ZS2EZ HF OPERATIONS
HF Operation from this station takes place on SSB, CW (via PC decode only at present!) and Digital Modes!
HF Station comprises:
KENWOOD TS-870S
via MFJ VersaTuner 989C and Kenwood TL-922 Linear Amplifier
into a Cushcraft A3S Tribander (10-15-20) w/40m addon kit @ 31 ft, Cushcraft A3WS Yagi (12-17) w/30m addon kit @ 28ft, 80m Dipole
@ 30ft
accessories : MicroHam MicroKeyer, Kenwood MC-60A Microphone, SP-31 External Speaker, Daiwa CN620A Pwr/SWR meter, Watson W-CRI Paddle Key, Heil ProSet Plus Headset
Maximum Power 400W
(Legal Limit)
ANTIQUE RADIO STATION : TRIO TS-510
into a 40m Dipole @ 20ft
Maximum Power 120W
--------------------------------
SSB OPERATION
ZS2EZ is operational on SSB in all major contests as well as at random times
outside the contests. Operation is on 80,40, 20, 17, 15, 12 and 10 meters.
RTTY OPERATION
This is the primary mode of operation on HF from this station. ZS2EZ is active
in every major RTTY contest, time and work committments permitting!
RTTY frequencies are also regularly monitored outside of contest times,
and skeds can readily be arranged for anyone looking for ZS on RTTY!
PSK31 OPERATION
This is the popular alternative mode of operation. Many of my earlier contacts
were made in this mode, and it is still a popular mode of operation for
me during relaxing times. I have also found a surprising number of rare
stations on PSK31, and regularly check out 14.070 and 21.070 for anything
interesting!
OTHER DIGITAL MODE OPERATION
ZS2EZ can occasionally be heard on other digital modes like PSK63, Olivia, MFSK,
Contestia, RTTYM, Chip64, SSTV, JT65 and assorted other modes. I enjoy occasionally
playing around with something different, and make a point of getting
my hands on any new digital modes. I make use of FLDigi, MixW and MultiPSK due to their wide range of unusual
modes (and interoperation with the DXLab Suite via gateways). I use MMSSTV for SSTV operation, and also have WSJT and WSPR loaded, as well as JT65-HF. I am a member of the European Phase-Shift Club (EPC) - member #558 -, Digital Modes Club (DMC) - member#1690 - and the Olivia Modes Club - member #010.
CW OPERATION
The original digital mode, I now have several hundred QSO's logged in CW, using my computer to receive and
send the CW. In more than 20 years of hamming I had always avoided CW, but with the removal of the CW requirement in South Africa I have ironically found myself making use of this mode quite regularly. Please note that I do not CQ in this mode, as I do not decode CW by ear!
WARC BAND OPERATION
Since acquiring a Cushcraft A3WS WARC-band beam (with 30m addon kit) at the beginning of 2008, I have been very active on the WARC bands (30m, 17m and 12m), and by the end of February 2010 had worked in excess of 100 countries on all three bands. I regularly spend time on these bands hunting new ones, and have seen my DXCC totals (particularly on 17m) rise satisfactorally in recent months. A recent 14-day spell on 12m saw my DXCC total rise by 35 entities!
I am a member of the WARC Century Club - member#030
HOPE TO HEAR YOU ON HF SOON!!!!