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3DA – Piggs Peak, Swaziland Trip2

Dates: 25 to 28 October 1996

Callsign: 3DAØDX

3DA – Piggs Peak, Swaziland Trip2 2025-01-20T04:09:56-05:00

Piggs Peak Trip II

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Here is Andre, ZS6WPX, outside the hotel office.
The purpose of our second trip was for the contest. Sam, ZS6BRZ, met us at Andre’s house with his 4-wheel drive vehicle. We hitched up the tower trailer and off we went. We rented one rather large lodge that slept four, had two full bathrooms, and only cost 100 USD per day.
Phophonyane Lodge & Nature Reserve
P.O. Box 1999
Piggs Peak
Telephone & Fax: 09268-71319

DX Contesters

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The operators, Andre, ZS6WPX, Sam, ZS6BRZ, and Dave, WJ2O.

Antenna

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Sam, ZS6BRZ, attaching the assembled antenna
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Sam, ZS6BRZ adjusting right before we hailed it into the sky!
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Sam, ZS6BRZ and Andre, ZS6WPX pulling on the antenna to straighten it up.
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Now the antenna is halfway up.. just a bit more to go!
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Andre, ZS6WPX, is attaching the Inverted-Vees for some more antenna power.
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And there she is ready to start operating 3DAØDX!

The Shack

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The shack with Andre, ZS6WPX making final adjustments.
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My bedroom in Swaziland and where I hardly had any time to sleep!
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Andre, ZS6WPX, enjoying a nice breakfast with us
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Downloading E-mail. It was a lot of work to get my E-mail. First the telephone jack was wired differently than the United States so I took that apart. Then you have to try to get a long distance call into Johannesburg. The antique 1200 bps modem is painfully slow.

Operating

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Andre, ZS6WPX operating 3DAØDX.
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Sam ZS6BRZ, operating the station.
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Dave operating 3DAØDX

3DADX QSL Card

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Licensing: It is just a matter of filling out an application for your license. Andrew drove to their capital city of Mbabane and applied in person in advance of our trips, but I believe you can submit your application by mail assuming you give yourself plenty of time.

Dave’s Station

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Equipment:
Kenwood TS-850 Transceiver
486-DX Laptop Computer
MFJ-432 Voice Keyer
Cushcraft A4S Antenna
HyGain Rotor
Inverted Vee’s for 40 & 80
Kenwood 922 Amplifier
3DA0_Award
3DA-Piggs-Peak,-Swaziland-travel
Piggs Peak is only about a two hour drive from Andre’s home in Waterval Boven

Customs

Swaziland officials are aware of the positive economic impact of tourism. They go out of their way to try and make you feel comfortable and welcome. However, your vehicle may be subjected to a search if you look a bit suspicious.
3DA0_2_BorderCrossing