Plenty of activity this weekend on 136kHz.
Stations worked here using normal speed CW:
Friday 19/3
G3YXM (20.24UT: he was 59+9, gave me 59+9).
Saturday 20/3
F6CNI (08.05: crossband; 59+9 on 3532kHz, 579), HB9ASB (08.32: 559, 449),
DF3LP (08.50: 449, 449), PA0LQ (09.52: 559, 569), PA0SE (10.05: 579, 579),
EI0CF (11.46: 579, 55/69), G3GXQ (crossband; 599 on 3534kHz, 559),
G3IGU (21.05: crossband; 599 on 3553kHz, 569).
Sunday 21/3
HB9ASB (08.37: 569, 449), DJ5BV (08.45: 339QSB, 339), DF0WD (09.04: 559,
559), G3YXM (09.51: 59+9, 59+9), EI0CF (12.02: 579, 569), MM0ALM (13.49:
579, 569).
I was out most of Friday evening so I didn't get much chance to operate. I
did hear OH1TN a couple of times around 21.00UT, but much weaker than usual
at RST-449.
Saturday morning was very active. I had an excellent crossband QSO with
Andy F6CNI followed by a much better 2-way with Toni than we managed the
previous weekend. I was then very pleased to be called by Peter DF3LP, a
new station for me on 136, although long time contributor to this reflector.
Finbar was operating from home, but still a very good signal and copying
me well. The two G stations I worked crossband in the evening were both
using untuned wire antennas straight into the rig - I still find this
surprising as I'm sure very few experienced amateurs would do this on the
HF bands, where it probably makes less difference......
Sunday was a disaster weather-wise with strong, gusty winds and heavy rain
showers, so the antenna was under-performing much of the time. I managed
another quick QSO with Toni and then scraped one with DJ5BV - another new
station for me - despite bad rain static. By the time I worked Wolf DF0WD
the noise had mostly cleared, so the second half of this contact was very
good. From 10.22 to 11.53UT I was copying Marzio I5MXX on 136.900kHz calling
CQ and making a couple of contacts, with very slow QSB varying from RST-339
to a nice 559. I called many times, got a few QRZs and was called at 11.00,
but unfortunately didn't manage a QSO - which was very frustrating again,
particularly when Mal steamed in over the top of me.......
Another good contact with Finbar and then one with Dave MM0ALM completed a
rather mixed day.
Regards John G4GVC near Leicester, IO92JP
** TX: Synth + 400W RF from modified 'G3YXM' Mosfet PA **
** RX: TS-850S with 3 x CW filters and 0.5ppm TCXO **
** Ant: Inv-L 60m long, 6m high at feed end, 12m high at far end **
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