XE2/WD9EWK on 17-18 January 2003

Updated 8 February 2006

I was in Mexicali only on 17 January (and into the early hours of 18 January, UTC time), to file paperwork. If time permitted, I wanted to operate my Yaesu FT-817 before driving back home later in the day. Instead, my good friend Alex XE2BSS was at home, and I had a few hours on HF using his improved home station.

Getting the XE permit
I maintain another page on this site with lots of information on obtaining a Mexican radio permit. I did not file for another permit on this trip, but will do that on my next trip to Mexicali if I have any thoughts of playing radio from Mexico.

My HF operating time
I had my FT-817 with me, along with an assortment of antennas (Maldol whips and coils, Outbacker Joey with tripod, Buddipole portable dipole, wire with TV twin-lead and a small LDG Z11 antenna tuner), but I didn't need to use any of the gear I brought with me. Alex XE2BSS invited me into his new shack, a room built in his back yard with air conditioning, space for his radios and computers, a small refrigerator, and antennas above the house. I used his Kenwood TS-870 along with 2 antennas (A-99 vertical for 10 through 17 meters, and an inverted-V dipole through a tuner for 40m).

My first contact was at 12 noon (2000 UTC), with Mike KA1YZT at Cape Cod in Massachusetts, on 10m SSB. Right after that, my first non-USA contact - with Ed LU1VFP in southern Argentina - also on 10m SSB. After these 2 QSOs, I moved to the 17m band and made a few QSOs across the USA before trying the 12m band.

I had never tried this band in my earlier trips to Mexico, and proceeded to make contacts across the USA plus one with Tony YV5OIE in Venezuela in the next half-hour. I was told that Jim KF7E, in the Phoenix AZ area, was hearing me on 12 meters. After a few futile attempts to make a contact on that band, we moved to the 40m band to make a contact and have a nice chat. Later, back to 12m and more stateside contacts plus 2 more non-USA QSOs (Puerto Rico and Japan). I went back to 10 meters, and made 3 more non-USA QSOs (2 Japanese stations, plus Valery UA0ZC on Russia's Kamchatka peninsula).

After a break for dinner, I returned to the radio for 3 more contacts before leaving for home. I tried the 17m band again, and made 3 contacts (one USA contact, and 2 with Japan). This brought my QSO count to 27 for the day, not too bad for casual operating over part of one day. These contacts now appear in my online XE2/WD9EWK log, and QSL cards were sent to these stations on 21 January 2003.

Questions or comments?
If you have any other questions or comments about my XE trips, please feel free to contact me.

WD9EWK/VA7EWK - XE2/WD9EWK - QSL VIA WD9EWK