197DA/0 QSL in the Box
February 21, 2010 by Darren
The 197DA/0 QSL card is soon to be available from the activity’s QSL Manager 43DA001 Darren (See http://www.delta-alfa.com/da-rc-activities/197da0/ ). Designed and printed by DA-RC member 16DA101 Max at ON5UR Maxi Print, this glorious full-colour, double-sided confirmation card depicts the eclectic imagery of one of the Pacific Ocean’s most highly sought after DXCC, Vanuatu.
In addition to a collage of photographs taken by the 197 Team, Llog information, including the number of stations, DXCC and IOTA worked from the team’s DXstination on Aore Island (OC-035), as well as a complete list of sponsors and an interesting narrative about the Vanuatu DXpedition experience, can also be seen on the inside of the marvellous 197DA/0 QSL card.
To see if your card for this ‘Most Wanted’ OC activation has been received by the QSL Manager, please see http://www.delta-alfa.com/qsl-rx-for-197da0/ .
For the complete list of stations logged by the 197DA/0 team, please see http://www.delta-alfa.com/log-update-197da0/ .
Kava DXperiment – a tale from 197DA/0
January 26, 2010 by Darren
When the sun drops below the sea beyond Bokissa Island to create a sunset scene reminiscent of many Vanuatu postcards, the air in Luganville becomes thick and heavy with pikininni laughter and the scent of a thousand frangipanni trees.
Under the coconut palms of seaside parks overlooking neighbouring islands in the distance, locals lie on hand-made grass mats sipping coconut milk from husky shells while wandering tourists like 43DA234 Tom and me enjoy the Pacific tunes of local string band musicians who hope for a few coins to be tossed in their direction.
Around town though the radiance of coloured beacons inviting locals and daring travellers to sample a different snapshot of Vanuatu culture — kava — can be seen in the late afternoon and this is what Tom and I are in search of before we head back to the station on Aore!
An ancient drop of the western Pacific and a legal narcotic in Vanuatu used for medicinal, religious, political, cultural and social purposes, we’d read and heard reports that this mysterious drink would induce feelings of relaxation and mental clarity. So, like curious cats, Tom and I had asked one of our new island friends from the Aore Resort to line us up with some!
An after-siesta stroll around Luganville with our new mate Mansen took Tom and me up a volcanic dirt road past an old service station-cum-general-store to one of the town’s secluded kava bars. Different to what we’d expected, the bar was housed in a modest wooden hut with a dirt floor, with corrugated iron walls and roof and a single neon bulb for light.
The place was packed with smiling women too, whom we later found out worked in the kava kitchen itself, chopping up the kava roots into tiny pieces and grinding them into a gluggy pulp. The sight of two white men arriving to taste the kava caused a few giggles too and a few cheeky smiles!
Although normally prepared by grinding the plant root and mixing it with water, in some parts of 197 Division such as on the island of Tanna, tradition has it that the roots must be pulped in the jaws of virgin boys. In other parts of Vanuatu though, like on Espiritu Santo Island, it’s prepared by chewing, grinding or pounding the roots of the kava plant in a large stone with a small log.
So, Mansen says, grinding is done by hand against a cone-shaped block of dead coral; the hand forms a mortar and the coral a pestle. The ground root is then added with a little water and drunk as quickly as possible!
Keen for a new cultural experience, Tom and I meandered our way up to the counter, handed over a hundred vatu coin and a young man wearing fancy Elton John like sunglasses, eyeing us suspiciously, scooped two half coconut shells of what we later found out was “Tudei” kava (rather than “Palarasul” kava) from a large bowl on the counter.
After that, we returned to a bench outside the bar where a few Ni-Vanuatu men were chatting softly, listening to music on MP3 players or cleaning their sinuses of Kava tainted phlegm by raucously spitting on the ground.
A little nervous, I lifted the shell of Kava to my lips and let the muddy liquid flow down my throat, while my DXpedition companion 43DA234 Tom did the same — but at twice the speed. It was gritty, peppery and bland — like nothing we’d ever tasted before. Or ever hoped to taste, might I add…!
We rested on our bench for a couple of minutes chatting about nothing in particular and laughing at nothing, as our muscles relaxed and our worries about possible band openings with Europe later in the evening evaporated. Our throat, lips and tongue were overcome with waves of numbness and our stomachs had drifted off to sleep…
“Time for another,” grinned Tom as he disappeared into the hut.
In a moment, we’d thrown back a few more shells while fascinated island women watched on and were sitting back on the bench as the kava took full effect. All the while, we were admiring the gigantic susu of one of the pretty islander girls named Dinah who was selling traditional foods at a stall opposite us. Poor Tom could barely keep his tongue in his mouth and stop the saliva dripping down his chin, such was her beauty!
As the seconds ticked by, our heads started to twirl like spinning tops and our stomachs grew more and more restless. Desperate for food, we bought everything Dinah had brought to the stall! 3 plates of spring rolls with rice and fish, marinated chicken wings and sweet-potato fritters — all for about $5 AUD.
I’m not sure whether or not it was the kava induced euphoria which had taken hold of me but that food was the most amazing food I think I’ve ever tasted in my whole life. Dinah was pleased too because our humungous appetites had just paid her rent for the week! So didn’t that put a big smile on her face!
When we spotted Mansen a few minutes later, he was in such a daze of kava that he barely recognised us. With filled tummies, we all then stumbled back down the hill to catch our boat back to Aore Island, with a feeling that everything was good in the world, even if our legs kept falling out from under us and taxis hooting up the main street of Luganville almost ran us down.
