VK0MM was on in 2000 or so and easy to work.  Gave me Macquarie on CW.  Heard him on 30m as well but no luck on that band.  Glad I have it on both modes, now to get them on RTTY!  Chasing DX in the college days was sure the life, wasn't it?

John AF5CC

I have worked 200 countries on 40m using 100 watts and either a vertical, 120 foot wire, or a G5RV type dipole.  During the day expect QSOs of 300 miles or so. Between sunset and sunrise expect the world!

John AF5CC

I worked VK0GC on Macquarie Island myself.  Think it was back in 1989, one late evening after working second shift at a restaurant during the summer between undergraduate and graduate school.  That was sure a thrill.  Was using a set of Kenwood twins and a long wire.  Another one I got with a Heathkit SB102 and an indoor dipole that turned out to be pretty rare (by today's standards) was NF6F/KP1.

John AF5CC

Bob, thanks for the 30m QSO and QSL.  The return card is on its way.  GL on WAS

73 John AF5CC

Any of the common triband yagis like a Cushcraft MA5B.

John AF5CC

Hurry, though. International postage is going up to 1.10 in January 2013.

John AF5CC

My thinking when I wrote the question was D68C as the best.  They went 10,000 miles away from the US, put a crushing signal into NA (remember how loud they were!), made 186,000 QSOs which was the DXpedition record at the time, and I think they were one of the first DXpeditions to use PSK.  Too bad I wasn't on the digital modes then.  I did work them on 10m FM as well, which was a really nice surprise.  How often do you make a 10,000 mile FM QSO?

Second place would be 7O6T.  They go to a place that no one thought could be activated, keep it a secret until right before the DXpedition, have a great signal, and give lots of people an ATNO.

Third place would be 3Y0X just due to the logistics of setting up in such a difficult place, and pulling off a first class DXpedition.  I worked them on 3 or 4 bands-including 30m.

Honorable mention is VP6DX from Ducie Island because they heard my crummy signal on 160m.  Grown men weep when they model my antenna on 160.

John AF5CC

I have seen all sorts of different figures and discussion on how lossy traps are in a yagi.  Where can I find the definitive source to settle this issue for once and all?  Anyone know the truth on this issue?

John AF5CC

Here is a question that is likely to get some interesting responses.  I was thinking of this last night-in your opinion, what has been the greatest DXpedition ever, and why?  I have my own idea, but am interested in seeing what other say first.

John AF5CC

I figure my odds are 50%-either I work them or I don't

John AF5CC

Any idea how the Butternut HF5B would compare with a Cushcraft MA5B?  MIght be getting one of those up soon.  Had one for a year back in 2001.

John AF5CC

Or a voice recorder in a Yaesu FT450 for free!  The TS450 does not work with the DRU 2 recording unit.  However, it will work with the DSP-100 as will the TS850, but those are really pricey today.

John AF5CC

Would you be able to rotate the hexbeam?  If not, then the vertical definitely has advantages in several directions.

John AF5CC

They have also proposed another new ham band for us.  So much for us losing all of our frequencies to commercial interests.

John AF5CC

How about they switch frequencies after every 5 or 10 QSOs so DXers actually have to tune and listen, and they relegate the cluster as useless?

John AF5CC