The first weekend of july we will be active in VHF contest from JO29 with the call LA/PE1BTV/P also on HF with the call LA/PA3FMC/P (IOTA EU-056) from Karmoy Island.
After this we will be active from JP31 and JP21 for MS and EME on 2 meter and HF (IOTA EU-055) with the calls LA/PA3FMC/P and LA/PE1BTV/P.
The E-QSL's from henk PA3FMC are sent. When i receive the printed cards i will send them via the buro to all. I have already received a few requests for direct qsl cards and they will receive the printed card by mail.
73 Henk PA3FMC
The qsl card design is ready and sent to Max ONUR who will print our special qsl card.
Front side
Back side
I am sorry that i have to mention that Karmoy Island dos not qualify for IOTA. We had wrong information prior to departure. Sorry for all the stations that counted for EU-056.
Our qsl card will not confirm IOTA EU-056.
Contacts from Ytre Sula Island will count for EU-055.
I enjoyed this expedition very much. I have travelled a lot, but this was my first visit to Norway. A beautifull country.
Also this was our first dxpedition experience and we have learned many things from this. We already have plans for the next year.
Working on the HF bands from the islands was a great experience. The noise levels where much lower than on the crowded home qth. For many stations this was a new IOTA.
Many thanks to all the people who helped us making our expedition a succes, we couldnt do without you.
Because of the very primitive station accomodation, and the bad weather on the last day, we had to stop one day before plan. Sorry for the stations who listened for us.
We are now preparing the qsl card's to send to all the stations who worked us.
Thanks for all the contacts.
Best 73 Henk PA3FMC
Personaly I have enjoyed the "expedition" verry much. The travelling to Ytre Sula was a expedition by itself. You wouldn't believe the roads we were on. Not any wider than the car itself.
The weather was good. Only the friday was bad. For this reason we had to break up early. Sorry for those who planned to work us on this last day.
The MS periods were great. Several times we could see more than one station in one period. Once we did see 8!! stations in one period. Maybe we should find a way to work multiple stations simultaniously, hi.
To all we have worked.
Thanks for the contacts. If the square is new to you, congratiolations.
To all we have heard but not worked.
Sorry we didn't work you.
And to all we didn't hear but did call us. Sorry, next time better luck.
All stations we worked will be send a QSL card.
Hope to meet you all again on the band.
73's de Ruud LA/PE1BTV
PA4EME 0850
OK1UAK 0903
SM7FMX 0927
OH1ND 0952
OZ2TF 1008 also 5/5 tropo
HB9DFG 1017
OZ8FR 1039
HA6NQ 1122
SM5CUI 1140
OE3FVU 1709
F6HVK 1735
DF8IK 1752
AFTER THIS CONTACT WE STOPPED DUE TO STORM.
Heard or not complete:
DK5WL D55NK
PA3BIY IK1PAG
MS QSO's by LA/PE1BTV 05/07
EI5FK 0857
DK4TG 0933
PA3COB 0951
OZ1LPR 1022
DL6ZAU 1032
DH2UAK 1112
OM3BC 1128
SP2MKO 1150
DJ5BV 1213
SP5GZZ 1224
DK5EW 1243
PE1GNP 1258
DJ9MG 1329
F6APE 1336
F5JNX 1348
DG5AAg 1446'
PA2DW 1519
ES6RQ 1545
SM3JLA 1552
RX1AS 1600
Worked on SSB
G4DEZ 0900 55
Heard or not complete:
Because there are so many stations calling, qso's will be aborted after a period of 20 min of no pings.
HA5CW IW4ARD
F6HVK OZ8FR
PD0ORT OZ2TF
G4AEP PA4PS
F5VHX RU1AA
Rise and shine at 8:00 hrs.
Ruud started up the MS station and Henk started to build up the spiderbeam.
Both VHF and HF stations are running fine and better than the last location.
We went to do some shopping in the small store in the harbour.
