Ham Radio 2.0 » DXpedition

How to convert a 4 wheels into ham radio station multibands in 20 minutes

f1jxq — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 08:35:11 +0000

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 founded :

- 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-Francois 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 – former TO1IUSB

Tropical storm Dean alarm for French West Indies by SXM Cyclone

f1jxq — Wed, 15 Aug 2007 00:10:21 +0000

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

Propagation and radio report #1 from TO1USB

f1jxq — Sat, 04 Aug 2007 23:39:53 +0000

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

73 de TO1USB
David

FG/F1JXQ will be TO1USB in Guadeloupe Island – IOTA NA-102

f1jxq — Sun, 29 Jul 2007 10:46:43 +0000

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

FG/F1JXQ Guadeloupe Island Dxpediton IOTA NA-102 – 20, 10, 6, 2 meters and 70cm

f1jxq — Fri, 13 Jul 2007 06:44:41 +0000

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 F1JXQ on Twitter.. More about twitter for ham radio.

Talk to you soon, on air !

A lire en français sur RadioAmateur 2.0.

DXpedition FG/F1JXQ – Guadeloupe Island On The Air (IOTA NA102)

f1jxq — Sun, 23 Jul 2006 09:41:24 +0000

I will re-activate the amateur radio station FG/F1JXQ on these bands : 144mhz, 50Mhz and of course 28Mhz in SSB, between July 24, 2006 and August 14, 2006.

The hours of activation will be variable in the course of the day (hey these is also holidays) and the simplest way to reach the station is to consult DX clusters or eHam DX Spot to see if the amateur radio station is on the air or not.

CQ frequencies used, except QRM :

144.350 MHz on 2 meters band 50.200 MHz on 6 meters band 28.500 MHz out on 10 meters band

The conditions of traffic are rather QRP with 100 Watts and mobile antennas or portable : an omnidirectional Bi-band 144/430Mhz, an antenna 5/8 Santiago 1200 for the 28Mhz and a wire antenna homemade for the 50Mhz. The tranceiver still the same : ICOM MKGII for all bands.

Usually in this period, the DX propagation is very good in direction of Americas and of Europe.

We make QSO ? Feel free to leave a message here with your station radio website address !

I like to receive regular QSL Cards by post, the old and classical way for my collection and to confirm a QSO. I am 100% QSL Cards confirmed and also throught eQSL.cc for eletronic QSL card.

Hope to catch you soon on the air !

73′ S David

Great openning on 10 meters band from FG

f1jxq — Thu, 17 Mar 2005 09:25:31 +0000

10 meters is probably the hardest band in HF band to make DX, probably the reason why there is not a lot and enought HAM on 28 Mhz, in my opinion, to “occupate” the band. 28Mhz can be called a versatile band but when it work, it’s “magic” ! Like today a long in distance and duration opening on 10 meters from FG to Europe, Africa, large part of US and some cool DX (Marocco).

Here is the list of some great QSO made today on 28.500 Mhz from Guadeloupe Island (FG), if you are one of them please confirm QSO with QSL Card, return 100% : EA8NB, K2KAA, W1KKW, K6DK, WA3EST, KG4WBB, K4GZZ/m, KC4BDS, N2VZA, N8II, KN4UG, WA4VSH, N3FES, WN9PI, N8OWJ, N8LQZ, K9REH, VE3PWP, AG4HZ, KR6Z, N2MUN, AD6HF, KC2EXO, KB1AWZ, KA2AWX, KA2H, K9ZIP, WA6DKN, K8GWU, K2UFC, WA6CDO, W7FW, TI8CBT, W7FA, WS6X, K6IPV, W3AZD, VE3CSK, KT4PD, WD9DZV, N4PCK, KC4ATA, KE7YF, W7QC, W4RNK, N0CKN, WB4HDW/p, W9NG, WA0KVL, WA2PIP, K4ZYU, KB3LFX/m, KB5ROB, AK7AK, K6VYX, KC2MR, KA1NBT, KF6YE, K5DNL, K9DLL, W8RCY, KB8OTK, KC2DSX, KA2EZL, CM6UV, KP4YC, KG4RRT, W2AVA, W3THI, KR6F, K5OLE, PY2DU, EA5AID, EA7GDC, WB2ZHB, VE3ESE, AB2EZ, NC4WT, NA1VT, W5ODD, AB2KC, N4SNV, KD4BMQ, W5ZPA, K4ARN, W8WVM, AA8ZZ, KF8PD, KA3QW, W2BIE, N6HC, KB3KTR, W4DAN, N2NNN, K2ODC, CT1EEQ, EA7GNA, W3CSA, WB3OP, WB3BOT, W8PAF, WB7VVD, PY4GAH, EA7BHO, EA7HZ, EA8ALK, VA3UL, EA8ZZ, EA4CIE, EA3AYP, KB3HOG, WA0FQK, PP5AIM, N8STO, W0ZPE, K5SVC, W4GIW, KB5RHD, K1DDR, KE4AGV, W4TAB, W6XR, XE1YRP, KF7Z, W6GYD, N2XD, F1BLL, N9PYS, KB8QO, K4JF, KF3KWO, K4TP, F4DSD, CT2IVO, WA3GVX, WA3GFM, KB2DMW, KB2YFF, K4NNI, K8IHQ, KE1ZI, KC8IM, K8SL, WB6JVP, WA2PPN, KB8JVK, CN8SR. 73′s to all!
Update on 17 March :
The conditions of propagation continue to be good on 10 meters these day. I was not QRV today but get time in mobile to make few QSO with : ZD8AD, F8DGY, F5TDK et EA1QR que je remercie d’avoir r?pondu ? mes appels sur 28.500 Mhz.

