Some Brazil QSO's in QRP!

Yesterday I was in air on 10 meters in /P, and in the early evening many Brazilian hams comes very loud and running for a Brazilian contest, CVA DX.

I arrange myself soon, and try to contact the PY friends.using FT-817 and my homebrew 10 meters half wave antenna described here; No tuner was needed, antenna matching is very good,

RESULT: 5 QSO in 1 hour....

• PR1T
• PU5DCB
• PU3TOT
• PT2CVA
• PT5T

FANTASTIC!

First QSO in 4 meters!

On sunday, 16 feb, I've a first QSO in 4 meters band using my PRC-351. The QSO involved also 3 other hams in Benevento.

Working conditions:

• IZ8JJI/M: radio PRC-351, (wire) quarter wave antenna mounted on the roof of my car
• IZ8FQX Pompeo: radio PRC-351, 6 meters loop antenna tuned on 4 meters
• IZ8VKE/P Gaetano: radio Wouxun KG-699, 5W, rubber duck antenna
• IZ8UZV/P Cesare: radio Wouxun KG-699, 5W, rubber duck antenna

A great QSO in 15m with LU!

The past sunday I was amazed by a very fun QSO with Juan LU4VL in North Patagonia, Argentina. I was running about 2.5W with the 817 using a multiband up-and-outer antenna tuned with Elecraft T-1.
LU4VL report my signal 55, he was 59 on my side.

This morning I've received an e-QSL from a Brazilian SWL confirming the QSO. In his location I was 56.

European 10m QSO with a CB Blade antenna

I've found on old CB blade antenna in a ham radio shop, and I've bought it.

The antenna is an Intek KA-27, see details on radiomuseum http://www.radiomuseum.org/r/intek_flexible_mobile_cb_anten.html

I's small (80cm) and cheap (14 euros). The blade is cut for 11m CB band, but had an acceptable SWR on 10m when fed against a short counterpoise (1,5m) and mounted on the front BNC connector of my FT-817. Trying the antenna indoors (near my window pointing to east) I've made several 10m QSO in Italy and east europe (LZ, YO). Nice for a cheap blade!

Fotos and further infos in the next days.

1000 Miles per Watt Award from QRP-ARCI

On April, 13 I've received good news from QRP-ARCI: my 1000 Miles per Watt Award! I've submitted a few days earlier my QSO with LS1D for the award. I've operated with 5 Watts SSB on 10m, and the distance was 6998.89 miles (11263.62 km).

My setup was:
- Yaesu FT-817ND
- Tuner Elecraft T-1
- Antenna Up-and-Outer 2x5mt
- Band: 10m

Let me show the E-QSL: