Year of DXing 2015

January 2015

The year changed in Turku this time. Always planning for some holiday... Now the hardest thing is to decide where to go next?

Holidaytime is from end of March to Easter holidays in April, thinking Rome, Prague, London or Amsterdam.. Now booked flights to London for the family, need to go to Rome after Vincenzo and the Famiglia has moved to a new home there.

Not vy mny qsos made this year yet, mostly been monitoring and also fixing new PC up to date with all softwares and settings to them..

Worked SM7MBH from JO75 on 6m with also qsos to DF9OX and OE5OLL... Only 4m qso this year yet has been to PE1IWT in JO32, new # and DXCC on 4m, random qso.

OZ3FR worked on 6m JT6M. Tried the other night again with Lance W7GJ on 6m but now the moon was setting for us and rising for Lance so we didnt have a lot of time, copied Lance many periods and called him but the moon was too fast for me.

Few new operators on the 2m band, OH1ESC, OH1ESI and Reetta who got her callsign OH1EBO earlier. Gave them a call on 145225 to give them a new head/qso.
Some nice qsos worked on 6m, DK8NE, SP2MKO, OZ3ZW, SM7MBH, DM2ECM and SP4TKR. Just waiting for the Iran EP6T DXPedition to come on air!

Fantastic! Worked EP6T on 15m easy and also on 12m. Was another new DXCC. Didnt get them on 10m but got EP3HF there, so bandslot was filled :)
Another nice qso was with V51WH on 40m SSB. Last qsos for the month went to SQ85PZK on 6m JT6M and 80m SSB, finally also worked Massimo in South Sudan Z81B, rxed QSL also already.

February 2015

Month starting nice, was for a short trip to Kustavi KP00PN IOTA EU096.
Worked some qsos from there on 6m, OZ8FR, OZ6GH, LX1JX and SP4TKR. Then worked the Finnish general class ralley on 80m, just to give the Gens some points.

Now starts the big await for ATNO = All Time New One Navassa island, K1N.

Hunting and hunting... was looking for K1N on 40m cw early morning... Just checking were they were picking up and moved a little aside. BOOM! There they were, in the Log! First qso to Navassa island, #1 most wanted DXCC!
Also logged them on 15m same day, but not found in their log so had to work them again on 15m SSB.
It took a few more days of calling and calling in the pileups, an those were huge!
Good operators on the island tried to give everyone a fair chance to work them. They even called in parts of band were US stations were limited due Gen and Tech license, so there was less people calling. Ofcourse they also gave them a shot when EU/AF/AS props were gone.

Is there life after K1N Navassa isl... Sure starting to look ahead and waiting for more new ones, VP8 South Sandwich and South Georgia, TI9/3Z9DX – Cocos Island, 3G0ZC – Juan Fernandez, TX3X - Chesterfield 2015 and many more to come...

Looks like the guys are already travelling to Cocos Island, TI9 crew is on air from their ship as /MM.

Tropo forecasts tell us that there might be a chance for some good conditions on the VHF/UHF bands.
This time they were correct, first copied DK5DQ on 2m SSB, then had to switch to CW due more stations there and condx were somewhat QSB.
Short list of stations logged in a few hours opening on 2m, DF1JC, DD5YEE, DF0WD, PA4VHF, DL9AJ, PA3BIY, DH6DAO, DL1DBR, PA2KW, DL1OLI, DL6YBF, DK1KDA and SP3IYM.

GM4FVM was worked on 4m FSK441. He tried calling me another day and I had stopped not noticing him, but few days later he was caling and I saw him, started to send him a report...well it took 1h 20mins to complite the qso, but it was worth it as I got a new DXCC and square IO85.

A few days at home with the harmonics... Bands are open and making a few CQs while the kids are taking a nap... Excellent opening on 10m, lots of JA stations pileing up for me. Few HL and VU stations also there. Few calls to 9M2TO and qso is in the log. Heard also OH2OT in Turkey working with a special call, TA/OG55W, worked him on 12m CW. There was also a short opening to VK, worked Matt VK1MA on 15m ssb.

Found Z81X, Olli OH0XX in the paddle on 10m CW, logged him also. Nice conditions. Then start the hunt for Cocos island, TI9/3Z9DX

Was not that hard, found them on 40m SSB, few calls in and then logged. A new DXCC in the log, #237. Tried to get them on 15m also but no luck, bad conditions and they had a vy bad view to EU, sadly. But they made a good effort from the island! Those complaining could themselves try and go to a DXpedition... Its not always so easy as it seems, Dom and his friends didnt have a half million $$$ budget and 15 operator that could work 24/7..

The other day worked a nice JA pileup on 10m, now it was time to do the same on 15m... Worked some 20qsos to JA and BA.. FK8IK was logged on 10m SSB, new band for FK.

Fabrice F4COB / OH6FKO was working the French REF contest from our club, OH1AA signing as OH1T. Made a short visit to say hello to him, he worked almost 240qsos during the contest.

Worked some other DXs during the end of the month, W3NA, had a vy nice long chat with John on 15m SSB. Z62FB Fehmi worked on 20m. TO6D, thats FG Guadeloupe on 10m SSB and CX8TC long path on 15m, 27460km...Loooong way.

March 2015

BOOM!!! Was waiting for another new one to come on air. The french guys from F6KOP team makes it again. They are QRV from Robinson Crusoe island, CE0Z as 3G0ZC. Worked them on 20m SSB quite easy. It was also a great start for March, making it DXCC #238.

Hope they will have a safe trip home! Lots of DXs around, March looks like a very active month on HF, just hope that Aurora is not going to mess thing up too much.
Thats it for now! C U later and thanks for visiting my homepage again!

OH1EEZ worked on 10m BPSK during 10m NAC just for fun. E30FB worked on few bands, quite easy through the pileups, making one more DXCC, 239... got them on 15 and later on 20m. Later on 10 and 12m.

T6T worked on one more band, 40m CW this time. Reijo XV2RZ worked on 10m with a FB signal. Also got Keijo TA4/OG55W on 12m SSB this time.
JW9JKA from Bear island EU127, worked on 20m SSB. FG4KH from Guadeloupe worked on 15m SSB, easy qso not busy. J69Z/m was calling the other day on 20m SSB, few call to him and made a nice qso to his mobile.9Q0HQ in the log on 10m, making a new DXCC... Counting at 240 now.T88TI worked on 15m SSB, nice qso to Palau, new bandslot for me. Working 6m NAC for fun, giving few points to those that are in range and got a qso with me :) Same thing on Thursday, 4m NAC... making a handfull of qsos, also for me 3new squares. But no new DXCCs on 4m.
Time for WPX contest... Working from home, with homecall OH1MN... well made some 40qsos with DX stations only... Resulted to 4 more new DXCCs for me! Vy happy, one long chased DXCC, 6Y Jamaica in the log with 6Y4W and on 2 bands even.

Finally got the chance to work Malawi 7QAA Malawi 7QAA, another new one for me. Got them on 10m so it was a nice band to get a new one also.

Making lots of good ones in the Caribian, PJ2, PJ4, 8P and 5J0B, making my DXCC count 243... So all in all WPX looks like a good contest to get more countries :) If I only had time to work the full contest or even the time awake.
5V7SM Marc on 10m worked also a new DXCC.... 244 now!

April 2015

A small taste of the coming, 1st opening on 6m, worked some Italians, Belgian, Slovenia and German guys.
That was it... Now packing the radio, laptop and few antennas with some cable to my suitcase... Going to UK, London for some Easter holidays.

London, up with 20m endfed vertical, making a few qsos on 20m SSB and later in the evenings on BPSK31..

Working from London as M/OH1MN :)

May 2015

Back home again.... As you can see from the update on the website... Well Easter holidays. Few days left and started to build my YU7EF design 4m/6m dualband, it has 6el on 4m and 7el on 6m. Not quite finished yet but you can get a sneekpeek...

Its still missing the radiator element and need to put some rope inside the elements, atleast 6m ones. Tower connection is also still in progress. But we are getting there.

Ropes inside elements done, feedpoint / radiator is also done and yagi is just waiting for towerwork time... Took the 5el6m LFA down from the tower but need to get a crane for the dualbander setup..

Been working some VHF, OH8HTG and 2E1IIP in the log on 6m MS, DK2PH logged on 4m FSK, new # and DXCC. LA9BM worked on 6m from JP40, new #. Worked few stations during the 2m NAC, just SM, OH and ES stations logged.

The other day just hopped to HF late in the evening, found Ogasawara isl, JD1YBT station calling on 20m, got them! DXCC 245. Strange conditions as it was at 2025UTC when got them, usually JA direction is open during morning hours. Well also worked JH1CDR Ken-san with good 59 signal.
Then it happened, first big 6m SpE opening! worked OE, DL, HA, S5 stations. Then a week without any good openings, but on the 14th it opened wide open! 62 QSOs on 6m, then heard LX2LA calling CQ on 4m, 70.200USB. So I had to QSY to 4m... Worked 27qsos on 4m, making many new DXCCs and new #.

