Monday, August 5, 2019

FFFs during my summer holiday

During my summer holiday in France I was radio-active from various FFF locations - six in total. I usually visit four parks in two /P days out but conveniently this year both campsites we stayed on were inside nature reserves.

I have not made that many QSOs from the campsites as (1) it was by times too hot to do anything, (2) I was in a tent where my favorite mode phone gets annoying for the surrounding quickly and (3) my family expects me to socialise with them in stead of other hams.
We stayed a bit longer in the Dordogne region so I was on the air from that campsite a few times.

In total I logged 805 QSOs from 43 DXCC on 20 and 40 meter:
  • FFF-0031 Park National La Brenne (campsite) - 85 QSO FT8/CW/SSB
  • FFF-1167 Natura 2000 La Brenne - 144 QSO SSB
  • FFF-0057 Vallee de l'Anglin - 126 QSO SSB
  • FFF-2352 Basin de la Dordogne (campsite) - 194 QSO FT8/CW/SSB
  • FFF-2568 Vallée de la Vézère - 121 QSO CW/SSB
  • FFF-2570 Vallées des Beunes - 135 QSO CW/SSB
Eight OMs made it to all the locations: EA3EVL, EA7YT, OM1AX, ON4ON, PD7YY, S58AL, SP8LEP, YL2TQ.

DX was hard to find. Dov 4Z4DX made it a couple of times but from the other end only KD1CT made it across once and only barely so. I tried to get Chuck KO4SB in the log but there was no way - not even a CW whisper heard on both ends. Summer season in a solar minimum is not my favorite time as ham (as holiday maker though..). Luckily there was some sporadic E to create a bit of local fun with signals popping up and strong skips to specific areas.

Convenient picknick table in FFF-0057
In the shadow at a lake in FFF-1167 
Bit of walking required to get into the woods at FFF-2568
FFF-2570 was easy to activate once I found this parking area