Last Direct QSL for 2014?

Just received a QSL from the Falkland Island. It confirm my last band slot for Falkland. Namely 12 m. It was a QSO with Bob using the call VP8LP/100. Special event for the Battle of the Falklands in November 1914.

Now I will be waiting for the remaining VP8:s. And they are South Georgia and South Sandwich. These two I have not worked at all. So hopefully they will be activated by Intrepid DX Group. But it will not happened until Jan 2016.
Next big thing for end of 2015 will be Bouvet using 3Y0F if all go as planned!

Wx here in this part of Sweden has start to change from -18  C ( 0 F ) yesterday to -1 C ( 30 F ) this morning. Forecast for New Years Eve is +5 C!!!

That's all for this year. CU in 2015.

Rare IOTA confirmed!

I just received QSL from the PJ7PK operation from Guana Key of Pelikan, NA-247. This was first time ever to be activated. Put my score Closer to 400!!

Click on it to see it a bit larger!

I've just arrived home and to my surprise I have a temperature of minus 13 C ( 8 F ) and clear sky and 2 inches of the hated White fluff on the ground!

New year is coming up and there are a lot to do on the radio for me in the beginning of 2015. Navassa, K1N and TI9/3Z9DX Cocos Island. Both are new to me and the QRM:er will as usual have a ball!!

Well that's all for now! CUL

QSL from Christmas Island

I worked this Polish DXpedition on a few missing band slots and modes. Call was VK9XSP and I only miss this on 160 m. But next time I will get them on Top Band as well!!??

Looks like the guys have had a ball! They where putting out nice sigs from IOTA OC-002.
Thanks for some fun time at the radio.

Today I've got about 1" (2,5 cm ) of the hated White fluff. But it is getting warmer so it will go away. Temp at the moment is just around freezing.

Marry X-Mas and HNY. CUL

Conds not so good at the moment.

Have been monitoring Tromso Realtime Ionograms to check possibility for low band activity. Today there are no reflections at all! That explains why there are no DX above 60 deg North. Well that's just how it is. And it is almost impossible to get through the wall of Southern EU stations.
But I have been working to get my K9AY operational with all ( 3 ea ) of my transceiver's. And in my junk box I found a Heathkit antenna switch. And this 1 X 4 is just what I need.

This is now fixed behind the rig's and just to select the transceiver in use.

WX in Sweden is dark and dull! Temp is just around freezing and so far no White Fluff.

Happy X-Mas and HNY to all of you readers and CUL.

New IOTA!

WOW!
A QSL arrived today. RI0X, AS-064, Karaginskiy Island near Kamchatka. Worked them on 20 m SSB. And as with all IOTA only one QSO is needed! Thanks to R9XC, RA1ZZ, RA3AW,UA1ZZ and UA3AKO also QSL manager.

So one more Points to my struggling IOTA.

Well, that's all for now. CUL

Sad news!

My daughter's beloved dog, Balder had to be put to sleep today. He had, according to the vet some type of blood cancer. And within 2 weeks he had become very ill. He didn't eat and was sleeping most of the time. He got worse by the time and this afternoon my daughter decided to put him to sleep.
He will be missed by us all.

CQWW CW Contest.

Worked a few stations in the weekend Contest. Just S&P. Had a lot of fun and the conds where just super. Worked a few new ones on 160 m. My goal was to achieve around the same Points as I did on the SSB part. And I did! And even more. When I passed 300 000 Points I was satisfied. I got this score with 403 Q's and the total score was 355 511 points.
Found a peculiar phenomena in the piles. You should call so many times to get the DX that all other that just call one time will be run over!!?? Heard this on several piles and the DX worked several stations during the time some hams was constantly Calling up to 5 to 10 times and no lsn!!
I guess we have to live with this. But it will slow down the rate for the DX and normal callers.
But I had some fun and that was the goal with this weekend.

Regarding weather we now have temperatures around freezing and when the sky gets clear temp drops down to several degrees below freezing. But we knew what we are getting soon. A lot of White fluff!!!

CUL!

