Wednesday, 12th April

The skyline of Port Stanley in the Falklands

What would the day bring? I went up to the shack at 07:30 and had one or two QSOs on 885 - my first being with Alan, GW3LDH. At 09:30 I left the shack and went to the first of my business meetings of the week (shame, but I had to do it). As soon as I could break free, I raced back to Pioneer Row and arrived at about 12:00. I switched on the rig and tuned to 110 and was immediately shocked - there was actual activity - wow! Thank heavens we had put the antenna up the previous day. I called CQ and was instantly overwhelmed! Now I know what it is like to be a real DXstation. Over the next two hours I was deluged with a massive pileup from southern Europe with EVERYONE saying "thanks for a new country"! That was a real thrill.

Keith, VP8CMT's house

During my first opening I worked around 130 stations including a couple of stations in Miami, K4LQ and KP4EOR/W4. Well, to say that I was taken aback is a bit of an understatement; it was marvelous After going QRT at 14:00 I got back to 6m at 17:00 local time. I called CQ and got an immediate pile-up of EA stations. The band eventually went dead about an hour later. What a great way to start my week's visit to the Falklands. Unfortunately, no northern Europe stations - yet! What will Thursday bring? I think I will have another glass of wine and wonder! Listen to some of my QSOs with 9H5EE, IK6TIJ and CT1DXQ. And, here is me as recorded by Costas, SV1DH and Sergio, IK0FTA (as he heard me!). Everybody was end-stop!

The 5-ele Tonna under the tri-bander

Later on in the evening I spent a very happy evening in the Stanley Arms in the west-end of Stanley nattering to the locals about everything you could think of from the war to radio to fishing and to web sites! The countries worked today included 5B, EA, EA9, IT9, I, IS0, JY, SV, LZ, 9H, PY, 5B, 9A, YO, CT and W4.