ARRL DX CW Contest Weekend +

Looked forward to working a bunch of DX over the ARRL DX Weekend.   I wasn't competing just picking up some DX contacts and helping those participating out.  Did not fire up the rig until the second day f the contest but had a blast.   Started off on 15m then went to 10m then back to 15m again.  

After the contest I worked 3XY1T first on 20m SSB working a big pile up.   Used the 14AVQ vs the 1/4 GP Vert.  It took at least 30 minutes to get through.   Also worked 3XY1T on 30m CW ... only took  2 calls before I got through a huge difference from the 20m SSB pile up ....sure like CW.  

Today I worked 9Q6AL Congp CW ... there was a  pile up and a 5Khz split but I got though ... again thanks CW.  

Last but not least worked CO8LY for the 9th time.   He was calling CQ S9+ on 15m CW so I cranked it down to under 10 watts and got a 599.

Before the ARRL CW Contest Log Update

Fired up the rig Friday Eve hours before the start of teh North America ARRL DX CW contest.   Lots of activity guys setting up before the contest.   Contact of note was Cape Verde CW @ 21:50 Z on 10m 28.016 Mhz.    He was about the only thing I was hearing on 10m...way cool!

Log Book Update

Been busy ... will make 2 log book updates.

The Japanese 17 meter contacts were noteworthy.   Feb 8th I made my 3rd contact with JF1IRW previously worked on 17m cw Oct 5, 2015 and Jan 25, 2016.   Ironically enough  the 3 contacts were the only contacts I have made in with Japan since I started back at the radio this past Summer.   When you think of how many ha,s there are in Japan and Canada and the fact that I made three consecutive contacts with the same operator on the same band around the same time of day is pretty amazing.  Obviously Takhikeo JF1IRW have the same operating habitats.

 Another noteworthy contact was JR7TKG Feb 10.   It was interesting becuse it was SSB and I worked a pretty big pile up getting a and giving a solid 55.  The OP Sasaki said that I was " a rare contact" ... very cool.

Up Before The Sun

 Had a blast over the weekend getting up before the Sun having my first Coffee in the Shack.   The 6th was the best ... 40m was open and 17m was nothing.   Worked from 40 meters up to 20 meters as the bands opened.    17m was particularity interesting it seems to open up the moment the Sun was above the horizon.  

Log book update ...

Log Book Update