GU8FBO from IN89, 2003km from my QTH, worked on 4m with FT847 / 70W / 5el LFA @ 8m AGL

GU8FBO on 4m 2003km
Posted by Markus Kaukovalta on 14. toukokuuta 2015

Just waiting for more good opening on 4m and also 6m... Maybe JA opening just around the corner...

QSO with PA7ES and G3RQZ on 4m..

QSO on 4m, PA7ES and G3RQZ
Posted by Markus Kaukovalta on 14. toukokuuta 2015

Wow, on the 15th huge pileup on 6m!!! I had a 1 hour pileup on 50,155 USB, starting qsos from DL, EI, EA, M, OZ, PA, ON, OE, SP, GM, OK, 2M0, GW and CT1ANO 3012km away in IN51re... over 100qsos in one hours on 6m, conditions were great. Also worked GM0USI on 4m SSB from IO75uv.
DJ9YE was on 4m FSK worked him then we qsyed to 6m and made a JT6M qso also there.

I have also tried to keep an eye out for anything interresting or new ones on HF, OH2KW was on air from OD5KU and had a OH pileup on 20m, later worked him also on 15m.
Then Ville OH2MM / PY2ZEA was again in Fernando de Noronha and this time I got him on 15m CW!! PW0F was finally in the log, a new DXCC, nr 246.
Few qsos made on 4m, PF7M and SP2MKO on FSK... Conditions seem to have gone down when looking at Sporadic E... Just in the central and south Europe they are getting to enjoy the band.
When condx are down on 4 and 6m, then got some time to do HF :) . Worked 5Z0L, Italian DXpedition to Kenya on 12m CW and 20m SSB.

Still no conditions on 6m... Downloaded a program for JT65 mode on HF, been working on 20m JT65 a few day. Nice mode and making lots of DX contacts easy. Many stations from JA, HL, PY, VK...
the qso making is quite simple, much like the JT6M, FSK and JT65b that I have done in the past on VHF... Except JT65 HF transmits for one minute, ou well 48sec then rxes the next minute.
So in short a QSO is usually done in 5mins, sometimes even 3mins if working fast with sending report first over and finish with RRRs :) Some nice contacts made like: T6MH, ZL3NB, YC8QT, ZP0ITU, E21LXK
and many others, mainly just DX from my point of view.

JT65HF qso with PA3RN on 20m.
Posted by Markus Kaukovalta on 29. toukokuuta 2015

Sorry about bad facebook quality :)

Last day on May... Well opens up on 6m, making many qsos again. First opens to OK7GU booming reports, then F4AZF Damien comes back to a CQ. Many DLs after him and PC7M Arie. Conditions end with a qso to LX2LA and EA8DBM :) nice ending.

QSO with LX2LA on 6m
Posted by Markus Kaukovalta on 31. toukokuuta 2015

Some direct cards have come, just to make me happier!

June 2015

Nice start for June, XE2FGC worked in the early hours when haveing breakfast before going to the office...
Saw a CQ from HC2TE, hmm a new DXCC Ecuador, gave him a call on 20m JT65 and logged him also, new DXCC in the log, nr 247.
FG5FU was also logged that day... Had seen V31DL Andre from Belize a few times on the screen but never made a qso yet, so exchanged a few emails and he said he would keep an eye out if he saw me and visaversa....
Next morning on 20m JT65 saw he had been earlier on the radio, decided to call for him few times, then he replied to my call and we made it! Another new one logged, nr 248!
Worked OJ0VM on 80m, Harri OH1GPS in on Märket reef making renovations and qsos on spare time :)
Only a few qsos made on 6m yet, SV9CVY and UX0FF to mention some. Hope conditions will pick up and there would be a first good JA opening soon!
Yet another call and band from Märket Reed, OJ0B worked on 2m FSK, wasn´t that hard.
A small QSY to Kustavi for the weekend, to see how things are there, warm weather, BBQ and some radio maybe if conditions are good.

