HAM RADIO AND BLOKES STUFF BY ANDREW (VK4HAM)

ZZZZZZZZZZZZ - where's the DX

2008-07-21T16:09:00.002+10:00

Well I'm not sure about you guys but the constant sound of ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ on the radio sure makes me tired. Yeah you can go down to 40 or 80 and talk locally but you can do that on a cb....I'm a dx'er and at the moment there is none.

I'd say a lot of other DX'ers are feeling the same way as I am getting a steady amount of cards coming through for QSO's that where well over 6 months ago.

As the summer months approach I am sure we will find an increase in activity on the higher bands and hopefully start that DXCC tally going again. I suppose the broghtside is I get more oppurtunity to play golf :)

Just thought I would say a quick hello.

Andrew

FT857D - Installed

2008-06-26T06:32:00.002+10:00

Well I have installed my rig and everything seems to be working well. I have mounted it on the centre console in between the 2 front seats. Handy position for the speaker and mic but not so handy for the display.

I have ordered the seperation kit for the face and will hopefully get this soon. I will then mount the face in the dash so there is easy access when I am driving.

This will be done this weekend so I will put some pics up of the install when it is done.

The only problem I have encountered with car noise is when I turn the air conditioning on - I am going to try some torroids this weekend - if this doesn't work does anyone have any other suggestions??

Thanks,

Andrew VK4HAM

Mobile Installations

2008-06-17T14:49:00.003+10:00

Ok so the radio arrived - it works well - only problem is where to mount the blasted thing.

I have a few options

1. Purchase the remote face kit which mean chords coming from radio for mic / face and external speaker

2. Mount entire radio on dash which means direct sunlight / easy seen by theives

3. Mount entire radio in dash - not ventilated external speaker required

4. Mount entire radio under dash - hard to view safety issues while operating / driving

OH well...WHO KNOWS. I have a mate coming around tonight who is quite handy with this sort of thing so I'll await his suggestions. In the meantime if anyone has any ideas please let me know.

WHAT DID YOU THINK OF THAT PHOTO HEY.....DODGY BROTHERS...ha ha ha

Good DX

Andrew VK4HAM

Mobile Mobile

2008-06-14T05:20:00.003+10:00

Well after months and months of deliberation I have finally purchased a rig for the motor vehicle. I have researched for a quite a while and realised that for a rig in the mobile you cannot go past the Yaesu FT 857d. The major factors that convinced me of this where

1. It's size - the smallest 100 watt mobile rig on the market
2. It's coverage - all bands 160m to 70cm
3. It's price - brand new under $900 with 3 year warranty
4. It's reputation - eham.net - 4.5/5 for 276 reviews

The list goes on and on. I hope to receive this in the next few days and put it in my vehicle - I'll let you all know what I think after a a couple of weeks.

Any readers out there have an 857d??? Let us know what you think of the rig and any good / bad points you may have.

Thanks for reading

Andrew VK4HAM

Sporadic E ???????

2008-05-31T06:32:00.003+10:00

I'll be the first to admit I know nothing about VHF / UHF. I have an FT60R handheld which is basically used as a scanner - I have made about 5 VHF contacts with it.

I have recently had a week down the gold coast and was scanning around and on Monday and Tuesday of this week realised I could access the Toowoomba (my home town) repeater. Where I was staying was approx 180klm from Toowoomba yet I ould access the repeater easily with my hand held and 5 watts. From Wednesday I was no longer able to get into the repeater.

There are sometimes parts of my home I cannot access the repeater and I am only about 5 klms from it.

Does anyone know what this was exactly???? Be interested to hear from you.

Andrew VK4HAM

ZL7M - where was he???

2008-05-12T08:19:00.002+10:00

Did any readers manage to work David on Chatham Isl?? I listened out at various times dueing the weekend and didn't manage to hearhim once. Upon checking the DX Summit Database
I noticed he was only spotted 10 times and all on 20m. Was David only operating 20m?
Was there some technical problems? Not sure.

Let us know in the comment box below if you managed to work David at all.

Cheers,

Andrew VK4HAM

ZL7M - CHATHAM ISLAND

2008-05-06T10:52:00.003+10:00

G'day Dx'ers,

Don't know much more about the activation other than for 2 days only May 10 / 11 VK2CZ (David) will be active as ZL7M.

Map above shows where Chatham Island is located in relation to New Zealand. If anyone has any further information on this activation please let us know.

Good Luck with this one.

