Well that was a long time coming.
Was excited to finally get my the last confirmed QSL needed from Pieter V51PJ in Namibia to successfully achieve working all continents. Africa and Antarctica have been (unsurprisingly) difficult to obtain a QSL from, but with Igor operating RI1ANE and exceptional propagation conditions, it had left Africa as the last bastion holdout for the award.
The eQSL eWAC for some reason was slightly easier to obtain, requiring only 6 continents. I can only assume that this was to remove the difficulty in working Antarctica.
While enjoying the achievement, it gave me the opportunity to go back through the log and find some interesting things:
- This past month was not the first time I have worked a Russian Antarctic station. Back in back in 2006 as VK7HAH, I worked Alex R1ANC at Vostok base on SSB – which I think is a bit of an achievement.
- Speaking on Antarctic and 2006, I also worked Paul VK0JLX, who was based at Davis Station at that time, also on SSB.
- My first international contact was on the 10 October 2006, with Igor RA3CQ.
- My first international contact as VK7BEN was March 23 2007 with VR2NN, a contest team.
- First weak signal contact was with Ian VK2IE on 27th August 2015 using JT65. rx-04, tx-01.
- First FT8 contact happened on 16 July 2017 with Phil VK5RM rx-16, tx-05.
So there we have it, my pathway to obtaining Worked All Continents using digital modes. with DXCC being the next goal, but with 33 confirmed QSLs still needed.
I guess I will see you all on the air!