Update 22nd of May,

Days are passing and still no new bands for XX9E...I got them on 20cw yesterday and 15ssb this late afternoon, which gives me 3 slots on 3 bands. But nothing so far on neither higher bands (hard to be there at propagation peak, I'm at the office !), nor on low bands. I do hear them on 30cw, but I even didn't try to call when listening to the pile-up. Still on 1 "F" station in the log on 40, no "F" station on 80m, this is definitely not the good season at our SS time. Best chance would be at their SR time which is at about 21:45z, but that sounds late here in week-time. I must confess I spent too much time chasing the 7O6T on 80 every evening till past-midnight, so I find a little less interest in this expedition which seems to be reduces means on low bands (Not a criticism here !)

They are to QRT tomorrow if I'm correct, so I bet this is the end of their "chase", which as a conclusion brought me a new band with 17m CW QSO. Good one !

73 guys, thanks for your effort in putting rare Macau on the air !

Ronan

Hi all,

Following those 7O6T who ended beginning of this week, the antenna was still blocked at 5m high without the possibility to turn it. I have everything to put it up again with a stronger rotator, but wind and rain over the last month prevent me from doing anything on the roof.

I had a couple of hours yesterday during which it was not raining, not that much windy. I could prepare the lower part of the mast and fix it on the wall, as well as turning the antenna to XX9 direction.

That was a good idea : So far, I had XX9 on 20 and 15m only, so quite many slots to be done. They were on 17m CW in late afternoon here, but barely readable at around 17:00z. I thought that was due to the height of the antenna, but actually, couple of hours later when I went back to the shack, they were 559. Pile-up was still big, lots of EA's and thoe other ususal South Europeans were logged, but I took my chance and monitored the split (8KHz wide !) during about 10min to understand how he was moving in it. 2 or 3 QSO's on the same frequency, then up by about 0.3-0.4KHz, etc....I heard him on +6.2KHz, and started to call on +6.6KHz. He got me after about 4 calls, and here we are, new one on 17m !

A new one on 17m is becoming very rare, and this XX9 QSO is my DXCC n°294 on 17m ! I hope to get to the "300" one of these days !

A bit later, at their local sunrise (21:45z), they were on 40cw, hearable, but just too weak here, and still a 6KHz split. I tried a bit, but  was too tired and gave up. This will be for the next time, HI !

73

Ronan

F8AFC has worked 9M0L on 9 out of 23 band slots

	6m	10m	12m	15m	17m	20m	30m	40m	80m	160m
PH
CW
RTTY

23rd of April

Got Nigel on 12cw last Friday evening quite easily (!!!!)

But the 10cw QSO was hard : I spent all my saturday playing with split/QSB, etc in vain. I thought it would not work for me on 10m when I saw them spotted yesterday late afternoon (# 15:00z). I decided to try, rst was 559, and I was in the log after 3 calls !!!!! All bands from 80m up to 10m, incredible!

Ronan

19th of April

2 new slots added during my day-off yesterday with 20cw and 15cw. 15cw was the hardest QSO from the beginning, but luckely, Nigel was there . I fighted more than 1 hour to finally get through at around 17:00z.

I also heard them very weak calling on 12cw yesterday afternoon at around 12:30z. I just called 3 or 4 times in case of, but that didn't work and the guy went QRT. He was bot stroçng . Their antenna must have been beaming in another direction than Europe....That was the perfect timing for EU propagation....

The last easy slot woul be 17ssb. Actually, they were there yesterday evening in the same timing as 15cw. I decided to go for 15cw as the opening was closing there. And when I went back to 17ssb, they were gone.

One more week to go, my focus will be on 12/10m next WE, and possibly 17ssb on the late afertnoon. But I'm already extremely happy with 2 new bands (80 & 40m !!!!!)

GL to all, pile-ups are still huge !

Ronan

22th of April

Well, what to say????? 9M0L has started to pack their antennas (only 2 stns now active until this evening), and I still needed them on 10m. That was a "9M0L" week-end, and as long as there is activity from them, there is hope !

Sunday

Last day for possible 10m QSO. 9M0L plans to QRT tomorrow evening loc time, but being at the office until 16:30-17:00z, it would be too late.

On-line log update this morning showed missing QSO's, incl all 10m QSO yesterday. Bad news, since logically, the guys will re-attempt to make it there in case 9M0L would come back on 10. But Nigel was on 12cw, almost all morning. Beginning of afternoon (10/30z), 9M0L just started on 10cw. But almost WEAK and non-decodable. I then thought that this 10m will not be done, since propagatio peak would have been past. So I went to cinema with the family and went back at around 15:00z, hopeless. when I saw a spot on 28.011 by a "G" stn. I went tot the shack and monitored the frequency. No signal. I was to switch OFF the transceiver when I decided to turn a bit the VFO and heard a quick "5nn TU" on 28.012. 1 second later, I clearly heard the call "9M0L UP". With a 549-559 rpt, that was my very last chance. 2nd VFO on +1Kc, I started to call but 2 guys did it (one G and another F stn). I went on calling when I heard "F8AFC F8AFC 5nn". YES, that was me, that was 9M0L, and that was on 10m !!!!!!!!! 15min later, he QSY'd on 15m, that was the very last chance I had to get 9M0L on 10m !!!!!!!!

