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Welcome to the Charlie Tango DX Group. The home of ALL things Radio - CB, 11m DX, Amateur, PMR446, PLD, Network and Data. We welcome all radio enthusiasts of all knowledge levels. Join today and claim your own unique World Famous CT Call-sign
Join in with the fun of the Charlie Tango DX Group Winter 11m Challenge - from December 1st 2024
Had a most enjoyable contact 8/1/2023 my first ever VK SOTA 20m ssb
V10SOTA on VK1/AC-043 Mt Stromlo 782m above sea level
This was a special SOTA qrz celabrating 10years of VK1 SOTA activity , this was activated by Andrew VK1AD who was only running a vertical multi band antenna and 25w Even more remarkable was I worked him long path with a distance of over 14500 miles
What a way to start the radio year
Craig 2E0VRX 73
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Victor CT Directors
Call Sign : 26-CT-3228 / M7VIC Posts : 6292 Times Thanked : 389 Join date : 2019-11-10 QTH or Location : Bedford Equipment Used : Various
I hope the rest of the year heralds much the same for you.
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Victor CT Directors
Call Sign : 26-CT-3228 / M7VIC Posts : 6292 Times Thanked : 389 Join date : 2019-11-10 QTH or Location : Bedford Equipment Used : Various
Subject: Re: HF Contacts 20m Thu Mar 09, 2023 8:40 am
Finally cracked Oceania!
(Flipping long time coming. )
Took several attempts, heard by other VK stations too but only got through to one by jumping around that waterfall. Unfortunately looks like no QRZ log at their end so probably won't get a confirmation but at least it's in my log. Shall try again enthused that I can make it and hopefully get to light up that 'World Continents' award. Up to now I've been trying UK morning grey-line contact but finally managed on their morning grey-line.
08/03/23 - 21:18 - VK5PO - PF95
10W, FT8, homebrew interface, shagged old radio, bit of lawnmower lead in the loft for an antenna.
73 M7VIC
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SangueG Major contributor
Call Sign : 26-CT-3971 / 2E0LMI Posts : 1337 Times Thanked : 86 Join date : 2021-01-30 QTH or Location : Cirencester, Gloucestershire Equipment Used : Little radios, home-made antennas
Subject: Re: HF Contacts 20m Fri Mar 10, 2023 7:23 am
Nice one Victor, you're doing something right! I know some say 20m is the 'easy band', but I haven't managed Oceania or South America on 20m yet, and my Africa contacts are not confirmed. You're racing ahead on that band. I'd tear our lawnmower apart to replicate your setup, but my mower is just a little human push powered one so it's safe in the shed.
Victor likes this post
Victor CT Directors
Call Sign : 26-CT-3228 / M7VIC Posts : 6292 Times Thanked : 389 Join date : 2019-11-10 QTH or Location : Bedford Equipment Used : Various
Subject: Re: HF Contacts 20m Fri Mar 10, 2023 9:45 am
Cheers Neal.
20m might be easy for all those running megawatts but they do tend to obliterate us QRP stations.
My first Oceania 'full' and completed QSO but have had PSK reports before now. Was working the WARC bands to hopefully give me a better chance and this one came out of the blue but didn't manage to make QSO's with the other VK stations on air at the time. (Would've been handy for the QSL.)
Getting more stations from Africa coming through (as well as everywhere else!) with the lengthened 'lawnmower' lead but not cracked too many contacts there either. The thing is, I enjoy that it's more of a challenge at QRP levels and very pleased with my home-repaired, home-made & home-brew equipment.
Worth checking on all the bands you have access to and of course.....never say never!
All the very best to you, Victor
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Ivy Mike Major contributor
Call Sign : 26CT4113/G1HWY Posts : 536 Times Thanked : 15 Join date : 2021-05-16 QTH or Location : IO90uv Equipment Used : ICOM radios/antenna farm Age : 69
Subject: Re: HF Contacts 20m Sat Mar 11, 2023 6:12 am
Well done, when you going to sell those mower antennas.
