A m a t e u r R a d i o W e b s i t e
A m a t e u
r R a d i o W e b s i t e
Normal VHF activity has been suspended:
In April 2025, my antennas fell of my mast dropping 60ft. Due to the severe lack of VHF SSB activity, I cannot justify the expense and effort of buying and installing a new set of antennas. I have made the decision to suspend VHF operation with the exception of a local 2m net and the occasional 6m contact using my HF vertical with a tuner which is very compromised. I will now operate on HF with a very modest antenna system due to my small QTH. I will miss VHF but I have no interest in digital modes and I believe the bands are becoming a graveyard for SSB contacts except for contests and openings.
New HF Antenna installed:
I am testing the XIEGU VG-4 vertical 4 band antenna. It covers 40m, 20, 15, and 10m and will tune on 6m. It's a compromised antenna but works reasonably well compared to my long wire end fed.QSL update:
Please accept my sincere apologies for any inconvenience caused but I no longer wish to send or receive any QSL cards either paper or on any electronic format.
I would like to thank my QSL manager Phil G3SWH who handled all my QSL requests for both my M5BXB and OK8XB callsigns since 2008. G3SWH website
Remote Radio Testing:
I am currently testing remote and mobile remote operation of my home station using just an iPhone. Check out my Remote Radio page here
Radio First? Remote Radio At 39,000 Feet:
Not sure if this is a radio first? On 22 September 2018 between 15:35 and 16:10 UTC, M5BXB successfully completed QSO's with G6ODA, M0IKO and M0HVC on 144.210 MHz whilst airborne at 39,000ft on an Emirates flight from Mauritius to Dubai. Internet connection was not very stable due to lack of bandwith but did allow for just over 30 minutes operation whilst off the Somalian coast. Measured internet speed on the Airbus A380 was just 48kb using just an iPhone with the CommCat app linked to M5BXB's home station.
M5BXB Top 10 DX on 6m since 2002
Date Station DXCC Locator Distance Km 1 09/06/2013 LU9EHF Argentina FF95mm 11,278 2 23/04/2003 CX4CR Uruguay GF15wc 11,080 3 02/05/2013 FR4NT Reunion Is. LG78px 9,717 4 28/03/2003 PY2VA Brazil GG66rj 9,531 5 09/06/2013 PU1MKZ Brazil GG87jl 9,273 6 09/06/2013 PU1SGT Brazil GG87ve 9,259 7 16/06/2008 W5OZI United States of America EM00dl 8,017 8 01/06/2008 YV4DYJ Venezuela FK50xe 7,620 9 21/05/2013 ZD7VC Saint Helena IH74db 7,552 10 05/07/2006 YV4DDK Venezuela FK60 7,522
