Montana's Ham Radio Forum

Howdy gang, My two sisters and I have been invited to visit a wonderful lady who was an exchange student with our family a while back. We will be visiting Maria and her family the first 10 days in March, 2014 in Fortaleza Brazil.

I made contact with Beto PT7YV head of the Fortaleza Brazil DX Club (PW7T) and I will meet the club members for lunch and have an opportunity to operate their station. Woo Hoo !! I will also beacon my position using a Yaesu VX8R on APRS as they have a Igate and local activity in the area. This is my first ever opportunity to visit with and operate a foriegn Ham Radio Station. Ye Ha !! My IARP (International Amateur Radio Permit) is ready to go with a big thanks to ARRL WY1O Perry Green.

http://www.k7mt.com my web site has picture of the qsl card from PW7T showing there antenna system and a google link with several pictures of the station/antennas. Wow !!!!

I will post a note here after we get settled in and let everyone know time and frequency when I will be on the air. Time Zone there is 5 hours ahead (I think) of Mountain Time.

Cheers and hope to hear you on the airways.

Cheers Bill K7MT PT7/K7MT from Fortaleza Brazil

Hi Bill,
That's pretty cool, we'll look for you on APRS. You mentioned this is your first chance to operate a foreign ham station, didn't you operate from the Antarctica not too long ago? Anyway it sounds like a lot of fun, have a great trip!

Gm Jim and hi to Wanda !!!

I don't count McMurdo Station Antarctica as it was a U.S. base with a U.S. callsign so to say. Although I must agree is was rather forgein !! Hee Hee !!

So I to be perfectly honest, I could count Antarctica.

The APRS folks are also club members to will get to visit with several folks. Woo Hoo !!

Cheers Bill K7MT

Howdy gang - After almost two weeks of Accenture PGA Golf in Tucson, Airzona, a day at Kitt Peak Observatory, a day at the Pima Air Museum, and walking half way around Meteor Crater near Winslow Arizona I arrived safely in Albuquerque, Nm. My sister Linda flys in tomorrow and we leave for Fortaleza Brazil Saturday about noon.

On the way down I spent some quality time with other photographers in Kolob Canyon and Zion National Park. I sure learned a lot from folks who have a lot more experience that I. Ye Ha !!! Many new things to try out in Brazil...

Bet PT7VY indicated that Tue or Wed (March 4 or 5) would be the best time for a get together, have lunch, and get a chance to operate at their PW7T DX Station. I post frequency and time here when all is arranged.

This is another bucket list item coming true and I am looking forward to the adventure.

If all goes well, another bucket list item looks like it may happen this year. I should have word by the end of April. Woo Hoo !!

Cheers K7MT Bill from Albuquerque, Nm.

Sounds like you are having a great time! Wanda and I just left Arizona last Saturday after having spent time in Tucson, Phoenix, as well as the Grand Canyon. Hated to come back to the cold but you know how the work thing goes. Keep us informed of your adventures, and have fun!

Howdy gang - Bill K7MT portable PT7 in Fortaleza Brazil.

I spent yesterday with club members at the Fortaleza Brazil DX Club station and just had a wonderful time. I went through their extensie antenna system (Maily Maxom I think that is right). Their station consisted of three stations each with a ICOM Radio, Alph Amp, Computer, FootSwitch, etc. It is purley a contest station and that is really all the club does. I got to fire up one of ICOM's and hooked up their 10 meter stack of 4 and made a few contacts into Africa. Conditions were great.

Today I will be on 20 meters from PT7YV's home just a 1/2 mile from where were are visiting with Maria and her family. I should be on about between 1600 and 1800 GMT on 14.180 - 190...

Weather has been perfect..

Cheers all Bill

Howdy gang,

Update on operating from PW7T. Several of the antennas at the station were down for 20, 15, and 40 meters for maintenance and to get ready for the next www contest from the club station. Several Coax's are being replaced so I could only operate on 10 meters. I made a few contacts with South Africa, Kenya, and Egypt. The next day BETO let me use his home station on 20 meters but I could not get the word out in time due to our schedule here in Brazil. I got to chat with ED W7MAD in Helena for about 15 minutes then the band just disappeared.

If anyone checks in on the MTN net could you please let N7CMJ Les know that I missed the schedule. I mentioned to him that I might get a chance to get on the air and would contact him. Well, I never got on the air per the schedule.. I will try on MTN tonight on the remote base at Toston.. Thanks to whoever might let Les know...

I meet with about 12 members of the Fortaleza Brazil DX club today and my sister KD5LOK is also invited so it is going to be a good day. Maria and her husband Revaldo are going out to dinner this evening. I must admit that traditional Brazilian food is really good !!!!!!

Cheers all and sorry that I could not get on the air as scheduled from here in Brazil, but thats the way life goes. One can plan but those plans do not always for out. Hence forth I better start saying maybe, possibly, not sure, that might be, could be, no guarantees's, I will try, etc so I leave it totally open with no commitment or denialbe plasability!!!!!!

Bill K7MT in Fortaleza Brazil