Thursday, 27 June 2013
Looks like will be in SM land a bit longer...
DFDS ferry was holed going into Harwich and that means my return ferry has been cancelled.... still might mean a few more IOTA days :-)
Wednesday, 26 June 2013
Maybe qrv after 2pm lots of rain
It started raining at 18:00 local yesterday.... still raining and far too wet to try a trip to the beach and /P operation, no dry kit! The rain is forecast to stop at 2pm (ish) local... so should be on 20m again this evening.
Will be building a 40m RX and TX a bit later.... and put up a 40m 1/4 wave so will try on 40m cw this evening.
Will be building a 40m RX and TX a bit later.... and put up a 40m 1/4 wave so will try on 40m cw this evening.
qrv from EU138 and then EU037
No internet for a few days but I had typical qrp famine/feast conditions endless cqcqcq then pow one qso and and pile up.... had some fun. Went qrt yesterday (operating /P from beaches) just as downpour started, first rain seen in days. Lots of non local qso too. furthest is brazil, faroes (OY/M1BXF and OY9R).
Photos and fuller posts when have good internet again.
Photos and fuller posts when have good internet again.
Wednesday, 19 June 2013
Active from SM7UCZ QTH
Today was a mostly non-radio day and did a 45 mile cycle ride about the coast of far South East Sweden.
When got back ... a couple contacts on 20m to Italy from Johnny SM7UCZ qth using his loop antenna. OY/M1BXF pile up still going :-)
Reports that I was loud for qrp station welcome but really am only 5W from KX3 (no not running the 10W possible).
Dinner of REAL Swedish meatballs (not those amorphous IKEA things) and Reindeer meat stew and potatoes from north Sweden.
Off to Soderkoring (spelling... I will correct) tomorrow to cycle down the canal.... same thing on mid summers night. Might be qrv SM/M1KTA. Will be on EU-037 after that.
When got back ... a couple contacts on 20m to Italy from Johnny SM7UCZ qth using his loop antenna. OY/M1BXF pile up still going :-)
Reports that I was loud for qrp station welcome but really am only 5W from KX3 (no not running the 10W possible).
Dinner of REAL Swedish meatballs (not those amorphous IKEA things) and Reindeer meat stew and potatoes from north Sweden.
Off to Soderkoring (spelling... I will correct) tomorrow to cycle down the canal.... same thing on mid summers night. Might be qrv SM/M1KTA. Will be on EU-037 after that.
Mini QRP DXpedition to EU-138 Utlangan
Activated EU138 18th June.
Crossing was by ferry about 200 Swedish Krone (about £25 for three one way)
Crossing is through the EU-138 Archipeligo and so many pretty islands. All could count but I wanted to activate the most south and the lighthouse. No Utlipann this trip maybe next one (25km further off shore)
Crossing WX was flat calm, almost a mirror and 27 degrees !
The point thing on the left was a human powered crane that used to lift stuff off boats. Modern version next to it.
Very wierd anti radar shaped Swedish naval boat.
This long building is where they made ropes originally.
Solid rock!
Polish cargo ferry... Stella Line
The yacht bobbed about like a cork!
Ferry had made good progress through the main channel whilst we weaved in and out of the islands dropping off and picking up passengers.
Arrived on the island.
The qth will be right at the bottom where pointing... about 3km walk.
Climbed up the lighthouse with SM7UCZ
What a view!
The light house keepers cottage.
About to set up the W3EDP
View of operating position, setting up from the top of the light house.
Note the beer... essential DXpeditioners refreshment in hot sun!
Unofficial DXpedition observers. Johnny SM7UCZ and Christine XYL
The vertical dipole I used, search this blog for how I made it... it is RG174, credit cards and power poles between the sections. I used on 20m, 17m and 15m changing bands took seconds. Only qso on 20m though!
I also ran a W3EDP that ran from the top of the light house to the operating table (decking).
Utlipann in distance, follow the wood plane and the small spike on the horizon is another light house (and IOTA)
Island had several of these all in flower, lots of bees... did not see hives though.
You start at the top left where the red star is and walk from one island to the other.
One happy DXpeditioner... different ferry and route back to SM7UCZ QTH.
Was spotted in cluster a few times:
No NA stations... logs were paper, I will qsl via LoTW and qsl card when get back to UK. About 200 qso all SSB logged will see what EU-037 brings should be CW as well from the Sandvik campsite.
Managed to work OY/M1BXF mid pile up (his not mine) qrp ssb after a dozen beers too but I think QSB was very fast and deep!
Crossing was by ferry about 200 Swedish Krone (about £25 for three one way)
Crossing is through the EU-138 Archipeligo and so many pretty islands. All could count but I wanted to activate the most south and the lighthouse. No Utlipann this trip maybe next one (25km further off shore)
Crossing WX was flat calm, almost a mirror and 27 degrees !
The qth will be right at the bottom where pointing... about 3km walk.
What a view!
Note the beer... essential DXpeditioners refreshment in hot sun!
Unofficial DXpedition observers. Johnny SM7UCZ and Christine XYL
I also ran a W3EDP that ran from the top of the light house to the operating table (decking).
One happy DXpeditioner... different ferry and route back to SM7UCZ QTH.
Was spotted in cluster a few times:
MM0GZZ-@ 14260.0 SM/M1KTA dominic eu138 1136 18 Jun Sweden E77TH 14260.0 SM/M1KTA 1130 18 Jun Sweden EA2WD 14260.0 SM/M1KTA EU-138 Utlangan Island 1120 18 Jun Sweden HA6VH 14260.0 SM/M1KTA 1106 18 Jun Sweden DL8JS-@ 14260.0 SM/M1KTA iota eu-138,,qrp 5 watts,, 1056 18 Jun Sweden GM0EGI 14260.0 SM/M1KTA 5 watts from eu-138 1035 18 Jun Sweden
No NA stations... logs were paper, I will qsl via LoTW and qsl card when get back to UK. About 200 qso all SSB logged will see what EU-037 brings should be CW as well from the Sandvik campsite.
Managed to work OY/M1BXF mid pile up (his not mine) qrp ssb after a dozen beers too but I think QSB was very fast and deep!