3 IOTA confirmed!

Today I got 3 new IOTA confirmed. They all came from P29VCX (2 ea) and one from P29NI. Operation was performed by SM6CVX Hans, and G3KHZ Derek, and K5WQG Eddy. IOTA OC-008 and OC-115 was with call P29VCX and OC-258 was P29NI.

As usual when Hans and Derek and Eddy is out on DXpeditions the QSL is Always of super quality as you can see. Click on them to see them Little larger. And also the signals they put out from Papua New Guinea was strong and easy to get a QSO with. So, my IOTA score takes a super jump with 3 new islands and I'm slowly aproaching the border of having 400 confirmed!!!???

That's all for now. CUL

Got some QSL via Bueo.

I've got some QSL cards via Buro this weekend. just to mention a few I got ZF2 confirmed on 160 m. There was also 3D2, Fiji and 4S7, Sri Lanka. But the best Picture this time was from PP1CZ from Brazil also an IOTA SA-028. Island name was Vitoria. And the card show a Hummingbird.

Nice card!

Have ordered the QSL from VK9DLX (Lord Howe) and VK9XSP (Christmas Island) and the last one I got confirmed via LoTW almost direct after my OQRS was finished.

Well, that's all for this time. CUL

FT4TA is QRT and a new one is in the log!

This was my achievement for  the FT4TA according to Club-Log. As you can see I managed to get 30 m in the end.

Band	CW	Phone	Data
160	1
30	1
20	1
17	1
15		1	1
12	1
10		1

So I missed 80 and 40 m. But what the h..k! I got them on 7 slots for my Challenge Award so I'm satisfied!
Next challenge and also a big thing for the QRM:ers is the upcoming Navassa DXpedition. This is also a new one for me. I will try to do my best.


Changed to Winter tires with studs on my car for a few Days ago. At that time the temperature was around freezing. Today it is 10 C (50 F)! So where did the Winter go?


CUL

QSL from Benin.

Today I received QSL from the Italian DXpedition Team using the call TY1AA from Benin. I managed to work them on some missing band slots. And as usual the QSL arrived quick after the end of the operation. Thanks to I2YSB as QSL Manager and I Think also Team Manager. They where 7 operators totally.

It is Always fun to work Silvano and his fellows from different places. Good operators and well managed piles. Thanks!

This afternoon I will once again try to work FT4TA on 30 m. Just hope the QRM:ers gone fishing!!??

Take care and remember that Life is to short for QRP! CUL

FT4TA confirmed via LoTW!

I have got my QSO's confirmed via LoTW for my effort to get FT4TA in my log. I'm only missing 80, 40 and 30 m. I have all three modes (CW, PH, RTTY). And there are still some time left to get the rest.

This is my set up for working FT4TA. But my QSO on 160 m was with my TS-590S and ACOM 1010 running 800 W. Time of wonder is not over yet!!?? But I spend a lot of time listening how he is progressing in the pile.
But the QRM:ers is having a ball! Will this ever stop. If a ham, by misstake call on DX QRG a "police" comes and say "UP UP UP". Than a second police coms on line and tell the first to QSY. Than a third "police" comes on and tell No. 1 and 2 to go to "h..l". Ans so on!!!!!! And then to QRM is on for a considerable time. And QSO with the DX is impossible!! Not good for the blood pressure!!

CUL

Biggest Zoo so far!!!

The FT4TA DXpedition has the worst QRM:ers so far. And they are on all bands too!! How many are out there that has the mission to destroy the possibilities for us to work the DX??? Amazing! Less chance to get FT4TA than a snowball will survive in hell!
And in the pile it is also a mess. If the DX calls DL2? You can hear UA, I, IZ, IK, EA and all sort of calls. And they might show up on the DL2? QRG as well!! Why don't they shut up and let the DX work what he is Calling. This mess slow down the rate for the DX.
I'm just now trying to work FT4TA on 30 m. But the QRM:er has taken over the DX QRG.
What a shame!!!!!!


CUL!

What a mess!

FT4TA is on the air. And as usual the QRM:er have a ball. Amazing the work they spend trying to prevent as to get a QSO! I managed to get them on 28 (SSB) and 18 (CW) MHz.
Was trying to work them on 24 but no chance to get through.