The man who owns the small shop, runs a petrol station, acts as the postmaster and runs a ferry to the nearby islands invited us for a boat trip in the evening to the lighthouse island. This island is the most western part of Norway.
It is a quiet and very very peacefull island over here. In the winter time however everything is very rough.
SP2JYR 1443
PA1GYS 1455
PE1AHX 1518
PA0JMV 1539
DK3WG 1555
PA0V 1604
F1DUZ 1614
G8VYK 1621
DL4DWA 1628
G4IGO 1658
PA3FPQ 1713
PA3CEE 1722
DF4YL 1744
SP6GWB 1750
HA5UK 1802
DL5ROB 1825
SM4MPB 1850
DL2ARD 1915
Heard or not complete:
Because there are so many stations calling, qso's will be aborted after a period of 20 min of no pings.
OK2AG HA5CW
OK1TEH DD3SP
DH1AC DK4PG
DH6ICE PA4PS
DD3SPY F5JNX
DF2ZD DL6ZAU
DF8IK DJ9CZ
PA4EME OZ1LPR
SP6GZZ
Today we went to the outer island of the solund islands Ytre Sula. We drove up to Dalöy to take the ferry but the ferry did not depart until afternoon. So we decided to do some shopping back in Hardbakke. After taking the ferry we drove to Kolgrov, we spoke to a very nice Norwegian man who owned the land we are on now. It is a beautifull spot here. We are at about 30m above sea level with a clear view 360 degrees round. Best of all, no gsm coverage.
The locator here is JP21IA:
We started setting up the MS Station. Henk started building the HF mast with a dipole for 80/40m.
From 2200 hrs we got Thousands of "knuttjes" small flies that almost ate us alive.
So we decided to hit the sack early. In bed we could not sleep because of the humming of the thousands of flies and the high temperature.
VHF contest log by LA/PE1BTV in SSB (not fanatic):
Date Time RST Snt Call RST Rcvd Grid Distance km
0701 1416 59 1 G4DEZ 59 3 JO03AE 740
0701 1420 59 2 G0ESO 59 3 JO03AE 740
0701 1422 59 3 G4ZDA 59 3 JO03AE 740
0701 1423 59 4 GM4ZUK/P 59 16 IO86RW 520
0701 1448 59 5 G5LK/P 59 9 JO02RF 809
0701 1453 59 6 G1JKX 59 8 IO95CF 609
0701 1503 59 7 LA1ZE 59 2 JO28TP 65
0701 1508 59 8 G8DOT/P 59 1 JO03AE 740
0701 1511 59 9 G5RP/P 59 1 JO03AE 740
0701 1515 59 10 G0OLE/P 59 13 IO93PW 687
0701 1517 59 11 MM0DQQ/P 59 22 IO85RU 593
0701 1518 59 12 G0GLH 59 4 IO95FD 606
0701 1530 59 13 M0ERG/P 59 9 JO03BF 733
0701 1534 59 14 G3LRS/P 59 37 IO92MO 827
0701 1544 59 15 MM3ERP 59 1 IO87RJ 495
0701 1751 59 16 GM6VXB/P 59 4 IO99IW 376
0701 2100 59 17 GM3YOG/P 59 6 IO85XT 573
0702 559 59 18 G3VER/P 59 183 IO91RU 892
0702 612 59 19 G3FJE/P 59 98 IO92XA 862
0702 716 59 20 G6FRS/P 59 72 IO91PF 961
0702 751 59 21 G5XV/P 59 212 IO91GI 967
0702 844 59 22 G3GWB/P 59 82 IO92LJ 850
0702 848 59 23 G5RR/P 59 67 IO93GC 792
0702 940 59 24 G1INK/P 59 4 IO84XE 710
0702 942 59 25 G8ZK/P 59 45 IO93NF 762
0702 944 59 26 G4VDH 59 3 IO95TG 550
0702 953 55 27 GX7OOO/P 55 48 IO94AD 711
0702 1008 59 28 M1ETX 59 16 IO94HM 655
0702 1043 59 29 G0ROC/P 59 219 IO83VQ 762
0702 1048 59 30 G1NFT 55 12 IO94FX 621
0702 1359 51 31 LA9RY 59 1 JO29PT 70
Today we packed the tent and travelled via Haugesund, Odda, Utna (the boat just left when we arrived) So we decided to have lunch here.
