Had the pleasure to visit Barry's VK2BJ shack

Yesterday Barry invited me to see his new radio and the shack arrangement.

Unfortunately I had only my phone to take the pictures.

Very impressive shack.

Also thank you Margaret for the cup of tea.

FT4JA

The moment the QRM stopped (see the previous post) this fellow popped up.  I've been chasing him for the last two days.  Second call.

QRM on 17 m

Nuisance.

Worked VK0EK

We went with our camping group to a farm near Gunnadah.  Been worried that I will not be able to work the DX expedition. But got lucky.  I recall that I've gave my call out only about three or four times.

My little KX3 with the PX3 panadaptor supported by the KXPA 100 (using only about 70W) with the G5RV antenna in the tree say only about 7 m up.  The operator must have great ears picking me from the dogpile.

The way the expedition is organized needs to be praised.  The moment you work them you are able to check if you made it to the log.  No need to try to work them second time just to make sure.

Also unusual split.  They are listening "down". Very good idea.  That stops the "clickers" (operators who click on the spot cluster and immediately start calling without much listening. Unfortunately I've heard " the clickers modus operandi" like this often.

One more of very poor behaviour  is surfacing.  DQRM (deliberate interference).  Some very frustrated and/or demented operator(s) are transmitting on the expedition frequency and causing grief to the DXers community.  How sad.

73
Patrick

RSGB BERU contest

This last weekend was the Commonwealth contest.  Only Commonwealth countries can enter and it is CW only.

My result:

Band     QSOs     Pts     Cty     Sec
 3.5         13        325      13       0
 7            66      1090      35       3
14         210      2060       50      1
21           52      1020       36      2
28             8       200         8      0

Total      349     4695      142      6
Score: 4,695
1 Mult = 2.4 Q's

Please notice the 8 entries on 10 m. Very pleasant surprise. Best part
was the 20 m run to G-land close to 100 QSOs in one hour - big buzz. The
pain was the Sunday part where I've scored only five (yes 5) in a whole
hour and in the middle of the afternoon no QSO for 1 hr 17 minutes.... 
Bonus: had one ATN (all times new county)

Comparing the last year:
           2015     2016
score  4,870    4,695
QSOs    395      349

Using the same radio + amp, antennae and operator (one year older), I can assume it may
be accounted for the declining conditions.


73 to all
Patrick VK2PN

Managed to work 5J0P on 40 m

Geezz, they are hard to work.

Visit: http://www.5j0p.com/

73
Patrick