On the way to the BP Wharf, we stopped at a fruit shop owned by Chinese but staffed by cheerful Ni-Van ladies in colourful floral dresses and, still overcome by the munchies, bought wedges of boiled breadfruit which we ate on the boat during our 15 minute ride across the channel. Tom was kind enough to donate his share back into the ocean on the way loll!
That night, after a few contacts with southern Europe and Asian DXCC, we slept peacefully but woke up the next day with clear heads — a welcome change from a night on the local Tusker beers and familiar headache the next morning.
The next day, we were still feeling very sleepy though and this lasted for a further two days. Such is the effect of the type of kava we had enjoyed the afternoon before, I am told……“Tudei” or “Two-day” kava……the most potent of them all. Still, it was another unforgettable experience of our time in Vanuatu for 197DA/0 and one worth sharing with our radio mates!
***Note: Susu is the Bislam word for a woman’s breasts***
The 197DA/0 Story
January 18, 2010 by Darren
Conducted by myself 43DA001 Darren and 43DA234 Tom, 197DA/0 from Vanuatu’s beautiful Aore Island commenced on January 1 and concluded 2 weeks later on January 14, encompassing both weekends of the 2010 Oceania Contest. It was the first time in 11 years that this small independent nation in the southwest Pacific Ocean had been activated on 11m and, according to the Islands Data Base Online and Cluster dk Archives, the first time EVER for this particular island! [Note: Previous activities by RC, AT and TR had been conducted on Efate and Espiritu Santo].
Referenced as OC-035 and part of the New Hebrides Group in accordance with the Radio Society of Great Britain’s IOTA Program, Vanuatu has some 65 inhabited islands in a loose, volcanic chain approximately 1300 km long. Behind the capital Port Vila on Efate Island, the second largest town is Luganville on the island of Espiritu Santo—a town we became very familiar with during our 14 day stay. Through World War II, Luganville was an important QTH for Allied naval forces fighting the Japanese at Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands. This is also where we landed in our Air Vanuatu Boeing 737 plane on a direct flight from Brisbane in Queensland, Australia.
The Planning Phase
Our preparation for a major venture into the Pacific area to coincide with the 2010 Oceania Contest (See http://11mdxactivitiesoz.com/node/1555 ) was initiated more than a year ago with the ultimate aim being to cover all angles and leave no stone unturned. At this time, research into past DX activities undertaken from a number of Pacific Ocean DXCC was carried out so as to establish which DXCC qualified for a /0. Basically, all those DXCC which didn’t qualify for the /0 were ruled out and those DXCC which did qualify remained on the list. Ultimately, the decision to activate Vanuatu was based on the number of years since its most recent activity, as well as its accessibility from mainland Australia.
In February 2009, we settled on activating one of Vanuatu’s never-been-done-before islands and immediately moved full steam ahead with preparations. First we began gathering data about possible island DXstinations in Vanuatu through remote reconnaissance using a variety of mediums—the most valuable being information and images downloaded from the internet—as well as statements from accommodation staff, and written accounts of DXpedition experience on the same island from visiting hams.
After settling on Aore, and then the Aore Resort as ham friendly accommodation, we next paid deposits on lodgings for 3 persons with VISA CARD, organised passports and travel visas, booked airfares and transfers, and also started accumulating equipment suitable for the trip.
At this time, a comprehensive full-colour 22 page DXpedition Planning Document with comprehensive information about the country, including its history on 11m, the island and IOTA group, culture, customs, accommodation, transport, callsign details and much, much more, as well as an equipment matrix, was also published and distributed to interested parties within the club for perusal via email or hardcopy.
In March 2009, still 9 months out from the proposed activity, Tom and I also set about finding a third person for the team (DA-RC or non-DA-RC) by advertising on the internet and various other forums and mailing lists. The search continued until the day of our departure but unfortunately, due to various constraints such as work, family or proposed costings, we were unable to draft anyone. This is disappointing, still we hope that by creating such an incredible stir on the band with 197DA/0 that it will inspire other hobbyists in the Pacific area to do the same in the near future—regardless of which club they might be associated with 
The Aore Experience
The 2 weeks hidden away on a tropical island in searing temperatures and humidity, tucked behind a radio in a small, non-air conditioned bungalow proved to be both a unique experience for both Tom and myself, not to mention a rollercoaster of emotions…
First there was the nerve-wracking ordeal of getting our radio communications gear through Customs checkpoints at Brisbane International Airport, and then through Pekoa Airport on Espiritu Santo. At Pekoa, this process took almost an hour and caused us to miss our contact in the airport car park with whom we’d arranged delivery of hardware for construction of a mast.
For some reason, Tom was held up at every checkpoint by zealous security personnel checking for drugs and other contraband while I, much to his amazement, walked through with barely an eyebrow raised. Apart from rummaging through his luggage with a fine tooth comb, Tom was bombarded with a thousand questions, ranging from what his intentions were when he entered Vanuatu, did he have any illegal substances in his possession, who he was going to visit, how much money he was carrying, if he was going to work and WHAT were those concealed items in his bag taped up inside his clothing?!?!
“No it’s NOT a bomb, Sir……it’s a radio……and this is an amplifier……and this is a power supply,” became a regular utterance from Tom’s mouth and this seemed to ease the fears of Customs who feared we were either terrorists or bringing appliances into the country for sale without declaring them. Actually, the fact Tom avoided a cavity search from one of the towering islander Customs guards was a situation we soon came to laugh about once we eventually made it through!
