2014 CQ WW DX CW - CE3CT (Op LU5DX) SOAB HP |
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2014 CQ WW DX CW at CE3CT |
I started making my first contacts with other hams on 80 meters, a month after I started practicing with that old key.
Then my father suggested I should try DX on 40 meters. I was magic to me! Only 80 Watts out and an inverted V at 90 feet and I was amazed at how far away the signal could travel.
I used to go there to work DX every afternoon and also on Saturdays and Sundays mornings I enjoyed working JA stations for several hours.
2014 CQ WW DX CW at CE3CT |
He told me to search in his CQ Magazine archive to look for the rules.
I discovered that a month after the SSB contest the CW leg would take place, so I spent several hours listening to activity on the bands.
My father told me that one of his commercial HF equipment suppliers Jorge Bozzo, LU8DQ would be active on CW, so when I found him on 10 meters, his style of operation was really hypnotic to me.
Team LP1H 2008 ARRL INT'L SSB |
Next year in 1989, I decided that I would enter CQ WW DX CW on 10 meters. I did that with the same straight key I was using to make contacts on a daily basis, and of course using the trusty FT 101. What an experience! I managed to work 1073 Qs in 29 zones and 85 countries. The contesting bug had bitten me!
From that point on I started entering as many Amateur Radio Contests as time permits. Nowadays, I mainly enter 4-5 contests a year.
2014 CQ WPX CW at LT1F |
Friends like LU5HM (LP1H) and Roberto CE3CT are kind enough to let me re-arrange the layout of their stations to operate SO2R. (Single Op with two radios). SO2R is the most fun you can have in a contest!
I had the chance to meet friends from around the world. That is the most amazing thing about this beautiful hobby.
I had the privilege to guest-operate from: LU2DJY, LU6EBY, LU4FM, ZP0Y, LU1IV, DA0FF, LU7DW, S50Q, S522R (WRTC 2000), LT1F, LU6DK, LU3HY (LT0H), PW5A (WRTC 2006), LR2F, AY8A (LU8ADX), LW9EOC, ZW5B, LP1H, CW5W, CE3CT and many others.
2011 ARR DX CW at CW5W |
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