--- TI3/W7RI In Costa Rica ---

Important QSL Info: Via AI4U, LoTW or eQSL.cc ONLY

Direct QSLs or QSLs via buro will not be answered! Don't say you weren't warned!!

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If you get a "00" or "000" report from me, click here to find out why and what it means.

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I am currently living in San Juan Tobosí de El Guarco, in Cartago Province, Costa Rica. The QTH is about 15 miles southeast of the national capital of San José, in the central part of the country. The QTH is in the extreme western end of the Talamanca Mountains at an elevation of 4950 feet (1509 meters) in EJ89au. The location is a hillside about 350 feet (106m) above the valley floor with a sweeping view of the Tobosí valley, the Cartago valley and three volcanoes, including a dramatic view of the entire southwest flank of Volcan Irazú.

I enjoy an excellent, low take-off angle (mostly less than 2º) shot from the west-northwest through the east. The superb location for radio means that even with only 100w into a G5RV antenna, working DX on the upper frequencies is seldom a problem; I worked 46 countries from this location in my first two months here without making any effort at all. Even with the modest station, pileups are common. I am planning to add a 600w. linear amp, and have a tower in storage I am planning to use to support a 3 element homebrew 5-band quad I have designed which should improve my signal considerably. I also have a 4 element stacked zepp series under construction for 2m. FM.

I maintain a web page that explains how I ended up in Costa Rica. It relates to the consequences of political activism in which I have been engaged and some of my concerns about the directions of U.S. politics, and I think you may find it an interesting read. I also maintain a ham radio section of my web site that offers resources for hams generally, hams interested in knowing what it is like to be a DX station, and tips for enjoying a ham radio vacation in Costa Rica.

I am active on all HF bands, including 60m, 2m FM and am planning to be active on 2m and 6m SSB when my currently defunct FT857D has been repaired and returned to service. Currently, I am using a recently acquired IC735 and have a TS430S as a backup radio. Antennas include a 5/8 vertical using the roof sheets as a ground plane (not pictured) as well as a G5RV. 2m FM is on a vertically mounted double-extended zepp, visible in the picture below as the white line attached to the right hand edge of the upper story roof. It works amazingly well.

Below, you can see my property; it is 1.5 acres on a north-facing hillside with no neighbors currently, and is ideally suited to 6m as well as HF contesting as a result. It is big enough to accomodate large antennas for 160m, as well as the 80m. 4-Square I am planning to install on the hilltop in the upper left. The tower will be placed on the small hillside at the left end of the house.

Below you can see my view to the north (center of the photo), into the east-central U.S., from my location. The tower is planned for the small hilltop to the lower right of the house. Note that the topography forms a ravine with the tower site at the focal point (only faintly aparent in this picture). The G5RV is in that focal point, and results in tremendous signals on 80, 60 and 40 into the eastern U.S. The tower will also be located at that focal point. The village in the center of the photo is San Juan Tobosí.

Thanks for visiting. Hope to see you on the bands soon, and if you are ever in Costa Rica, I monitor 145.770 2m FM continuously, and would love to chat. If you're here with HF, our local coffee klatch is on 3785 LSB at 6:00 AM local time, and we would be delighted to have you participate. Let me know you are coming, and maybe we can get together for an eyeball.

73,

Scott TI3/W7RI