#2000 logged

[Kilokat7]

I had hopes of hitting 2,000 before the year ended, and that goal was accomplished yesterday afternoon when a faint 1490 KLGR was heard.  I don't count call changes and all logs between 530-1710 kHz have been from my same suburban west Michigan location.

I started my logbook in 2009 with a "barefoot" DX-440 that was good for a few hundred stations, but I wanted more!  Enter the Quantum Loop, which worked wonderfully with the DX-440, and netted me a few hundred more stations including my first Trans-Atlantic station (1134 Croatia) and several more TAs to follow, most of which are now history.  Still wanting more, but reaching the limit of the Q Loop, I knew it was time to go bigger.  I bought a 500 FT spool of wire and laid it on the ground in a straight line, connected it to the DX-440, and started logging a whole new mix of more distant stations.  I learned more about BOGs and discovered how Neil Kazaross was phasing two of them and soon went back to DX Tools and purchased a Quantum Phaser to try it for myself.

It didn't take long to hit #1000 with this setup.  At this point I'm pushing the DX-440 to its limit, so I decided to try SDR and eventually opted for the Perseus which I still use today.  A reversible D-KAZ loop was also added to the mix a few years ago.

Some obligatory stats since starting this adventure in 2009: 47 states heard with AK, HI & DE still needed (keep dreaming).  Most distant catch: 702 2BL Sydney @ 9,345 miles/15,039 km.  Nearest unheard: WBCH @ just 59 miles!  169 graveyarders and 37 countries heard on MW.  Recordings of some of my more interesting catches are posted to YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/user/kilokat7

[JCMaxwell]

Congratulations KiloKat7!

[skeezix]

Very nice.

[ChrisSmolinski]

Congrats! And very impressive.

[jFarley]

Way to go!

[Skipmuck]

A tip of the hat to you Kilokat7! That takes some serious dedication! I found this humorous link regarding WBCH, which despite the article, are still up and running per Wikipedia! http://www.blandx.com/ddx/dd05/wbch1220.html

[MDK2]

I have to say that that's pretty cool. It gives me some ideas about going about MW DXing more seriously (so far, I've only worked with the rotating bar antenna that's built into my Satellit 750, with predictable results). I don't have a patch of land for laying down anything close to that length of wire, but your quantum loop sounds like a possibility.

[Oliver]

Chapeau!

[Kilokat7]

Thanks guys, and thank you Skipmuck for WBCH Blandx article - makes sense why I've never heard this station now :-)

I have to say that that's pretty cool. It gives me some ideas about going about MW DXing more seriously (so far, I've only worked with the rotating bar antenna that's built into my Satellit 750, with predictable results). I don't have a patch of land for laying down anything close to that length of wire, but your quantum loop sounds like a possibility.

MDK2: If you don't have room for a BOG then consider some type of outside terminated loop antenna (i.e. Flag, Super Loop, Kaz, etc.)  There was a good presentation given at the 2016 MW DX convention on loop antennas.  See: http://www.durenberger.com/documents/NHP2016.pptx with accompanying audio here: http://www.durenberger.com/NHP2016.mp3

[MDK2]

Thanks kilokat7, I'll check that out.

[Pigmeat]

Those DX-440's are one Hell of a radio. I'm still kicking myself for passing on one at a hamfest last year for the paltry sum of forty bucks. Live and learn.