Picture borrowed from QRZ.com.

Well I will try to Catch them on RTTY and a few more band slots as this is a new one for me.
So, back to the fight in the pile!

CUL

IOTA via Buro!

I've got this fine card via buro. Operator was Masa, JA0RQV. This is from Ha'apai Group of Tonga. Island name was Lifuka. Looks like a nice Place, or.........?!!

So the score is still improving slowly in the right direction!!


The score I made in CQWW for ARRL Centennial QSO Party was over 1300 Points. So I'm well over 3800 Points in the summary. And there are 2 months still to go. And the upcoming CQWW CW will push my score some more  (I hope).

So! Back to chasing ARRL Centennial QSO's.

CUL

New IOTA confirmed vai QSL!

Finally I received NA-034, Anna Maria Island Florida. Call used was K0AP/4 and operator was Dragan. So this add a new one to my fantastic score.

This weekend I did some S&P in CQWW SSB. The conditions on Sunday afternoon was just fantastic on 28 MHz. Worked more than 100 State side stations in a very short time. It will be interesting to see how many Points this will generate in my ARRL Centennial chase.

Well, wx here in Sweden is warm for the end of October. Temp at this moment is 15 C (59 F). And tomorrow we might get around 18 - 20 C.

That's all  for now. CUL

VK9DLX update!

YES!


Yesterday at around 1820 Z I managed to work VK9DLX on 160 m. Heard them fine on my K9AY RX Antenna. He was working at 1833 KHZ and was listening on 1822 ( down ). I just gave him one call with my FTdx5000MP and ACOM1000. And to my surprise he came back to moi and a QSO on 160 was in the log. And this morning I could see it confirmed in the On-Line Log. Thanks Dietmar DL3DXX for super ears!!!
There are a lot of SM hams that has worked them on 160 m. But the opening is very short. Around 1840 Z he was gone. But nice to check out Lord Howe in my Challenge score.
Next fine news on the DX is that Navassa will come on air in January 2015 as K1N according to DXWorld news. This will be nice as Navassa is one of the missing ones for me.
And Tromelin is soon to come on air in a few weeks. Also one of the missing in my DXCC score.


Well, that's all for now. CUL

VK9DLX, Lord Howe Island-

What Amazing sigs this DXpedition is putting out. I worked them on 40 m for two Days ago. And he was 599+10 to 20 db over. Totally Amazing. And they have had the same fantastic signals on most of the bands. Worked them yesterday on 80 m and on my K9AY they where S5-9!
I have worked them on all bands except 160. But they will be there over the CQWW Contest so there are time to Catch them on 160 as well. But I have them also on all modes (CW, PH, RTTY). So I have added some band slots to my Challenge Award. If you don't have Lord Howe Island in your log just start Calling them. They have good ears and super operators and they work split.
I have no Picture today but I will write something new next week.
That's all for now. CUL

WAS via LoTW!

Yes!

Today it arrived. My WAS Basic and CW totally via LoTW. Very Quick. I made the application last Monday. And today I received the Award. Nice work ARRL!

Have to get some frames and put it on the wall ASAP!!!
I have the following major Awards. DXCC 320, 8BDXCC (missing 160 and 6 m), Challenge, WAZ CW, WAC, and finally the last to arrive WAS CW.

Well! I have to admit that I also have IOTA 300 and pending 375 islands. But IOTA is going very slow. Hope that I will reach Honor Roll in a few years as the QSL handling is so slow. PLS RSGB, do something!!??

Well, that's all for now! CUL

New IOTA and also new Band Slots.

Today I received a QSL from Craig for his operation as VK5CE/8 from OC-173 Bathurst Island. As Always with Craig he is standing with his arms stretched out. Fun gimmick!!

So, one more Point to my miserable IOTA account!!??

Also got a card from Norfolk Island VK9NF. Operator was NL8F Tim from Dutch Harbor AK.
This added to my VK9N score with Phone and 17 m Band Slot.

So my Challenge and Phone DXCC score is also improving a bit!

Well that's all for now. CUL

Confirmed via Club Log!

