Saturday, October 16, 2010

5R8RJ ... Madagascar in the log !!



I headed off to the Birkhead Wilderness Area today about 11:30 AM to operate portable and test my new 17 meter Par End Fedz from LNR Precision. It was a beautiful day with temps in the high 60's and plenty of sunshine. My portable set-up included my Yaesu FT-857 D ...  (TX power was 50 to 100 watts depending on propagation of course) ... A123 Battery Pack from Buddipole ...  31 ft Jackite fiberglass mast ... with a 17 meter End Fedz dipole ... mounted completely Vertical on the mast. All contacts were SSB... from 16:20 Z to 18:30 Z .... Conditions were good, but I missed the European peak .. as I arrived a little too late in the day. But, late is better than never ... and at the end of the day, I still ended up with a total of 11 contacts .... which is not too bad at all !!

Call   /  my signal  /  location


1. IK4UPI / 42 / Italy
2. KE7PZX / 59 / Washington
3. WB5HOW / 55 / Texas
4. IW2CLM / 56 / Italy
5. XM7CPR / 56 / BC Canada
6. UA6BRD / 58 / EU Russia
7. KP2/N1WON / 59 / US Virgin Islands
8. N0CD / 57 / Colorado
9. 5R8RJ / 56 / Madagascar
10. CO6LC / 59 / Cuba
11. EA3BOX / 52 / Spain


The most exciting part of the trip was when I heard 5R8RJ in Madagascar calling cq w/ no takers ... I worked him on the 2nd call ... and received a 56 signal report .... Guess the new antenna is a Keeper !!!


For photo's of the operation ... CLICK HERE 


*** A special thanks goes out to Taylor... my photographer and 11 yeaer old daughter ... who joined me on the hike !!


73 de N4LA

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