Well they are not so bad... Few qsos with some locals, OH1ZAA and OH1UM on 4m.... Worked some europeans on 6m, nothing really new on the band.
At home, well 4m NAC, radio active for a period of 10mins, giving out points for those really competeting.
As I have mentioned I have been also active on HF lately, well once again it pays off... J35X was on 20m JT65 and gave a call to him, he then replied and we made a qso, making it my 249 DXCC. Big cheerioooo to him!

Around midsummer, been waiting for those JA openings but nothing hitting my antennas and ofcourse times when not at home there are some... Just my luck...But still nice opening on 6m to europe, working many stations. Also opened on 4m, giving me many new squares and also new DXCCs, CT1HZE was booming strong into my QTH for long time.

QSO with Joe, CT1HZE 3400km on 4m.www.qrz.com/db/ct1hze
Posted by Markus Kaukovalta on 26. kesäkuuta 2015

CT1HZE 3400km away on 4m...
Finally also worked Jack LX1JX on 4m, after multiple tries. Last good one was Peter working from JQ68TB grid with the call JW7QIA, but still only 6m with him. Everyone is waiting for a 4m qso with him.

July 2015

When kids are on holiday and XYL is going to a musicfestival, then its time to plan a tiny activity to KO19 grid for some 4m action!
Plans were easy, just start can early morning and drive to our special QTH, setup and start to work.
I have done a small 5el yagi by YU7EFs design. Finally the time came and setup was easy, vy fast QRV on 6m from KO19FX, Lövö island, IOTA EU096.
I made 15qsos on 4m and 25qsos on 6m. having some trouble with rig and antenna turning I am happy to have made this much with so little. There were even some OH staitions that needed the grid.
The 5el YU7EF 4m yagi in action :)

This was all good practice as then I packed my van to head my nose to Räyskälä, OH summercamp. Plan to stay for 2 days, gear taken with me, 2-4-6m yagis and the portable tubetowers.
Arrive at the camp aroung 14z and quickly setup station with the help of others. No qsos made during the whole end off the camp :) Just talking to lots of familiar persons, looking at some bonk and BBQ with beer...
At the camp me and Janne OH1SDR made a few tries on 353THz for qsos, making a 1.5km qso during Friday night. That was easy, also tried during daytime, was not that easy but still like taking candy from a kid.
After the summercamp there was an opening on 6m, worked lots of stations, first started with most european beacons then some signals from OK, I and HA countries on CW then getting better and worked 9A, S5, HA, OM, OK, YO, SP, LZ, OE, F, I, DL, E7, G, GW and EA on SSB. Only a few QSOs on 4m, OK1VBN, OK2BRD and 9A6Z on SSB, MUF was not that good...
Conditions have been vy poor, not that I would have had any time on radio, been too busy renovating the kitchen, today was actually first day in almost 2weeks that I had time to do something radio related, took down the 4el yagi for 12m, looking to put it up in the tower and on the same trip taking down the 9el 2m LFA.
Rxed even a QSL or two, but this one was a new one and something I was looking forward on...

August 2015

But one OH record made on 353THz... We organized some time with Janne OH1SDR to try out a 10km qso with 353THz equipment, Janne was up on the Hirvensalo
SKI/SLALOM hill in Turku and I went up to Rotavuori (also the OH1AU QTH) hill in Rusko, distance between us was 10,21km...
Some story from Janne: Markus (OH1MN) and I (OH1SDR) established 10,21km optical contact between two high places: Rotavuori Rusko and ski hill of Hirvensalo.
The optical distance between these two points is 10,2km. The design & build of the two transceivers (receiver and transmitter) used in this contact was by me, but Markus has been a great help in the
final assembly and awesome friend giving his time to do these maniac tests (even though I know he has been bitten by the THz fly, hi).
The approximate transmission power was around 3 Watts from cluster or 28 Infrared LEDs at six degree angle. Careful estimation of the fresnel lense gain in front of the photo (PIN) diode is around 36dB (with 50% efficiency).
We tested successfully many different digital modes including FSK441, BPSK31 and JT65B.
To our knowledge this optical two way contact was Finnish record!
The next target is a bit over 20km and we already have the places to climb on.
In the photos you can see my setup at Hirvensalo and Markus posing in Rusko.

My (OH1SDR) end at the ski hill of Hirvensalo.
Markus OH1MN posing at Rotavuori (Rota -mountain).
Map with ruff locations.
Markus OH1MN looking to OH1SDR location in the horisont.

Picture from OH0MZA / OH0G, picture by Aki, OH1ZE / OH0G - Nice QTH in locator KO09CX, Åland Islands!

Link to bigger picture!

