Oct 111 min read

PX0FF - Fernando de Noronha

PX0FF Update (Oct 20)

151200 QSOs with 32700 different callsigns in 15 operating days. The last day of operation is running. We will QRT at any time after 0000z. Over the day we will take down the 80m/160m transmit antenna and the other lowband RX antennas. The other antennas will be taken down in the next morning and one day later we're on our way back home. While in the first days we were working on incoming E-Mails about missing QSOs or busted callsigns, we cannot do it any more right now. Keep on sending such E-Mails, but we will answer them only when we are back home. Please note that there is a small difference between our local log and Club Log. Our local log has about 1500 QSOs more than Club Log. I guess they will show up when we have synchronized our final log with Club Log (when back home!). So, please QRX.

I think this is our final posting from Fernando de Noronha island. Many thanks for all the QSOs to everybody. We hope, you enjoyed our activity as much as we did! 73! And see you again next time!

Source: https://www.qrz.com/db/PX0F

PX0FF Update (Oct 19)

145300 QSOs with 31600 different callsigns in 14.25 operating days. 50 MHz: Some openings happened last night and today, but not too strong, and very scattered. We are just 37 QSOs short of 3000 contacts on 6m and hope to fill them up tomorrow, on our last day. What makes us a little proud: in our 2-week operation we managed to work DXCC on 6m: currently we have 101 DXCC entities in the log.

This weekend the "Worked All Germany Contest" and the "JARTS WW RTTY Contest" are taking place. That makes it a bit difficult to find good CQ frequencies on the classic bands. We do not give out serial numbers, but German stations can just put "000" in their log and will get full credit for the contact and multiplier. We have started bringing in the Beverage antennas, but will keep the "RX Loop" for 80m tonight. 60m will listen on the transmit antenna (Inverted-V), same as 40m on the DXCommander Vertical.

We'll try to spend available time on those lower bands tonight.

Source: https://www.qrz.com/db/PX0FF

PX0FF Update (Oct 19)

Sorry, no RTTY session today!

We spent 4 or 5 hours to get RTTY running on our existing hardware, but it doesn't work! Everything is correctly configured like in the book, but when starting to transmit a macro, only the first one or two letters are sent. Then come only "empty letters". The correct full text however is being displayed in the MMTTY window. Interestingly, when you change the COM port for FSK in the MicroHAM uRouter, one full macro is sent out correctly. When pressing the same or another "F-key" it goes back to sending one or two letters and then only "empty letters".

Exacly the same behaviour shows on another radio setup, so it's a general problem and not within one specific device. We are giving up for now. If you know the solution, you can send an E-Mail to our E-Mail address shown on top of the page. Maybe we'll try again. Otherwise - sorry, we tried, but failed... :-(

Source: https://www.qrz.com/db/PX0FF

PX0FF Update (Oct 18)

135200 QSOs with 29300 different callsigns. We had another "great" antenna maintenance day. Both Spiderbeams had to come down, needed to be washed with clear fresh water to remove most of the salt (so far it has never rained here yet). The burnt monofil wires were cut short and the missing distance was bridged with zip ties. We lost one amplifier due to the arcing. We were able to identify and replace the broken LDMOS.

That's a good thing about the RF-KIT RF2K-S amplifier: you can do this job out in the field with just a multimeter, a cutter knife, a good soldering iron, desoldering braid and a quiet hand. Not many similar products can be serviced in the field like this amp...

"The end is near": Remember that PX0FF goes QRT on Monday, 21-Oct-2024, around 08z.

Before that, we will already take down the combined 160m/80m on Sunday afternoon and bring in the Beverages and RX Loop.

Source: https://www.qrz.com/db/PX0FF

PX0FF Update (Oct 17)

128000 QSOs with 28250 different callsigns after 12 days. 50 MHz: Last night and this morning we caught short openings into Europe. The band was not really open, but quite some new areas and stations made it in the log - in FT8 and CW. Some under-represented bands are 20m and 40m. We'll try to give more operating time to those bands. After all, of course we know that we can not make everybody happy, but at least we try... :-)

Source: https://www.qrz.com/db/PX0FF

PX0FF Update (Oct 16)

119100 QSOs with 26600 different callsigns. 160m noise: Last night we were not able to make any single contact on 160m. We strongly consider to give up trying 160m. S53R/9N7AA confirmed that in Nepal he has similar issues which simply could not be solved after all. F6ARC came up with an antenna proposal which is just a ~20m long piece of RG213 on/in the ground. That is something we can still try today. When that fails, too, we'll stop trying any more 160m...

Apart from that we have to do antenna maintenance day after day, because of the salt enrichments on antenna wires, insolators and guying ropes burning through and come falling down again and again. I haven't experienced that so very bad nowhere else before. It means weeks and months of cleaning and repairs back home. And quite some material must be thrown away and newly built or purchased...

Source: https://www.qrz.com/db/PX0FF

PX0FF Update (Oct 15)

109600 QSOs with 25000 different callsigns. 160m noise: The RX Dipole doesn't make a difference. We removed it again and will use the wire to extend the length of the RX "Loop-on-ground" in the afternoon. People asking for FT4: we will not use FT4. We regard it as a waste of time to work all the same stations again in FT4 which we have already worked in FT8. We feel that instead it's better to invest every precious minute to work NEW STATIONS in SSB, CW and FT8.

