Nearly but not quite into Japan on 40m tonight.

Tried for JA5WNH (Tosi) but unfortunately he could not copy all of my suffix. Tosi was calling for Europe and Africa long path on 40m. I didn't think I would qualify as long path so waited till he finished his calls and went back to his Japan based QSO and then I called. Nearly but not quite as he could not hear all of my suffix. Oh well, until next time.

Tosi's QRZ profile: https://www.qrz.com/db/JA5WNH

6 Watts to ZL2SDX in Wellington - 2489 kilometres, thanks Darren

 I was getting nowhere on 10 metres with the new AT-6666 and broke out the Youkits SK-1A QRP kit to head down to 40m. Not getting very far on 40m either, and having some antenna tuning difficulties but persevered and came across ZL2SDX Darren on 7.183 and he was kind enough to take the time and extract my callsign from the static. Thanks Darren and my 33 signal report will do just fine for 6 watts making the 2489 kilometre trip.

Darren's QRZ profile: https://www.qrz.com/db/ZL2SDX

Manpack is gone and the new QRP rig is ordered

Well the manpack radio has been sold in preparation for another addition to the stable....the Youkits SK-1A

With Chinese new year coming up it may be slightly delayed. I've kept the LiPo battery pack from the manpack and with an operating voltage range up to 15V I should not need to use the voltage regulator. I'll be pairing this with my Z11 tuner.

Reached the DXpedition on Banaba Island (T33A)

Pleasantly surprised to make it into Banaba Island tonight. There was a pileup on 40m with a lot of activity on and around the split frequencies with the added bonus of some deliberate interferenceas - everyone tried to get T33A into the log. I had no joy getting through the pileup but just as I was to call it a night the op changed their listening frequency and I was first on the new one and picked up the contact. The new Alinco can at least make it the 4 thousand kilometers to Kiribati in the central Pacific.

www.t33a.com