Fortunately, our contact from the local hardware establishment was waiting at the BP Wharf in Luganville with the telescopic mast and accessories when our transfer arrived and we were able to make the purchase in Vanuatu currency (VUT) and proceed ahead as planned. [Even if the two sections of telescopic mast, guys and various fittings did cost us hefty $700.00 AUD]
Also waiting at the wharf amidst the crumbling buildings from World War II days when we arrived was one of the local islanders who, wreaking of alcohol, staggered onto one of the boats moored nearby and fell asleep. Meanwhile, Tom and I waited a further 30 minutes for another sign of human life to deliver us to Aore, all the while studying the distant coastline but pausing momentarily to share the occasional chuckle over our drunken friend and his snoring.
[As it turned out, the drunken islander was the Resort’s Head Chef ‘James’ who was returning to work that afternoon—still suffering the effects of a massive New Year’s party at the Resort the night before. No sooner had he arrived on Aore and showered and changed into his Chef’s outfit though, then the highly-regarded dishes of lobster, Santo beef and blue fish started coming out to hungry resort guests in great style].
As if getting to our DXstination didn’t seem challenging enough, after setting up the station and conducting initial tests we were faced with a perplexing SWR problem with the Sirio SY27-4 yagi antenna. This was late on Day 1 which meant that only the IMAX 2000 was used. Still, this much raved about vertical antenna by Solarcon enabled us to work a handful of stations in the Oceania Contest before the band closed for the night—among them 43DA180 Peter who was first in the log for 197DA/0, closely followed by 172AT101 Philippe, 43WR137 Dan and 224IR001.
The next morning, in daylight, structural damage to the length of coaxial cable used to feed the antenna was discovered and after a simple swap for a new length of Belden RG-213, the SY27-4’s SWR was 1:1 on the IC-7000’s internal meter. Now didn’t THAT bring a big sigh of relief from the DXpedition team! Phew!
From our tiny dot in the Pacific, the Oceania Contest again delivered a large number of participants with 70% of stations logged for 197DA/0 achieved on the Contest weekends. In this exciting annual event, all OC DXCC worked have a ‘multiplier’ effect which made working 197 Division all the more rewarding for contesters. As was the case in years gone by, a number of rare OC DXCC appeared on the band to participate in the Contest with stations such as 99DA016 Tony in Fiji attracting a sizeable pileup himself on 27.565 MHz and the Sugar Delta guys in French Polynesia chasing progressive numbers as well.
One of the most thrilling moments experienced during our 197 Division DXpedition was our first contact with Europe on Day 3 while working the Grey Line at 330 degrees. I’m sure you can all imagine what the atmosphere was like in the bungalow at that time with Tom, who was on the headphones, screaming “I HEAR EUROPE, DARREN! I HEAR EUROPE,” at the top of his lungs. Then me frantically plugging in the second set of Sennheiser HD-280 PRO’s to hear Tom work 1AT325 Marcello with a radio report of 5/3 only moments later.
There were plenty of high-fives and backslaps going on and beer being spilled all over the place, I promise you. From what we heard upon our return to Australia, there were also plenty of verbal back slaps and warm words of congratulations on the Cluster.dk message board to Marcello who was over the moon with excitement at working Vanuatu for the very first time! This is just another example of the great spirit and camaraderie in our DX community!
The exhilaration was almost identical a few days later when we scored our next opening with Europe in the form of a mini-pileup with southern-European stations from Italy (1), Bulgaria (178) and Malta (93); with stations from 14, 161 and 19 Divisions also heard in the mix. The on-air behaviour from all guys during the pile-up was first-class, with all operators displaying courtesy for not just our DXpedition station but also each other. There was no QSO chopping, no calling over the top of each other, no silly questions or time wasting, just plenty of careful listening and very professional radio operations. This allowed young Tom on the mic to sort through the pileup with the precision of a surgeon!
The contact with 178TRC065 was actually made on 27.540 MHz after we heard Max’s call on 27.555 MHz at a solid 5/7 and followed him to his QSY frequency. At this moment, we are still not sure if Max knows he actually made the log. But the QSO then went something like this…
Darren: “178TRC065, this is 197DA/0. You are 5/7 into Vanuatu, over.” Max: “I think is 19…DA…0……..??????? I hear 5/7. You are 4/1. Please what is your unit number? Darren: “178TRC065, thank you for 4/1. Negative on 19 Division. This is 197 Division. My callsign is 197DA/0, 197DA/0, 197DA/0, over.” Max: “197 Delta-Alfa? Is this correct?” Darren: “Yes it is correct. We are 197DA/0…” Max: “197 Delta-Alfa…..0? No, I think this is mistake. I think it is 19 Division from the Netherlands. Sorry it’s very hard for me. There is much QRM…”
As you can see, the radio report was confirmed 100% and the callsign was repeated 100% but doubt over the authenticity of the callsign then crept in as we were not on our usual operating frequency and their was much QRM. Still, Max’s callsign was logged and without further ado we QSY’ed back to 27.580 MHz and continued calling.
Also ranking high in the area of excitement were our contacts with French Guyana (22), Mexico (10) and Costa Rica (69) in South America. Unfortunately, these were limited to just 4 stations only, but a couple of the guys (ie. 22AT263 Bruno and 10/13SD141 Max) were able to say “hi” a second time and on different when it was obvious there were no others listening on the band at that time.
10/13SD141 Max was a solid 5-7 peaking 5/9 for approximately 60 minutes on Day 13 but strangely he was the only station heard on the band, apart from some other low Mexicana voices heard on 27.455 MHz USB.
