I didn't have any meetings or anywhere that I had to go last evening, so after dinner I popped down the basement and turned on the rig. I worked three POTA stations, two on 20 Meters and one on 15 Meters. Then I saw that China was spotted on 15 Meters while I was still on the band.
I twiddled the dial on over there and to my surprise I was actually able to hear him. Asia, in general, presents a problem for me. Oceania has not been a big problem as I've logged Australia, New Zealand and many of the island nations such as Fiji and French Polynesia, and I've logged Japan numerous times. However, mainland and Southeast Asia remain a bugaboo for me. I've worked India ......... once. I've never logged China, Korea, Vietnam the Philippines or any of the other countries in Southeast Asia. Heck, not only have I never logged them - I hardly ever hear them!
So it was nice to actually hear China for once. The signal must have been coming over the Pole, as it has that watery, fluttery and warbly sound to it. The signal was on the weak side 449 to 559 at best, but I figured I'd give it a shot. I turned up the KXPA100 to about 90 Watts and put out my call sign, numerous times. I switched back and forth between the Butternut and the W3EDP to no avail. Even though there wasn't much of a pileup, the only response I got after throwing my call sign out was another CQ by the Chinese station. Not even so much as a "?" or a "QRZ?", so I knew I was not being heard at all.
After about a 1/2 an hour, I threw the big switch and came upstairs. There will be another time, I'm sure.
Coming up this weekend:
JOTA is this weekend. Jamboree-on-the-Air (JOTA), the largest Scouting event in the world, takes place on the third weekend of October (10/20 - 10/22). This annual global operating event allows Scouts to use amateur radio to connect with hams around the world. The event is supported by many local amateur radio clubs and individual operators. JOTA starts Friday and ends Sunday, but there are no official hours of operation, so you have the whole weekend to make JOTA contacts.
Contests with a QRP category :
10-10 Int. Fall Contest, CW - http://www.ten-ten.org/index.php/activity/2013-07-22-20-26-48/qso-party-rules
New York QSO Party - https://www.nyqp.org/
Worked All Germany Contest - http://www.darc.de/der-club/referate/conteste/worked-all-germany-contest/en/rules/
Stew Perry Topband Challenge - https://www.kkn.net/stew/
YLRL DX/NA YL Anniversary Contest - https://ylrl.net/contests/ (X3 Multiplier for QRP)
Special Events (Courtesy of the ARRL website)
10/20/2023 | Merit Badge Workshop and JOTA-JOTI
Oct 20-Oct 22, 0000Z-2359Z, K8T, Dover, OH. Canton ARC and Tusco ARC. 7.270 14.270. Certificate. Canton ARC, POB 8673, Canton, OH 44711. Certificate requests to dalelamm@ieee.org for an electronic response. Paper requests to Canton ARC, POB 8673, Canton OH 44711 with an SASE or one green stamp. tuscazoar.org
10/20/2023 | Operation Able Archer '83 40th Anniversary
Oct 20-Nov 3, 0000Z-2359Z, W3A, Lewes, DE. East Penn Amateur Radio Club/MRCA. 7.190 RTTY 3.996 USB 5.357 USB 14.337 USB. QSL. Walt Skavinsky, 1574 Layfield Rd , Pennsburg, PA 18073. 1983 Brink of the Apocalypse Able Archer 83 was a ten-day (NATO) communications exercise starting on November 2, 1983, that spanned Western Europe, centered on the Supreme Headquarters Allied Europe Headquarters, Able Archer exercises simulated a period of conflict escalation, culminating in a simulated DEFCON 1 coordinated nuclear attack The exercise also introduced a new, unique format of coded communication, radio silences, and the participation of heads of government. The realistic nature of the 1983 exercise, coupled with deteriorating relations between the United States and the Soviet Union and the anticipated arrival of Pershing II nuclear missiles in Europe, led some members of the Soviet Politburo and military to believe that Able Archer 83 was a ruse of war, obscuring preparations for a genuine nuclear first strike In response, the Soviets readied their nuclear forces and placed air units in East Germany and Poland on alert. This is known as the 1983 war scare. The 1983 war scare is considered by many historians to be the closest the world has come to nuclear war since the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962. the threat of nuclear war ended with the conclusion of the exercise on November 11. To recognize the sacrifices of our military, signal corps, and members of the clandestine services during this critical time in the history of the cold war, we will host a special event station. Our special event will consist of operation from the Cold war home of Naval Facility Lewes (NAVFAC Lewes), a Sound Surveillance System (SOSUS) shore terminal. using period style military radios and antennas to make the contacts. www.ablearcher83.com
10/20/2023 | Operation Able Archer '83 40th Anniversary
Oct 20-Nov 3, 0000Z-0000Z, W9A, Salem, WI. W9AFB. 3.996 5.357 7.225 14.323. Certificate. Scott Grams, 26233 90th St, Salem, WI 53168. Midwest station of the Operation Able Archer '83 40th Anniversary special event. See W3A special event station, W9AFB on QRZ, or website for more details. Will operate from the former Richard Bong Air Force Base in Wisconsin on October 21-22. Other days will be holiday style, multiple bands and modes. Email for sked. www.ablearcher83.com
10/21/2023 | Jamboree On The Air
Oct 21, 1600Z-2359Z, K2BSA/6, Bakersfield, CA. Boy Scouts Of America. 14.340. QSL. Sharon Godley, 2701 Fordham, Bakersfield, CA 93305. Scouts of all ages around the world will be on the air. QSL Manager N2OWL n6aj@arrl.net
10/21/2023 | Jamboree on the Air - Troop 104
Oct 21, 1400Z-2200Z, W2S, Wayne, NJ. Packanack Troop 104 - Scouting BSA. 14.290 7.190 147.450. Certificate. Jim Sadur, 5 Packanack Lake Rd., Wayne, NJ 07470. Sponsored by the Wayne Radio Amateur Emergency Team (WRAET). Certificates via Jim, N2RBJ. SASE appreciated. https://wraet.com
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!
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