New IOTA and a New one on 12 m

I had forgotten to order QSL for the 7Z7AB operation. I ordered the card via PayPal on the 17 January and I received the QSL today. This was IOTA AS-190 and will be updated to my IOTA score ASAP!

Very nice card and swift delivery of QSL. Thanks to QSL manager 7Z1CQ.

Next QSL was from the Lesotho team 7P8D. Worked them on missing slots including 12 m.

Nice indeed!

Worked CQWW 160 m this last weekend. Worked LP again and this was indeed a real challenge. Worked mostly Grey Line so not so many hours was spent at the radio. Managed to catch 206 QSO's! But I had to wait out most of the piles before I would even had at least a small change to get an answer. I only managed to work 2 US states ( 3 US call's ). But I had a lot of fun. After my last QSO I uploaded my log to LoTW and I've got 16 new DXCC on 160 m right on. So now I'm actually see the light at the end of the tunnel.

And today we have plus (!) 4 C ( 39 F ). Fast changes at the moment. But the cold will be back at the end of the week..

That's all for now. Take care out there and keep working the rare ones.

New confirmed on 160 m!

I got PJ2/K8ND confirmed on LoTW. Found out when I loaded up some Q's.. So now it is only 46 to go??!!

"What? What did I do! I didn't say anything! Where is my dinner????"

Isn't he sweet! Some times I wonder what is going on inside his head. He is smarter than you can imagine. And he is always into something.

Weather outside is cold. Very cold! This morning I had minus 24 C ( -11 F ) and I can assure you there are no mosquito's outside!! So you think twice before you go out. Inside I have 25 C so there is a difference of almost 50 deg. Thanks for Rock wool to keep my house isolated.

Well that's all for now. Take care all of you readers out there and keep warm. Run QRO!!

Finally got PJ2 on 160 m!

I have been chasing PJ2/K8ND several mornings on 160 m. This morning he was peaking around S6 with slow QSB on my K9AY antenna. After about 10 calls I've got him into the log. Thanks Jeff. QSL is in the mail to you!

I have a new picture of my shack on QRZ.com. I have the same picture here for you all to see.

What a mess!!?? Any way this is the spot from where the sigs are feed to the antennas!!

160 m is very fun to work. But you have to be there when the short opening occur. Often the openings are very short and you have to be on the edge all the time. But it is fun when you get the rare DX.

Well, that's all for now. Take care all of you readers out there.

New IOTA received!

I worked RI0K operating from Ratmanova Island (Big Diomede) AS-061. Worked them on CW and also SSB. You have to click on this QSL to see it big. Very nice picture.

 Unfortunately I missed a QSO with RI0K/P. This was from a very rare island Alyumka Island AS-092. But I did not get credit for this one. But the QSL was dual so it show both. Better luck next time if any!!??

The operation was by RW3rn Alex, UA9OBA Yuri, RL3AA Mike, RA5A Leonid, and UA3EDQ Igor. Very nice cards indeed. And it is always fun to work these guy's from rare IOTA.

Snow is still falling and I've had it by now! Had to by gasoline to my snow blower today. I think I have operated the blower around 8 to 10 hrs this winter season. And the weather guy's predict more fluff!!!

Well that's all for now. Take care all you readers out there.

New QSL from 5T0SP.

QSL from the Polish DXpedition 5T0SP worked on several bandslots inclusive 160 m. This was a well performed expedition and it was fun to work these guy's.

And there was a backside as well!

So this put my 160 sore up one more points.

We still have a lot of snow and it is still falling. Last days I have got almost 1 feet of the white fluff. Temperature at the moment is minus 2 C ( 28 F ).

Well, click on the pictures and enjoy!!

A real DX received!

Today I received a real DX that I worked on the 7:th of Dec 2012. It was HL5IVL. And  how does this qualify as a DX? Well, as you all can see it was worked on 160 m!! That's wy!!!

This make my DXCC for 160 one point closer to achieve a diploma and a sticker for my 5BDXCC.

I have had a lot of problem with my ADSL when I'm operating 160 m. The modem shuts down when I'm over 10 W level. In our last issue of the Swedish Ham Radio Magazine, QTC there was an article about this problem. Article was written by SM6CNN, Anders. A well known DX:er. It was about a LP filter that would cut signals above 1 MHz preventing the Modem working as a 160 m receiver. I got the parts and assembled a filter. And it works just fine. I'm running 1 KW on 160 and still have functional Internet. Super!

I have to show you a picture of the filter before it was assembled into the cable from the splitter to the modem.

Well that's all for now.

Take care all you readers out there and  have a nice week.

YES!! Three ( 3 ) new IOTA received!

