Hi all,

You may have not noticed, but for several weeks, some annying spots are made at my intention :

ON6RZ          10107.0 F8AFC       DX cluster not ur LOG !            0755 28 Feb   France
ON6RZ          18073.0 F8AFC       Cluster not ur LOG !               1001 25 Feb   France

ON8RD          18083.0 F8AFC       Why write Your LOG on Cluster      1420 01 Feb   France
F3NB            7003.0 F8AFC       Problem with EGO ? IDIOT           0727 21 Jan   France

Few things this guy doesn't know :

- I may spot about 10% of all the QSO's I make, HI !

- The real "ON6RZ" has contacted me in private to tell me someone was abusing his call-sign (I belive him, thanks to IP addresses)

- I've tracked him for the last weeks and found his IP address : 188.112.90.254

- Google being my friend, it was easy to find out that the real call-sign of this abuser is OM3SX.

OM3SX, you are a LID.

  Ronan, F8AFC

Copy of the email sent to him this morning :

Mike,

You’d better stop using other’s call-signs (ON6RZ for instance)  to make wrong announcement/spots on DX clusters.  

I warned you last week-end, but this morning, you re-did it again.

 ON6RZ  10107.0 F8AFC  DX cluster not ur LOG !   0755 28 Feb France 

 F8AFC  18073.0 ON6RZ  IP from Slovenia, use real call 1003 25 Feb Belgium 

 ON6RZ  18073.0 F8AFC  Cluster not ur LOG !   1001 25 Feb France 

 ON8RD   18083.0 F8AFC  Why write Your LOG on Cluster   1420 01 Feb France 

I do not know why you do this, if there is some jealousy or something else. Why are you afraid of giving your real call-sign?

But spotting some DX’s onto the cluster isn’t it what cluster have been made for? And abusing other’s call-signs is an official identity usurpation that can have dramatic consequences for you.  

I’ve also talked to the real ON6RZ who apologized that someone is using his call-sign. He will clearly witness in case things will go further for your license.  

I’ve tracked your IP address on all your spots/comments. You are clearly and officially identified and tracked, in case things will go further for your license.

è An IP example : 188.112.90.254

Any additional comments from you onto the cluster will be stored and used, in case things will go further for your license. Do not bother changing call-signs, you are tracked!

Am I clear enough ?  

STOP IT NOW !

Ronan, F8AFC

3rd of February

Hi all,

Well, my HK0NA chase officially ended yesterday with this 30m CW QSO !!!!!! I knew they were QRV on the morning with still good reports from Eu. But with my super-simple set-up ("tuned" 80/40 vertical and barefoot), I also knew this would be a challenge to go through any kind of pile-up. I tried at around 06:00z, in vain. Then they went QRX and went back a couple of hours later, I was there !!!!!! This is my 15th slot with them. As I'm not QRV in neither RTTY nor 160m, I can't do more than :

Amazing (for me), as my primary main goal was to get them on 1 high band and 1 low bands. But this "grand chelem" was totally unexpected. Remember, this is Malpelo !!!!!!!

Tnx guys for this great expedition. It didn't start that well, but they finally found their rythm !!!!

73

Ronan

2nd of Feb,

Well, VP6T went QRT yesterday. I QSO'd them quite easily on 17cw when I saw a spot on 10CW !!!!!!!!!! They were there, but only 519 at 15:00z, growing up to 559 at 16:00z during the peaked propagation. But they went QRX for 20min exactly at that time and when they went back, they were barely hearable....Therefore, I missed them on 10m, but I'm already very happy to have contacted Pitcairn from 80 up to 12m !!!!!!!!!!!! Thank you guys for bringing this rare one on the air and for all the QSO's !!!!!

What's next? Well, HK0NA on 30cw, chase the C2 and the FW0, and maybe the XW3DT on 12m too.

I'm off from today till next Ponday, this should give me some time to get new slots,

73 !

Ronan

PS : Please note the 30cw QSO will be corrected once Nigel will be back home. (He took F8ACF instead of F8AFC)

31st of January,

OK, I just received an email from Nigel (who is on Pitcairn !) who will correct the log once back home for our 30m CW QSO. GREAT !!!!!!!

On the other side, I still don't hear them once back from the office at 17:15-17:30z. The opening comes earlier, at around 15:30-16:00z, and even spotted "strong on vertcial" by EA's, there is no single beep here. I therefore decided to take my afternoon OFF today (my very last chance to get them on 10m). Keep your fingerrs crossed for me this afternoon guys !!!!

In parallel, I was listening to the HK0NA on 80SSB this morning, even if the vertical, tuned for CW portion, has lots of losses on SSB part. I thought to myself "OK, let's tune quickly the verttical for SSB, it should take 5min max". So I went into the snowy garden, tuned it for SSB part, and called 2 times before being in the log....Almost easy, at 07:45z here (The magic of the sunrise !)

