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eHam Forums / DXing / RE: Lower Your Power and Improve Your Pileup Skill
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on: May 16, 2013, 05:05:05 PM
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I have to wait for FT5ZM for my next ATNO, and have all antenna work done for the summer.
So, just for fun, I decided to run barefoot and see if I could break pileups with 100 watts and one call.
I've been practicing on making one call and dropping my call in the pileup at "just the right time".
It's been a really great education. I don't know if using this "surgical skill" approach will work for huge pileups, but I have learned that power and brute force are no replacement for skill, and no matter how long you have been a dxer, you can always hone this skill.
Sure, I have known about this forever, but practicing it with lower power and making one call - instead of the two that I normally use has been a fun test of skill.
The best thing - there is this local guy who uses a "carpet bomb" approach, where he just keeps calling and doesn't come up for air. I love it when he is in pileups, because I lay down one call right in between his onslaught and beat his 1.5 kw blasts with 100 watts and a Moxon up 50'.
Best approach is to be smart and have a little power. If you are smart but don't have the punch in a big pileups for a rare one you will be lucky if you get through. When FT5ZM shows up on the air I bet that the first few days you will not stand a chance with the legal limit guys unless you are really lucky and catch them before the pileup develops. Otherwise, you will eventually work him first call with 100W but since this will be a multiday/multiband/multioperator deal, at the end that will not come as a surprise. There are these guys who use "carpet bomb" approach as you described but not too many are like that. Most of them are smart and "armed" with power and antennas, and frankly you will have little chance to compete with them. Just to be one the safe side, I am not risking with these kind of experimentations and I will use all the force I can legally use to snag that rare country. You never know what may happen on that island. They may have to evacuate sooner and you may stay empty handed. Don't risk. 73 Dragan K0AP |
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2
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eHam Forums / DXing / RE: Heard Island Dxpedition
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on: May 16, 2013, 09:04:30 AM
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Gene AF3Y:
To paraphrase, don't kill your chickens before their hatched. While conditions are usually best at the cycle peaks, they have typically been better on the downswing of the cycle than on the upswing. And there's always hope for a double peak. I hit HR in November 2010 when we still weren't sure whether Cycle 24 had started or not.
73,
Don, K2DC
Yeah, you could be right. Just got a little miffed when getting the candy bar was laid in front of you and telling you that you can have a bite in five minutes, but changing that to five hours. hi hi Plus, I just turned 72, so my hourglass is running down as well. 73, Gene AF3Y As a QRPer I always rolled my eyes when people said "life is too short for QRP". However I am getting to the point where it actually may be true.  You got that right. Hopefully you will live long enough to kind of fix that mistake and somehow make it up for the DX you missed to work while being a QRPer. 73 Dragan K0AP |
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eHam Forums / DXing / RE: Pukapuka!
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on: May 01, 2013, 12:12:34 PM
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I didn't know what you are referring to until I saw it on the cluster. I worked him on RTTY on a clear frequency above all the callers  I'm not an IOTA chaser but the island name and 'atoll' sounds very rare for an IOTA 73, Jonathan W6GX Pukapuka Atoll IOTA OC-062 is a very rare island therefore this operation is a real treat for us, the IOTA chasers. You should become one Jonathan, you are missing alot. 73 Dragan K0AP |
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eHam Forums / DXing / RE: What was the best DXpedition of 2012?
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on: April 23, 2013, 07:19:54 AM
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Here is a list of notable 2012 DXpeditions. What is your vote for the best and tell us why?
TT8PK Chad
D64K Comoros
TN2T Rep of Congo
3D2C Conway Reef
7P8D Lesotho
5T0SP Mauritania
ZL9HR Campbell Island
3B9SP Rodrigues Island
6O0CW Somalia
9M0L Spratly
CY9M St. Paul Island
PT0S St. Peter & Paul
NH8S Swains Island
7O6T Socotra Island-Yemen
VP6T Pitcairn Island
HK0NA Malpelo Island
T30PY W. Kiribati
Based on different factors which include but are not limited to: remoteness of the DXCC, landing difficulties, harsh weather environment, ranking on the most wanted list, number of Qso's in the log etc... 1.PT0S 2.HK0NA 3.7O6T 2012 was one of the best in my HAM radio career so to vote for best DXpedition from this list is not an easy thing. 73 Dragan K0AP |
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eHam Forums / DXing / RE: When the hex beam won't get through
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on: April 07, 2013, 10:18:09 PM
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The hex beam at 45 feet may have reached its limit. VK9CZ, barely a whisper on 17 and 15 and 12. Barely a whisper on 30. So the hex on 20-10 is not going to get me VK9C.
