Trip
to Switzerland
HB9/K4UK
Operation
at
La Cote-aux-Fees, Switzerland
May 3
- 15, 1999
Ran Ten-Tec
1320 and Heath HW-9 QRP rigs
with
20 Meter Dipole and 70' Long Wire antennas
Made
107 QSO's with 39 Different Countries
Worked the following
7 FISTS members:
HB9OX, K8CW, M0CET, OH8US, SV1DLS, SV1EDY, UA6JD
Also, I had an eye-ball
QSO with Claude, HB9OX at his home in Kerzers.
We
went to Switzerland to visit our daughter and family who were on vacation
from their missionary post in Tahuoa, Niger. It had been a year and
a half since we had seen them off at Dulles Airport in Washington.
My, how our two Grandsons had grown! We had a great time visiting
the sights in Switzerland and we had good weather.
Built the Ten-Tec 1320 for the Trip and
ran Straight Key for all QSO's
Bought a Radio Shack Cat No. 22-503 to supply 13.8 volts DC from
the 220 volt, 50 Hz power source of Switzerland. When used with the
Ten-Tec 1320, it produced "birdies" on the 20 Meter Band. Luckily
the HW-9 power supply did not, so I used it instead.
I was amazed at what 3 watts and a dipole could do.
La Cote-aux-Fees is a very
small town in the Neuchatel Canton. It is located Northeast of Geneva
and probably not on any map. It is in the French-speaking part of Switzerland
and we were glad both our daughter and son-in-law could speak French.
St.Croix, the music box capital of Switzerland, is nearby and it was there
that Carolyn bought a lovely music box. When we play it, it reminds
us of our most pleasant visit to this beautiful country and of the very
nice people we met there.