7O2WX – Socotra Island, Yemen

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Vladimir OK2WX starts his latest DXpedition to Socotra Island, Yemen on January 25. An announcement is up on DXNews.com. This amateur is very experienced but this site which is approximately 500 kilometers from the Yemenese shoreline seems a little foolhardy. With USAF FA-18s and Houthi missiles flying overhead, his Elecraft and ICOM rigs will be buzzing. But that’s only my humble opinion.

Perhaps it’s the whiskey; perhaps it’s the gin.

Check out his call sign on QRZ.

By the way, should you make a contact with him (he’s will be on the 160 meter contest this weekend), drop me a line via the Contact US tab and I’ll highlight your contact here.

RAC Winter Contest – VA7IHF

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On Saturday, December 30th, Pierre VE7NRO and Glenn VA7HC participated in the RAC Winter Contest. Using Pierre’s ICOM 7300, they racked up a score of 2464 with 29 (eight shown) contacts on SSB. It was great fun.

VA7IHF 10-meter results

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I had the opportunity to work the ARRL 10-meter contest with Rick Williams VE7TK in his nice warm home on Dec. 9th and 10th. I make this comment because normally I would be working the contest out of my car at the Oak Bay Marina. This year the weather was windy with a cold downpour of rain.

I should note that we used the IslandHF Radio Association call sign VA7IHF. It is a club call sign which can be used by any IslandHF member. Just click the VA7IHF tab and request its use for a contest. If you check 3830 Scores for the ARRL 10-meter contest, you will see that our club posted a very favorable result.

Band conditions on both days were excellent until about 4:30 pm, and then nothing! However, during the peak times we had lots of runs with SSB pile ups. It’s nice when you’re running 350 watts into a yagi with a 1.2 SWR. In my shack, a 2006 Prius, I run about 50 watts into a $75 vertical.

Many thanks to Rick and his wife Doris for their hospitality which included strong coffee, sandwiches and mince tarts. And, oh yah, I can’t forget Daiquiri the pooch who provided splendid companionship.

Glenn VA7HC

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