Archive - January 2011

Just a look to the last NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC) progression chart… really a not encouraging news:

Sunspot count is still lower or forecast levels are still higher?

Thanks to Max IK8LOV for the information        http://ik8lov.tumblr.com/

The 2001 ‘South Orkney‘ DXpedition is anchored at Signy Island and has begun assembling the camp. We estimate two days will be required to secure our safety and set up stations. Our announced data of 27 January for operations remains intact at this point

73,
The Microlite Penguin Team
The 2011 Microlite Penguins’ South Orkney DXpedition

The South Orkney Islands are a group of islands in the Southern Ocean, about 604 kilometres (375 mi) north-east of the tip of the Antarctic Peninsula.They have a total area of about 620 square kilometres (240 sq mi).The islands have been part of the British Antarctic Territory since 1962 (previously they were a Falkland Islands Dependency), and the British Antarctic Survey operates a base on Signy Island. The islands are also claimed by Argentina as part of the province of Tierra del Fuego, and the Argentine Navy has maintained a permanent base on Laurie Island since 1904. Apart from base personnel, there are no inhabitants.

Last week one of our most active activators found it necessary to cut short his activation in the UK due poor operating by some chasers.  Here you will read his account of events and please feel free to add your comments to the discussion at the end of the article:

” Hi all,

Last weekend I was in England to activate 2 nature reserves.  Stodmarsh was on the programme for Saturday morning.  Very nice nature reserve, well looked after and worth a visit. So far for the good news.

I was very disappointed by the behaviour of the chasers today. It was so bad the I decided to close down after just under  1 hour in which I managed to complete almost 100 contacts. But the patience of some chasers was non existant. Having to work by numbers because of the big pile-up and even then some people did not agree that they had to wait.

When I asked stations with “5” in the callsign and a 9A5 came back someone told him that his call was not valid. Another station worked me from a clubstation with”0” in the call when I called that number. He then asked me for a contact with his home call. Again heavy protest. The protest lasted 30 sec. the QSO 5 sec.  So, the moaner prevented me from making 5 further QSO with other stations. It is this kind of behaviour that puts activators off going to WFF’s.

It went from bad to worse with people wanting their number to be called. Then I decided to stop the activation. I still have not sent in the log from this activation and don’t know if I will. This not fun anymore. Therefore I did not do the Sunday activation either.

The chasers should realise that a lot of preparing and money goes into an activation abroad. In my case: ferry crossing, hotel, fuel expenses, mails in which you have to ask permission to activate a WFF.  Personally I don’t know if I will continue with WFF, I’ll have to sleep on it. I have now done 50 WFF’s and have seen it deteriorate to very bad behaviour. It is still a hobby and meant to be fun.

In the last year I was fortunate to visit some beautiful reserves  and combine this with ham radio; ideal combination,  but at the moment I am not completely convinced anymore.

73, Peter ”

Click here to see the DX Code of Conduct

…….See and add your own comments below……

Well I have been wondering for the last 10 days or so why no-one wants to come back to my CQ calls? Yes, it may be my poor cw but now i think I have found the real reason!

According to the ARRL out of 338 DXCC entities, England is the 5th from the bottom of the most needed. It just makes me want to cry

(ARRL Least/Most Wanted click Flag to the above to see England basking in 334th place of the most-wanted!)