PA3GIO - VK9CQ - VK9XV returned home
friday 15th September via Jakarta -
Singapore in the Nederlands with more than 20000 QSO's, 14000 as VK9XV
from Christmas Island.
The trip to Cocos Keeling was via Christmas Island, we landed on
Christmas on Thursday 24th August.
Welcomed by the VK9XY team Stefan, DH1SGS and Toby, DH1TW, who
activities just has been ended with a result of 12000 QSO's.
They had worked with a beam and 500W on another QTH on the Northcoast of
Christmas Island.
I was worried regarding my QTH but it turned out to be almost the ideal
spot on the island: The North West corner (Rocky Point) on a cliff with
an uninterupted take off over the very deep ocean from West to
North-East
Since I noticed that the Hill which otherwise blocked the path to the
East just ended at that spot, my worries came to an end, there was room
enough around it and just before dark, although not planned, I tried to
put up the Antenna... wrong...because in that hurry everything went wrong
and I decided to call it a day...
But the rental car was very close to the balcony of this magnificent
"cosy " building ( a renovated old Morgue!) so that was the time to
bring out my secret weapon... The mobile antenna The OutbackerPerth
(!), from the balcony I worked with this.... VK9XV was on the Air,
although I knew better, at that moment I was not to sure regarding the
results so I did Call a VK6 on 14.320 and had a 5 (!) minute QSO with
him.
After this I was discovered by Tony 5Z4FZ, then I started
on 21.271, after the first Cluster spot in JA, EU was there and yes
many.., I got reports from 55 to 58 in general. a break for dinner.
Then from 14.38 to 17.43 UTC on 21.260 5 to 15 up.
The next evening I used 15 and 17M EU and North America, very busy!
I used the mobile ant again on the first day on Cocos Keeling due the
late arrival time of the plane and again after our return to Christmas
Island a week later. The other Antenna I always use is 2 X 20 M with
open feeder line together with a "real" (without balun) balanced tuner
for 80 to 10M. I used my Fishing rods attached on some iron sticks
in the ground, the height was 8M above the ground and on Christmas
Island the feedpoint was a bit higher with the advantage of the sloping
cliff to the ocean below.
On Christmas Island I did receive countless real reports of S9 up to
S9+20 from North America and Europe. I was happy with the many occasions
I was able to work South America because it was most needed there.
Many days I started around 09.00 - 10.00 local time (02.00 - 03.00UTC)
with no signals on the bands, I was be able to work North America on
10M in this period but the activity was quite low, even I was reported
strong with cluster spots on the local cluster and on the internet,
after Europe was waking up around 07.00 UTC there was more traffic and
it became really serious at sunset.
It was hard to tell them to say I had to go QRT for one hour for Dinner
but it was the only break for me untill around 20.00 UTC when it seemed
I did work everone (?) and propagation was going down,
Many days I was going to sleep between 03.00 - 04.00 local time..
And wake up at 07.15 local time,my XYL was going to Dive! :-)
And yes I was now and than exhausted :-)
I even used 80M with USA and SA and JA on a few nights.
Many reported they had worked on 4 or 5 bands.
I thank you all for working me, sorry I was very short, it is the only
way to get many QSO's and for me to save my well needed energy (!)
It was my most succesfull operation, when you realise the reports and
the QRB...
The QSL's... As soon as they are ready...
(Exept the Call's who seems not to reply to my QSL's)
I will bring for every QSO all QSL's to the central Dutch QSL Bureau
(DQB) who send the QSL's every month to each country.
The Website will be uploaded with new pictures etc. in the near future
