Operating – NY4I

DXCC Update…

By Tom on July 28, 2025

Well I realized I never actually applied for the CW or Digital DXCC as I was not listed in the DXCC standings. So I sent that in and was granted those as well. I was glad to hear the ARRL board authorized a new 10 Band DXCC. There was 5B DXCC as a specific award but the other bands were just added on. So while I have 9B DXCC (160, 80, 40, 20, 17, 15, 12 and 10 meters), there is not a specific award for 9B DXCC. With the new 10 band DXCC, once I get just 73 more countries on 6 meters (thats’s a challenge), 10 band DXCC and Bob’s your uncle…

Here are my current DXCC standings…

307 Total (305 honor roll countries since two of those are now deleted entities).
291 on CW
232 on Phone
163 on Digital
And bringing up the rear, 6 on Satellite and 17 on 6 Meters 🙂

5B WAS Finally…

By Tom on March 18, 2023

It took 40 years, but I finally finished WAS on 10m to achieve 5B WAS. Actually, I already had WAS on 30 and 17 so I not have 7B WAS with just North Dakota and Mississippi needed on 12m (assuming I get a QSL on LOTW for an Oklahoma station I worked recently).

DXCC Challenge 1500 Plaque

By Tom on April 16, 2021

The ARRL sent me a nice plaque for achieving 1500 band-countries.

One shy of DXCC Challenge 1500

By Tom on February 7, 2021

The ARRL’s DXCC Challenge Award is earned by working and confirming at least 1,000 DXCC band-points on any Amateur bands, 160 through 6 meters (except 60 meters). So each combination of DXCC entity and band is one point. Work Germany on 5 bands, you get 5 points. The basic award is 1000 points but I never applied for that one. Several months ago I saw I was close to 1500 points so I thought I would wait to I reach 1500 (endorsements are in 500 point increments) and then apply for the award and buy the plaque that goes with it. I am one shy…

That is really my last conceivable DXCC award until I get the beam installed on 6 meters for DXCC on 6m. That will give 10 band DXCC. Well Satellite is possible depending up what mix of satellites goes up but that is a ways off.

My 9 Band DXCC is Finally Finished

By Tom on June 22, 2020

With a 12 meter confirmation from SM3LIV in Sweden, my 9B DXCC is finally done. That is at least 100 countries confirmed on 160, 80, 40, 30, 20, 17, 15, 12 and 10 meters.

That was a really long time in the making to get the final QSL on 12 meters.

Now award chasing gets even harder but a simpler ones are possible soon I hope.

Next award to finish is 5B WAS for which I need 3 more QSLs on 10 meters (North Dakota, Louisiana, and Rhode Island). I hope Field Day will get those this weekend. The WARC bands and 160 for WAS will be a bit farther along.

Unless a DXPedition comes on, I am planning to focus on grid hunting on 6 meters, WAS on 6m and the biggie…DXCC on 6m.

There is always another award to chase 🙂

If you want any help with your own chase, let me know and I can provide a few tips on QSL, LOTW or other things.

73 – Tom NY4I

DXCC Update January 2019

By Tom on January 9, 2019

The latest batch of cards I had checked at the Tampa Bay Hamfest were processed. I now need just 5 more confirmed on 12 meters for 9 band DXCC as I currently have 8 bands (Basic 5B DXCC on 80, 40, 20, 15 and 10m) plus 160 DXCC, 30m DXCC and 17m DXCC. After that my focus switches to VHF for DXCC on 6m but that will be tried again in Sporadic-E season in June when I have the tower all ready.

Building a Serious Field Day Satellite Station

By Tom on April 21, 2018

I have been acquiring hardware for a serious portable satellite station for several years. I have used various setups at Field Day and Winter Field Day with irregular success.

Here is what I have so far:

Green Heron RT21 Az/El Rotor
Icom 9100 HF/VHF/UHF Satellite Radio
M2 LEO Pack Satellite Antennas
Yaesu G5500 Az/El Rotor
SSB Preamps for 2m and 440
Mac Doppler for radio and rotor control

One website I check out from time to time is the wonderful site of Fred [QRZ call=AB1OC] and Anita AB1QB. I first found this site when looking for ideas on building a shack. One of Fred’s projects has been building a portable satellite station. As I read the list of equipment in Fred’s article, I realized I have just about the exact same equipment that he does. You can find that article here.

Regarding Field Day, one practice that works very well for Field Day planning is a dry-run. Several weeks before Field Day, we get all the radios, cables, computers, etc together and make it all works together. We then take it all apart, put it all in sealed bags or boxes and bring those exact same bags and boxes to Field Day. It eliminates many surprises at the event itself. It occurs to me that I do not do that same with the satellite setup. So this year, a different plan is on order.

Building on Fred’s project, I went ahead and ordered the Glen Martin 4.5 foot roof tower and sand bags. In May, I plan to get together with those interested and assemble the satellite station complete with antennas, preamps, coax and the rest of the gear. We will then make some contacts. I will work on the bits and pieces between now and then, but the goal is to both educate those interested in satellite operations as well as ensure we have a reliable satellite station for portable operations. This can be of use for Field Day, Winter Field Day and the St. Petersburg Science Festival in which SPARC participates. In the future, the antennas may change as I put some of this equipment up at home, but it will be similar.

If you are interested in helping out, I will advertise this to the usual SPARC/CARS and UPARC channels.

DXCC Update December 2017

By Tom on November 30, 2017

Total confirmed country count is up to 277. I added 4 more on 160 and 6 more QSLs on 12m. Now up to 77 on 12m. So for 9BDXCC, I need 10 more on 160m and 23 more on 12m. I have a 160m card and a two 12m cards to be Card Checked at the Tampa Bay Hamfest next Saturday.

DXCC Update – March 2017 Update

By Tom on March 1, 2017

After 2 more months, I have confirmed another 16 countries on 160. I’m not sure if I can going to be able to get to 100 this season. I also added 7 on 30m and none on 12m. With the summer, I should get to 100 on both 30m and 12m. Here’s hoping that a bunch of 160 contacts show up on LOTW.

Winter is a great time to work DX on 160 meters. I have far more activity on 160m and 30m than 12m. Here’s hoping I can finish off the remaining 40 QSLs on 160 this winter…

5B DXCC and 1000 DXCC Challenge points Complete!

By Tom on June 27, 2016

Well, my DXCC goals are complete for now. I was working on 5B DXCC and was able to finish up these contacts on 80 meters. I also collected 1000 confirmed band-points (county and band combination) to reach the first DXCC Challenge level.

I have some more confirmations needed on 12m and 30m for 8 band DXCC and hope to get the rest on 160 this winter. But that is it for now. The next task is to get back into satellite operations.

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