A couple of days ago, both I and my wife have gone to Fukushima. The purpose was to see our son studying medicine there. Having had a nice gettogether with him, we took dinner at a pretty casual restaurant close to his apartment. While we were waiting for the dishes, a thin and tall guy, apparently a foreigner, came in. It was Dr. Nollet. I knew him through the FCWA web site as well as the FMU web site. I remembered he had been an enthusiastic ham. He has got a japanese call sign, JO7XVL, there. I haven't personally acquainted with him before, though. He is working as a professor at the Dept. of Blood Transfusion and Transplantation at Fukushima Med University.
He seemed to enjoy dinner with a few japanese friends there. Some of their conversation has intermittently reached to us. I was wondering if I should say hello to him or not until we finished meal and was almost going out of the restaurant. At last, I decided to greet him. He was sociable continuously smiling at me and did not look unpleasant to have had his dinner interrupted by me. I introduced both myself and my son who will attend his class very shortly. He has K0EN in his home land. He used to operate radio from VK and A5 as well. When I told him I had been active especially on 40m with a 3 element Yagi, he uttered "Jealous!". But, knowing how he has been working at the university, I really felt envious of him. He must be in Germany at present attending a conference, as he told me.
He seems interested in ham radio as a tool of emergency communication as well as a educational means. This is the link to his "Director's Corner" in the site for Dept. of International Cooperation at Radiation Medical Science Center for the Fukushima Health Management Survey in Fukushima Med University.
http://www.fmu.ac.jp/radiationhealth/whatwedo/20131015.html
It was an unexpected meeting. But such an eye ball with a ham is always a pleasure. I am looking forward seeing him on the air soon.
I am also jealous of your 40 meter beam. Hi hi
ReplyDeleteI am very restricted by my neighborhood but just this week put up a Hy-Gain vertical. It should be a big improvement over the mobile whip I was using on 40.
You continue to inspire me to improve my CW. Purchased a code study app for my phone and a paddle so I can use the keyer built into my rig (Kenwood TS-480 SAT). Starting to see some improvement but it is slow. How much power do you run on 40? I may never be good enough to work you, but it is my goal. What time are you usually on the air? 1000 Z? I don't stay up that late but sometime get up that early.
Terry
Fla.
WA4AMG
Terry
DeleteWhat vertical of hygain? 14AVQ? It depends on how many radials you set, as you know, in the case of ground mount type. I am sure it is better than much a shorter mobile whip. I used to use 14AVQ when I was in the dorm in '80s. A pretty satisfying antenna.
I am running 500W here. It is a flat area without any obstacles all around. I am on 40 m hanging out on 7026 plus or minus around 11 to 13 Z. Sometimes around 08Z in our sunset. In the late fall to winter, 40m could be really good to your area. Give me a call any time. Looking forward seeing you there.
Shin
It is an 18AVQII I bought used at a hamfest. Seems to be working ok on all bands except 80. I need to do some more testing.
DeleteRadials are the next project. I have ground rods installed and our water table is close to the surface here. There is water in a mangrove tree swamp about 15 ft. away to the west and some of the radials will be in the water. That should be good.
Thanks for the info and I will be listening for you at the times you mentioned.
73's
Terry
Terry
DeleteI believe the ground rod is not good enough as you know. Why won't you set a copper wire from the antenna to the mangrove tree water, dipping it to the water? Such a wire is much better than dozens of rods in the ground. Good luck to you, Terry. I am looking forward hearing you on 40m or the other bands.
Shin