APRS and DXCC with QRP

Since I have a TNC, see earlier post, I am QRV with APRS. Mainly on 144,800 as a digipeater for a part of the Betuwe. Despite this I notice a black hole on the A15 highway along Tiel. This by altitude.

Meanwhile I have also some rides with APRS in the car. First I had the interval of the beacon at 3 minutes, which I have now been reduced to 2 minutes. This is pretty close, depending on the available digipeaters.

Last week I received the QSL of my contact with JY5HX. With this card I have confirmed 54 countries with QRP power.

The next time I will do almost nothing to the hobby.
About 2 months well I leave this house, I'm looking for another.

73, Tjeerd (Gose) - PA3GNZ

APRS from my car

A few weeks ago I was thinking about an old wish to do anything with APRS from the mobile. I have this working from home and in my opinion it’s static

Searching on the internet for a tracker, I came through ebay on the following APRS tracker + GPS receiver inside.

I ordered and within a week it was neatly delivered. The idea was to use it in combination with the ICOM IC-228H. I bought a serial 1:1 cable and cut one plug. On this side I soldered a 8-pin microphone plug, what a hassle.
From the beginning it worked almost equal. Reception is not yet fully functional, with a C of 4.7nF in the audio line it would also be good to go.

Today I planned a trip. First to Hillegom. Then via Leiden to The Hague. From there, via Rotterdam to Tiel.
My trip.
On my way to Hillegom I used only 5 watts, more was not possible from the cigarette lighter. In Hillegom I received a battery that is ideally suited for this purpose. The full power of the set can be use without problems.

I will not be qrv with APRS every time I drive my care. This will be incidental.


73, Tjeerd (Gose) - PA3GNZ

New DXCC with QRP

Last week I was qrv, for a few days, from the village of Zuidlaren. My set-up was the Yaesu FT817nd and a ZEPP for 30M.
This antenna is on the top floor and when I'm there I span the last few meters via the window on the top floor to the end of the garden behind the house.

Conditions where reasonable and I work different station on 30, 17 and 10M.
On this last band I made a nice qso with JY5HX. I heard him calling in cw with the remarks that he listening 2 up. After a few tries he came back for my qrp signal, it was easy to work him. I worked Jordan several times but until now not with qrp. Today I send a qsl direct a hope to receive his confirmation. Via email he told me that I'm in his log.

On the photo you see the Norcal keyer. It works fine for a automatic CQ from the memory.


I toke this photo with my mobile phone.

I also tried to contact PE4BAS on 70cm via a repeater but this was not really success full.

73, Tjeerd (Gose) - PA3GNZ

New DXCC via buro

This is my first publication for this year. Reason? I'm busy with work and with my hobbies happens not to much.

In early December I received a large envelope from the institute where I had followed the course "medical terminology". The exam for this was in October, I successfully completed and received the diploma.
The exam was multiple choices. Despite this I had to wait almost 2 months for the results.

Last Wednesday I was at the local club meeting and received some qsl's.
The qsl of UK/JI2MED confirmed the country Uzbekistan for me.
This country was already confirmed via LOTW. But I prefer a paper card.






73, Tjeerd (Gose) - PA3GNZ

Contest

On September 5th of this year I wrote about the fieldday contest. During this contest, I made in about 3 hours 31 QSOs with QRP. In the QRP section, I was unfortunately the only participant. It was inevitable that they sent me the certificate belonging to the first place.Next year I expect more competition.

Last weekend was the CQWW CW contest. The condition in recent weeks are a lot better, especially on 10M.
Yesterday I setup my FT817nd on the dinner table with on the rear the ATX-1080 antenna. There were plenty of signals and have the preamp turned off.
I made 2 QSOs with European Russia and one with N3RS in the USA. Unfortunately I managed not to work W3LPL, the station where PB2T was a guest operator.


73, Tjeerd (Gose) - PA3GNZ