Do I'm a square hunter?

This day began sunny, although the sky was overcast.
Readers of my blog will sometimes wonder if I'm square hunter on 6 meters. No, not really. This is something left over from the days when I was a DX'er on 2 meters. I am not specifically looking for new squares but it's always nice when a new square can be worked.

Today I worked around 10:30 UTC with IK5ZWU in JN53VB, a new square. Then it was quiet again for a while and on 12:00 UTC I was able to work with EI2JD in IO63VS. Not only a new square, Ireland is also a new country for me on 6 meters.

The rest of the afternoon I visited family and did some homebrew. The 2 meters fox transmitter has another crystal obtained. The transmit frequency is now 144.930 (AM) Mhz. From my 30 meters transmitter kit, I wanted to try move the frequency closer to 10.116 Mhz. The transmitter was first OK and suddenly nothing. Perhaps somewhere in the circuit a short circuit. I have yet to find out where. The stabilizer for 5V works well in any case, I have this measure.

At 17:41 UTC suddenly I heard the signal from OH4KA in KP31WN. It was easy to work him. Furthermore, I heard some beacons but no other stations.

73, Tjeerd (Gose) - PA3GNZ

6M and my own fieldday.

This morning I was out of bed early and first listened to 6M. The band was quiet but around 7:30 UTC I could work with IK4AUY in JN54QM (SSB), a new square.
The rest of the morning remained rather quiet here on 6M and have other things in the house. On the balcony with a cup of coffee and magazine I enjoyed the sunshine.

By 15:00 UTC I went into the field, the same location as on May 23 Today the conditions were not so good as that day and it was this time not so successful. I worked with II0CC who was working in a contest and later with IQ8MO/3 who was active from Punta Tagliamento lighthouse with reference ITA-148. A nice qso because lighthouses are another hobby of mine.
The rest of the time I had the idea that I was returned to my SWL period. While listening I heard Mongolia, Japan and Taiwan on 20M.
I started this hobby as a listening amateur with number NL-9514.
6 meters was completely silent, I almost had the idea that the antenna was not working. I've heard no beeps and whistles on 6 meters in that area.

By 2:30 p.m. UTC I went home. At 5:00 p.m. UTC there was a revival of 6M and worked with 2 station from Sweden. JO88 is another new square for me.

73, Tjeerd (Gose) - PA3GNZ

Small signals on 6M & Q5 transmitter

All day there were Es clouds over Europe but not so good for the Netherlands.
In the evening I often listened and heard weak signals. Around 7:15 p.m. UTC the signals were louder and I could work via cw with YO7LCB in KN15OA and YU7AU in KN04HU. The qso with YO7LCB gave me a new square.

With good Es propegatie the last days it seemed a good idea to try WSPR on this band.
Through the WSPR site I saw a few station was QRV but despite this I wanted to try. Result: I have no station heard at times that I transmit no one heard my my signal.
I was active with WSPR from Thursday evening till Friday afternoon.

Kees PA3DEB, wrote me this afternoon in response to my earlier post about the Genesis Q5 transmitter.

The oscillator is not on 10.116 MHz, which wele desirable. Kees advised me to change the value of C7 in order to be more close to this frequency.

73, Tjeerd (Gose) - PA3GNZ

Active on 6M with QRP.

Today there are again conditions on 6 meters. My goal for today is to make qso's with QRP (5 watts maximum).


I made 3 qso's with a power of 5 watts.
2 stations from Latvia and one from Estonia. 2 of the 3 qso's made with cw the other with ssb. It was more difficult then yesterday and on the moments that I listen there where not so many signals like yesterday.
I listen also in the beacon part of the band and heard a few signals. I put the different frequenties into the memories.

I previously wrote about this project. During the construction there were two parts in the package down. I've emailed the supplier from the USA but has so far not responded.
Fortunately, there is a Dutch amateur that I could offer a helping hand. Today I received by mail the two missing parts. Thanks Frans.
I can go on with this project.

73, Tjeerd (Gose) - PA3GNZ

A day with strong signals on 6 meter.

It seems that the signals are getting stronger each day on 6 meter this Es season. Today there were a lot of strong signals heard on SSB / CW.
In about one hour time I worked the following stations.
SM7FJE - JO65ML, ssb (new square).
LY2X/P - KO15ID, cw
SF4J - JO79NC, with 10 watts cw.

I wonder what tomorrow brings us on 6 meters, I have a day off.

73, Tjeerd (Gose) - PA3GNZ

A new day with Es on 6 meter!

On Monday I have my part-time day and a little bit more leisure time. In the afternoon I have only one hour sports to do.
When I turn on my set this morning I heard already signals on 6 meters. Between 10:30 to 11:30 local time there was considerable activity and I worked the following stations: YO5PLD in KN34CK. YL2CZ in KO06XW, new square. And YU2MMA in KN04HG, also a new square.I heard the signals of E4X but his cw speed was very quickly. In combination with split working it was hard to follow his transmission.

73, Tjeerd (Gose) - PA3GNZ

Es opening on 6M, again!

Es season has really started. Today, after 16:00 UTC, I worked 4 stations (cw) from Finland, Estonia and Lithuania.
Distances between 1500 and 1800 km.








Via the mailman I received a QSL from MM0CAE today. I'm a member of the GQRP club and this club has a own QSL service between members.
This was from a 2 way QRP QSO in 2006.

73, Tjeerd (Gose) - PA3GNZ

Big Es opening on 6M

Today there was a big Es opening for hours, not only on 6M but also on 10 and 4 meters. I was only active on 6 meter, I have no equipment for 4M.

From 4:15 p.m. UTC I worked with:
SP8DWI - KO10ND
SP8LXE - KO10WT
IK6FXP - JN62PI
SP7HKK - JO91QIAll QSO's where made with SSB, the last one with just 5 watts, the others with 20 watts.
The Es was still going on but I had to take care for my diner and other priorities.

73, Tjeerd (Gose) - PA3GNZ

Portable experiment for today.

During this Sunday, I had the goal to go into the field with my FT817nd and mobile whip for 20M. I had the mobile whip for 6M also taken with me. With the internal battery the output is 2.5 watts.

When arrived on location in JO21QW I parked the car on the side of the road and put the ground wire of about 5 meters rolled out across the grass. With the rig in the hand this way I got a good SWR. In terms of reception I was very pleased. In about 2 hours I worked to my great surprise, 3 stations.
RW1CW, who was working in a contest.
IV3NVD, they always called with a reference of UD128 (What is this mean?).
Finally I worked with Rick, TK5/F2PI/M. This station was mobile in Corsica with 100 watts from the car and mobile antenna.

I have also called to several other stations, including OH0/PA3BAG. Jack heard me but it was not a complete QSO.
On 6 meters I heard some weak signals, calls had no effect. In the beaconband I heard SV3BSF.

The experiment was successfull for this day. It is possible to use a very small antenna, even if it takes more effort.
Last week I found this site about this way of operating made by Roger G3XBM.

73, Tjeerd (Gose) - PA3GNZ

Worked new DXCC country on 6M

When I getting out of bed this morning, around 08:30 local time, I turned my rig on to hear if there was something to do on 6M.
According to the DX cluster much activity but I heard not too much. Around 7:15 UTC, I worked with ER1SS in Moldova (KN46JX).
This is a new DXCC country for me on 6M and also a new square.

The rest of the day remained silent on 6M, and I've done other things.

73, Tjeerd (Gose) - PA3GNZ

Again Es on 6 meter

When I came home of my work I switched on my Yaesu FT950 and heard several signals on 6M. This signals were stronger then earlier this week.

Worked with: UR5URW in KO50FF (ssb) and UX1BZ in KN29VA (cw). KN29 is a new square for me.

Heard also other stations but it was crowded and there was a lot of fading on the signals.

Enjoy your Whitsun weekend.

73, Tjeerd (Gose) - PA3GNZ

Es on 6M

When I came home from my work I switched on my radio. Worked 1 station on 6M, EA1EDU in JN01WK (ssb). JN01 is a new square for me, the third for this season.
Heard a few other signals from Spain but they were to weak for me to work.

After this I take time for household and a visitor.

