[ADXA] The quest for 1/2 of a DXCC on 160.

[Curtis]

This winter I chose to punish myself for all of my wrongdoings by operating 160 meters. Knowing, from previous years of operating, that DXCC is absolutely impossible to achieve on 160,  I figured 1/2 a DXCC would be adequate punishment. The concept of confirming 100 DXCC entities, I feel sure, came from some cruel, abused ogre who delights in misery and static crashes. I started this journey with much trepidation and soon found my concerns were much “underrated”.  160 is a very cruel band.

The whole experience was a “chips and dip” scenario where I could never get things to come out equally. It is a continuous juggling of RX vs TX. One was always better, or worse than the other. I first could not hear. Upon constructing the pennant RX antenna, my RX became better than the 100 watt TX. Finding an abused Ameritron AL-811 at a local hamfest for $150 gave me 400 watts (after repairs), on 160. This seemed to help balance out the RX/TX, but led to another issue. 

Using a ft991a with a separate RX antenna is not for the faint of heart, nor the elderly. Since it does not have a RX antenna port, I was stuck with the hard choice of taking an hour and constructing a TR switch to handle the RX switching, or going with “manual” sequencing. I chose the latter and was soon rewarded with a blown pennant transformer and resistor…again…again…and again due to “sequencer” failure. The proverbial straw that broke the camels back was attempting to operate the ARRL 160 CW contest while attempting to run the keyer, log, and do manual sequencing. I felt like a 3 legged dog scratching fleas and my operating results, pretty much, was the same as the proverbial “dog”.  The T/R switch was constructed and life became easier. It was during this time that the little solid state home brew amp, “Jethrine”, was put on line and I was then capable of 405 watts. I figured the fraction of a fraction of a db would come in useful at some point.

Even with many improvements, I had gotten hung at 49 DXCC’s on 160. The few I had over 50 would not confirm. I made some operating errors, by not getting on the air when I knew 160 was open, at least twice. I made other errors, by trying to guess which direction the band would open and moved the pennant to favor my prediction. I was always wrong. I found I could “steer” a band opening simply by adjusting the pennant direction. For example if one night the band was open into Europe, I would aim the pennant into Europe the next day hoping to work into Europe the next night. This would cause the band to be closed into Europe, and open into Asia the next morning, with my antenna still favoring Europe.

Thanks to Mike KB5WBH who texted me about Jamaica last night. Fortunately he was strong enough for the pennant to receive him off the side, and I was able to work and confirm him for #50. But wait! There’s more! I saw people calling DP0GVN and finally got a week decide off the side of the antenna. I quickly ran into the dark and with much fumbling and stumbling reoriented the pennant south a was rewarded with solid decodes. I worked him for a new one on 160. I the noticed people working into Europe, so I ran back out into the dark and moved the pennant again. I was able to work Portugal for a new one on 160. I then saw Costa Rica so I ran back into the dark and undid what I just did and worked them. The total was 4 new ones with 2 lotw confirmations so far.

I did fail to mention that Puppy aka (PD, puppy dog) was in the shack. She hates ft8 and at 11:30 pm she had had enough. She told me in a very rude voice that it was time to work some other mode, or we were going to bed, so we called it quits. 

It’s a tough band but the reward is worth the effort. I’m calling the ARRL this morning and checking when my 1/2 DXCC will be processed.

Good DXing and have a great day!
Randy W5ZJ