Apr 03 2019
Only worked 2,5 hours. 25 QSO’s in 17 grids. ODX: SQ6POM (716km). My result: 4th place in the Netherlands. It could be the last NAC with the FT-817 since the IC-9700 will arrive today. If this Icom doesn’t have the ALC / Power overshoot like all Icom’s have, it should be safe to feed the SSPA with it.
Mar 25 2019
144 MHz: 1st place QRP section
432 MHz: 1st place QRP section
1296 MHz: 1st place QRP section
144/432 MHz: 2nd place C-section (up to 100 Watt)
Mar 16 2019
Today, there is good tropo propagation to Spain, again. Last time activity went up in FT8 on 144 MHz, this time stations also moved to 432 MHz FT8. Spain is a new DXCC for me on 432 MHz. Also one new grid already confirmed via LoTW on 144 (EA1MX in IN73). Loud signals from stations 1.000km+ away.
Mar 05 2019
Only worked two hours. 28 QSO’s in 18 grids. ODX: GD8EXI (705km). My result: 6th place in the Netherlands.
Mar 03 2019
Active on 144, and a bit on 432 and 1296 MHz in the C-SO-LP class.
Temporary results: 1st place 144 MHz, 3th place 432 MHz and 3th place 1296 MHz.
Feb 12 2019
36 QSO’s in 20 grids. ODX: GI6ATZ (791km). My result: 2nd place in the Netherlands.
Feb 05 2019
39 QSO’s in 22 grids. ODX: SK7CY (639m). Good to hear that Conrad (PA5Y) is back. My result: 3th place in the Netherlands.
Jan 20 2019
When startin WSJT-X v2.0, an error is shown saying: “Error Loading LotW Users Data”. Dit is due to Windows systems not hndling Intermediate CA’s correctly when retrieving the LotW user data file thats been served from a secured website.
The solution is simple.Jan 19 2019
In a few weeks from now, the new Icom IC-9700 will arrive. The local HAMShop gave an estimate of beginning 2019. The Japanese manual is ready, but I’m still waiting for a translated English version. I had some questions about the new rig, but most of theme are answered.
Let’s wait for another few weeks till the transceiver, announced September 2017, will arrive to it’s first customers.
Jan 05 2019
Today, very good Tropo conditions appeared which led to good activity on the 144 MHz. FT8 frequency. I was able to work multiple stations in Spain. Al stations where 1.000+ kilometers away. Since Spain is new for me on 144 MHz. this brings the total DXCC worked on 25. Total grids is now 73 in 144 MHz.
Nov 06 2018
Terrible conditions towards the UK. Stopped early. 35 QSO’s, 15 grids, ODX: SK7CY (639km).
Oct 16 2018
It could be the Dutch Worked all Provences award, so many Dutch stations were QRV tonight. Amongst them some new stations, including Tonnie (PA3GLL) from Losser, which made his first QSO’s tonight on 23cm. Welcome!
In total I counted 15 Dutch stations and worked 12 of them. I didn’t really spend time on the ON4KST chat since I was busy repariring radio’s. The CQ-slave was on to generate some traffic on my frequency as Run station, which worked quite well.
Tropo propagation was okay tonight, but I expected to work more UK stations. The score: 28 QSO’s, ODX was SK7MW as always (617km) with 16 locators.
Oct 14 2018
The most difficult VUCC award to get is obviously the 144 MHz one. For 50 MHz one summer with Sporadic E should be enough to fulfill the 100 maidenhead grid locators one. For 432 MHz, 50 grids are enough, for 1296 MHz only 25 locators are required, for 2330 MHz only 10 and higher bands only 5 locators will do. For bands above 1 GHz, one active contest weekend should be enough to fulfill the requirements.
The VUCC award rules
In total I worked about 90 maidenhead grid locators on 144 MHz. Via Logbook of the World (LoTW), 52 are confirmed. WSJT-X in combination with JT-Alert as Worked Grid Indicator is really helpful in FT8, since it will also show of the operator is using eQSL and/or LoTW to get your QSO’s confirmed fast without the hassle of sending analogue paper cards you receive after a year to the US. I wish there were more stations using LoTW, in particular on the higher bands.
Update one week later. Worked 10 grids extra of which 8 already have been confirmed via LoTW. This wek the antenna was heading towards 210 degrees (France).
Oct 09 2018
Very good tropo conditions towards North-East. On 144 MHz I worked stations 1580km away (see this post). During the NAC, I managed to work 55 stations in 27 grid locators. ODX: SE6R (JO58RG) 779km and ended up as best Dutch station tonight. I think for the first time ever during the 432 MHz NAC.
Since the antenna was fixed to 40 degrees I did not work as many German stations . Also I didn’t see any French stations on the cluster. I hoped to work GD (Isle of Man) but almost inaudiable. The same for a GJ station from Jersey.
Oct 09 2018
This evening there were outstanding tropo conditions. Monster tropo, as I like to call it. While running the Nordic Activity Contest on 432.190 MHz, FT8 was running aside on 144.174 MHz.
The ‘new grid’ and ‘new country’ alerts sounded when LY2J (1200km) in Lithuania was visable. We had a 2-way contact. Later on, the same alert was there for EW6X (1580km) in Belarus. We also had a 2-way contact.
My 2-meter station is running 400 Watts into a 9-elements LFA mounted at about 18 meters height. Two new DXCC on 2-meter and many more new grids this night. Let’s see what tomorrow evening brings…
Update 10-Okt: Both QSO’s are already confirmed via LoTW. Thanks!
