Do you remember that old Jack Daniel's advert, in which barrelmen show the secret ingredient of their recipe is giving their whisky the time needed to become one of the best? I think that every OM should be like JD employees: never too hurry to make "that special" QSO, never too willing to have in their shack the last radio. Rapidity is never a good advisor. In a previous post I explained how much I love to go vintage when it comes to work /P. Last week, I experienced the same feeling in a fixed QTH. I was at my elmer's home, and we both felt the desire to fire up one of his FT-101, that was unlit since too much time. A few radios can give you that "warm" and "plenty" sound, especially on low bands. To obtain the better result, we hooked the Yaesu to a magnetic loop my buddy built (he's miles ahead to me, as far as autoconstruction is involved) for 80 and 40 meters. If you never tried such antenna, please do that as quick as possible (you can find projects and instructions easily on the net). It's simply incredible. You tune the radio on the frequency/signal desired, then you regulate first its aiming, then its resonance via the capacitor on the loop, and you simply zero any noise, with the most perfect 1:1 ROS you've ever seen. It's not probably the main choice for DX, but for a local traffic (where local should be intended in HF terms) you can't beat that performance. Also because a magnetic loop really works high end with a reduced size: the 40/80 meters loop hasn't more than a meter diameter (and, consequently, it can easily be plugged to the banister of your balcony, not needing any bigger space). So, after choosing 40 meters (it was 17.00 UTC, yet a bit early for 80 mt.) we tuned on M0UNN working several stations. Fine regulation of the capacitor and, in seconds, he was coming in really well. The temptation to try a call, and see if the loop would made it with around 100 watts, was impossible to resist. The result is in the video below. Needless to say, yours truly enjoyed this QSO as much as working T32C. Why? First it was vintage true ham radio (my father isn't an ham, but I love to think he would have used one of those transceivers if he were in his youth), then it was smooth (and who said that with low than 5/9 you're not readable?!), and in the end it was made at the proper moment. Like Jack Daniel's. Cheers, and good CQ WW to everyone!
 

73,
Chris

Yet another five stars day on ten meters. The band sounded open already at 8.00 UTC. I did my first QSO on 28 MHz at 9.45, with US5ZCW passing me 5/8 from Ukraine. Then, at 10.19 UTC Turkey was a first signal of skip getting longer. TA3CY from Izmir had me 5/3. Then, two others QSO, always from eastern Europe, with the channels starting to be really crowded: UR5ET (5/8), and RU3ZG (5/5). The pattern was looking like the one we experienced in the last weeks (propagation gradually opening to the East, then "switching" to central and northern america), and SV8/HB9AAI at 10.55 was another nice contact (and he even gave me a beautiful 5/9). Then, the unexpected and so far unheard (for me, obviously) happened. At 11.17 UTC, on 28494,8 kHz, a voice in English deserved more attention, due to its accent. It paid, as it turned out to be VK6EH. He didn't hear me, but it was a pleasure to stay on the channel and listen to him work his long way to Europe on ten meters. Not the strongest signal ever, but readable, and hey… when has it been the last time you heard "down under" on 28 MHz? Pushing "record" was a natural pulse.
 

I stayed on Wayne's signal some more minutes (probably, my best ever QRB on this band, as an SWL), then decided to move, but finger remained shortly on the dial. 28527 revealed at 11.17 UTC a strong station, working a pile-up that wasn't terrible at the beginning. However, just the time to give out three or four times the callsign, and 8Q7DV (an Urali team in the Maldives) ended buried under calls from Europe. Let's check the last part of this clip to understand what "rapidly gaining popularity" means (and on 10 meters you don't know how it will last, so that's why everybody's hurry to work the DX).
 

I took a break to have lunch, and when I came back to the shack, propagation was still sparkling, with some arabic peninsula stations booming in. Many of them were working split, and had lots of callers. A61UU has been the one who heard me, at 12.47 UTC. As for all my QSOs, I'm proud as I made it with a vertical homebrew antenna (the "fishing rod" by my elmer IX1VKK) and nominal 100 watts. QRB to Ajman, QTH for A61UU, is 4809 km, which is my 2nd ever long distance contact on 28 MHz. I had from Abdul a fine 5/8, and I passed him the same. It wasn't the first time I worked A61, but everything on ten has a particular taste, given by the unpredictability of the propagation.
 

By 13.00 UTC, the band was alive with north and south American stations. I tried the big hit, and succeeded only partly. LU5FF did hear me indeed, but even if I litterally shouted in the microphone any time he asked me to repeat my prefix, I didn't manage to have him read my "X" between "I" and "1". He ended the QSO by passing 5/5 to I1CKN. I know he copied me, and this makes for even more satisfaction (two continents other than mine, in a single day!), but I don't think I'm properly in his log. However, this has probably been the best ten meters opening in the serie that started some two weeks ago. Sadly, switching from Daylight Saving Time will easily make the party end, with much more obscurity each day. So let's take every opportunity the next days will bring. To put it with a Tweet I read yesterday night: DX is everywhere on 10 these days!

