visit to C37AC

C37AC qth looking North

Last friday, April18th, members of ARDAM activated several stations in Andorra with its call C37AC. One of the efforts they did was installing one station 2000 mtrs asl to work HF and 6 meters. 

Operation on 6 meters from Andorra is nearly impossible from fixed stations due to very high mountains around, and any serious operation in this band requires to go portable to a place with better takeoff.

C31CT calling on 6 and another C3 on HF inside the shack

My good friend Salvador, C31CT, proposed me to visit them and give some advice about working dx on 6 meters. So i phoned my father EA3LL and we went to Andorra. After few hours driving we arrived at 11 am and we help them to put up the antenna. At 12 am Salva, C31CT, started calling CQ on 6 meters beaming to ZS, beacon mode, while working HF. 

5 elements beaming ZS

Station was a TS2000 and a 5 elements yagi we had to install 40 meters away in order to avoid some big trees to south west.

We explained them how works this magic band. Most important, to be patient and be qrv. And they learned it as, after many hours of calling and calling, some DX appeared. First DX was V51YJ, who was very strong, s9+. His beacon on 50028 was heard for three hours. Later Salva worked ZS6NK, ZS6AYE, ZS4TX/6, ZS6WN. And just before leaving the mountain Salva worked PY1RO. C37AC worked a dozen 
of nearby stations ( F, EA3 and EA6) too.

beaming to V5

At 10 pm they had to qrt and we returned home, where we arrived at 2 am, a bit tired and very happy some good friends had added a new country on 6 meters and with the promise from our C3 friends that they will be more often qrv on 6 meters. 

73 EA3AKY

EA3AKY looking for WiFi signals...

EA3LL still young at his 79 years

6 m antenna site

C31CT as C37AC on 6 m