LA8AJA's homepage

I just got an e-mail from LA8KV stating that 4M has been opened for use in LA. So far, the only official info can be found on Lovdata. This is exciting news indeed, and I guess many firsts will be made soon.

Here are the updated frequencies for LA:

Confirmations on LoTW has been quite slow lately, but things have picked up the last few weeks. TS7C gave me #234 with a confirmation on 30M CW. Then I was quite surprised to see that FT5GA (Glorioso) uploaded their log so soon. That makes #235 on LoTW. Yet another surprise followed the next day, with FO/G3BJ (Austral) giving me #236 on LoTW.

I'm happy that more and more people and expeditions are using LoTW. That means less QSL-work for me. Don't get me wrong, I like QSLcards, but as soon as they are marked in the log and replied to, they are stowed away in a closet. I rarely take some of them out and watch, but when I do, I always get surprised at what I have in fact worked. I have never applied for any diplomas either. Maybe some time in the future I will in fact do that. And let's not forget the cost of direct QSLing. Postage is not cheap here in Norway and direct doesn't always guarantee a QSL back. There are some operators out there who doesn't bother QSLing at all. Luckily they are a minority.

Now let's put the rant away, and pray for more fine DX in the log and confirmations on LoTW.

Last Wednesday, I checked the bands before work. TX5SPM was on 30M CW, not too strong, but he was workable, and gave me #254 on 30M. When I came home from work, I noticed T6AG was on 30M CW. After trying to get his attention for a few minutes, he finally picked me up for #255 on 30M.

Soundclips:

• T6AG 30M CW

The past weekend I had some time to chase DX. On Saturday K4M was on 40M CW with a nice and strong signal. I got him after a little calling. That was #241 on 40M. A few minutes later I got him on 30M, or so I thought. I was logged as LA8TJA. An hour later, 3D2KJ was on 30M CW. He was very strong, and I got him, but had to repeat my call several times. Another LA wouldn't stop calling on top of me, even though he asked for me several times. A few hours later, K4M had an excellent signal on 30M. I quickly logged him, and this time they got my call correct. That was #252 on 30M. At around 13Z I heard E51NOU quite strong on 40M CW. I quickly worked him for #242 on 40M. I did also try H44MY on CW, but the pile-up was too big. On Monday, I noticed that 4U1UN was spotted on 30M CW. I dialed in and there he was. After a few calls, he came back with my call. Another new one on 30M (#253). This year I have worked them 4 times and all qsoes are confirmed via LoTW. I'm glad they are a bit more active now.

LA6Q was active this weekend from EU-061. I see lots of hits on my page for LA6Q. This activation was real, and QSL is via LA9VDA. I tried to call a few times on 30M, but the europeans were much stronger than me.

Soundclips:

• E51NOU 40M CW – qsl via N7OU
• K4M 40M CW – qslinfo here.
• K4M 30M CW – qslinfo here.
• 3D2KJ 30M CW – qsl via SP5DRH
• LA6Q 30M CW – qsl via LA9VDA
• H44MY 40M CW – qsl via OM2SA

Last week I got an A4 sized envelope in the mail. It contained a diploma from the World Wide RTTY WPX Contest 2009. I was quite surprised, as I never expected any diploma. Turns out, I won my category in LA. I just participated a few hours and worked 150 contacts. I was originally planning on just sending a checklog, but forgot and submitted the log as a regular log. I think that is my first diploma for my own call.

I heard the sad news yesterday. JW5NM Mathias died of heart failure. I had the pleasure of meeting him face to face two times when visiting JW. First time was in 2002 and the second time was in 2006. The picture is from the trip in 2006. Mathias was the most active hamradio operator from JW and one of the few hams living up there on a permanent basis. I also had the opportunity to work him a few times on the air. My condolences to the family. RIP Mathias.

Edited October 16th.

Wednesday this week I started work late. I tuned around the band to check conditions. I noticed 3D20CR with few takers on 20M CW. I got him after a litte while. I switched to 30M where I noticed E51NOU was quite strong on CW. Bill N7OU had left Chatham Island and was now qrv from South Cook. I got him quickly in the log for #251 on 30M. TX5SPA was on 30M CW, but not too strong, so I switched to 40M CW instead. They had quite a nice signal there and after a few calls in the pile-up, they were logged. On Friday evening, 5N0OCH was on 40M CW with a nice signal. He was working simplex, but I quickly logged him for another band. 4S7AAG was also on 40M CW with a strong signal. He had quite a big pile-up, and I couldn’t break it. He went to SSB, so I never bothered listening for him there.

Soundclips:

• T6YA 40M CW – qsl via F5OGL
• E51NOU 30M CW – Bill, qsl via N7OU
• 5N0OCH 40M CW – Bodo, qsl via DL3OCH
• TX5SPA 40M CW – qsl via SP9PT
• TX5SPA 30M CW – qsl via SP9PT
• 4S7AAG 40M CW – qsl via DL1LH
• 3D20CR 20M CW- qsl via DJ8NK