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Posted: 6/28/2021 5:45:35 AM EDT
[#1]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By M4Madness: I didn't get any QSO's tonight. I tried to get PJ2MAN in Curacao for probably an hour and gave up. I built a mast from chainlink fence top rail today and moved my dipole from the very leafy poplar tree and out into the open this evening before sunset. It's now more of an inverted-V. We'll see how it works. As for HC1MX, my QSO with him was confirmed on QRZ for sure, and maybe on LOTW and ClubLog as well. He'll get to you. https://i.imgur.com/diJh7GB.jpg Having the antenna out in the open should be better, right? |
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Posted: 6/28/2021 6:17:52 AM EDT
[#2]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By Emoto: Having the antenna out in the open should be better, right? I'm hoping.  It was a little higher in elevation when up next to the house, but is still at the same height above ground. Surely it's better than being in a leafy tree with lots of foliage on its western side. Not to mention the trees about 15 yards to the east. |
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USA
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Posted: 6/28/2021 9:45:28 AM EDT
[Last Edit: SteelonSteel]
[#3]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By Emoto: Having the antenna out in the open should be better, right? Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By Emoto: Originally Posted By M4Madness: I didn't get any QSO's tonight. I tried to get PJ2MAN in Curacao for probably an hour and gave up. I built a mast from chainlink fence top rail today and moved my dipole from the very leafy poplar tree and out into the open this evening before sunset. It's now more of an inverted-V. We'll see how it works. As for HC1MX, my QSO with him was confirmed on QRZ for sure, and maybe on LOTW and ClubLog as well. He'll get to you. https://i.imgur.com/diJh7GB.jpg Having the antenna out in the open should be better, right? I had my OCFD strung between two trees. I suspect I had some deafness begin once they leafed out this spring. About that time I got my long run to my vertical done and began using that. It is more in the open. It doesn’t have 6m,....about my only sacrifice but I did pick up 80m albeit really narrow. It seems to work though,. I got a bunch of 32’ radials and added 3 60’ and 3 70’ radials (it happens to be where the donor wire was cut in two) . I seem to be getting out well. ETA I think a wet leafed out tree from rain interferes much worse than a dry leafed out tree.. |
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Posted: 6/28/2021 10:08:00 AM EDT
[#4]
So, looking for a way to measure antenna quality (aside from resonance). How would one do that? Tune in various beacons, note their S meter strength, then switch antennas and do the same? Or...?
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USA
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Posted: 6/28/2021 11:07:22 AM EDT
[#5]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By Emoto: So, looking for a way to measure antenna quality (aside from resonance). How would one do that? Tune in various beacons, note their S meter strength, then switch antennas and do the same? Or...? sounds about right but even before that I would be searching the web for antenna reviews. Granted what may work for one might not work for another due to soil, topography, feedline issues/differences, and undiagnosed imperfections in set up. A lot of reviews that say x product didn’t deliver would make me pause on buying it. |
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TN, USA
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Posted: 6/28/2021 11:08:10 AM EDT
[#6]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By Emoto: So, looking for a way to measure antenna quality (aside from resonance). How would one do that? Tune in various beacons, note their S meter strength, then switch antennas and do the same? Or...? Field strength meter or separate receiver is the old-school way. I've read that a NanoVNA can be set up to measure / plot antenna performance but I haven't done it and don't know how to set it up. |
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TN, USA
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Posted: 6/28/2021 12:40:54 PM EDT
[#7]
06/28/21 - 1636Z - 21.074mHz + 1747Hz received - FT8 mode - 5Z4VJ in Kenya
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Posted: 6/29/2021 5:19:14 PM EDT
[#8]
14.278 OM3TWM Slovak Republic. Good strong signal.
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TN, USA
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Posted: 6/29/2021 6:29:39 PM EDT
[#9]
06/29/21 - 2228Z - 14.259 - FY5FY - French Guiana - Not all that strong here and quite a pileup.
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Posted: 6/29/2021 7:56:40 PM EDT
[#10]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By SACraig: 06/29/21 - 2228Z - 14.259 - FY5FY - French Guiana - Not all that strong here and quite a pileup. I got him earlier tonight, as well as V44RR in St. Kitts & Nevis and OH8KXK in Finland. There is a trio of Kuwaitis running together on 14.200, but I couldn't break the pile-up. |
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Posted: 6/29/2021 8:49:26 PM EDT
[#11]
EY7AD in Tajikistan on 14.199. I have storms coming in and a horrible noise floor all of the sudden, so no way I can get him tonight.
