Category - Blog

I have been asked many times to register with eQSL, which i did for a couple of years but i was so annoyed by a constant stream of emails some quite nasty from eQSL users that i decided that it was time to remove my details from eQSL. Despite email correspondence between myself and eQSL i find that it is not possible to remove any of my details from the eQSL website which I feel breaks all data protection regulations. As a consequence of this I still receive a constant stream of emails from eQSL users. eQSL have refused to remove my email address and refused to understand my concerns about the constant stream of rubbish being sent to me from their website! Am I the only one to experience this? You tell me?

A very beautiful QSL arrived today from the team of E44M Palestine operation from January 2009. Below you can see the front and back of the 4 sided QSL card. 273 DXCC Confirmed so far… still a long way to go!

I received today the QSL card from the Desecheo Island DX’pedition K5D, below you can see the front and back of the QSL card. QSL Via N2OO. My DXCC total now stands at 272 confirmed.

Today’s email from John 9M6XRO includes some photographs taken today at the Borneo Amateur Radio Club of East Malaysia. John explains “I took these photos ‘up the hill’ today when we were working on the ants. One shows Rahim 9W6RHM up the tower working on the Cushcraft A4S beam. Another also shows the 100ft tower behind the clubhouse. There are various VHF repeater ants mounted on it plus the 160-80-40m trapped dipole. Unfortunately we cannot get the trapped dipole all the way up as there is a family of mynah birds nesting right at the very top and they dive bomb any climber who starts to get anywhere near them! Mynah’s CAN talk but they have not entered into any negotiations so far (hi).

The other photo shows the view from the foot of the tower looking towards KK. We are up a fair height, unfortunately that’s why we keep getting struck by lightning! The top of the hill has a flat area of about 200′ square and slopes away quite dramatically on 3 sides. The road up is not for the faint hearted as it is narrow and with deep potholes that come and go, and land slips in heavy rain are not unknown. I have been ‘trapped’ up there on occasion due to the WX.
John has taken part in this weekends CQ WPX CW Contest and the log has now been uploaded to LoTW.

At last I have managed to log Panama, not a difficult entity to work just one that has taken me an age to log! HK3AK Jay was on 18.117 MHz this evening with a huge pile up from Europe, I tried to remain patient, it is not easy when you are only using a mini beam but not impossible! So thanks Jay for hearing my call! Also in the log today was TL0A Chris on 28.495 MHz from Central African Republic, on Multi Hop Es.
This afternoon I logged 9J2BO on 14.322 MHz Brian operating out of Lusaka, Zambia. TG9NX in Guatemala logged on 18.139 MHz so not a bad night in the end!

Pictured on the left is Jay HP3AK in Panama. 

This year like any other I am trying to work as many DXCC in the year as possibale, a little friendly banter between myself and some friends to see who can get the most DXCC or band slots. It is a difficult year with sunspots at a minimum so it is very hard going. SSB only here, I am currently on 171 DXCC in 2009. One application that you can use to calculate the band slots is by G7VJR Michael called Club Log that I have written about before in my blog, to find out more information about what Club Log does go to: http://www.clublog.org/about.php all you need to do is register and upload your ADIF file.

On Monday evening I had a QSO with CP8XA Ivan Davison in Beni BOLIVIA on 17m. I was unsure if the QSL card would get through, so I sent a courtesy email to his  address. Within minutes i had a reply from his son which i thought i would share with you.

“I am glad that you managed to contact my father and if you do so again please tell him that his son said hi. 

QSL cards….the mail system in Bolivia is poor and due to my fathers remote location, sending QSL cards regularly is not viable, indeed, some times he doesn’t even receive some cards. 
Anyway, when I next get a rare call from my father I will mention this email amongst the other which I have for him, and I thank you on his behalf for the contact. When he visits the capital sporadically, he usually endeavours to send out QSL cards but this may not be for months.  Many thanks, and I enclose a picture, Son of CP8XA”

I learned today that John Bearsby VK6JB sadly passed away last Wednesday night in his sleep.
I only knew John for a short while when he asked me to look after his QSL management for him.
Through my blog i would like to pass on my sincere condolences to his partner Mila, family and friends. R.I.P John.