Author Archives: dh8bqa

Perseids ’16

Posted on August 15, 2016 by dh8bqa

Not very active recently, QRL and a new girl friend eating up all of my sparse time. 😎 Nevertheless found a few hours time inbetween to do some Meteor Scatter QSOs during this year’s Perseids meteor shower and worked a … Continue reading →

Posted in Meteor Scatter, VHF | Comments Off on Perseids ’16

Official DARC July Contest results … surprise surprise! :-)

Posted on August 7, 2016 by dh8bqa

Contest results are out! Despite not being that satisfied my result was obviously good enough for a 1st place Single OP finish. 😎

Posted in Contesting, VHF | Comments Off on Official DARC July Contest results … surprise surprise! :-)

DARC July VHF Contest ’16

Posted on July 5, 2016 by dh8bqa

Condx were average at best, lots of QSB. Especially the DX QSOs usually took a while but of course you have a bit more time for these during the night. Activity was quite low, especially in Germany – seems everybody … Continue reading →

Posted in Contesting, VHF | Comments Off on DARC July VHF Contest ’16

Impressions of HAMRADIO Friedrichshafen 2016

Posted on June 27, 2016 by dh8bqa

Great weekend in Friedrichshafen again! Always nice to meet so many people, chat around and just having fun refreshing or creating new friendships! Here are a few impressions …

Posted in General stuff | Comments Off on Impressions of HAMRADIO Friedrichshafen 2016

A bit 6 m DX at least

Posted on June 19, 2016 by dh8bqa

There was a great opening to the Middle East on 6 m this morning. Unfortunately not much activity … —————————————————————— TIME CALLSIGN LOCATOR TX RX BAND MODE PROP. QRB —————————————————————— 07:35 9K2NO LL39XG 599 559 6 m. CW 3813 07:41 … Continue reading →

Posted in Audio recordings, DX, Propagation, Sporadic E, VHF | Comments Off on A bit 6 m DX at least

Great Sporadic-E on 144 MHz again

Posted on June 18, 2016 by dh8bqa

Lucky me! Mother nature was calling early this morning and before going back to bed I just checked the MUF on DXMAPS on the smartphone. Glad I did! There was already some ES going on 2 m. Quickly switched on … Continue reading →

Posted in Audio recordings, Propagation, Sporadic E, VHF | Comments Off on Great Sporadic-E on 144 MHz again

CW-Fieldday & WRTC antenna tests

Posted on June 5, 2016 by dh8bqa

Spent the weekend up in JO73 again. Met with Paul, DL5CW, Falk, DK7YY and locals Heiko, DG1BHA, and Uwe, DL3BQA. Wanted to do some antenna setup testing for WRTC 2018 which Paul is the Antenna Director for. Lots of stuff to … Continue reading →

Posted in Antennas, Contesting, Equipment | Comments Off on CW-Fieldday & WRTC antenna tests

CQ WPX CW and some Magic Band frustration

Posted on May 29, 2016 by dh8bqa

Unfortunately I couldn’t make it to the QTH this weekend so only spent some limited time in the CQ WPX CW remotely. Great Sporadic-E conditions all weekend long so kept going on 10 m single band and managed a whopping … Continue reading →

Posted in Contesting, DX, Propagation, Sporadic E, VHF | Comments Off on CQ WPX CW and some Magic Band frustration

What a great day on VHF today …

Posted on May 26, 2016 by dh8bqa

Luckily Corpus Christi is a local holiday overhere so I had the day off. 😎 Waking up at 5:30z I was not sure if I should get up or turn around for some more sleep. Seems it was a good decision … Continue reading →

Posted in Audio recordings, DX, Propagation, Sporadic E, VHF | Comments Off on What a great day on VHF today …

Caught the first 2 m ES opening this year …

Posted on May 22, 2016 by dh8bqa

Finally caught the first 2 m ES this year! 🙂 6 m had been hot all afternoon. Later also 4 m opened up nicely. It was kind of masochistic listening to all the activity on 70 MHz and not being able … Continue reading →

Posted in Audio recordings, Propagation, Sporadic E, VHF | Comments Off on Caught the first 2 m ES opening this year …