YES!
I've got PJ7PK, NA-247, Guana Key of Pelikan confirmed via their on-Line log for my QSO on 30 m. So QSL is already ordered via OQRS. Super effort from the team for just to give us a new one! They made over 2000 QSO's so RSGB must be happy to register a new IOTA.


THANKS!!

Picture is borrowed from QRZ.com.


So my IOTA score is now in the fantastic sum of 373 (if all pending is approved). It is a slow process and according to my notes I have 37 QSL's on order either via Buro or direct. Wonder when they all will show up.


That's all for now. CUL

Long delivery time and a very rare IOTA!

Yesterday I received a QSL that I requested direct around May 2013. Well, finally I can sign off a few band slots for Galapagos San Cristobal Island. It was also a new mode (PH). I had almost written it off!!

But here are the QSL. Wonder if Buro had been faster!?

Worked ( I think ) PJ7PK on 30 m CW yesterday. They were on a very rare IOTA. Na-247,  Guana Key of Pelikan, and this Island had never been activated before. And the pile on 30 was Amazing! I hope he got me correct as the pile and QRM:ers had so much to do!! According to  PJ7PK home page this Island will never be reactivated again due to big problem during landing at the Island. Also according to their home page they made 2300 QSO's. Well done! Now the World is waiting to see the log. Hope it will be uploaded to Club Log ASAP.

We had a rainstorm yesterday. I've got almost 40 mm ( almost 1,5 " ) in about 30 minutes. I was as I was sitting in a waterfall!! This morning it is no wind and a lot of fog. Temp around 6 C ( 42 F ).

That's all for now. CUL

2 new IOTA*s via Buro!

Nice things happens now and then. Yesterday I collected some QSL's arriving via Buro. In that bundle I found AS-109 Zhuravlinyy Isl from RT9K/P and AS-132 Cat Ba Isl 3W1D.

Also received a few missing band slots for Challenge Award. They are to Close to you so they are not easy to get. E7 on 17 m was a new band slot for me. And a very nice card.

I have to show you all the card from Vietnam as well.

Click on the Pictures to see them a Little larger.

Have heard rumours that RSGB is working on a system to improve the QSL confirmation process for IOTA. Hope they do it user friendly!!??.

Well that's all for now. CUL

New TRX is back!

Finally I've got it back! After two round trips to Yaesu in UK they finally made it work. Problem was no keying in RTTY mode. As it was under a limited warranty (bought as a second hand unit) I quickly found out the keying problem. All other modes was fine and the receiver is Amazing. Well after the second trip to UK it works. So now I have set it up together with a microHAM Micro Keyer II in all modes.

Nice or!

Got two new (for me) IOTA's this week. Both was from YB4IR operations and one was from his home Island OC-143 and the other one was OC-122. So the score is slowly improving. But it is slow. And if every one shall have 3$$$ for each QSL. Well I can't afford it at all. Some other system have to be in place ASAP!!! According to annual listing I have 340 IOTA's. But with the QSL I have collected so far this year (via buro and direct) I have 370 IOTA's. but to get to Honour roll of 555 confirmed IOTA's is a different story. I have 180 to go. and if I have to pay 3$ for each missing it will cost me 540$$$!!! That is in Swedish money around 3.800:- Sek. Wow. There is a lot I can do with 3000:- Sek. So I totally agree with K6VVA that a change has to come to get QSL confirmation ASAP!!!

Have to tell you that this morning the temperature was minus 4 C (24 F) and the lawn is just White with frost.

CUL!

Cross Spider No. 2

Here is a followup of  my Cross Spider after the sun had dried up the web he/she moved out to the center of the web. I guess he/she hope to Catch some other  insects for dinner!!

The web is almost invisible.

We have just passed the autumnal equinox. So now the nights are longer than the Days for half a year. We are going into the darkness!! Hopefully conditions on low band will improve. Heard ZD9XF this morning on 80 m with S53-6 and the pile was Amazing. No chance to break that pile. But he will remain on ZD9 a few more weeks. So I will keep on trying.
Just worked S01WS, Western Sahara on 30 m. Hope to get a QSL from his manager.

