HF Contacts 30m

I thought I hadn't seen a 30m contact posting so thought I'd start one.

Especially knowing that some enthusiastic individuals have been building antennas to encompass this band. (Hi Alan. )


No especially exciting QSO's of my own to report but an interesting observation nonetheless.....

I witnessed 30m suddenly pop open worldwide so scrabbled to hit my VOX button on the radio and fire up the WJST-X software to start CQ'ing. I was immediately hit with all the usual European stuff and had several QSO's when suddenly some VK's (Australia) made an appearance on the 'Band Activity' window.

Excitedly I clicked on one to start a call sequence to them.......along with everyone else! What a pileup!!  

Now it all gets 'dog eat dog' during such pile ups and probably part of the fun of it all. (I know some complain that they can't compete with the 'Big Boys'.)

Did I manage a QSO?.....Did I 'eckers like on my 10 Watts and lawnmower lead hanging in the loft!....But I did get signal reports back via PSKReporter.


VK5ARG - Amateur Radio Experimenters Group, Modbury - Signal minus 10dB

VK3BD - Signal minus 13dB


Now, are they contacts?
Maybe not without a full QSO cycle and confirmation but it showed that there is definitely potential for me. My signals can definitely reach Australia with the right conditions and thanks to utilising FT8 was able to discover that, whereas with an SSB call I would only have been left disappointed that I didn't break the pile up.

Anyway, all good stuff and for me at least pretty exciting that there is the potential to reach far flung destinations with my meagre setup.


So come on, I've started the ball rolling. Let's hear about your 30m contacts.

(Confirmed or not, I know some have difficulty clicking that mouse button for the 'final courtesy'. )

I’ve had a few M6’s lately, so it’s doable on 10w for sure.  Mainly on 10m and 20m from memory, and definitely not on 30m….and here, you need to have an Advanced license (same as UK full call) to use any of the WARC bands anyway.

Good to hear you've been receiving some Foundation operators there Jeff.

I'm still grateful for the UK system allowing much wider HF access as most of my contacts have been on 80m - 20m with 10m following closely. The first time I've picked up VK on 30m though let alone get a signal through.

With a lawnmower lead loft antenna and a true peak reading 10 Watts I'm more than happy.

Victor wrote:

I'm still grateful for the UK system allowing much wider HF access as most of my contacts have been on 80m - 20m with 10m following closely. The first time I've picked up VK on 30m though let alone get a signal 

Yes, foundation here can’t use 160/30/20/17/12 or any of the microwave bands.

Even standard can’t use 160 or the WARC bands.

Until recently, foundation couldn’t even run ft8, as they weren’t allowed digital modes.  Thankfully, that changed a couple of years back.

The UK have got the mix about right, IMHO.

The 160m band is a funny one considering how lacklustre the band is and my own 160m experiments have seen me making further contacts but not one single confirmation as of yet?!?

I have heard that there has been some tree shaking going on with the Australian Amateur Radio system Jeff and if it all leads to positive advancements then that's great.

At least you guys went the positive route with experimental transmitter builds, I'm sure if beginning amateurs here could knock out CW transmitters there'd be an uptake with Morse operators. (My next challenge...Morse!)


Anyway, how are the rest of you guys doing on 30m?

I'm pretty sure I just saw Alan MW7TTA scroll past the 30m band window.
(Band's gone quiet now though.)

Just trying to figger out how to see my contact band and country in qrz.
I have seen it before but can't find it now.

Found one lol just one but this aerial has only just gone up.
2022-09-03 
VK7AC 
10.138Mhz
FT8
Norman Deitch
Confirmed

Ah, well done Alan.

Knew you'd have something further afield and Tasmania is damned good going!


Apart from my knee trembling report above I'm still stuck with European range on 30m apart from one non-confirmed Asiatic Russia. There's a whole world to aim for though.

VA207 Canada 2022-09-19
TF5B Iceland  2022-09-02 and 2021-12-03
HL30GB South Kores 2021-12-24
9Y4DG Trinidad and Tobago  2022-09-22
Plus many others but nothing to shout about usa and virgin Islands.

They will come my friend Victor.
I didn't think i have had as many contacts 296 in all but a lot not confirmed didn't count but would think 50/50 is about normal.

Ha! Ha!
They will Alan mate.

At the moment with my lawnmower lead I just zoom in a little bit on the PSKReporter map and it all looks fabulous!!

Nice to catch you on another band Alan.

Sorry Victor i was going to send you a message but station commander keeps finding me little jobs.
Think it was shopping time yesterday but today i am not listening to her lol.

30metres I tend to leave it alone, my most noisey band by far.
Well over S9+, so far not sure where it comes from.

Hi Alan,

No worries, was just good to catch you on air again on a different band and get you in the log.  

Fingers crossed for catching you on some of those other bands.


--------------------------------------------------

Hi Mike,

Sorry to hear about your 30m QRM, I get a bit of noise now and then so not as quiet as 20m but definitely quieter than my 40m reception at times. I like this band as the activity is often less than others so when it all gets frantic it's where I "retreat" to.

(Much the same for 17m and some interesting stations at times.)

I still keep my eyes pierced for any all signs I recognise and would be great to catch you some time.



My very best to you both,
Victor

Alan Pilot wrote:

Sorry Victor i was going to send you a message but station commander keeps finding me little jobs.
Think it was shopping time yesterday but today i am not listening to her lol.

that could catch you some serious earache Alan 

skyrider wrote:

Alan Pilot wrote:

Sorry Victor i was going to send you a message but station commander keeps finding me little jobs.
Think it was shopping time yesterday but today i am not listening to her lol.

that could catch you some serious earache Alan 

I like to live on the edge lol.

yes Alan you probably will be 

Over the moon to get 9X5RU Rwanda in the log on 30, and only using the "sort-of off-centre fed half wave" with the feed point on my bed as detailed in the 3.5MHz thread. My worst direction to make contacts with and I literally managed it from my bed

Going to have to keep these types of ops to a minimal though so I don't cook myself

Nice one with the Rusian DXpedition team there Neal, tried myself several times but never managed through the pileups yet.

I tried for day's to get that one 9X5RU eventually got it but on 12m on 27-03-2023.
Just got V26EI another station i have spent day's chasseing.

Got ZL4AS early this morning, saw it pop up in the box and double-clicked, nearly fell off my seat when it went through.

Very well done there Mark!  

How awesome is that, getting New Zealand in your logs, I'm really pleased for you mate. Take it as a personal triumph with self reward for your efforts and journey through your Amateur Radio interests so far. Don't let that excitement dwindle either, make every contact as exciting as the first!

I'd better go busy myself now, feel like I'm letting the side down by not getting my very own ZL contact.

Brilliant stuff and well chuffed for you. Keep up the good work.

Nice one Mark. Really pleased for you. Be that put a smile on your face for the day.

You got something working well there Mark don't alter anything lol.