[FARC] DX

[Kirk Talbott]

Hello all. 20 meters was very open last night, Thursday, Aug 3, 14.070.15 
MHz from about 6:00 to midnight on PSK31.  I was very excited by the DX 
contacts I made, and not just 1 minute RST signal report exchanges, actual 
QSO's. South American and Caribbean contacts were made using a Kenwood 
TS-2000 and 45 watts on a 20 meter dipole. The South Pacific contact was 
made using the Kenwood TS-2000 and 75 watts on a 20 meter dipole. Dipole is 
a shortened version, 20 feet long, mounted on house roof.

Contacts were as follows:

CX4ACH - Montevideo, Uruguay
PT8CWA - Rio Branco, Brazil
VE6WIZ - Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
FK8GX  - Bourail (Near Noumea) New Caledonia
C03CJ  - Havana, Cuba

Doesn't seem like a lot of contacts in the time window involved for you pros 
out there, but I was excited about it. I chased FK8GX around the waterfall 
for two hours.  CX4ACH, PT8CWA, and C03CJ I got right away by answering 
CQ's.  For PSK31 users who want DX there are some regulars that hang around 
(14.070.15) all the time.  TG9AHM Emmanuel, Guatemala City, Guatemala. 
C02HQ Rey, Havana, Cuba. C6AXD Crooked Island, Bahamas.

Curiously though, while I can contact the South Pacific (New Caledonia and 
New Zealand) and I routinely can contact Central and South America, Mexico, 
the Caribbean, and Canada, Europe and Japan seem closed.  I've made only two 
European contacts since starting PSK31 last month and that is EB1ISN in 
Palencia, Spain and IV3YER Roveredo, Italy. I've made no contacts with Japan 
or Australia.  I did monitor a station from Hawaii last night, but was 
unable to contact him.

I was wondering, what kind of equipment and power would be required to 
contact countries like these via SSB phone?  I can't contact anyone in the 
USA via SSB phone on 20 meters using the above listed equipment and power. 
Hurray for PSK31!

73
KB3ONM
Kirk