A new IOTA Arrived!

Today I received a QSL from H44AJ, Mike (K9AJ) working from OC-285, Solomon Isl, Sikaiana Atoll (Stewart Isl). Very nice QSL. I ordered the QSL on 15 Aug this year. And the card arrived today 26 of August. So here are a ham that understand the Word "Direct". Thanks Mike!

This morning it was nice openings to VK on both 30 and 20 m. Sigs was around 599 LP propagation. I worked a few of them. Also worked V44 on 40 m this morning. So it pays to be up early!!??

Autumn is slowly creeping on to us. This morning I saw the first flight of birds going South. It was about 35 geese flying in tight V-formation. The temperature has been close to Zero several mornings. so soon we will have the White fluff once again on the ground.
But I hope we still will have some nice days ahead of us.

CUL!

Still no QSL received.

The mail man has been passed my mail box and no QSL at all this week. So I have nothing to show you. Well I can put up a Picture of a Flower. Better than nothing!

Nice colour. Can be used as a screen saver.

On the radio front I have worked IOTA SA-054 Orchila Isl with the call YW5X. And I found out that I was missing Venezuela on RY, PH so I have worked them on RY, SSB and CW as this will count as well as an IOTA and DXCC. I'm missing YV only on 160 m. Have to put some efforts into the 160 m band this Autumn / Winter / Spring to get my DXCC for Top-Band.

That's all for now. CUL

Still no QSL's.

The mail man refuse to deliver any QSL so far this week. Wonder where they keep them?!

The only thing I have done for the past week was a few new IOTA. Have to mention OC-261 that I worked on the 16 of August. Call was VK5CE/P. On the 18 of August I worked OC-142 with the call VK4WIR/P. Both where on 20 m band and VK5CE/P was on SSB and the other one was on CW.
There is also a station from Mali, TZ6BB QRV on the bands. Worked him last night on 20 m CW.

Have to show you a Picture of one of my favourite Engines during my working Days. It is a P&W R-2800 radial Engine with 18 cylinders.

Nice! We used it on the Convair 340/440 and was running it in CB16 (2400 Hp) or CB17 (2500 Hp) config. The original Engine was from WW2. But there are still a lots of them running out there on different Aircraft's. Amazing Engine. The sound from this baby when it was running on idle was astonishing.

Well that's all for now. CUL

Challenge Award Medallion has arrived!

My Challenge Award has now a 1500 Medallion glued in Place. Three to go!!! and I have already start to chase the next level (2000). My score at the moment is 1502 (!!!).

So there are a lot to do in the future. It was difficult to take the Picture of the Award due to a very glossy surface. This is the best so far.

No QSL today. Wonder what the word "direct" stands for out there.

Well that's all for now. I will sit and admire the Challenge Award for the rest of the day!?

CUL

Here we go again!

More Cumulus Nimbus (CB's) Clouds developing to day. This cloud produced about 10 mm rain and some lighting when it passed close to my home. Totally this week I've got more than 40 mm of rain. So my lawn is starting to grow and will creat some work for me. I have to cut the lawn between rain showers.

Not much on the radio at the moment. Worked a few RDA's when UA4HIP/4 has travelled around some rare RDA's. But I'm not a collector of RDA's yet. But I never knew when I will get bitten and start chasing RDA's.

Have to show you a Picture of my rag-chew rig. TS-950SDX and ACOM 1010.running around 800 W to any of my antennas. On the Picture you also see the Power Meter LP100A and K9AY controller.The key board is connected to the K42 Keyer from K1EL that I have built. Use it as a memory keyer with the connected keyboard. Old PS2 type.
Click and Enjoy!

The Kenwood TS-950SDX is still one of the best analog rig's out there. Super on both SSB and CW.
Worked a lot of DX and braked large piles with this rig. Have installed Inrad Roofing filter so it is no longer good on AM as the front end is to narrow. But that is a mode I don't use anyway.

That's all for now. CUL!

More TS!

The unstable weather continues. Thunder Storms now and then all the time. Have a Picture of the CB's starting to develop and this cloud was within minutes after the Picture was taken producing some heavy rain and lightning.

Looks very Beautiful but so dangerous.

On the radio I worked 5A1AL on 18 m CW. And this was new for me on 18 m so QSL is on order. Still waiting for my 1500 medallion from ARRL. But now a new week starts so hopefully I will found some stuff in my mail box.

Well that's all for now. CUL!

Old C-Line back in business!

I had to put it back on the table in full functional order. I have sold my TS-870S and that created room for the old C-Line. Put the FT-897 (2 m only) on top of the R4-C. Worked a few stations on 14 MHZ and all is fine. Click on the Picture and enjoy the old tube rig. Look at the green glow in the windows!!??

Worked a new IOTA this morning. It was AS-109 Zhuravlinyy Island (wonder how it is pronounced). Call was RT9K/P.

The weather man is once more talking about TS. Weather at the moment is almost clear sky and temperature is around 20 C (68 F). So I will take my coffie outside in the garden!

Take care all of you readers. CUL

YES!!!! A new one arrived!

Today I received QSL for a new one. It was Clipperton Island- This is my #314 DXCC confirmed.
But it is also a new IOTA. NA-011 is the rare number for Clipperton. Call was TX5K and I worked them on 7 band slots. and all modes (CW, SSB, RTTY). But unfortunately I missed them on 160 and 80 m due to other assignments in the early mornings. But that's Life. Click and look at this fine QSL!

Well it is very rare to get a new one today. I have only26 to go. But wonder when there will be any activity from the DXCC's I'm missing. The upcoming Amsterdam Isl DXpidition is such an event that will add to my score (if Ican get a QSO). But I'm missing Peter 1 and Buovet and CE0X just to mention a few. And as most of the  hams in the World I'm missing P5!!!

So back to the radio and start chasing!!!!