as I posted already I got the permit for 60m band operation for 2014 on 6 channels including most important 373, 400 and 405 for CW operation.
I turned ON the radio an hour after the New Year 2014 celebration over here and I was very surprised how many EAs was active on the band. As their channels allocation is a bit "different" the cross channel operation is needed.
I heard EA, EA6 and also EA8 on the 5268kHz CW with QSX to 5373kHz. Unfortunately I did not copy enough them to call.
So I decided to QSY to ch5 and after some listening to noise I decided to call CQ...after 2year I am back!
My first call was immediately replied by Bob, W4DR. Hi sigs was very good and I had no problem to copy. Nice QSO was done inlc. wishes HNY 2014.
After few minutes of another CQ I was called by KB8 station. His sigs was really weak and deep QSB did not allowed me to copy well. After longer fight I copied KB8BD, Ken from MI. Unfortunately I lost him after minutes in noise even although I got my report 449. So if I read callsign well then new state is worked but I am still not sure. So not count new state.
After some time I came back on the band in order to catch some Spanish stations. Yes, I was able to hear Fernando, EA8AK on his primary 5268kHz channel CW. Very good signal came to my antenna BUT...strong digital signal switched for few seconds each 2-3 minutes on the frequency and totally destroyed reception.
Well I tried to call Fernando split to 373 and after 4 calls and his 2Q with US friends I catch him. My report was nothing special and Fernando was over here also around S5. Luckily the digital QRM was not the issue and we was able to manage and finished QSO quickly.
My DXCC #29 - Canary Isl. EA8 is in the log. Thank You Fernando.
Unfortunately the negative point is that my XYL reported to me that I am making strong TVI using my coaxial feed inverted Z dipole in resonance (SWR 1.1:1 on 5400kHz) so I am really disappointed. I will not be able to operated in the evenings until I will solve it. But how as there is no reason to create TVI > coax cable from balun on dipole to tcvr, antenna in resonance, no SWR, PSU is connected to AC thru filter, chokes on the PSU wires, antenna is 5m from TV antenna. I am really worrying about the TVI to neighbours. I had several year TVI issues and I was not able to operate from my QTH for long time... :(
Best regards,
73 - Petr, OK1RP
.../-.-
Hi Petr,
ReplyDeleteWas pleased to work you New Year's morning and EA8AK New Year's night. Rernado was country #25 QRP using my Flex 1500, 5W, to an 80M FW loop at 65'. You and I had worked before, way back in October of 2011 when I was running 5W SSB, and the year I put forth a big effort to work all states QRP on 60M. That took 2 months and 25 days and thanks to the help of first 60M QRPer to work all states, Larry, K5ZRK, who arranged some skeds with the harder states like AK and HI.
I heard others EAs last night so I'll keep calling them!
Happy New Year and 73,
Doug K4LY Inman, SC
Doug,
ReplyDeleteYou are very welcomed. I was really glad to work You again with QRP 5W on Your side. Your setup is doing really great job.
WAS60 will be hard job for me specially as I still have very poor receiving performance. Need to improve it using better ext. RX antenna.
73 - Petr, OK1RP