Biography

My involvement in Tanzania began in 2009 with a visit to Nyakato Health Center, near Mwanza on Lake Victoria. This was prior to my re-entry into amateur radio. But by 2012, armed with a new KX3, I set up a QRP operation during a visit that year. By 2014 I had a permanent QTH and much more experience with DX, so 5H3DX was launched at our new endeavor at Children's Hospital, Zinga.

CHZ is located about 2 Km west of the eastern seaboard of Tanzania, about 16 Km south of Bagamoyo and 45 Km north of Dar Es Salaam. It is a fairly quiet spot, set back about 1 Km from the city center of Zinga. The hospital project, when completed, will be the first free standing children's hospital in the country, and a center of excellence for pediatric care in the region.

My amateur radio operations are limited to time available because I have many other responsibilities when I am present on the campus, but nonetheless remain important to me. Since my primary responsibility is to the development of the hospital, I have decided that QSL cards will be handled at my own expense, with contributions for cards going to support the hospital construction and operations. So if want a QSL, or even if you appreciate the fact that I have uploaded to eQSL or LOTW, please consider a PayPal donation to the cause via .

I am not a "hard core" DX operator, but my skills have honed somewhat over the past several years. With decent band conditions and courteous DX chasers, my QSO rate has reached 133 entries per hour, with 100% accuracy on CW. If you have never participated in a DXpedition, believe me: pulling call signs out of a mass of signals is not as easy as you might think. The "wall" of signals on the waterfall is quite remarkable and awesome indeed!

My 2020 visit was planned for one month,and became three-and-a-half months. More than 10,000 QSOs were made. Return trip will be determined by pandemic safety and travel restrictions that may be in place. I am hoping to return in February, 2021.

73 and good DX,

Chas - 5H3DX / NK8O / VE3ISD

Worked DXCCs:

Equipment

Rig: Elecraft KX3, KXPA100, KX2, Hardrock-50
Antennas: Elevated vertical GPs, random wire
Primary operations: 160-10 meters