Dutch PACC contest 2026 this weekend

 The famous Dutch (PACC) contest is on this weekend. Of course this is the contest to do as Dutch hamradio operator, since everyone is calling for the Netherlands. The exchange is the province abbreviation. For me that will be GR. Last year I became third in the SO QRP section which is always a mixed mode section. I earned a trophy for that as you can see in the picture.

First of all I cannot take part the whole contest since I have family obligations. Not shure when I will be having time to be on the radio. But at least I will take part for as much as I possible can. I don't need a high place in the QRP section again. So I'm not shure if I will take part in the QRP section at all. I might take part in the SO LOW CW. 

My goals are different from other years. Because of my ongoing CW training I will do only CW this time. My biggest goal is to make less errors, that will not be an easy task. Another goal is to work all the participants in the (dutch) CWA intermediate course. PE2V Vincent, PA3GPX Rene, PA3KL Kees, PA8E Jim and PA1DI Dick. I see them every week at the video meeting and hope to finally work them on air. 

Below the map of the Netherlands with the province abbreviations. I'm located at the right upper corner of the country right at the coast. My call will not be PE4BAS but I will use my contestcall PA6G.

If you as reader likes to take part, you're welcome. Info here

https://pacc.veron.nl

A strange special notice about the 60m band

 

??? Why? Because US stations can only use 15W EIRP (9,15W ERP)? So they think you cannot DX with 9,15W only? We hear/see New Zealand stations on 60m every day. And they are on the other side of the world from here. They use only 15W like most stations are allowed to use in most countries were 60m is allowed. The difference between 15W and 100W is not that much. I think something like 1,5 S-unit.

Really, 5371,5 KHz is outside international regulation frequencies in most countries. Why would a DXpedition bother to work split just for the US? 15W is enough to still make DX, although you need some good propagation. Well, I wish my American 60m DX friends good luck!

I've made many DX contacts on 60m with just 15W FT8 like I'm allowed to. I have also used far less power and still make contacts on 60m CW and FT8. So I encourage my US amateurradio friends to just try with the allowed power output.

Fun with AI

 A lot of pictures on social media made with AI lately. I really have my doubts about AI. But sometimes it is really funny. My XYL made these with chatGPT on her Iphone.

I don't look like this really. But as a cartoon it is very nice. And since my call is on the t-shirt it has to be me!

How about our house. We had a lot of snow lately, most of it gone now. This was a few weeks ago. It looks very cozy. However I hope spring will arrive soon.