73's

Andrew VK4HAM

WOW - WHAT A SETUP - Introducing PD1DX

2008-05-01T11:49:00.008+10:00

Well Dx'ers as far as single op stations go this one does it for me. Nestled amongs the beautiful Dutch coutryside this is a beautiful sight to see.

The beautiful 20m 6 element that got Erik over 1.7 million points in the recent WPX contest - all using Low Power single band.

Picture of Erik and his 2 Boy's - great to see you are using a 756 pro Erik - ha ha

For more information check out Erik's website - www.pd1dx.com, you can access it via the radio op's links on the right side of my website.

Andrew VK4HAM

SORRY FOR BEING SO SLACK

2008-04-17T18:04:00.002+10:00

Finally a spare moment to put in a post, having a new bub in the house sure is time consuming - Aside from the CQ WPX I have basically had no radio time either. Not to worry I'm sure I'll start finding time to do it now.

Found out today that I placed first for VK in the All Asian Contest - my first award in a contest (for single op). Entries soon close for the WPX and I am hoping that I'll do ok in that as well.

Whats been happening in the radio world while I've been quiet this past month or so? Any activations to report on? Upcoming contests? Would love to hear from you all.

Again sorry and I promise to be more active on here from now on.

Andrew VK4HAM

We DX any way we can

2008-03-03T18:16:00.002+10:00

G'Day DX'ers, I thought I would share this photo with you all.....it's GREAT. My good friend from the states Ryan (N0OJ) set this up so he could operate in the recent ARRL DX Contest - I think it is magnificent....Maybe to those Australian Op's it could be a good idea for the upcoming John Moyle Field Day.

Future Multi 2 partner????????

2008-02-29T07:04:00.002+10:00

Announcing the Birth of My First Child

Little Baby Girl - Annabelle Leanne Munson, Born 26/02/08, 6 pounds 13oz.

Mum aand Baby are doing well.

Persistence Pays

2008-02-24T07:57:00.002+10:00

Finally Worked VP6DX - 20m and 15m. 20m took me a couple of hours, 15m took me a couple of minutes. Yesterday I had VP6DX about 5/0 - very very very hard to hear - he came up to about 5/1 at one stage, I called and straight away he came back to me......WOW.

Good to get a new one on 2 bands, They seem to be working phone a lot more now, they are getting spotted on 10m but I think I have buckleys chance.

Anyways, good to have the old log book ticking over.

VK4HAM

Activations - only the strong get heard

2008-02-13T08:31:00.000+10:00

G'Day DX'ers,

Just want to get your opinion on something.......DXpeditions / Activations and using split frequencies. OK I'm all for split frequencies it is easier for us to hear we are confirmed, but when they split 225 - 235????? There is Buckleys Chance, if you are not a strong signal you will never ever get called, at least if it is the one calling frequency you may get your call in early or you may fluke a call in a "quiet time" but when the op is scanning from 225 to 235 to hear a station calling there is only a small chance.

Now I don't have the biggest / loudest station around and I certainly don't have the quietest but after 2 hours of calling for VP6DX last night I realised I have no chance of getting through.

Please leave your comments below - do you think split frequency "BLOCKS" are good or bad.

Look forward to hearing from you.

Andrew - VK4HAM

4O - Montenegro, a new one for me

2008-02-04T06:49:00.000+10:00

G'Day DX'ers,

Conditions from my end are certainly on the improve, Europe is open to 20m almost every night, 15 and 10m are constantly open to Asia and sometimes the States. On 26/01/08 (Australia Day) I used special Call AX4HAM and had pile ups that I could not believe. Every second or third night I hop on the radio and put a few calls out on 20 and nearly guarantee a minimum of 30 contacts into Europe. My station is nothing out of the ordinary (100 watts, triband) conditions are just on the improve.

You may have remembered me complaining about "inconsiderate operators" a few columns back....well last night it happened again. The station from 4O was calling VK/ZL - it was embarrassing. He would say before the call "I would like to make as many contacts as I can as I am finishing in a couple of hours" I did the usual call, received my call and report, give him my report and thank him.

I listened to the pile up for about an hour (long path so ZL/VK where booming into me) and I would have to say the only 1 out of 5 stations did the same as me, 3 out of 5 would give their name and location and the other 1 out of 5 would ask what equipment he was running / what equipment they where running - etc etc......makes me wild.

People need to realise that the DX station is not interested in that information. He is there for 1 reason and 1 reason only that is to make DX contacts. To be honest when I heard this last night I was embarrassed......what would the rest of Europe think.