I miss them on 30m now, let's see till the end of the expedition if this will be possible.

73 !

Ronan, F8AFC

30th of January

Hi guys,

Humm, I simlpy missed VP6 on 10m during the WE : On Saturday, they were simply nil here. And usnday, they were readable at 15:30 on SSB but some friends came home and when they left, it was 17:00z with no more propagation. I may take 1/2 day OFF this week to try (my last chance).....

On HK0NA front I finally got them on 15CW, meaning I got them on all bands in CW+SSB except on 80m (vertical antenna tuned on CW portion) and 30m (less than barefoot...). I still have almost 2 weeks to get them on 30m, this woudl be fun !

GL to all

Ronan

28th of January

Wouauh, what an opening yesterday late afternoon : I succeeded coming back from the office at 16:45z, went directly to the shack. VP6T was on 15m SSB, calling Europe +5KHz with a good S5 signal ! He worked first a French guy and asked for other "French stations"....I called once, he got me, and that was it !

5 minutes after, I went on 10m on VP6T CW frequency (28035) to monitor it, but there was nothing apart from HK0NA pile-up...I decided to jump into it and called +2KHz. He got me at the first call, that was a lucky one again.

At last, I went down on 24cw, HK0NA frequency, called +2 again, and after 3 calls, got into the log. It was 17:00.

3 QSO's with HK0/VP6T in 15min time, that was simly great !

REgarding the log, I was logged as F8ACF, not F8AFC, for 30cw VP6T QSO...I'll try again, but I already contacted F8ACF to ask him if he worked VP6T. We will see his answer.

Regarding HK0NA log, I still miss 20cw and 40cw QSO's. But all others QSO's are OK. So I have contacted HK0NA on all bands from 10 down to 80m, this is simply more than what I could have expected. It looks normal to have some gaps into the log, let's try to re-work them again there to be sure.

Update : I re-worked HK0NA on 40cw this morning, my first QSO not being in the log despite of 2 updates.....

But clearly, the priority of this week-end will be to get those VP6T on 10m, either CW or SSB, but 10m !!!!! Based on the stats, best propagation time to France is between 15:00z and 16:00z. Being on the western part of France, it is more in the 16:00z area that I should be there (but I'll be on 10 earlier if I see them spotted, we never know). This should give me some free time this WE compared to last WE !!!!!!

GL

Ronan

27th of January

YES YES YES !!!!!!! 2 new "band slots" have been added yesterday evening after coming back from the office.

I succeeded in being at home at 17:00z, and went directly on 10m SSB where those HK0NA were calling Europe with a very decent signal. i thought to myslef that the usual south Europeans would monopolize the log, but that was not that true (they may be all of them already in the log ?). I heard this HK0 answering to DL's and PA's, propagation might have been a bit more Northwards, that was my chance !

I just called 5 min to get this new band for Malpelo in the log: QSO's from 80 up to 10m, grand chelem !!!!!!! I hope that the operators on Camp A will upload soon their logs. But they have 2 or 3 days shift from Camp B and Camp A, let's be patient a bit.

A few minutes after, VP6T was on 20cw...Still beaming SP, he was barely readable. Turning on the LP increased his signal strength to a good 559 here, that was an exotic path, but hat was workable. I listened to the pile-up 5 good minutes before understanding where hs was listening to. That was hard because European signal were rather weak, but I managed to work him +4Khz as I've noticed he was in the 3.5 - 4.5Khz area most of the time.

I'm very happy because from the beginning, they had only a few activities on 20m, and because I had them already from 80 up to 12m, except 20m.

Next ?

Still going oen with the same "tactical" approach : Chase the new bands first. To do so, I need VP6T on 10m now. We'll see this this evening / this week-end for sure !!!!!!!!!

And after?

Depending on my willingness and motivation, I may a few more QSO's if possible, but this is NOT my priority at all. I'll have more spare time to chase the FW0NAR expedition, HI !

73 !

Ronan F8AFC

    26th of January

Well, this morning, a miracle occured: I could get VP6T on 30cw with my "less than baerfoot" set-up. Pile-up was quite big, their signal was nicely readbale but not that strong (559), and when I heard him passing my call, I was definitely estonished !

This is a new one for me on 30m, as well as a new zone; And this is my 6th band with them !

I also tried the HK0NA who was stronger (579 in the peaks), but couldn't get through the zoo. 1 miracle is already enough, HI !

I still need those VP6 on 20 (!!!!) and 10m !!!

Regarding the HK0, I got them on 20cw yesterday evening (and possibly on 40cw but QSO is not yet appearing in the on-line log I guess...

They were also nicely readable on 12cw quite late (20:30-21:00z), but working mostly NA's....

