CT3 <> G first on 4M

On Sunday 16 July 2006 I was very lucky to contact Duarte, CT3HF, on 4M. This was the first G <> CT3 qso on 4M - IO90PS to IM12OP via ES, a distance of 2406km.

That weekend there was widespread ES over Europe, North America, Carribean and beyond. There was also a 6M contest and CQ3A (CT3 contest station) was 59+ on 6M. On the Sunday the MUF was over 70MHz and at 1507 I worked CT1JAD on 4M. Afterwards I was hearing CQ3A loud again on 6M so I called and asked if they could alert Duarte and try listening on 70.200 whilst I listened on 70.620.

About 5 minutes later I heard SSB on 70.620 - "CQ CQ CQ 4M CT3HF CT3HF CQ CQ..." I immediately replied on 70.200 and we made the QSO @ 1527 - 5x5 each way.

My station at that time was IC756PRO driving Spectrum Communications TRC4-10sL transverter and Moonraker 3 element yagi @ 11M.

EA6 <> G first on 4M

Having worked CT3HF for first G < > CT on 4M I never thought I would achieve another 4M first. However a late night session on 4M produced yet another !

Miguel, EA6SX, had a few unsuccessful attempts to work G using JT6M and FSK441 via meteor scatter in the days leading upto 9th December 2008. I had monitored some of these and received and decoded some signals from him, an encouraging sign. During the night of 8th/9th December, Miguel was trying MS skeds with a number of EU countries, again I was monitoring his QSO's and getting good MS bursts from him.

Via ON4KST chat, I asked Miguel to try after his current QSO had ended. SO our QSO attempt started at 01:33 on 70.204MHz using FSK441 mode. At 01:40 I received the first burst from Miguel, 014000 4.0 320 5 26 -21 G0CHE EA6SX 26 26 F0CHE EB# S 26 63. I replied with R27 and waited patiently for Miguel's RRRR's reply. The next burst was heard at 01:45, again I decoded both calls and 26 report. I continued sending R27 plus calls, then at 02:02 when I received another MS burst, this time RRRR's were decoded - 020200 13.4 740 9 26 22 E PA6SX RRRR RRRR EA6SX RRRR RRRR EA6SX. I replied with the customary 73's and tnx.

The QSO was complete ! Another new country and grid in the 4M log and a 4M G < > EA6 4M first !
EA6SX locator is JM19IK - a distance of 1288km.
Since the inital QSO I have worked Miguel a few times using JT6M mode.

Equipment used was IC756PRO driving Spectrum Communications TRC4-10sL transverter, solid state PA (approx. 60W) and 4 ele YU7EF yagi @ 11M.

T7 <> G first on 4M

With 2 x 4M G firsts in the bag who'd thought another would be worked !

I was aware that T7 would be qrv on 4M on 19th June 2010 following announcements on the 4M website. I was watching the 4M DX cluster and suddenly a spot appeared - "T77C 70197.0 T70A cq call 0920 19 June San Marino". I looked at my 4M driver (IC756 Pro) and saw a big spike on the Spectrum Scope just below 70.200. I quickly tuned to it realising it could be T70A - it was ! I immediatley replied. T70A came back to my call and we exchanged 59 reports / grid locator. So a new country was worked and after an exchange of emails, it was confirmed as first G < > T7 4M contact.

Equipment used was IC756PRO driving Spectrum Communications TRC4-10sL transverter, solid state PA (approx. 60W) and 5 ele YU7EF yagi @ 11M.