Mike Dennison, G3XDV

2000/2001 Season Transatlantic Tests

Page 5 - Firsts and Furthest

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Stations who have crossed the Atlantic

 

 

 

Firsts and Furthest

  • 10 Sep 2000: G0MRF/P (crossband with VE1ZJ on 14MHz) [details and spectrogram]
  • 10 Sep 2000: VE1ZZ (long dashes received by G0MRF/P)
  • Date??? and 16 Sep 2000: G3LDO (two one ways to VE1ZJ) [details and spectrogram of second one-way]
  • 29 Sep 2000: G3LDO crossband with VE1ZJ who transmited on ???kHz. [details and spectrogram of crossband]
  • Date???: OK1FIG operating from commercial site with 150m mast (crossband with VE1ZJ on 14MHz) [spectrogram and G3NYK's propagation plot]
  • 21 Dec 2000: VE1ZZ's callsign read by G3LDO. [Full details]
  • 23 Dec 2000: VE1ZZ received by DK8KW. This set a new one-way record NA-EU with 5278 km, soon broken by the OH9UFO reception. [Details]
  • 27 Dec 2000: MM0ALM's CW detected but not read by VE1ZZ.
  • 5 Jan 2001: VE1ZZ received by G3XDV
  • 9 Jan 2001: VE1ZZ received by SM6LKM.
  • 12/13 Jan 2001: VE1ZZ received by G3XDV, G4CNN, G3AQC, G3YXM, G3NYK, G3LDO, M0BMU, ON7YD, OH9UFO.
  • 13-15 Jan 2001: AMRAD expedition aimed to receive VE and Eu stations from N Carolina.
  • 13 Jan 2001: VE1ZZ received MM0ALM and OK1FIG.
  • 13/14 Jan 2001: VA3LK (locator FN14SQ) received by SWL NL9222 (new world distance record at 5736km)
  • 23 Jan 2001: VA3LK received by G4CNN.
  • 24 Jan 2001: VE2IQ received weak signals, probably G3AQC. If so, this would be the lowest power to get across the Atlantic at 350mW. W4DEX also reported seeing "streaks" on G3AQC's frequency.
  • 26 Jan 2001: VE2IQ and VA3LK confirmed that they had seen G3AQC's signal. It was identified by a small frequency shift, but no callsign received.
  • 26 Jan 2001: ON7YD reported receiving VA3LK - a new distance record at 5765km.
  • 27 Jan 2001: W4DEX received a 'Q' from G3AQC. Although not a complete QSO, the distance was 6366km, a record for an incomplete call.
  • 28 Jan 2001: IK1ODO received VA3LK - yet another distance record (for a complete callsign) at 6269km.
  • 28 Jan 2001: VA3LK received by me at last - not a particularly historic event but it is my web site!
  • 31 Jan 2001: Dashes sent by M0BMU received by W4DEX. A new world record at 6380km.
  • 2 Feb 2001: W4DEX confirmed a complete callsign from G3AQC. This is 6366km - only 14km short of M0BMU's world record and with less power.
  • 3 Feb 2001: VE1ZJ got set up at his home QTH. Previous reception has been from his 'summer house'. He immediately saw QRSS from G3AQC, G3YXM, G3ZTZ. Careful analysis of pictures from VE1ZJ showed traces of my signal, but no callsign.
  • 11 Feb 2001: Parts of my callsign seen by VE1ZJ. Mode was QRSS with 30s dots. At 140mW ERP, this was the lowest power to get across the Atlantic.
  • 12 Feb 2001: VE1ZJ reported a possible reception of DF6NM's signals. Markus was using a balloon-borne antenna.
  • 12 Feb 2001: CT1DRP positively identified by VE1ZJ, W1JHJ and W4DEX.
  • 14 Feb 2001: G3LDO reported completing an unusual QSO both ways across the Atlantic. He had transmitted to VE1ZJ, whio had relayed the information to VE1ZZ on 80m. VE1ZZ then transmitted back to G3LDO. This solved the problem that VE1ZJ had no LF Tx and VE1ZZ had no QRSS receive capability. A remarkable achivement, but there was some debate as to whether this was really a two-way QSO within the rules of the Transatlantic Challenge which was set up to honour the memory of the late Peter Bobek.
  • 19 Feb 2001: VA3LK reported finishing a two-way transatlantic QSO with G3AQC that took 14 days! The mode was QRSS with 90s dots. During this period, VA3LK made several repairs to his antenna when it suffered from severe weather, making a total of 27 trips to his remote antenna site. This achievement caused even more discussuon about the definition of a valid QSO.
  • 1 Mar 2001: W4DEX received a complete callsign from G3AQC, the first Eu full call received in the US. The Transatlatic Challenge award for the first Eu reception in the US was claimed.
  • 14 Mar 2001: It was announced that: The three sponsors of the Transatlantic Challenge [RSGB, DARC, AMRAD] have considered the two recent transatlantic contacts. We were impressed by the dedication, skill and perseverance that was shown in each case. The contacts were so incredible that we had not anticipate the ways in which they were achieved when we devised the rules!
    In these unexpected circumstances, and taking into consideration the intent
    behind setting up the Challenge that was to commemorate Peter Bobek's
    practical and fun approach to amateur radio, we have unanimously decided to award both contacts with special plaques to commemorate their achievements, that is the contact between VA3LK, G3AQC, and the contact between VE1ZZ, VE1ZJ and G3LDO.
    This decision was received with aclaim.
  • 15 Mar 2001: VE1ZJ finally confirmed reception of a complete call from me. My power was about 180mW.
  • 18 Mar 2001: W1TAG reported reception of M0BMU who was using the new BPSK mode WOLF.
  • 5 May 2001: G3AQC's DFCW received by VE1ZJ at 0215UTC, giving an 'O' report.
  • 21 May 2001: VE1ZJ gave G3AQC an 'M' report. Sigs seen at 0115-0140, 0200-0220 and at 0230UTC.
  • 25 May 2001: VA3LK announced the cessation of his nightly WOLF transmissions. Unfortunately, none had been successfully decoded in Europe.
  • 2 Jun 2001: VE1ZJ copied G3AQC's 30s dots.
  • 3 Jun 2001: VE1ZJ identified characters from G3AQC's 73kHz transmission! This is the lowest frequency at which amateur signals have crossed the Atlantic.G3AQC, estimates his ERP at between 125 and 140mW. He uses a 700W Tx to put 3.5A RF into a marconi antenna with a 15m vertical section and a 200m horizontal top.
    The following are extracts from the rsgb_lf_group reflector as the news broke:
    • Last night the K index was a 3. I have only seen Eu twice when k is 3 es never when K was higher. I thought I saw the number " 3" once es seven or eight minutes later the letter "G". The freq , however, was wrong . It was more like 71.921.5. Could that have been you, Laurie. I'm writing this at work . As i remember it time was around 0150Z Condx were disturbed last night Eu ,UA3,HA es G stations on 14 mHz were strong but ua9 es other Asian stations were very weak, es I couldn't raise them John VE1ZJ
    • Great John, I think you did it ! my frequencies last night :- Dash = 71,921.45 Dot = 71,921.35 as measured here, +/- a bit I guess. Can you confirm the very close spacing of my dots/dashes ? If so I think you have recieved the very first amateur T/A signals on 73 KHz. I think its worth trying again tonight, I will be on again from about 2200utc until 0600 utc. Laurie, G3AQC
    • Hi Laurie, It looked like what I saw previously on 136. Will Send picts tonight. If so congrats John VE1ZJ
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Last updated 24 June 2001