Latest QSO map - including new Asia & Island nation contacts

I recently have made a number of QSOs in China, Japan & little places like New Caledonia and the Azores.  Here is my latest QSO map...
http://www.hrdlog.net/Map2.aspx?user=N6GFK

Longest wordwide contact to date, made... today

Scanning the 20m band for possible QSOs, I saw a callsign that I didn't recognize - ZS6WR.

The signal was pretty strong. The band was behaving noticeably well today, but I didn't realize how well until I looked this station up.

It was from Geoff, a ham located just outside of JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA.

Here is the link for his ham radio club:

http://www.qrz.com/db/ZS6WR

Distance for this contact - 10,242 miles.

It's official, I can reach around the world with this ham shack!

For more information on the contact, check my radio log:

http://www.hrdlog.net/ViewLogbook.aspx?user=N6GFK

Just awesome. Geoff made my day.

Moving in to the new shack!

Check out the new ham shack! This sure beats huddling by a space heater out in the garage!

Also in the picture is my supervisor Roscoe.

HRD Net Logbook and metrics/maps

Trying out the online radio logging at HRDlog.net. Here is one of the generated maps available on the site:


Google map of my recent contacts on 10m, 20m and 40m

New PSK contact monitoring site

This looks interesting...

http://pskreporter.info/pskmap.html

Trying it out to see how it works, and where it pulls its data from.

My DX QSO map for 2011

Guess what I got for Xmas!

I guess I was good this year, because I found a Tigertronics Signalink USB interface under the tree this year! I have been playing with it during the holiday break, and have made several PSK31 contacts across the US, Canada and in Russia!

I did shop around for the right digital mode software to use. I settled on a fairly popular package that is pretty much plug and play - Ham Radio Deluxe with Digital Master 780 (DM780). The DM780 application interface is quite nice with a very dynamic frequency waterfall display and TX and RX windows. A very capable macro interface as well - highly recommended! Oh, did I mention it is free? Donate to support the great development here!

Anyway, the Signalink USB interface connects seamlessly between our netbook and the CAT port on my Yaesu Ft-897. Set up for digital mode and we are ready to rock and roll!

I have to say this mode is really interesting. The waterfall display allows you to pick and choose digital "conversations" that are all happening concurrently. You can also easily find an open "spot" from which to start your CQ call. I think I will be using this mode a LOT going forward!