zondag 28 augustus 2011

Plas Middelwaard

Yesterday we took a walk around Plas Middelwaard.
We met horses and hooglanders (highlanders) or as the Scot's call them Highland Coooo's, according Mike VE3WDM.
Luckely the anaimals are very relaxed. But as you can see the horns have dangerous points.
It is adviced to keep a distance of 25 metres (27 yards) to the Highland Coo's.

Click to enlarge.

vrijdag 26 augustus 2011

PA1B CQWW CW 2010 Log Checking Report

This morning I received the
Log Checking Report ofthe CQ WW DX CW contest of 2010.

Contest: 2010 CQ WW DX CW CONTEST
Call: PA1B
Category: Single Op All Band QRP
************************** Summary ***************************

327 Final QSO after checking reductions
- - - 333 Claimed QSO (no duplicates)
375 Final QSO points - - - - - 399 Claimed QSO points
110 Final countries - - - - - - - - 110 Claimed countries
24 Final zones - - - - - - - - - - - - 24 Claimed zones
134 Final mults - - - - - - - - - - - 134 Claimed mults
50250 Final score - - - - - - 53466 Claimed score
-6.0% Score reduction
4 (1.2%) duplicates
3 (0.9%) calls copied incorrectly
3 (0.9%) not in log
0 (0.0%) band change violations - 0 (0.0%) calls unique to this log only (not removed)

Only 3 Calls I copied incorrectly. With the data of the report I can correct the calls in my log.
In 3 QSO's my call is not in the log of the other station (Not in Log).
All 3 QSO's made with 5 watts.

Stations Copying PA1B Incorrectly
From all QSO's (10), in which my call was reveived incorrectly, only 1 was made with QRPp. The rest (9) were made with 5 watt.
Since nearly all QSO's with an incorrect received Call for PA1B, were made with 5 watts, it clear that the power is not the cause. hi

The calls that were received for PA1B incorrectly are:
PA1BX - PA1D - JA1B - PA1H - PA3B -
PA0B - PA1G - PA1MR - PI1X - PA9B

In the contest I made just more than 250 QSO with 5 watts,
3 QSO's with 2.5 W,
about 74 with QRPp, thus less than 1 Watt
and 14 with less than 100 mW. (QRPpp)

zondag 21 augustus 2011

IOTA contest

We have been on holiday to the Azores. My wife and I were on the island Terceira. We were in a hotel with a beautifull swimming pool.
The FT-817 went with me in the suitcase and did a great job.
During the IOTA contest I used an end fed wire of 20 meters, fed via a 300 ohm ribbon like a Zepp. The ribbon ran from the balcony 3 meters up and from there the 20 mtr wire ran in to the garden. Only in the IOTA the antenne was out during day ligth hours. The antenna is matched by a homebrew light weight tuner. Further I used a homebrew light weight paddle.
I used the FT-817 with a power of 2.7 W, 1,8 W, 800 mW and 360 mW.
At 17.00 UTC I started in the IOTA contest.

After 5 QSO's I we went to see the bulls in a street near the hotel. We were standing on the back of an open truck. It was spectaculair to see. When the bull hitted the truck, I had heart rate over 180.
After diner I continued in the IOTA contest at 22:15 utc and continued until 02:00 utc. This was later then planned, but I did not want to mis the fun. In the days before I had noticed that the best propagation was in the evening. The next morning it was more difficult to make QSO's. So after 3 QSO's in one houre I stopped. The total of QSO's is 50. Not bad for a maximum power of 2.7 wats.

Before the holiday I was wondering wether my power would be enough.
On holiday I work on a 12V 4Ah battery. The maximum power, when fully charged, is about 2 watts and drops fast to 1 watt.
During the holiday we met Antonio CU3AC, who showed us the island and invided us at home for an excellent prepared Alcatre.
Antonio offered me to use a power supply. So I could unleash a maximum power of 2.7 watts. Thank you Antinio.

As a milliwatts enthusiast I have used QRPp when the S-meter indicated a very strong signal.
By doing so, I even made about 8 QSO's with more than "1000 Miles per Watt".


I even worked more islands then I expected and that is good for the multiplier. hi

I had great fun in the IOTA contest, during an unforgettable holiday.