Last weekend I took part to the Ari international ham radio contest. Unofrtunately time to dedicate to the contest has been very low, just a couple of hours, but I’ve dedicated all my “spare time” to the competition.
Has been fun to be aknowledged so easily by so many stations, even being a qrp station. This has been my first experience with an amateur radio contest, and final impression has been positive.
I’m trying now to organize the electronic logbook (i’m going to use UA1AAF - Ari contest software) to send to the Ari HQ. My score has been very low, but as I’ve taken part to the contest just to enjoy myself withour any other goal.

This was my ham radio portable setup station last week. Two interesting contacts with 5H3AA and 4J5A. Vertical antenna in the center is a prototype of the fishing rod antenna I’m testing in this period, even I’ve already understood that best results are on 40 meters band, but is still too early for a final report.
I’ve just ordered a fiber glass fishing rod, a really hard to find product in the carbon fiber era.

Today I’ve spent another couple of hours with my portable station, playing just my ft-857d and the portable multiband dipole.
Some interesting contacts: TB0DX, 9M6/LA9DL,9V1DE,SV9GPV,GM0DHZ,BG7MVZ,UR0IM,HS0/IK4MRH,YB4IR.
We have had good openings to south america on twenty meters too in late afternoon but no contacts.

Finally after almost 20 years from my first radio experience, I’ve been able to get on the air with my ham radio call sign, IW5EDI.
I got this callsing in 1997, but I’ve never been really active on air, due to the low interest on VHF bands.
Since August last year I could operate HF bands, tanks to recent changes to italian amateur radio licencing policies, but during all winter have been very busy with work, family and I’ve suffered of lack of a real portable radio.

This week, after a so long period, finally I’ve been active, with my new Yaesu FT-857D, and my triband dipole. The renewed enthusiasm has been supported by the homebrew of a multiband fishing pole vertical antenna, that I will probably post into this blog as soon as I will have some more technical reports.

Unfortunately recent changes to my home QTH location (sencond floor apartment of a 5 floor building), will prohibit me with an effective base antenna setup, so that I will have to satisfy my dx needs being mobile / portable. That will look poor to you, but, believe me it represent a great step forward.