We travelled further via Voss, Dale, Mo to Rutledal where we took the boat to Sula. Due to the small roads and mountain passes the trip took much longer than we had planned 9hrs.
One of the many very small tunnels with two way traffic but road only wide enough for one vehicle.
After arriving at Sula we decided to stay overnight in a Hotel. When using the wireless internet for calling home we were raided by many small flies.
Today Ruud worked again in the vhf contest and Henk found a way to make bpsk qso's on HF. We had lovely weather 25 degrees. After the contest we packed all the radio stuff again.
Ruud has blown up his preamp so we are listening on VHF MS only with the bare TS2000. Sorry for all those we could'nt hear.
Tomorrow we will travel to JP21 square and will not be qrv.
The APRS will be working again so you can check our current position. We will update the logged contacts later on.
Today we had some small technical problems. At first the
ts-440 has problems with the vox circuit making it very difficult to make PSK qso's.
The weather was lovely today,very sunny and about 24 degrees. On two metres we had good ms contacts. In the
vhf contest we worked mainly UK stations. G4DEZ was very loud and we could work him with only 0,5 watt
from a portable with rubber duck antenna at a distance of about 740 km.
Tomorrow we will continue in the vhf contest. On monday we will move further north.
Date Time Freq Mode MyCall RST Call RST
20060630 2152 14170 USB LA/PA3FMC 57 IW2OGJ 56
20060630 2121 3655 LSB LA/PA3FMC 59 ON4CII 59
20060630 2122 3655 LSB LA/PA3FMC 59 PA/ZB2IV 59
20060630 2135 3655 LSB LA/PA3FMC 59 PE1PUK 59
20060630 2136 3655 LSB LA/PA3FMC 59 PE8JPL 59
20060630 2152 3655 LSB LA/PA3FMC 59 PA1JOS 59
20060630 2156 3655 LSB LA/PA3FMC 59 PA1SL 59
20060701 721 14188 USB LA/PA3FMC 59 UE1NLO 59
20060701 820 7080 LSB LA/PA3FMC 59 GB90SOM 59
20060701 917 7082 LSB LA/PA3FMC 57 G6RTD/P 59
20060701 27 7098 LSB LA/Pa3FMC 59 MX5CDS 59
20060701 1400 7080 LSB LA/PA3FMC 59 PA0FLE 59
20060701 1402 7080 LSB LA/PA3FMC 59 GB4JLC 59
20060701 1736 14162 USB LA/PA3FMC 52 JA3JOT 53
20060701 1745 14203 USB LA/PA3FMC 59 EC7DX 59
20060701 18?? 14208 USB LA/PA3FMC 59 G6PZ 59
20060701 1836 14283 USB LA/PA3FMC 59 VA3YDX 59
20060701 1845 14196 USB LA/PA3FMC 59 VX9WGS 59
20060201 1917 14169 USB LA/PA3FMC 59 4Z5RR 59
20060701 1933 7060 LSB LA/PA3FMC 59 LY80A 59
20060701 2012 7097 LSB LA/PA3FMC 59 MM3DDS/P 59
MS
call date time
DL4WDA 01/07 8:1?
PE1BTX 01/07 8:46
HB9DFG 01/07 9:01
DJ9CZ 01/07 9:46
G4FUF 01/07 9:54
MS Heard not wkd:
IW4ARD
RX1AS
PD0ORT
DK2WL
2 meter contest contacts will follow tomorrow
We departed on wednesday at about 11 o clock.
The APRS broke down just after departure due to a short circuit in the power cable to the radio. We drove via hamburg, kopenhagen, oslo and haugesund to Karmoy island.
