Quick France QSL Card

The cards are starting to roll in now....Love those E-QSL cards 

Sent this one right back! 

CO2KK----Close But no Cigar

I've worked several stations in Cuba recently, so when I heard CO2KK calling, on the 20 meter QRP frequency, it easily captured my attention. He was very weak, but since I worked a Puerto Rico station a few days ago, with a watt, I decided to give it a try.

I immediately recognized Arnie (CO2KK) as the person I've heard on the "Radio Habana Cuba" shortwave broadcast. When I was a kid in high school, I used to listened to his broadcasts on a Knight Kit "regenerative receiver" of which I used a long piece of telephone wire for an antenna.

I thought he heard me, and was attempting a return contact, but another station (AG8K) who was near the gulf coast was in a better position. I was drooling as I listened to him work the other station.

After the brief contact, he sent CQ again and I tried to work him several more times . No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't do it..... even with my maximum 10 watts.

A little later, I sent Arnie a brief e-mail. He returned it this morning. He could tell I was there and even copied N8Z.....It was a very nice e-mail.

Maybe next time?

BTW/ Cuba makes one of the finest cigars in the world. It was close but........

To hear his program " Dxers Unlimited " click on the link for information.

W4F Special Event Station

The band seems to be relatively quiet this evening but I heard this "special event station" in St Petersburg Florida, calling and decided to return the call with 3 watts of power. I'm in the habit now of taking a guess at the distance, and lowering my power to the absolute minimum. I like the challenge.

These three letter calls (W4F) always stand out like a shouting policeman to me.

This Florida station is celebrating the "90th Anniversary" of the "Festival of States". I especially like working these kinds of stations, although in my opinion, not enough of them take advantage of using Morse Code. My only regrets this evening is that I didn't make the contact with one watt instead of three.

It sounds like a fun event " Festival of States St Petersburg Florida"

YV5EED Venezuela #56

The last two weekends have been a fantastic DX time for me. Last weekend I was getting about twice the distance with half the effort by using CW, but this weekend was the ARRL DX International Phone Contest. Since the band was so responsive, I dusted off the microphone (for this once a year event) and it paid off big time in my DX log.

For reasons I can't explain, the band went South this evening.

I started off in the usual western direction and worked TM6M and TM1W. Both were located in France. But after those, everything was towards South America. I worked Cuba again (CO6LC), and then KP2M in the Virgin Islands, and on to HK1X in Columbia. (incredibly loud). My last contact before the end of the contest was YV5EED in Venezuela.

I've worked more 20 meter DX stations,  in the last two weeks, than I've previously worked  in the last two years.

Is the new solar cycle up and running now?.......I'd say without a doubt.....YES! 

The last station I worked in Venezuela was my 56th DX Contact.

In the last two weeks, I've worked Cuba (twice), Costa Rica (Twice), Spain (twice), Bermuda, Puerto Rico (once at 5 watts and another at 1 watt), Croatia, Sweden, England (twice), Bulgaria, France (4 times), Africa, Germany, Columbia, the Virgin Islands, and Venezuela.

I've also earned two more 1000 mile per watt awards! 

Number 50-- TI5N Costa Rica DX Contact

This morning was a mile stone for me....My 50th DX contact with my modest QRP station!

The 20 meter band is again hopping (like a jumping frog). I worked TI5N in Alajuela Costa Rica this morning while listening to the continued ARRL International  DX contest this weekend. I chose this photograph because Costa Rica is known as one of the most Eco friendly places on this planet. Beware of small brightly colored frogs tho.....most are highly toxic and can be very deadly by just touching them with your finger.

The solar flux is 135.

It's been a good weekend for a QRP operator here in the United States. It's difficult to believe I can be heard amongst the "serious DX'ers" while using a 10 watt SSB signal and a 'no gain' antenna. All the credit really goes to those with a great rig, a massive antenna array, and exceptional filtering. But this is exciting for me nonetheless.

While listening for a "close" DX station I might be able to work, I was hearing 9A1A and 9A7V (both in Croatia), OH8X in Finland, and RL3A in Moscow Russia. I could probably work a few more stations this afternoon but I've accomplished my goal and I'm happy to sit on the sideline awhile.

Spain on 40 Meters

Surprised again with another two DX contacts. To me, these were fantastic contacts because they were on 40 meters. My first contact was EA7KW in Sevilla Spain and the second was ED1R in Avila Spain. Both were contest stations and difficult to work because of the competition.

I was hearing dozens of American mid west and west coast stations working these two guys. 

I'd say 40 meters was a little LONG!

I'm at # 49 now in the DX Log book.

Bermuda VP9/W6

I had no idea what was happening on the bands this evening. I've been out and about doing different things today. Late this evening I was surprised when I heard this station (VP9/W6) in Bermuda. He was participating in a contest and I was luck enough to work him with 10 watts. A very strong Slovenia station was on the band (S51YI) along with a station in Brazil (PR2B) but couldn't work them. This station in Bermuda is my 47th DX contact I've made with my QRP station and a simple wire antenna.

I'll feel a sense of accomplishment with I hit # 50.