My first 5MHz activation

The Norwegian Post and Telecommunications Authority announced the new Regulations for Radio Amateurs Friday. The new regulations gave us access to 60m, 4m, and extensions on 12m and 40m.

Today I decided to try out 60m from a local summit in the Summits On The Air (SOTA) program. I worked 9 stations in G, GW and GM with my Yaesu FT-817ND, Elecraft T1 ATU and an inverted V style 88ft doublet.

Another SAC QSL

Today another QSL-card from the Scandinavian Activity Contest dropped down in my letter box. It was from 5B4AIF in Cyprus, a new DXCC for me!

QSLs from the Scandinavian Activity Contest

My preferred method of sending QSLs is via the bureau. When I really need a card for a new country or a new band-country I tend to send my card directly including one or two IRCs and an addressed envelope.

After the SAC contest in September I sent a few by mail and the answers have already started to drop down in my mailbox. I have received cards from 4X0A (Israel) and EA6AZ (Balearic Islands). 4X0A is the contest call of Jan 4X1VF and the backside of the card is correctly labeled 4X0A.

I worked EA6AZ on 20m and 15m and 4X0A on 15m. That gave me 3 new band-countries. Thanks to both Jan and Tano!

International QRP Day Plaque

Last week I received a package from George Dobbs G3RJV containing a plaque for winning GQRPs 2009 International QRP Day. To bad that only Bob 2E0ATZ, Peter G3JFS, Valery RW3AI and myself attended the event.

I'm hoping for more competition next year!

Licenced for four years

Today I have been licenced for four years so I decided to take a closer look at my electronic log data. I used a software called ADIF Filter by Marek SP7DQR to make the statistics.

• 54.2% of my QSOs are made in 2009 while only 5.1% in 2006
• 42.1% of my QSOs are on 20m and 31.0% on 40m
• 62.5% of my QSOs are made while operating /Portable
• My QSL return rate is 27.5%
• I have worked 67 DXCCs, all with 5W SSB

Visiting Julian G4ILO

When I was in England last month with Aage LA1ENA, Kjell LA1KHA and Halvard LA1DNA we were invited to Julian and his wife Olga.

We had a very nice evening with delicious food and the very good Jennings Beer. Julian showed us his homebrew Wonder loop and his HB-1A Chinese CW rig.

Thanks to both of you!

Ham radio podcasts

A few years ago I bought a Creative MP-3 player planning to listen to audio books. While searching the net for free audio books I came across some ham radio related podcasts. Some of them I enjoyed a lot and some of them I stopped downloading after a few episodes.

My current favorites are:

• SolderSmoke by Bill Meara
• ICQ Podcast by Martin and Colin Butler
• This Week in Amateur Radio International

You can learn more about podcasting at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Podcast