SV9CVY
(op DL6FBL)
CQ WW SSB 2001 · October 27-28, 2001
In 2001, I was operating "the contest" as Single OP, All Bands from Crete Island (EU-015). My host was Michael, SV9CVY. A VERY BIG THANK YOU, Michael, for letting me operate your station. Here are some pictures:
Left:
Michael (SV9CVY) and his dogs in his shack.
Right: This is the main antenna. A cubical Quad covering 40 thru 10
meters (2-ele 40m, 4-ele 20m, 4-ele 15m, 5-ele 10m) sitting on top of a
30m high self supporting tower on a hill one kilometer from the sea. Like in a dream.
Too bad, that only after four hours into the contest, electricity went away
due to a big storm. In the course of the storm also the Quad was damaged
and could not be repaired.
On 80m and 160m there were Inverted Vees. Mounted at 15m height there was
also a Force12 C31XR Yagi (3-ele 20m, 4-ele 15m, 7-ele 10m), fixed to the USA.
Most of the contest QSO were made on this antenna, while at times I integrated
a Cushcraft R7000 vertical over a
WX0B StackMatch.
Propagation and Operating Tips
(written before the contest)
North America
Sunset (at 1526z). "Looking" to North
America; a clear shot over water. Same direction as Europe.
The USA lie directly behind Europe. Let's see how the signal is getting
through the European wall... Some minutes before sunset there must be some
Long Path propagation to West Coast/Pacific on the lowbands. Last year P3A (only
some 800 kilometers away) managed to work three W6/7 and KH7R at their sunset. I
will be checking 3,790-3,800 kHz around 1450-1525z. Maybe I'm calling CQ on 40
meters some time within or shortly after that window... As long as
there is propagation to North America, I will try to be in the General
class portions of the bands, probably quite high in frequency (14,280-14,350
kHz; 21,350-21,400 kHz). On 10 meters I will always try to be in the Novice
class portion (28,300-28,500 kHz).
Best times to work North America:
| W/VE | Saturday 0000-0400z | 14 MHz | 14,280-14,350 kHz | if no good rates: 7 MHz |
| W/VE | Saturday 1100-1300z | 21 MHz | 21,350-21,400 kHz | |
| W/VE | Saturday 1300-1800z | 28 MHz | 28,300-28,500 kHz | if no good rates: 21 MHz |
| W/VE | Saturday 1800-2000z | 21 MHz | 21,350-21,400 kHz | |
| W/VE | Saturday 2000-2400z | 14 MHz | 14,280-14,350 kHz | |
| W/VE | Sunday 0000-0400z | 7 MHz | working split | if no good rates: 14 MHz |
| W/VE | Sunday 0400-0500z | 3,8 MHz | above 3,750 kHz | if no good rates: 7 MHz |
| W/VE | Sunday 1100-1300z | 21 MHz | 21,350-21,400 kHz | |
| W/VE | Sunday 1300-1800z | 28 MHz | 28,300-28,500 kHz | if no good rates: 21 MHz |
| W/VE | Sunday 1800-2000z | 21 MHz | 21,350-21,400 kHz | |
| W/VE | Saturday 2000-2400 | 14 MHz | 14,280-14,350 kHz |
Japan
Sunrise (at 0436z). This picture must be "looking East". Towards Japan, there is a clear shot over water, too. I will try to
be on 21/28 MHz very early in the morning. 21 MHz should open up around 0400z, and 28 MHz
should open around 0430z. I will try to work Japan for one or two
hours very easily, before Europe is opening up with big, big signals... In the first hour
on 21 MHz, I will try to be on the lower band edge, between 21,150 and 21,200
kHz. Later on 28 MHz I will try to be between 28,300
and 28,500 kHz. In the 15 meters session
after 1000z I will be in the upper portion of the band (21,350-21,400 kHz), because the band should
begin to open up to the U.S.A. and I will listen to both directions. During
the 20 meters session you should find me low in frequency (below 14,150 kHz). Later you
should find me high in frequency (above 14,280 kHz).
Best times to work Japan:
| Japan | Sat. and Sun. 0400-0500z | 21 MHz | below 21,200 kHz | |
| Japan | Sat. and Sun. 0500-1000z | 28 MHz | 28,300-28,500 kHz | if no good rates: 21 MHz |
| Japan | Sat. and Sun. 1000-1300z | 21 MHz | above 21,350 kHz | |
| Japan | Sat. and Sun. 1500-1600z | 14 MHz | below 14,150 kHz | |
| Japan | Sat. and Sun. 2100-2200z | 7 or 14 MHz | 40m or 14,280-14,350 |
Europe
The bands should be open to Europe around the clock. High bands during daytime, low bands during night time. Please try to find me using both charts above. One word: The contest rules give only 1 point for a contact within Europe, while there are 3 points for a contact outside Europe. Please understand, that I will put a strong emphasis on working stations outside of Europe!! There will be times, when I will say: "Please only Japan" or "Stateside only". Those times will only last for a few minutes. Please be patient and let me work DX. I will get back to working Europe shortly after...
Africa
Africa is a difficult path, because the QTH is on the North coast of the island with high mountains in the South. I will be happy for every African station, that I can work on any band. 10 meters and 15 meters should be working during daytime, 20 meters in the early evening and early morning. 40 meters and 80 meters during night time...
South America
South America should be similar to the "North America" chart above.
Oceania
Oceania should be similar to the "Japan" chart above. In the morning from 0500-0600z there should be a Long Path opening to VK/ZL on 20 meters and hopefully 40 meters. Plus, I will check 20 meters for Far East and Oceania multipliers between 1230-1300z.
Bernd "Ben" Och, DL6FBL, 27/09/01, revised 01/01/03
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