XE2/WD9EWK - 3-6 September 2004
Updated 8 February 2006
This was a fun weekend, once again, in Mexico. I had a couple of
HF-capable transceivers with me (Icom IC-703, Yaesu FT-817ND), as well as the
Icom IC-706 of my host Alex XE2BSS, but only operated one afternoon during this
trip. A few contacts, but - like always - lots of fun.
I was in Mexico from Friday, 3 September, until the following Monday (6
September), but only operated the radio on Sunday (5 September - into the 6th
on the UTC clock).
The Mexican ham permit...
It cost me 907 pesos, almost US$ 80, for 6 months. A necessary expense,
if only to have paperwork to stay out of trouble with government types.
Please read my other pages with more information on
obtaining a Mexican amateur-radio permit.
My HF activity this weekend...
Conditions were acceptable for this weekend. Lots of activity, even on 10
and 12 meters, even though all my contacts were on 17m SSB. I operated
from outside the town of Rumorosa in grid DM12xl near the Mexico/USA border
between Mexicali and Tecate. This was the same location where Alex XE2BSS
and I went in May 2002. Being in the
mountains made for a nice day with Alex XE2BSS, Juan Carlos XE2BOA, and their
families away from the big city (Mexicali). Alex and Juan Carlos helped
me put a dipole between a couple of trees, and then I used my IC-703 at 10W
with a 12V 20Ah gel-cell powering the radio for the entire afternoon.
I made only 9 contacts from very "casual" operating, all on the 17m
band. One new country went into my XE log - Chile (Sergio
XQ3BRN in Santiago) -
and the 8 other contacts were in 4 other countries (Argentina, Canada, Japan,
and USA).
My log for this weekend, and QSLing...
My XE2/WD9EWK online log has been updated with my
QSOs from this weekend. I mailed cards for all my contacts a week or two
after I returned from Mexico.
If you wish to send me your QSL card, please send your card
via WD9EWK - direct or through the QSL bureau
system.
Other thoughts regarding this weekend...
Although I spent a long weekend in Mexico, I did more computer work for a
couple of friends than operate radio. It is fun to be receiving
the pileup when I am operating from Mexico, but it is also fun to do non-radio
activities as well. I spent part of my time showing off photos and video
from my April 2004 trip to Argentina.
There will be more trips, even though the permits cost so much in Mexico.
Just don't ask me when that will be... :-)
Questions or comments?
If you have any other questions or comments about this trip, please
contact me.
WD9EWK/VA7EWK - XE2/WD9EWK - QSL VIA WD9EWK