ARAUCARIA DX GROUP

SANTA CATARINA SECTION

Beginning 1997, Santa Catarina ham radio enthusiasts, mainly those who participate in contests were honored with the visit of one of the most prominent worldwide radio amateurs - PY5EG Atilano Oms Sobrinho.

The objective of his visit, that pleased and honored us, was to expand to Santa Catarina State the operations of the successful Araucaria DX Group.

This expansion was meant by the merge of our small contest group into Araucaria Group thus resulting in the creation of Araucaria Dx Group, Santa Catarina Section.

At this point is worth to briefly mention how Santa Catarina ham radio contest group was created and has improved along the years.

We started participating in contests in 1983/84 in Curitiba, guided by Atilano directions and motivation. We came back to Santa Catarina State conscious of the homework assigned: to plant in our State the seed of the Paraná Group, and enlarge Brasil participation in the ham radio world scenery.

We started with a small station in my house at the beach. At that time we were supported by our friend PP5WG Walter Vicente Gomes Filho an excellent operator. With some antennas and a small but very competent group (only two individuals) we started participating in contests. In the beginning the results were not significant, but we progressed each year. At that time our group was composed of PP5Jd Jaime Dornelles and PP5ZYZ Luis Lassale who positively contributed for our success. With a larger group we improved even more our operation.

In 1994, we got one of our best collaborators and enthusiasts, PP5US Arlindo Schmitz, an expert in antennas with his 70 years of vigor and knowledge. Arlindo, supported by Araucaria know how, erected our first stack system for 10m and PP5JR Sergio Lima de Almeida got his first CQWW worldwide award.

1994 brought us an important collaborator: PP5UA Pedro Gildo Schmitz, an expert technician who we named "professor" for his dedication and ability.

In evidence since its beginning for searching perfection and good levels of performance, our group was again motivated to reach another goal.

In 1995, PP5WG got his first worldwide championship in 10m in CQWPX. At that time we started our second station at PP5UA house, and next year, in 1996 we got our first double award in CQ WPX: The worldwide first position with PP5JR in15m high power and 15m low power with PP5UA. We had already two winning stations.

In 1996, motivated by P55US we visited Boa Vista a region of Santa Catarina State. We got really impressed. By accepting Arlindo's advice, I bought an area in that paradise for ham radio. It complies 45.000m² , plain all around, 1.260m above sea level, no mountains in the neighborhood and the ideal type of soil. Thus the site was discovered, better, re-discovered because Arlindo and other colleagues like PP5OW, PP5LB and PP5HDL were already operating in the region with emphasis on Dx.

After the purchase of the site, we started working. Arlindo and Pedro, the brothers, undertook the assembly and co-ordination of towers and antennas project. With this outstanding team we obtained remarkable results in 1996 CQWW: with PP5JR the world position in 15m, almost a world record; and with PP5WG the 10m world position. This was the second double award we got. This time operating from the same site.

In 1997 already merged into Araucaria, we obtained new world awards with PP5JR - CQ WPX high power; with PP5UA, 15m low power.

In CQWW October, according to the published scores obtained by PP5JR there are evidences that he will be awarded with the first prize in 15m worldwide, surpassing his own South American record.

For 1998 we go on keeping optimal and promising results.

Thus, through this merge, we from Santa Catarina State hope to contribute even more for Araucaria Dx Group to continue its glorious journey, reaching its main goal: to promote the Brazilian ham radio.

Sergio Lima de Almeida - PP5JR

PP5JR ANTENNA FARM IN SAMBAQUI:

10m 15m 20m cubicle block - 4 elements - 12m tower

40m YAGI 4 elements KLM 30m tower

80m Inverted V Double Bazooka

160m Inverted V

PP5UA ANTENNA FARM:

10m YAGI 7 elements 9m tower

15m YAGI 6 elements 9m tower

20m YAGI 5 elements 12m tower

40m YAGI 4 elements Coiled Electril 12m tower

80m Inverted V double Bazooka

PP5JR ANTENNA FARM IN BOA VISTA:

10m YAGI stacks 7 on 7 12m tower

15m YAGI stacks 6 on 6 27m tower

20m YAGI stacks 5 on 5 30m tower

40m YAGI 4EL KLM 31.5 tower

80m 4 Square Slooper 31.5 tower

160m Vertical - ballon 1/8 wave 4 raised radials

10, 15, 20m YAGI 6EL High Gain 9m tower

Antenas Beverage 300m