And tonight I called VR2UW three times on 17 meter before he came back and said "sorry, too weak." So it's not that the prop path was closed (which would have been frustrating but acceptable), it's that he could hear me in there but not strong enough to copy my call. Too weak! Wow. That stinks.
I was talking with the wife today, and she said she is ready to get some land for the horse...no more boarding at the friend's barn. Well, guess what? That's my ticket to NO MORE HOA and maybe a shot at Honor Roll before I "assume room temperature." Maybe one of those C31XR's at 100 feet at the future QTH will be the differentiator!
In the meantime, I am looking at putting up a four element collinear horizontal wire array, pointed north/south. Maybe it will help with the polar path, maybe not. but by the looks of things (and it is an "old school antenna from before yagis were around") it might be a step up (a couple of dB) from a hex.
Looking for thoughts/feedback on the collinear idea.
I have a HEX beam at about 43ft and I was able to work VK9CZ on 17/15/12m. VK9CZ is at 10500 miles distance from here, very though path. WD4ELG, you did not mention if you run high power or 100w only. 2el HEX beam is not a C31XR but it has given me so much joy, I can hardly put into words how much I appreciate this antenna. I know a little something about antennas/propagation and other HAM related stuff since I have been around for quite some time (a HAM since 1986, I was 12 years old when I got my first license). The HEX beam got me to a total of 314 DXCC in only 6 years, (310 DXCC on 20m). It is an amazing antenna for it's size, it works very well. It blows away all kinds of dipoles and verticals. I would like to upgrade to something larger/better but I never underestimate the HEX beam and I highly recommend this antenna to anyone that has limited space. I run 600-800W depending on the band and I use 100ft of LMR400. 73 Dragan K0AP |
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eHam Forums / DXing / RE: Lets Play "Guess that DX-pedition" . . .
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on: March 20, 2013, 08:17:57 PM
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3Y0E made "About 1500 QSO's", which for a #3 entity is not much of a dent. I'm sure it was a lot more than that, although I don't have his stats handy. Where did you come up with that low a number? I thought I read it was closer to 10k, but I could be mistaken. It WAS a long time ago! Still, 1500 more than we've seen from Tromelin, Crozet or Amsterdam. I'd put the cut-off at 10 years, even, including a bunch of stuff I don't have...so it's not about my desires, personally. That would rule out San Felix, South Georgia, South Sandwich and a bunch of others. For a mil-plus, I really, honestly hope they go somewhere that this generation of DXers hasn't had the opportunity to work, periodj. Gildas on Crozet for an hour doesn't count, either. Just my opinion but activating CE0X and few others you mentioned is like a walk to the park compared to activating Bouvet. Thus it's #3 on the most wanted list. 73 Dragan K0AP |
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eHam Forums / DXing / RE: Lets Play "Guess that DX-pedition" . . .
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on: March 20, 2013, 06:42:46 PM
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The last multi-national (big) dxpedition to Bouvet island was back in 1990 (3Y5X). They logged about 50k Qso's. So, I hope my predictions are right and after 23 years we will have the next big operation from Bouvet island. A dream may come true for many of us, regardless of what few other people desire. I found this interesting link with history and pictures from 3Y5X Bouvet island operation. http://www.qsl.net/k5mb/bouvet_island.htmlWhat a place, huh? 73 Dragan K0AP |
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eHam Forums / DXing / RE: Looks like I will be QRT for a week or so
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on: March 14, 2013, 11:40:50 AM
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Well I am going to be off the air for a week or so. I sold my radio and an old junker Collins 30L-1 and am going to be getting a K3. The idea of being off the air for a week scares the hell out of me, but I can't wait to get the new rig.
Bad for you but not so bad for us, less competition in the pileups, hi hi! Just kidding, wish you a quick return with your new radio. K3 = excellent choice. 73 Dragan K0AP |
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eHam Forums / DXing / RE: 9M4SLL is on 12m right now calling NA
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on: March 14, 2013, 11:28:09 AM
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Arrrrrgh!!!! I worked them on 12 meters, but I see my call was busted to K1ZJS! K1ZJH isn't the best call to bust pileups  One of the keys for success in the pileup is to have a good call sign. You are an extra class operator so you can change your call sign with a 2x1 easily. 1x2's are very rare, just like Bouvet island 3Y0/B, hi! But many good 2x1's are available. By the way, I think they will accept the error with your 12m Qso. 73 Dragan K0AP They also busted one of my contacts. If I don't work them again what is the process to get it corrected? I have never requested a fix on a busted call before. Of course I could fix it myself by working them again but they have not been on 40m when there's propagation to NA 73, Jonathan W6GX The process should be to send them an email and provide reasonable explanation. Instead of W6GX what call sign did they log? In the case of K1ZJH is easy because there is no K1ZJS in the QRZ.com database so this easily proves that K1ZJH made the Qso. 73 Dragan K0AP |
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eHam Forums / DXing / RE: 9M4SLL is on 12m right now calling NA
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on: March 14, 2013, 10:33:27 AM
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Arrrrrgh!!!! I worked them on 12 meters, but I see my call was busted to K1ZJS! K1ZJH isn't the best call to bust pileups One of the keys for success in the pileup is to have a good call sign. You are an extra class operator so you can change your call sign with a 2x1 easily. 1x2's are very rare, just like Bouvet island 3Y0/B, hi! But many good 2x1's are available. By the way, I think they will accept the error with your 12m Qso. 73 Dragan K0AP |
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eHam Forums / DXing / RE: LOTW
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on: March 04, 2013, 10:52:22 AM
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I sent in my ADIF from the ARRL Contest last weekend
after the contest ended last night.
