vk5pas

///////////////////////////////////////////
2020 Trans Tasman Low Band Contest

Posted: 18 Jul 2020 07:13 PM PDT
https://vk5pas.org/2020/07/19/2020-t...-band-contest/


Last night (Saturday 18th July 2020) I took part in the 2020 Trans Tasman
Low Band Contest.Â* The aim of the contest is to encourage Low Band activity
Trans-Tasman that is between VK and ZL.Â* Only contest bands 160, 80, and
40M are allowed with

SSB, CW and Digital (RTTY OR PSK).

More information can be found on the WIA website at

https://www.wia.org.au/members/conte...o1Bwa8d7av31YM

I made a total of 166 contacts with a claimed score of 1,712 points.

The contest kicked off at 0800 UTC (5.30 p.m. South Australian local
time).Â* I started off on the 40m band, with my first contact being with
Jess VK6JES.Â* Unfortunately, the 40m band had closed to a lot of VK by this
time of the day.Â* I made a total of 17 contacts on 40m into VK2, VK4, VK6
and New Zealand.

I then moved to 80m and this is where I remained for the majority of the
evening, except for one other quick look on 40m.Â* The 80m band was in quite
good condition, except for the Over the Horizon Radar which took up a good
portion of the band and was strength 8.

I was running just 30 watts from my Yaesu FT-857d, with my antenna being a
20/40/80m linked dipole which is inverted vee, just 7 metres at the apex.Â*
I have absolutely no man-made noise at my new QTH at Ashbourne, but my
signal was not making it through the noise at the homes of some amateurs.Â*
They were very clear to me, but I just wasnt making it.

The map below shows my contacts during the contest.Â* I was very pleased to
make a number of contacts into New Zealand on 80m (also 40m).



All up I was quite happy with the 166 contacts.Â* I cannot wait for my shack
to be completed, and some substantial antennas to go up into the air.

The graph below shows my contacts on the 40m & 80m bands.



THANKS to everyone who called and GOOD LUCK to all those who took part.


///////////////////////////////////////////
OZ DX Net from the back verandah

Posted: 18 Jul 2020 06:36 PM PDT
https://vk5pas.org/2020/07/19/oz-dx-...back-verandah/


Last Wednesday (15th July 2020) I joined the OZ DX Net on 7.175 on the 40m
band.Â* The OZ DX Net is the successor to the very successful 7130 DX Net
which ran for many years.

As I have just moved to a new QTH, I dont have a permanent shack or
permanent antennas up in the air at the moment.Â* I have set up a temporary
station on my back verandah which comprises the Yaesu FT-857d, 30 watts
output, and my 20/40/80m linked dipole.Â* The dipole is inverted vee
configuration, supported by a 7-metre telescopic squid pole.



Conditions on the net were average.Â* But I did manage one DX contact to
Chuck K9RM in Indiana, USA and a number of Australian stations.Â* Below is a
short video of some of those contacts.



My noise floor was a little high, and I have since worked out where the
noise originated, and that was the downlights on the back verandah.

The OZ DX Net is held every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 1000 UTC,
usually on 7.175 or thereabouts.