4th new band, QSO's on all bands from 10 down to 80m, I just miss 30m band but with this non-matched antenna, my chances were more than small.

Despite all the criticisms here and there on this JA oriented activity, I must confess that there were opportunities, at least for Europe. And with a LOT of luck, it was possible from my small pistol station to get them on all bands.

Hopefully next log update will show all QSO's, so I'll update the here above snap-shot

73 guys,

Ronan, F8AFC

Saturday

SSN has increased over 100, good sign. 9M0L was spotted at around 07:00z on 10ssb, this is early, but if I hear something, it would be good for the propagation peak at around 11:00z. Yes, I heard a very small voice on SSB, but huge Central/South/East Europe pile. No chance....

Then, Nigel went on CW, better signal, peaking 559 at around 08:00z. Once again, huge pile-up, but hard to catch the frequency Nigel is listening to (All guys have the antenna beaming East, and short skip was not good). I heard a few calls passed by Nigel (incl Rafiq, a local friend, F5CQ). I spent 2 hours, chasing from +1 up to +5KHz, but in vain.

Quite lunch, and here we go again. Signal started to drop, down to 419 at around 14:00z, then nothing. Almost one entire day, and no QSO, despite of all my efforts....s**t.

20th of April

Surprisingly late QSO on 12cw, but there we go, new band for those 9M0L. Their rst was a real 599 here at 16:20z (booming actually !), and I could log them on the 1st call (+1.4KHz). 15min ago, they were on 10cw, but nil here, another MUF story !!!!

Well, this 12cw is a super bonus, my 3rd new band for Spratly, I'll concentrate this WE on 10m for the grand chelem (30m would be more than a miracle....). 17ssb would be for fun, but who knows

Tnx guys !!!!

Ronan

17th of April

New band added with 40cw QSO made yesterday evening (late here, it was around 22:20 here, few minutes after 9M0L sunrise). I was ready from my sunset (19:00z) but they were mostly on 17cw and 20RTTY

Later on, in the evening, I was on 30m hearing them up to 559 but with an incredible zoo calling him. I knew I had no chance so I went at their sunrise time (22:10z) on their announced frequency on 40m (7.011), headphones on, and filling in some QSL's to spend my monitoring time.

Few minutes after, I heard a very weak CW calling, but I could hardly decode the call. I heard a S5 and IC8 making the QSO in simplex, when a propagation jump made me hear him the call "9M0L" was calling CQ in simplex....I called couple of times, and QSO was made in simplex in a lucky propagation jump that made me hear my call OK. 5 minutes after, I didn't hear anything...This is what I call "opportunism" !!!!!

2nd new band and a difficult one although secretly hoped (40m), this is simply super great !!!!! Next step would be 12/10m, but 3 QSO's on 12m and 1 QSO on 10m were made with France......

73 es GL to all

Ronan, F8AFC

16th of April,

No update for the last 4 days since I was away last Saturday/Sunday. But I could get 9M0L on a new band last Friday evening, and that was a totally unexpected 80m cw QSO that was made.

They were on both 80/40m, well readable 30min before sunset on 80m, and 1 hour before SS on 40m. I decided to choose 80m first which looks more difficult (shorter opening). After a few trials, I finally logged them 10min past my sunset, that was simply GREAT. Spratly on 80m with my simple vertical and 500W, this must have been a lucky one when hearing all the European big guns calling. When the QSO was made, they were peaking 579 here (vy strong to be honest from this part of the world), and then they dropped down super quickly. As of today, only 4 stns from France made it on 80m, still can't believe it, HI !

After the QSO, I went back on 40 to try my chance but....intentional S9+ QRM, rather weak signal etc made me give up (that was a WE evening, hard !). I'll try this week, they are still 10 days to work them there.

As far as high bands are concerned (10/12m), on 1 QSO with France was made on both bands. It will be difficult !!!!!!

73 and GL to all,

Ronan

12th of April 

Surprisingly good signal on 15ssb yesterday evening. I heard them with a decreasing signal listening over a wide frequency range (25KHz) when their signal went up suddently to S9 at around 17:15z. I monitored constantly the split and found out that the guy was listening only +15 / +20 / +25KHz. After a few trials, I made the QSO at around 17:30z.

3rd band after 20ssb and 17cw, but still no new band. They didn't try low bands yesterday, and seem to focus our "morning" time to Asia with a lot of 6m activity.

Yesterday evening, I also tried on 20cw where Nigel was dealing with a HUUUUUGE pile-up. I coudl recognize his CW, but despîte of spending more than 1 hour there, I didn't succeed in making the QSO. They switched to 20ssb at around 20:45z, which I already have...

This is just the beginning, pile-ups should calm down a bit next week, it should (hopefully) be easier for those "easy" bands. But my main focus being 40/12/10, I sincerely hope they'll change their bandplan and timetable to favour a bit more Europe....