OK - I am not saying I am the worlds best DX'er and that I am number 1 in the pacific - not by a long shot, this blog isn't to say that, however I do practice common courtesy when on the air and I believe that is getting in and out of a pileup as quick as you can so one of your fellow hams has the opportunity to make the contact.

When it comes to Activations you really can tell the 80m rag chewers. I'm off my soap box now :) - please fell free to leave any comments, I am interested to hear if people agree / disagree with my thoughts.

Good DX'ing all,

VK4HAM.

Antenna Problems are not as bad

2008-01-21T08:45:00.000+10:00

Don't you just hate it when you finally get the antenna up in the air, you look up and realise.....oh no the drain holes on the traps are not facing down. I am sure it has happened to everyone (it happened to me recently) it is always the driven as well, so added to having to pull the antenna down you have to spin the balun around as well........oh well, compared to the below picture antenna problems are nothing.

Have a look at the picture and tell me whats wrong...........................................................................
................................................................................
................... you got it, how are they going to get their car out...................oh some mothers do have them.

Inconsiderate Op's

2008-01-12T06:57:00.000+10:00

OK - I am hot under the collar right now, I have been calling and calling for a Kenyan station this morning and he has died out. Yes I had him 5/5 5/7 at one stage but surely as all of the Stations calling him asked his name, what antennas he was using how do you spell your name, what is the weather like.......I can't believe it, to me it is simply inconsiderate, the poor guy on the other end was too polite to quickly end the qso he just answered the simple minded questions that where thrown at him. There where 100's of guys calling and he is saying I must get to the pile up "oh before you go what kind of weather you havin over there today".....grrrrrrr.

This is not a reflection on all stations. I am just very annoyed at the moment as Kenya would of been a new one for me.

Some Mothers Do Have Them..........thats IDIOTS

2008-01-11T08:16:00.000+10:00

Check out this picture DX'ers - have you ever seen anything so stupid.

Conditions Improving

2008-01-09T09:11:00.000+10:00

Had a very good run last night, 137 QSO's in just over an hour. From my location Europe was belting in short path on 20m. I am glad to see the new TET 3 element I purchased is working well 75 - 100 watts was all that was used to create a pile up that kept me going for a while. Worked a lot of Russians and Germans, there was also French, Swiss, English, Irish and Italians worked as well. I managed to get contacts into Luxembourg and Morocco which are new ones for me on 20. Lets hope they QSL back :)

Speaking of which I would like to get an answer from some of the more experienced Hams. The question is in relation to QSL'ing, what do you consider a fair time frame to receive your card, I was checking back in my log and I sent 3 cards off last May all with $2USD & SAE and I have received nothing. I actually emailed one and he told me that he no longer QSL's and sorry...........he is in the memory bank for when I do a dxpedition :)

If anyone has an idea of an acceptable time frame or any tips on receiving cards quicker please leave a comment.

Thanks,

Andrew VK4HAM

CQWW WPX - Vanuatu DXpedition

2008-01-07T13:50:00.000+10:00

Received the following letter from Trent - UPDATE

Hi Andrew,

Great to hear from you. Yes the YJ0AX trip is still a goer and the operators at this stage will be VK3TZ VK4TI and VK4VCC. We have asked the authorities for a special contest callsign and in the past they have allocated YJ0 and single suffix.

Assuming that the operators remain as listed we will probably compete in the Multi 2 Category.

We have been co-ordinating with the only active YJ local and he has been on a break over Christmas so should get some information from him during this week.

We will be QRV 80 through 10M no 6 Metre activity is planned nor 160M. -mainly for the contest. QSL manager is N3SL only, no bureua, no direct to YJ, no direct to any of the operators.

Will intend being on mixed modes outside the test.

Antennas and final numbers will need confirming by the end of January.

Trent VK4TI

So there you have it DX'ers if any of you out there would like to take part in this activation send Trent an email to vk4ti@sampson.net.au and I am sure he can fill you in on a few more details.

Stay posted for more information.

VK4HAM

Happy New Year (Back to normality)

2008-01-06T06:26:00.000+10:00

Well, what can I say, thank goodness Christmas is over. I am not a scroodge it's just that during the festive season you are here, there and everywhere. For the month of December I had no radio play time at all.

Not to worry all back to normal now. My new Tri Band arrived fro Emtron on Friday and was erected on mast yesterday. Gets out very well, worked U4MIR and F8CFU who both gave me 5/7 signals on 15m.

Well as of yesterday I have 10 weeks until I become a Dad for the first time, everything with my wife (Sharon) is going well and it won't be long until our little bundle of joy arrives.

