Category Archives: DX

Clipperton, TX5K, has fantastic real-time world view

Posted on March 4, 2013 by robert

After begin “slimmed” by a pirate on 3/1, followed by a busy family weekend, I finally had an opportunity to work TX5K on Clipperton Island (for real) using 30m CW.  Despite the relative calm of the 30 meter band, the … Continue reading →

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Thinking of the peak of Solar cycle 24

Posted on February 20, 2013 by robert

Its a glass half-empty vs. glass half-full thing. According to NASA, we are close to the peak of Solar Cycle 24; they are predicting summer of 2013.  However the smoothed numbers have actually been running below the mean prediction level … Continue reading →

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DXCC in a weekend (and other random musings concerning the ARRL CW DX Contest)

Posted on February 17, 2013 by robert

I’ve been told that timing is everything in life.  If that is true then I’m in trouble, because timing ISN’T my forte.  Take for example the New England Blizzard of 2013 that descended upon RI like a ton of bricks … Continue reading →

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If I could only have one band it would be…

Posted on January 25, 2013 by robert

Many years ago my father and I would debate this endlessly.  His choice was 40 meters.  Mine was 20 meters.  After restarting my ham radio hobby 2 years ago, I’ve had a chance to track things carefully this time around, … Continue reading →

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LotW at 160 with J8/W6HGF

Posted on January 24, 2013 by robert

My thanks to W6HGF, Al Danis, for his recent DXpedition (dare I say vacation?) to Saint Vincent Island.  I hear he made over 3,000 hams happy during his two week run.  I can’t wait to see what his QSL looks … Continue reading →

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2012 Wrap-Up and 2013 Goals

Posted on January 7, 2013 by robert

2012 was a great year of Ham Radio for me. I completed 2,724 QSOs, and participated in multiple contests.  I won the 160 Meter Contest in the QRP Category for RI, and had clean sweeps in both the Phone and … Continue reading →

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DXCC Phone #41,162

Posted on December 17, 2012 by robert

Phone DXCC #41,162 has joined his brothers, Mixed #46,128 and CW #13,267 as of December 7, 2012.  In addition the 150 country endorsement for Mixed came in, as well as DXCC on 15 and 20 meters. One of my goals … Continue reading →

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A busy day for LotW and DXCC.

Posted on December 7, 2012 by robert

My LotW account had crept up to 149 confirmations over the past couple of weeks.  I also had a 3C0E QSL that was yet to be entered.  This had me toying with the possibility of making a trip to Newington … Continue reading →

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Lesotho Africa is country #200

Posted on November 23, 2012 by robert

It took about 35 minutes of trying to get through, but I was able to contact 7P8D during the CW CQ DX contest at 01:55 UTC.  According to my logbook (HRD), Lesotho, Africa is country #200 in the log.  It … Continue reading →

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I love the smell of DX in the morning!!!

Posted on November 20, 2012 by robert

Ah, sweet vacation!!  It’s nice to have some time off during the day to hunt DX.  Yesterday that netted my first Madagascar contact.  Today it is my first Liberian station, EL2LF, on 15 meters.  That brings me to 199 in … Continue reading →

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