First qsos with guys made on the 8th of August. OH0MZA from KO09 on 6m, worked also OH0G on 4m. Nice qsos and guys did a good job giving out KO09/OH0 on 2m, 4m and 6m...
Sadly their FT847 blew something inside and then 4m was out of the picture. No repair could be done on the island so only 2m/6m and HF were left.

2m NAC offered nice tropo conditions and some good qsos were made from home QTH this time. Many QSOs to YL, LY and UA1 areas. Even got OH8Z :)
Some nice small openings on 6m and even smaller on 4m, just pick up a few stations. Worked some PA and DLs on 4m FSK for fun. Seems tropo is still peaking, hearing nice beacons around 2m and 70cm.

Got a few good tropo qsos to SP with SP2IQW, SP2CHY and SM6BFE from south Sweden..

September 2015

As seen in the news not much happening on the radio front... most summer SpE has gone and we are left with some random meteorscatter, tropo openings and maybe some HF qsos...

The good thing is that once I get focused on HF then I can get some more DXCCs.... As happened now, E6GG Niue island was active, logged them on 20m SSB, making it my 250DXCC!
E6GG Website
Most of the free radiotime I got I have spent on HF, mainly working JT65. Many qsos to stateside, SA, JA and Pacific areas....

I am sorry that updates have been less during the end of summer period but been vy busy renovating house/kitchen and other stuff..

October 2015

Busy times... I bought a miniVNA from my friend Janne OH1SDR and have been checking my antennas, some problems with other and some are just fine.

JT65 is a nice mode, easy qsos and nice monitoring of conditions, worked some VR, LU, YB, ZS, VKs.... Also a few qsos on SSB, worked the polish dxpedition S79SP on 15m and Z21LS on 10m.
Small tropo openng on 2m, worked few OZ and SM6/7 stations...
Have been trying to get the Chesterfield DXtrip TX3X but no luck here, aurora has made sure of that. Conditions have been really bad! Know it will get better but when....

Better conditions now closer to the end of the month, getting nice contacts on HF, few stations /p in PJ2, C5LT etc. Now CQ WW SSB brings all the DX on AIR.
Nice to work some DX again, B1Z, AH0K (several bands, tu OH6RX & co), KL7RA, S0S on 15m (as a new DXCC, #251), logged also S01WS on 20m.

others, A93JA, VB2T (from zone 2!!), VR2XAN....
Worked also V73D on 20m CW and later on SSB, making it my DXCC #252! Great!

Also did some 2m tropo as OK2BFH was booming with a great signal from JN99 locator, 1236km.

QSO with OK2BFH 2m tropo.. 24.10.2015.
Julkaissut Markus Kaukovalta 25. lokakuuta 2015

November 2015

Start of month could not have been better. 3W3MD logged on 10m and after them AP2MB also on 10m!
I have now started to monitor and work JT65 on 40m band, band conditions are changing and lots of different stations can be worked. Late eveing starts to pick up from AS, logging stations
like HL3IB, JE6AZX, VU2GRR, 9W6EZ...then turning into night and morning with propagation to stateside, NC2O, VE9ZZ, KG5WR... Nice band and seems my halfwave sloppers are doing a fine job!
JD1BON logged also on 40m but CW. T2TT logged also 40m CW making it a new DXCC for me, #253.

Nice catch was also Seppo, signing as PJ6/OH1VR from Saba island, worked on 15m.

December 2015

Decemeber usually means end of the year and DXing. For me it says great conditions on meteorscatter and even some DX on HF! just need to get time to work!
Geminids are coming, peaking usually around the 13th-14th DEC. This meant for me lots of staying awake and working... I had the chance to go mobile to KP11AA,
not a most wanted # but still there were plenty of needing guys out there. I worked 20 qsos on 2m and 5qsos on 4m with simple station. At the peak I needed to be
at home but managed to get some qsos still in the log.
Xmas time was good time to fix some antennas, still doing my dualband for 4/6m. Some adjustment was needed on the feed element. Also needed to setup my 80m dipol
wich came down in a storm earlier. Now its even better and free of any tree branches.
My eldest QRM, Siru (daughter, now 4years) had the pleasure of talking with OF9X, Old Father Xmas! Nice chat and also Santa visited us on Xmas eve :)
Small ES opening on 6m, towards YO and ER. Also next day open to G, PA, DL etc... Nice. Sorry it has been too long since an update on the website. Will try to keep it up!
CU NEXT YEAR!!!