How I labored the #19 most needed CW DXCC as a pedestrian cellular station
by Leo (DL2COM)
A few months in the past, I began utilizing the app HamAlert to maintain monitor of fascinating DXpeditions and uncommon name indicators simply to verify if I might be capable to copy their sign on my home-made WebSDR at a location outdoors of the town. This helped me an important deal in understanding propagation and pile-up dynamics as I started to develop a powerful curiosity for expedition-like working from unique areas.
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One of many stations I had tracked for some time is Monk Iakovos Kutlumusian SV2RSG/A – the one licensed operator in Mount Athos which is presently #19 most needed CW DXCC in accordance with Clublog. Mount Athos is an autonomous orthodox monk republic underneath Greek sovereignty and situated on a peninsula within the North-East of Greece (locator KN20CG). Extra data on Mount Athos could be discovered right here (Wikipedia) and a trailer for an upcoming documentary right here (Youtube).
The priorities of the neighborhood in Mount Athos understandably lie on their theological work. So I believe it’s a huge dedication that Monk Iakovos (QTH: Koutloumousiou Monastery one in all 20 monasteries in Mount Athos) is ready to make some contacts in his free time outdoors his monastic duties as he writes on his QRZ web page.
Very skilled DXers from Berlin as soon as advised me how they labored Mount Athos many moons in the past on 80m in the course of the evening solely by probability and that it’s virtually unimaginable to log this tremendous uncommon DXCC.
I had observed that in Could and June 2024 Monk Iakovos was on the air extra incessantly however every time solely working 4-5 stations in a few minutes earlier than disappearing once more for days. The one two consistencies I discovered was that he was energetic on 20m CW and more often than not throughout native night hours.
I took the photograph above a few days earlier than to tell a pal that SV2RSG/A was energetic once more (btw the HamAlert notification characteristic on my watch is available in very useful).
Then on Sunday, June sixteenth 2024, I used to be sitting on the sofa studying when my watch vibrated and confirmed his name signal once more on RBN at about 20:56 UTC (22:56 native time, 23:56 DX time).
I used to be in completely no place to make a QSO as I dwell in a really city neighborhood in central Berlin Metropolis and I can not have antennas at my QTH. Additionally the placement brings alongside a excessive diploma of artificial QRM and all of the tall townhouses act as blockers for any form of RF. Removed from superb for HF operation which is the explanation 100% of me working is moveable or from the automotive.
As well as, we had simply returned from a weekend journey to the countryside and I used to be having fun with the truth that our children have been drowsing. So I solely took out my telephone and checked if I might hear this station once more on-line.
To my shock, this time it wasn’t the quick and really intense “purple ocean” simplex pile-up that I had witnessed a number of occasions in the course of the weeks earlier than. Perhaps it was because of the truth that an enormous DX contest was coming to an finish or most drained OPs have been simply off the air already on a late Sunday night. Who is aware of? Or possibly it was simply plain luck…..
Ought to I? Or ought to I not? I knew that I wanted to be outdoors if I needed to have the slightest probability to work this station. There may be additionally a tiny park about 200 meters from our home which might enhance my state of affairs slightly because of higher “sky entry” and takeoff angels in direction of Greece. However I assumed by the point I may very well be arrange the pile-up would already be too huge for my QRP sign or the station would already be gone because it was the case every time earlier than.
Nonetheless I ran over to our utility room, ripped open my backpack and acquired the KX-2 pouch out. I took the transceiver, slapped the AX-1 whip on, grabbed a key and dumped the counterpoise wire in my pocket.
Have you ever ever needed to take out the trash after which ran right into a “shoe state of affairs” on the entrance door together with your arms full?
With my spouse’s sneakers slipped half on I staggered out on the road all whereas attempting to safe the tip of the counterpoise to one of many backside screws on the KX-2’s case and almost falling down the steps. Time-to-QRV (TTQ is that an official metric? if not it must be imho) possibly 80-100 seconds….no kidding.
Exterior I dialed in 14.004 and instantly heard SV2RSG/A nonetheless calling CQ at a relaxed tempo after which working a station. The sign in my “road canyon” was weak however a 100% copy.
I rapidly ship my name signal solely to get a “QRZ?” again. OMG did he actually simply hear my sign? Apparently my subject power was too weak on his finish as a result of he began calling CQ once more.
So I sprinted in direction of the park (dragging alongside the counterpoise behind me) and I observed that his sign was approaching stronger and stronger. After about 100 meters I finished and once more referred to as “DL2COM”. This time I heard “DL2?” however then a really loud OP blasting his sign proper on high of me.
I repeated my name one other two occasions and couldn’t consider my ears when SV2RSG/A got here again with my true full name and a 599 report. With shaking arms I someway managed to answer R 599 TU after which we exchanged 73s. I merely couldn’t consider what had simply occurred.
Once I walked again to the entrance door one in all my neighbors was standing there wanting considerably irritated. He paused his telephone name for a second and requested “ARE WE SAFE?”.
“Oh sure! For now, very protected!” I advised him that I had simply communicated with a monk in Greece in morse code (“you understand the stuff they used on ships again within the day”) and that this story in all probability wanted extra context over a beer.
I then observed that I had pulled the counterpoise wire by a pile of canine droppings with every thing taking place so rapidly. After all I did! How can this not occur on the streets of Berlin. A sacrifice I used to be blissful to make for this very particular contact and btw cleaned simply in underneath 2 minutes.
How did this work? Being on the air so rapidly and the truth that 20m was on fireplace that evening definitely helped. However then once more is it additionally the thought to simply dare and get on the market working. In the event you don’t solid a line there gained’t be any fish…proper?
You by no means know which thrilling DX station is perhaps simply across the nook throughout a particular band opening.
Whereas Greece isn’t notably laborious to succeed in from Germany it was extra the general circumstances (very uncommon, quick and erratic working occasions of this station, utilization of callsign by pirates, city QTH, compromised antenna, simplex pile-up with QRP sign) that made this contact extremely unlikely however as I now know additionally completely potential. Blessings to Mt. Athos and their ongoing work for the DX-community! I’m very grateful that I acquired the prospect to log them.
– vy 73 de Leo DL2COM
p.s. as of the day of publishing this text, Monk Iakovos has not been energetic since I labored him on June sixteenth (in accordance with RBN).
