K2AS Ham Radio

Without a lot of operating time, it has been a good month for DX, especially new countries, as noted in my previous post. Several DXpeditions were in process and worked successfully, and topped off by getting in on the PR0T DXpedition to Trindade and Martin Vaz Islands on their last day of operating. Whenever I try to work a DXpedition, I try to find their info, either on QSZ.com, or often they have a webpage. They usually will have their operating schedule and modes, frequencies posted. I figured FT8 was my best chance. One thing I noted, they indicated they were only using MSHV software protocol. I was aware of MSHV being similar to WSJT-X Fox/Hound mode, but did not know much else. So I had to do some research. Key info, use WSJT-X in normal mode, not Fox/Hound mode, and all should be fine. Yesterday, I did try for several hours on 30 meters, and it was quite the FT8 pileup, and I did not get thru. But this morning, I checked the DX spots, and saw they were on 12 meters. It ...

This probably won’t impress K2OID, until I work North Korea, but I have reached a milestone in countries (entities) worked. I worked Mariana Island today for my 200th country. I’ve had a good month, with several new countries worked, Mongolia, Cameroon, Timor-Leste, Chatham Island and Kosovo. I don’t spend much time chasing DX. I don’t watch spots very often, as I tend to forget, and I don’t read up on DX news, other than glancing at the “How’s DX” column in QST every month. I also just have a 1/4 wave vertical antenna for 40-10 meters. I can run up to 400 watts CW/FT8, and 600watts PEP on SSB, but usually don’t have the amp on. But I certainly have used it for some contacts. So it is only 200 countries worked, not confirmed. Up until now, I have only used Logbook of the World to confirm contacts, and have DXCC endorsement of 150. At this moment, 178 are confirmed on LoTW. I believe I have a handful of cards that I could hav...

Our Yaesu 2 meter repeater has been operating continuously on Bald Hill in Canadice since May 2015. It actually has been two different repeaters, a DR1-X that ran from May 2015 until March 2020, and a DR2-X that has been running since March 2020. The DR1-X was traded for the DR-2X. The machines are at a site where commercial equipment is on a companion tower maybe 150 feet away. The exact frequencies of this other equipment is unknown, but no issues have occurred. Both Yaesu repeaters have run on the internal power supply, and internal controller. The DR1-X had an external amplifier, but the DR2-X does not. The internal controller handles all functions required to operate the repeater. It automatically will handle and repeat FM or C4FM signals. The controller has no fancy beeps or spoken ID. No time of day announcements. It has a CW id for FM, and id is automatically included in the digital signal. The repeater has had exactly two malfunctions, one each with the DR1-X and the ...

I have had a bunch of things going on the last couple of months, and my on the air activity has suffered a bit. But the other night I turned the rig on before going to bed. I went to 20 Meter phone, and gazed at the spectrum scope. Nothing. I turned up the level a bit, and still nothing. Tuned around a bit to be sure, and I saw a signal on the scope. Tuning back to the signal, at first I wasn’t sure who I was listening to. Was it a US ham working someone? I wasn’t sure at first but after a minute or so, I heard CQ DX, this is Sugar 79 Victor Uniform. Sounded familiar, but couldn’t remember what country it was. But I gave him a call, and he came right back. Ravi, in the Seychelle Islands (Indian Ocean). He gave me a 5×5, and I gave him a 5×6. There was some QSB, but had no issues. He quickly informed me we worked in 2021 on FT8. After the QSO, I listened around for a few minutes. There were signals on 14.074 FT8, but nothing else. I guess it is...