A One-Man DXpedition to the
Central African Republic
TL0CW
I operated out of Bangui for almost one week. On November 2nd I closed the station
after over 6100 contacts.
QSO Statistics TL0CW
SSB
CW
160
821
80
1044
40
419
30
1331
20
133
17
396
15
20
310
12
553
10
3
1120
Lowband
conditions were outstanding during the first night on 160m. It was easy
to work many W6 and W7 stations and in the following night rows of JA
stations. I know I was loud in EU and could have worked hundreds of
EU’s instead. But that’s the old discussion.
The good conditions had a close relation to the Aurora activity those
days. I remember a similar effect some years ago in Africa. After the
second night conditions changed to normal and even to poor.
Signals on all bands were very good, but coming through the EU wall was
a real challenge not to say frustrating. But I found a way and used the
long path instead. Some observers in Europe will have noticed a very
different signal during one day. During the first nights I was in a
complete lack of sleep. Coming from Germany, building the station and
the antennas was a real job. I stayed in the 12th floor of a hotel that
has seen better days. Elevators are not working and carrying 75kilos
luggage up there is also an experience. So no wonder I repeatedly fell
asleep during the QSOs. That is the advantage of going in a group.
Water in the Hotel was available only in the evening and in the
morning. It's colour was light brown and when you start it, it brought
sand in it. Air-condition was not working, but it was hot. Window had
to be closed, because there is real Malaria danger. So I better left it
this way.
Internet was very poor and I had it for max an hour a day. I was not
able to monitor DXSUMMIT and cluster spots. Electricity was another
problem: I had power outages of less than a second in every! Minute.
Some lasted more than an hour. So please understand, if I suddenly
disappeared during a QSO. So far radio and PS survived this without a
problem.
Pirates. There were some pirates on 160m. Thanks to Bernd, DF3CB, we
installed an online log what helped to avoid doubles.
This is a short report on TL0CW.
73s Rudi DK7PE - TL0CW
Many thanks to
NCDXF, GDXF, TOKYO 610 DX Group, QSL
SHOP
