FG/F1JXQ > Ham Radio Amateur 2.0 & DXpedition 10m, 6m & 2m

It's while TO1USB activation in Guadeloupe, where I could test in real conditions the setting of a portable ham radio station that I wanted QRV on 50MHz, 28MHz, 21MHz, 14MHz, 144MHz, 432MHz only on USB mode.

Not so easy in portable on a island between compromise of easy to travel and antenna performances. For the transceiver, no problem, the ICOM 706 MKIIG is a real good rig to operate quickly on 6 bands with 100 Watts from 14Mhz to 50Mhz, small and easy to carry out.

To return to the antenna question I need to be QRV on 6 bands HF+VHF+UHF but especially be able to assembly and disassembling antenna quickly and even for a single person alone to do it.

Here is what looks like the final result and solution found:

- 1 mast of 7 meters, elements of 40cm of diameter and 2m and 1m length - QSJ 15€ by elements
- 1 vertical antenna ITA tri-bands with wire radians, 1 per band: 14MHz, 21MHz and 28MHz, Gain 2dB - QSJ 150 €
- 1 vertical Diamond Tri-bands on 50MHz, 144MHz, 432Mhz, Gain:10dBi - QSJ 100 €

I was on the coasts of Saint-François towards La Pointe des Chateaux in east of guadeloupe island that offers good conditions for DX, the large-ground being a calcareous plate, and in addition with the sea in edge of beach offering a very good plan of ground.

The key is in the 4 wheels vehicule.

It's by examining the 4 wheels that the solution was found, in the simplest possible way: the clamp of the door spare wheel like support of the antennas.

Then it was very easy to find a TV adaptator support for about 20€ at a local store, and get a solid fixing for antenna.

The spare wheel is also very useful in the assembly, by using it like arm of lever to assemble and dismount the 7 meters from ground antenna support, even being alone to do it.

Lastly, it remains to attach the 3 wire radians which are used to solidarize the unit in particular when there are some wind, very often at this period of the year in guadeloupe island because of the hurricane season.

Here is the arrangement adopted in the 4 wheels to preserve sitted places and succeed to put everything in the car:

Some results, nearly 500 DX QSO were realized with nice report of 59 in Europe, not so band with 100 Watts, vertical antenna and especially in the very lowest of the solar cycle whose return is envisaged as of January 2008.

We have improved antenna sand installation, with the great help of Léontel and Jean-Michel, in the heights of Deshaies (Basse-Terre), 12 hours before the Dean Tropical depression. We follow evolution of Dean in real time on cellular thanks to SXM Cyclone services and also on air thanks to local ham radio during all the activation.

Everything was ok for both all 3 of us and the equipement, the DX conditions was great like we expect just before Dean and return very low after Dean for few days, also due to the hight volume of rain after a cyclone.

Thanks all for QSO, and QSL, the first one was send this week.

73 de F1JXQ - past TO1IUSB

Tropical storm DEAN, with a statute of hurricane of category 2 or 3, is reinforced and it was located at 23h00 local to 2085 km in the East of the French West Indies (Antilles Françaises).

The winds constant blow now to 85 km/h and are made feel to 85 km of the center. the pressure falls with 1000 mb.

It carries on its Western road full and if it maintains this tendency that would be Martinique Island which would be threatened on August 17 in end according to midday, however its trajectory can still vary from here next the 24 hours and this for this reason that all the French West Indies islands are in YELLOW cyclonic vigilance

To follow the tropical storm Dean visit SXM Cyclone and Hurricane Advisories

First report from Guadeloupe Island for 2-3-4 august 2007 : The conditions of propagation are very low, probably the badest I ever seen from years here in Guadeloupe Island. The good news is that it can't be more low, and it will begin to rise from now...

On 20m, the most active band, I've heard on 2-3 august strong Bresilan and American station and ham radio station from some part of south america (Chilie, Nicaragua, Venezuela) but not able to make QSO with my 100w and a mobile vertical matched antenna

So I decided to put a better base antenna tuned for 20 meters band on 4 august and the results was much more better : I make my first QSO using TO1USB with DL0BUB/P, DB7OB, MM1DQV and with Canadian and American ham radio station with very nice report 59 and 59+ with Europe.

Here is my portable working conditions :

On 10m band, the band is very quiet, there are a lot more activity on 27.455 and 27.555, which are the best frequency to detect high propagation and sporadic E, to then try it on 28Mhz.

On 6 meters band : silent until now !

Rendez-vous "on air" and follow me at Twitter, especially next 7 and 10 august where ARLP propagation report announce some sunspots, finger cross

73 de FG/F1JXQ & TO1USB David

For the first time I fill the form to get a special callsign for my next activation in Guadeloupe Island in French West Indies. The reason was to get a callsign shorter and easier to pronunce on air. The special callsign will be used from 4 august to 18 august 2007.

Why I choose USB as three final letter of the callsign ? It means that I will operate only USB ham radio frequency : 20m, 10m, 6m, and 2m bands.

QTH Locator : FK96CD

QRV : 20, 10, 6 and 2 meters bands (maybe 432Mhz if people & Es)

IOTA : NA 102

WAZ : 8

DXCC : FG

QSL Direct or via eQSL

QSL Manager : F1JXQ

To see some pictures about guadeloupe Island

I will be active as FG/F1JXQ from Guadeloupe Island, IOTA NA-102, from August 4 to 20. I operate USB and likely to be found on 20, 10, 6, 2 metres and 70cm between 10 and 16 UTC.

Here is the special QSL card :

QSL direct or via eQSL

Follow FG/F1JXQ with Twitter. More about twitter for ham radio.

Talk to you soon, on air !

A lire en français sur Passion RadioAmateur 2.0.