F8BBL in France

First off; I was shocked when I couldn't connect to my usual DX spotting cluster this morning. DX clusters are always good forecasters to portions of the world where there's new activity. It appears there are  technical problems but I assume it will be back online shortly. I use them mostly to look for new stations which I need for DXCC. It's not devastating to me (only an irritation) when they're down because  I continue to have my best QSO's with stations "not spotted".

This morning was no exception.

A few days ago, I had a nice QSO with Lor (F8BBL) who lives in Ttresses France. He puts a whopping signal into the mountains of West Virginia. When I talked to him a few days ago, his signal was so good that he suggested I drop my power all the way down to the very minimum. I was able to continue the QSO with one half a watt.

This morning I heard the familiar call sign, again, with another NA designation. I felt I had the obligation to say "hello" once more. We easily connected again and started another experiment; but this time, on his behalf.

I gave him the following signal reports: 

500W = 579

200W = 579

5 W = 339 

I'll follow up with an e-mail to him this morning. I was surprised to note he also has a radio blog  which I placed a link on the right side of my page yesterday. He did an excellent write up of my previous contact a few days ago. I hope today continues the reciprocity and a continuing friendship. Lor is also a "geocacher"; a sport I've participated in for many years. You will see a familiar face there when you view his blog.

You can find his blog here:  F8BBL

Aircraft from the Ukraine

I love to read about the countries I work on the radio but sometimes the history of a country demands volumes of information in hundreds of different books.

This morning I worked a very weak station in the Ukraine (UY3QT)  not far from the 17 meter QRP frequency. It was a real challenge to pull out of the noise. After a brief Wikipedia read, I discovered this aircraft is a product of their country.

I've worked the Ukraine several times (5) but never realized this country builds the largest aircraft in the world. Being a believer in giving credit where credit is due; it's difficult to comprehend the size of this machine and its capabilities. It's a true giant.

The Antonon-225 was originally built to carry this Russian Space Shuttle; but when the program was scuttled in the 90's, other uses were soon discovered. Today this aircraft is used to carry cargo all over the world. Even looking at these pictures, you just can't grasp it's size.

 I also worked stations in Guatemala City (TG9ADM) and Slovenia. (S59AA)

A Test in France

This morning while working familiar stations on the 17 meter band, I heard a very loud and familiar F8BBL in France. He was calling for NA stations, and I had worked him just the other day, and got a 599 report. This morning as the QSO continued, he suggested I drop power and do a short test. Before the session was over, I was below one watt, and he could still hear me. Sometimes you're just the right distance for the band conditions.  hihi

Per E-mail this afternoon: 

3W = 559

2W = 549 

500 MW = 439 

I also worked several other familiar stations this morning. My first was the always workable, and familiar YN9SU in Nicaragua and I soon followed with PA4VHF in the Netherlands. A little after breakfast, I returned to the radio and worked DL1DGS in Germany and had another short contact with F8GGD also in France but the band changed suddenly and dropped out.

Today is going to be another sunny, but cooler day in the valley. I'm having trouble with my left foot so will probably hit the road again with the bike this afternoon. We have lots of level roadways to ride and traffic is sure to be light on a Sunday morning.

Day 46

I'd love to see France some day, but until then, I'll have to be content to with admiring their artists, sharing a bottle of their good red wine with friends, and talking to Hams who live there. French artist Claude Monet used an interesting style that captured the feelings of places and not the imagine. I've always like his work.

This morning, before I put my shoes on, I worked F8BBL in Tresses France. The operator used the name of Lor and we briefly passed along the necessities and excellent (599) signal reports--- which was both ways. He sounded like he was just next door. Before the morning ended, I also had nice QSO's with other hams in Germany and Italy.

Downstairs for coffee afterwards and a quick breakfast, I found myself back upstairs in the radio room and couldn't resist the temptation to say hello to YN9SU in Nicaragua. I like his new key which produces a buttery smooth sound. It's the only signal I've ever heard from that country and he always answers on the first call.

My next contact was in Switzerland with HB9ICE who was transmitting from the Zurich International Airport and commemorating Swiss Air.  I love those "Special Event Stations" and always try to work them.

My next contact was a challenging QSO with DK0SU who was using the "club radio station" at Stuitgart University in Germany. I took quite an effort to exchange our information because of QRM and heavy QSB. Tom and I shifted back and forth several times to nearby frequencies to complete the QSO. This University is a leader in the automotive engineering fields.