Another highlight of our 197DA/0 activity was working some remote and/or rarely heard islands and IOTA references in the Pacific Ocean area. These totalled 25 and included:
- Veti Levu in the Viti Levu and Vanua Levu Group (OC-016)
- Tahiti, Tetiaroa and Moorea in the Windwards Island Group (OC-046)
- New Zealand’s North (OC-036) and South (OC-134) islands
- Kauai, Manana, Maui, Molokai and Molokini in the Hawaiian Islands Group (OC-019)
- Negros Island in the Visayan Island Group (OC-129)
- Taiwan Island (AS-020)
- Australia’s Main Island (OC-001)
- Honshu Island (AS-007)
- Java (OC-021)
- Grande Terre (Main) Island (OC-032)
- Abaiang, Butaritari, Tarawa, Marakei, Nonuiti and Tabiteuea North and South in the Gilbert Islands Group (OC-017)
- Fanning Island in the Tabuaeran and Teraina Islands Group (OC-084)
As you can see, there’s no doubt that our DXstination Aore was an IOTA Hunter’s dream with lengthy openings to the Pacific area and access to the thousands of tiny sand and coral cays on most days!
Outside of the Contest hours, the OC area was relatively quiet though with few stations heard or worked above the legal frequency allocation in Australia. With openings to the Americas as rare as hen’s teeth too, our attention turned towards swimming in the crystal blue aqua waters off our bungalow’s front balcony, snorkelling the coral reef which surrounded the island, lying back in a recliner on the balcony overlooking the ocean while sipping coconut milk or local Tusker beer, or catching the boat across the Segond Channel to Santo every few days to restock on supplies from tjhe local markets and check the internet.
We also played the occasional game of coconut bowls and went for the odd walk exploring the island’s natural untouched rainforest with its huge banyan trees, as well as its coconut and cattle plantations, to work off the bowls of hot chips and tomato sauce we lived on for most of the trip. The island’s exquisite birdlife gave us plenty to focus our attention on as well when we weren’t partaking in these ‘mundane’ activities!
As the occasion was planned as a DXpedition—rather than as a holiday—Tom and I did not embark on any of the tourist tours on offer on the island such as bushwalking, bike riding, dive trips to the SS President Coolidge, SS Tucker, and MV Henry Bonneaud shipwrecks, or adventures to Champaign Beach and Million Dollar Point on Santo. To ensure maximum radio time, we spent the majority of our day/evenings inside the bungalow, sitting or lying in front of the radio transceivers and listening for a possible band opening.
We did on Day 11, nonetheless, take one 4 hour fishing trip through the Alan Power Dive Company based on Santo on which Tom caught a big coral trout and I was snapped off by a 2m long Spanish mackerel which shot from the water and 3m into the air with my fishing lure in its mouth, only to snap its jaws shut and cut the line with its scissor-like teeth in an instant.
Fortunately, the fibreglass fishing boat took us past a number of picturesque small islands in the New Hebrides IOTA Group such as Bokissa, Malo, Malakula and Ambae with its active volcano surrounded by smoky clouds towering in the distance. This boat trip also enabled us to capture some photographs of the Million Dollar Point and Chapuis Point Lighthouses which are together visible from the station on Aore. Both lights satisfy the Visual Sight Rule in accordance with the Amateur Radio Lighthouse Society’s Lighthouse On The Air (LOTA) guidelines and are therefore considered to have been worked by any station logged for 197DA/0!
While the Chapuis Point Light (VAN-002) at the north-eastern corner of Aore marks the south side of the eastern entrance to Luganville and steers ships clear of nearby Cindys Reef, the Million Dollar Point light (ARLHS reference pending) on Santo marks the north side of the eastern entrance to the town. History says that the promontory came to be called Million Dollar Point after the U.S. military sank a fortune in surplus equipment offshore at the end of World War II. This underwater junkyard is now a very popular site for scuba divers—many of whom shared the resort on Aore with us.
During the trip, Tom and I befriended one of the local islanders whom we spotted wearing a grey Yaesu t-shirt when we first arrived. Also an employee of the Aore Resort where we stayed, Mansen told us that one of the visiting ham teams had given it to him as a gift after he’d helped them erect some antennas a few years ago.
Familiar with the concept of radio communications thanks to his time behind the microphone of the Island Ferry’s VHF rig, as well as his monitoring of VHF marine frequencies at the base, Mansen was a natural behind the mic of the IC-7000, working 43SD136 Les in Darwin in the Northern Territory on 27.580 MHz with his first CQ call.
So impressed were we both with Mansen’s enthusiasm and willingness to learn about the hobby that Tom and I left him an IMAX 2000 vertical antenna, as well as a mast with guys and a bag of tools and other accessories to help get the antenna up on top of his home on Espiritu Santo Island. Now, all Mansen needs is a radio transceiver and DA-RC’s newest member in the Pacific area will be on air as 197DA101!
In addition to forming new friendships with the Vanuatu islanders, the most rewarding thing for us was providing such an exciting activity for our friends in the International DX Community; an opportunity for many—particularly those new to the hobby in the last decade—to work and confirm a ‘new one’. To hear the excitement bubbling in some operators’ voices and to even hear them say, “Thanks for the new DXCC” or “Thanks for the new island, guys” was worth every cent. Of course, one regret is that we couldn’t work more of our fellow hobbyists in Europe and the Americas but as we all know—such is the unreliable nature of our hobby and the infant state of Solar Cycle 24 at this time—not every dream is possible.
