LF: 472kHz Activity last night

[DAVE PICK <daveyxm@virginmedia.com>]

Fun evening last night making some QSOs on 472kHz.

I started out on CW and worked G3XIZ but other signals seemed weak and they were going much too fast for me!

Then I went over to FT8 and worked a few, but I am finding it very difficult to control the software, I think it needs a few seconds wait before the next over as you don't have enough time to react to what you have just received. Best on FT8 was DL6TY.

Then to JT9  which is a lot more manageable, DF8UO, EA1FBU, DK6SY and F4DTL were the best DX.

Thanks to David G0MRF who helped me practice making FT8 work.. chaos ensued!

At midnight I switched to WSPR but was only able to transmit until 0036 after which the TX tripped due to the antenna blowing about in the wind.

By 0530 the wind (storm Dylan!) was so strong that it took a branch off a tree which fell through a halyard and pulled the 472kHz antenna down. No more 472 until we get some clam dry weather.

In the mean time I received WSPR2 signals from WA4SZE (yes him), AA1A, W1IR and W4BCX as well as two-way copy with EA8 (he copied me before the TX tripped.)

I hope to be back on 472 early in 2018, I'll be in GM for a few weeks.

Happy New Year all!

Dave G(M)3YXM