Hello Dave,
Yes it is amazing and impressive, but, don't forget, it is on a 50 years period. The same for the WAS
all 6 meters which took 23 years.
And it was on six meters SSB/CW with a 5 element beam.
An other award which I'm , proud is the: Canadian Qrp Award for working/confirming all Provinces (10) and Territories (4).It tooks many many years, don't remember how many.
I'm VE2 Number 002, VE number 008, and the certificate is dated Feb 15, 2008, Imagine
VE8NSD, Garth was the last territory I needed, and I catched him on six meters at the same time as I catched VY1JA, Jay in Yukon.
A very nice jackpot that day, and it was with the help of a very "Good AURORA Es"
But it is a real achievement because ham radio activities are very low here in Canada. Now with
all the new technologies there is much less active amateurs.
In the past, we had many meteorological stations in the Great North, now it is all Satellites.
The VY1 Yukon, VE8 North West Territories and VY0 Nunavut are extremely rare. In 50 years
I heard/worked Yukon (VY1) only twice. One on HF and the other one on 6 meters, with the help of "AURORA Es"
OH! Garth VE8NSD, was using a FT-817 into a vertical at 15 feet, and Jay VY1JA was using also an FT-817 with a wire vee beam. Something you dont see very often in the QRP world.
Well, that is just a little bit of history, I have many more
Hard to do ? Yes, But, I still love QRP forever,
72, Michel VE2TH