73,
Chris

Work committments kept me far from this column. I beg your pardon! However, luckily enough, they didn't kept me completely away from radio. Gotta different stories to tell you. They'll be in spare order, but I'll try to summarize everything from where we left it.

Another Italian MW one
 

Prompted by a message on the "Bclnews" list and blog, in the evening of 5th October I gave a try to 1476 kHz where a new Italian station was announced to be testing. Medjugorje Italia Tv was the given name. A signal, in the range of S5-7, was there at 20.45 UTC, as you can witness in this video. Despite the religious denomination, the broadcaster was hitting the waves with a music loop including Lady Gaga's "Alejandro" and "Poker Face". Id was given only one time in the whole cycle, and it revealed also the e-mail address medjugorjeitaliatv[at]libero[dot]it. At present day, my report to that addy, sent on 7th October, is still pending. However, starting from that info, I was able to find an online source for Medjugorje Italia Tv: a website referring to a television channel, which seems to be offline. Playing a bit with the DNS lookup, you'll discover a name tied to previous "experimental" broadcasting experiences in the lake Garda area, like Tele Giovanni Paolo II (which had an MW outlet too, on 1620 kHz). I won't go further on this, nor I did check the following nights the signal, even if someone wrote it's quite good as it's from the same transmitting site (and antenna) of Challenger Radio (in Padova, Villa Estense). As a matter of fact, the only MW licensed broadcasting in Italy is from Rai, the national public radio. Everything else, comes from borderline interpretations of few lines on a law, and – as such – it's undefined in its future life. Aside this, I still can't see how listeners can enjoy a music loop for the whole night!

A(n) touching American history
 

One night, guess it was around 10th October, returning home from work I found in my mailbox one of the several SAE I send along with QSLs/Reception reports. It had a US mechanic stamp, and sender address was Californian. I couldn't tell much from this, as my outgoing flow is quite consistent, especially to the States. I did then open the envelope. It contained a card, in answer to one I sent as SWL. However, in the very moment I noticed the call on it, something I had read previously popped up in my mind. Excitement for a rare Country confirmation left its space to intense feelings, almost goosebumps. The card was to QSL my reception of T6AF, from Afghanistan, in RTTY, on 20 meters, during March 2010. However, all this didn't count then: I knew James McLaughlin had died, killed in Kabul by an Afghan pilot, along with other several Americans, on 27th April 2011. I was holding in my hands a QSL from an operator who will not be able to transmit once again (his home call was WA2EWE). It was strange and touching. Reading the card, I discovered it was sent by K6KLY, who – I suppose – took over on QSL duties for his colleague. In a few words, not only the promise of a card from T6 was kept (and that's the expectation I had when I sent my card), but Jim was being survived by the marks he left on the spectrum, and by the kindness of a friend. I'm not easy to be touched, but that night I was. I guess this is enlightning about ham spirit, and I hope everyone who hasn't caught the sense of QSLing so far will have a chance to read this. 73, James. I'm sure the bands doesn't show any QRM where you are now!

NCS for one day
 

In my IX1CKN clothes, I lived, on 9th October, an instructing experience. The local radio Club (ARI Aosta) asked if I was able to join in a radio net supporting the "Jolly Rally" taking place in Aosta and surroundings. I had been assigned, with Antonio IX1AOH, and Carlo IX1VGS, to the Net Control Station, situated at "Cittadella dei Giovani". The set-up was simple: two V/UHF radios, with collinear antennas. The race was not far from us, and we wanted to play safe as far as comms were involved. Someone asked me what is such a net about. I answer that you couldn't give the green flag to the rally without us. Five operators where on each of the four race segments. Everything was being monitored and reported, in real time, to the race director, sitting in front of us NCS hams, and asking to be constantly updated. We had a couple accidents, but nothing that seriously affected pilots. Cars were quickly removed, or were left in a position not troubling following ones, and everything went smooth. In my radio shift, I soon understood concentration was the main point. In such a situation, you are ears and mouth of the race director: you can't pretend an ham on the race track to feel at ease if you're not calm and collected. If you'll put uncertitude into the mike, the same thing will go out on the other end, and it will return back to you. So, being clear, firm, kind, polite and available to recognize your errors is the key. I don't know if I succeeded. I did try, and thanks to IX1BFL, IX1AQW, IX1OAE, IX1AZJ, and IW1APE for having "baptised" me as NCS first timer.

10 meters again!
 

