Editor’s Note: Every month, DX Engineering features QSL cards from our team members’ personal collections. Usually we showcase ones from entities that are currently active or will soon be QRV. However, with so many DXers homebound these days and the number of DXpeditions reaching all-time lows, we’ve altered the rules. Until things change, you can expect a bit of everything from our stockpiles of QSL cards, including the rarest of the rare, personal favorites, and recent QSLs of historical significance.
P5—Almost Everyone’s Most Wanted
For those trying to “work the world,” North Korea (P5) remains the most elusive of gems—the number-onemost-wanted DXCC entity. It’s a distinction that isn’t likely to change anytime soon unless those in power have a change of heart regarding the benefits of Amateur Radio. It almost seems unfathomable that only 19 years ago, Ed Giorgadze, 4L4FN, a citizen of the Republic of Georgia employed by the United Nations World Food Program, operated his ICOM IC-706MkIIG in North Korea from November 2001 to November 2002.
During a year of operation from the socialist state’s capital, Pyongyang, Mr. Giorgadze made 16,000 contacts on RTTY and SSB. One of those QSOs was logged by George, K3GP, DX Engineering customer/technical support specialist, who reached the east Asian country on 15M, RTTY.
“It was sheer luck that I was able to make this contact on a Sunday in June 2002,” George recalled. “RTTY is my favorite mode, and I was tuning the band when I came across his signal. As I recall I was able to work him on the second or third call.”
Want to learn more about RTTY? Here’s a great video featuring George explaining this still-popular mode. Check out the front and back of his P5/4L4FN QSL card.
Peace, Love and 73!
To commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Woodstock music festival (August 15-18, 1969), James, KB2FMH, (and a co-operator) set up two stations in the immediate vicinity of the original concert in Bethel, NY, which was held at Max Yasgur’s 600-acre dairy farm. Tom, KB8UUZ, DX Engineering technical writer, made contact on 40M SSB and received this once-in-a-lifetime QSL card during this unique operating event held August 17-18, 2019.
Can you guess the DXCC entity? We hope so.
Here’s a favorite from Tom, KB8UUZ’s collection. He snagged this QSL card in October 2000, reaching the SU9ZZ DXpedition from Cairo, Egypt on 20M, SSB.
“When you look at this one, you know right away where it came from,” Tom said. “Even a non-Ham would recognize that.”
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