<html><head></head><body><div class="yahoo-style-wrap" style="font-family:arial;font-size:16px;"><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false">Hello NCDXAers,</div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false"><br></div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false">I just got DXCC # 250 confirmed on digital via LoTW, a personal goal. I am very pleased, and I am also pleased with my other operating achievements. T</div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false"><br></div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false">The digital modes are an amazing technology breakthrough for the amateur service, enabling communications in many situations where there wouldn't be any communications by other means.</div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false"><br></div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false">I decided to modernize myself last year, so I became digital capable. Thank you to N3HU, Rob, who helped with setting up WSJTx, and providing help along the way. </div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false"><br></div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false">I greatly appreciate the NCDXAers who were a great help with many tips and advice, especially by the roundtable group that meets on Thursdays. They are still helping, and I greatly appreciate it. </div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false"><br></div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false">I began last January 15, and made DXCC during my first week, all confirmed on LoTW. WAZ took a little longer -- 10 days because I had to help UB0Y in Zone 23 get his LoTW certificate and then upload to LoTW.</div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false"><br></div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false">On Dec 15, 11 months after I started --- I reached 250 countries LoTW w<span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: arial; font-size: 16px;">ith XW4KV uploading our 15-meter FT8 QSO. </span></span></div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false"><br></div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false">Some of the countries were ATNOs for me. It was necessary to use FT8, otherwise I would not have worked them. 5A1AL, Abubaker, in Libya is an example. </div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false"><br></div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false">I have been very active various bands using the digital modes, pursuing personal goals. Here are some other achievements. All confirmed on LoTW. </div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false"><br></div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false">WAS -- eight bands, 10-80. Now working on 6 and 160. 47 confirmed on 6, missing AK, HI, and OR. Long way to go on 160. </div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false"><br></div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false">WAZ -- five bands: 10, 12, 15, 17, and 20. 30, 40, and 80 are going slowly with Asian zones the most challenging. </div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false"><br></div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false">DXCC -- 40 countries on 6 with 3B9FR one of the more rarer ones. Missed getting new ones during the great Pacific opening a few weeks ago because I was running 100 watts and they didn't hear me. Now better prepared at 1 KW. </div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false"><br></div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false">73</div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false"><br></div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false">Fred</div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false">W3ICM</div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false"><br></div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false"><br></div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false"><br></div></div></body></html>