Main thing is never give up.
Some times paths are just not there, happens to me a lot. Keep plugging away and in time it does go where you want it to.
BTW VK5PO does QSL via LoTW, bagged him last year on 20m FT4. Worked him 06:49 in the morning 2nd June.
Victor likes this post
Victor CT Directors
Call Sign : 26-CT-3228 / M7VIC Posts : 6292 Times Thanked : 389 Join date : 2019-11-10 QTH or Location : Bedford Equipment Used : Various
Subject: Re: HF Contacts 20m Sat Mar 11, 2023 8:47 am
Ha! Ha!
I should really call it an "88 foot Doublet" Mike but the emphasis is the fact it's just a bit of wire. (I did look at LoTW etc. but all seemed a bit of a faff, might need to look again at a later date.)
Cheers, much appreciated
Ivy Mike Major contributor
Call Sign : 26CT4113/G1HWY Posts : 536 Times Thanked : 15 Join date : 2021-05-16 QTH or Location : IO90uv Equipment Used : ICOM radios/antenna farm Age : 69
Subject: Re: HF Contacts 20m Tue May 09, 2023 6:08 am
FT8 5/5/2023
18:30utc JW/SQ9FVE JQ78
FT8 8/5/2023
06:50utc HK0/PY8WW EK92 country 169
Ivy Mike Major contributor
Call Sign : 26CT4113/G1HWY Posts : 536 Times Thanked : 15 Join date : 2021-05-16 QTH or Location : IO90uv Equipment Used : ICOM radios/antenna farm Age : 69
16/7/2023 Another new country this time FT8 18:27 9Q1ZZ JI75
Ivy Mike Major contributor
Call Sign : 26CT4113/G1HWY Posts : 536 Times Thanked : 15 Join date : 2021-05-16 QTH or Location : IO90uv Equipment Used : ICOM radios/antenna farm Age : 69
Subject: Re: HF Contacts 20m Sat Aug 19, 2023 8:34 am
5W1SA on 20m FT4 right now my 176 country
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Victor CT Directors
Call Sign : 26-CT-3228 / M7VIC Posts : 6292 Times Thanked : 389 Join date : 2019-11-10 QTH or Location : Bedford Equipment Used : Various
Subject: Re: HF Contacts 20m Sat Aug 19, 2023 9:31 am
Very well done there Mike, you do have an impressive list of countries.
I can see 5W1SA on PSK but not on my reception window. Must get a better antenna figured out!
Alan Pilot Major contributor
Call Sign : 163-CT-220... Posts : 2656 Times Thanked : 70 Join date : 2019-11-19 QTH or Location : Anglesey North Wales Equipment Used : Yaesu FT-991A,,Yaesu FTDX-10,,Icom ic-7610,,Anytone AT-D878UV PLUS",,LINCOLN II+. Age : 16
Subject: Re: HF Contacts 20m Sat Aug 19, 2023 1:16 pm
Had that 5w1sa 4 times but he doesn't confirm in QRZ.
Ivy Mike Major contributor
Call Sign : 26CT4113/G1HWY Posts : 536 Times Thanked : 15 Join date : 2021-05-16 QTH or Location : IO90uv Equipment Used : ICOM radios/antenna farm Age : 69
Subject: Re: HF Contacts 20m Sun Aug 20, 2023 8:14 am
Alan Pilot wrote:
Had that 5w1sa 4 times but he doesn't confirm in QRZ.
He does via LOTW. Got mine by 22.30 last night
Victor CT Directors
Call Sign : 26-CT-3228 / M7VIC Posts : 6292 Times Thanked : 389 Join date : 2019-11-10 QTH or Location : Bedford Equipment Used : Various
Subject: Re: HF Contacts 20m Sat Sep 09, 2023 7:02 am
The lawnmower lead still seems to be working well enough but no dice on a QSL confirmation yet.....
08/09/23 06:02 - ZL4AS - RE43 - New Zealand
20m, FT4, 10W
Took many attempts lost amongst the big guns before I finally got through.
