Archived Posts » 59,789,155
VK Station
3/3/2012 11:50:10 AM
The ARRL DXCC SSB contest is running this weekend... So, I'm tooling up and down the dial trying to pick up what countries I can.
My little 100W and a wire can only reach so far on 20m, nobody hears me on 40m (last night). Usually don't get through in a pile up...
Typically, I don't reach much past eastern Europe, in the 4000 mile range...
So this morning, I hear a VK2 station CQ'g without a big pile up... Not being an expert on my country codes, not even sure where VK2 is.. so I respond and get a QSO.. figure he is in Europe somewhere... VK2 is stinking Australia!! no way... 10300 miles with a clear signal...
Way cool.... going to have to stop talking bad about my antenna
My little 100W and a wire can only reach so far on 20m, nobody hears me on 40m (last night). Usually don't get through in a pile up...
Typically, I don't reach much past eastern Europe, in the 4000 mile range...
So this morning, I hear a VK2 station CQ'g without a big pile up... Not being an expert on my country codes, not even sure where VK2 is.. so I respond and get a QSO.. figure he is in Europe somewhere... VK2 is stinking Australia!! no way... 10300 miles with a clear signal...
Way cool.... going to have to stop talking bad about my antenna
3/3/2012 12:10:08 PM
Congratulations! VK and JA are coveted calls among the DX community.
3/3/2012 12:24:03 PM
Nice shootin', Mndless! That's a good one! 
3/3/2012 3:43:54 PM
Well done sir.
As an FYI, VK land is rather limited to output power due to gummit restrictions which makes it all the more of a prize.
Foundation license is limited to 10w. Modes allowed are the common phone and CW but no digimodes are allowed.
Standard license is limited to 100w on sideband and 30w on all other modes.
Advanced licensed is limited 400w on sideband and 120w on all other modes.
http://vkham.com/permitte.html
Another OBTW, worked Bermuda last Wednesday. The station was warming up for the ARRL DX Phone contest. Op mentioned that the gummit there imposes a limit of 150w which makes a gain antenna a near requirement to operate there.
As an FYI, VK land is rather limited to output power due to gummit restrictions which makes it all the more of a prize.
Foundation license is limited to 10w. Modes allowed are the common phone and CW but no digimodes are allowed.
Standard license is limited to 100w on sideband and 30w on all other modes.
Advanced licensed is limited 400w on sideband and 120w on all other modes.
http://vkham.com/permitte.html
Another OBTW, worked Bermuda last Wednesday. The station was warming up for the ARRL DX Phone contest. Op mentioned that the gummit there imposes a limit of 150w which makes a gain antenna a near requirement to operate there.
3/3/2012 4:06:07 PM
Originally Posted By HankEllis:
Advanced licensed is limited 400w on sideband and 120w on all other modes.
http://vkham.com/permitte.html
Advanced licensed is limited 400w on sideband and 120w on all other modes.
http://vkham.com/permitte.html
Thanks all... HE, very cool point... thanks for that . The exchange in the contest for DX stations is RST and their power... the VK2 station gave me 59 / 400 , struck me as an odd number at first glance... now, it makes perfect sence...
very cool...
Thank again
3/3/2012 9:12:13 PM
To put the icing on the day... just hit a KH7 station (Honolulu, HI) in my best Pop Eye Voice..... ack ack ack ack....
3/6/2012 8:04:59 PM
Shot my VK2 station an email, telling him how much I appreciated our QSO, how much I appreciated his replying to me, what a generally good guy he is, yada yada yada..
To the important point, I wanted to find out if he is eQSL and/or LoTW... going to paper QSL him anyway..
Says he is... and he did confirm the QSO, so good deal... got that one done, just have to hound him if he doesn't follow through...
Looking at an Azimuthal map, and the time of day, he had to be on the 90 degree easterly radial from my QTH,
Cross the Atlantic, enter Africa right over the Ivory Coast, pass over the Congo, Zaire, Mozam Bique and exit out over Madagascar and many miles of Indian Ocean...
10500 miles... like a Kid at Christams... just love this stuff...
Need to figure out how many bounces my signal made on this trip....
I have no explination how my basic set up made this contact with a reasonably clear signal., 100W, fine, but my crazy little FD3 wire hanging on my house at 30 ft is just too stink'n funny to make the trip... stuff ham radio cartoons are made off... but, happy it did...
Link to a cool Azimuth map, if anyone needs one ––->>> Azimuth Map
To the important point, I wanted to find out if he is eQSL and/or LoTW... going to paper QSL him anyway..
Says he is... and he did confirm the QSO, so good deal... got that one done, just have to hound him if he doesn't follow through...