73, GL to all

Ronan, F8AFC

73

Ronan

24th of January

  Not much to say about the HK0NA, I can not hope for 10m QSO (my last band !) once back at the office at 17:15-17:30z, since 10m is simply dead here.

But good surprise on 15m yesterday evening wth VP6T calling Europe on 15CW. That was quite late, but he was readbale up to 529-539 at around 17:40z when we made the QSO. I now miss them on 20 and 10m only....

Both have been very active on 10 SSB + CW today, I do hope to get them there !

As a summary, excellent expedition beginning (only 4 days and already plenty of bands in the log in both modes), but

- Pile-ups are still BIG (that comforts me in saying that waht is done...is done, HI)

- 10m : Well, during week days, I can not hope for any QSO. I'll wait to wait next week-end (and its usual lot of QRM'ers)

- VP6 on 20m would be greatly appreciated of course. We'll try to see in our morning time (remember I made a QSO with HK0NA at....05:00z on 20SSB)

At last, but not least, the big CME has reached the earth now, so we can definitely not predict what will happen in the next few days.

GL

Ronan, F8AFC

23rd of January

Woke-up normally today, 06:30z, anf saw both VP6 and HK0 on 80CW, and HK0 on 40cw. I went in the shack to listen to them, HK0 was strong on 80m, stronger than on 40m !!!!!!! Big big pile-up again (even if we were on a Monday morning). VP6T was too weak on 80m, but that was almost 2 hours before sunrise.

I even didn't try to get the HK0NA on 40CW (I had them on 40SSB this week-end). Reason is very simple : For those expeditions, my strategy is very simple : 1 QSO per band, either in SSB or CW ! Goal is not to have all green slots CW + SSB, but "modestly" to have them on all bands. This is very helpfull when you have to choose a pile-up to jump in !

And it seemed it paid this WE.

I just need HK0NA on 10m, and VP6T on 20/15/10m, that's all !!!!!!! Not easy would you say, and I agree ! But I already did more than what I could dream of...Now, this is pure bonus !

GL to all

Ronan

WHAT A WEEK-END !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Both expditions started almost simultaneously, and many new possible lsots to be made.

Sunday 22nd

My XYL working early, I got up at 04:00 again and went to the shack at 04:30z approx.

HK0NA on 40SSB, there we go ! 2 calls, and in the log, amazing ! He was 59 here, not so many callers from Europe, I guessed perturbed with some QRM that was quite "low" in my QTH. Yes, lucky one....I got VP6T and HK0 on 40m, cool !

HK0NA also on 20SSB, but I thought that was simlpy not possible to hear him. I went there, just to "see", he was S7 !!!!!!!!!!!! 2 calls, also in the log at 05:10 !!!!!!! amazing propagation !!!!!!!

The came the 80m session. both VP6 and HK0 on 80CW ! which one to choose?

I went there, and heard HK0NA 599 here, almost 2 hours before sunrise. VP6T was there, but a lot weaker !

I decided to go for this HK0NA, but the pile-up was huge, and QSO's were following the grey-line. My sunrise being at 07:45z, I had time enough to prepare some coffee, but finally jumped into the pile-up to "try". and finally got him at my exact sunrise time, 07:45 ion the log.

I quickly moved to VP6T who was stronger (tnx grey-line !), pile-up was smaller, but big guns were there too ! I listended to the pile-up, sun was slowly rising, almost day-light....But VP6T was still 559. And then, a lucky one "F8AFC F8AFC 599 tu". YES, I got them (Tnx to the operator, Michel, FM5CD !!!!!). It was at 08:05z, 20min AFTER MY SUNRISE TIME !!!!!!!

Exceptional morning, VP6T and HK0NA on both 40/80m, that was simply GREAT !!!!! I just needed to wait for higher bands to open

Nothing new in the morning, although VP6T went on 20SSB, he simply QRT'd because of the QRM (and he he was right to do this !).

Then came the afternoon. HK0 sunrise is at 11:35z, and VP6T at 14:00z.

HK0NA spotted on 17m, 1 hour calling, to finally get him +11 KHz !!!!!!! Wouaouh, I just realized I now had HK0Na on all bands, except 10m !!!!!

VP6T spotted on 12cw, and HK02NA on 10CW....Which one? Listening to HK0 (he was strong !), I felt a bit too tired to jump into the huge european/NA pile-up (I estimated the frequency split range to be in the 20KHz wide !). So I focused on VP6T on 12cw, with an amazing pile-up, but more concentrated (10Khz only....). Then he started to call for Europe only, GREAT, right at the peaking time. I call a few times, and finally went through at around 16:00z, when skip was fading already in central Europe. 4th bands for VP6, cool !

I went back on the HK0 but still a huge pile-up, and when he started to call EU, his signal was already dissappeared. Actually, he went down from 599 to 529-539 right on my sunset time. Good to know (even if this is logical) !