Locator JO29OE. On thursday we put up the tent and the 6 meter antenna. On friday we put up the 9 element 2 meter antenna and HF spiderbeam after that we put up the 80/40m dipole.
Ruud made a couple of Meteorscatter qso's.
Tomorrow we will participate in the VHF contest.
MS QSO's By LA/PE1BTV From JO39OE
Date Time Freq Call
20060630 1525 144370 PA5KM
20060630 1552 144370 F6HVK
20060630 1645 144370 PE1AHX
20060630 1708 144370 G4DEZ
20060630 1823 144370 DL6ZAU
20060630 1847 144370 DF6YL (sri forgot you in the weblog)
20060630 1911 144370 SP2JYR
Sorry to inform you all that due to a mistake of the provider all the log data of last month has disapeared.
I will try to put the lost data at another provider and will keep you informed about the progress. Your reactions however cannot be restored.
brgds and 73 Henk PA3FMC
Because last time when we tested the 2 meter PA we did not have a watt meter available, Ruud decided to test the PA again on a dummy load with watt meter. The results where rather disapointing. The PA generated only a 3dB gain and was drawing a lot of current. Ruud got another PA amplifier from Theo PA1TK. We will use this one on our dxpedition.
Yesterday I repaired my TS-440S who had a small problem in the filter switching circuit. Cause was a bad solder joint on the relay in the TX path for 20m and 30m. After soldering the relay joint the problems where gone.
I also got a disc lock for the trailer and some spare bulbs for the rear lights.
I soldered two connectors on the coax for the 160m dipole. All coax cables are hanging at the inside of the trailer for easy access and to prevent damage.
3,5 KW Generator for MS and EME operation
700 W Generator
TS2000 HF,6m, 2m
TS440S HF
FT736R 6m,2m (we will not use 70cm and 23cm)
TH-7D 2m APRS with garmin GPS-38
QRO Homemade 2m PA
180 watt 2m transistor PA (backup)
AEA-300 HF Antenna tuner
Antenna's:
160m dipole
80m dipole with open feedline
40m dipole with open feedline
30m dipole with open feedline
20m Spiderbeam
15m Spiderbeam
10m Spiderbeam
6m 1/2 wave homemade vertical
2m 9 elem GB antenna modified with folded dipole radiator
Yesterday I found out that the 5/8 antenna for 6m did not work very well. I couldn't get it to work. I decided to modify a 11m half wave vertical. At first I had to change the loading coil by reducing the number of turns. Now i got 5,5 turns coil with a tap on 2 for the feed point. It seems to work the best with a half wave radiator. The vswr is 1.5 but probably better when mounted higher above ground. I worked spain and Italy from the back garden.
Today I got a trailer to carry all the extra stuff we need for the dxpedition. The size is L=2,10m B=0,90m H=1,35m and can carry up to 750kg (including own weight)
Last wednesday I got the 2 meter "veron verkoopbureau" folded dipole from kees PA5WT on the local radio club meeting. I also discussed with Ruud PE1BTV which locations to use in Norway. I spoke to Werner PA0FLE who will update our internet weblog. We will try to inform him using sms from mobile phone and psk31 on HF to transfer the qso log and weblog information. Werner will also update the dxcluster while we are there.
This evening i sorted out some coaxial cable and created a coaxial balun for the 2 meter folded dipole radiator. I tested the VSWR which looks very good. We will use the folded dipole in the GB 9 element yagi and use the original dipole as a spare. Further i am searching on the internet for a secondhand small trailer to carry the baggage, not much luck for now. Probably tomorrow a better chance because a local rental place sells most of their trailers.
We had to check out the 2 meter PA and generator + antenna so we decided to set this up. At first we did not get any power out of the PA but after consulting the owner, he drove about 80 km to come over and help us out. We forgot to use an aditional switch contact for the PA. After placing a jumper we could test the power output and the generator. After that a connector came off the coaxial cable.
The PA and TS2000
Testing The PA.
HT Power supply and switchbox