New DX Country on 20 Meters

One of the things I love most about this hobby is not knowing where the next DX station is going to pop up on the bands. It's been so busy the last few weeks that I didn't have a clue there was a major contest happening in Europe this weekend. When I started hearing DX stations on 20 meters, I decided to give a few a try.

In the manner of about 30 minutes I was able to work two stations in Germany (DL0SN and DC4A) a Portuguese station (CT1ILT) and last but not least a station in Luxembourg. (LX7I)

Luxembourg (LX7I) is a new DX station for me.

Wow...that was fun! (and quick)

I also heard EA5DFV in Spain, S52ZW in Slovenia, 4o3A in Montenegro, and YU1JW in Serbia but couldn't work them.

I don't think any of these stations realized I was pushing a mighty 5 watts QRP with an indoor antenna. I'm really amazed these guys can hear me...

I realize they're running fantastic antenna's but to work me in West Virginia, at 600 ft elevation, between a couple of 1,000 ft hills, with an indoor 18" antenna bungee corded to the bedpost in a spare room, beside a tall apartment complex (actually 11 story's) is somewhat mind boggling to me.

I've heard it said that some major DX stations can hear a gnat sneeze in Morocco. I guess they really can....

I think 15 meters would be the 5,000 mile mark if the bands ever improve but I don't usually have an antenna to use on that band. All these stations were between 4,000 and 4,500 miles today.

New QSL Cards

I found these two cards in the mail a few days ago when I returned from Washington DC.

Maybe it's just my age, (I'm still pretty young at 61) but it seems the only thing I've done the last few weeks is attend funerals. I know death is the beginning of a new life but it's also a lot of pain for family members. I wish there was more I could do to ease the transition for them.

Anyway....I worked OK1KW in the Czech Republic and also a Submarine (USS Requin SS 481) near Pittsburgh, PA just before I was called to the sad occasions.

I got nice e-mails from both these guys and will send them return cards very soon. I was really surprised that OK1KW took the time to send this card.

Postage rates aren't cheap these days.

You can see the "radio room" in the Submarine by looking at the Club Newsletter on the NAQCC site. There's a link on the right side of this web page. Read the current monthly edition to see this article.

Czech Republic (OK1KW) at 4,471 Miles

I've been working on the computer most of the day and listening to the rig in the background. I had it tuned to the 40 meter frequency of 7040 and would alternate it with the 20 meter frequency of 14.060 (both active QRP frequencies)

At times, I actually turned it 'off' because there was NOTHING on the bands. I could barely hear the GMT time tone on 10 MHz and thought this was another "no sunspot--no radio day".

In the early afternoon I heard and attempted to work AF5U in Dallas, Texas but the band was so bad we couldn't exchange anything more than call signs before the band disappeared into thin air.
I had turned the rig off again but just before dinner, I tuned into the 14.060 frequency, and in the background, I heard an unusual call asking for "FISTS" members. He was sending pretty quick but I recognized the "FISTS" word easily and on his third attempt I deciphered the OK1KW call and returned with mine. His CQ 'stopped' and I could tell he was hearing something. He then sent QRZ N8? and I knew I was into something.

I still can't believe I worked this guy....with 5 watts @ 4,471 miles. He was actually on 14059.25 MHz.

The band absolutely STINKS right now but somehow we exchanged FISTS numbers, names and QTH's.



Milan (OK1KW) is FISTS # 4827 and lives in the Czech Republic. I sent a confirmation E-QSL and am looking forward to a return card. The band shifted again quickly....I'm still in a state of shock with this contact today.

Just when you think there's nothing but air between me and the other side of the pond.....

Milan (OK1KW) is now my 20th DX contact.

Fox Log With 100 MW Entry

I'm always proud to work the "fox hunts" and enjoy seeing my 5 watt signal listed in the log books. (especially when the fox is over a thousand miles from me) but when I see things like the entry I've highlighted below, I'm humbled.

I'd guess this guy is close to two thousand miles from "the fox".

Bill (K4KSR) worked the fox with 100 milliwatts!

Pulling the fox out of a pack of hungry hounds with power like this deserves a round of applause.

Great Job!!

