MFJ-1788x

Paul PC4T asked me for some info about the MFJ-1788x magnetic loop antenna and I have decided to share my opinions so far.

As some of you might know I live in a row house with no possibility for outside antennas. After reading some reviews I started to check prizes from different suppliers and found that I could save some money by importing the antenna directly from MFJ Enterprises in USA.

I do most of my operations away from home but I have had QSOs with MW, I, GM, LY, S5, OH, 9A, HG, LA and EA with the mag-loop and 5w SSB so far. All QSOs were on 20m except the EA station whom I worked on 17m. My main problem is the very high local QRM that I experience at home, most of the time it reaches S7 - S9!

The loop is located 3 - 4m above the ground in a spare upstairs bedroom I use as my shack. The antenna is mounted in a vertical configuration, currently without a rotator. As this is my only HF antenna at home I haven't had any possibilities to compare it to others but the signal reports I receive doesn't seem to bad for a QRP station with an indoor antenna.

Julian G4ILO has written an excellent review of the antenna that you can find here.

Worked 3V3S

Today I worked 3V3S on 17m with QRP SSB and a W3DZZ antenna. That brings my DXCC score to 68, all of them with 5w SSB! I really enjoyed this one as I used to be a scout myself!

http://www.3v3s.tk/

NRRL Phone Contest 2009

This weekend I was working the NRRL Phone Contest (NRRL Telefonitest) for Norwegian amateurs. The contest is spanning 3 two hour periods, one on Saturday from 13.00 to 15.00 UTC and two on Sunday from 07.00 to 09.00 UTC and from 13.00 to 15.00 UTC. You can work the same stations in all periods and on both 40m and 80m. The conditions on 80m were good this weekend and I know many of the contesters managed to get very high scores. I was of cause in the Single Operator QRP category and worked 126 QSOs which gave me 21672 points.

International QRP Collection

The book International QRP Collection - a compendium of QRP articles from around the world arrived today! Rev. George Dobbs G3RJV and Steve Telenius-Lowe 9M6DXX has collected a great number of articles, projects and reviews from different QRP sources. My first impression is good and I'm looking forward to read it.

You will find the book in the RSGBshop

I/LA1TPA/QRP

My wife and I have just returned from a short trip to northern Italy. We visited Verona, Venezia and Bergamo. In Verona we went to the 'Museo della Radio', the Radio Museum. It is a collection of over 700 radios, mostly receivers.


In Bergamo I managed a short 2-way qrp qso with my friend Aage LA1ENA on 20m ssb with a short wire out the hotel window!

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!