E51WL Penrhyn Atoll , North Cooks

[IK0ZCW]

14 Feb 2021

I have a slight delay with QSL card flow, the new batch of cards is ??? in the mail??? They have been sent to my daughter at Rarotonga, she can get them to me as soon as she has them and we are having an aircraft through.

I'd expect them soon but Ukraine Post can't tell me where it is. So for the momeent, hold off on Paypal requests please until I say the cards are here and I can resume process.

Meanwhile, still plodding on, Winter is coming so lower bands will improve. Looks like 6M is done and dusted for the year though! But still 6M EME is an option if anyone is serious.

2M EME, I haven't forgotten about it, my work projects list has almost completed, I'll feel like doing some other stuff at night then.

May I take this space to say how disappointed I am to see people usingwhat I'm fairly sure are, remote TX sites for FT8 from outside of their home country.

You'd be amazed like I, to see a qridsquare KN80 rocking through here on 80 metres in K=4 conditions with a consistant signal strength of -8dB and for at least an hour before my sunset, same for an IL gridsquare!! From where I sit, I follow the variations in signal strength and see it mimic North American station trends. Call the guy for 20 minutes and he never replies. Call a NA station with 100W and he replies. I'm guessing the latency of the connection doesn't give reliable decoding, that will be why they hardly ever hear us. More interesting to note, they are the only EU or AF station on the band!

Its a bit of a slap to build a station to try and achieve the near impossible then someone goes and cheats by using remote site by internet with their rare callsign. I Bet the authorities would take a dim view!!

Good DX and 73,

Warwick

[IK0ZCW]

9 July 2021

Ship came in today and we received a bag of mail.

Mostly qsl cards for me, I see some dating back on postmark to very late last year!

I shall process these cards over the next few days and should turn them around by 14th July.

There is no need to send to me a card. But if you'd prefer to post, go ahead be my guest. Be warned, The snail moves slowly!

Paypal requests for confirmation of QSO to 164mack@gmail.com , me to receive US$3, you pay the fee. I'll send card(s) up to 3, as you request. Please specify the date of the QSOyou are wanting to verify. Anything thats unclear, I put aside til later.

Of course I have no control over the postal routes, I process all requests for QSL cards and they go to the post office. After that, they are out of my hands, and I'm not responsible if they go astray in the postal system. There are a lot of stops alog the way to far away places!!

Vy 73 and GUD DX.

Warwick, E51WL

[IK0ZCW]

31 December 2021

Sorry I have been off air since September, had to dismantle and shift my station to a new location from ground zero.

Been a tough time, had numerous injuries mainly due to lifting things that were way too heavy, mosquito infestations and general aches and pains. not to mention shipping delays!

Building a tower by myself at a new place was a challange but finally done , rotator is up there and 6M antenna has been refurbished.

HF antenna has been planted, has sprouted a tuner and radials so should be on air very soon as power supply main is completed. I don't have quite the same take-off as I had at old QTH but time will tell. At lease a Beverage is possible for 160 across the north pole.

Been no incoming snail mail for a long time this year, so I don't suggest anyone uses it. Paypal remains the way to go however, cards, supplies become increased in cost so I have to increase the fee

Paypal requests for confirmation of QSO to 164mack@gmail.com , me to receive US$4, you pay the fee. I'll send card(s) up to 3, as you request. Any more pushes me into the next postal price bracket, add another dollar. Please specify the date of the QSOyou are wanting to verify. Anything thats unclear, I put aside til later. And PLEASE, add your callsign at least on the request.

People continue to ask me to use LoTW, I don't. Please, paper cards or a request on QRZ.com

So have a good 2022 year, gud DX and be safe. I don't see its a matter of if one gets the virus, its now when??!

Its going out of control outside of the covid free countries from what I see.

Warwick, E51WL

VY 73