Worked Ascension Island - ZD8KFC

I blogged about calling CQ on 20m SSB and working Australia via Long Path. After working those VK stations, I just made some general CQ calls.  I heard a station come back that I thought I heard as KD8 something.  I asked for the call again.  Hearing him better, I copied ZD8KFC.  I typed it into my log and it came up as Ascension Island (that's a new one)!  Once again, not having a clue where that island is located was a pretty good sign!

Jim was very pleasant and very accommodating of my geographical ignorance! He told me about his home island and the weather before saying our 73's.  Jim jokingly signed off as Zulu Delta 8 Kentucky Fried Chicken!

Ascension Island is an isolated volcanic island, 7°56' south of the Equator in the South Atlantic Ocean. It is about 1,000 miles from the coast of Africa and 1,400 miles from the coast of Brazil.

Ascension Island

73 and good DX de KG4LST sk

Worked Australia Long Path - VK5SRV/M, VK2VRC, VK5NZ

I found myself sitting idle in the ham shack.  Not seeing anything terribly interesting on the DX cluster or FT8 modes, I started spinning the VFO on the 20m band.  I ran across a local station calling CQ and looking for VK and ZL via long path.  I parked the VFO, turned my yagi East and listened intently as he worked several VK station on long path.  It occurred to me that I could hear the DX so well that I believed I could probably work them too.  At one point, I heard one of the VK stations tell the local that he had "the only proper radio station in Georgia" and that he doesn't hear much from the state.  This had me eager to put out my call and try to make it to Australia on LP.

I thought it would be rude to just jump in on the frequency since the local station had been calling CQ.  So I went down about 5kHz.  I had the amp on, antenna still pointed East.  I listened to the silent frequency for several minutes while I mustered some courage.  I keyed the rig and asked if the frequency was in use.  Hearing nothing, I asked again.  Heart beating fast, I called "CQ CQ DX looking for VK or ZL long path, here is KG4LST KG4LST beaming VK or ZL long path and listening."  Nothing heard, I called again.  Then, a weak signal came back.  QRZ?  VK5SRV/M is that correct?  Wow, is all I can say...a mobile station in Australia while working long path, that's over 14,000 miles!  I talked with Ian for a short time since he was going to do some Sunday (his time) fishing.  I logged him, and then called again.  VK2VRC (Wayne) came back to me!  We had a very nice QSO, I logged him, and called again. VK5NZ (Bob) answered.  Oddly enough, Bob lived in Atlanta from 1986 to 1993.  We chatted about many things and then we said our 73's.  What an awesome afternoon!

Long path from KG4LST to the stations in Australia

73 and good DX de KG4LST sk

Worked Taiwan and Japan on SSB Phone - BX5AA, JA1XEC

I have been able to work Taiwan only 2 times before and both were on FT8.  Oddly enough, one of the stations I had worked before on FT8, BX5AA (Jimmy), was booming into GA on 20m SSB phone.  I turned my yagi, powered up the amplifier, and gave Jimmy a call.  He answered and we had a nice contact with good signal reports exchanged!  That was my first contact with Taiwan via SSB phone!  I was shaking like a leaf with nerves and excitement! 8,000+ miles!

A few minutes later, I also worked JA1XEC in Japan on SSB phone! I think his antenna did all the work, but conditions with Asia were great during "grey line"!

73 and good DX de KG4LST sk

Worked Sierra Leone - 9LY1JM

I was able to work 9LY1JM in Sierra Leone on 20m SSB phone! 

At over 4,800 miles away, Sierra Leone is is a country on the southwest coast of West Africa. It has a tropical climate, with a diverse environment ranging from savanna to rainforests. The country has a total area of 27,699 square miles.

73 and good DX de KG4LST sk

Worked North Cook Islands - E51WL

I was able to work E51WL in North Cook Islands via 17m FT8!

At over 5,700 miles away The Cook Islands is a self-governing island country in the South Pacific Ocean in free association with New Zealand. It comprises 15 islands whose total land area is 92.7 square miles.

73 and good DX de KG4LST sk

Worked Madagascar - 5R8IC

I was able to work Madagascar for the first time on 17m FT8.

At over 9,300 miles away, Madagascar is an island country in the Indian Ocean, approximately 250 miles off the coast of East Africa.

73 and good DX de KG4LST sk

Worked Vatican - HV0A

I worked HV0A in Vatican City on 80m FT8!

Well you live and you learn. I never knew that Vatican City was a city-state. I always thought it was just a city in Italy.  I'm glad that they are on the air and glad to have worked them from my QTH!

73 and good DX de KG4LST sk

UPDATE 12/30/2018:
I worked HV0A again on 20m FT8!