Tuesday, October 27, 2015

#CQWW a weekend full of DX

Event: CQWW DX SSB 2015
Logger: N1MM+ most updated version
Station: Icom IC-706MKIIG (power max. 100W)
Antenna: Vertical HF multiband antenna at 9m AGL. 10m HB9CV on 6m AGL, wire endfed for 40m.

Had limited time of course, like always. This time we had visitors on Saturday because of our 10th wedding anniversary. It doesn't matter radiowise, more contests will follow in my lifetime. The fun was making DX this weekend, lots of DX. And after that fun, more fun. Analyzing the log, uploading logs, writing a story for this weblog, editing a CQWW video (will follow in the next post).  A different way to experience the CQWW DX this year was visiting the PA6GR contest location were fellow radio operators did participate in the contest as multi operator, one transmitter (TX) with the call PA4O. They did a great job. I was visiting them with neighbourstation PD1AFF Gerrie who lately started with the hobby again.

I was up very early Saturday to get as many QSOs as I could. Only 160,80 and 40m band were open at that time. Since I do not have the 80m horizontal loop up it was difficult to get QSOs in the log although I worked a few USA stations on 80m. The trick to do that with a limited station and low power is to find these Americans above 3800KHz and then work them split, success guaranteed!  40m is the same story, listen above 7200KHz and find the split working Americans. When 20/15 and 10 opened I had to go QRT unfortenately and was only able to come back on the radio when those bands were closed again leaving me with 187 QSOs only at night. I had doubts I would get my goal of 500?


Sunday morning was not that early, even I need some sleep! Things really speed up when 20/15 and 10m are open. 10m was alive and at one moment I could work Marianas Isl., China and Thailand when I heard Brazil and Argentina on the other side of the beam. We visited the contest location in the afternoon. Of course I could have made QSOs then. But we would like to experience this as well.
When I came back home 10m was still open to the west and I made use of the opportunity to boost my QSO&multiplier count. I finished late 23:09 UTC Sunday evening (my Monday morning) with a total of 550 QSOs from 88 DXCC in the log.



LOG ANALYSIS CQ WW DX SSB 2015 @ PE4BAS


Most interesting DX by band:

10m: HS5NMF (Thailand), UP0L (Kazakhstan), VK4UC (Australia), TO90R (Reunion Isl.), VU2CPL (India), BY9CA (China), AH0K (Marianas Isl.), A93JA (Bahrain), HZ1HZ (Saudi Arabia), A73A (Quatar), A65EE (UAE), PX5E (Brazil), JW5E (Svalbard), PJ4X (Bonaire), TO2M (Martinique), LP1H (Argentina), TO4K (St.Barthelemy), TO1E (St.Martin), V47T (St.Kitts&Nevis), P40A (Aruba), 8P5A (Barbados), VP5DX (Turks&Caicos Isl.) + many USA/Canada

15m: UB0A (As.Russia), UK9AA (Uzbekistan), JA5FDJ (Japan), PX2A (Brazil), TO4K (St.Barthelemy), HK1NA (Colombia), 9Y4W (Trinidad&Tobago), PJ4Q (Bonaire) + many USA/Canada

20m: A73A (Quatar), 8P5A (Barbados), 9K2HN (Kuwait), K7RL (WA, USA) + few USA/Canada. I have not been really active on 20 this time. 20m was almost closed when I was on.

40m: V26B (Antigua&Barbuda), TO4K (St.Barthelemy), PS2T (Brazil), C37N (Andorra), PJ4Q (Bonaire), 8P5A (Barbados), VE3MIS (Canada), HK1NA (Colombia), K4JPD (USA amongst many others), RC9O (As.Russia), JA3YBK (Japan), A73A (Quatar), UP2L (Kazakhstan)

80m: RC9O (As. Russia), K1KP (USA amongst many others), C37N (Andorra), TK/PB8DX (Corsica), 




This contest resulted in 2 ATNOs. TO4K (St.Barthelemy) and TO1E (St.Martin). TO4K was even worked on 40, 15 and 10m.


Wednesday, October 21, 2015

#CQWW DX SSB 2015 wishlist

With the upcoming CQWW DX SSB contest this weekend I had to look on NG3K's announced operations page to make a wishlist. This is the time to work DX you never worked before. Not that it is always easy, but easier then breaking a pile-up at a DXpedition. However it's just a wish to work them all. I usually don't hear them all. If you can't hear it, you can't work it.

My wishlist:

4W/JE1CKA (Timor Leste), A35JP (Tonga), E51EAQ (South Cook Isl.), PJ7PL (St.Maarten), TO1E (St.Martin), TO4K (St. Barthelemy), TT8AMO (Chad).

7 new ATNO's could be worked....wow! I hope the propagation will be peaking that weekend. I'll try to participate as much as I can. I'm going to take preparations to setup the station for the contest. Have the multiband vertical, HB9CV for 10m and will make a half wave longwire for 40m NVIS.
Hopefully it will all work out. The goal is to make at least 500 QSOs but my main attention will be paid to ATNOs.