In addition to experiencing a fascinating Pacific Island culture rich in its customs, traditions and history, as well as the tranquil island seascapes which quite often took our breath away, one of the main positives we took away from the 197DA/0 activity was the support of the International 11m DX Community. Hundreds of kind emails, for instance, were received from members of all different clubs wishing us well.
There is also a growing list of hobbyists keen to sponsor the special 197DA/0 QSL card and contribute towards the offset of carbon emissions caused by the DXpedition activity (See http://www.delta-alfa.com/sponsors-for-197da0/ ). With close to $7,000 AUD spent on conducting the activity and QSL card production and emissions offset costs still to come, you do the sums!
While on the topic of support, Tom and I would like to say a big thank you to the owner/s of Cluster.dk for allowing us to advertise and promote our activity on their data base, as well as via the spot board where 197DA/0 was spotted 64 times. The Cluster.dk service was invaluable for our DXpedition and we encourage everyone to show their support of this important service by making a donation and/or becoming a Lounge Member.
Also, to those who uploaded a link to the 197DA/0 activity article from the DA-RC Website to their own website (e.g. 4SD032 Mark, 1AT325 Marcello), or provided access to our station’s audio via live streaming, made recordings and forwarded them on to us, or even just helped us out with propagation checks or with relaying information back to the DX Community on-air—THANKS!
In summary, Tom and I had a wonderful time in Vanuatu and found the DXpedition aspect challenging, rewarding and extremely exciting. As I mentioned before, 11m band conditions were sporadic at best during our stay on Aore with most openings outside of the Pacific area lasting barely more than 30 minutes. 100 stations logged, therefore, amongst them 22 DXCC or Divisions in 5 different regions (Oceania, South America, Asia, Middle East and Europe), 25 different islands and 13 IOTA references, is a very good achievement and one we will look back on in better times ahead with a great deal of satisfaction.
Once the euphoria of 197DA/0 has died down, Tom and I will then set about planning for our next venture into the great abyss of ‘Most Wanted’ DXCC entities!
Until then, good DX!
73’s from the 197DA/0 Team 43DA001 Darren and 43DA234 TomA New Island is Born!
November 8, 2009 by Darren
A strange event happened in spring time this year within the Gironde Estuary in France…a new island was born out of nowhere!
Covering an area of 4 hectares, the mysterious new island appeared approximately 2 kilometres from Cordouan (EU-159, DIFM AT-032) and almost 10 kilometres from the town of Royan, Charente-Maritime (17).
According to initial assumptions, the baby island appeared to be following the separation of a simple sandbar located offshore, caused by Hurricane Klaus which occurred in January 2008. Reports now say, however, that it is a single sandbar, peaking at 4 meters above the waves. Furthermore, scientists have observed the appearance of vegetation there now also.
As you might expect, this newborn island has not yet been officially named; nor does it exist on any shipping charts map; however scientists think it could survive for several months or years — depending on WX and marine conditions.
In any case, this new natural creation now joins a list of islands located in the Gironde estuary. In essence, this new island is located in the maritime public domain so it could therefore claim to be recognized by the RSGB IOTA Committee under the EU-159 reference.
Other islands located further upstream in the estuary are part of the DIFM, such as the island of Patiras (AT-027) which 14DA115 Muriel and I activated last June for the old WWRO Islands Festival. Others include Ile du Fort Pate (AT-034), Ile Margaux (AT-102), Ile Bouchaud / Ile Nouvelle (AT-103), Ile d’Ambes (AT-104), Ile Verte (AT-105) and Ile de Croute (AT-106. But as far as I know, this one has now disappeared.
The islands of the Gironde Estuary have the distinction of being in perpetual motion. New islands have appeared there and others have completely disappeared over the centuries. The reason, I have read, is the strong current of the Gironde in this part of the river and the rich sediments which are subject to strong tidal phenomena.
Soon a new 14DA/AT-xxx or 14DA/EU-159 perhaps? Only time will tell!
Here is the Google Map link: http://maps.google.fr/maps?utm_campaign=fr&utm_medium=ha&utm_source=fr-ha-emea-fr-bk-gm&utm_term=google%20map
The “white dot” you can see in the lower left corner, in the middle of the “dark sandbank” is Cordouan. I think that the famous new island is the sandbank lying offshore from Cordouan to the North.
You can also watch a short video here: http://annagaloreleblog.blogs-de-voyage.fr/archive/2009/10/21/l-ile-mysterieuse.html
73 de Eric, 14DA911
Coochiemudlo IOTA Recon
October 25, 2009 by Darren
With an IOTA DXpedition imminent in the next few months alongside other members of Team 43 DA-RC, today my family and I caught a passenger ferry across to gorgeous Coochiemudlo Island (26S—28.13S/153.03E—153.67E) a couple of kilometres off the South East Queensland coast for a combined DX recon/family getaway. It was an excellent day too!
Sharing the RSGB IOTA reference number OC-137 with other islands in the Queensland State (South Coast) South group (i.e. Garden, Green, Karragarra, Lamb, Long, Macleay, Moreton, Mud, North Stradbroke, Old Woman, Pannikin, Peel, Russell and St Helena), this ‘never before’ activated DXstination lies in the south part of Moreton Bay, where its shallow beaches and mangroves are protected from the crystal blue breakers of the South Pacific.
