Callsign used:	SV9/OM7RU/p *
QTH:	STAVROS (Akrotiri peninsula, near Chania)
QSL information:	via QSL buro, or direct to my QTH address: Richard Tucek, Zelena 4, 974 01 Banska Bystrica, SLOVAK REPUBLIC

* if you have only SV9/OM7RU in your log, correct it to SV9/OM7RU/p

The idea of holiday trip to Crete Island was born in winter 1997. Together with my girlfriend Zuzana we decided to visit this greek island in early summer. The decision was bright, because Crete Island is also nice portable QTH.

This was also the start of upgrade of my hamshack. From IC-740 + power suply of 25 kg to IC-706 MkII + power suply of 6 kg. Antenna setup was very modest, only a set of a lot of wires. Ivan, OM3LA, lent me small MFJ antenna tuner and my setup was complete.

We (I) decided to choose small village on the north part of peninsula Akrotiri, near Chania. Chief of travel agency was man with a great deal of sympathy to my odd hobby, so I was the first, who was able to choose my room in appartment house. The room was on the higher floor, with balcony with a good access to the roof. Salt sea level northly from the QTH was only a few tens meters from my antenna, it was one of the base reason of good signals.

Travelling was without any problem, and on Saturday afternoon, May 31, I was able to start of climbing on the roof and trees and everything, which was able to be a good point for antenna mounting of my Inverted Vee, 2 × 20 m. I had tuned radio and antenna tuner and at 1840 UTC I was able to make the first QSO, on 40m band. The first station in my log was EA7TU. It was the start of the great adventure for me. Few days later i decided to change the antenna design. I had connected the ends of InvVee to Delta Loop of about 70 m long and the traffic started to be better from the first contact with this antenna. I was active on all bands except TOP band. Also 80 m QSOs was the thing of very long encrypting of my signal. The higher antenna point was in about 8 m height, so the 40 m band was the the lowest band for good rate traffic. Better conditions with 20 m band SSB pile-ups alternated poor days with conditions of good laying on the beach. Seven days of the holiday we spended on the trips around the island, seven days was the days of activity on the bands. The result of my activity is:

CW	160	80	40	30	20	17	15	12	10	ALL	percent
North America	0	0	3	2	109	11	0	0	0	125	4.8
South America	0	0	2	0	15	6	2	1	0	26	1.0
Europe	0	21	215	142	965	287	138	32	33	1833	70.2
Asia	0	0	13	12	133	87	7	1	0	253	9.7
Africa	0	0	1	0	7	3	0	2	2	15	0.6
Oceania	0	0	0	1	3	0	0	0	0	4	0.2

SSB	160	80	40	30	20	17	15	12	10	ALL	percent
North America	0	0	0	0	2	0	0	0	0	2	0.1
South America	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0.0
Europe	0	2	6	0	284	9	0	0	34	335	12.8
Asia	0	0	0	0	9	2	0	0	1	12	0.5
Africa	0	0	0	0	2	0	0	0	0	2	0.1
Oceania	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0.0

The traffic was as the experiences of the operators was. Excellent organised America and Japan operators, chaotic transmitting of the Europe HAMs. But it’s not something new, hi.

If anyone ask me, if it was nice trip, my answer is: yes, with no discussion. Good choosing of the QTH is the base thing, then preparing of all what is necessery.

If you want to ask me of anything, do it and contact me using e-mail.

Riki, OM7RU