Mobile Pictures

CQ Worked all Prefixes

I did a little light contesting this weekend on the "Worked ALL Prefixes" contest this weekend. I spent about 6 hours Friday evening and a achieved 50 contacts (6 hours into the contests and I was receiving serial numbers over 1000 and I was just hitting 50). I don't participate for the points, and I don't have near the station the serious contesters do, but it gives me a chance to make some DX (out of North America)contacts that I might not normally hear.

Some of the locations I made contact with were: Argentina, Brazil, Aruba, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, European Russia, Asiatic Russia, France, Alaska, Senegal, Curacao, and Poland so far. I have also made many more contacts in the continental US. The contest is a great way to quickly make your logbook grow.

Worked Japan

After trying for 6 months I finally worked Japan. I worked a JO station on 15m. He was located about 200 miles north of Tokoyo. 55 report. Works for me!

Sunday

Sunday wasn't very good. Worked Brazil on 40m in the morning. I got up at 3 am hoping radio conditions would be good. Of course I planned, so therefore poor conditions! Keep coming back... I'll try to update often.

QSLs

All QSL cards, eQSLs, and LoTW from my station up to 1400 UTC 21 MAR 2010 have been sent out. Thanks for all the QSOs! 73

Saturday's radio activity

Had a great day today on the radio. I started out with a contact in New Castle, Australia on 40m. The Russian DX contest is this weekend and there are many DX (out of North America) stations out there. I tuned around and found 15m to be very active for DX. I had never really spent much time on 15m, I will now! I made contacts in Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Senegal (Africa), Slovac Republic, Curacao for some examples. I used the FT-897 with the Heil Proset 5 headset, using 100 watts. All my contacts were SSB voice. Hope Sunday is just as much fun!

Mobile

I have a 2000 GMC Sierra and have installed a Yaesu FT-857D with a High Sierra Sidekick screwdriver antenna on a homebrew bracket. I also added the N2VZ Enterprises
Turbo Tuner so you can use the TUNE feature of the FT-857D. WORKS GREAT! I removed the cassette player (remember them) and costomized the dash to accept a flush mount install of the FT-857. I have an FT-meter on the top of the dashboard so I can see the signal, SWR without taking my eyes from the road. I have a Yaesu FT-8800 with the remote head kit mounted above and slightly to the right of the FT-857. I have used 2 small communications speakers mounted on either side of the steering wheel to seperate the audio. I have made many mobile DX contacts such as Belgium and Argentina from here in New Roads. I will post some pics in the near future of the mobile.

My Station

My station consists of a Yaesu FT-897D with a LDG AT-897 auto tuner, FT-meter, fed to a MFJ-1798 Vertical antenna mounted about 10 feet off the ground for my primary HF operations. I also have a Yeasu FT-902DM HF radio with a FV-101Z external VFO, and SP-901P speaker with two way phone patch. I also have a Yaesu FT-8900 I use for 2m and 70cm (I have never really used the 10m or 6m part of this radio as it is only FM).The antenna is a MFJ-1522 17ft vertical mounted about 15ft off the ground on a homebrew 5 position tower. I have a MFJ-1275M soundcard interface between the FT-897 and a Compaq Desktop computer. I use the CAT interface between the Compaq computer and the FT-897 for computer contol. I use Ham Radio Deluxe for the rig control and loggong software and Digital Master for the digital modes. I have a large Pelican Box with wheels that is fitted for the FT-897 (has the FP-30 powersupply installed), sound card interface, cableing, Dell Mini 12 laptop, manuals, logbook, and an HT for a "to go" setup. I have a plastic box that carries my "to go" antenna equipment such as a G5RV, Mini Buddie Pole, Lamp Cord 75' end fed antenna. I have a Tripod and 40ft pushup pole for portable ops also. I will post pics when possible.