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TN, USA
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Posted: 6/29/2021 11:06:31 PM EDT
[#12]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By M4Madness: I got him earlier tonight, as well as V44RR in St. Kitts & Nevis and OH8KXK in Finland. There is a trio of Kuwaitis running together on 14.200, but I couldn't break the pile-up. I tried the V44 station earlier this evening but could barely hear him. I turned off the DX cluster in my logbook and forgot about him. Oh well, I worked it back when it was VP2K but it would have been nice to update it with the new prefix. |
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TN, USA
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Posted: 6/30/2021 5:23:21 PM EDT
[Last Edit: SACraig]
[#13]
Not DX however there is a special event station on 14.319 mHz (N7GMH, Op Mike) for the Granite Mountain Hotshots a fire fighting team that had 19 of 20 members killed by a wildfire in Yarnell, AZ in 2013. The movie "Only The Brave" is about them.
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Posted: 6/30/2021 6:50:47 PM EDT
[#14]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By M4Madness: EY7AD in Tajikistan on 14.199. I have storms coming in and a horrible noise floor all of the sudden, so no way I can get him tonight. I see he will QSL with registered mail now. It is probably the way to go now. I played holy hell getting a card from him and had to cash in a lot of favors to get it done before he posted he QSLs on registered mail. He also sent about a half dozen other US ham's cards with mine and I sent them out to them. I ran a quick check of several Tajikistani hams and their Zed pages lists NO email addresses. Keep me posted on this one. One other possibility. IIRC it's DHL* that has a return mailing gizmo that enables you to send something via DHL and they get a reply envelope with your card. It's the equivilent of as SASE and DHL delivers it. *might be someone else. |
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Posted: 6/30/2021 7:01:44 PM EDT
[#15]
I'll try for him if I see him another day. I only have an inverted-V for an antenna, so you just never know. My trick for DXing with it is to get the bearing from me to them from QRZ, then go out in the yard with a compass and turn my antenna broadside to that by pulling up two stakes.
Bad storms surrounding me tonight, so I have a horrible noise floor again. Time is running out before my Tennessee vacation Saturday. No HF from then until next Wednesday. 
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Posted: 7/2/2021 7:04:33 PM EDT
[#16]
Just worked 4X6HU in Israel on 14.164.
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Posted: 7/2/2021 9:00:15 PM EDT
[#17]
EY7AD from Tajikistan is back on 14.198.60. I can't hear him well enough to risk calling him. Too much QSB.
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Posted: 7/3/2021 8:23:12 PM EDT
[#18]
9Z4AH on 14.160 Trinidad & Tobago. No pile up yet.
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Posted: 7/4/2021 12:48:33 AM EDT
[#19]
hearing Keith V31ZA in Belize on FT8 40m
i tried him on 20m ssb the other day.. no dice |
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Posted: 7/4/2021 2:32:23 AM EDT
[#20]
Mexico, Guatemala, Costa Rica and I heard 1x a Colombia station on FT8, 40m
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Posted: 7/4/2021 3:26:58 PM EDT
[#21]
When I sweep through 20M, there are always these spanish speaking guys around 14.280 and 14.270. Sounds like the same guys all the time, but maybe I am wrong. I don't think I hear a lot of station ID or anything. Anyone know what I am listening to?
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Posted: 7/4/2021 3:59:45 PM EDT
[Last Edit: M4Madness]
[#22]
They're always there and they're running some huge power. I think they tie it up 24 hours a day, as I've never heard anything but Spanish on that frequency. You can't even use adjoining frequencies due to the wide signals. I've never heard a single callsign -- maybe they're exempt.
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Posted: 7/4/2021 4:18:53 PM EDT
[#23]
Well, I guess they can do whatever is allowed in their QTH.
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USA
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Posted: 7/4/2021 10:08:30 PM EDT
[Last Edit: SteelonSteel]
[#24]
ouch.....listening to gang rape of a English dx station on 14.320 MHz.