Although Coochie, as the island is known locally, is only 5 square kilometres in size, it boasts more than 4 km of beautiful golden sandy beaches in the foreground of great yagi take offs to the Americas and other small Oceania island DXCC. These same stretches of white wrap around the island’s southern, eastern and northern sides while mangrove forests cover the western foreshore of the island.
Having never been to the diminutive sand island before, it was a terrific reconnaissance opportunity indeed — perfect, in fact, to check out both prospective ham friendly accommodation and achievable antenna positions — not to mention a wonderful place for a refreshing ocean swim with the kids and a picnic lunch.
The following anecdotal notes were made during our peaceful day trip to the island where we wandered about the place, walked from one side of the island to the other, and took many photographs on the digital camera…
Transport
- Easily reached by a short ferry trip from Victoria Point — approximately 20 minutes in duration
- Serviced by passenger ferry, operating approximately every half hour between about 5:00 am and 11:00 pm
- Vehicular barge operates regular services to and from island
- Ferry permits luggage (e.g. radio equipment) and would also accept a telescopic mast u
p to 10m - Costs $7 return for 1 adult passenger
Food Supplies
- Small corner store provides key staple items (e.g. bread, milk and coffee)
Accommodation
- Styles range from traditional 1950s fibro beach shacks, contemporary light weight beach houses, relocated Queenslanders (architecture) and conventional suburban brick and tile
- Many holiday houses for rent suitable for housing a DX station — although prices are quite expensive…up to AUS $1500 AUS for 1 week
- Mostly small blocks with abundant large gum trees not ideal for large antenna arrays but some larger blocks in remote parts of the island with potential
- Best DX location is a natural cliff composed of exposed iron-rich rock on the south western side of the island — portable operation from this location only
General
- Large biting march flies — must take tropical strength insect repellent
- Exquisite bird life (of the bikini variety hihi)
Details of an IOTA DXpedition to this island in OC-137 will be announced soon. Furthermore, if you would like to participate in this activity then please email me 
73 de Darren, 43DA001
Recon — Essential for DXpedition Planning
October 2, 2009 by Darren
In my opinion, prior to any scheduled DXpedition venture, it’s wise for the DXpedition team or individual to have undertaken a journey to the place of operation and gained pertinent info for the upcoming DX event. This practice is called ‘reconnaissance’ and is an essential part of the DXpedition planning phase in all DA-RC activations.
In actual fact, reconnaissance (also known as ‘scouting’ or a ‘reckie’ or ‘recon’) is a military term denoting exploration conducted to gain information. In the world of radio communications, though, it can best be described as…
“A mission undertaken by members of the DXpedition team (i.e. the reconnoitres) to gather data as a prelim to operating a DXpedition station…”
This info is then taken back to the home QTH in the form of anecdotal observations, scribbled notes, diagrams to scale, photographs, brochures, etc. and then used to inform preparation for the future DXpedition.
Here, much time can be saved and radio ops simplified, I think, if features of the planned DX operating environment are known in advance — rather than when the team arrives at their DXstination for the very first time.
For instance……finding out when you turn up at your DXstination that there’s no room for a skypper antenna, let a lone a 6 element yagi; or that a mountain range blocks your pathway to the Pacific; or that hostile natives in the neighbouring huts don’t take kindly to CQ calls during their afternoon siestas; or that packing hiking boots would’ve made carrying equipment up a steep cliff face for great yagi take offs safer and easier, can be demoralizing — especially if you realize there are no quick fixes to turn to when you’ve stepped off the boat or plane.
In many ways then, the data gathered on a recon trip can decide the fate of your DXpedition event. In my experience, it can determine whether or not the money paid for permits, accommodation, transport, radio equipment, food and other supplies, as well as the time off work, will be a waste. It can also reveal whether or not your efforts behind the mic chasing pile ups will be validated with plenty of contacts in the log.
Occasionally the DXpedition recon trip will take the form of a ‘suitcase’ or ‘microlite’ DXpedition. This means that the reconnoitre will sometimes take uncomplicated, unobtrusive equipment, such as a small rig and a whip antenna, to conduct test ops in the lead up to a full-scale activity. Indeed, this can be helpful as it gives you a feel for the operating conditions. You can also sneak in a few contacts hihi!
When embarking on a reconnaissance mission, my advice is to check for the following things:
- Terrain which potentially blocks/obstructs pathways to continents (EU, AS, OC, NA, SA and AN) — It’s no good going to all the trouble of carrying out a DXpedition if you can only work a few continents.
- Locations and space to install an antenna/s — Obviously more space will be required to erect a yagi antenna than a vertical though verticals with ground radials also require larger space
- Guying points — Look for trees around the residence where wires and ropes can be fixed. This will determine whether or not you will need to take a sling shot for shooting guys through tree forks
- Approximate coaxial cable lengths to ensure there is ample feedline to reach th best possible antenna location
- The attitude of neighbours to possible disruption of their immediate living environment with ‘unsightly’ arrays
- That the accommodation is ham friendly
- Possible exposure or vulnerability to extreme WX (e.g high winds, temperatures, tsunamis, etc.)
- The availability of medical services and/or supplies in the case of sickness or injury to one of the team members
- The availability of food perishables such as meat, milk and bread
- The reliability of any power source (e.g. scheduled blackouts)
Due to the extremes of distance and associated costs (including time) with some scheduled DXpedition work, nevertheless, scouting missions to accumulate facts about planned DX operating environments are not always feasible.
In these circumstances, rather than journey to the DXstination to seek particulars through direct inspection, reconnoitring can also take the form of gathering information through other, more convenient means.
