My first ever DX QSO on 80m!

Today morning I was quite happy to work HS5NMF at a distance of 2780.2 km with my 80m dipole antenna. That is my first ever DX on 80m band. As I have posted earlier, one end of the antenna is just 2m from the ground while the other end is 3m. Feed point has a slightly better position at about 6m from the ground, on a GI pipe. The antenna element has one joint on each side as it was an extension from a previously cut antenna element.

Next QSO on 80m followed soon, with BA4RF, at a distance of 5121.3 km. Maximum distance at which my 80m signals were picked up at was at LA2XPA 7799.8 km, in Norway.

If only I had some tall trees in my compound I could have mounted my 80m antenna at the recommended quarter wavelength height of 20m. All what I have at home now are garden shrubs which cannot be used for mounting antennas! If I had space to plant this Lemon Cypress on the ground instead of in the garden pot, it would have grown to a tall support for my 80m antenna.