| Date | User | Challenge | Status | Toot summary & link |
|---|
| 2025-01-04 19:26:07 | PA3DSB@mastodon.radio | 1 | Success! | Designed on newyearsday but nearly forgot to share: My QSL for the @hamchallenge #hamchallenge HC01S #hamradio #amateurradio. To be sent to ON5UR print shortly. |
| 2025-01-06 07:05:51 | PA3DSB@mastodon.radio | 3 | Progress update... | In preparation for HC03 and to do better on 80m in contests i am considering to put up a G7FEK limited space antenna (https://https://www.g7fek.co.uk/news.php?page=80m_Antenna_for_small_gar_49493). Should exactly fit in te backyard. My only concern is that the feedpoint will be up 2m off the ground. Will that work? So far i made 2 QSO's to different continents on 80m ever! #hamchallenge @hamchallenge |
| 2025-01-06 23:21:51 | PA3DSB@mastodon.radio | 2 | Progress update... | I guess I've picked a less than optimal time for HC02. Even on the Maasbree websdr there is a faint trace of only 4U1UN. But I've setup Faros 1.4 which worked out of the box and will have it run for the days to come. RIG: IC7300, GP for 20, 15 an 10m and EFHW for 17 and 12m. FA-AS antenna switch. #hamchallenge @hamchallenge |
| 2025-01-07 08:49:20 | PA3DSB@mastodon.radio | 2 | Progress update... | This is way cool! First beacons being picked up at sunrise. Now hearing 4X6TU on all bands (even the 100mW), OH2B on 20m (559 at 100mW) and RR9O on 12m. Cant wait to see the result when getting back from work! #HC02 #hamchallenge |
| 2025-01-07 18:47:26 | PA3DSB@mastodon.radio | 2 | Progress update... | I guess I've picked a less than optimal time for HC02. Even on the Maasbree websdr there is a faint trace of only 4U1UN. But I've setup Faros 1.4 which worked out of the box and will have it run for the days to come. RIG: IC7300, GP for 20, 15 and 10m and EFHW for 17 and 12m. FA-AS antenna switch. #hamchallenge @hamchallenge |
| 2025-01-07 23:02:13 | PA3DSB@mastodon.radio | 2 | Success! | The results for today. 11 of 18 beacons detected at my noisy qth. Surprisingly even VK on 4 bands and ZL on 12m. #hamchallenge HC02S |
| 2025-01-12 15:46:17 | PA3DSB@mastodon.radio | 3 | Progress update... | HC03: Continent chasing, a tale.Goal: Work another continent on 80m this week. A dubious inverted L antenna is fiddled together using a crappy 7.5m fishing rod plus a too short 12 meters of wire. The ground is a copper pipe unceremoniously jammed into the damp soil. A single radial is connected just to add a touch of class. The result? Resonance lands way off at 4.1 MHz. With some base loading wizardry and prayer, I manage to drag the frequency down to 80m. #hamchallenge 1/7 |
| 2025-01-12 15:48:17 | PA3DSB@mastodon.radio | 3 | Progress update... | HamAlert is primed to squawk at the sight of any CW non-European stations on RBN, specifically those received in Zone 14. But alas, the numerous UA0 and UA9 stations, yes, that’s Asia, seem preoccupied with their own party (their contest exchange is a mystery), leaving me with my own challenge. #hamchallenge HC03 2/7 |
| 2025-01-12 15:55:18 | PA3DSB@mastodon.radio | 3 | Progress update... | Evening comes, and with it, VK stations reaching Europe. My station? Silent. Why? Because I’m watching TV. By the time I'm in the shack the band has been hijacked by Italians in full BBI contest mode.With the SWR low enough the FL2100Z producing 300W is fired up, and I manage to work a few WWA stations. But alas, they’re European, and my weekend goal remains out of reach. Even FT8, the ultimate ham fallback, only offers Europeans and disappointment. #hamchallenge HC03 3/7 |
| 2025-01-12 15:58:18 | PA3DSB@mastodon.radio | 3 | Progress update... | As the clock strikes midnight, salvation appears! K0PJ (Wisconsin) emerges from the ether during the North American QSO Party. I can barely hear Greg, but on the Maasbree WebSDR, he’s a shining beacon of RF hope.Cue a dozen calls into the void. Finally, Greg’s 4-square monstrosity plucks my signal out of the noise. It’s a QSO! Or is it? Technically, I can only hear him via the WebSDR, not on my own setup. Does that count? I leave the judgement to others. #hamchallenge HC03 4/7 |
| 2025-01-12 16:08:20 | PA3DSB@mastodon.radio | 3 | Success! | As the the sunrise slowly creeps westward, I begrudgingly turn to FT8, the digital savior of the lazy DXer. The morning grey line brings a faint glimmer of hope: CT3MD (Madeira) pops up. With 100 watts, I manage a -02 report. Not glamorous, but it counts. Madeira is in Africa so the mission is finally accomplished. Time for a celebration!HC03S status: Success! Sort of. #hamchallenge 6/7 |
| 2025-01-12 16:09:20 | PA3DSB@mastodon.radio | 3 | Success! | EpilogueThe inverted L has been torn down, the PA cooled, and the copper pipe left for future experiments. The DX gods have smiled, albeit faintly, on this ham. Now, it’s time to focus on the next challenge which luckily doesn’t involve WebSDR or BBI contesters.Until then, 73’s Paul #hamchallenge HC03S 7/7 |
| 2025-01-15 07:58:24 | PA3DSB@mastodon.radio | 3 | Success! | Yesss! N1W in the log! Worked them on my first call using 100W and the 11m end-fed up 8m (designed for the WARC bands). Could have saved the hassle of last weekend, which was fun though! #hamchallenge HC03S |