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Due to a lot of QRL and  limited free time at shack, i prefer to work on Radio that to write on the blog HI!!!
So in Ham radio activity we had the participation on CQ WW SSB from good friend new builded shack in Ierapetra south Crete SV9FBG.We hope on now on to be active as team from there on major contest.
During LZ dx and Cq ww CW contest i ve been active on spare time and i had great  time!!!!



Φωτογραφία: Dx at sunset!!! EU-187


Now on shack equipment ,there are arrived  a k2-100 and the little BIG radio KX3.
Both are great radios!. During summer time i ve been active as /P station from South Crete and fro EU-187 Dia island with the KX 3 10w with both military and home made vertical antennas with good results.














J49A 2013 Dia isl EU-187

Αγαπητοί συνάδελφοι, το γνωστό παρεάκι με μερικές απουσίες εφέτος ακούστηκε στου αιθέρες!!!
Για άλλη μια χρονιά ο καλός φίλος Φιλιπονικολάκης LZ3FN μας έκανε την τιμή και συμμετείχε στον διαγωνισμό. Ο τελευταίος μάλιστα κατέλαβε την νήσο  Ντία και μετά από παρέμβαση ... επανήλθε ξανά στα Ελληνικά χέρια....
Αν άραγε ήταν αγγλική ,γερμανική η κάποια άλλη σημαία θα έλεγε κανένας τίποτε; Ελλάς στο μεγαλείο σου...
Θα επανέλθω επί του θέματος προσεχώς ...

Low Band RX in Metropolitan areas

As many of you know that I am  living in city of Heraklion, in the same situation with more of you.
Living in big cities has all plus of the day living but its not amateur friendly, especially on low bands.
For me its normal to have 59+10dbs on 160m and 5-8 5-9 on 80 meters band. Crete is extremely mountainous so the properties here even in small villages  aren't big enough for beverages antennas.The second solution coming with EWE' or K9AY antennas. The problems is that both and other similar antennas need space and good earth ground, which is hard to find on cities roof when used also by XYL's for laundry.
So after thinking, searching, asking, what remains? Active loop of course!!
I had the luck to took a gift from both good friends SV9COL and SV9OFS a wellbrook ALA 1530 antenna. Initially installed on direction east west without a rotator, but was hard to make some secure conclusions about its performance. Next step was to find a small rotator to check it better and like that done.
After 2 weeks the rotator broke and I was very angry. During this 2 weeks time I cant say that I was satisfied, the noise went down but cant dig the weak signals. The configuration was 2m wood pole and 45m rg 58 to shack.
Next thing was to search similar solution but with better performance, probably some band tuned Loops and LNA. In the meantime LZ2WO Valio, suggested to me by Hristo LZ3FN as well known low band DXer and homebrowing. He suggested to me to check for Alford loop and it's origin  K6STI. After starting to plan a new RX antenna found a new Bulgarian (active antenna system ) made preamplifier with very good characteristics, plus the feed line which is with ftp cable and not with coaxial with all plus witch that means.The difference is that the combination of two loops antennas plus dipole or monopole and remote change the direction of loop S-N E-W by clicking a switch or both antennas as well. The all project is under hard testing and working with 2 x aluminum 1m loops with different thickness. The only sure is that this hardware configuration  working better than the wellbrook antenna. Stay tune.

 Both meter loops one looking JA and PY

 Checking the inductance of each one loops  (need more improvement )


LZ1AQ active antenna board


Triathlon and triathlon girls!!!

I am very happy those days for several reasons, the two more significant by date are:


  • The first triathlon dx contest past and left only sweet taste!!!! Big participation from both DX and SV stations. I really enjoy it, we thank you all for your support!!!

  • Now the best part of all! Monday after the contest my wife bring to this world the triathlon girls (thank to my doctor and girls for waiting finishing contest) !!! My two daughters in phase  with ... boomingggg signal!!!!!
 

1st Greek Triathlon DX Contest


Σε λιγότερο από ένα μήνα το πρώτο Τρίαθλον είναι γεγονός!! Ελπίζουμε στην υποστήριξη όλων των Ελληνικών σταθμών.
Περισσότερες πληροφορίες στο www.triathlon-dx-contest.gr

The first Greek triathlon dx contest in less than a month,we count to all of you for participation and we giving to you the chance to visit  our beautiful Country

Thank you for your support,

for more info rules prizes etc, please follow www.triathlon-dx-contest.gr