RTTY: We hear the request to be active in RTTY. Of course, it's a similar situation as RTTY is also a "Digital Mode", too, but we want to support the classic RTTY community.

Only on Saturday, 19-Oct-2024, after ~09z, we will operate RTTY as follows:

[1] only 15m; [2] transmitting on +/- 21.105 MHz; [3] listening SPLIT UP 2 kHz and more.

Source: https://www.qrz.com/db/PX0FF

PX0FF Update (Oct 14)

Just to let you know that we worked on all "busted call" or "missing QSO" problems that were reported to us through E-Mail or the Guestbook. Our log on Club Log should be clean now. Please report any known issues to us by E-Mail. Please note that in Digital Mode we only operate FT8. Any FT4 or RTTY operation is "pirate".

Source: https://www.qrz.com/db/PX0FF

PX0FF Update (Oct 14)

101300 QSOs with 23400 different callsigns. The new "Loop-on-Ground" is about 200m away from the powerline (see pictures), but still picks up the noise, although we even added a common mode choke to the coax line. At least the noise situation became a little better and a few hundred stations made it in the 160m log in FT8. It's still not good enough for CW on 160m. This morning we installed a new RX dipole down the cliff close to the waterline. That antenna cannot "see" the powerline from down there and we hope that this will bring an improvement. Last night we had a huge opening to JA on 50 MHz. Over 300 JAs made it in the 6m log within two hours. All FT8 contacts last night were made on 50323, not 50313. This worked very nicely. Some 70 more CW contacts with Southern Europe and South America were also added on 6m. We also welcomed OM Ville, OH2MM, on site. Ville will be here until the end of operation and contribute to the show by operating a lot of CW, hopefully on the low bands, if we ever get the noise under control.

Source: https://www.qrz.com/db/PX0FF

PX0FF Update (Oct 13)

90700 QSOs with 21200 different callsigns. We relocated the EU Beverage, but it did not help. Same bad noise on 160m and 80m as the days before. It's very frustrating - for you and, of course, for us as well! Sorry. We will bring out a "Loop-on-Ground" before sunset and place it as far away as we have spare coax...

Source: https://www.qrz.com/db/PX0FF

PX0FF Update (Oct 12)

We just passed 80000 QSOs (after 7 days resp. 167 hours of operating). The noise situation on 160m didn't get better last night. We will relocate the EU/Asia Beverage today. Mixed feelings about 50 MHz yesterday. The 50313 spectrum was completely overloaded with stations, however it was difficult to complete contact because everybody kept on calling with their grid - and not moving forward with a report. That blocked us minute after minute and was very disappointing to watch. Trying to QSY to 50316 was only understood by very few stations and more time was lost. When such a big opening happens again, please watch DX Cluster closely to understand what we need.

Source: https://www.qrz.com/db/PX0FF

PX0FF Update (Oct 11)

74000+ QSOs in the log, with 18100 different callsigns. Today was kind of a maintenance day. In the morning we felt that propagation is so bad today that we better spend some time on cleaning our antennas from salt and repair broken monofil wires. We also took down the 80m/160m antenna because the wind is blowing very strong today. We'll put it up again right before sunset. Someone used our callsign PX0FF on QO100 satellite. Please note that it was not us, but a pirate. There will be no satellite operation from PX0FF. We will only operate SSB, CW and FT8 on the bands from 160m through 6m.

Source: https://www.qrz.com/db/PX0FF

PX0FF Update (Oct 11)

After 5.5 days 70500+ QSOs in the log, with 17700 different callsigns. Good news: Our application for the 80m/160m antenna was finally approved today and we got it up in the afternoon. The two bi-directional Beverage-on-Ground (BOG's) towards Europe/Asia and North America (resp. the opposite directions) were already installed in the morning. Bad news: Regarding the annoying LED street lamp we were asked by the local government to "file a request" electronically and on paper to ask for the temporary shutdown of that lamp. We did so. But nothing heard back for the rest of the day. Meaning: the street lamp is still shining tonight and produces a lot of bad noise during nighttime on all bands - including the "new" 80m and 160m bands. 160m turned out to be completely useless because of the noise (even on the Beverages), while 80m at least produces a valuable stream of contacts in FT8. We will bother the local government again tomorrow... (Bad) lesson learnt: Bring a slingshot in your luggage and "Shoot first, ask later..."

Source: https://www.qrz.com/db/PX0FF

PX0FF Update (Oct 10)

After 107 hours, 61000 QSOs in the log and 15600 different callsigns. Bad news first: This afternoon the team manager of the electric company ("Neoenergia") showed up with his team and we demonstrated the noise problem originating from just one single LED street lamp about 100m away, which appears to be a different model than the other ones around. Though 100% evidence was shown, he simply refused to just disconnect the lamp for the next two weeks. Our best choice now is to go to the local government in the morning and convince them to order Neoenergia to shut down this lamp. We have pre-assembled the 160m/80m antenna on the ground and will be able to put it up quickly when finally that other manager finds a minute to give her confirmation...