Well, that's all for now. CUL

Cross-Spicer Web

I have a roomer on one of the wires to my K9AY antenna. But I don't think he or she is willing to negotiate some rent for the space he or she is occuping??? Well it is not a big deal but it looks OK when the morning dew sticks to the web.

If you loock Close on the Picture you can see the Spider in the top right corner. We have had these morning dew now for a while and a lot of fog up to noon when the sun manage to dry up some of the damp. Then it is hard to see the web.

Managed to work some new IOTA during this week. What about NA-052 Marco Isl, AS-028 Kotel'nyy Isl and OC-294 Sandy Isl. The last one is the first operation ever.
I have worked TY1AA on a few missing band slots. This morning I also worked them on RTTY. Only missing Beninn on 160 and 80 m. Hopefully the sun slows down a bit so I can Catch them on 160 and 80.

Well that's all for now. CUL

Pictures from my I-Phone!

Have to show you proof that Joe W8GEX was at the meeting together with his friend AL and their XYL's. Just so you don't Think I'm fooling you all ( He He He).

So I let the Pictures speak for them self!! I Think no more comments is necessary. Look what Joe is holding in his left hand!

Yes! Correct! It is a beer!!

CUL

DX Meeting at LWDXg is finished

The meeting at Lake Wettern DX Group has come to an end. Around 100 hams visited the different presentations.
W8GEX, Joe together with XYL and a friend from Canada AL and his XYL where there.
The Russian Robinson Club was represented by UA9OBA Yuri and RW3RN Alex. They all made some fine presentations. RRC also showed some fine short Movies. Andy UA3AB was also at the meeting and he talked about his participation in 7O6T and FT5ZM together with fine Pictures. Very fine presentation!
W8GEX Joe talked about his activities on Wake K9W and Swains NH8S. Joe is a very good entertainer. And we consumed a few ( ! ) beers together with AL and Hawk SM5AQD.

I have also received some nice QSL's via Buro. And I have to show you two of them.

First one is from Peter DF7NX and his operation from Bolivia CP9. A happy ( ? ) Alligator. Wonder if it is the Butterflies that make him smile?! Very nice card indeed.

The next card is from Karel ON5TN and his operation from Antarctica, Prince Elisabeth Station. Fine card from a very remote area.

I also got a new IOTA in the Buro cards. It was AS-037 Koshikijima Isl. Operator was JI5RPT/6.
So the IOTA score is slowly improving!!??

Well, that's all for now. CUL

DX-Meeting at LWDXg!

Time for the DX Meeting at Lake Wettern DX Group is approaching. Less than 14 Days to go. It will be nice to meet some of guy's behind the DX I have worked. I have promised Joe (W8GEX) to by him a beer. Worked him for a few Days ago as W1AW/8.

Received a nice QSL from Edward KL7HRN as a confirmation over a nice talk on 20 m SSB.

Click on the Picture to see it big!

WX here at 60 deg North is rain, rain, some TS and some more rain!!! But we have had a fine summer. Short, but very warm. Temperature in the rain at the moment is 13 C ( 55 F ). But still no frost. Yesterday morning I had 4 C ( 39 F ). So it will be frost in the near future.

Well, that's all for now. CUL!

New IOTA via Buro!

I received 7 ( !!! ) new IOTA's via Buro this week. Amazing!
What about AS-171, EU.047, EU-049, EU-067, EU-153, NA-143 and NA-123. All with nice  QSL's as well! have to show you these two. V31ME from NA-123 Long Cape and RK1OZM/P EU-153 Zhizhginskiy Island. Click om them and enjoy.

 



Nice cards!

 

 

Well the activity on this blog has been low for a while. But I promise I will improve! We have had a lot of TS but not so much rain. But some of the TS have been to Close. Lighting and Thunder within a fraction of a second is to Close in my book!!! But now we are approaching Autumn fast. Temp outside is just around 15 C ( 59 F ) and some rain in the air.

 

So back to radio and my chase for ARRL Centennial QSO Party!

 

CUL



YES! A very rare event just happened!!

I have just received FT5ZM, Amsterdam Island. IOTA AF-002 and a new DXCC entry (for me). Worked this DXpedition on all bands and modes. So I filled the whole line on my DXCC Chart. SUPER!