I also worked another French station this morning, but despite being spotted at least a dozen different times on the cluster, can't find anything on the web about it. Should anyone stumble across the specifics for TM5OENSO, please contact me. I've looked everywhere but can't find an explanation other than it's a Special Event Station listed only in France.

My last contact was a short QSO with IZ4DLR near Bologna Italy. Ivan was very complimentary of my 3 watt signal and a random wire antenna and made the remark that it was MORE than enough for a solid copy in his country. We also commented on the weather. He has heavy snow with 9C temps today.

That was it for the morning hours.  I'm VERY happy with these contacts. As usual, I'll be listening for the Caribbean stations again this evening. The weather is beautiful here today in West Virginia with temps in the mid 50's (f). I'll enjoy the mid day hours riding the bike around town.

It's been a productive radio day so far. I've not worked any new countries this morning; but this is my 46th Day of working at least one DX station, every day that I'm on the air. If not for taking a trip to a warm place last week (The Bahamas), they would be consecutive.

Since the beginning of this year, (Janurary 1, 2013) --  I've now worked 105 stations; of which 95%  have been in the DX Category. It's been much fun.....

Oman DX Station

I still have difficulty believing my 3 watt signal traveled 7,429 miles into the tip of the Saudi Arabian Peninsula  last night. It seemed too easy, and I shook my head when A45XR repeated back my call sign, along with the customary 559 signal report. I was truly hearing him about the same signal strength and he was "clear as a bell". He was working a few other stations in Puerto Rico (WP4JT) and Canada (VE2MF). The Puerto Rico station posted him as 599 into the Caribbean area and I believed it when I heard the signal.

Chris (A45XR) is my farthest contact yet and also a new DX entity. (#70) He was using a two element Delta cut for 30 meters and transmitting from the country of OMAN.

I'm not familiar with this antenna but can only imagine how it must improve the signal--- even with QRP power. Chris seems very proud of it and I must say, at 7,429 miles, the limitation of 200 watts on 30 meters, and his signal into North America, I'd be proud too; especially working a 3 watt QRP rig in West Virginia.

The 30 meter--2 element--Delta is the one in the front. There's a 3 element Delta in the rear for the other bands plus a vertical for 160 meters on the right side of the picture. Sounds like a winning combination to me and I can only hope for the space to put up one of these some day. This contact into OMAN exceeded my previous "best" contacts by at least 2,000 miles.

I was VERY happy to see my call sign in his online logbook!

The Island of Sicily

I've worked Italy many times but this morning was my first contact with the Island of Sicily. Gene (IT9NJE) was sending CQ "out in the open" and was an easy catch.

I remember bits and pieces of this island from my days in the Navy. We damaged the propellers on our ship while attempting to moor to a buoy in the nearby harbor of Malta and we spent a month in dry dock at Naples trying to resolve the problem. Several times we tested the ships new propellers on a run between Naples and Sicily.

I vividly remember this scene of the volcano Mount Etna in Sicily as well as Mount Vesuvius. Volcanoes are very dangerous things. Mt Etna erupted as recently as last year and spewed ashes hundreds of miles. Depending on which way the wind, or the "jet stream" is moving, this debris can be carried all over the world.  Today is my 20th contact into Italy and my 44th daily DX contact with 3 watts of power and a random wire antenna.

Turk and Caicos Islands

It's nice to be back home again and on the radio once more. To make matters even better, I was finally able to work VP5/KOUU in the Turk and Caicos Islands. I had been hearing him before I left, on the trip to North Carolina, but as usual, there were too many stations trying to work him at the time. Fortunately, I caught him on the 30 meter band this evening.

This island is also another new DX entity for me. (#69)

A few years ago, a friend of mine who was into AM radio broadcasting and built himself a "loop" for nulling out adjacent stations on the same frequency, found "Caribbean Christian Radio" (AM 1020) hiding behind KDKA in Pennsylvania. In the early evenings, when conditions were right, I could hear them on my car radio and also on my GE Super Radio.

In addition to the large AM broadcaster in these islands; there's also an interesting connection to our Space program here.

John Glenn made the first US venture into space on February 20th, 1962 and landed in the waters near the Turk and Caicos Islands which was exactly 51 years ago today. That flight is interesting reading on Wikipedia and worth a few minutes of your time. There were quite a few problems on this first orbital flight, one of which were loose and defective bolts holding the entry latch on the capsule. Needless to say, duct tape is good for just about anything. I hope they removed it before blasting off. (see detail on picture)