by Phil Cooper | Jul 5, 2023 | GU0SUP
July has started OK-ish, but the higher bands have been poor – that is until the 5th, when I managed to get 4W6RU on 10m for a new slot – Happy dance!
Sadly, so far, nothing on 6m, but I live in hope….
Most activity has been on 20 – 10m FT8, but with some FT4. On the evening of the 4th, I was on 15m chasing the last few 13 Colonies stations, but failing, and then CQ’ing, and working a few JA stations. Then I got called by Gus K2GT, and he is in Hawaii. Got a -12 from him and he was -15. Not bad as I wasn’t beaming his way. Then Terry HP1SEB called me – sent -14 and got -08 back, again beaming the wrong way. I also saw Don VA7ZT at -15 and tried calling him, but it just didn’t work. We used the messaging facility within JTAlert, and he said he could hear nothing from Europe, only Pacific area stations and NA, yet there were loads calling him. We tried a few times to have a contact, but when he was hearing EU, we weren’t hearing him. Funny old game, this propagation stuff….
I’ve now got 4W6RU on the bands I needed – 10 and 12m, and both on the 5th July, so very happy with that.
On the 7th, I saw 9Q1ZZ being spotted on the cluster, and I hadn’t got that on 17/12/10m. On the morning of the 8th, as I was about to go out, I saw them on 10m FT8, and at good signal strength. However, there were 50+ stations all calling them. As I was about to go out, I told myself that I would give up at 0915UTC if they weren’t in the log. Well, that was close, but finally got them at 0912UTC. Then on the morning of the 8th, again about to go out, they were on 17m FT8, but not as strong as the day before. Still, I decided to try anyway, and managed to log them at the very last minute. After being out all day, I then saw them spotted on 12m, and very strong too! This time, there was no rush to get them in the log, but guess what…. I got them first shout 😁
Some recent DXCC entities worked include OH0, HP, 4W, and that 9Q.
Well, as of 1930UTC on the 27th, I have now made 6000 QSO’s this year! Just shows what retirement can do for the hobby… Also managed to work 1A0C on 15m FT8 – not a new one, but still good for the CQ Marathon this year, taking my tally so far to 209 DXCC entities, and all 40 CQ Zones.
by Phil Cooper | Jun 14, 2023 | GU0SUP
I have been watching out for T31TT on FT8, as it would be a new one for me, but I just wasn’t hearing them.
Then, on the 7th June, I actually decoded them on 15m FT4. Called many times, but then the signal went from -07 down to -24, then nothing more. However, I did manage to work Atsuo 5W1SA on 12m FT8 for a new slot, so not all was lost.
On the 8th June, I was due to fly off for a long weekend away, but then saw some spots for them on 17m FT8… And, I could actually decode them. I tried calling, and finally got them in the log about 10 minutes before I had to leave for the airport! Then it was a bit of a rush to close everything down before leaving. It made my weekend so much happier.And then I saw that they were going QRT early doe to a medical issue Phew! Just in time.
I have also filled in two new slots with VU7W, but those will be for the next LoTW submission. Update as of 18th June – managed to work him on 12m for the last slot I needed!
6m has also been fun, with many new grids worked, and a new DXCC too! I managed to work Frank 3A2MW on FT8, and also Mohammed A92EE, both now confirmed on LoTW.
And, as T31TT is now showing on LoTW, I will now submit an application for all the new slots on LoTW – all 53 of them! That was done on Thursday 15th June at 1300UTC, and this morning (16th), it has been verified! That takes me to 307 entities worked on digital modes.
A few hours after submitting my application, I was called by Rashed A61R on 6m, which is a new DXCC for me on 6m. That is now one for the next application on LoTW, along with VU7W on 20/17/12m, although I am still waiting for LoTW confirmation, as I have only just done the OQRS on Clublog.
So far this year, I have made just over 5100 QSO’s – all digital (RTTY, FT8 & FT4) 👍👌
I also participate in the CQ Marathon each year, so look for CQ Zones that I need, and any DXCC that will count. I do not work stations on the same band/mode just to get another entity, so one has to be patient and see if you can find them on another band. As of 21st June 2023, I had 199 DXCC and all 40 Zones, which – as yet – is my best ever tally. On Thursday morning (22nd June), I managed to work 3B8HK on 15m FT8, which now takes me to 200 entities worked so far this year.
At the end of June, I have made 5437 QSO’s and got all 40 CQ Zones and 202 DXCC. Not a bad tally overall!
by Phil Cooper | May 28, 2023 | GU0SUP
Well, May has proven to be good for new CQ Marathon countries – added this month are: 4J, 4L, 4O, 5U, 5W, 5X, 8P, C3, CP, GJ, HB0, JW, OA, OJ0, OY, V4, V5, V8, VP2E, VP8, ZB2 and ZP4, taking me up to 190 DXCC worked so far this year, and all 40 CQ Zones. Most of these calls were on 10 or 12m FT8, with a few on 17 & 15m.
At almost the end of May, I have now made some 4500 QSO’s.
by Phil Cooper | Apr 13, 2023 | GU0SUP
Well, all of those nice DXCC entities worked during March have now been confirmed on LoTW, so very happy with that.
April has started well with some nice DX too… 3D2TS 15m FT8 (called me!!), T30UN 15m FT4, and others.
Now up to almost 3500 Q’s this year, with 157 DXCC and all 40 CQ zones worked.
by Phil Cooper | Mar 30, 2023 | GU0SUP
March has been very good to me, with several new slots worked…. eg:
CY0S on 30/20/17 & 10m, 9X5RU on 30/15 & 10m, plus LU1ZV, JD1BOI & ST2NH on 10m, FK8HM, TZ1CE & KG6DX on 12m, V26EI on 40m, all FT8.
So far this year, I have worked 151 DXCC and all 40 CQ zones, and made just shy of 3000 contacts this year.