The internet, for example, is a valuable reconnaissance mechanism for DXpedition enthusiasts and serves as an adequate substitute for authentic recon missions. Images of anticipated DXstinations, including accommodation and surroundings, are almost always obtainable online, as too are accounts from other DX teams (including hams) who’ve operated in the past from that particular area.
Any comprehensive pre-DXpedition fact-finding mission, in fact, should combine an actual excursion to the DXstination with images and information gathered via the internet. Anything less in the modern technological world for a dx adventurist is ill-advised.
Here are some good places to start for an online reckie exercise:
- Google images (and other online image sources such as Flickr and Photobucket) — type in the name of your anticipated DXstination and save all relevant images to a folder. If you’re lucky, you’ll be able to piece them together like a jigsaw to get a clearer picture of your operating environment.
- DX Holiday (See http://www.delta-alfa.com/about/partner-organisations/ )
- The homepage of your projected lodgings — ask for a description of the surrounds from personnel. They are usually more than happy to oblige.
While some DXpeditioners are prepared to tempt fate and take their chances with what their intended DXstination will throw up, DA-RC members are more vigilant and meticulous with their planning efforts.
They realise that undertaking a journey to the place of DX operation in order to gain pertinent information for the upcoming DX event, while sometimes being an inconvenience in a busy existence, is a necessary and significant part of serious DXpedition work!
Jetlag – the DXpeditioner’s Curse
September 14, 2009 by Darren
Jetlag (also known as desynchronosis) is a physiological condition commonly affecting DXpedition enthusiasts — one that results from rapid long-distance transmeridian travel. Once called ‘boat lag’ by maritime mobile dx devotees before airplane journey existed, this condition can impact heavily on the functioning of a DXpeditioner in the first couple of days of an operation; causing digestive problems, headaches, fatigue, irregular sleep patterns, temporary insomnia, disorientation, grogginess, irritability and mild depression.
What Causes Jetlag?
When roving across a number of time zones for dx adventure, the body clock of a dx tourist will be out of synchronisation with the DXstination time. This is because it experiences daylight and darkness dissimilar to the rhythms to which it has grown used to. The body’s natural pattern, then, is disturbed as the patterns that dictate times for eating, sleeping, hormone control and body temp variations no longer correspond to the surroundings.
In particular, DXpeditions which require air travel from west to east (e.g. From 43 Division to distant Pacific or NA or SA Islands) are thought to be more likely to cause jetlag. This may be because most people have a circadian period which is a bit longer than 24 hours, making it easier to stay up later than to get up earlier. It may also be that flights to the east are more likely to require DXplorers to stay awake more than 1 full night in order to adjust to the local time zone.
How to Avoid Jet Lag
Evidence shows that the speed at which the DXpeditioner’s body adjusts to the new schedule of a DXpedition activity depends on the individual DXer. Some DXpedition team members may require several days to adjust to a new time zone. Others experience little disruption at all.
Fortunately, there are a number of different ways to help avoid or lessen the duration of jetlag. Firstly, a dx adventurist should drink lots of water the day before and also on the day of their trip to keep their body hydrated. Airplane cabins are notoriously dry and can make a dx trailblazer feel dehydrated contributing to that horrible jetlagged sluggishness effect. On this note, dx adventurists should also avoid alcoholic and caffeinated drinks which can contribute to dehydration and make the jetlag worse. (Note the term ‘avoid’ rather than abstain hihi)
Another thing DXplorers can do to avoid jetlag is to set their watch to the local time of where they are going when they commence their trip. This is more a psychological ploy to dupe the body and mind but it has been known to help!
A third way of dodging the jetlag bullet is for the dx tourist to get up and walk around the plane to avoid circulation problems and stiffness in their legs. Moreover, once the plane has landed, a brisk 15 minute walk in the sun to get the blood circulating again before setting up the station and putting out that initial CQ DX call is also suggested.
The last piece of advice to wipe the floor with jetlag is to wear ear plugs on the plane, as well as an eye mask, and try to catch some shuteye. This will dull the senses so the dx adventurist is not completely wired when they land…
In conclusion, performing these deeds will help guard against the inconvenience of jetlag and its impact on the enjoyment of those first few days of a DXpedition. The condition though is destined to affect dx holidaymakers who engage in transmeridian travel to varying degrees but if you are patient, the digestive troubles, headaches, tiredness, irregular sleep patterns, short-term insomnia, disorientation, wooziness, tetchiness and mild depression will pass, leaving you in great spirits to enjoy the DXperience.
73 de Darren 43DA001330DA/EI Elisabeth Island Story
August 15, 2009 by Darren
Elisabeth Island, or Erzsebet-Sziget as the peninsula is known in Hungarian, is located in the border area between Slovakia and Hungary (109 Division) in the town of Komárno. Apart from being the home of my latest 330DA/EI IWI activity, it is also residence to a famous shipyard that repairs and also manufacturers both river and ocean going ships.
The skyline was dominated by cranes that are located here, as well as the metal shrouds that hold the ships while they are being manufactured. Once patrolled by the border Police, the area is now under the Schengen agreement so after the 800 km drive from my home it was time to test the antennas and see if there was any band conditions.
The story of 330DA/EI is dominated by fierce storms — rains like you have never seen before — and long spells of silence that were interrupted only by sporadic voices on the band.
When I made the first 330DA/EI CQ call on 27.555 MHz indeed the band was totally silent. But then with the QSY to 27.490 MHz it was surprising to have some voices return. The first station logged at this time was fellow DA-RC member 14DA049 Fred who broke the silence on the first day of the event with his familiar QRZ.
