I’m very pleased to be able to post this quick update to say that my insurance has paid out for everything I claimed. There was a very minor adjustment to one price I submitted where they’d found an item slightly cheaper but apart from that I’ve now had a full and complete settlement. It’s been […]
Days 197, 198 and 199 – The RSGB Convention
I started off on day #197 by working a few stations in some contest or other, I worked EC7DND, RM3Q, 4O3A, EA5GS and RY7Y on 20m followed by DQ60SAAR and DG1EA on 40m. After that I spoke to UT7Y, S53EO, RN3F and ER3CT back on 20m. Later in the day I had a nice chat […]
New best DX on 6m
There were some nice conditions on 6m yesterday evening and while tuning around I heard SV9GPV on Crete working a long string of stations. I joined in the throng but in half an hour of calling I didn’t manage to get through the pileup. In the end he QSYd to 4m so I tuned further […]
Days 194, 195 and 196 – I’ve got a new wireless!
As you can see from the above, I’m now the proud owner of a Kenwood TS-590S. I spoke to the insurance company on Thursday morning and we went through the details of my claim. Only one item was questioned as they’d managed to find the same model laser printer I’d listed at £40 cheaper than […]
Days 190-193, the insurance claim is nearing completion
I was expecting to be at work on days #190 and #191 but that didn’t happen and so for the first time in nearly two weeks I had some real free time to play radio. I started on day #190 by working DL0YLA, Annette on 40m and then having a very quick QSO with E77WM […]
Plans for a new aerial mast
As documented elsewhere, I did significant work to my VHF aerial system last year consisting of a new rotator, cable and masthead preamplifier. This has been all very good and has given me a half decent VHF aerial system but it’s also shown weaknesses. My location isn’t great for VHF, the aerial would benefit from […]
Days 185-189, two visits from the insurance company
Not many QSOs during these days but that’s not too surprising as my shack really is decimated with no computers, a bare minimum of an Internet connection through a dodgy router and a borrowed radio balanced on top of my old broken radio. On day #185 I spoke to PA/ON4IPA, Martin on 40m, on day […]
Review – June
Luckily I keep a paper log as well as a computer log so I am able to provide some statistics for the month of June. I can’t give as much detail as usual but the basics are here. QSOs made: 301 QSL cards sent: 231 DXCC entities worked: 49 New DXCC entities worked: 3 DXCC […]
Days 178-184, lightning, security and insurance
Day #178 saw me just working the higher bands, I spoke to DO8ABS, EW6DX and IZ5ENZ on 10m and HA5JI, YO5OHY, SP7HKK and HA6NL on 6m. Day #179 was the day of the lightning strike but luckily for the project I’d worked W4DXX, Eric on 20m in the morning before leaving for work. It’s unusual […]
QSO365 struck by lightning, future in jeopardy
At around 17:05 yesterday (28th June) my house suffered a very near lightning strike. My wife and daughter described it as a very bright white flash and a simultaneous bang which sounded as though a huge goldfish bowl had smashed right behind them. My neighbours have described a feeling of something going through them and […]
