The Azores and South America

It's been a very busy day here, but besides the obstacles, 15 meters opened up, and I was able to work several DX stations. They were mostly in South America, but there were two surprising contacts towards Europe. I worked Spain (EA5/LZ2MAM) and  CU7MD in the Azores Islands.

I also heard (and almost worked) 4X1UN in Tel Aviv. Just not enough power with 10 watts....Sure wish I could orient the indoor dipole towards the east and west. It would have been a fantastic catch!

I worked two stations in Venezuela (YV5MSG and YV2BYT), and also XQ1KY in Santiago Chile. All were just "handshakes" which is mostly the standard with a DX contact.

It was nice to catch the band open for a bit, especially since twenty meters, and below, has been almost non-existent for far too long. Maybe it has something to do with this valley?

I'm still making contacts on good old 40 meters and must admit, I really like a nice long QSO on this band. Shaking hands with DX stations is OK but, at least for me, not as satisfying as a quality CW rag chew.

N8ZYA/4 from the Outer Banks of NC

Every year around this time, about a dozen of my relatives and I spend a week in a rental home on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. We share the rental fees and we also share food expenses which makes the house very economical for everyone.

I set up my Icom 703 on the shaded, cool balcony of the home this year. I brought my PAR end fed, multi-band Zepp antenna which is cut for 40-20 and 10 meters and I used it almost exclusively for the week.

This is a fun week. Marilyn and I usually take a walk on the beach in the morning, ride our bikes midday, and enjoy another walk in the evening. This year, we found an "off the main road" trail into an Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary near the town of Duck. It was a beautiful ride along a hidden area on the ocean.

There's been very little activity on the ten meter band but I've been able to work several stations in South America. One station in the Caribbean, on the island of St. Lucia (J69AZ) is a new DX entity (#53) for me. In South America, I worked LU6UO (Buenos Ares, Argentina) and also PY1MX in Brazil. I also worked PY2EME in Sao Paulo Brazil and heard a new 10 watt beacon (PP6AJM/B) in Brazil.

On 20 meters, I worked W4MQC in Florida several times. Alan was on Pine Island, which was amusing, since I'm operating from Pine Island, on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Alan has his antenna placed on a mooring post next to his boat dock. I also worked KB4JR in Florida and N4LTS who was operating portable from Miami Beach.

Luckily, I was able to work a few DX stations too. An interesting contact was HB0/DL2SBY in Germany, who by the way, sounded like he was local. Another interesting contact was VO1BB on St John's Island near Newfoundland. He was using 3 watts of power. As the weekend came to a close, I also worked IZ4DLR in Bologna Italy.

10 Meter CW Contacts into South America

This evening I worked two nice CW stations on the 10 meter band. My first was HC2SL in Guayquil, Ecuador who, by the way, was another new DX entity for me. Al is number 52 for me, and since I've traveled in Ecuador, he was a real joy to work.

In addition to the joy of working this CW station, he was kind enough to "slow" down and actually say "hello" to me. (a little more than a handshake). Al (HC2SL) was sending at near 30 wpm. It was all I could do to decipher it, but when sure I had it correct, I sent my call sign at around 20 wpm. He slowed down to match my speed. The sign of a true professional....

I also worked another station in Brazil.  Mina (PY4ZF) is located in Rio Acima and the fourth contact into this area in the last few weeks. Both these stations gave me a 599 signal report from my 5 watt CW QRP signal!

As I mentioned earlier in this post, I've traveled in South America and will always remember standing on the equator. And I do mean,  "The Equator"....the exact line!

Here's some interesting pictures: 

Here's one of a an egg balanced on the head of a nail. Yea...say what you want, but I saw it with my own eyes. Not everything in the world can be explained in scientific terms....

Rio de Janerio on 10 Meters

All propagation forecasts today were for "poor" conditions, but I still managed to work PU1TYZ ,with 10 watts, in Rio de Janerio Brazil this evening. The "key" was listening to the " 15 watt CW beacon" (previous post) in Puerto Rico. I was "shocked" when I made the contact.

Ten meters has become a very good band for me to work South American stations. This city in Brazil is almost 5,000 miles. A few days ago, I worked a station in Argentina at 5,136 miles.

I've known about the "beacons" on the 10 meter band for awhile but until I bought the "end fed zepp" antenna; I didn't have anything to operate this band. In previous times, I've always listened for the GMT time signals for propagation.

Now that I'm operating this band, I'll be looking up the world wide 10 meter propagation beacons with the hopes of catching a few more DX countries. The little 15 watt beacon in Puerto Rico is a good indicator of an opening towards South America.

The Last Signals of the Titantic

I found this movie on You-Tube:  The Last Signals (TITANIC INDEPENDENT FILM) - YouTube

It's mesmerizing to me, and I think, if you're a Morse Code operator, you will discover the same. I love the "radio" and have never seen this kind of equipment operated before now. Hope you enjoy the same....

15 Watt Beacon in Puerto Rico

I'm astounded that I'm not hearing CW stations on 10 meters! It drives me "nuts" when I think of it.

The best signal @ 1600 miles this afternoon?  A little 15 watt transmitter sending NP4LW/B pwr 15w-ant vert--fk68mi--73 on 28.230 MHz. And I was hearing it at the 599 level!

Despite poor conditions again, I worked three different stations in Puerto Rico. I'm sure they were running "power" with good antenna's and good "gain". (KP3ER- WP4GBL-NP3PR)

All were SSB contacts. 

I also worked Rio De Janerio at almost 5,000 miles. This time it was PU1PJR whom I was pleased to see in my "QRZ" online log book. I confirmed it immediately and send electronic cards to a few of the other stations.

I was using the end fed dipole (Zepp) stretched inside the house again. It's a piece of cake to set up and take down.

Why no CW signals on 10 meters?  I just don't get it.....

Not to change the subject, but the "dog" was real happy to see us when we got back from New York City. Here's a clip of the little mongrel.

I think he's ADHD

South on 10 Meters

I never expected 10 meters to be "open" in the early evening. Also surprising, the signals were heading South for much longer distances than the normal Caribbean areas. Usually, if the band is open at all, I'll hear Puerto Rico and Cuba, but last night I made a 5,000 mile contact into San Carlos, Argentina. (LU2FIA)

Argentina is a new DX entity for me. I also made another contact with an event station on St. Barthelemy Island. (TO3X) and before the evening passed, I also worked PU1KGG in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil.

Another Charleston station (KD8EDN) and I were both trying to work another Brazilian station (PY2HT) but that station apparently had his beam pointed towards the mid-west of the US.

I still hear VERY little CW activity on the 10 meter band. Last night, I heard a lone US station.

Afterwards, I caught a few of the "local" guys on the club repeater, and since I had the 10 meter antenna already up, (it takes less than 5 minutes to install) I practiced CW with one of them.

This was actually the "highlight" of the evening.

Kurt (KC8WRU) is fairly new to the hobby and eager to learn CW. I think last night was the first time he's attempted to send CW over the air.

I felt privileged to be the mentor for this event.

I dusted off the old Brunnell "civil war" key which was given to me by an anonymous ham several years ago. Kurt was using a similar key, made by the same company, on Long Island NY.

I can remember those early days when I started my CW training and the excitement of working another CW station in Palmer Lake Colorado. Kurt did a great job copying my slow code. He also sent very well. This is going to be lots of fun. We expect to continue again this evening on the same 10 meter frequency.

Kurt was just ecstatic about this short CW QSO on 10 meters!