Sent in about 8pm eastern time.
I had the confirmation back
within 10 minutes.
LOTW worked perfectly fine for me too. After the ARRL SSB Contest log submition got confirmation within few minutes. Huge improvment in speed after the system upgrades. 73 Dragan K0AP |
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eHam Forums / DXing / RE: Your Thoughts on the Future of the DXCC Program
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on: March 01, 2013, 07:55:39 PM
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To say that Johnson island (KH3) will not be activated ever again is way too pessimistic and I completely disagree. Things will change, we just need to wait and live longer.  I find funny when people suggest entities to me removed from the DXCC list just because of longer inactivity. If DXAC deletes entities every now and then because of inactivity where is the thrill? If P5, E3 ...etc have not been active for a longer period of time it does not mean these countries do not exist anymore. EZ Turkmenistan once was very common on the bands but not any longer. Chasing DXCC and trying to get on the Honor Roll is not for inpatient people, you need to hang in there for many many years in order to be able to work them all. 73 Dragan K0AP |
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eHam Forums / DXing / RE: Vatican ops and a new pope?
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on: February 27, 2013, 05:06:08 PM
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Wouldn't it be great to have a special events station operate in the Vatican to celebrate the election of a new pope? Just saying. :-)
I would think the perfect time for a station to operate from the Vatican would be during the conclave, or after the new pope has been elected. A special event station commemorating the election might not be a bad idea. The Vatican will be packed with tourists and reporters at those times and I don't know if that throws a monkey wrench into the idea but I agree with you. It's packed with tourists once a week when the pope says Mass from St. Peter's sqaure. I got within 20 feet of Pope Benedict and it was quite a thrill. Maybe one of the Italian members of this forum can comment on the idea. I only have the Vatican worked on 2 bands but no LoTW. 73, Chris/NU1O I have confirmed both HV4NAC and HV0A via LOTW. Qsl manager for these two stations is IK0FVC. 73 Dragan K0AP |
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eHam Forums / DXing / RE: Next activation coming up for Minami Torishima
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on: February 24, 2013, 11:23:55 AM
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Hi Chris,
I don't think 12m is much worse than 17m on the Skyhawk. I need to use a tuner on both bands. What you have experienced might be partly propagation. Lately 17m has been better than 12m. I agree that on RX the signals are way down on both bands. I did a test on 17m with a local ham who has a resonant antenna. On RX I'm 3-4 S-units down from him. On TX I'm not that far behind. If you could hear the DX then chances are you could work him. The proof is in the log- in the last two days I've worked JD1/M, XT, and 9U on 12m.
Do you know of someone local to you with a resonant antenna on 12m and 17m? It would be good to do a comparison on 12m. When my buddy returns from Cambodia I will run some tests on 12m with him.
The bottom line is while the Skyhawk doesn't perform well on 12m and 17m it does give us a chance to work the DX provided that we could hear the DX. And don't forget the antenna is a killer on the three bands it was designed for. If you don't care about the excellent performance on these three bands then you could have gotten a log periodic antenna which will give you 4dbd on five bands.
73,
Jonathan W6GX
There is no doubt that of late 17 has been a great band. I have a local friend with 12 meters but he does his thing and I do mine. I would not have bought a log periodic. I'd rather have an extremely potent signal on 3 bands but I am a bit greedy with antennas.  73, Chris/NU1O Chris, I think you are missing a lot with not having resonant antenna for the WARC bands. Yesterday I worked JD1/M with one call on 12m. I have 2el HEX beam and run about 500W on WARC bands. 12 and 17m have been excellent bands lately.The HEX at this point is OK antenna for me. I like to replace it with 3el StepIR but I live on a small lot and don't want to risk. I know you have advantage with your Shyhawk on 20/15/10m over my HEX but I would rather have slightly lower performing antenna on 20/15/10m in exchange for having all bands covered. Maybe you can get one of those A3WS 3el Yagi underneath or above your Skyhawk. 73 Dragan K0AP |
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