Saturday 8th October, ten meters worked following the pattern they showed in previous week-ends. At first, in the morning, Russia and neighborood. Then, skip got longer, reaching Asia at the beginning of the afternoon, to turn to the Americas in the end. Such an incredible propagation allowed me, and my completely barefoot set-up (less than 100 watts and an homemade vertical), some seven QSOs: US3IFB, UR4MKY, UX3IT, UX1LN, EK6TA (which has to be my best QRB of the day), RX6AM, and UI7F/6. First contact at 10.55 UTC, last one at 15.49. However, as it happens in such circumstancies, the best part is what you hear, not what you work. So, please enjoy how AP2IA, Ijaz in Lahore, and CX7CO, Carlos in Montevideo, were coming in IX1 land (loc. JN35pr) respectively at 11.52 UTC on 28489.8 kHz, and at 16.11 UTC on 28630. The whole day was made even more pleasant by the continuous info exchange I had not thanks to the cluster, but via Twitter, much more interactive and fun. That way, I learnt also about the 10-10 net, being an an organization of amateur radio operators dedicated to maintaining high levels of amateur radio communications on the 10-meter amateur band. This might sound a bit obvious, but check their website, or follow them on Twitter, and you'll realize it's not. Before starting to write this long story, ten meters were alive again with Uruguay on 28491, heard here at real 5 by 9. What else to say, but "long live to 28 MHz"!

First CKN QSLs…
 

Day after day, time passed and patience led to the first two QSLs for IX1CKN. In the mailbox (bear in mind, if you want a card from me, that I'm not a buro member yet, so it has to be done direct for paper, eQSL or LOTW for electronic) I had the pleasure to find confirmations from PY7CPC – Peres in Recife, Brasil, who I had QSO with on 20 mt., last August – and 5B4KH, George in Nicosia, Cyprus, worked during the IOTA contest, on 31st July, on 10 meters. Two simple cards, rather old style (no picture on both), but containing the essentials. Peres, knowing it was my first QSO with his country, also added in the envelope a paper brazilian flag. If this isn't the final courtesy! So, two countries up, 327 to go. The way to the Honor Roll is long!

…and KC2YXI new one

Speaking about cards, I can't hide I've a new one for my US call. KC2YXI, so far, sent out a "no picture, basic data" card. Now, since the current week, thanks to the kindness and to the creativity of Giorgio IZ4AKS, I've a photographic one. And a very nice one, even. Manhattan, home for my call, is displayed in a portrait taken from the river, in which clouds add to the charming overall atmosphere. DXCoffee.com logo is there, and I couldn't be more proud of that. Look for me on one of US local repeaters, via the Echolnik (for me it's 100% ham radio), if you want this new creation.

QSL de Radio Trans Mundial

As witnessed by this clip, on 19th July 2011, I had the chance to pick up Radio Trans Mundial, from Sao Paulo, Brasil, on 11735 kHz. It isn't a so regular one, here. So, after reading some reports about this station confirming e-mail reports, I fired one to the address rtm[at]transmundial[dot]com[dot]br . Answer came yesterday, 13th October, under the form of a duly completed full data QSL card. It was filled and signed by Rudolf Grimm. The interesting thing is that he is a Dxer too, and you can read his blog DX Ways-Br to learn what he's up (of course, it's also on the side link list). In the envelope came also some magazines and publications. Thanks Rudy. It's not that easy, nowadays, to QSL brasilian stations, and to get such a sharp confirmation can make but a DXer day!

Going V/UHF collinear!
 

It was time I had to "settle" my V/UHF home station (consisting mainly of an FT-8800). As I previously tested the area surrounding home with portable set-ups, I know it's not big deal here. No way to sneak out of the Valley, no DX chances. So, I wanted something to give me good results in terms of local traffic. Dear friend IX1VGS, Carlo, had a spare Diamond collinear in its garage. It's the shortest one (X-30N), and I installed it yesterday. So far, reports are good, and local repeaters all have me transiting with good signal. If the test will go on with such results, I'll buy one. No deal to put up a 5 mt. Antenna, when you can fulfil your deeds with a 1,3 one!

That's it. Now the backlog is over. Back to regular schedule, under the promise to update you more often.

73,
Chris

I'm always short of time than needed, but this didn't prevent me from writing a new story for the friends at DXCoffee.com, which is online since yesterday. Following a previous article on ham radio from space, I had the pleasure to interview Louis McFadin. He's W5DID, but also a former NASA engineer, who worked nearly thirty years for the Agency, being involved in a variety of experiments on space applications of amateur radio. It's been an instructive opportunity for yours truly. Searching documents and informations for my previous "spatial" story taught me how difficult is to meet first hand sources, as everything you'll find on the topic is an handful of lines hidden among old webpages, and school teaching intended .pdf files. This interview tries to fill the gap. You can read it here in English, and here in Italian. In general terms, day after day, it's an enlighting experience to be part of the editorial team at DXCoffee.com. We keep ourselves away from the tempting breeze of flames, preferring to use that time to chase news of interest for the ham community. If you like what you've read so far on our site (and, for many things, remember where you read them first!), subscribe to our newsletter to keep updated on new stories and info. Just click on the image above, and secure yourself a daily cup of (DX)Coffee. Fine selected blend, for the demanding ham.

73,
Chris