CQ WPX 2012 (SSB)

The past weekend was again the CQ WPX in SSB mode.For me a good way to test my antenna's on my new small tower.The first test as it's just up for a big week.Because of trouble with the neightbours about parts of my antenna's hanging over their garden,i only put in the dipole of my FB33 and the GB 40M Rotary dipole.In the future i will put up a minibeam and my choice for now would be the Butternut HF5B.

I started the contest late on saterday morning at 5:00 UTC.For me as a Novice HAM is only allowed to TRX at 10 , 20 and the 40M band.The 20 and 40M band are also limited from 14.000-14.250 and 7.050-7.100 Mhz.So it wasn't usefull to start early because the 40M would be full with big signals in the start.

Some contests we are lucky with the propagation.Also this weekend the propagation gods were at our side.The 20M band was already open at 5:00 UTC....something that didn't happen much in the past weeks.Also it was open till late in the evening.My first QSO's were on the 20M.Not too much were received here yet,so after 20 minutes i went to the 40M.Good to try out the GB 40M Rotary dipole.

Because of the neightbour trouble i did buy this antenna as well.Normal i use the PKW MHF1e40,but that antenna is 10.50 meters long....and as our garden is just 6.00 meters wide...you know the problems will come.For sure the PKW is better then the GB...in performance as well in design!!

The 40M band was also good open and worked P41P , P49Y , HK3JJB and also a few Brasilian stations as DX,besides ofcourse the EU stations.

Also the 10M band was wide open to the East,South and South-West.Nice stations worked from thoose directions.

For me the goal is always to try to defeat my score from the year before.With the better propagation that we had now,i succeed this goal this time again and went 80 QSO's over it and 100.000 points more this time.

I wasn't behind the radio the whole time that was allowed.When i look at the analyses,i would be active only 11 hours!!

CQ WPX SSB PD7BZ 2012

I'm happy with the result and know what to do next year.Hopefully the propagation will be good then as well.

New Tower up!!

Finally the time the time was there that i coult put up my small tower.The last few months my FB13 was at a small pipe just 5 meters above the ground.In Februar i started the project and now one week ago,finally the day was there that it coult get up.

I live in a small town and have many houses near me.This means that i coult only get a small tower.The height of my antenna's are:

FB13 at 11 meters and the GB 40M Rotary dipole at 12 meters.

For me a very big difference,because i had it up only about 6 meters in the past here at this place.

The only bad thing is,that the neightbour makes problems with the antenna's that are a little above her garden.So i coult not put my FB33 up..instead my FB13,only the dipole of the FB33.

I looked on the internet for smaller beams and my choice will be the HF5B from Butternut.It's smaller and also lighter then my FB33.But still having good performenced gain and F/B.

Now first need to save money to be able to buy it.....

See the photo's from my small tower..