Any HAMs playing 13 Colonies?

[foolsgold]

This is the first time I tried it. For the uninitiated, it is a contest to see if you can contact (it's two way verified) the 13 HAM radio stations designated as representing the 13 original Colonies. There's three bonus station also, one in France, one in England and one in Pennsylvania.

I am using a digital mode called FT8 and have contacted all but three stations.

 

[Goldhedge]

What radio are you using?

Got a link to 13 Colonies?

 

[Scald]

So far, I've contacted 2 of the 13, on ft8.
I haven't spent much time on the radio this week.

 

[searcher]

What radio are you using?

Got a link to 13 Colonies?

Bump............

 

[foolsgold]

Link to 13 Colonies - http://www.13colonies.us/

I use an Icom IC-7300 (very good for digital work)

I got all 13 Colonies and the 3 bonus stations July 4-5th. They were all FT8 contacts.

 

[foolsgold]

Keep in mind for performance the antenna is much more important than the radio.

I use the 3000watt version of this antenna - https://hamcall.net/7bandocf.html#8band

It's 270 feet long, so some real estate and trees (or towers) are necessary. From my location I can TX and RX around the world.

 

[searcher]

@foolsgold - what's your furthest voice contact? Do any international broadcast dxing?

 

[foolsgold]

@foolsgold - what's your furthest voice contact? Do any international broadcast dxing?

South America, Europe, Russia, but I have little interest in "phone" contracts. I have rag chewed with HAMs in the US, but also have little interest in doing this.

I belong to several disaster preparedness groups and we communicate regionally and nationally, this is where most of my time is spent.

 

[foolsgold]

These are the stations that reported hearing my FT8 signal within the last 5 minutes. Note HI and China (over the N pole)

 

[searcher]

This is one of my SWL sources. Here he's talking FT8.

I've just reached 3,000 FT8 contacts, but it's taken me 6 years!​

Jan 31, 2024

Hi there, I've used to be a massive fan of FT8 - particularly back in the days when I was an M6 and transmitting with very limited power. These days I dip in and out as the mood takes me, but over a period of about six years, the contacts build up! Here's the story...


8:22

Thanks for watching and 73.

 

[foolsgold]

35,567 Contacts and I not very active, as you can see. Haven't ran since early September.