OK! I have to admit that I have received it already on LoTW. But this card is so needed to fill the gaps in my DXCC Book. An for sure it is needed for IOTA as RSGB still need cards as proof of QSO! Wonder when they will get into the digital World (a system like the LoTW).

I still have 19 to go for DXCC. But I guess some of them will not happened in this Life!!?? Who will go to Peter the 1:st to get me a QSO?
Well I didn't Think so!! But I still like to operate the ham bands and you never knew when a new one will show up some day!!

Click on the Picture and enjoy!

CUL

Not so much radio for the moment!

There has not been so much radio at the moment. Here are some Pictures of the items that have taken the focus away from the radio!!

First this thing!

YES! My lawn cutter!

Second this piece of art manufactured 1909!!

It takes 8 to 10 hours to get 12 Kg pressure from Cold!! Using Wood for starting up slow. And when ready for traffic cross over to coal. But it is a fine piece of steam locomotive.

So this is the reason for low activity on my blog.

But I will come back soon!!??

CUL

Still low activity from me!

I have been "baby-sitting" my daughter's dog for a while. As you can see on the first Picture he is having a Close Watch of my neighbour doings! Balder don't miss a movement.

And he also has to relax on his back!! He must feel safe to do this.

On the radio I have been chasing ARRL Centennial QSO Party. I have passed the fantastic sum of 1400 Points. And I will continue to chase.

We had some TS yesterday. And when they had passed I reconnected Everything and start to Watch some TV. After about 15 minutes of watching I got a Power surge and a flash in one of the outlets and then the Power was gone for more than 2 hours. When the Power was restored I started to check every thing sutch as Internet gateway and some other Electronics. All was fine except my TV HD Box. The Box had gone fishing for good!!! And the TS was not even near to my Place. But still I got a strong Power surge that killed my HD Box. Well that's something I have to live with here in the open space. Cost for a new Box was 1500:- Sek.

Well that's all for now. CUL

A pice of art!

I found this Truck in Uppsala City. Quite Amazing paint work. Photo was taken with my I-Phone. But you should see it in reality. Just so fine.

 

Wonder how much this paint work cost?

 

Hope it will show up fine if you click on it.

 

Otherwise there has been low activity on radio. K-Index has been high and the sun has acting a bit over the edge and producing a few storms.

 

We are closing in to midsummer and the weather is Cold and rainy. But this is a normal Swedish summer.

 

Back to radio, CUL

 



One more IOTA!

Wow! Now I've received several IOTA's in just a few Days. What is happening?? The last to arrive was YB4IR/5. And here we have a ham that understand the Word "direct". QSO with him was 15 May 2014 and QSL arrived 13 June 2014. Almost a new record!!

The IOTA is OC-107, Singkep Island. Thanks Imam for Quick reply.

So my IOTA is slowly improving. I will participate in the IOTA Contest and hopefully that might bring some new one to add to my score. But the time frame to achieve the Honour Roll is still far away.

WX here is windy and sunny for the moment. Temp is only about 12 C ( 53 F ). But the wind is around 12-15 kt sustained and around 35 kt in the gusts. So the antennas is really swinging in the wind!

That's all for now. CUL

A new IOTA for me!

Just received IOTA NA-110, Isl of Palms SC. Worked him on 15 m phone. And we had a nice QSO. Thanks Steve.

With this single IOTA confirmation I'm closing in to 400 confirmed. And I still have a few out there that has not answered my QSL request yet!

WX at the moment is very unstable. There are several TS Cells around my QTH and I suspect some rain soon.

Well, this will be a short blog due to TS in the neighbourhood. So it is QRT on both radio and Internet for a while.

CUL!

YES! A new IOTA!

Yesterday I received a new IOTA. It was OC-272, Kisar Island. Call used was YF1AR/8. QSL via N2OO. This was a new IOTA. According to the last IOTA Directory only 2,5% of IOTA community has worked this Island.

And now I'm one of them!!??

Had some TS (Thunder Storms) today. Not so much rain but a lot of noise. But it is this time of the year. Just pull all antennas and Power sockets and hope for the best (no direct hits). And it all missed me this time.