Another world win: SARTG-NY 2016

Posted on May 19, 2016 by dh8bqa

It felt like ages until the SARTG contest committee finally released the results of SARTG New Year RTTY Contest 2016 now. I have been checking their website every now and then for the last 4 month’. 😉 Took part in that one for … Continue reading →

Posted in Awards, Contesting | Comments Off on Another world win: SARTG-NY 2016

P4ØFA took SOHP15 world win in CQ WPX RTTY 2016

Posted on May 17, 2016 by dh8bqa

It’s official now: Despite being quite antenna challenged I won world #1 as P4ØFA during our stay on Aruba earlier this year operating as SOHP15 during CQ WPX RTTY contest. 😎

Posted in Awards, Contesting, Expeditions | Comments Off on P4ØFA took SOHP15 world win in CQ WPX RTTY 2016

EA6/PA2CHR for square #530 on 2 m

Posted on May 16, 2016 by dh8bqa

Seasoned VHF Dxpeditioner Chris, PA2CHR, was on tour again, this time activating the rare squares on Menorca Island, i.e. JN10, JN20 & JM29. Unfortunately I could not be QRV when he was in JN10 & JN20 but had a chance … Continue reading →

Posted in Meteor Scatter, VHF | Comments Off on EA6/PA2CHR for square #530 on 2 m

WIA Awards

Posted on May 15, 2016 by dh8bqa

Applied for and got a few nice awards issued by WIA (Wireless Institue of Australia). They have a great online system to apply for the awards using ADIF uploads and getting the contacts confirmed through LotW and/or eQSLs. The awards are issued … Continue reading →

Posted in Awards, DX, VHF | Comments Off on WIA Awards

Aurora once more

Posted on May 8, 2016 by dh8bqa

After getting back from the hilltop and having unloaded all the contest equipment we enjoyed a nice medium strength Aurora opening this evening: —————————————————————— TIME CALLSIGN LOCATOR TX RX BAND MODE PROP. QRB —————————————————————— 16:02 YL2FZ KO37QI 59A 59A 2 … Continue reading →

Posted in Aurora, Propagation, VHF | Comments Off on Aurora once more

DFØFA VHF May Contest ’16

Posted on May 8, 2016 by dh8bqa

Out again on the local hilltop in JO73CF. Ran short of operators, only DGØZB, DG1BHA, DH8BQA, DL3BQA & DL5CW active this time while DK7YY & DL9USA were prevented. Activity was quite bad, not happy with the result. Probably due to … Continue reading →

Posted in Contesting, VHF | Comments Off on DFØFA VHF May Contest ’16

No 70 MHz permit in Germany this year :-(

Posted on May 5, 2016 by dh8bqa

The bad news is official now: For some (political) reasons there won’t be a temporary permit to use the 4 m band during this year’s Sporadic-E season in DL. What a shame. 🙁 Let’s hope we will get a few good … Continue reading →

Posted in Propagation, Sporadic E, VHF | Comments Off on No 70 MHz permit in Germany this year :-(

TY – Benin #138 on 6 m

Posted on April 24, 2016 by dh8bqa

Had the first 6 m ES opening of the season today. The band opened nicely from here into Southern Europe, i.e. 9H & IT9 around 15:30z with S9+ signals. Saw TY2AC spotting southern Europe stations himself on the cluster. He finally … Continue reading →

Posted in Audio recordings, DX, Propagation, Sporadic E, VHF | Comments Off on TY – Benin #138 on 6 m

VK0h/Heard Island #309 & FR.j/Juan de Nova #310

Posted on April 9, 2016 by dh8bqa

Besides WPX-SSB almost no radio activity overhere since returning from Aruba. Lots of QRL and not really up for the hobby. So had to force myself to switch on the radio a few times at least not to miss the … Continue reading →

Posted in DX | Comments Off on VK0h/Heard Island #309 & FR.j/Juan de Nova #310

CQ WPX SSB 2016

Posted on March 28, 2016 by dh8bqa

No activity at all during the last 4 weeks. Just too much QRL and not really up for the hobby. But wanted to do a few QSOs during WPX-SSB at least. As you might know we’re sharing our station. This … Continue reading →

Posted in Audio recordings, Contesting | Comments Off on CQ WPX SSB 2016