[NCDXA] W3ICM DXCC on the WARC Bands

[Fred Matos]

I finally made DXCC on the WARC bands, all on LoTW, and using SSB and CW.
As many of you know, I was inactive for a long time, but I moved to a new QTH in 2018 where I erected antennas.
I had never worked the WARC bands in the U.S., but I was very interested because I was a member of the Advisory Committe for Amateur Radio (ACAR), the FCC's advisory committee preparing for the amateur proposals to the ITU 1979 WARC.  Prose Walker, W4BW, chaired the ACAR, and it was his decision that the amateurs should propose obtaining additional bands at the WARC.  It was the very first time that amateurs actually gained spectrum allocations at an ITU conference.  It was a great decision by Prose who I got to know and considered a friend.  I nominated Prose for a special award at Dayton a few years ago, and he was very pleased that his leadership was recognized.  
That's all background about the WARC bands.   My initial operations at my new QTH were with 100 watts and a G5RV.   The propagation on 12 meters was poor.  My very first QSO was 5K0K, the San Andreas DXpedition.  That was my only 12 QSO for a long time until condx improved and I could work more DX.   Some of my early DX was TZ4AM, S01WS, TL7M, TT8SN, and 5T5PA, all Africa.    I followed the DXpeditions, and worked a few including S90K, 7Q7RU, and HD8R.  Missed VP6R because of propagation and opportunity time.  EU stations would come later.  
I had around 70 countries when I began to call CQ DX on SSB around 9:00 AM local time.   The usual result was a ton of G, I, and DL stations, but also surprises such as T77LA, ZS1WY, SV9ANK, OD5OJ, and FP5AC.   The propagation to northern EU was poor, so I have never worked an RU, and very few OH, LA, SM, YL, etc.   
Here's an interesting part to this story:  After almost three years, I had NOT had a QSO with a U.S. station, although K3RA and I would have very small chats occasionally when we accidently ran into each other chasing some DX.  We never formally exchanged calls and reports.  I was calling CQ DX one morning when I was answered by KE1DX.  He uploaded to LoTW, becoming # 80.   I had considered achieving DXCC WITHOUT the U.S.   But I uploaded the QSO to LoTW  where it was confirmed.  
A second interesting part is that # 97 was YS1RR, and 98 was YT1TU, both resulting from my CQ DX last week.  I answered KL7SB one afternoon who was calling CQ, becoming # 99.  Then I heard V47UM calling CQ. That was W3UL, Bill, from Annapolis where I live.  I had worked six other new stations, but Bill was the first to upload to LoTW making him and V47UM  # 100.
It's a pleasant coincidence that V47UM is also # 100 on 30 meters.   
17 meters was very easy, and I am up to 155 on LoTW.  My 30 meters DXCC objective was stalled at 98 for almost a month, with P4/DL4MM finally uploading an old QSO for # 99; and V47UM becoming #100 in the same day as my 12 meter DXCC.  

I would like to get the certificates made out to "W3ICM, Fredrick Matos, honoring W4BW."  That would be like my 160 WAS certificate.  I called the ARRL inquiring about it, but they were not sure.  I sent a follow-up inquiry message.   If they can't do the certificate that way, I will get stickers.
It's a long story.  Thanks for reading.
73
FredW3ICM





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