ZS2EZ HF OPERATIONS
HF Operation from this station takes place on SSB, CW (via PC decode only at present!) and Digital Modes!
STATION :
KENWOOD TS-590S
into a Hy-Gain TH-7DX Tribander (10-15-20) @ 50 ft, ZS6BKW Multiband Dipole (40-20-17-12-10) @ 24ft, 80m Dipole
@ 47ft, 40m Dipole
@ 47ft, 30m Dipole @ 44ft, 60m dipole @ 43ft
accessories : MicroHam MicroKeyer II, Elecraft W2 Pwr/SWR meter, Heil ProSet Plus Headset, LDG DTS-6
Antenna Switch, Kenwood AT-120 Tuner
Maximum Power 100W
--------------------------------
SSB OPERATION
ZS2EZ is operational on SSB in most major contests as well as at random times
outside the contests. Operation is on 40, 20, 17, 15, 12 and 10 meters.
RTTY OPERATION
This is a popular mode of operation on HF from this station. ZS2EZ is active
in the major RTTY contests, 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!
FT8 OPERATION
Despite
only being released in July 2017, this mode has taken HF by storm.
ZS2EZ was active from very early on in this mode, and within 3 months
of operating had logged in excess of 1 000 QSOs in over 100 entities.
This is now the primary day-to-day mode at ZS2EZ, using either JTDX or WSJT-X in conjunction with JT-Alert. Over 20 000 QSOs are now in the log!
I am a member of the FT8 Digital Modes Club (FT8-DMC) - member#730
I have a page on this website dedicated to FT8 operation.
JT65 OPERATION
Despite
having operated JT65 on VHF, it took some time for me to get started
with this mode on HF. Operation began during 2010, using the excellent
JT65-HF software by Joe Large, W6CQZ. Sadly due to health issues W6CQZ
ended development of JT-65-HF, and I began using WSJT-X by K1JT, then
migrated to JTDX by UA3DJY and his team, JT65 has netted several very
satisfying contacts, and when the HF bands become poor JT65 offers an
excellent weak-signal option. For JT65 I still use JTDX (which
gives me T10 and JT9
in addition to JT65) and VK3AMA's brilliant JT-Alert addon.
PSK31 OPERATION
Many of my earlier contacts
were made in this mode, and it is still an option as a mode of operation for
me during relaxing times. I have also found a surprising number of rare
stations on PSK31, and occasionally check out 10.140, 14.070, 18.100 and 21.070 for anything
interesting! For the PSK modes I make use of FLDigi.
OTHER DIGITAL MODE OPERATION
ZS2EZ can occasionally be heard on other digital modes like PSK63,
Olivia, MFSK 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 and MultiPSK due to
their wide range of unusual modes (and interoperation with the DXLab
Suite via gateways). I
am a member of the European Phase-Shift Club (EPC) - member #558 -,
Digital Modes Club (DMC) - member#1690 -, 30m Digital Group(30MDG) -
member#4081 - 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!
Reception
is done in CWGet and MRP40, and keying is done using WinWarbler sofware
via the Winkey chip in my MicroHam MicroKeyer II.
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 December 2013 had worked in excess of 200
countries on all three bands. Sadly my A3WS suffered catastrophic
failure (snapped boom) in late 2020, but I remain active on the WARC
bands via a ZS6BKW MultiBand dipole (17m/12m) and a 30m dipole.
HOPE TO HEAR YOU ON HF SOON!!!!