In the evening, VP6T was on 15SSB, but too weak. And when he called Eu only, inly southern EU guys copied him....

Saturday, 21st

I woke-up at 04:00z, and decided to get at least one of them on the low bands.

VP6T was there, on 40m CW, with an AMAZING pile-up spread over 10KHz in CW !!!!!

His signal was nicely readable, but the split wasn't !!!!!! as expected, 1st day of activity on 40m, and a Saturday morning, humm, I thought my chances wer light, very light.

I listened a lot, finding out that he was listening almost on exact frequency (7.014-7.015-7.016 etc)...I called him from 06:30, to finally get him at 07:25z on +4KHz.

Yes, I just got Pitcairn on 40m, one of my goal was achieved.

Nothing new apart a 20SSB session for VP6T that was simply terrible. Quite weak here, and tons of QRM onhis frequency. I gave up.

Then, I went on 17SSB (his announced frequency) and guess what, @ 12:00, they just started. ON5JY made it first, and I was the 2nd QSO for this very-starting session. 5 minutes after, the zoo was there, but I got him. 2nd band for VP6T, cool !

Then nothing new in the afternoon untill HK0Na went on 15SSB. Good signal, but working US and Europe over a 15Kc split. No chances, until he dediced to go by numbers, but quite late (at around 18:00z). Propagation was fading out, and he started by "0's"....I thought I had no chances because with a n°8 in the call, the propagation would have been gone. I listened his "0's" session, and was to QRT when I heard "number 9" now. YES, he was counting reversely, so I listened carefully to his split frequencies and noticed he listened on +5 / +10 / +15Kc exactly, not in-between.

"number 8 now"....I was on +5, he got me at the 2nd call, cool !!!!!!! New band for Malpelo !!!!

And that was all for Saturday, bands closed quickly after that.

Hi all,

It is time to look at a bit behind and make some stats on 2011 DX activities here.

Few things can be clearly noticed

- Sun has woken-up : High bands score definitely improved significantly, above all on 12 and 10m bands (resp +50 and +71 dxcc there)

- DXCC worked have also improved : +12 All Time New Ones last year

- Low bands score have also nicely improved, and this is mainly thanks to CW !!!!!!!! (+22 on 80m, +28 on 40m)

- I now first reached the 300 DXCC worked (311 exactly), and 20m is my first band where I went over the 300.

- From WAZ point of view, I have worked 198 zones over the 200 possible, and I also reached the 40 zones worked on 17/12m !!!!

What achievable targets for the next year ?????

- 80m : target is to approach as close as possible from the 200 DXCC and to get the 2 last zones there.

- 40/12/10m : target is to approach the 275 DXCC

- 17/15m : target is to go over the 300 DXCC

- 20m : target is to go over the 310 DXCC

- All Time New Ones : Hard to say, that will depend on the expeditions, but approaching the 320 DXCC seems realistic.

Here is my missing list (Yellow ones are the ones for which something is already planned): 

Happy New Year to all, and see you in the pile-ups !!!!

73

Ronan F8AFC

December, 28th

Well, that was as unexpected as you could imagine but from my small city lot, I could get my 2nd station from zone 27 on 80m with JD1BLY in the log on 80m CW !!!!!! This is my 2nd new band for Ogasawara this year thanks to CW (1st one being 10m LP !!!!)

Quite weak here, but good one !!!!!! New one of course on 80m, I'll look for them on either 40m or 12m (or both, HI) to finalize JD1/o on all bands,

73

Ronan, F8AFC

Hi all,

Well, very nice morning today with JD1BLY Makoto from Ogasawara in the log on 10/15m CW (LP QSO's). I missed him on 12m, in LP, there was too much QSB....But I hope that from the end of the expedition (2nd of Jan), I'll be lucky enough to get him on 12m (and 40 ?).

I also received XW3DT QSL for our 40m CW QSO, new one confirmed on 40m !

Tnbx both for QSO/QSL, and MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL OF YOU/YOURS !!!!!!!!!!!!

Ronan, F8AFC

Hi all,

I'm on holidays for 2 weeks starting from today. And what I can say is that they started well : I got 3D2R QSL for 20/17/15m (SSB + CW) QSO's, all time new one confirmed. I aslo got YJ0ANR for our...12m CW QSO !!!!!!! I remember the pile-up on this last QSO, how lucky I was !

I also got DS3HWS QSL for our 10m SSB QSO, new zone (25) now confirmed on 10m, and last band for South Korea, As usually, tnx guys for QSL'ing !

I also got 4J9M in the log yesterday on 80m CW after a good half hour of calling. Not that strong, but the guy had good ears even in simplex. The hardest was to hear him actully among constant callers. This is my DXCC n° 180 on 80m, 20 more and I'd reach my main target....

GL !

Ronan