News

Everything disrupted this year by a fire at home. Hence no radio, no home, no money, no business right now, and my computer is limping along on its second hard drive and defunct CD ROM. I have had better years... should be back on air from somewhere by 2005, and I'll get back to QSLs when house is rebuilt and sold.

Due to ongoing DIY I have not been active yet this year. I hope to get the new floor in the shack, and back on air, in the next week or so. Meanwhile, please note the new URL and e-mail addresses.

In the past couple of weeks, I've been getting the shack tidied up a bit, and the operating position is much more comfortable now, but there's still a lot to do! Click on the image for a closer look.

There has also been some nice propagation along the way, with 50MHz ES on Nov. 25th, and the OZ7IGY beacon was heard on 4m, but unfortunately no QSOs. 6m QSOs included OZ4LP (JO55), SP1MFG (JO73), OZ5AGJ/m (JO56) and DL9YG (JO43).

On 144MHz, FSK441 has brought more new countries and squares, including OH6ZZ (KP12), SM7DLZ (JO86), ES6RQ (KO28) and IW4EHZ (JN54).

Troposhperic ducting over 4-6th December brought a few new ones, though conditions were very selective geographically and by altitude. HB9RDE (JN37) was a new country, and other new locators were: DK1FG (JN59), OZ6TY (JO55) and DK8SG (JN48). Conditions to the west (one of the worst directions from here) brought nice QSOs with EI3GE and EI7IW (IO63). My 2m squares total is now at 90 - I hope to make the 100th before New Year!

Currently I have antennas for 144MHz and 1296MHz in place.

The NEXT Big Aurora..

The aurora on 20th November was another excellent event! Again I was QRV on 6m and 2m, but no AuE QSOs this time. Another very southerly opening, with most 2m QSOs takiong place at QTF 070-090 degrees. On 6m the QTF was mostly at 045 degrees.

In all 13 countries and 24 squares were worked on 144MHz, using 25w + 10 ele. On 6m, 7 countries plus 11 squares with 50-100W + 5 ele. I concentrated on 144MHz, as most of what was available on 6m is much more easily worked via Es from here. 2m ODX was SP5XMU (KO02) at 1496km, and others over 1000km were: S54M (JN86), IV3DXW (JN65) and IW2NOR (JN45) worked on SSB. GJ0JSY (IN89) was a new country.

Meteorscatter and the Leonids

The Leonid shower was generally pretty poor by most accounts, but the increased FSK441 activity still enables a few nice QSOs. On November 9th using JT6m mode on 50MHz, I made Cassiopeid contacts with: SM5LE (JO99), OE5MPL (JN78) and OK1DDO (JO60). After a number of tests, I also finally managed to work EH2KP (IN83) by this mode on November 19th.

Activity on 144MHz FSK441 has also brought some good results, including ES6DO (KO29), at 1799km a new ODX for 2m. Stations worked during the Leonids include: IW2HAJ (JN45), IW1BCV (JN44), YU7KB (JN94), HA6ZB (JN97), IK0BZY (JN61) and CT1DYX (IN51) between 0355 and 2007utc on 19th Nov. Full log on WSJT page.

The Big Aurora..

When it finally arrived, the big aurora of 29/30th October proved to be quite some event! I was QRV on 50 and 144MHz, and made 30 QSOs between the two bands, including two via Auroral E on 6m, to OH0RJ (JP90) and ES2RW (KO29). On 6m, the most southerly station worked was F6FHP (IN94), whilst on 2m I worked as far south as F5LRL (JN26). ODX (and a new country) on 2m was HA0HO (KN07), at 1688km, who answered my CQ whilst I was at a QTF of approx. 60 degrees. Heard, but not worked, on 144MHz: 9A6WW, ES5DO, LY3OD, LY2BJ and SM0KAK.

Conditions continued the following day, when I worked SP7ASQ (JO91) for another new country, at 1406km, plus G, GM, 5xPA and 10xDL. Many contacts were made at QTF 090 deg, as the aurora had moved well to the south. Also heard IK2YKX (SSB) and an IZ4???. In all 14 squares were worked in the second day on 2m, whilst 6m produced AuE to OH6YF (KP02), and AU to SP6GWB (JO80).

73 de Mike