CT7/HB9BIN/p

Dear Chasers

2017 SOTA trip to Portugal, by HB9BIN
From April 19 - 27, 2017, I activated 13 summits in the Algarve (CT/AL) and Baixo Alentejo (CT/BT) regions. While most of the summits in AL were almost drive-ups, the remaining few along with those in BT were possible using simple hiking trails, something my XYL appreciated very much. Virtually all the summits have a large trigonometrical point made of concrete that often can be seen from a far distance and is painted white-blue-white. For finding your way, you need nothing more than a navigation device and the free “Iberian Peninsula” map from Kowoma.
During my stay, propagation was quite unusual (inhomogeneous ionization of the atmosphere) and I also had to deal with an electromagnetic storm. Several Swiss stations reported via e-mail that they heard me on certain days on 20 meters but could not hear me at all on other days. Using my KX3 and an end-fed half wave antenna, I made a total of 561 contacts. Of them, there were 280 unique calls and 29 S2S contacts. Signals on the 30m and 40m bands were consistently weak, and so I worked primarily on 20 m CW and SSB. Many thanks to all the chasers, and I have confirmed all my contacts with a postcard from Algarve via the QSL buro. It is not necessary to send a reply QSL card.
73 de CT7/HB9BIN, Juerg

Vy tks to Paul, HB9DST for this translation!

3 Likes

Hi Juerg

Hopefully I will activate ct/al-001 tomorrow. Next time we should coincide! It’s always a pleasure to activate a summit with another amateur radio operator.

GL and if you need any help during your stay here just email me or give me a call (phone sent by pm)

73 es GL

Pedro, CT1DBS/CU3HF

Hi Juerg,

Many thanks for the information. I still need to work some of your First Priority list for Completes. Hopefully one or another band will work out okay. Enjoy the summits.

73, Gerald G4OIG

Hi Juerg,

Just back from the Algarve and activated CT/AL-002, CT/AL-005 & CT/AL-007.

As well as the activations the weather was gorgeous, and the walks lovely.

Enjoy yourself and have fun.

73’s
David
G4ZAO

Hi Juerg,

Enjoy your trip, may be I can work you from a HB9 summit !

73’s

Laurent de F8CZI

Hi
I say thank you for all your replays. But let me tell you this:
After long discussions at the security check at the airport of Zurich we made it. They did not bother about the small high risk Li-on 10.8 V 2800mAh battery packs of Tenergy for the KX2. But I had long discussions with three officers about the less risky LiPo 14.8V 4000mAh battery packs for the KX3. I was told by a lady, that next time only “160 wattNewton” (hihi are allowed! But we finally made it! Due to the worldwide terror thread the situation for hams is getting worse every year. It is my first trip abroad without any large battery packs for 100 W rig. Therefore I was surprised by the discussions of today! We will see what the security staff will say when we are flying home.
By the way: My XYL went with a pocket knife trough the same security check! With a smile she got it back from the security staff. When I saw that Orwell came in my mind: “All animals are equal but some a little bit more!” …
I look forward working you!
73 de CT7/HB9BIN, Juerg

Hopefully the staff at Faro will be as relaxed as when I went through with equipment. The greatest concern was the 817 itself, but the supervisor had seen it all before and waved the assistant away when she tried to ask him about it. Like you I had more trouble with the LiPOs on the outgoing journey - providing a copy of the aviation rules eventually got us through.

73, Gerald G4OIG

Be listening for you.

karl

Hello, Juerg.

Enjoy your stay in Portugal.

Unfortunately I couldn’ t hear you on any of the spotted freqs.
Last night we had some big thunderstorms in some areas of the country and the conditions for short distance contacts on the HF bands are really bad.
I hope things get better and expect to work you before you leave Portugal.
If you need some kind of assistance, email me.

Enjoy the summits and best 73 …

… de João CARLOS CT1BQH

Viel VergnĂĽgen JĂĽrg

Ich bin im Sommer etwas weiter westlich als CT8/HB9DPR/P auf den Azoren unterwegs.

73 Tom

G0FEX
Just worked Juerg, on 20, one minute he was there the next he was gone, very odd conditions.
Thanks Juerg, enjoy the holiday…
Ken

Geo-magnetic storm!

… Unfortunately I couldn’ t hear you on any of the spotted freqs.

Hi Pedro
Is 60 Meter in Portugal allowed. If yes, let us try hr! What is the QRG which is allowed on 60 meter
Best Regards
George

WRC-15 seems to be ok, gl

Hi Jurg

Yes, ANACOM allow 60m but - I’m sorry to say it - you must request to use it (individual special permit to top category only).

QRG’s allowed are the ones of WRC-15 , plus some channels:
5288.5
5351.5 - 5366.5
5371.5
5380.5
5403.5

No power limit. No restrictions on /p.

Saying so, I’m able to help you to request the special permit but you must stay in CT a little bit longer…

73 de Pedro, CT1DBS/CU3HF

1 Like

Hi
Today (24.4.2017) is the Lady Day. I will be QRV agn tmw from CT/BT-005.
73 de CT7/HB9BIN/p

As we say in the UK, you have to keep her indoors happy. :wink:

Many thanks for the summits so far. Pity that I had to be in London on Saturday as I missed one potential Complete, but that’s life. Apologies for the signals from my side being so poor, but I only have the 40m dipole up at the moment. I hope to be on the vertical tomorrow.

Enjoy your day off. :slight_smile:

73, Gerald G4OIG

Hi Gerald

My xyl Franziska likes English humour vy much!

Tks for ur QSO of today. You have now made 4 out of 11.
73 de CT7/HB9BIN/p

Yes, but it is sadly misunderstood in many parts of the world - not as though we care!

I checked the logs and I have actually managed to scrape through 5 contacts with you, so thanks for having good ears to make those possible. So far there is only one Complete - AL-002. The main getaway was AL-001 which was annoying as I’ve tried on several occasions to work that one, but I am sure there will be many more opportunities in the future. The CT/BT summits with the exception of BT-001 are “Completes in waiting” as my brother has an apartment in the Algarve, so many thanks for those. As for the others, I had very poor conditions here on 21st April and was out all day on 22nd. C’est la vie. :slight_smile:

73, Gerald G4OIG

Edit: Make that 6 out of 12. :grin:

Edit 2: 7 out of 13 :grin::grin:

Hi Juerg,
Just to confirm that it was me that called you not ON4FI at 10:34z today when you were on CT/AL-003. I sometimes get mixed up with ON4FI, it is quite amusing! I think you understood but just to confirm …

Thanks for all the CT summits, I think I managed 8 in total so missed you on some CT summits. I must say that whenever I chase you you always put out a great signal, congratulations!

Best 73
Andrew G4AFI