Archive for December, 2012
Leisurely and impressive DXing on HF
The year 2012 comes to a close and it’s been a busy one. I’ve not been able to participate in regular RACES nets due to work commitments, but 2012 has been a successful time for “leisurely DX’ing.” I’ve finally lived in the same spot long enough to earn WAS and DXCC (Phone/Mixed) certificates using a modest HF station. And it only took about 30 years as a ham to get it done! 🙂
There are a few recent QSO’s that ARPSC members / readers may still be able to “snag”:
- Republic of South Sudan (Z81),
- Rodriguez I. (3B9),
- St. Peter and Paul I. (PT0S),
- Lesotho (7P),
- South Cook (E5/S), and
- Mauritania (5T).
Other new entities worked (band specific) include: St. Helena I., Angola, Namibia, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Gibraltar, Faroe Is, and Fernando de Noronha (PY0F).
Perhaps the longest distance QSO’s were with stations on the continent of Antarctica … a mere 9000+ miles. DP0GVN / Neumayer III Station and KC4AAC / Palmer Station are often posted on the DX Cluster.
My station for DX’ing is fairly modest: FT-950, an HF amplified and an inverted HEX beam hanging from a 45′ high oak branch in our back yard. I’ve also started successfully working 40 and 75 meter DX using a long wire and a “Cage” antenna (75 meters).
You can read more about my DX adventures, my station, and antennas – along with posts on EmComm and my “DX Support Team” – by visiting http://wc3q.blogspot.com.
If you’re interested in DX or want to learn more, please drop an email. “DX Hot Spots” can also be tracked, as I work ’em, via real-time ClubLog Twitter posts for new entities as they’re worked (@wc3q).
