I went into the radio room last evening around 2130 UTC to have a listen as to what was going on. I found myself on 30m and noticed there was a few CW signal but really not all that much action. I spun the VFO down to the first signal at 10.110.0. It was EA6Y from Balearic Island located in the Mediterain Sea and on his QRZ page there are some amazing pictures of his surroundings. It was a very fast CW QSO with RST and TU (thank you) I then spotted him on DX Summit . He seemed to be calling CQ for some time before any takers. His CW signal was clean and crisp into Atlantic Canada and my 100 watts made it without issue.
I then moved onto the next CW signal on the waterfall of my Icom 7610 and 4O4T from Montenegro Lou's signal was very crip as well and once again my 100 watts had no issue making the trip to Montenegro. At 2200 UTC the band seemed to drop it's DX adventures and it was time to move on to things such as reading my many amateur radio periodicals a rewarding evening on the radio none the less.
6 comments:
Damn, I wish I could do CW. Maybe I should use this LockDown period to get a start - but there's so many other things to do too, lol.
73, Tom, M7MCQ
Hi Mike, good catch. I worked them both some time ago. 30 meter is a nice band. Unfortunately My antenna is not good enough for 30m. I think about an end fed for the Warc bands. By the way, I see in your blogroll that you have my old call sign PC4T. ;-) Stay safe, in my lockdown period I am learning Spanisch. Purchased a straight key for cracking up my cw skills. 73 Paul PAØK
Good morning Tom, yes there is always going to be "other things" to do for sure. I have the same issue trying to fit in my daily walk and stretches. I find the day gets away from me with the "to do" things so you are not alone. As for CW in the beginning I had to learn it to get my licence as we had a 5 wpm qualification rule back then. It was later lifted like it have been in most if not all countries. Once I got my ticket it was SSB for me BUT then we moved from a rented house to a townhouse that we were purchasing. I once again was on the radio partaking in the RAC Canada day contest SSB category.
I was having a great time as I also just picked up my new (at the time) FT1000MP MarkV rig. On Sunday I saw our next door neighbour outside, and she asked if I could hear "CQ contest" on my radio or TV.........I did say no because I never did hear anything but that was all I said. From that point on I knew SSB was out and QRP CW was in. So it was back to the grind stone and I basically had to relearn the code. I put my mind to it as I had to if I wanted to keep in the hobby. I still had a love for contesting but that meant CW contesting. I was at about 12 WPM but I had to improve if I was going to drive into CW contesting. Back then there was CW decoding programs, but they were very hit-and-miss and really not geared to the speed of contesting. I did try to use a decode program during one contest and it just turned out to be very frustrating. It was back to the grind stone again to get my code up to what I call contest speed. Now let me say that there is a differance between contest code speed and conversation code speed. My contest code speed is at about 35-40 wpm and my conversation code at about 25 top end. I say this because in a contest you have an idea of what may be coming at you....for example Numbers, RST or Zone. This really helps when if comes to speed but in conversation you are really listening to what may be next Name, QTH, Weather, Antenna and so on.
At this point in time I have invested lots of time and energy learning and mastering the code that I don't want to lose it. Also, it's like knowing a second language.
If you do find the time and need any help along the way let me know I will do my best to help out.
73 Tom and you and your station manager (your wife) stay safe during this time.
Mike
VE9KK
Good afternoon Paul and very nice to hear from you, very sorry for not changing your call to the new one on my blog roll but it has been done now! If you have space issues an EndFed is the way to go I am very happy with mine and how it works. The WARC bands are nice to have just in case the other bands get busy with contests you always have somewhere to go. All the best with the new language as for me I know English some French (Québec french not France) and some Italian as well but by no means am I a pro at either. It's a nice way to keep the minds at work and challenged and so is CW by the way and all the best at improving the speed.
73 and we are keeping safe here in Canada Julie and I are doing well. All the best to you, your wife and kids stay safe and well.
Mike
VE9KK
Hi Mike, I am glad to hear you are both safe. Thanks for changing my call sign in your blogroll. Yesterday I was spotted in Tasmania on 30 meter wspr. After all my EndFed is doing okay. 73 Paul
Good afternoon Paul, nice to hear that the 30m EndFed has given you a very nice surprise.
73,
Mike
VE9KK
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