In 2010 I bought a forest-enclosed area close to Debrecen-Haláp. This area is located in a beautiful environment, away from the noise of civilization, capable of operating a modern, well-equipped contest station. There is an angling pond nearby, a forest trail and many wild animals. The QTH can also be reached by a forest narrow-gauge railway from Debrecen city.

At the beginning, four new 35m high towers were built. On these we installed a 3 element monoband Yagi for 40 meters, 2x6 element array for 20, a 6 element Yagi for 15, and a 7 element monoband Yagi for 10. Since then the equipment is continuously improved. A 45m tall tower with a 3 element Yagi for 80 meters was added. The results and improvement of the contest station can be monitored in the photo album.

A team for multi-two was organized, new ideas and more new ideas came. An example is the development of the 6m antenna system, based on the concept of Steve HA0DU. Four 7 element YU7EF 0607 antennas were built in an array with up to 45 degrees of elevation, which can also be used for EME. This is the first and only 4 element array in Hungary, and there are only a few in Europe. This array brought us contacts with extremely rare DXCC entities on 6 meters. We strived to set up more antennas for each band, so 3x6 elements were installed for 20 and 15, while 3x7 elements for 10. Later I (HA7TM) also built a 4 element Quad for 10 meters, which was installed at about 50 meters high. The 160m antennas were also continuously improved. We connected tower tops with perlon ropes, and three 40m tall wire verticals were installed in between towers. Two of those, aimed at the USA, are fed in 90 degrees for an antenna gain of 4.5dB. During the past five years, the operating team also changed a lot, when the current team was formed.

After a while we started winking on adding in-band work, so we installed 6 Beverage antennas and also a 4-band GP, which is about 300 meters from the main antennas. For a better control of all these antennas, we installed a better switching system. The 2m antenna system was also improved by adding 10 meters to the height, so the antennas “see” over the forest. The results were winning the HG National Championship three times. But on 2 meters the EME activity is also considered more important.

Currently the station is operational on almost all bands and modes. Unfortunately the station suffered a lightning strike in August of 2016. 13 antenna rotators and other equipment were lost. It took almost a year to get rebounded. But we continue contesting, we break our own records over and over, despite the conditions and and contest activities are declining.

Since the station is in a remote place in a forest, it is difficult to show our activities to the youth. There are very few young operators in general. True it is, we do not really have time to train new operators, since most of the team are travelling from 150 to 300 kms to the QTH, and there is always a lot to do. Fixing and improving antennas, testing new antennas, or even running the Hungarian QSL Bureau.

Four years ago the Radio Club of Érd City took over the operation of the Hungarian QSL Bureau, managed by Csaba HG5DX. In 2018 we took on another four years. We do hope that the bureau is operating to everyone's satisfaction. Everyone receive their QSLs in time, even those who are not members of MRASZ.

Should you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact me!
Bye-bye, CU ON AIR!

73, Tibi / HA7TM