Greece: The country number 61

I have just received the eQSL from SV7LWV (Giorgos), which represents country number 61 validly confirmed for my eDX award.

The case of Greece is a funny one. I had it already confirmed but I noticed that the only valid eQSL that I had from that country really corresponded to the DXCC entity Crete not Greece, so I contacted the eQSL staff to check it out. Some days after they told me that they had contacted the callsign owner and they verified that it did correspond to Crete, so they corrected the information. Because I already had Crete on the list, as a result of the correction I had one country less.

That is why I can celebrate it again as the country number 61. Thanks to Giorgos for the QSO and the nice picture.

PRC-320 transmitted audio recorded in Germany

I finally got an audio recording of my PRC-320, thanks to Rainer (DG7LAL). In this case I was using the two extra sections that make up a 5.5m long whip antenna. Again with full power and the 1.1Ah battery.

It seems that everything is OK. You cannot ask more from a rig like this. I am really satisfied with the result, which encourages me to undertake further field tests. I will keep you updated.

First SSB QSO with the PRC-320

Today I had my first QSO in SSB with the PRC-320. It was on the 20m band with the 2.4m whip and using my car as a counterpoise. I was running 30W from the 1.1Ah battery.
The QSO was with IW0UII in Sardinia and I got a signal report of 55.
Here you can see a picture of the PRC-320 whip antenna on my car. On the right side you can see two extra antenna sections that I did not use this time. The day was very rainy, as you can see.

First QSO with my PRC-320

Today I made my first DX QSO with my PRC-320. It was on the 20-meter band in CW with DK3FT/M (operator Hardy, from near Frankfurt). He gave me a 549, although there was some qsb later. I heard him great with the 250Hz CW filter on the PRC-320.
I used the high power setting (nominal 30W) and the standard 2.4-meter-long whip antenna, and the handset pressel as a CW keyer. I also used a single 10-meter-long isolated cable lying on the ground as a counterpoise.
I just checked the web and there are some videos of portable and QRP stations making QSOs with Hardy. He must be a really good operator.
I wish this is the first of many more QSOs with my PRC-320. Thanks a lot for the QSO and all the effort, Hardy, and best DX!

Santa Claus Land (OH9SCL)

Today I made a QSO on the 17-meter band with OH9SCL (operator Juha) from Santa Claus Land in Finland, in the Arctic Circle.
Santa's own amateur radio station OH9SCL has been busy since December 1986, operating in Finnish Lappland in the arctic circle. The North of the country is well-known as Santa Claus Land. Most of the activity takes place in December, operated by local radio amateurs helped by visitor operators. The picture above with the map shows the original QSL card from 1986.
Here you have a video of Santa's village near Rovaniemi. Claimed to be the residence of Santa Claus, Santa Claus Village and Santapark are located 8 km north of the centre.
Rovaniemi is also home to the world's most northern branch of McDonald's. This reminds me of Hesburger, which is the restaurant chain that ruled the burger market in Finland when I was an exchange student in Turku long ago.