#cqww Netherlands record

Remember my efforts last year in the CQ WWDX CW? My goal was to make a new dutch record. Or a Netherlands record as written on the certificate. Oh yes, I managed to do so...

Sad day...

Sorry, I had no time for the PE45FREE activation today. Today was a very sad day as my neighbourstation PD0FF Foppe has no radiostation anymore. He called me several weeks ago that he had to end all his hobbies. Foppe was not only a radio amateur, other hobbies were his band "The Backyard Bluesband" he was the drummer for many years and besides that he was referee for the dutch football association KNVB. That is only a few things he has done of course.

I remember he helped me many years ago to get a good antennamast and of course I did help him too when he need something to work out for the radio hobby. Anyway, Foppe has been diagnosed with ALS a muscle disease that cannot be cured. He can hardly breathe and speak right now and so talking on the radio is not possible anymore. He asked me to remove his antennamast with all antennas and cables so his family will not need to do this later on. I have been busy with it today and removed everything. Some work on the mast has been done with unexpected help of another just visiting radioamateur PA7JC Jacob. I will sell most of Foppe's antenna and radio equipment in the next weeks after I test it to see everything works like it should.
The antennamast will be demolished.  It's a sad day when you come to the point when you know it is the end. Sometimes that day can be earlier then you think. But life goes on and we don't have to think about that too much...I hope I helped Foppe with this and wish him and his family strength to cope with all this.

First day freedom SES activation

This first day of the activation of the special event stations listed PA-PH 45FREE seems to be succesful. I've seen several stations spotted already at lunchtime. Unfortenately I only have time in the evening and some spare time in a weekend. The 5th of May is a day off for most people here as that is the day our country was officially liberated in 1945. I will try to be more active that day.
I have a goal to make at least 1000 QSOs. So take a look on the cluster for me and listen to the radio.

Till now I was active on 17m SSB and 30m PSK31. A total of 35 QSO made. The amount of stations calling surprised me. There seems to be a lot of interest in this activity. At least 3 contacts were made with Japan,

For more info look at my previous post: