QSB, and a violent one, was the name of the game, yesterday afternoon, on 21 MHz. However, there were also signals, more than usual, and that was enough for me to start chasing. At 13.30 UTC, I wasn't expecting what I would experience in a few hours, and when I worked CT9/RW9JZ, from Madeira Island, I didn't took it but as a further signal of the band being well open. TA7EB, on the Black Sea, and RX4CD, in Petrovsk, brought my log again in the areas I've a better window to. A61BR marked probably the best QRB of the afternoon, and when at 15.04 S52WW heard my answer to his call, I told myself skip was shortening, and the game was probably over soon.
Never make such hurry conclusions. 21230 kHz, at 15.41 UTC, and PY5ARP was pretty clear. Not strong, but perfectly readable. A brasilian in the mid of IX1 land afternoon? Not impossible, as nothing in HF is impossible, but not usual. He was calling "concurso CVA". I told myself that, for a contest, everyone puts up a tight dress, so this would explain why he was getting to me. Ten minutes after, on 21250, ZY6Z sounded much stronger. Jokes of the propapgation, after a couple minutes I was listening to him, PY7AHA would appear co-channel. They probably were too close to hear eachother, but I could have them both. They were taking part too in the same contest of their colleague.
So, I decided to learn more, and discovered that CVA stays for "Concurso Verde Amarelo" (Green and Yellov contest), and marks one of the most important amateur radio activities in Brazil. This year it reached its 52nd edition. Interestingly enough, it's promoted by the "Clube de Radioamadores da Escola de Comunicações" of the Brazilian Army. In fact, CVA was built to celebrate the Week of the Soldier, by a Ministerial Notice on June 16, 1972, and aims to promote reconciliation among amateurs and amateur radio associations – civil and military – and mingle in the amateur days of commemorative activities of the Soldier, publicizing the events related to the August 25th and the image of Duque de Caxias, patron of the Brazilian Army.
I guessed I was witnessing a very felt contest, in Brazil, and decided to see how many other stations would turn out (and from where in PY). At 15.58 UTC, on 21252,9, PR7AA, in Paraiba, surfaced. It was quite strange as the QSB didn't made all the band alive together, but one/two channels at once. So, it took 'til 16.11 UTC to have, on 21255, another contester: PQ5B from Santa Catarina. Probably, the weakest one, but anyways identifiable. Only three minutes to go, and it was time for PR7AR on 21251, again from Paraiba. Driving the dial to 21217, then, made me learn one of the particularities of the CVA. I heard, at 16.30 UTC, PT7FLA calling. When I QRZ'd him, I realized that military entities were not only promoting the "concurso", but also taking part actively in it. In particular, these were the guys at "52º Centro de Telemática – Exército Brasileiro", in Fortaleza. Minutes earlier (16.25 UTC), 21281.5 brought PT5T, a contest station in Santa Caterina. Another contester did show at 17.10, on 21238: ZW8T, from Teresina (Paraiba).
Signals were getting stronger, probably as my greyline was approaching. I thought it would be neat, after all this listening, to place some calls. I'm reluctant to answer to stations contesting, if I'm not sure to take part too, as if I won't submit my log, this will end up in missing points for the colleagues I worked. However, the occasion was too rich, and decided to try. Barefoot, as always and ever, with 50 watts and my "fishing rod". Highly unexpected (as traffic was quite heavy, and channels wouldn't be free enough to hear me), I managed two QSOs: with ZW8T at first (17.14 UTC, on 21238), and then ZY6Z (at 17.20, on 21250).

Other stations didn't hear me, but I didn't care, as I was already on cloud nine (you can laugh about it, but I rejoice of every single QSO I have!). However, it was a pleasure to keep on listening. At 17.51, on 21245, another military station: ZW9B, from the Headquarters of "13a Brigada de infantaria motorizada", in Cuiaba (Mato Grosso). Seventeen minutes more, and there came PY1SX on 21230 (Teresopolis – Rio de Janeiro). Last station logged, as then I had to leave, was PY3UR at 18.15 UTC, on 21237.2 (Rio Grande do Sul).
What to say, except the fact it has been a wonderful radio experience. In one afternoon I had eleven brasilian stations, and two contacts with them. Bear in mind my mountains crowded environment doesn't makes it easy on higher bands, so this has to see not only with good set-up from contesters, but mostly with very good propagation conditions. CVA sounded like a really nice contest, and operators from Brasil are warm and friendly. If every week-end would bring such discoveries…

