The JO84- Story

Last fall I discussed with Rolf (DK2ZF) if we should again try to activate a rare square on microwaves.We quickly found a target, it should be one of the most wanted fields in Europe,JO84 in the north of Poland. First of all, we asked our friends from SP1 if they could support us. Immediately Marek SP1JNY and Jacek SP1CNV promised to help.Now the project was a GO!On July 4th we planned to meet in our hotel "Gromada" in Koszalin. My wife and me made a stop at Marek, SP1JNY, in the city of Szczecin, where we were invited for dinner together with his family. Thank you again!

My wife Doris, brother-in-law and wife of Marek, Marek SP1JNY.When we met with Tatjana, the wife of DK2ZF and Rolf, we were hungry and decided to visit a Chinese restaurant.

Then we went to the clubstation of the Radioclub of Koszalin where we got a very warm welcome by Jacek, SP1CNV and Janek, SP1UJO.

Left SP1CNV, right DK2ZF. Unfortunately, I had forgotten my photo camera so thereare no pictures of the first attempts of the roof.

The first evening resulted in three complete QSOs with SP1JNY, DC7YS and Andy SM7ECM.

A beautiful sunset ...At the hotel bar we celebrated our first QSOs from a very rare field ...

Due to communication problems the barkeeper served much more beer and vodka than we could drink...

Wednesday morning, we explored the tower on Mount Gora Chelmska to see if we could build our microwave station there .

The ultimate location to try with DB6NT, DL6NCI, DK1MAX, DL7QY, OE5VRL and CO!

THIS IS THE PLACE! Happy and satisfied we left the 35m tower.

Afterwards we visited the lighthouse in Darlowo where we originally wanted to become QRV.

Today, we can say that Koszalin was the better choice!

While Rolf took a city visit with the ladies at the afternoon , I met with Jacek at the club station to make further attempts from the roof.

This time I had my camera with me. See these stunning pictures!

Climbing up to the roof is not recommended if you suffer from fear of hights.

Another three QSOs were made: SP6GWB, JO80, DL6NCI, JO50 and last but not least DB6NT, JO50 (even in SSB with 59+) all via tropo!

Right: my personal favorite picture!Beside amateur radio we did some sightseeing and museum on Thursday.

Karol Wojtyla, Tatjana and Rolf...Rolf had an appointment in Hamburg on Friday night so he had to leave on Friday morning.For dinner we met with Jacek in the hotel.

DK2ZF preferred Pike perch!

Friday should be our big day.The weather forecast looked very promising with strong storm activity.Unfortunately, it began to rain in Koszalin too. With Jacek I agreed that on this day the only chance would be to reach good rainscatter, so we decided to go to the tower despite the bad weather!

Pictures say more than words .

Almost seven hours we stood on the platform in 35m height.

As my tablet PC ran out of batteries after four hours Jacek was so kind to organize 220V.

Rafael, SP1RL came to assist with a second umbrella!

Sometime water ran out of the ETM8- keyer and the radio devices!

When we ended our activities in the evening we were pretty wet but we knew we gave a new square to many of our friends. And it was a lot of fun!A list of our contacts can be found below.When I met again with my wife in the hotel she told me that we were completely crazy.

After this excellent day I did not really want to put the station into operation again.

On Saturday Jacek told me that friends from Poland wanted to test with us, so there should be another activity of Gora Chelmska.

On this day it was not raining but on the tower we had strong wind.

This was a fantastic and exciting week in Koszalin. We have learned a lot and we had a good time with good friends.Special thanks to Marek, Jacek, Janek and Rafael. Without your help, we would neverbeen able to bring JO84 on 10GHz on the air!

Do tego bardzo dziękuję ! Doris, Tatjana, Rolf and Reinhold.

SP/DL6NAA 10GHz QSOs from JO84CE Koszalin/Poland:04.07.2017SP1JNY JO73GL TrDC7YS JO62PM TrSM7ECM JO65NQ Tr

05.07.2017SP6GWB JO80JG TrDB6NT JO50TI 59+ SSB TrDL6NCI JO50VI Tr

07.07.2017DC7QH JO62QN 59 SSB TrOZ1LPR JO44UW TrOE5VRL/5 JN78DK!!! RSOZ7Z JO44XU TrDK1MAX JN58RP!!! RSDL6NCI JO50VI RSOE5VRL/5 JN78DK RS SSB 59+DJ2NR JO50VF RS (at this time strongest stn on the band)DO1VAL JN58RP!!! RS (DK1MAX’s son doing his 1st 10GHz QSO - congrats!)DF1OI/p JO42UF RSDL5EBS JO31NH RSDL7QY JN59BD!!! RS (Yes we made it!)DL1RTD JN59LO!!! RSDK2ZF/p JO43WJ RS or tropo? Do not know it, clear signal!DB6NT JO50VJ RS SSB 59+DL4DTU JO60TS? RS sri biro was wet could not write anymore...

Wow what a day! We were standing for 7 hours in the rain on top of the tower atGORA CHELMSKA abt 35m over the ground!

08.07.2017SP1JNY JO73GL TR SSBSP2HMR JO94HH TrSP2MKO JO93CB Tr

Finally here a link to youtube:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VjnfiTK4XdA