LX/PA6Z on 136 kHz!

We are very proud to activate Luxembourg on 136 kHz this year as well. This band was active from LX in the past, but our research shows that there is much demand for this country within the LF society. The 136 kHz station is 100% homemade and tested by Dick PA4VHF, one of the PA6Z operators. Here follows some more info on the operating procedures while in LX and some photos of the station:

Hello all,
I am glad to announce that I will activate Luxembourg on 136 kHz soon! I am one of the 7 operators from the PA6Z contest group, activating LX the first week of October. Here are the details for 136 kHz

DATE: September 30 to October 7 , 2006
Call sign: LX / PA6Z in normal CW only!!
Call sign: LXPA6Z in QRSS and DFCW , so without the / (-..-.) !! to save time Modes: normal CW on 136.5 kHz +/- QRM
QRSS/DFCW (3-5 sec/dot) on around 137.720kHz, RX split +/-60Hz from TX QRG

Use the normal T-M-O system on QRSS/DFCW, you can call me just after I send RR's ( I think to send "6Z RR") Operating times: I will try to be QRV around noon (10-11utc) and in the evenings after 17utc or so.

Further instructions: LX/PA6Z is QRV on all HF bands throughout the day, so if you want to try on 136 kHz, please ask one of our operators, and I'll try to switch to 136 kHz for you. Please put us in the cluster when you work/hear us on 136 kHz, when it's not in the cluster yet. This will others tell that we are on 136. Try to work me in normal CW if possible to save time; QRSS/DFCW is primarily used for weak signals...... There is no direct access to the internet from the site, but we will update the web site and web log daily.

Equipment: homemade TX, 500 Watt into 12m spiral-coil top loaded vertical with additional top wires (TX antenna depends on local situation...)

Receiver: AOR AR7030plus with additional RF filtering/pre-amp, Rx antenna: not sure yet, most likely 2 large coaxial loops, and/or TX antenna, and maybe beverage. Timewave DSP59+ and Speclab/Argo.

Targets: giving as many people as possible a change to work LX on 136 kHz, and stimulating/creating activity throughout Europe on 136 kHz And of course, having fun too..... Hope to meet you from LX!

73 Dick, PA4VHF

Dick’s 136kHz Diary

30 September
I made 14 QSOs with the following stations: DK1IS, DL2HRE, RU6LA, PA3FNY, DK4U, M0BMU, G3XDV, G3XIZ, F6BWO. The distance to RU6LA is more than 2400km!! Unfortunately we have to cope with a lot of interference by carriers generated by local electronics. Please have some sympathy....

02 October
3 new ones worked: DF6NM, DM2BHG and PA3CPM
I tried a couple of times to work normal CW, but local noise makes this really difficult. Therefore most activety is concentrated on 137.7 qrss/dfcw I am QRV in the evenings after 18utc. It seems that there is very low activity. For instance yesterday calling CQ for over 2 hours, and only worked DM2BHG, and later I called PA3CPM who was CQ-ing. Band noise was quite acceptable, so sorry to see so low activety.............

I saw S57A and I think DL7AB, but not sure if they called me. The local noise is very unpredictable, so keep on trying, as it changes all the time, hi. Still a few days to go................

73 Dick (lx/pa4vhf now...) LXPA6Z on QRSS/DFCW