73,
Chris

Many times, while telling about confirmations I get, I've written that as long as you get an answer from a station, you don't have to complain. Today, instead, I will. Once back home, tonight, a Radio Taiwan International envelope was waiting for me. I was quite glad, as this station has been sometimes elusive in terms of verifications. In the past, it has been easier to get a beer coaster from them, than a QSL. Now, while cutting the paper, I felt happy. On 15th June 2011 I did receive what I classed (here) as their Mandarin programme, at 22.44 UTC, on 6150 kHz, and I sent a report through the station's website QSL form. So, the answer could only relate to a confirmation. A card was in the envelope, and a nice one  too (about the 2010 Taipei International Flora Expo, see above), but the data part, on the back, was left completely blank. The envelope contained also an A4 paper schedule in spanish (probably, it's reputed to be the one of their languages most close to italian!). Now, I wonder if it's worth anything putting up a QSL form on your site, to get feedback from listeners, if you're not ready/able to acknowledge it. I'm maybe (too) old fashioned, and not counting among those saying "well, better than nothing". In my opinion, to send people forwarding reports a blank QSL card, it would be better p.r. to send out a sticker. It would leave more sastifiaction, but most of all it would not originate the basic question I'm repeating to myself since I opened the envelope: is what I got a real confirmation? My reception, as you'll see in the video, was "presumed". Are we sure that just getting the card wipes out the doubt?

73,
Chris

Propagation proves generous in the last days, making less hard to leave behind some sleep hours. To be remarked, above all, some good signals on the 3 MHz band, which were simply unpredictable to me. However, less talking now, and more logs. As usual, QTH is Aosta (north-western Italy), receiver an Icom R71, and aerial a vertical home made, used also for ham operations, 10 meters tall and derivated from a "fishing rod". Logs divided in three sections, so everyone will find his favourite dish!

BC STATIONS

3350 kHz – 04.58 UTC – 19th August 2011
Radio Exterior de Espana, from Cariari de Pococí in Costa Rica, isn't the hardest DX catch one can think of. Anyways, that morning it was really solid (aside some local spurious signals, that I'll have to investigate deeper). A song, then time pips, followed by female and male announcer on a "projecto de restauracion y investigacion". Nice to wake up with Central America blasting!

5025 kHz – 22.04 UTC – 24th July 2011
Before Rebelde violently kicks in, 5025 can reveal Australia. That night, it did. Not the strongest signal ever, but the night channel of Australian Broadcasting Corporation's Outback Radio, from Katherine in the Northern Territory, is a news in itself when heard. Some music at the beginning of the clip. for what sounds like a usual domestic radio show.

15190 kHz – 21.23 UTC – 23rd August 2011
Radio Inconfidencia from Belo Horizonte, Brazil, can surprise for the intensity it can reach on 19 meters, at night. Yesterday, MUF had to be high, as it was better than the last ten nights. Mention, by two different speakers, of different brazilian towns (sounded like quotes for some goods, or something like that). At 2 minutes 40 seconds in the recording, start of a popular song.

TIME SIGNALS

3330 kHz – 05.09 UTC – 19th August 2011
CHU, from Ottawa (Canada), is one of the stations you have to sincerely worry when unheard. Stronger than this in some mornings (pips are well defined, even "digital" ones, but the voice announcement has here to be more guessed than heard. But, hey it's August and we're on three MHz.

3810 kHz (LSB) – 04.52 UTC – 19th August 2011
The guys at HD2IOA, Guayaquil in Equador, aren't among the most regulars here at early morning. However, sometimes, like in this case, they do remember the world shortwaves are done to go far! It sounds to me they changed the style of their time signal. Anyone more expert can advice?

10000 kHz – 05.07 UTC – 17th August 2011
Some mornings, PPE-Observatorio Nacional (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil), struggles its way to Europe with Fort Collins. Not this time, when the female voice from the land of the golden beaches and the eternal sun made no mercy of other signals.

