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| The Rig Returns! |
| Early Wednesday afternoon the FedEx delivery truck pulled up and I was handed my box that was shipped from WA4GEG after being repaired. After removing my Yaesu FT-1000MP I placed it on my shack table and connected it to the power supply. I then spent the next 15 minutes modifying the menu settings. Since purchasing the US Interface Navigator I had changed settings pertaining to the 'USR' setting for digital use, such as PSK31. Once I had the necessary menus modified I connected the antennas and went looking to make a few QSOs to see what difference I could hear. RTTY still seems different than on the loaner FT-1000MP I was using. Not sure why but the obvious is a menu setting is incorrect. I need to play with the 'WIDTH' knob and shift the signal into the scope with running MMTTY. I did not previously have to do this, so it seems it is just a setting I failed to set correctly. After spending a few minutes spinning the dial on 20M up from 14.080 I ran across a signal with a strong British accent. I listened for a few minutes as this individual was handing out 59 reports and engaged in a little bit of ragchewing. I then heard him sign, VP8LP. from the Falkland Islands. A new DXCC for me! Oddly enough just 15-20kHz, VP8DMN (DXpedition) was calling CQ and working a pile up. It was no waiting with Bob (VP9LP), as I got him on the first call. About 30 minutes later after checking the packet cluster I saw 5N7M calling CQ on CW. There was a small pileup, but I decided to give it a shot, I have not had much luck working Africa, with the exception of D4C. I have heard signals from Senegal, The Gambia as well as South Africa and DXpedition a few years back to Glorioso. So it was a thrill to get my first mainland Africa QSO in the book and confirmed on 20M. We are just a few weeks away from the next big RTTY contests. WPX is quickly upon us, followed by the NAQP. I am planning full time operations for both of these contests, where I will work 30 hours during WPX and the full 10 for NAQP. I am sure the XYL will love this, but hopefully it will prove successful. RTTY still seems to be the best mode for my given antennas and limitations I have. Depending on propagation I can actively work 15M and 20M is my "money band." Once the sun goes down, I must use the SteppIR BigIR, which while not the best does provide some good signals on 40/80M for RTTY (and CW). In a week or so I will post my goals for WPX. It's nice to have my FT-1000MP back in the shack and running very well. |
| W6ONV on Friday 29 January 2010 - 12:26:11 | Read/Post Comment: 1 |
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