I have just arrived to the Oman Sultanat , more precisely in the city of Salalah. Salalah is the second bigger town of the Oman Sultanat, after Muscat (that is the capital).
The expedition 180 AT/DX, at last can begin. First of all, it is necessary for me to find a place where I can install my antennas in complete security, in order to avoid various conflicts with local authorities.
Not having found a lot of informations on Internet, concerning the city of Salalah, I decide to take a taxi and to do the turn of hotels.
A taxi driver takes me therefore in the two hotels of the city. Concerning the first hotel, the transmission on 11 Meters will be almost impossible, because it is positioned just beside a military site. Moreover, there remained only rooms to the second floor, without balcony .... therefore, very difficult to put the antennas. Thirdly, the price of the rooms is frightful (200 euros per day).
I decide to take again the taxi, and to go to see the second hotel which is located contrary to the city. I arrive and, there, with the first glance, I notice that the hotel has bungalows. I request from the reception agent, the price per day for a villa. The price is high, but 5 people can lodge, what makes it reasonable. For the antennas, I have enough space to put them. I call my buddies of work who are with me in Salalah city, and proposes to them the option of the villa …. they are all in agreement.
Having the keys of the bungalow, I start to install the antennas. Then, I install Kenwood TS 50 and the portable PC, in the room which will be used to me as radio station and bedroom. At last, I carry out the ROS tests on the antennas…. all is ok !
Before beginning the transmissions, I decide to check the band to verify if the propagation is at the appointment. Unfotunately, there is evidently no propagation …. I do not hear anything on 27 Mhz !
I take occasion to switch of the station, and to ramble in the hotel to see the fitness center (the massages were excellent !), then the swimming pool, and finally …. the bar !
It is 16h00 (local time), my buddies of work arrive at the hotel. I show them the villa and, at the same time, the radio station.
To 15h30 UTC, beginning of the 180AT/DX on the air, with the ambition to do a maximum of Qso but.... always without propagation. I call again and again but no answer. To 15h48 UTC, I do at last my first contacts.
I stop the transmissions to 22h00 UTC, with only 20 Qso in the log. I go to bed with a lot of disappointment, and I say to myself that the propagation will be probably better tomorrow.
Second day
It is 06h00 UTC, I put the station in function but, like the day before, there is no propagation. I do not lose hope and say to myself that it will be certainly better this afternoon. Afternoon is equal to the morning…. no propagation ! I contact only one station in Australia. To 22h00 UTC, I cut the transmissions while hoping that the propagation will be better the following day.
Third day
07h00 UTC, after a copious breakfast and a small bath in the swimming pool, I put the transceiver in function. Unfortunately, the propagation is still not there, and I really start to despair because it is the last day of transmission … we will have to leave the villa to 12h00 (local time) tomorrow, and I have only 21 QSO in the log.
14h15 UTC, the propagation begins to point the end of its nose …. I hear, sporadically, an operator in Sicily (1SD019). I start again to be alive ! I go back on my call frequency and launches several CQ CQ DX from 180 AT/DX. And there, to my big surprise, 1SD019 answers me. He is 5 by 3. In the end of the QSO, the propagation starts to be really opened and I try again several CQ CQ. Then, I contact many operators in Spain, Italy, France…. I make QSO after QSO! What a pill-up !!!!!!
16h00 UTC, the propagation closes itself with Europe.... there are 102 QSO in the log. Ouf !!!! The activity is valid (more than 100 QSO) ! I carry on calling and it is 12AT014 Walter who comes to find me, followed by 2 brazilian operators. After, the propagation closes itself completely. 20h00 UTC, I stop the transmissions in order to have a good meal with my colleagues. To 22h00 UTC, I go back to the radio room, but there is not yet any propagation.
Fourth day
06h00 UTC, the radio operator awakes and switch on the station in hoping that the propagation awakes too. Unfortunately, it misses in this sunny morning. It is 11h00 (local time), 180 AT/DX announces, on the air, the end of the activity. It is time to dismount the antennas and the radio station.
To 12h00 (local time), I give back the keys to the reception desk and I go, a last time, to profit by the room of massage, as well as the swimming pool. After a good relaxation afternoon, it is times to go back at work. As a matter of fact, from tomorrow, 15 days of intensive works announce themselves, before returning to Djibouti (country that I know very well, hi,hi !!!!).
Notice !
The 180 AT/DX was held very well (no problem with the authorities !) in spite of the details about my job, given on a forum by a French guy ! This person had announced that I would be active in my work place, which could have been serious if this information had gone up to the ears of my hierarchy. This guy would have better done to get informations before announcing such **** ! I insist on thanking 14AT065 and 14AT203 to have discovered this famous French guy.
I also thank all those who came to contact me, as my colleagues who cohabited with me during the activity of 180AT/DX (“Mick”, “Tof”, “Boboss” and Cédric). The only negative point of this activity was the propagation which was not there! But, for my future activities, it is promised, I will order full propagation !
180AT/DX by 14AT048 Stéphane , 105 qso s in the log, 14 DXCC contacted.
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