One finds here a description of my radio station, band per band.

HF
I’m using a Kenwood TS-440S transceiver and as antenna, either a multiband Windom FD-4, either a 5/8 ground mounted vertical for the 10 m band. I’m not very active on HF.

70 MHz (currently not active)
A Yaesu FT-857D is used as driver on a 28 MHz IF, it is followed by a Transverter 28-70 MHz and a OZ2M designed PA. The power is 20W. The antenna is a 5 el. YU7EF (3 m long boom).

144 MHz
As for the 70 MHz, I’m using the Yaesu FT-857D as driver of (28 MHz) a subsequent transverter. The transceiver is followed by an interface. Both the transceiver and the interface are located in the shack.
Between the shack and the tower, there is 55 m of RG213 coax cable.
At the foot of the tower, in a cabinet, one finds a Transverter 28-144 MHz and a 1kW SSPA (BLF188XR). From the SSPA to the antenna, there is 16 m of  1/2″ low loss coax cable (Eupen 5128) + 6 m of Ecoflex 10 up to the radiating dipoles of the antennas. I don’t use a masthead RX preamplifier.
The antennas are 2×9 el. DK7ZB, 19 m agl and 119 m asl, with elevation capability. This system is used for the terrestrial traffic, as well as for EME.

For the local FM traffic (and sometimes also for Es), I’m using the same FT-857D or a FT-7800 together with a 5/8 vertical 12 m agl. I’m QRV D-STAR with an Icom ID-51 transceiver but almost not active in this mode. For the DMR (that I much more prefer to D-STAR), I’m using a Tytera MD-380 ; often stand-by on TG’s 2062 or 937.

This post describes my geographical location. Take-off is of prime importante what radio communications  matters, especially on the higher frequencies.

The following maps (made thanks to “Radio Mobile” by Roger, VE2DBE) are all centered on my QTH :

View as from the 144 MHz antenna (17m above gr. level) towards the main cardinal points :

SPACE

Few pictures of my village (Horrues) in summer : 

SPACE

And in winter : 

SAPCE

Profitant d’un voyage professionnel en Polynésie française, Giulio, IW3HVB a activé l’île de Moorea en EME sur 144 MHz, sous l’indicatif TX7EME. Opération remarquable, d’autant plus que Giulio a mené à bien seul cette expédition. Giulio utilisait 2×9 él. XP et 1kW. J’ai eu la chance de contacter TX7EME au troisième passage de lune ; niveau de signal reçu -22 dBJT (-20 pour moi en Polynésie). Pour ce QSO, j’ai utilisé comme antenne ma seule 12 él. DK7ZB sans élévation, profitant ainsi du gain sol.

Taking the opportunity of a business trip in French Polynesia, Giulio, IW3HVB has activated Moorea Island in EME on 144 MHz, under the callsign TX7EME. Remarkable operation, all the more Giulio has conducted it alone. Giulio has been using 2×9 el. XP and 1kW. I have been lucky to work TX7EME on his third moonpass ; received signal level -22 dBJT (-20 for me in Polynesia). For this QSO I have been using my single 12 el. DK7ZB without elevation, getting advantage of the ground gain.

SPACE

Bref compte rendu du contest VHF IARU Region 1 des 5 et 6 septembre 2015. J’ai été actif en single op. durant toute la durée du contest, nuit comprise. Que celle-ci fût laborieuse (seulement 30 QSO), tant la propagation était mauvaise (30 QSO et 16000 points de moins qu’en 2014) et l’activité faible entre 2h et 6h du matin…
Merci à tous ceux qui m’ont appelé !
Station habituelle : 12 él. DK7ZB et 550W

Short report of activity in the IARU Region 1 VHF contest of September 5th and 6th, 2015. I have been active single op. the whole duration of the contest, night included. What a hard night it was (only 30 QSO), since the propagation was very poor (30 QSO and 16000 points less compared to 2014) and the activity low between 2h and 6h in the morning…
Thanks to everyone who called me !
Usual station : 12 el. DK7ZB and 550W

# QSO’s : 424
Points : 151617
# DXCC : 16 (I, G, GM, GW, GD, GU, SP, F, HB9, OE, OK, OZ, DL, ON, PA)
# WWL : 86
Average km/QSO : 357,6

Top 10 DX QSO’s :

OL7M         JO80FF      885 km  
OK1KUO       JO80FG      885 km  
OK1FIG       JO80DH      872 km  
OK1KCR       JN79VS      846 km  
F4CWN        JN03KN      816 km  
SN7L         JO70SS      815 km  
GM4AFF       IO86TS      801 km  
OZ9FW        JO65CO      781 km  
OL4W         JO70LR      774 km  
F1RHS        JN03PV      772 km

Ecoutez OL7M / Listen to OL7M :

SPACE

Et IO2V / and IO2V :

SPACE

Enregistrement de notre QSO réalisé par Matej, OK1TEH / Recording of our QSO made by Matej, OK1TEH (Thanks) :

SPACE

Voici un bref résumé des QSO’s réalisés sur 144 MHz (2 QSO’s sur 70 MHz) durant la “pluie” de météorites Perséides d’août 2015. Les indicatifs en orange montrent les QSO’s planifiés (“skeds”), tandis que les autres ont été réalisés selon un modus operandi “full random”.
Comme la plupart des QSO’s ont été effectués durant le MS Sprint Contest (par MMMonVHF et DUBUS), les rapports ne sont intentionnellement pas montrés ici.

Here is a brief summary of the QSO’s made on 144 MHz (2 QSO’s on 70 MHz) during the Perseids meteor shower of August 2015. The callsigns in orange indicate scheduled (“skeds”) QSO’s, while others have been made in a full random modus operandi.
Since most of the QSO’s have been made during the MS Sprint Contest (by MMMonVHF and DUBUS), the reports are intentionally not shown hereby.

SAPCE