I must've looked at the ARRL LoTW application process multiple times and still none the wiser. (Got an eQSL sorted but doesn't seem as handy as it first appears.)
Still, it's in my logs so I'm a happy bunny.
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SangueG Major contributor
Call Sign : 26-CT-3971 / 2E0LMI Posts : 1337 Times Thanked : 86 Join date : 2021-01-30 QTH or Location : Cirencester, Gloucestershire Equipment Used : Little radios, home-made antennas
Subject: Re: HF Contacts 20m Sat Sep 09, 2023 8:11 am
Awesome one Victor! Definitely working well. I tried for a ZL yesterday morning on 20m too, but I didn't even get picked up on PSK Reporter there
Out of all the other online logging programs, LotW is the one to get setup if anyone is chasing yellow stars and awards on QRZ as, as far as I know, it's the only one whose confirms count when importing to QRZ.
I could maybe try and put a guide together for members here, but honestly don't know if my own wording will make it any more understandable than ARRL's own instructions.. it's just so darn cumbersome to setup up and use compared to QRZ and others. Once done though you rarely need to log in to it unless you are chasing ARRL's awards, all the importing / exporting between them can be done from the more user friendly interfaced QRZ site.
Victor likes this post
Alan Pilot Major contributor
Call Sign : 163-CT-220... Posts : 2656 Times Thanked : 70 Join date : 2019-11-19 QTH or Location : Anglesey North Wales Equipment Used : Yaesu FT-991A,,Yaesu FTDX-10,,Icom ic-7610,,Anytone AT-D878UV PLUS",,LINCOLN II+. Age : 16
Subject: Re: HF Contacts 20m Sat Sep 09, 2023 8:18 am
I have an account on LoTW but no idea how to set it up. Not very good at that sort of stuff.
Victor likes this post
Victor CT Directors
Call Sign : 26-CT-3228 / M7VIC Posts : 6292 Times Thanked : 389 Join date : 2019-11-10 QTH or Location : Bedford Equipment Used : Various
Subject: Re: HF Contacts 20m Sat Sep 09, 2023 9:00 am
Cheers Neal & Alan, much appreciated Lads.
I love the challenge of working QRP through bits of wire but loathe any sort of 'officialdom', form filling or undue bureaucratic nonsense. When things settle down here at home I'll give LoTW another shot.
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Ivy Mike Major contributor
Call Sign : 26CT4113/G1HWY Posts : 536 Times Thanked : 15 Join date : 2021-05-16 QTH or Location : IO90uv Equipment Used : ICOM radios/antenna farm Age : 69
wow real cool there mike, had to dare i say google, a place id never heard of good contact there
Victor and Ivy Mike like this post
Victor CT Directors
Call Sign : 26-CT-3228 / M7VIC Posts : 6292 Times Thanked : 389 Join date : 2019-11-10 QTH or Location : Bedford Equipment Used : Various
Subject: Re: HF Contacts 20m Sun Sep 10, 2023 4:59 am
Nice catch there Mike.
-------------------------
Jimmy - One of the many things I can say about the Amateur Radio interest, is that it does expand your knowledge of Geography! Get that ticket under your belt and the world's your oyster.
Ivy Mike likes this post
Alan Pilot Major contributor
Call Sign : 163-CT-220... Posts : 2656 Times Thanked : 70 Join date : 2019-11-19 QTH or Location : Anglesey North Wales Equipment Used : Yaesu FT-991A,,Yaesu FTDX-10,,Icom ic-7610,,Anytone AT-D878UV PLUS",,LINCOLN II+. Age : 16
Subject: Re: HF Contacts 20m Sun Sep 10, 2023 6:21 am
I had KH0/DL2AH last week but location not the same but still a new one on me.
Ivy Mike likes this post
Ivy Mike Major contributor
Call Sign : 26CT4113/G1HWY Posts : 536 Times Thanked : 15 Join date : 2021-05-16 QTH or Location : IO90uv Equipment Used : ICOM radios/antenna farm Age : 69