I operated on March 11, 2017 on the NA/VK and NA/JA paths. All of my contacts were on CW; I could not hear the SSB stations. I used a K3 and 500W amplifier for all contacts. My 40 meter antenna is a 40 meter long CFZ up 20 meters. On 20 meters I use a 2-el cubical quad up 23 meters.
Here are the stations I worked:
0114 z JH0CJH/1 on JA/TK-012, 20 meters CW, 569/599
1557z JI1IHV/7 on JA/MG-098, 40 meters CW, 569/599
1931 z VK2WP on KV2/CT-011, 20 meters CW, 449/559
1952 z VK2IO on VK2/IL-017, 20 meters CW, 449/559
1957 z VK1DA on VK2/ST-053, 20 meters CW, 449/549
I might have been able to work other bands, but I found 20 meters to be the best.
Zip into the three Northern Arizona summits Jim and I activated for the VK/ZL land event.
Jim, K7JFD, did work ZL1BYZ but no s2s. I heard someone calling CQ/ZL a few times on 20M CW, but obviously someone stateside.
Conditions were not good as even 20M contacts stateside were not as strong as usual. I think the Arizona to VK path will be better towards the end of April…at least that’s the way I remember it working.
Anyhow, still had fun, lots of stateside s2s but no DX.
Hi Keith,
I also was surprised to hear you that well from Arizona!
It surely was a short parth contact, as I was using a 5 elements tribander yagi (3 active elements on 20m) and I was beaming West.
In fact, my rotator is out of service since last summer and that’s the only direction I can beam to at present
Thanks for the activation and the QSO.
73,
At Mt Macquarie arose at a brisk 5.00am local in pitch darkness glad I remembered to leave my torch near the bed.
It was really pitch dark, cloudy no star or moonlight and a very strong gale wind blowing. Was a bit anxious about the star picket supporting the squid pole as had not really driven it in to deeply but it held.
No toppling aerials happily, while the billy was boiling on a gas stove set up the radio gear.
Surprisingly warm despite the bellowing winds.
20m three US chasers, K2WP, NS7P and N6KZ. One S2S with Andrew VK1DA. Missed out on any US S2S.
30M OK1CZ, DK8AX
40M K9PM/P
Around 9.00am the P.A battery ran down so called it quits and closed down for the day.
Although no luck with U.S S2S the exercise proved the point there is an opening to the U.S in the very early morning.
Looking forward to the next event and thanks to the organisers for their work in getting this going.
Next year will chose another summit as Mt Macquarie has been trashed by the pine tree harvesters and is now a dismal place.
