CQ WW 2012

As usual I was active throughout the weekend on the HF bands during this years CQ World Wide Contest. I spent some cash on a new alloy pole which I used to raise the height of my Cobb-Webb multi band antenna just in the knick of time.

Despite my enthusiasm I did not beat last years result as I ended up working fewer zones than previously, but I still had some great DX even though conditions were not quite as good as last year. 

I worked lots of stations from all over using my FT1000MP Mark -V  and Cobwebb antenna. I  kept myself mainly focused on 10 meters, 15 meters and 20 meters with a few qso also made down on 40 & 80 meters.
Overall I had a blast! I must have worked the whole of the Caribbean as well as South and North America. My signals were radiating well into Africa, The Middle East and all the way up to Iceland and Greenland.
I heard Taiwan very faintly up on 10 meters but did not really experience any reliable openings to Australasia or Asia during this years contest. However there is always next year. See you then if not before on the bands. 73.

Every year this contest marks the anniversary of when I met my lovely lady Louise which is now 7 years ago. Louise M3TLL is always supportive of my "crazy hobbie" which is probably the best present that this radio ham guy could ask for. Happy anniversary Louise X

Satellite To Satellite CAS-2A1 and CAS-2A2

The Chinese Amateur Satellite Group CAMSAT are busy constructing two new birds that will have the potential to establish a radio link during certain orbital positions between the two. This will allow amateur radio communications to be made over a much greater distance.

Its exciting news for the many hams that enjoy the challenge of space radio communications which includes myself. I am already getting excited about the possible Space to Earth QSOs that  I maybe able to make!
Yep, I am looking forward to the future launch of CAMSAT's CAS-2A1 and CAS-2A2, Good luck to all involved!

Both birds will be equipped with linear transponders. For all the latest in much more detail including operating frequencies, check out the AMSAT UK write up here CAS-2A1 and CAS-2A2 linear transponder Amateur Radio Satellites courtesy of M5AKA.

"Working The Birds"

OD5ZZ - Lebanon On 10 Meters

Earlier this morning I caught a nice opening into Lebanon and managed to work OD5ZZ. I used to work into Lebanon regularly back in the 1980s (CB days). This quick QSO reminded me of my early radio days especially as today I was using my vertical hustler antenna, which is not quite a Sigma IV as used back then. I was pleased with the QSO as you probably can tell in the video clip below.

Louise my shack manager caught me working OD5ZZ and did a good job videoing it for anyone wanting to catch the QSO.

Antenna Garden

I thought I would share this mornings breakfast view of my garden and my 3 HF antennas. From the left is my Carolina Windom for 80m, 40m, 30m, 20m, 17m, 15m, 12m & 10m. Next is my Hustler 6BTV, used for 80m 40m, 30m, 20m, 15m & 10m. Finishing off, is my CobWebb for 20m, 17m, 15m,12m & 10m. 

That's about it for now, I'm off to enjoy the good WX! Have a good day 73

Summer Break Ends

Well I suppose it had to finally end! I have enjoyed a long Summer holiday with my family despite having unreliable British weather we still made the most of our time and got about all over having lots of fun....
But, its back to work in the morning and the start of a brand new College year so I will certainly be busy.

I logged another nice juicy DX station earlier this morning whilst on 20m once again running with my CobWebb antenna. At around 7.21 utc, I made QSO into Australia with Neil - VK2IZI who is located near Sydney.
VK2IZI has a very nice antenna system as seen pictured above and his signal was up at 5/9 +10dB to my Ft-1000MKV, I was 5/7 at his end.

73 time for some Z time!

QSL Gallery - Over 200 new cards added.

I managed to finally update 2E0HTS QSL Gallery by adding over 200 new eQSL cards. Each QSL confirms QSOs made on HF and the VHF/Satellite bands. I shall be adding my Mobile and Portable eQSL cards shortly!
Here is a preview of one of my Favorited DX eQSL cards that I received recently from VK7ZX.

Check out the rest of the cards to see who and where 2E0HTS has been making radio contacts with. 73

Good Opening To The Northern Corridor Radio Group

Conditions seem quite reasonable this morning here on 20M in not so sunny Yorkshire. Earlier (07.51 utc) I sneaked my call sign in between a mass of stations as I worked VK6ANC -The Northern Corridor Radio Group .
VK6ANC was being operated by Andrew during our QSO and was coming in well with a 5/9 +20 signal to my station. I also was doing well with my CobWebb antenna, my report back from Perth, Australia was a solid 5/9 signal.

