2023
Get on the air with Morse Code and start earning DXCC in CW mode. I hope to be operating on the air in CW before the EOY!
One of my goals this year was to get to “Level 1” of the DXCC Challenge, which is having confirmed contact within several countries around the globe on several bands. I finally managed to have a confirmed contact in enough countries on enough bands that I achieved 1,000 confirmed distinct countries/bands. This is YEARS of being on the radio.
More “Amateur Radio Wallpaper“.
I’m working toward 5BDXCC. I have 4 of the 5 bands, missing only 80m but that will have to wait until the next solar minimum. I wasn’t able to work 80m in the previous solar min but I have achieved 40, 30, 20, 17, 15, 12, and 10M DXCC!
The 5BDXCC certificate is available for confirming these five bands: 80, 40, 20, 15 and 10 Meters
You can then get endorsement stickers on your 5BDXCC or these additional bands: 160, 30, 17, 12, and 6 Meters. For 80 I will need a “Reversible Beverage on Ground” receive Antenna System.
VUCC on 50 and 144 MHz. To achieve this goal I’ve been operating the VHF contests as a Rover. This turns out to be really enjoyable – I get to drive to beautiful places and operate my radio! The really complicated bit is knowing what Grid Square and county I’m in along the way.. and need to ensure I do not outrun my EV charger network. I’m not really in the contest to win, I’m in it because that is the VHF band activity weekend. Everyone that is capable is on the bands these weekends and they are especially looking for rovers!
2024
VUCC on 222 and 432 MHz. More roving!
Satellite Mode: I thought 2023 was going to be the year I setup a satellite station again. I would love to do this on the car but I really think that’s impractical given that I would have to limit a rotor (based on height above the car) to 35 or 45 degrees. Also I suspect there is no way I could have this with the 6m and 1.25m and 23 cm on the AZ rotor and the 2m/70cm on the EL rotor without all sorts of engineering problems (2m rotating into the 6m or 1.25m.. this is where I need a Rivian R2S. Also given the amount of thought that has to be dedicated to successful rover trips and the CW course, this is simply a goal for another year.
EME (Earth Moon Earth): Using the AZ/EL satellite tracker, I also want to achieve my first EME contact using the rover 2m single antenna or a pair of 70cm stacked antennas. It’s likely the 2m doesn’t have enough gain and I would need a larger antenna or stacked 2m antennas. I believe with the WSJTX Q65 digital mode this is achievable.