GL

Ronan

11th of April

OK, following 9M4SDX that I had on 20/17/15ssb, this new expedition from Spratly offers the possibility for new mode (CW, which I re-started last Autumn) and above all new bands.

1S, akka Spratly, are ranked at position 29 in the last DXCC survey (http://www.dxpub.com/dx_news.html), jumping by 3 steps compared to last year.

As you may have noticed, any DXCC in the 50 first most wanted create amazing ZOO on the air. And that was the case yesterday on 20ssb...with music playing on their frequency (14.160). S9 music here, while the guys were S7, almost impossible to decode.

I was monitoring their freq to call in the blanks, but that didn't work. Then I decided to go a bit up (14161-14162) and I immediately recognized the operator voice on 14161.7). My 2nd VFO was set on +5, but I heard a guy passing 59 on +7. I called right after and there we are, 20ssb in the log.

From what I heard, 20 SSB may be the toughest one due to QRM'ers !!!!!!!! But still nothing new.

Few minutes after, I went on 17cw (18071) but didn't hear anything, although spotted "LP" by a russian guy (strange....). I kept on listening and heard him CQ'ing after what looked like a QRX. monitoring the split, I heard him listening on+4-+5 but the zoo was there. 30in later (at around 19:00z), 9M0L was still 559, but the pile-up drastically decreased and I could work them on +2.1 finally, new mode !!!!!

20ssb and 17cw in the first day of this 2-week operation is nice for sure. Hope to get them on at least 1 new band (80/40/12/10 wanted), and 1 low band, or both, HI !

GL to all, this activation will NOT be easy !!!

Ronan

Hi all,

Humm, hard one, but already confirmed from 40m up to 15m thanks to Bill, E51MAN.

This time, my focus would be on the remaining bands, that is to say 80/12/10m, but due to actual propagation conditions, that looks almost impossible.

Nevertheless, chasing them is fun indeed and I could get them on 40cw yesterday morning, 20cw this morning and "potentially" 17ssb tonight. Potentially because their signal was weak on the short path, dropping below my noise level from times to times. But he replied in the same timing as I passed him the microphone, and could clearly hear "8AF"....OK, you'll say this is not a 100% QSO, but on this one, apart the fact this would be a new one in SSB, I don't have much "pressure" let's say. The fact that they have no Internet access (so no on-line log during the expedition) reminds me the good old days, and I don't feel it like something "missing". It is just like it is, ears, patience, and luck !!!!!!

Hope to get them on higher bands at my sunset (18:31z), because their sunrise is at 16:48z. This gives us almost 2 hours of common day-light, so with a little help of the propagation, this could work, at least on CW.

We will see, but good luck to all who are looking for them

73

Ronan

Hi all,

Chasing big expeditions is quite time consuming, but I must say that apart from the A35YZ, there is no major other ones on the air those days. This is a good time to optimize my time behind the transceiver and chase some new slots.

That was the case on 40cw where I QSO'd with 5H3MB. I only had 5H on the 5 high bands, but nothing on one of the low bands. I heard him once, a bit stronger than tonight, but I  couldn't get through.

This evening, he was there, working first simplex which quickly turned into a massive zoo. Then, he used split and that was my chance, 2nd VFO on +2KHz, he was working few guys, when most of the callers were on +1Kc. There I went, he replied to me (although not 100% sure he got my call, but timing was perfect and I could most of my call-sign so....). Not easy to make new ones now, even on the low bands. But what is done is...done

Ronan, F8AFC

14th of March, last update (ZD7XF now QRT)

What a day yesterday when I could get Nigel on 80cw in the morning (see here below), but as well on 40cw in the evening. He was calling JA on 40cw as he is used to do on their sunrise, and went back to Europe after (at around 22:00z). What a pile-up !!! I admit he whad a booming signal here, peaking to a real 599 rpt, but the zoo was there !

I was lucky enough when listening to his pile-up, to catch quite quickly where he was taking guys....Normally, Nigel concentrates in the range +1 to +2KHz, but yesterday, he was listening even more than +3KC up.I took my chance +3.2Kc, and made the QSO despite of QRM'ers on his TX frequency.

Nigel, THANKS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Tnx to Super-Nigel, I could get St Helena Isl on my very last band this morning.

So far, I got ZD7XF from 30 up to 10m in CW. I already had ZD7 confirmed on 40m, but I was still needing this one on 80cw (each new one on 80m is a thrill for sure !)

This morning, Nigel was there, spotted mainly by NA stns, but 30min prior to my sunrise, I thought it could be a good idea to try.

He was there indeed, not that strong, with a classical slow QSB, making his signal rising up to a good 579 in the peaks, then down to 539 here.

I monitored his split, found out he was taking guys up 1.3KHz, so I camped on this frequency and called. Few minutes after, he came back to me, and that was it.

For fun, I'll try to work him on 40m now, this would be the very last band for a "grand-chelem". He was there too this morning, but vy weak 30min after my sunrise. He is a LTO stronger in the evening, when he is used to wrok JA's at their sunrise. We will see, but I can already say

"THANK YOU Nigel" !!!!

Ronan, F8AFC