Back from the UKAC this weekend has been about two things.

Putting up the top band antenna and chasing some DX. Conditions have been marginal but A5A Bhutan was bagged on Friday with low power and some cunning and a quick LOTQ QSL from Gibraltar saw the LOTW total go to 150. I must get the cards certified to push that up a bit!




Then to top it I had a QSL with Grecia YV1YLY who used to be YY1YLY (great call) , a serious contester and always has pile ups so I have never been able to get through. Showing us here how to tune a beam.

JOTA was good for one thing….the bands were open after a long silence.

That was met with QSO 2 with Brother Apollo on Mount Athos.

Now those in the know will tell you that Mount Athos is currently the 7th most sought after DX entity that there is. Most US dx’ers would give their eye teeth for a chance to work SV2ASP/A as he is the only one that operates from Mount Athos and when he gives up then there will be no-one. You are not allowed to visit to operate. So it is predicted by the dx’er that I chat with that very soon this will be in the top 5.

It cost a reasonable donation to get the card, but it all goes to a good charity on the Mount. I have heard that G8AJM has also worked Brother A and of course GØBBB.

So keep your ears open as we are close enough to work Mount Athos with reasonable levels of success.

Dave has this card as the QSO was on the special event GB4MTE call.

I thought I would admit to how green I am when it comes to this radio lark.

I have a pretty good programme on the Mac which tells me when a spot comes up in a DX entity that I have not “got”. And it popped up the other day for a place called Mount Athos.

Anyway I tuned in and there was a great shouting mass of you know who piling up the pile ups. Luckily Monk Apollo, he who operates there, decided to work split frequencies and before the mob could get their radios in the right place I managed to bag him.

I didn’t think any more of it until I mentioned to someone who told me it was very sough after, So sought after, in fact, that he turned around from his shopping trip to go on the hunt.

Funny all this beginners luck….but mind you with this Greek business maybe I won’t get my QSL after all.