Looking at an Azimuthal map, and the time of day, he had to be on the 90 degree easterly radial from my QTH,
Cross the Atlantic, enter Africa right over the Ivory Coast, pass over the Congo, Zaire, Mozam Bique and exit out over Madagascar and many miles of Indian Ocean...
10500 miles... like a Kid at Christams... just love this stuff...
Need to figure out how many bounces my signal made on this trip....
I have no explination how my basic set up made this contact with a reasonably clear signal., 100W, fine, but my crazy little FD3 wire hanging on my house at 30 ft is just too stink'n funny to make the trip... stuff ham radio cartoons are made off... but, happy it did...
Link to a cool Azimuth map, if anyone needs one ––->>> Azimuth Map
3/6/2012 8:32:31 PM
Originally Posted By Mndless:
Shot my VK2 station an email, telling him how much I appreciated our QSO, how much I appreciated his replying to me, what a generally good guy he is, yada yada yada..
To the important point, I wanted to find out if he is eQSL and/or LoTW... going to paper QSL him anyway..
Says he is... and he did confirm the QSO, so good deal... got that one done, just have to hound him if he doesn't follow through...
Looking at an Azimuthal map, and the time of day, he had to be on the 90 degree easterly radial from my QTH,
Cross the Atlantic, enter Africa right over the Ivory Coast, pass over the Congo, Zaire, Mozam Bique and exit out over Madagascar and many miles of Indian Ocean...
10500 miles... like a Kid at Christams... just love this stuff...
Need to figure out how many bounces my signal made on this trip....
I have no explination how my basic set up made this contact with a reasonably clear signal., 100W, fine, but my crazy little FD3 wire hanging on my house at 30 ft is just too stink'n funny to make the trip... stuff ham radio cartoons are made off... but, happy it did...
Link to a cool Azimuth map, if anyone needs one ––->>> Azimuth Map
Shot my VK2 station an email, telling him how much I appreciated our QSO, how much I appreciated his replying to me, what a generally good guy he is, yada yada yada..
To the important point, I wanted to find out if he is eQSL and/or LoTW... going to paper QSL him anyway..
Says he is... and he did confirm the QSO, so good deal... got that one done, just have to hound him if he doesn't follow through...
Looking at an Azimuthal map, and the time of day, he had to be on the 90 degree easterly radial from my QTH,
Cross the Atlantic, enter Africa right over the Ivory Coast, pass over the Congo, Zaire, Mozam Bique and exit out over Madagascar and many miles of Indian Ocean...
10500 miles... like a Kid at Christams... just love this stuff...
Need to figure out how many bounces my signal made on this trip....
I have no explination how my basic set up made this contact with a reasonably clear signal., 100W, fine, but my crazy little FD3 wire hanging on my house at 30 ft is just too stink'n funny to make the trip... stuff ham radio cartoons are made off... but, happy it did...
Link to a cool Azimuth map, if anyone needs one ––->>> Azimuth Map
What band were you on?
I felt the same way when I got the JA station on SSB here.
3/6/2012 8:55:07 PM
20m...
I have to admit this has given me a bit of the DX bug... :)
I have to admit this has given me a bit of the DX bug... :)
3/6/2012 10:19:19 PM
Originally Posted By Mndless:
20m...
I have to admit this has given me a bit of the DX bug... :)
Heh heh heh. Snagged another one to the madness.
20m...
I have to admit this has given me a bit of the DX bug... :)
Welcome to DXing. Truly addicting. Every new entity or band/entity has me grinning like a kid with a new toy. As of today I've worked 112 entites with 100 confirmed. DXCC is being applied for with card check this coming weekend. Not bad for 100w and a wad of wire in the attic.
Now to work on 5BDXCC in parallel with 5BWAS. There are some late nights in my future.
4/12/2012 11:00:22 PM
Got an email from one of the VK QSO's... very nice of him to shoot me a note. Said he got my QSL card and has put his in the mail.
But, they are having a special event on the April 25th
From his email...
Last time I made a VK contact was 30 min or so after sun rise, east coast time... I"ll be searching hard for the AX station the morning of the 25th.
I will email him the day before and see if I can get a frequency he'll be on during that time... this may qualify for a fire mission!!
But, they are having a special event on the April 25th
From his email...
Please listen out for me on 25th April this year. I will be operating with the special AX prefix to commemorate Anzac Day (to remember all those who have served for Australia & NZ in the various conflicts over the years). I have printed up a special QSL card for all contacts on this day. We can only use the AX prefix three times a year which includes Anzac Day & Australia Day. Please have a look at AX5PAS on QRZ.com for more info.
Last time I made a VK contact was 30 min or so after sun rise, east coast time... I"ll be searching hard for the AX station the morning of the 25th.
I will email him the day before and see if I can get a frequency he'll be on during that time... this may qualify for a fire mission!!
