User data

VA6ATA

First name:

Akin

Koksal

Address:

PO Box 24058

Calgary, AB, T2Y0J9

Canada

QSL via:

eQsl, LOTW, Online request

User info

 Thanks for visiting my QRZ Page, which will remain under construction until I complete putting together my HF station. Hoping to complete the project by the end of August.

I received my first call sign TA2CMP in 1993. I was an active ham radio operator until we moved to Canada in 2007. In 2016 I decided to renew my call sign and to my surprise, I found out call signs were changed so now my active Turkish call sign is TB2BMP. I purchased a 2m/70cm handheld and started participating conversations and finally wrote the test in August 2017 and received my Canadian call sign VA6ATA.

I feel lucky to be able to receive the VA6ATA call sign; my younger son is named Ata, as well, name "Ata" reminds us the founder of modern Turkish Republic, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk.

I'm polishing my CW skill now and planning to take CW test by the end of 2017.

I'll update this page as I achieve key milestones with my HF station...

All QSOs, including digital modes are uploaded to QRZ immediately, and LoTW/eQSL weekly.

UPDATE 1: Diamond X510 2m/70cm vertical is installed up on the roof with LMR400 coax. Working great, reaching good distances so far. Calgary is pretty much a flat city, and this antenna shoots pretty much horizontal so I think I made the right call here...

UPDATE 2: ZeroFive 43 foot Ground Place antenna is up. Had some issues during installation, two of the vertical members that were supposed to easily move in and out from each other simply stuck. Had to spend 4 hours to take it out. Tried polishing the inside and outside of matching sections but didn't work very well, so I had to extend the antenna all the way up and set it in its place... 

Already got used to working with Icom IC-7300, LDG ProII tuner is working well as well, though it might be a bit slow compared to MFGs as I hear. Ametron 75A power supply feeds everything easily so far...

UPDATE 3: Had my first HF QSOs with Canadian call sign, so far so good...

UPDATE 4: Station installation as per plan is now complete as of 22 Sep. 2017. Next in line for shopping is an amplifier...

UPDATE 5: Finally got WSJT handshake with IC-7300, and had a blast with FT8 all night. Had 33 QSOs with farthest about 3000km. Looking forward to trying other modes...

UPDATE 6: Had to take down the antenna as the mast got bent due to winds, the mast is now fixed, guy wires installed, and had an FT8 contact with a Brazilian station 10K km away. Had multiple Japanese stations averaging 8k km in distance as well...

UPDATE 7: Got two awards in one day...! 

73,

Akin

VA6ATA