We meet Pete, a very correct and friendly radio operator. Pete is a truly special Hunter! Some time ago, he brought to life spectacular and adventurous DX expeditions, personally experiencing huge pile-ups! When participating in SIBA, he often uses a self-made dipole antenna placed inside his home, boldly challenging the tough laws of propagation on the 11-meter band. He is always very patient and waits for the right moment to make his call and be heard. Well done, Pete! Pete’s QTH is Saarland, close to France and Luxembourg in south-west Germany. Here is his self presentation:
First, I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to Alex and Giacomino for their significant contribution to the 11-meter community over the past years. A well-deserved acknowledgement must also be extended to Alex’s wife, whose support is essential to the realization of these initiatives. Sincere compliments and deep gratitude.
Now moving on to a brief personal introduction, I would like to mention how, in the early 1980s, I was infected by that fervent passion for the 11-meter band that many of us share. I started my activity from a fixed location, but soon aspired to use larger antennas and to benefit from greater flexibility in terms of power. In order to mitigate the then widespread television interference (TVI), I often operated in portable mode from a height near my main QTH. During that period, my curiosity about the mechanisms and reasons underlying the functioning of radio communications gradually increased, leading me, almost consequentially, to the consultation of specialized texts and to the in-depth study of every available information concerning radio propagation and electronics. Subsequently, I undertook the activity of building antennas independently, experimenting with different types and acquiring, in this way, a considerable amount of knowledge. As time went by, what initially represented an occasional operational activity, animated by the simple desire to interact with other enthusiasts, transformed into an ever greater dedication to the “hunt” for DX, waiting in the pile-up for the right moment to establish the desired connection. The experience gained, together with a series of concomitant factors, gradually convinced me that the true satisfaction in this hobby lies in being present in the right place and time, rather than dedicating hours to fruitless calls waiting for an activation. Eager to experience the operational dynamics from the other end of the pileup, I participated in several activations, including 40AT/0 in 1989, 13AT/EU042 in 1997 and, the most significant so far, 261AT/0 from Chatham Island in 2000. In 2012, health problems forced me to temporarily leave amateur radio activity, and only in 2022 was I able to gradually resume operations. A period of readjustment and updating on the dynamics of Cycle 25 and the current state of the 11 meter band was necessary.
Later, I had the opportunity to get to know the IMA and noticed the fervent dedication of Alex, a Sardinian operator particularly active in carrying out activations. Over time, a solid friendship has developed and, occasionally, I have tried to provide support by suggesting possible antenna pointing directions in order to make backscatter contacts in the absence of direct propagation. In this way, my daily routine has progressively become oriented towards waiting for Alex’s activations to start. Due to some logistical limitations and the planned move to our new residence not before mid-2025, I sometimes find myself in the position of operating with a simple indoor dipole, constantly demonstrating the potential of this configuration. It is even more rewarding to establish a contact with Alex using a dipole and 100W of power than using a directional antenna and higher powers. This is not an impossible task, but a challenge that is worth taking on. Given my location in JN39, the contacts with Alex are mainly made via backscatter, which makes the patience to wait for the right moment to make the call essential. It is ineffective to attempt communication in the presence of signals of considerable intensity (5/9) from stations in the United Kingdom or France. It is preferable to wait for a temporary reduction in the pile-up to be able to be registered with one or two calls.
The SBA/SIBA initiatives represent an excellent opportunity to deepen the knowledge of the activated locations. Individually, my habit is to document myself on the geographical and operational specifics of these activations after the connection. I hope for a continuation of this praiseworthy activity and trust in a future contact in the pile-up. In the meantime, I continue the renovation work on our home, in anticipation of the move planned in a few weeks. 73’ssss and ooooverrr ooooverrr!
Thank you Pete for your beautiful words, we greet you cordially and look forward to seeing you in the next SIBA activations, always at the right moment in the log!
SIBA TEAM.
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