They’re barely letting the station talk. I haven’t even picked up the English guy’s call sign in six minutes listening. Everybody keeps talking over him trying to get him to respond. You would think it was the king of England. The gent said last call five minutes ago and they’re still throwing caalsigns out there. I just came downstairs and picked up a Slovenian station I worked before . 14.236, Also a Russian station on 14.258. |
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Posted: 7/5/2021 8:05:50 AM EDT
[#25]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By SteelonSteel: ouch.....listening to gang rape of a English dx station on 14.320 MHz. They’re barely letting the station talk. I haven’t even picked up the English guy’s call sign in six minutes listening. Everybody keeps talking over him trying to get him to respond. You would think it was the king of England. The gent said last call five minutes ago and they’re still throwing caalsigns out there. I just came downstairs and picked up a Slovenian station I worked before . 14.236, Also a Russian station on 14.258. It really shocks me how some of these people behave in pile-ups. I feel bad for the target stations. |
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USA
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Posted: 7/5/2021 9:47:25 AM EDT
[Last Edit: SteelonSteel]
[#26]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By Emoto: It really shocks me how some of these people behave in pile-ups. I feel bad for the target stations. Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By Emoto: Originally Posted By SteelonSteel: ouch.....listening to gang rape of a English dx station on 14.320 MHz. They’re barely letting the station talk. I haven’t even picked up the English guy’s call sign in six minutes listening. Everybody keeps talking over him trying to get him to respond. You would think it was the king of England. The gent said last call five minutes ago and they’re still throwing caalsigns out there. I just came downstairs and picked up a Slovenian station I worked before . 14.236, Also a Russian station on 14.258. It really shocks me how some of these people behave in pile-ups. I feel bad for the target stations. I will never be a good contester as I am too polite, if I hear that kind of pile up I might call once after a CQ. If I don’t make the cut, I jot down the freq and turn the dial. I can check back later. I have made enough QSOs that way without being pushy. , It is supposed to be relaxing and enjoyable for me, not some frenzied rat race. On the plus side the station is getting as many contacts as he wants. |
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Posted: 7/5/2021 10:00:39 AM EDT
[#27]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By SteelonSteel: I will never be a good contester as I am too polite, if I hear that kind of pile up I might call once after a CQ. If I don’t make the cut, I jot down the freq and turn the dial. I can check back later. I have made enough QSOs that way without being pushy. , It is supposed to be relaxing and enjoyable for me, not some frenzied rat race. On the plus side the station is getting as many contacts as he wants. Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By SteelonSteel: Originally Posted By Emoto: Originally Posted By SteelonSteel: ouch.....listening to gang rape of a English dx station on 14.320 MHz. They’re barely letting the station talk. I haven’t even picked up the English guy’s call sign in six minutes listening. Everybody keeps talking over him trying to get him to respond. You would think it was the king of England. The gent said last call five minutes ago and they’re still throwing caalsigns out there. I just came downstairs and picked up a Slovenian station I worked before . 14.236, Also a Russian station on 14.258. It really shocks me how some of these people behave in pile-ups. I feel bad for the target stations. I will never be a good contester as I am too polite, if I hear that kind of pile up I might call once after a CQ. If I don’t make the cut, I jot down the freq and turn the dial. I can check back later. I have made enough QSOs that way without being pushy. , It is supposed to be relaxing and enjoyable for me, not some frenzied rat race. On the plus side the station is getting as many contacts as he wants. yeah it sucks...some with their 1.5kw just walk over everyone, zfg and disappear. I've heard some dx get fairly smart, and call cq for call districts (anyone in 6, or 4, etc) or a specific state or country. another smart technique is working split (transmit on one freq, listen on another) |
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Posted: 7/5/2021 10:57:16 AM EDT
[#28]
Yes, split mode would help immensely with pile-ups. I have no idea why all DX doesn't use it.
My wife and I just arrived at the summit of Mt. LeConte after a 4-hour hike. I'm really wishing I'd have brought something for SOTA. 
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Posted: 7/7/2021 7:04:21 PM EDT
[#29]
Just got my second QSO with Iceland. This one was TF3XO on 14.205 MHz.
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Posted: 7/8/2021 7:13:48 PM EDT
[#30]
Just got L21RCA (Argentina) on 14.265. Nice signal.
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Posted: 7/8/2021 10:51:03 PM EDT
[Last Edit: Clown_Gun]
[#31]
R5AJ (Russia) on 14.225 SSB
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Posted: 7/8/2021 11:13:12 PM EDT
[#32]
Just got 9K2GT in Kuwait on 14.237.50
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Posted: 7/8/2021 11:20:09 PM EDT
[#33]
Just worked an AZ station on 10 meters. First one I've heard there in over a month.
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Posted: 7/8/2021 11:27:31 PM EDT
[#34]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By Clown_Gun: Just worked an AZ station on 10 meters. First one I've heard there in over a month. What are we doing up so late? LOL! I just missed a Qatar station on 20M SSB. He complained of QSB and said he was heading for FT8 instead.
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Posted: 7/8/2021 11:33:34 PM EDT
[Last Edit: Clown_Gun]
[#35]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By M4Madness: What are we doing up so late? LOL! I just missed a Qatar station on 20M SSB. He complained of QSB and said he was heading for FT8 instead.  Seems like I've got solid static on all the bands. Not hearing much of anything else and almost no DX.  eta: I could hear a station in KY, but not the station in Kuwait City that he was talking to. eta2: Screw it. Can only listen to white noise for so long.. Calling it an early night. |
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Posted: 7/9/2021 4:20:02 PM EDT
[#36]
HZ1LG in Saudi Arabia on 14.236. I got him a couple of weeks ago.
