03/11/2003 | DJ1AA Soapbox by DJ1AA (Germany), AB0DL (USA), Mirko Holte in QTH Kreiensen, Grid square locator JO41XU, Germany / Europe:
I had a lot of fun during this very interesting ARRL
International DX Contest 2003. My idea was to reach a good place under the top 10 from Germany. In 2002 I reached the first place under the high power, single OP in Germany and I want to try confirm this good place again. I am not sure about the result. The DX
conditions are not the best in the last time and I had really
to "fight" to reach a good position. In the night, about 3
hours before the contest started, I decided to built an antenna
for the low bands 80m and (160m). On 80m the G5RV inverted Vee
works fine mounted high up to 28m over the ground and I got
some nice contacts. On 160m I did not heard any DX from US.
The 6 element Yagi beam for 10m,15m,20m and 40m worked
fine as usually in the past. Thanks to those of you they gave
me really good confirmation with a special separate rapport.
It makes me very happy, because I worked for my antenna system
a long time and want to create a powerful setup step by step.
I hope you have enjoyed good signals from my European side.
Best regards to all of you and I hope to hear you in upcoming
future contests again.
By the way, special thanks to Frank, DL1OFD, he helped me
during the preset phase to bring up this kind of experimental wire inverted vee G5RV antenna. We finished the outside work in a record time, 2 hours before the contest 2003 starts. It was a night shift work with a powerful 500 watt lamp. Frank did some digital pictures during the outdoor working on my "antenna farm".. as well. Thanks Frank. Please find attached some contest impression photographs.
55/73 and good DX, Mirko DJ1AA / AB0DL in Germany - Europe -- AB0DL