Micro-light DXpedition to HB0 – Summary & Reflections

Micro-light DXpedition to HB0 – Summary & Reflections

Roman (DL3TU) and I (DL2COM) have safely returned from our Micro-light DXpedition to HB0 (Liechtenstein), and we're grateful for the fantastic experiences and the many callers from around the world. Despite some challenging conditions and a large solar flare that hit the band the previous Thursday, we were pleasantly surprised by the propagation.

Highlights:

  • Propagation: The expected conditions were much better than anticipated. Despite the solar flare and changing conditions, the signals were strong, especially on 10m during Sunday, which saw strong JA pileups and great conditions to NA. By Monday, signals had slowed a bit, prompting Roman to try 12m, which yielded good results.
  • Antenna Performance: We used a homebrew Hentenna for 10m, which performed excellently despite its head-heavy design. Additionally, the DXpeak vertical antenna (used for 20m, 17m, and 15m) worked well, providing solid QSO rates and reliable performance during pileups, especially for JA.
  • Weather: The weather was overall favorable, with only a few overcast moments and no rain. However, we had to contend with strong and cold winds, especially on Monday. This led to some difficulties, including a ripped antenna wire caused by a broken mini carabiner mid-pileup. Fortunately, we were able to fix it, though it ultimately forced us to wrap things up a little earlier than planned.

Challenges Faced:

  • The wind gusts were stronger than expected, impacting our ability to continue operations longer.
  • The antenna wire failure during a high-intensity JA pileup was an unfortunate but repairable issue.
  • Despite these challenges, we were mentally prepared for the worst and still had a highly successful and enjoyable experience.

Reflection:

It was an incredibly rewarding expedition, and we are thankful to all the operators who called in from around the world. The homebrew equipment held up better than expected, and our DXpeak vertical antenna proved to be an excellent choice for portable operations. The conditions weren’t always ideal, but they were manageable and led to some memorable moments, especially during the intense pileups.

We'll post additional videos and pictures soon, but overall, we're pleased with how the expedition turned out despite the hurdles. Thanks again to all who made contacts with us, and we hope to work you again in the future.

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