Tony Dixon G4CJC

Tony's 10 Metre Band Report
01 January, 2009

A mixed bag of a week really, with Xmas eve proving most popular. I’ve heard nothing here in the UK for quite a while and there are very few Europeans in the list.

Most popular DX
(three or more contacts, any mode)

Monday: ZS6DN, F5TDK, KE4WBO, KC4RRY, ZL2SP, LA4TEN/B.

Tuesday: PU3LBA, VK2NEO, VK5MRD, VK6DU, VK6NDT, 9W2RZL, PY5EW, YC6NE, ZS1WE, VK8VF/B.

Wednesday: KC5BYE, KH7Y, IK4UNH, KE5MVT, WB5ANN, YC6NE, ZS6DN, K4JPC, K8FRS, KB9UMI, KC2PCR, KD4ESV, KD5PBR, KE4WBO, KI4IJM, LW3EX, N4QWZ, NQ4I, ON6NL, VE2TH, VE3FGU, VK2IR, VK2XZ, W2RJO, W4QN, WB7BBI, WE5I, WN4VCH, YO5BBO. KC9GNK/B, KA0PSE/B, K5AB/B, K6FRC/B, KG4KIZ/B, VE4ARM/B, VE4TEN/B.

Thursday: S21RC, IT9GCG, VE3FGU, KC9MZH, W1AW, VR2CB, 9W2RZL, 9W2VVH, AD5VJ, K2DLS, K4AAK, K4JPC, KB5YLG, KC4ZUA, KD5PBR, KE4WBO, N3LL, N4QWZ, WE5I, YO5BBO, KC9GNK/B, KA0PSE/B, KG4KIZ/B.

Friday: W5TMC, KC4TVZ, WB0VBW, N5UCF, N5WC, KE4WBO, WE5I, WB4IUY, K4AAK, KC2PCR, K2DLS, WI4L, KC9GNK, PU1CCC, KD5PBR, VE3FGU, VE2XK, KA5MEI, WC5C/B, NC4SW/B, KD5CKP/B.

Saturday: S21RC, VA6SZ, N5XZ, W9JA, AG5Z, W5TMC, W4TWX, VE4EAR, AC5O, 9W2IBR, KC9ECI, K4JPC, WE5I, KE4WBO, AB5YI, PY2XC, KF9AF, 9W2VVH, W9JA, VK6DU, PY2MAJ, K2WOP, LU5FB/B, LU1FHH/B.

Sunday: BD4CZX, ZL1BYZ, JA3JOT, DK8EY, K4JPC, UA6LV, ZL2HE, ZL4PW, KC9GNK/B.

First up this week Paul, K6FRC, who heard WJ5O/B on CW. He sends me a Yo Ho Ho and says,
“Christmas eve had a wonderful 10m opening! I was able to finally copy WJ5O/B for the first time. Bill's beacon kept going on and off. I emailed him to tell him I heard his beacon, he let me know he was hearing one of mine too. His beacon was going off so he could scan the beacon band! Later on, he also copied my second beacon. He was unable to copy my others. The 100 watt beacon continues to gather reception reports while the 10-watt and 1-watt beacons are like the tree falling in the forest. I asked for a gnarly sunspot for Christmas, but I got a lump of coal instead. I hope ya'all did better.”
Hmm no I didn’t, but then that’s how it is at the moment.

Carl, VR2CB worked 9W2VVH 5/7, 9W2IBR 5/7, 9M2DRL 5/8 and FR1AN 5/3. But he has some disappointing news,
“No VK's worked or heard but Malaysian stations were quite strong for a while (sporadic E prop?). FR1AN was heard 5/9 but signals quickly dropped and I worked him at 5/3. Found out I will be moving to a new work QTH - either in North Africa (license may be possible but not expected) or a new Mid East country (no chance of a license) so looks like I will become a SWL other than when I return to Hong Kong on vacations. Seasons greeting to all.”
And to you and your family too. Being QRT will be a pain I’m sure. But we do accept SWL reports with pleasure here. You at least may hear stuff. I keep saying it so eventually I’ll believe it, “Things must get better in the UK!!”

And Dave the Rave aka VK5MRD piles them up again.

“Friday 26/12/2008. Stations heard were:- ZL2OK, ZL2MHF/b, ZL3TEN/b, VR2CB, JA2IGY/b, VK2RSY/b, VK4RTL/b, VK6RWA/b, VK6RBP/b, VK8VF/b.Stations worked were:- VK2DV, VK3BBB, VK3EV, VK4HMO, VK6YS, VK7DY, VK7FGGT, VK7FWAY, VK7TS.No radio activity yesterday (Christmas Day) and not much today! At the moment I am listening to the HF radio traffic from the 2008 Rolex Sydney To Hobart open water yacht race on 6516KHz. http://rolexsydneyhobart.com.

