QSL-Preview from S79SP
NOW QRT – The S79SP DXpedition is over. It is history now. Team members are on the way back home.
Stations were active to the very last moment of the DXpedition. During the last few hours there were three stations, then two stations and finally only one station acive on bands. We put down the last antennas already after sunset and under the tropical rain (we are lucky it’s a warm rain).
Many friends wished us to log over 50k QSOs. Unfortunately it was not possible: the propagation was not too good during the DXpedition. We also missed Jan SP3CYY who had to give up the DXpedition in the very last moment. So finally we have logged over 45.300 QSOs. [read more]
October 13 – We had very heavy tropical rain for the whole day yesterday which blocked our plugs of water for 160 & 80m antennas. At the moment all antennas have been rectified, retuned again and ready for operation. We are planning to spend the whole night for those 2 lower bands. In addition 30 & 20m activity is expected. 30m worked fine last night, with 100W only, good signals were reported from all of US; we worked with some station from west coast as well. 20m is extremly effective for US with rate up to 200 on SSB. At the moment one solid state PA is compleatly out of order. For the next expedition 5xGU50 tubes PA will be used which are very relible and very light as well.
October 12 – An exclusive update and pictures from Wlodek SP6EQZ, one week into the S79SP Dxpedition:
We’re close to nearly 30 000 QSO in our log with 36% of unique calls despite very poor propagation conditions. Thanks to all who’re patient enough to call us. Due to the limited space for antenna erecting we have some problems with solid state power amplifiers. They switch off frequently due to RF signals from other bands. So far the best performance is produced by the home made amplifier [GU50 Russian tubes made especially for us by Andy SP8BRQ]. Again not so many NA station logged due to short openings. In addition we have the same problem as on VK9X last year as EU & NA are on the same azimuth. It is not easy to stop EU pileup on upper bands. 40m & 80m work fine with NA for 2 hours before our sunrise including West Coast stations. We tried LP to West Coast as well before our sunset with the good result. We are very pleased to work with NA station due to their short calls and great discipline which allows us to reach high QSO rates with them. Top band is still handicapped as with 5 CW operators only nobody wants to spend the whole night for few QSO only. We are still here until next Sunday and looking forward to another 30,000 QSOs in our log. Please help us.
Web page: http://www.s79sp.dxing.pl/