We have winds blowing 24/7 here at the QTH, coming right from the Atlantic ocean. The air is full of salt, and the salt is enriching on all structures outside. We even cleaned the feed point of the DXCommander Vertical twice because we could see arcing. Today we had to take down the WARC Spiderbeam, because some of the monofil (non-conducting) guy wires inside the antenna burnt through when they were touching the antenna wires. The same happened to the other Spiderbeam, but we postponed repair until tomorrow. BTW: This antenna is the most affected one by the noise, which is the reason why we are currently avoiding SSB and CW on 20/15/10m during nighttime.

A word to some guestbook and E-Mail comments: --- Guys, be rest-assured that we perfectly know what we are doing. E.g. if you need us on 20/SSB or on 80/160m, just relax and wait. Time will come.

Source: https://www.qrz.com/db/PX0FF

PX0FF Update (Oct 08)

More than 47000 QSOs in the log, with almost 13000 different callsigns. A short update: The electric company didn't come today, again, so we still have noise on many bands during nighttime. That's one reason why we haven't spent much time on 20m SSB+CW yet. The local authorities asked us to file a new request for the 80m/160m antenna. The 60m Inverted-V is up and working well.

Source: https://www.qrz.com/db/PX0FF

PX0FF Update (Oct 08)

After 3 days, we have logged 43000 QSOs with 12100 different callsigns. The electric company didn't show up last night, but they promised to come tonight. The second Spiderbeam (30/17/12m) is up and running (see Picture Section). Since we still had noise, we didn't work much CW on 30m and 40m yet - waiting for noise-free reception tonight and in the coming days. This morning the local authorities sent a representative to check our installation and make photos for their documentation. The guy said he is not in the position to decide on our 80m/160m antenna. We could only arrange a meeting with his boss for tomorrow. So, again, no 80m/160m tonight. Eventually we'll try to hang up a hidden dipole for 60m before dark.

Source: https://www.qrz.com/db/PX0FF

PX0FF Update (Oct 07)

After 50 hours, we passed 30000 QSOs in the log, with (almost) 10000 different callsigns.

We identified a possible source for our noise problem which costed us about 20 dB SNR on the RX side last night. The electric company will come again at sunset and eventually fix the problem. We also hope to get the second Spiderbeam up today before dark. Then we shall touch 30m and 40m for the first time tonight. 80m/160m will follow tomorrow, if we get the intended antenna position approved. Regarding 50 MHz: We already worked 500+ QSOs on 50 MHz, with 43 DXCC countries. Last night we caught a Long-Path opening to Japan and China which yielded almost 50 QSOs. Today the daylight hours are difficult into Europe: the band is not really open, we rather have meteor bursts lasting from 1 second to well over 1 minute. Timing is everything, but it is pure fortune if one or more bursts are playing well together to get all messages decoced on both sides.

Source: https://www.qrz.com/db/PX0FF

PX0FF Update (Oct 07)

After 38 hours, we have 23000 QSOs in the log.

We discovered a severe noise problem which was not so obvious yesterday, because all signals were super-strong. Today, right at dusk when the streetlamps were switched on, the noise floor came up to S6-7 on all bands. Our stations are running on a seperate 5x4mm² cable from the main unit out in the street. We were able to cut electricity to the rest of the house, and we saw that the problem is not inside our house. Tomorrow we'll have a small battery-driven radio tomorrow and will walk around the area and eventually locate the source of the noise problem. If we can find it, the electric company will help us. They already were here a while ago and disconnected the street lamp right in front of the house. But that was not the problem and we asked them to let it shine again...

It means that currently, during nighttime, we are somewhat deaf compared to the daylight hours...

Source: https://www.qrz.com/db/PX0FF

PX0FF Update (Oct 06)

After 27 hours of operating, we have 17700 QSOs in the log.

Currently we only have one Spiderbeam up in the air which we use on 20/15/10m with a VA6AM Triplexer and VA6AM High Power Band Pass Filters. And a DXCommander 12.4 Vertical which we use on 17/12m with a VA6AM WARC Triplexer and 4O3A High Power Band Pass Filters. And the 4-ele Yagi for 50 MHz, which has already produced some 270 QSOs. The space available for antennas is quite restricted, because the whole island is an environmentally protected area and we have to make sure that any masts, wires and cables are installed in strict accordance with the special permit that we have been granted from the local administration.

Please bear with us until we have installed all antennas as planned.

Source: https://www.qrz.com/db/PX0FF

PX0FF Update (Oct 05)

Team has started operating. However antenna work is still more important!

Please be patient before you can work us on all bands.

Source: https://www.qrz.com/db/PX0FF

PX0FF Update (Oct 04)

Team has arrived on Fernando de Noronha. Starting antenna and station setup.

Source: https://www.qrz.com/db/PX0FF

PX0FF (Oct 01)

Five experienced contesters from Germany, Austria and Brazil will operate PX0FF (Fernando de Noronha, SA-003) in October 2024.