For some reason I’ve actually started to seek out DX. I’m not sure why. It must have something to do with the FT-950. I find it so much more pleasurable to listen to CW on the FT-950 and find it so much easier to establish an SSB contact on the FT-950. Purchasing this radio has opened up a whole new world for me.
I find myself reading more about greylines and being more interested in propogation in general. I have been turning on the radio and tuning around in the evenings about an hour before sunset to an hour after sunset and then tuning around again, if I’m awake, during EU sunrise.
I also check DXSummit and ReverseBeacon.Net to see what DX is out there. Oftentimes you’ll see DX listed on one that isn’t on the other. And, just because it isn’t spotted on the packet cluster doesn’t mean it isn’t there. Many times I’ve just tuned around and heard DX and spotted it for others.
Some recent catches that are significant for me are:
9X0TL – Rwanda
5N50K – Nigeria
JW/OZ1AA – Svalbard
I’m sure that back in the 90s sometime I made contacts with Africa, but I have no logs or QSL confirmations to back that up. And since I’ve been back in the hobby I hadn’t been hearing anything from Africa. I figured I just don’t have much of a chance. As it turns out, it’s doable even on my mediocre station. You just have to pay attention for when the stations are active and try to listen for them. You’ve got to know what times of the day or night you are most likely to hear Africa, what band they would be on, etc.
Svalbard is just cool… it isn’t in Africa, but check it out on Google Maps.
I’m amazed at some of the operators that end up responding to my call. I may be hearing them S0 [under the noise] but if i hear them I try to reach them. And since I’m using a simple low wire, I know I’m not putting out a big signal. So obviously the DX is skilled at picking stations out of the mud [and the pileup]. There is no reason for me to expect that my signal is going to make it when 30 stations from various parts of the world with a kilowatt and multielement yagis are part of the pileup. But sure enough, even I can often get through with perseverence and an idea of how to garner the attention of the DX when other stronger stations are calling them.
I was hoping for one or more contests to work before the Ohio QSO Party. I had looked at the WA7BNM Contest Calendar and saw the IOTA contest. For some reason or another I dismissed this as a “limited audience” contest and thus did not plan for it. I had other obligations this weekend.
Yesterday, out of curiosity, I actually went and read the rules of this contest and realized that it is open to everyone and that you get points for ANY station, island or not, that you can work — with actual registered IOTA-registered islands providing increased points and acting as multipliers. I was kicking myself. I knew I couldn’t operate 24 hours or even 12 hours, but I decided I was going to get on.
I’m glad I did. I worked about 4.7 hours of this contest off and on, on 15/20/40 with 100w and the 40-10m wire. Mostly 20m activity with a smattering of 15m and some 40m. Worked a handful or two of new DXCC entities (if they happen to decide to confirm via LOTW).
If I had read the rules and realized that the IOTA contest would have been as active as it was, I may have planned to spend more time. It’ll be on my list of contests to work next year. Definitely a fun time and worth the planning.
IOTA Contest 2010
Call: AA8IA
Operator(s): AA8IA
Station: AA8IA
Class: SO(A)12Mixed LP
QTH: Toronto OH
Operating Time (hrs): 4.7
Summary:
Band CW Qs CW Mults Ph Qs Ph Mults
—————————————-
80:
40: 23 12
20: 41 14 20 10
15: 2 1
10:
—————————————-
Total: 66 27 20 10 Total Score = 29,082
Club: Mad River Radio Club
I was monitoring 20m today, and lo and behold an interesting character was talking to another ham. When that ham signed to thank the interesting character for the QSO, the interesting character (we’ll call him neB) mentioned that he doesn’t consider it a QSO unless he’s talked to the person for at least an hour. What the hell? Strike #1.
Then when he signs he gives his KC9 call and indicates he is talking by way of an HB9 remote station. Strike #2. I can see how it would be cool to do this, given my own background in internet technologies. But, when the communication cannot be established via a direct radio link on both ends, it is my feeling that it is no longer considered an amateur radio contact. Call me old school.
Strike #3 was when another ham called him and before the actual QSO even commenced the interesting character felt the need to lay out the guidelines for the QSO.
I guess it takes all kinds, but “neB” appears to be one of a kind.
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