tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-42543429611392142462024-03-12T19:11:48.617-07:00VK5CE/6 & VK5MAV/6 OC-243IOTA DXpedition to Breaksea Island, Western Australia OC-243 on Feb 29 to Mar 3 2016. This IOTA was activated only once back in 2001.Craig Edwardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07623381806900928302noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4254342961139214246.post-26625063880733806432016-03-01T02:07:00.000-08:002016-03-02T16:48:22.727-08:00Visit facebook pageHi everyone, for the latest, visit <a href="https://www.facebook.com/VKIOTA">https://www.facebook.com/VKIOTA</a> for the latest happenings of the DXpedition. Thanks Craig VK5CE<br />
<br />Craig Edwardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07623381806900928302noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4254342961139214246.post-6190819548024402732016-02-28T22:38:00.001-08:002016-02-28T22:39:18.496-08:00On the air soonPlease visit <a href="https://www.facebook.com/VKIOTA">https://www.facebook.com/VKIOTA</a> and like it to receive the latest information. Thanks Craig VK5CECraig Edwardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07623381806900928302noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4254342961139214246.post-67212953879753027092016-02-28T00:03:00.001-08:002016-02-28T00:03:57.852-08:00We've arrived in AlbanyWell after 3 days and 2700 km we are finally in Albany. As we left Esperance it was very hot and windy and temperatures reached 40C. We were very lucky as a bushfire started due to the terrible weather not long after we passed through. The last thing we needed would be to run into a blocked road due to the bushfire.<br />
<br />
We were concerned about strong winds in Albany delaying the helicopter flight. Fortunately the winds will be OK in the morning. There will be rain and strong winds in the afternoon but we'll get to the island before that. It does mean that there will be strong winds and rain when we'll be setting up antennas but that's all part of the adventure.Craig Edwardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07623381806900928302noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4254342961139214246.post-68783010654294701262016-02-27T05:42:00.000-08:002016-02-27T05:42:22.215-08:00Day 2 of driving doneHi everyone. After 1100km of driving yesterday, Andy VK5MAV and I have done another 1100km of driving again today and have arrived safely in Esperance WA.<br />
<br />
Tomorrow involves 480 km driving to Albany WA and then we can finally take a break from this marathon driving effort.<br />
<br />
For those of you in North America who are a little worried about getting in the log, as you know I also put a strong focus on listening for this part of the world and this DXpedition will be no exception.<br />
<br />
Apart from the typical vertical on 20m, we will also have a 3 element 20m vertical dipole array fixed short path to North America. So in the period of 1000 to 1600 UTC there will be many times I'll be listening for North America only on 20m SSB (400W) using the VDA. Then I'll switch back to the vertical other times and listen for other areas of the world.Craig Edwardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07623381806900928302noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4254342961139214246.post-72183480175069025822016-02-26T02:25:00.003-08:002016-02-26T02:25:50.541-08:001100km done by road. 1600km to go<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', 'Segoe UI', Helvetica, Arial, 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Hi guys</span><br />
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After 13 hours driving over 1100km Andy VK5MAV and I have arrived at out first checkpoint on the Nullarbor plains and are enjoying a beer at thd Nullarbor Roadhouse which is an oasis in the dessert </div>
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We've arrived safe and have another 12 hours driving tomorrow to reach Esperance in WA. The following day we drive 6 hours to Albany.</div>
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73s Craig VK5CE. ..........Andy its your shout mate, another Coopers Pale Ale!!!</div>
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Craig Edwardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07623381806900928302noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4254342961139214246.post-11480461780048311912016-01-30T22:35:00.001-08:002016-01-30T22:35:23.232-08:00Travel logistics coming togetherWith this DXpedition it requires a long time travelling. It will take 2.5 days of driving, 11.5 hours day 1, 11 hours day 2 and 5 hours day 3. And then the same on the return trip. This is a lot of fuel and lots of hotel rooms to pay for. Thanks to those people who have sent in early financial support to help defray the upfront costs. Thanks Craig VK5CE and Andy VK5MAVCraig Edwardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07623381806900928302noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4254342961139214246.post-50342033782460057842016-01-17T02:33:00.002-08:002016-01-17T14:19:24.560-08:00Propagation predictions for OC-243 <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
Hi everyone.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Now that I’ve returned from ZL9A I’ve had time to look at band
condition for OC-243. The propagation predictions show the best times for
different parts of the larger amateur populations around the world to work us.