0105 KT4LF 599 TN DALE 5W
0106 KF8K 559 OH CLIFF 5W
0107 W3MF 559 PA JOHN 5W
0108 K4QS 559 VA CHUCK 5W
0110 K4OSO 559 VA MILT 5W
0111 W3ESE 559 MD LL 5W
0112 K3PH 559 PA BOB 5W
0113 WA4ILO 559 GA JIM 5W
0114 KG4YLZ 599 VA JIM 5W
0115 N4GU 599 NC MIKE 2W
0116 N3XRV 559 PA CHRIS 5W
0120 K4PIC 579 GA LARRY 5W
0122 KC1FB 559 CT JIM 5W
0124 K2ZN 559 NY AL 5W
0126 N3VF 559 VA RON 5W
0128 W9JOP 579 VA BOB 5W
0129 NU8S 559 OH DENNIS 5W
0130 KV2X 559 NY TOM 5W
0131 AE2T 559 NY AL 5W
0132 KG4YLZ 559 VA JIM 5W
0133 AC4XO 559 VA BEN 5W
0135 K2RNY 559 NY CAREY 5W
0136 NU4I 559 VA KEN 5W
0140 N4KV 559 TN JOHN 5W
0142 W3MF 559 PA JOHN 5W
0144 N4CY 559 VA TED 5W
0145 K4EOR 559 GA GEORGE 5W
0147 NO2D/2 559 NJ PETE 5W
0151 N8ZYA 559 WV JOHN 5W
0155 AB3CV 559 MD JIM 5W
0202 W2LJ 559 NJ LARRY 5W
0205 K4KSR 559 VA BILL 100MW
0207 AB9CA 559 AL DAVE 5W
0213 WA9TZE 559 WI JIM 5W
0215 K9CW 579 IL DREW 5W
0230 K9JWV FOX UT JIM 5W
0230 K5DI FOX NM KARL 5W

ps....(On October 9th, 2002, with 1/2 Watt output, he worked VK3DBD who was approximately 15,000 miles distance and equal to 30,000 miles per watt).

So much for the "bigger is better" (and maximum power) philosophy.

QRP Fox at 1,472 Miles

The band was totally dead tonight during the QRP Fox Hunt (see link on this blog) and I only heard ONE station (K5DI) in 1 1/2 hours of listening between 14.050 and 14.070.

I had listened earlier this evening and knew the band was totally dead so didn't expect to hear either QRP station in New Mexico or Utah.

When Karl (K5DI) popped up at 0151z, he was there only for an instant but I think I caught him and exchanged the RST, State, Name, and 5 watts.

I'll watch for the log on the "fox site" in a few minutes...I hope my call sign is there.

This was VERY hard to do tonight! QRP x QRP


ps...Yes, I'm there and the only West Virginia station in the book!

Morse Code Dit's and Dot's

There's an interesting article in the Sept issue of "Monitoring Times Magazine" next month. (I get an online edition and have already read the article). It's about Morse Code and who REALLY created the "code". It may surprise you because it's not Samuel Morse.

If you're a CW person, I think you will find it interesting....

I get the "electronic" edition and like it better than the paper one because of the "linking features" and the "word search". I keep the last six months on a memory stick and take them with me when traveling. It works great with my Eee-PC notebook.

ET from WV (1,247 Mile QRP Fox)

I caught N1FN (ET) near Denver Colorado last night, after running for a little over an hour. I was "fox hunting" and the band was VERY long on 20 meters. He was one of two QRP operators being chased by a pack of hounds in the United States. He is 1,247 miles from me here in West Virginia.

I heard him at the very beginning of the hunt as he danced along at around 30 wpm (a bit too quick for me). But I understood the "call" and was able to recognize his "CQ fox de N1FN UP".


I had all but given up on the chase until I heard him send "zero beat" at 10 pm.

The filtering on my 703 leaves a lot to be desired so it's 'difficult' for me to set up the 'split' on the radio. Trying to attenuate a 5 watt signal at 1200 miles is next to impossible.

The other "fox" last night was K4BIA in Georgia, and I usually work him easily from here. But I never heard so much as a bark. As a matter of fact...I heard little 'barking' from anyone.

The band was SO long......

You can read all about "fox hunting" (a QRP event) from the link on the right side of this page.

Believe me, it's NOT easy to pick out a 5 watt "fox" from a pack of barking hounds at 1200 miles.

I've been feeling a little "down" after being in New York for a few weeks. My location on the Hudson River made it easy to work DX stations in Eastern Europe . I even worked a QRP station in Washington State while using my "ZEPP" antenna. It was strung in the attic of an old home.

But working ET (N1FN) last night, with an 18" Isotron antenna makes me feel a little better.

The 20 meter antenna (at the top of this page) is the "little" one on the bottom right.