ZL7M - where was he???

Did any readers manage to work David on Chatham Isl?? I listened out at various times dueing the weekend and didn't manage to hearhim once. Upon checking the DX Summit Database
I noticed he was only spotted 10 times and all on 20m. Was David only operating 20m?
Was there some technical problems? Not sure.

Let us know in the comment box below if you managed to work David at all.


Cheers,

Andrew VK4HAM

ZL7M - CHATHAM ISLAND

G'day Dx'ers,

Don't know much more about the activation other than for 2 days only May 10 / 11 VK2CZ (David) will be active as ZL7M.

Map above shows where Chatham Island is located in relation to New Zealand. If anyone has any further information on this activation please let us know.

Good Luck with this one.

73's


Andrew VK4HAM

WOW - WHAT A SETUP - Introducing PD1DX

Well Dx'ers as far as single op stations go this one does it for me. Nestled amongs the beautiful Dutch coutryside this is a beautiful sight to see.




The beautiful 20m 6 element that got Erik over 1.7 million points in the recent WPX contest - all using Low Power single band.



Picture of Erik and his 2 Boy's - great to see you are using a 756 pro Erik - ha ha

For more information check out Erik's website - www.pd1dx.com, you can access it via the radio op's links on the right side of my website.

Andrew VK4HAM

SORRY FOR BEING SO SLACK

Finally a spare moment to put in a post, having a new bub in the house sure is time consuming - Aside from the CQ WPX I have basically had no radio time either. Not to worry I'm sure I'll start finding time to do it now.

Found out today that I placed first for VK in the All Asian Contest - my first award in a contest (for single op). Entries soon close for the WPX and I am hoping that I'll do ok in that as well.

Whats been happening in the radio world while I've been quiet this past month or so? Any activations to report on? Upcoming contests? Would love to hear from you all.

Again sorry and I promise to be more active on here from now on.

Andrew VK4HAM

We DX any way we can

G'Day DX'ers, I thought I would share this photo with you all.....it's GREAT. My good friend from the states Ryan (N0OJ) set this up so he could operate in the recent ARRL DX Contest - I think it is magnificent....Maybe to those Australian Op's it could be a good idea for the upcoming John Moyle Field Day.

Future Multi 2 partner????????

Announcing the Birth of My First Child

Little Baby Girl - Annabelle Leanne Munson, Born 26/02/08, 6 pounds 13oz.

Mum aand Baby are doing well.

Persistence Pays

Finally Worked VP6DX - 20m and 15m. 20m took me a couple of hours, 15m took me a couple of minutes. Yesterday I had VP6DX about 5/0 - very very very hard to hear - he came up to about 5/1 at one stage, I called and straight away he came back to me......WOW.

Good to get a new one on 2 bands, They seem to be working phone a lot more now, they are getting spotted on 10m but I think I have buckleys chance.

Anyways, good to have the old log book ticking over.

VK4HAM

Activations - only the strong get heard

G'Day DX'ers,

Just want to get your opinion on something.......DXpeditions / Activations and using split frequencies. OK I'm all for split frequencies it is easier for us to hear we are confirmed, but when they split 225 - 235????? There is Buckleys Chance, if you are not a strong signal you will never ever get called, at least if it is the one calling frequency you may get your call in early or you may fluke a call in a "quiet time" but when the op is scanning from 225 to 235 to hear a station calling there is only a small chance.

Now I don't have the biggest / loudest station around and I certainly don't have the quietest but after 2 hours of calling for VP6DX last night I realised I have no chance of getting through.

Please leave your comments below - do you think split frequency "BLOCKS" are good or bad.

Look forward to hearing from you.

Andrew - VK4HAM

4O - Montenegro, a new one for me

G'Day DX'ers,

Conditions from my end are certainly on the improve, Europe is open to 20m almost every night, 15 and 10m are constantly open to Asia and sometimes the States. On 26/01/08 (Australia Day) I used special Call AX4HAM and had pile ups that I could not believe. Every second or third night I hop on the radio and put a few calls out on 20 and nearly guarantee a minimum of 30 contacts into Europe. My station is nothing out of the ordinary (100 watts, triband) conditions are just on the improve.

You may have remembered me complaining about "inconsiderate operators" a few columns back....well last night it happened again. The station from 4O was calling VK/ZL - it was embarrassing. He would say before the call "I would like to make as many contacts as I can as I am finishing in a couple of hours" I did the usual call, received my call and report, give him my report and thank him.

I listened to the pile up for about an hour (long path so ZL/VK where booming into me) and I would have to say the only 1 out of 5 stations did the same as me, 3 out of 5 would give their name and location and the other 1 out of 5 would ask what equipment he was running / what equipment they where running - etc etc......makes me wild.

People need to realise that the DX station is not interested in that information. He is there for 1 reason and 1 reason only that is to make DX contacts. To be honest when I heard this last night I was embarrassed......what would the rest of Europe think.

OK - I am not saying I am the worlds best DX'er and that I am number 1 in the pacific - not by a long shot, this blog isn't to say that, however I do practice common courtesy when on the air and I believe that is getting in and out of a pileup as quick as you can so one of your fellow hams has the opportunity to make the contact.

When it comes to Activations you really can tell the 80m rag chewers. I'm off my soap box now :) - please fell free to leave any comments, I am interested to hear if people agree / disagree with my thoughts.

Good DX'ing all,


VK4HAM.

Antenna Problems are not as bad

Don't you just hate it when you finally get the antenna up in the air, you look up and realise.....oh no the drain holes on the traps are not facing down. I am sure it has happened to everyone (it happened to me recently) it is always the driven as well, so added to having to pull the antenna down you have to spin the balun around as well........oh well, compared to the below picture antenna problems are nothing.




Have a look at the picture and tell me whats wrong...........................................................................
................................................................................
................... you got it, how are they going to get their car out...................oh some mothers do have them.