The prediction tools used are quite conservative and so you’ll find band
conditions are actually better than the times listed below. However it will
give you a general idea on the best times and bands to look for us.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
10m<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
0000-0500 North America (short path)<o:p></o:p></div>
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0000-1600 Asia (short path)<o:p></o:p></div>
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0500-1600 Europe (short path)<o:p></o:p></div>
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2200-0000 Asia (short path)<o:p></o:p></div>
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2300-0000 North America (short path)<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
15m <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
0000-0200 Asia (short path)<o:p></o:p></div>
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0000-0200 North America – W4 (long path)<o:p></o:p></div>
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0000-0500 North America – W1 (long path)<o:p></o:p></div>
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0000-0500 South America (short path)<o:p></o:p></div>
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0500-1100 North America – W6 (short path)<o:p></o:p></div>
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0600-1100 Central America (short path)<o:p></o:p></div>
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0600-1900 Asia (short path)<o:p></o:p></div>
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0800-1000 Europe (long path)<o:p></o:p></div>
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0800-1500 North America – W4 (short path)<o:p></o:p></div>
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1000-1800 Europe (short path)<o:p></o:p></div>
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1400-1700 North America – W5 (short path)<o:p></o:p></div>
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1500-2300 North America – W1 (short path)<o:p></o:p></div>
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1600-1900 North America – W0 (short path)<o:p></o:p></div>
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1600-2000 North America – W6 & VE7 (short path)<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
20m <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
0700-1400 South America (short path)<o:p></o:p></div>
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1000-1400 North America – W5 (short path)<o:p></o:p></div>
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1000-1700 North America – W6 & VE7 (short path)<o:p></o:p></div>
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1100-0000 Asia (short path)<o:p></o:p></div>
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1400-1600 North America – W0 (short path)<o:p></o:p></div>
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1500-0000 Europe (short path)<o:p></o:p></div>
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2300-0000 South America (short path)<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
40m <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
1100-2200 Asia (short path)<o:p></o:p></div>
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1200-1600 North America – W6 & VE7 (short path)<o:p></o:p></div>
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1600-2200 Europe (short path)<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
Craig Edwardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07623381806900928302noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4254342961139214246.post-53386307977720258122015-12-18T22:01:00.000-08:002015-12-18T22:04:45.241-08:00First planning meeting a success<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Andy VK5MAV and I
(Craig VK5CE) are pleased to be able to activate Breaksea Island IOTA OC-243
off the southern coast of Western Australia.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Andy has been doing
a great job liaising with the Western Australian Department of Parks and
Wildlife and now it is possible to confirm this island will be activated for
the first time in 15 years!! There has only been one previous activation back
in 2001 and so at present it has only been claimed by 17% in the IOTA program
and this will reduced more after the January IOTA updates.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">I met Andy in person
for the first time yesterday afternoon and this was our chance to talk about
the logistics of this operation. We had
a great first meeting and I really look forward to working with him. I feel we’ll
complement each other perfectly as I do SSB and Andy does CW.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Activating Breaksea
Island is not easy. As of February there will be no commercial flights from the
Western Australian capital Perth to the staging town of Albany in the southern part
of the state. As part of our permit we can only go there in March. So instead
of flying from Adelaide (South Australia) to Perth and then Albany using
commercial airlines, we need to drive. Driving from our QTH’s in South
Australia to Albany is a monster journey of 2743 km (1704 miles), to put this
into perspective:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">2743 km (1704 miles)
VK5CE/VK5MAV QTH’s to Albany, Western Australia<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">2738 km (1700 miles)
Moscow, Russia to Bern, Switzerland<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">2723 km (1692 miles)
Paris, France to Istanbul, Turkey<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">2620 km (1628 miles)
Houston, TX to New York, NY<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">2491 km (1548 miles)
Los Angeles CA to Houston, TX<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">So as you can see it’s
a big effort just to get all of our equipment to Albany. Due to safety and
permit restrictions from the Western Australian Department of Parks and
Wildlife the only way we can get to and from the island is for Andy and I to
charter a helicopter.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">We need to provide
our own power and so I have my two Honda EU10i generators. We will be running
two stations at the same time during the day and at night. We will have
vertical dipoles for 10m, 15m and 20m and a quarter wave for 40m, these
monobanders will be using Spiderbeam poles and will be located on the top of
the mountainous island with 360 degree views to all parts of the world. We will
have band pass filters to enable two stations to be operating at the same time.
Andy will be operating CW with 100W as VK5MAV/6 and I will be operating an
amplifier using SSB with 400W as VK5CE/6. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">So as you can
imagine this trip has many transportation costs. So any financial support would
be greatly appreciated. We will have the exact dates in early March ready to
announce in January.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<br /></div>
Craig Edwardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07623381806900928302noreply@blogger.com1