Yesterday the postman (actually a  woman) delivered QSL from P29VCX, Hans (SM6CVX) operating from rare Islands. I'v got the following IOTA's confirmed. OC-103 Anosau (Emirau), OC-135 Buka Isl, and OC-025 Manus Isl. Hans also operated from another island but that one was alreddy in my listing. But there are still lots to do here. I have only 265 Islands so far. But I have been in this chase only for 2 years.

So here you all can see the proof of the QSO's! As always very nice and high quality QSL cards from the SM6CVX team.

Was lsn on a PZ stn on 80 m this morning. But stations was calling and calling and calling..........?! Wonder when they will start lsn on the DX. Call just once and then LSN! How difficult can it be? It is almost impossible to hear the DX as some stations is calling up to 10 times i a raw. And looking at the S-Meter there must be a lot of tubes with dual handles operating at maximum power out there??!!.

Well that's all for now. Take care all readers out there.

Lord Howe Island.

Yesterday I received a QSL from OH1VR's operation from Lord Howe Island. Worked him on 12 and 10 m bands on CW. Nice card.

Via Buro I received this very nice card from JG6JAV. As a trained eye can see, the cat is resting in the heat from one of the best rig's ever. Kenwood TS-950SDX. I can understand the cat's choice of resting place.

So click on the picture and enjoy.

Temp at the moment is 2 C (35 F) and we have got some snow during night.

Take care all readers out there!

LU6W QRT!?

According to DX-News LU6W had to go QRT due to loss of radios and one antenna to the see. To bad. I had to go shopping yesterday for some food (have to eat and I don't have any ground support called wife or girl friend). During that time a few SM Hams managed to work them. I was lsn to the pile when I came home and made a wrong deceision to wait. But the signals in the pile was 50 db plus so didn't put in any efforts to get a QSO.

BIG MISSTAKE!!!!!

As I only have PA's with tubes without handles I'm most of the time 2:nd in the piles. But that's life for me.
Here is a picture of my PA tube!

As you can see there are no handles on it. It is a GU-74b. So here I missed a rare, never before activated Island. Wonder how I can come over this!!?? Well I can't bye or build a bigger Amp due to limited mains supply into my house. There are only 16 Amps three phase supply and that have to cover heating and lighting, fridge and stove and water pump. So there are not so much left over for a big Amp. So I'm stuck with my GU-74b!

Take care all of you readers out there.

Jackpot No. 2

Yesterday my mailman was kind again! I received QSL from NH8S. Worked them on a few bandslots including all modes.

Nice card and they produced nice signals with simple vertical dipoles and only 500 W. IOTA score up one point! Iota number is OC-200.

Next card I received was a rare island in the Atlantic Ocean. It was WA4DAN/CY0, Sable Island NA-063. I received three (3) for just one QSO. And the cards are wery nice.

I have been looking for this Island for a long time and finally I got a QSO. Unfortunally they only operated SSB when I was lsn for them. But that's just fine and I have to thank the team for the QSO.

Well temperature at the moment is around -5 C ( 23 F ) and no signifficant change in sight.

I received a Hyacinth from a freind when I celebrated my entry into the official retired gang of 65 years old. Isn't it nice!!??

Well, that's all for now. Soon it is time for Tour de Ski on TV and I'm monitoring 20 m for LU6W from a rare Island SA-096. Very rare. Has not been activated before. It is a hard life??!!

CUL!

Snow almost gone!

As I stated in my last blogg the snow is almost gone. I had about 80 cm of the white fluff. But today it is only 20 cm remaining. And the wether guys predict some snow that will change to rain in the afternoon today. I have to show you a picture so you can compare with the picture from December.

If you remember the picture of the two pine trees that was supporting each other. One of these snapped half way up and the top part just missed the telephone line. It is exaiting out here in the forrest almost every day.

Had a Lynx passing over my property a few days ago. Unfortunally I didn't had my camera at hand so I missed that picture. It is a beautiful Cat.

Take care all readers and remember life is to short for QRP!

Jackpot!!!

Today the mailman was very kind to me. I'v got a few QSL's.
KL7RRC/P was the first one I opened. A new IOTA. NA-150 Little Diomede Isl.

Next one was VK9NN worked long ago 2010-Dec-11.

And finally the fine operation from 7O6T. Very nice card from a beach on Socotra Isl AF-028.

It is so big I had to make it very small to get it to fit on the blogg page. Actually, I'v got 2 QSL cards from 7O6T. The other one was a flag from Yemen.

So this is a good start of 2013. Almost all of the snow we had has gone. Temerature at the moment is around 2 C (35 F ) so it feels like spring time. But we will get more of the white fluff for sure.

Thats all for now.