“Saturday 27/12/2008. Stations heard were:-VK2SF, VK5UK/2, VK2RSY/b, VK4RTL/b, VK6RWA/b, VK6RBP/b, VK8VF/b. Stations worked were:-VK2HAQ, VK2JKB, VK6TY, VK6VCK, VK7HDX, VK7FMDG, VK7FEET and VK7FORF. Last night I heard the yacht "Georgia" which was competing in the Sydney to Hobart race put out a "Pan Pan Pan" which very shortly after that put out a "Mayday". The yacht lost its rudder and was taking in water and was sinking. It was very interesting to listen too and was my first ever "Pan Pan Pan" and "Mayday" that I have heard. I hope one of the last too. RX signals were 5/9+10dB until an Asia broadcast station a few KHz away wiped it all out.”[ for those for don’t know a call of pan-pan means there is an urgency on board a boat, ship, aircraft or other vehicle but that, for the time being at least, there is no immediate danger to anyone's life or to the vessel itself. This is referred to as a state of urgency. This is distinct from a Mayday call, which means that there is imminent danger to life or to the continued viability of the vessel itself. Thus 'pan-pan' will inform potential rescuers (including emergency services and other craft in the area) that a safety problem exists whereas 'mayday' will call upon them to drop all other activities and immediately instigate a rescue attempt. ]

“Sunday 28/12/2008. Stations heard were:-JA2IGY/b, ZL1UPB, ZL2MHF/b, ZL3TEN/b, VK2AH, VK2SF, VK2NA, VK2RSY/b, VK3RMV/b, VK3RMH/b, VK4RTL/b, VK5KPR (287km away on scatter), VK6ARA, VK6LCT, VK6RWA/b, VK6RBP/b and VK8VF/b. Stations worked were:-BD4CZX, JA1NVF, JE6FIO, JE3MTQ, JA1KNY, JA3JOT, VK2IR, VK2GJC, VK3YUN, VK3FCFA, VK4JGH, VK4NCD, VK4KUS, VK4CQ, VK4UH/m, VK6HDM, VK7AN and VK2EMA.”

“Monday 29/12/2008.Stations heard were:-JA2IGY/b, ZL1ULN, ZL2MHF/b, ZL3TEN/b, VK2NEO, VK2NA, VK2RSY/b, VK3HEN, VK3LPG, VK3FABL, VK8GMT/3, VK3AD, VK3RMV/b, VK3RMH/b, VK4ATH, VK4FGHT, VK4RTL/b, VK5NJ (371km away on scatter), VK6RWA/b, VK6RBP/b, VK8VTX and VK8VF/b. Stations worked were:- KH6RC, ZL1OA, JA3JOT, JA7KOJ, JA1XXI, JJ6WZS, JJ6VAR, JA2DYI, 9W6SUE, VK1PWE, VK1XP, VK5UK/1, VK2XLJ, VK2PB, VK2GJC, VK2ZMT, VK2BD, VK2DSL, VK2IR, VK2DV, VK2FMAW, VK2JKB, VK2BJ, VK2NSS, VK2PRF, VK2BGL, VK2ERF, VK2XZ, VK2FDXR, VK2FAJA, VK2SF, VK2UZ, VK2NOS, VK2HAK, VK2MJW, VK2FMJB, VK2YR, VK2MAT, VK2FJON, VK3EL, VK3ACT, VK3VFO, VK3KST, VK4ZH, VK4JGH, VK4KY, VK4KR, VK4FON, VK4LA/qrp, VK4VDX, VK4HG, VK4CQ, VK6ARA, VK7FWWF, VK7AD, VK7DIK, VK7HAY and VK8ZMX. Many stations were also worked a few times through out the day. Great to see good band conditions.”

“Tuesday 30/12/2008. Stations heard were:- JA2IGY/b, ZL3DO, ZL2ADR, ZL2DAT, ZL2MHF/b, ZL3TEN/b, VK2MMT, VK2BJ, VK2JKB, VK2RSY/b, VK3CX, VK3RMV/b, VK3RMH/b, VK4NKL, VK4JGH, VK4RTL/b, VK6RWA/b, VK6RBP/b, VK7AN and VK8VF/b. Stations worked were:- KH6RC, ZL4DH, ZL4CZ, VK2FA, VK2MBA, VK2NSS, VK3EL, VK3UJ, VK3TPR, VK3VCW, VK3HJD, VK3HQ, VK3NAI, VK4FZ, VK4AHM, VK6VCK (marine mobile), VK7XX, VK7OW, VK7FWWF andVK7DR.”

“Wednesday 31/12/2008. Stations heard were:- KH6RC, JA4GXX, JA2IGY/b, ZL1PWD, ZL2MHF/b, ZL3TEN/b, VK2IR, VK2RSY/b, VK3EL, VK3YUN, VK3RMV/b, VK3RMH/b, VK4RTL/b, VK6RWA/b, VK6RBP/b and VK8VF/b.Stations worked were:- 9W2OUT, 9W2TZ, 9W2LLK, 9W2IBR, JG1HQA, JR3JFZ, ZL1KP, ZL1OGX, VK2NJP, VK2ZMT, VK2XZ, VK2GJC, VK2JKB, VK2FAD, VK3HJA, VK3MJB, VK3CM, VK3KCX, VK3ESE, VK6GU, VK6VP, VK7FWWF and VK8ZMX. Many of these stations were worked a few times throughout the day! FYI there has also been very good conditions on 2m and 6m. Happy New Year to all and I hope to see you on 10m in 2009.” We wish you all the same and can’t wait for the first VK – G opening in ages.

Contests: Naturally enough loads of 1 st January contests from the ARRL Straight Key through to the HA Happy New Year contest. A few weekend contests including “Kids Day”, well 6 hours anyway, 18:00 to 24:00 Sunday.

Sun: Blank and seemingly little activity forecast for the moment.

Well Stoke lost to a Man U goal in the last 5 minutes but we were far from humbled. Down to 10 men with 20 minutes to go we thought we’d done enough to earn a point. Berbatof and Tevez had other ideas.

Then we lost
to West Ham
2 – 1 with two minutes to go and we were down to ten men again for the whole of the 2nd half. It’s a tough
old game.

Here are two pictures of my grandson, Victor, enjoying Xmas.

• Tony's live webcam