HAM OPS

7160.8 kHz – 01.47 UTC – 14th August 2011
K1KNM, Ken in Vermont, stronger than the European stations he was working.

7190 kHz – 02.03 UTC – 14th August 2011
WG3J, a club station in Maryland. Hoisy channel, but – as we do say in Italy, you would sign papers to cross the Pond with such intensity.

14125 kHz – 20.20 UTC – 22nd August 2011
Twenty meters are like a roulette. Night falls, and after a while you'll understand if it's long, or short, skip. Yesterday night they offered this wonderful QSO between FM5AN, Guy in Fort de France (Martinique) and CT1JEY. Chatty and strong as they were on a local VHF repeater. In a word, marvellous, like the bands in the last days!

73,
Chris

A nice oversize envelope brought today a confirmation from NHK. The QSL, in the usual high end Nippon Hoso Kyokai style, depicts "Nippon Maru" (Kanagawa Prefecture), and confirms a reception of the Portuguese broadcast to South America, relayed from the Santiago (Chile) transmitting site, at 21.30-22.00 UTC, on 11880 kHz. The reception, that happened on 2nd June 2011, can be witnessed here. The report was sent via e-mail, to the address nhkworld@nhk.jp on last 19th June. So, it took a little more than sixty days to get acknowledgement Considering the envelope brought also an equally stylish card of the station, a Portuguese Service flyer and a global Schedule of Radio Japan, no complain at all!

73,
Chris

A good DXer rule is "Stay away from cluster spots", especially if you live in a not easy radio area like yours truly, and if you like to work barefoot. If you have no noise on a channel, maybe weak, but the other station could hear you. In the middle of a human zoo, with people playing who screams louder, your chances are close to zero since the beginning. So, pratically, what one has to do? Something that every SWL learnt very well in his headphones days: to scan the band until you find a DX station calling for your area. The opposite is easier, but that's what you must look for, since you are his DX too, so it's pretty logic he calls for you. Then, try to answer: if propagation is there, it should do the magic. It happened me yesterday afternoon, at 15.38 UTC, on 14290 kHz. A QRB of 10.162 kilometers with 40/50 watts and a vertical homebrew antenna (the mighty "fishing rod"): believe it or not, it's possible! Patience, deed to search the band and not pretending a 5/9 report for every whisper on the air. That's what completes a DXer luggage. Good luck, everybody!
 

73,
Chris

Some digital modes are really loved by OMs. Park yourself for a while on 14.070 kHz, and you'll be able to log dozens of PSK QSOs in half an hour. Other modes, like ROS, are quite new, and can count on a growing number of players. SSTV, despite being quite "historic", sees nowadays just a few disciples. Stay on 14.230 kHz for a couple days, and you'll be able to name them: EB5DZC, SP8LEP, RN3DL, IK0GDG, TA1EF, US1VS are in that gang. Very nice signals, and wonderful pieces of software around, like MMSSTV. The idea of sending images through the spectrum always charmed yours truly, and that's why I often have a radio on the twenty meters SSTV frequency to see what flows along the signals river. Doing this, to see not so many OM devoted to Slow Scan is sometimes disappointing. It feels like lots of licensed people are loosing a fun and fine chance to communicate. In the last days, however, the JASTA contest brought more life to the SSTV scene. At  (local) night, some DX were also possible. I'm referring mainly to Arnaldo, PY4BL, who is quite regular, always with an impressive signal, and beautiful screenshots. Furthermore, the contest made available snags from more "exotic" (DX-wise) countries. On yours truly' screen passed, among others: UN7GHK, Bahyt, from Almaty in Kazakhstan; ZC4MIS, Micheal from the UK sovereign zone in Cyprus; EK3GM, Boris in Armenia, and three japanese SSTV musketeers, which I really am happy to have received, as they are pretty rare catches in "peace time". I'm referring to Maga, JP7BNO, Tadao, JN1VNW, and Ken JA4HI. Thanks to all of you, guys, for making this contest (which is underway at the moment I'm typing, with PD0ME who just acknowledged call by IK0GDG) interesting to follow. For you all, just a prayer: don't stop sending images when the contest will be over, ok?

73,
Chris