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Posted: 7/9/2021 4:49:22 PM EDT
[#37]
HA2KMR in Hungary on 14.205.30
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Posted: 7/9/2021 4:55:47 PM EDT
[#38]
SB6A in Sweden on 14.221
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Posted: 7/9/2021 6:19:04 PM EDT
[#39]
EA9ACE from Ceuta & Melilla on 14.288
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Posted: 7/9/2021 11:48:19 PM EDT
[#40]
KL7WG on 14.245 for those of you seeking Akaska.
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Posted: 7/10/2021 12:52:01 AM EDT
[#41]
Between insomnia and stomach troubles, I had a hell of a time getting any sleep last night. Been trying to stay awake at work the whole shift.
Turned on the radio about 3:30am and managed a contact to Japan (my first). |
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Posted: 7/10/2021 1:54:06 AM EDT
[#42]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By Clown_Gun: Between insomnia and stomach troubles, I had a hell of a time getting any sleep last night. Been trying to stay awake at work the whole shift. Turned on the radio about 3:30am and managed a contact to Japan (my first). the short time I lived in CA, working JA was insanely easy there were so many |
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TN, USA
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Posted: 7/10/2021 6:08:41 AM EDT
[Last Edit: SACraig]
[#43]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By Clown_Gun: Between insomnia and stomach troubles, I had a hell of a time getting any sleep last night. Been trying to stay awake at work the whole shift. Turned on the radio about 3:30am and managed a contact to Japan (my first). That's a good time for that part of the world when the band is open like it was today. I got up for a little while about that same time (0700Z - 0730Z) and worked 3 Australian stations and 2 Japanese stations on FT8. One of the Japanese stations was a Tokyo Olympics Special Event Station (8N0OLP). |
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Posted: 7/10/2021 9:18:13 AM EDT
[#44]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By Clown_Gun: Turned on the radio about 3:30am and managed a contact to Japan (my first). Congratulations! I've never even heard a Japanese station before. Sorry to hear about your other issues. |
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Posted: 7/10/2021 10:32:09 AM EDT
[#45]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By M4Madness: Congratulations! I've never even heard a Japanese station before. Sorry to hear about your other issues. I flipped on the radio the other morning around 6AM eastern and heard a station from Australia and another from Japan engaged in QSOs, but they were so close to being at the noise level that I didn't try to make contact. I was unsure that I would be able to catch all they said if they even heard me. I also happened across the end of one of your QSOs the other night on 20M I think, as you told someone about where someone honeymooned. I thought "wait a minute, I know that call sign!" and looked at your QSL card to confirm. I almost reached out, but it seemed like you were off after that. |
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Posted: 7/10/2021 11:21:24 AM EDT
[#46]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By Emoto: I also happened across the end of one of your QSOs the other night on 20M I think, as you told someone about where someone honeymooned. I thought "wait a minute, I know that call sign!" and looked at your QSL card to confirm. I almost reached out, but it seemed like you were off after that. Yes, the guy was in New Jersey and said that his parents were married in Bloomington, IN, which is about 20 minutes north of me. Get this -- I apparently wrote his callsign down wrong. He is the only QSO that I've not logged. I tried every combination I could and never found a callsign in my search that matched his first name (he never gave me his last name.) |
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Posted: 7/10/2021 11:30:23 AM EDT
[#47]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By M4Madness: Yes, the guy was in New Jersey and said that his parents were married in Bloomington, IN, which is about 20 minutes north of me. Get this -- I apparently wrote his callsign down wrong. He is the only QSO that I've not logged. I tried every combination I could and never found a callsign in my search that matched his first name (he never gave me his last name.) 
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Posted: 7/10/2021 12:13:39 PM EDT
[#48]
9A0HQ Croatia 14.220
OF2HQ Finland 14.282 |
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Posted: 7/10/2021 12:33:15 PM EDT
[#49]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By M4Madness: Congratulations! I've never even heard a Japanese station before. Sorry to hear about your other issues.  There was another JA station I wanted to try but he was fading so badly I didn't bother. |
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Posted: 7/10/2021 1:20:49 PM EDT
[#50]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By Emoto: 9A0HQ Croatia 14.220 OF2HQ Finland 14.282 Not hearing those at my QTH in WA. But I just made my first contact with Florida on 14.200 so maybe conditions will improve before I have to head out to work. |
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