New Zealand DX 12/29/1012

[VK2MER]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p_PDAUXGkoQ

[ZL3ADT]

Hi there
Did hear you on .1 yesterday,have your call on my pad but no compleated contact.Worked 5 VK2 stations.The first was VK2ZT who was still in here 2 hours later although weak by then.

Hope I can work you later in season

Ross

[VK2MER]

Hi Ross heard you also . Lots of QSB though. lost your ZL3AD? it was T . We will make a QSO..73

[ZL1UJG]

Hi,
Up here in Hamilton (and Orewa) we were really on the fringe of that opening. All we heard was background noise, despite lots of calling both on SSB and CW Beacon, then they started to hear to hear us. Up out of the noise to a 51 was VK3AMZ whom I managed to QSO with. He could hear Stephen ZL1TPH's K tones from Orewa, but no full contact was completed.
Then the signal faded again.
So only one contact in the log

But I am extremely happy to make it across the Tasman for the first time , And to boot it off, it was a best distance for Arie to a NZ station.
Kevin

[VK3YFL]

Like Kevin ZL1UJG, yesterday's opening provided me with my first contact "across the ditch" on 2m after being licenced for more than 40 year. I'd heard ZL3TY four years ago, but my take-off towards ZL is over Mt Dandenong and surely screens signals with a low angle of arrival. But yesterday Harry ZL2ADU just came up out of the noise sufficiently after his contact with Arie VK3AMZ for us to exchange signal reports. I was so excited I was tongue-tied, which probably didn't help readbility. I could subsequently hear Arie working Kevin, but no sign of Kevin here at all.

I hope the wait for another ZL contact on 2m is not as long!

Bryon
VK3YFL

[VK2AAH]

Hi all,

This chatter is starting to make me consider trying 2M SSB again. This was my introduction to amateur radio back in 1982 as VK2ZLL using a home made 15 element yagi & FT290R and Microwave Modules 100W amp (which had a great pre-amp that made up somewhat for the 290R's ears). It was exciting working ZL when they came out of the noise, even if Gordon VK2ZAB at the time made us feel totally inadequate! I may be moving back into a better, more 2M friendly location this year so I am interested in the type of antennas being used...

And thanks for the recording 2MER- it brought back memories.

Cheers,


Richard
VK2AAH

[ZL1UJG]

Hi,
Been to Mt Dandenong, to one of the repeater sites. Thats a reasonable bit of dirt in the way.
I think more than one heard my CW beacon, so lets hope I make a few more noises into the Melbourne area.

The takeoff here isnt that flash, but I intend to try harder, since Hamilton seems to be at the margins of openings.

We have a 2M beacon on 144.260 FSK, which has been copied in VK previously, so keep an ear out for that.

Kevin

[VK2MER]

This is what i use to get to ZL.

144 Mhz 100 watts.

432 Mhz 50 Watts.

Next will be 1296 ..2013 fingers xxxx

[VK2KRR]

Congrats on the contacts all, esp the first timers