At first I tried the FT-817 as second TRX but 5W didn't give me much response. So I managed to put the old IC-706MK2G in service again. The interesting thing is that I'm able to do some 2m FT8 as well. In theory I could do 70cm but the radio has too much frequency drift there for digital modes like FT8.
Updating the PE75FREE log, I crossed the 3000 QSO mark thursday evening. Most QSOs are made with FT8. However I try to do some SSB/CW as well. Hope to have some time for that in the weekend again. I managed to work 85 DXCC now.
As a matter of fact I'm on 2m and 10m FT8 right now. 10m had some interesting DX with J69DS from St.Lucia and W9RF from USA. Almost had a QSO with W5I from Texas but he couldn't decode my signal anymore. 2m FT8 was on my "to do list". I happen to know a station at the other side of the country who just has a new 2m antenna (8 el. LFA) on top of the roof were he lives. It is PD3LPA Louwrens who is living near Rotterdam (about 300km from here). I met Louwrens on the 11m band about 30 years ago and we had a great chat which we both never forgot. I continued with the hobby and Louwrens didn't but I'm glad he picked it up again after so many years. It turns out that a contact between us on 2m FT8 was really easy. We'll try SSB another time. Actually I made a number of contacts on 2m FT8 with the special event call.
And while the number of contacts are growing our tomatoes do as well...
9 comments:
Good evening Bas, that is very cool that after so long you happen to run into an old CB buddy! Operating as a single op 2 radio you are in the big leagues now.
Very nice reading Bas 73 and have a nice weekend.
Mike
VE9KK
Jaa, is altijd toch wel speciaal voor mij jou te bereiken hier vanuit Maassluis. Blijft leuk.. nu nog SSB. Gaat ook lukken ;)
Oeps.. bovenstaand bericht was natuurlijk van mij ;-)
'73 Louwrens PD3LPA
That's quite an effort - well done! Over here, I am almost feeling under pressure to take advantage of all that is happening on the bands. Tropo and Es is adding a lot to that pressure! I love your tomatoes; they look really strong.
Hallo Bas, ik zie al: Bas rules the world. ;-) Bezig baasje ben je. Wel leuk om te zien. En een oude 11 m contact tegen te komen is altijd leuk. Van de week luisterde ik nog naar 11 meter maar dar werd gewoon gewerkt mer SSB vanuit Twente. 73 Paul
Ja Louwrens. Leuk dat we weer contact met elkaar hebben. Is elke keer weer leuk. 73, Bas
Hello Mike, tnx for the comment. I absolutely have fun right now. Never did SO2R but it works well... 73, Bas
Hello John, the ES stays on and on these days. From early mornig till deep into the night. Will it ever stop....
The tomatoes grow well, other plants as well. They all benefit from the glass house. Nice and cosy....you have to spoil them a bit. 73, Bas
Ik draag 11m nog altijd een warm hart toe Paul. Luister ook af en toe. Ik hoor vaak nog steeds de oude stations van vroeger. Ik ken er ook een paar persoonlijk. Maar Louwrens is toch speciaal omdat we destijds beide zeer enthousiast waren en ik een geluids opname maakte van het QSO. Een tijdje terug kwamen we elkaar weer tegen via internet. En zo kwamen we weer in contact. Nu hoor/zie ik Louwrens regelmatig op 10m FT8. Het was leuk dat het op 2m ook zo goed lukte. 73, Bas
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