73, Tjeerd (Gose) - PA3GNZ

WSPR 17M

When I was on the local meeting last Wednesday someone told me that 17M is in a good shape the last days. Special at the end of the day till late in the evening.
Yesterday I tuned my magnetic-loop for 17M to find out what was possible on this band. On that moment (21:00 UTC) I heard one weak ssb signal but didn't copy the callsign.
When I woke up this morning I saw on my laptop the results.

73, Tjeerd (Gose) - PA3GNZ

First Es on 6M for 2010

Today I made the first qso's on 6M via Es for this season. I saw on the internet that there were weak signals for the last few days but I didn't hear nothing until today.

The picture shows the 2 qso's I made. Around 15:00 utc I heard IK7FPU with cw and I answer him with 20 watts. This station is in JN71SU, a new squaere for me.
Around 15:30 I heard IK8OFO calling in SSB. After a few calls I worked him from JN70HR, also a new square.
2 qso's and both a new square. I'm waithing for the next Es opening on 6M, I hope signals will be stronger then today.



A beacon list for 6M.

73, Tjeerd (Gose) - PA3GNZ

WSPR & DXCC (qrp)

On Wednesday I had the whole day WSPR on 10M running. During this time I heard no signals from other WSPR stations. My signal was heard by 2 stations for a period.
PAøO heard my signal over a distance of 172km. What kind of propegation was this?

Every second Wednesday of the month we have a meeting with local radio amateurs in this area. During this evening the QSL manager of R30 is also present.
This time there where some QSL for me to. The card of UA9CSA jumped out for me.
This is a qso I made with my homemade Rockmite with a power of approximately 300mW. The confirmation of this QSO made the confirmed DXCC countries with QRP on 52.

73, Tjeerd (Gose) - PA3GNZ

Buddy Keyer/Speaker Console building & Lighthouses

Yesterday I started this project, unfortunately I can not finish today.This morning I saw that J3 + J4 is not in the box I received. I wrote a email with the request to send the missing parts.

Last week I toke some new pictures of lighthouses in the Netherlands and today I updated the page about this subject.
The captions on this page is in Dutch








73, Tjeerd (Gose) - PA3GNZ

With 1 watts via WSPR to VK!

Yesterday my WSPR station listen and transmit on 40M. A lot of stations received my signals from 1 watts down to 50mW. VK6BN received my 1 watts more then one period.In the begin of the evening (May 7) I made my first qso on 10M for this season. S58P gave me a 55 with my 5 watts in SSB.

73, Tjeerd (Gose) - PA3GNZ

With 1 watts to VK via WSPR!

Yesterday in the evening I setup my station for WSPR on 30M. Around 19:00 UTC 2 VK stations heard my 1 watts signal, VK2/VK6DI and VK2DAP. Distances around 16500 km.Later in the evening I made 2 CW qso's on 30M. Worked with OM30CAQ and a longer qso with SP7HOV, Zbig in Skierniewice. Both qso's with only 1 watts.

On my laptop I don't have the possibility to make graphics for my Blog. When I'm back home I update the Blog with pictures.

73, Tjeerd (Gose) - PA3GNZ

QRV again!

After a holiday of a few days in the province of Friesland I'm in Zuidlaren (JO33IC).

Yesterday in the afternoon I start up the station for WSPR. The best DX was K1JT, he heard my 500mW signal.Today my WSPR station is running on 10M and OY1OF heard my 1 Watts signal for one period. PE4BAS and PC1CP heard my signal serveral times. from 5 watts to 50mW.

On 40M I made 1 CW qso with DF3MI in QTH Oberammergau. A 2way QRP QSO.

73, Tjeerd (Gose) - PA3GNZ

QRV with WSPR & antenna for 6M

Today I have modified a 2M 5/8 mobile antenna for use on 6M. The antenna is extended and there is a reasonable SWR on 6M.
Later this week, I make the final modification.

Next week I will do some WSPR experiments (from JO33IC). This means that I'm active with a power of 100mW or 50mW. This is mainly on 30M but maybe also 6M, when there is propegation.

Keep an eye on this site.

73, Tjeerd (Gose) - PA3GNZ