Well, back to ARRL Centennial QSO Party!!

CUL

Added Band Slots for Reunion Isl

Yesterday I received a QSL card from F6KOP Team. It was TO7CC operating from Reunion Island. The only remaining slot is 160 m. The rest is filled.

Nice card. This is a Place I would like to visit. So I will keep on dreaming!!!

I have sign up for attending the DX Meeting at Lake Vettern DX Group in September. There will be some interesting speakers such as UA3AB who was a member of the 7O6T, RW3RN who is known for the use of KL7RRC and W8GEX and he has been member of (just to mention a few) NH8S and the last operation from Wake K9W. I'm looking forward to listen to these guys. And there are some domestic hams as well that will fill the air with hopefully some interesting presentations.

Back to ARRL Centennial QSO Party!

Well that's all for now. CUL

New DXCC and IOTA

Yesterday I received a rare event. I've got both a new DXCC and a IOTA. It was QSL from VK9MT, Mellish Reef, IOTA Ref. OC-072. OK! I have it confirmed in LoTW. But for IOTA I must have the QSL card. And now I do!!!

Nice card and I worked them on 8 band slots and all modes. Unfortunately they had to leave the Reef to soon due to weather condition. so I missed them on 80 m. But that's Life.

WX in this part of Sweden is sunny, rain and some TS now and then. temperature vary from 6 C to 28 C ( 42 F - 82 F ).

I have passed 1000 Points in the ARRL Centennial QSO Party. That's nice.

Well, that's all for now! CUL

New IOTA Directory

Today I received the new IOTA Directory. It will be fun to read all the articles in the book.

Looks nice. And no Icom sponsoring any more???!!! In this issue we have Kenwood, Elecraft och ML&s on front and back pages. Hope the book will bring my interest and some effort to chase IOTA will come back.

Do anyone knew if CQ Magazine is still alive? I have not received any regular issue since half a year ago. And now they don't answer my mail. I was promised the May issue. But so far nothing. If anyone of you readers out there have some info PLS mail me on sm5cbm@ssa.se.

Now back to configure my Mikroham Mikrokeyer II and my FTdx5000D.

CUL

Been off due to router failure.

My Internet router broke down on the 22 of May. I had to use a mobile adapter. But due to limited speed (no turbo 3G, most just Edge ) I was not able to use Internet at all.


But yesterday I received a new Gateway (both modem and router in the same box). And it was just plug and play. Entered the WPA2 password and all is fine. It is a Thomson Gateway 799-v2. And so far no problem.


Was visiting a rally competition yesterday. Amazing to see the speed the WRC cars can achieve on a gravel road. And the sound when changing gears when the wast gate on the turbo opens with a bang. It was a fun Saturday.


And summer is here now for good. Temperature is around 28 C ( 82 F ). And at the moment I have 24 C ( 75 F ) both inside and outside. In just a month we have gone from Winter to summer!


No QSL have been received during last blog entry. But I have a lot of requests out so hopefully something will happened in the future.


Take care and I see you soon!

Result for CQ WW SSB Contest.

The result for the CQ WW SSB 2013 is out. I worked as a member of SK3W team in the Multi-Operator Two -Transmitters class. We came out as No. 1 in Sweden, No. 4 in Europé and  No. 10 in the World.
Operators was SM0MDG, SM0MLZ, SM5EPO, SM3SGP, TF3ZA, F4BKV and moi SM5CBM!
Not bad for an operation above 60 deg North.

I received a QSL today. It was 6Y3M and now I have confirmation of Jamaica on 160 m. NICE!

So I'm closing in om my DXCC for 160. Only a few to go. 50 MHz is a different story. When the short openings occur you have to be there. As I'm quite occupied with a lot af different things I usualy miss the events on 50 MHz. I guess I need to be strapped to the chair in front of the rig and get feed via a sond or some other way to get food.

Well that's all for now. CUL

Low activity!

Well, I have been slow in posting articles on the blog for a while. I received confirmation from FT5ZM, Amsterdam & St. Paul Island in LoTW. Worked them from 160 to 10 m with just 10 QSO's. All modes also confirmed. So this push my DXCC up one Point. Just 22 to go!!!
Now I need the QSL for my IOTA.


