Another killer tool....

I have discovered another 6m DX killer tool embedded amongst all the other useful functions of Clublog.

https://secure.clublog.org/index.php

Select “Propagation” on the left menu.

Select the DXCC country e.g. Australia and click on “Run propagation report”.

The very first graph is for 6m. With this one can see at a glance if the country has been worked and how frequently and what the prime times are. One can also refine the search by selecting the month.

Using this one can clearly see based on the uploaded logs the best month by far to have a 6m QSO between South Africa and Australia is April and the optimum time is 0600Z and 0800Z.

Then as a reality check select Italy and run the test again.

The data is accurate, but to be really useful it needs the buy in from all the regular 6m users. I suspect that only a small percentage of the regular 6m DX’ers use Clublog.

This powerful tool can only deliver if we all upload our logs to Clublog.

6m activity derived from uploaded logs

Pileup behaviour

This last week has been interesting. Working FT5ZM for an all-time new one was great. Amsterdam Island is well situated and one F2 hop away from South Africa.

As predicted by VOACAP it is/was very easy for me to work them. The predictions showed that we should have had no problem to work them 160m through 15m, but as it turns out we have had many openings on 12m and 10m as well.

The most memorable QSO was the single CW QRP QSO I made with them on 15m using my ZS2AA call.

I worked them with 5 watts and a wet noodle. Dropped my call only once, without resorting to using the /QRP suffix. Only after they replied did I add the /QRP suffix. This was while the pileup from EU and NA was still going strong.

This clearly shows how important it is to call at the right time and to know where the DX is listening.

What is it with the unruly/bad behaviour with the stations calling?

I cannot understand why anyone would continue calling, knowing full well that the DX station is trying to work someone else. The frightening thing is that it is not the “odd” station; it seems that there are many doing the same.

I honestly think it is time that the DX expedition operators teach transgressors a lesson. I.e. work them, but do not enter them in the log. Just maybe the idiots will eventually learn to behave in an appropriate manner.

We really don’t need these LID’s spoiling our fun. I am all for a bit of competitive spirit, but blatant disregard to the instructions given is simply unacceptable.