So there you have it, 10 weeks time....... let me think......middle of March....OH NO - John Moyle Field Day and CQWW WPX, oh well they'll be there next year, this is a "once in a lifetime".

Good DX to you all in 2008.

Andrew VK4HAM

Merry Christmas

2007-12-21T12:52:00.000+10:00

Just a quick note to wish everyone a Merry Christmas. I probably won't do any work on the site until the New Year so make sure you are back then.

Big news for the site next year as it will be the number one site for the DXpedition to Vanuatu conducted by Trent VK4TI and his team. The site will be update daily with his progress while he is on the island.

Again I hope you all have a safe and Merry Christmas.

Good Dx over the break

Andrew VK4HAM

DX for 24 hours a day / 7 days a week...just around the corner????

2007-12-16T17:11:00.000+10:00

Sunspot 978 made a strong showing this week, and daily sunspot numbers are up as a result. The average daily sunspot number for this week rose more than 25 points to 36.7, and the average daily solar flux (the amount of energy we receive from the Sun at a wavelength of 10.7 cm or 2800 MHz) rose more than 14 points to 87.2. The sunspot numbers on December 9-11 were 42, 43 and 44. Sunspot numbers haven't been nearly this high since July 14-15 of 2007, when it was 41 both days. The daily sunspot number hasn't been higher since June 2-8 of this year, when it was 45, 58, 58, 63, 47, 59 and 51. Sunspot numbers for December 6-12 were 29, 24, 36, 42, 43, 44 and 39 with a mean of 36.7. The 10.7 cm flux was 78.2, 82.2, 86.9, 88.9, 86.9, 93.4 and 93.9 with a mean of 87.2. Estimated planetary A indices were 1, 1, 0, 2, 8, 12 and 7 with a mean of 4.4. Estimated mid-latitude A indices were 1, 0, 1, 1, 5, 9 and 7 with a mean of 3.4.

BIG ANTENNA

2007-12-11T14:49:00.000+10:00

Check out this picture Dx'ers - a 5 element 80m beam. The Boom is 42m Long and the antenna 60m high. It is hard to imagine the size of this antenna......look closely at the picture - someone is standing on top of the director waving. That may give you an idea of how big the antenna really is.

I would love to know if anyone else has some information on this station - judging by the below picture it looks as if he may own a hotel or something. Not really sure, please leave a comment below if you have any information.

Should give you DX'ers out there something to Dream about tonight.

73's

Andrew VK4HAM

I'm Back

2007-12-11T12:53:00.001+10:00

OK - I have been slack no posts for nearly 3 weeks, I have a good excuse. I have just returned from 2 weeks on the Gold Coast (pictured above). A nice relaxing time was had and my batteries are fully recharged.

Whilst I was on Holidays I took my Yaesu FT60 handheld with me, having this as the only radio for 2 weeks it reconfirmed the fact that 2m is as boring as bat Sh!t - oh my god, after listening to that band I think I know every illness I can expect to get when I hit 60 years of age and up wards. I also learnt interesting things like how to get rid of ants, and how long the wait is at the doctors surgery on a Tuesday.....pffffft. Thanks God I am home now and can get back to the DX.

Another funny story while I was away (well maybe not so funny for them). Can you see the above picture, there is a building with cranes on top, its the Q1 (picture taken about 3 years ago). Well a few JA's decided to book out a few rooms on the 60th floor for the CQWW CW - DX'ing in style hey........maybe next time they will remember to seek permission from the hotel to put antennas up before organising to stay somewhere.......oh well valuable lesson learnt.

Other BIG news is that Trent VK4TI is leading a team to Vanuatu next year for the WPX......stay tuned to the site for more info on that on.

Again, sorry for not posting here for a while, but I promise it is all back to normal now.

Thanks,

Andrew VK4HAM

Dangers of field day DX'ing in VK

2007-11-20T15:02:00.001+10:00

In VK (Australia) we have a lot of wildlife - this makes field day work interesting. Whenever we are operating field days we always have to be sure to keep an eye out for snakes. Unlike the states and other countries we do not have to be worried about things like Grizzly Bears but a snake can do as much damage and like a deadly spider can show up undetected.

This photo was taken from a property about 20 miles away from where we had our last field day. The snake is actually caught in an electric fence and is getting zapped about every 10 seconds. To make matters worse he has just consumed a sheep - hence why he is stuck.

The only other things that are a concern in our area are spiders and wild pigs. The Boar below was caught about 500klms away from where we usually operate.

Anyone want to join us for a field day?????

VK4HAM