I have no Picture today. But I promise I will put some posts in the near future.


WX in Sweden at the moment is rain, rain and some more rain. The lawn is in need of a cut. But it is to wet for the moment.


CUL

Weather prediction correct!

For once in a time the weather man prediction was correct. I have got around 10 cm of wet snow on the ground. And it still falling from the sky.

This is the feed Point of my K9AY receiving antenna. Look at the White fluff. We are now at the first of May. And this is not supposed to happened!

Due to all of this wet snow all my antennas except my vertical antennas is out of SWR range. Reason for this is accumulation of wet snow on the elements. But it will get warm and the snow will go away in a few hours (I hope).

CUL

Some new Band Slots.

Yesterday I received a QSL from G3TXF's operation from Austral Island (FO) with the call TX6G.
Nigel understand the Word "Direct". I requested the QSL via OQRS in beginning of April. And the card landed in my mailbox as of yesterday: Super fine from the team at Raivavae, OC-114.

We have got a backslash in the weather. There are warnings out that we will get some snow tonight!!?? Well, we have to wait to see what will happen. At the moment there are warm and nice and sunny. Sitting outside drinking coffee and just enjoy Life as it is.

So all of you readers out there, take care and beware of the wolf!

Found a rare flower in my garden!

Look what I've found in my garden. It was growing among a big lot of Wood Anemones. I don't knew the name of it in English. But in Latin it is Fritillaria meleagris. In Swedish we call it Kungsängslilja. Figure that out!!!!
Click on the Picture and enjoy!

It is rare in Sweden as well. Wonder how I  have got it into my garden.

On the radio I have worked 3D2RH and TZ6BB and as usual a few W1AW in the ARRL Centennial QSO Party.

Sun is shining like never before and temperature is around 18 C.

Well, that's all for now, CUL

QSL and more Band Slots

Yesterday I received QSL from XZ1J, Zorro, working from Myanmar. Got SSB and 12 and 15 m. Nice card!

I also got the card from the Italian Dxpedition Team with I2YSB at the helm. Call was 9J2T, Zambia. Worked them on all modes and filled my missing band slots. Thanks Silvano for Quick QSL response.

As usual from the Italian DX Team the QSL is one of the finest. Always high quality.

I'm continue to work ARRL QSO Party. This morning I worked NH and NJ on both SSB and CW. As usual good operators and fine sigs. Bands was 30 and 20 this morning.

WX still fine. Sunny and no rain in sight yet! I will take a tour on my Off-Road Bike to the store and get some food! Bike is a Suzuki DR-650SE more than 10 years old but still it runs fine.

Take care and CUL!

Spring is here!

This week I've got Mellish Reef confirmed in LoTW. NICE! I also filled a few band slots for Juan Fernandez Island as I got XR0ZR confirmed via LoTW.

The Spring is here for good. Easter have been warm and sunny.

Here are some Daffodil as proof. In Sweden we call them Easter Lily as they normally bloom around Easter.

Been working ARRL QSO Party most of the time and I'm slowly getting some Points.

That's all for now. CUL

Low activity from my side at the moment.

I have been chasing ARRL Centennial QSO party for most of the time. But not so massive effort as I would like. But I'm getting a few Points now and then!

I was gone as a member of ARRL for some reason. I told you Before that I Count as 1 ( one ) Point. But I was gone??!!
Sent an e-mail to ARRL and asked why?. Got an answer from NN1N and all fixed. I'm again have a value of one Point in the ARRL Centennial QSO Party! Yahoooooo!!!

Have  a look at this small 3 element yagi. But actually it is not small. It is a yagi for 80 m!!

The owner of this antenna is SM5AQD Hawk. And he put's out a fantastic signal from this site. The Tower is 44 m high (145 ft). Click on it and you are allowed to get jealous!

About the WX here in this part of Sweden I can tell you that it is getting warmer. During Easter the prediction is temp around 15 - 20 C ( 59 - 68 F ) and sunny.

Well that's all for now. CUL