 'split' means.
Have a nice Sunday. With JT65A on 20 meter I worked SP2IPU and R5AO. With PSK31 on 40 meter OE5WRO. Tonight on 40 meter with PSK31 EA8BZH, Luis from La Laguna, Tenerife, Canary Islands.
After my QRP activity on CW on 20 meter I went to JT65A. I was calling CQ a few times but nobody replied. But when I checked Hamspots I saw that I was reported by several DX stations. Indonesia was a new one for me, YB8EXL. Also VK3FM and ZL2VF. Anyway I was making some SSB QSO's on 20 meter: RA3AA, YO3CZW, UZ4E and RU3VV all with 5 watt. In the afternoon I was WSPR-ing on 20 meter with the same results as the days before. So conditions seems to be OK.
GEOMAGNETIC STORM: A solar wind stream hit Earth during the late hours of Feb. 4th, sparking a G2-class (Kp=6) geomagnetic storm. Sky watchers in Scandinavia, Russia, Canada, Alaska and perhaps even northern-tier US states such as Maine, Minnesota and Wisconsin, should be alert for auroras on Friday night. The best time to look is during the hours around local midnight. 
I just tried QRZ Logbook for a half year now, but I am not sure if I will continue. I logged 525 QSO's in it. Before that I logged all my QSO's on a spread sheet in Excel. With filters in Excel I can search on all different kind of items. It can tell me quick how many radio amateurs I worked with 5 watt on 20 meter for instance. With QRZ Logbook I can't search for how many DXCC or anything else. And I am dependent of a internet connection. When it fails I can't log or look in it. So I think I will return to my spread sheet in Excel. Also, it is easy to make a quick back up on a USB stick. 
My WSPR results for today on 20 meter. 5 watt and antenna end fed wire for 20 meter, Solar Flux 79. Results are similar like yesterday. In the early morning conditions are good, the same in the late afternoon. PE4BAS Bas did the same. Only he uses 1 watt (!) but a great advantage is his loop antenna 84 meters long. That will surely beat mine. See his results below. I checked unique reporters for this view. Click on photo's to enlarge. 
This is Yannick, XV4TUJ (Vietnam). He reported me with WSPR on 20 meter. Also Venezuela and Australia and stations from the USA. It surprises me, because the solar flux is merely 80. So even with 5 watt I was heard on 4 continents. 
It has been a long time I was QRV on 30 meter. I gave a CQ with CW and Karl OE3KAB from Muenichsthal, Austria came back for me. With PSK31 I made a QSO with IZ2SQC Tiziano from Quistello, Italy.
A disadvantage is that I often encounter the same stations with JT65A. Also with good conditions the band is too small, there is almost no space for calling CQ without bothering other stations. I heard on 2 meter a discussion about JT65A. More hams discover the mode. ‘You easily work VK with QRP’ said someone. More people, more fun, unless they work not more than 30 watts. Because 80 meter JT65A was too crowded this morning I went to WSPR on 80 meter. Good conditions on 40 meter, like yesterday, is gone. When the K index is higher than 2, you can forget good propagations, is my experience. My DX (> 4000 km) reporters this morning are: N4RP, WD8DCJ, AC2AD, KC2STA, K1HTV (photo 1958, 16 years old, wonderful old photo). K1JT Joe Taylor. With JT65A: K2MJ and N1GKE.
