Category Archives: DX

US West Coast Opening on 6 m

Posted on August 6, 2022 by dh8bqa

It’s been a very long time since I last caught a 6 m opening to the US West coast. Actually this opening tonight was just my second West Coast opening at all! And as it happens during all multi hop … Continue reading →

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Bands hot again

Posted on June 9, 2022 by dh8bqa

Another great day! Started with a JA opening on 6 m although only 3 stations wkd (all JA8 from QN03/23). Once again I had the feeling being much too weak although running 400 watts into an 8 ele longyagi. 🙁 … Continue reading →

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Nice openings on 6, 4 & 2 m with new ones

Posted on June 7, 2022 by dh8bqa

Early start this morning with the first QSO on 4 m at 7:30z into the Balkans. Beaming East 6 m provided interesting QSOs and new squares with UN7DAT/NO00 and RD6AK/KN85. I doubt that the latter is legal but as always: … Continue reading →

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3D2R – Rotuma as ATNO & a good 6 m opening

Posted on May 24, 2022 by dh8bqa

Worked DPØGVN, the German Antarctica base station, on 10 m today. Also caught the Rotuma expedition 3D2RRR as an All Time New One on a few HF slots. 6 m opened via multi-hop ES this afternoon, too, providing several stations … Continue reading →

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Midnight Longpath on 10 m

Posted on May 20, 2022 by dh8bqa

Upper band HF condx have been quite good recently. I was able to catch DPØPOL/mm off the coast of South America on 10 m CW late this afternoon. But the real surprise was seeing a late night long path opening … Continue reading →

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PJ4/DH8BQA: Holidays & Makrothen Contest ’21

Posted on October 15, 2021 by dh8bqa

My second time on Bonaire! This time as a family holiday with a bit of radio, too. Been there for the first two weeks of October after we had to postpone the trip three times due to all the Corona … Continue reading →

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Japan, Caribbean & Svalbard on 6 m

Posted on July 7, 2021 by dh8bqa

Good JA opening this morning. But despite 400 W and an 8 ele LY my ERP still seems too low, really had trouble getting through. So just 5 QSOs made with PM51/53/74/86 squares. A small opening to the Caribbean late … Continue reading →

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Small US opening on 50 MHz

Posted on July 6, 2021 by dh8bqa

Same as yesterday, not positioned well enough to gain a lot from the multi-hop openings. Just caught UN7LZ & UN9L from MO13 in the morning. W8TN, KA8SYV & WB8CQV all from EM98, W4WT/EM74, WA4CQG/EM72, K4PI/EM73 and KA9UVY/EM58 in the afternoon.

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More patchy 6 m openings

Posted on July 5, 2021 by dh8bqa

Propagation not too good today. Well, probably it was, but just not here. Really had difficulties getting into it. So just a handful of QSOs including JA8KSF/QN03 early morning and VP2V/K3TRM in FK78 (another new one), 7Z1SJ/LL25 and A92EE/LL56 in … Continue reading →

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XE – Mexico on 6 m

Posted on July 4, 2021 by dh8bqa

Besides handing out a few more points in the 2 m contest this morning I was monitoring Six & Four all day long. While there was nothing on 4 m except a single EA1/IN52 there were some patchy openings on … Continue reading →

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Spain again on 144 MHz / USA on 50 MHz

Posted on July 3, 2021 by dh8bqa

After a few days of silence we had another short Sporadic-E opening on 2 m into Spain this morning: —————————————————————— TIME CALLSIGN LOCATOR TX RX BAND MODE PROP. QRB —————————————————————— 08:17 EA1MX IN73XK -12 -05 2 m. FT8 ES 1722 … Continue reading →

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2 m ES & three new ones on 6 m

Posted on June 19, 2021 by dh8bqa

Nothing too special yesterday. 4 m was open every now and then, worked G, GW, YO, SV, EA8, 9H and OH. All very patchy and spread across the day. Some more luck on 6 m this morning! Worked BX4AG/PL04 & … Continue reading →

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Gimme more VHF DX …

Posted on June 17, 2021 by dh8bqa

The Sporadic-E season continues to be strong. 😎 Four was open to G, GW, EI & EA in the morning already. At 10z WW1L/FN54 made it into the log on 6 m but should be the only one. 4 m … Continue reading →

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Multiple multi hop openings

Posted on June 15, 2021 by dh8bqa

Six has been in great shape lately. The band was open to the Middle East on June 14 almost all day long. Noteworthy QSOs were made with UK7AL/MN41, UN7NII/MN42, 9K2YM/LL48, A65BR/LL75, A71AE/LL55, A62A/LL75, 7Z1SJ/LL25, HZ1SK/KL91, A65IN/LL74, A92GE/LL56 as well as … Continue reading →

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ES openings early June ’21

Posted on June 11, 2021 by dh8bqa

The good thing being forced by the doctors to stay at home is you can monitor the bands almost continously even besides doing some QRL work. 😉 June 5 brought a nice one hour 4 m opening to the Balkans … Continue reading →

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Another good ES day?

Posted on May 23, 2021 by dh8bqa

Statistically May 23 is not the worst date to expect some good Sporadic-E openings, even on 2 m. And indeed, I was lucky this morning: —————————————————————— TIME CALLSIGN LOCATOR TX RX BAND MODE PROP. QRB —————————————————————— 08:07 R3KBF KO91PO +14 … Continue reading →

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Good 6 m transatlantic opening

Posted on May 19, 2021 by dh8bqa

A second post same day usually means something special. And indeed, caught a good opening tonight on 6 m. It started to the Caribbean and I was able to work Bonairian friends Bert, PJ4KY, and Steve, PJ4DX. 😎 KP2BH and … Continue reading →

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CQ WWDX SSB 2020

Posted on October 26, 2020 by dh8bqa

Initially this was meant to be a rather quiet weekend. I wanted to escape all the QRL stress and also be on site again instead of only remote. My remote station works excellent but has the smaller power amp connected … Continue reading →

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Great VHF day!

Posted on May 25, 2020 by dh8bqa

Great day on VHF today! First QSO was with RD4AN in LN19 on 6 m. A new square, of course, as operation on 50 MHz in Russia is officially not yet allowed as far as I know. There were a … Continue reading →

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Two world-wins confirmed :-)

Posted on August 28, 2019 by dh8bqa

My V37DX world-wins in this year’s CQ WPX RTTY as well as the ARRL DX CW I took part in from Belize are officially confirmed now. 😎

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