Lets hope the bands hold up for some more nice openings and tasty DX.

Bed Time Stories

I usually spend the last hour of the day unwinding with the sound of HF before hitting the sack. I enjoy listening to the different bands hearing lots of interesting stuff from the comfort of the shack chair, there are some great radio style bed time stories!

Last night band conditions were wide open with signals bouncing in loud and clear from all over the place.
I heard Australia at 5/9 as well as Argentina, both stations were on 20 meters. The USA were also coming in very well across the 20 meter band right through to 15 meters. As usual I switched between my 6BTV, Windom and CobWebb antennas checking to see which was working the best.

The CobWebb seemed to be best last night as I tried it out during a QSO with  VP2EKG - Keith, from Anguilla up on the 17 meter band. I went on to work EK6TA - Hovik, from Armenia also with a big signal up on 17 meters. Yep, I was pleased to be putting out a reasonable footprint created by my little Webb antenna!

Before I pulled the plug I was back down on 20 meters hearing Ian VK3MO at 5/9 + working lots of stations. I tried my luck but was unsuccessful on this occasion, but I did manage a QSO into Saudi Arabia as I worked HZ1TT and drank my last cup of coffee before heading upstairs.

I'll be back for some more bed time radio tonight, 73 happy DX!

Climbing The Ladder

Over the past twelve months I have been carrying out a different job at work which has been temporary for 12 months. Earlier this morning I attended an interview where I competed for a permanent position in teaching.
After a good interview and teaching session in front of a panel of managers, I am proud to be able to inform you all that I was successful in obtaining the position of welding and fabrication lecturer.

Perhaps some of you regular followers have been wondering what has happened to 2E0HTS due to the lack of posts. I can confirm I have been trying hard to better myself and can now get back into posting more regularly here on my Ham radio blog now that my future is looking good! 73 thanks for passing by.

5N7M

A very nice start to Saturday, at 0802 utc I worked 5N7M - Ivan operating out of Abuja in Nigeria on 18.145 MHz. Ivan heard me on my first call and we exchanged 5/9 and 5/7 reports. 73 Good DX!

Latest Model Please Dad!

You guessed it......She's a YAESU kinda Girl!

Something For The Weekend

This was sent to me via facebook. I am unsure who created it, but it sure did make me smile! 

I thought I would share it with you all. 73

CobWebb 5 Band HF Antenna - Resurrected

The past week has been a very enjoyable holiday break away from work with lots of quality family time. As mentioned earlier in the week we have been enjoying ourselves up on the moor tops at the holiday home where I get to play with my other radio equipment whilst soaking in some r & r. During the middle of the week we headed off to the coast where my little girl got to take her first paddle in the Sea.

As well as playing with my daughter and YL, I got some spare time to resurrect my old CobWebb HF antenna. On Thursday afternoon I managed to install it at the bottom of our garden without getting too much ear ache from Louise (YL). The last time I tried using this antenna was back in 2005 when I was told to take it down, I have had it in storage ever since and have been itching to try it out again. 

I decided to use this CobWebb antenna with my FT-847 radio as my FT-1000 is already hooked up to my Carolina Windom and Hustler 6BTV. The plan is to play around and compare the 3 antenna's using the two radios operating from 20m through to 10m during the reception of stations from various locations. 

Over the past couple of days whilst testing I was surprised just how well the CobWebbs reception was with zero noise levels on all 5 bands allowing 0-Signal levels to be heard.

The CobbWebb is designed for operation on 10m, 12m, 15m, 17m & 20m bands.

Back in the shack, over the weekend I was active later on in the Evening time and managed a new DXCC in the log whilst using the CobWebb. The new DXCC was claimed when I worked JX9JKA from Jan Mayen. I also worked HK3JJH from Columbia on the same CobWebb antenna.

My favourite DX QSO's of the week were both worked on my Carolina Windom which were JY4CI - Jordan and VK7ZX - Tasmania both stations were worked on 15M. 

Conditions are good again tonight and as you can see my young apprentice is ready to help me work some more stations! 73 

Baildon Moor Beacon

 We decided to head up to the moor top shack over the weekend so we could enjoy the Diamond Jubilee celebrations. The moor top celebrations started off in fine fashion with a great party followed by the lighting of Baildon's jubilee beacon as seen in the picture.

Our beacon's location provided a good view of our nearest neighbouring beacon pictured below. We could also make out see some more distant beacons in the distance.

Well that's it for now just a quickie,  I am off work all week and plan to be active somewhere on the bands. Lets hope that I get to work some of you along the way. 73!