VP2/K6TOP(British Virgin Islands) on 20m CW!!!

VP2/K6TOP(British Virgin Islands) on 20m CW!!!

K6TOP  USA  Kevin J McGrath 22876 Hutchinson Rd Los Gatos, CA 95033 USA [+] Mailing label

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20130122 2135UTC 14021kHz VP2/K6TOP
Date : 22/Jan/2013 2135UTC 
Freq : 10108kHz CW
Rig  : SDR(PI4THT)
ANT  : Mini-Whip(PAØRDT)
PC recording

K6TOP (Ex K6ZS, KG6WI, FO0GRA, XE2HQF, WB6ZNY, first licensed as WN6UQS in 1965)

My home QTH is located in the beautiful Santa Cruz Mountains in northern CA at elevation 1800'. I operate mostly CW and enjoy chasing DX with an Icom 706 running 100W to an R7 vertical.

I also operate from the British Virgin Islands, several times a year while vacationing there. My next VP2V operation will be in December (2012).

See below for VP2V updates.

73, Kevin

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December 14, 2012 VP2V Update

• The logs were uploaded to LotW today
• 378 QSOs total, all CW
• 49 DXCC countries

I was only able to operate 1-2 hours a day (as usual), between family activities.  A total of 378 QSOs were made - 190 QSOs on 20 with the rest evenly spread over 17, 15 and 12M

73,

Kevin, K6TOP

December 3, 2012 VP2V Update

I have been able to operate1-2 hours a day. mostly in the morning and early afternnoon here. Propagation isn't very good, but had some good runs on 20, 15 and 12. This afternnon, I loaded up the 20M dipole on 17M and worked a few dozen QSOs. mostly US. I was suprised to get out at all!

I plan to operate the ARRL 10M contest ths weekend (12/7-9). I will be joined by my good friend Cliff, K6CLS. We wll be using the call VP2VGG

73 and TU

Kevin, K6TOP

July 31, 2012 VP2V Update

• The July logs were uploaded to LotW on 7/31
• 516 QSOs total, all CW
• 60 DXCC countries

Another great trip to the British Virgin Islands! We spent family time at the beaches, sailing, snorkeling and scuba diving. And a couple hours of radio a day for me. 10M and 12M were completely dead this trip, no answers to multiple CQs and 15M was in poor shape. 90% of my contacts were made on 20M which had some decent openings to NA and EU. Tthere was only a brief opening to JA and VK/ZL late one eveneing. On the next trip I will make a special effort to work Asia and VK/ZL. No 40M this time, the 40M vertical and radials need some work.

73 and TU

Kevin, K6TOP

July 17, 2012 VP2V Update

I will be operating as VP2V/K6TOP from July 20-26 while vacationing on Tortola, British Virgin Islands:

• Equipment: ICOM 706 MKII, 100 watts, 40M vertical, 20/15/10 multiband dipole.
• I work CW almost exclusively

My operating hours are typically 0200-0400Z and 1000-1200Z due to family commitments

• QSLs via LOTW preferred, logs will be uploaded upon return
• When the pileups get difficult, I listen to the edges, so please spread your calls out.
• This is a 'vacation style' DXpedition, thanks for your patience!

73 and GL,

Kevin.

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July 13 - QSLs for April 2012 operation

• On 7/13 the last QSLs were mailed out for the April VP2V operation

April 19, 2012 VP2V Update

• April logs were uploaded to LotW on 4/19
• 615 QSOs total (586 CW, 29 SSB)
• 66 DXCC countries

I found that band conditions were poorer than last December, the SF was only in 90s vs. 130. Also, QSB was very pronounced on 20M and 12M this time. S5 signals would drop right down to S0 in a few seconds which made it difficult to complete some QSOs. The WX was very rainy for 3 days and the 40M antenna's feedline got waterlogged so I was able to make just a few QSOs on 40M. The dipole came down in a windy squall late in the week and I had to resolder the feedpoint connections and put it back up. I was able to load up the multi-band (20/15/10) dipole on 12M using a tuner and make many QSOs on that band. I am impressed on how well it gets out considering the center is at only 30' and the ends at 18'! All in all a very good VP2V vacation with lots of snorkeling, scuba, beaches, sailing, rum and radio!

Thanks for your patience in the pileups! My next VP2V operation is planned to July 2012.

73, Kevin.

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1/30/12 Update on December 2011 VP2V operation QSLs:

• All direct QSLs received by 1/20/2012 were sent out on 1/30
• December logs were uploaded to LotW on 12/30/11
• Thanks for your patience!

December 2011 VP2V/K6TOP statistics

• 586 QSOs total, over 3 days of operation (Dec 4,5,6)
• 55 DXCC countries,
• 462 CW QSOs, 124 SSB QSOs
  • 40M CW: 161
  • 20M CW: 10
  • 15M CW: 8
  • 12M 222 (148 CW, 74 SSB)
  • 10M 185 (135 CW, 50 SSB)

73, Kevin.