1st QSO on 6 meters band (50MHz) from FG/F1JXQ

f1jxq — Fri, 11 Mar 2005 08:33:29 +0000

I wanted to test 6 meters band in FG, because this band got a lot of restriction in France where some french departement don’t allow 50Mhz activity. I decided to build and use a double bazooka antenna that seems to works really great with QSO with South America and USA.

The frequency I use is 50.100 Mhz and 50.110 Mhz.
QTH Locator is IC18VF
Here is first QSO with : PY3PAC, W4TSR, CE4SES, CE3JGV, PU2TES, CE2PCD, PY3PDR.

The Double Bazooka Antenna (Homemade)

100 Watts with Icom IC 706 MKIIG (Great TX!)

Pill up while US Contest on 10 meters band (28 Mhz)

f1jxq — Tue, 08 Mar 2005 09:44:42 +0000

By chance, it was organized the week-end of 5 and 6 march a US Contest on 10 meters band. Hundred of contacts in few hours, a cool pill up from FG.

What is a pill up ? Dozen, hundred CQ on the same time, very exiting but also difficult to allow a maximum of chance from anyone to get a progressive number. I try to do my best with hundred of contacts in 2 hours. Here is some callsign, I would like to thanks for QSO: IZ0EGA, K4AGA, W4DF, W4DVG, W9NDL, ,W4YE, W4DNZ, K4ENC, W5WMU, W7YAQ, KB6ATT, KB4UUA, K4ORA, N4HN, KB5FET, WN4DX, NJ2F, N0FD, KJ4RC, AA4RX, N6AR, WT5L, W4CEO, N4GKF, W7QF, N4DMD, N4KG, W7IUO, N2MFT, K4NNI, K4SV, K4ADR, K4ADR, K4YV, K6XX, K4APG, K6IDX, K5RR, N7TT, W4KS, N6EE, K5UA, N1RM, N7ZR, K8KFK, K7TD, N0KE, K6WA, ND4X, NK7U, W0AIH, WV4I, W6EEN, KG4USN, AD4UL, NF4A, W7RAI, W6RKC, KC8IMB, N4HH, KI5XP, N2BJ, N4NX, W4R, N2LEC, W9SX,, N4BH, W0PV, W2KN, N1VR, AI4FR, W4RAE, N2VA, KE3J, N2JJ, N1DD, W3OA, N3RS, K4GHS, KD5JAA, W2FP, KE2N, K5NA, W4JVN, W4RNR, W0C2E, W3RS, N8RA, N3FX, N1RK, K2WA, W3GK, K4LTA, W2NY, W7KPZ, K4BAI, WA2VUY, W1GQ, K3MD, W4MYA, N4NW, W1QA, N4NO, N8II, K1AE, K5YA, W8ZA, W6YI, KA8Q, N4EHT, KU6T, AF70, W4ARM, K6OWL, WX4G, W6QU, HP3BS, LU3MAM, LU1FQ, LU6EK, LU6FUY, PY2SBY, PY2SRB, PY2PAL, PY4SPL, XQ4ZW.

FG (Guadeloupe Island) DX’pedition March 2005 on 10 meters band (28 Mhz)

f1jxq — Sat, 26 Feb 2005 02:29:16 +0000

I have had the chance to operate from these nice DX location and on 10 meters band. Guadeloupe Island is located in the Caribbean Sea in French West Indies. The IOTA numbers is IOTA NA-102, WAZ 8, DXCC FG. The callsign used was FG / F1JXQ.

Band : 10 meters and 6 meters band
Main CQ frequency : 28.500 Mhz (+/- 5)
QTH Locator : FK96CD

We get contact and want to receive the QSL card to confirm our QSO ? I will be happy to send you one

Send your QSL Card directly to :

David Degrelle (F1JXQ)
PO BOX 323
73375 Le Bourget du Lac – FRANCE

Guadeloupe is 1,845 miles (2968 Kms) from New York, 4,306 miles (6928 Kms) from Paris, 2,138 miles (3440 Kms) from Montreal, and 310 miles (498 Kms) from San Juan (Puerto Rico). It is an archipelago in the Caribbean Sea comprising several distinct islands. Guadeloupe proper is made up of two islands, Basse-Terre and Grande-Terre, separated by a seawater channel, the Rivi?re Sal?e. The other islands are Marie-Galante, La D?sirade, and Les Saintes, which lie offshore, and St. Martin and St. Barth?lemy (or St. Barts), some 125 miles (201 Kms) north. The butterfly shaped island of Guadeloupe has a land area of 530 square miles: the western wing, Basse- Terre, has 312, the eastern wing, Grande-Terre, has 218. Approximately 450,000 people live on Guadeloupe in 2005. The Island is a Overseas Department of France and we speak French and Kr?ole.

More informations about : Guadeloupe at Wikipedia., DXpedition at Wikipedia.

Map of Caribbean Island including Guadeloupe

Picture from satellite of Guadeloupe Island (Butterfly Island)

Pictures of Guadeloupe Island