Severe QSB was most noticeable on the air with stations appearing at 5/5 and then, sometimes as the signal report was done, fading down to nothing. This provided a real challenge so no time was lost issuing progressives and moving to the next contact.
Fortunately, two new IOTA for me were worked from Elisabeth Island. 14DX181 Marc was on an island as was 30AT/E054 Jose so it was nice to hear and work from island to island with these two new ones.
Slowly the band seemed to open a little, and although silence was the norm, stations in Italy (1), Poland (161), Netherlands (19), Belgium (16) and Denmark (47) were worked.
During a contact with famed IOTA Hunter 19SD265 Rene, he mentioned that 330DA/EI was the only signal on the band for him and this was the same for me here as he had broken the hour plus of silence that I had experienced before his call.
In total, the number of stations worked from Elisabeth Island was 29 and 9 divisions or DXCC were logged during the time also.
The plan to activate Zitny Ostrov was shelled at the last minute as I sat there for 90 minutes and not any single signal was heard. Consequently, I decided to concentrate on the Elisabeth Island activity for this time, and then the next trip here will make more efforts to activate Zitny Ostrov and also two unnamed islands that are located on a lake not far from here.
All that is left to say is thank you to everyone for calling me and thanks for the patience during my time on the air.
The 330DA/EI station consisted of a Yaesu FT817BD transceiver; the microphone was an Olaf Grundmann modified MH31e; the amplifier was homemade; and the antenna a Wilson 1000 vertical that had toured the Caribbean with good friend 14DX041 Chris.
See you from the next island!
73s from Slovakia,
Simon 13DA007Real or Fake?
May 9, 2009 by Darren
Part of the role of any respectable radio club headquarters is to ensure the validity of expeditions conducted by its members. Obviously, providing physical evidence or documentation to support the validity of a DX operation is to stop so called ‘fakes’ (hoax operations) and reduce the negative impacts it has on the radio fraternity (eg. time wasting and loss of finance, etc.).
It is generally accepted that the DXpedition team member/s performing the activity must prove to his club and the 11m community as a whole that he did in fact operate from the place identified. The customary time frame for this to occur is within 3 months of the activity’s conclusion. It is also agreed that it is the responsibility of the club in question to ensure this is done and that the correct protocols are undertaken to guarantee the integrity of the process for everyone.
With this in mind, a proofs package is usually sent to a representative of the radio club (eg. QSL Manager, Activations Manager, etc.) immediately after an activation has concluded and if all of the information checks out then it is usually accepted that the DX operation was a valid one. Similarly, if questions are raised about the legitimacy of an activation, it is easy then to dispel the rumours and prove in fact that is a real one, providing a radio club has the appropriate proofs in hand.
On this note, club’s such as DA-RC whom are affiliated with the World Wide Radio Organisation (WWRO) will normally send their proofs to the International Validation Team who will validate the activity on the group’s behalf. Though still in its teething stage, this is arguably the best system for 11m and 11m operators as it eliminates the risks associated with uploading incriminating information to the internet which can be accessed by authorities.
Types of Proofs
Providing proof of an activity is usually done via the following means:
- Copies of airline tickets
- Photographs of station and antenna set up, including power source, with date stamps
- Providing souvenirs such as postcards, key rings, maps, etc.
- Transport receipts such as a ferry docket or a bus ticket
- Copy of the access permit in the case of protected areas
- Copy of the visa for the said country (if required)
- Photocopy of the passport pages showing entry/ exit stamps
- Copies of hotel receipts as evidence of stay in the country concerned.
So Why Do Fakes Occur?
Though it is extremely rare on 11m, operators will lie about their QTH and deliberately misrepresent their station for different reasons. Some of these include:
1. Cost of travel/ accommodation is too much $$$.
Travelling to and staying in some parts of the world can cost an enormous amount of money. To activate a small island will sometimes require the chartering of a plane or boat which can cost the DX-pedition team up to $10,000 AUS to do so.
It is sometimes easier, then, for an operator to set up a DX station on a major island or country nearby with a reliable power source and to transmit from there. They can often get away with it too if the area is remote and there are no local operators to question the activity and location.
The operator in question, therefore, will still be able to cash in on all the kudos and black slapping that goes with providing rare DX opportunities to the world.
2. Restricted access due to government legislation (ie. Protected areas, world heritage listings etc.)
3. Fun or boredom
Let’s face it – some operators and groups make up a fake activation as a joke. In times of poor propagation, I’ve heard operators calling fake stations and asking for progressive numbers when it is well known that the activation is a hoax. The operator conducting the activation will even say, if asked, that the activity is ‘fake’ and no QSL confirmation will be offered.
4. WX
When operators have advertised an upcoming activation and already gone ahead with printing thousands of QSL cards, the DX world expects it to be carried out. Unfortunately, however, bad WX conditions might make this impossible.
Knowing the backlash that could occur and fearing damage to their reputation, the DX team might transmit from a nearby area and not the one identified – especially if they have already paid for transport, passports and visas and are close to the advertised destination.
5. To cause trouble and inconvenience for other radio operators
In Australia, sending a quality QSL confirmation package can cost upwards of $8.00 AUS (IRC, Stamp, 3 QSL cards, a postcard, photograph of shack, envelope). Obviously, it’s a waste of time and money if operators are sending cards to confirm activities that are found to be fake.
It’s a sad fact, though, that dollar and card collectors do exist in our radio community. These guys don’t care about other radio operators and have little personal integrity as they feel protected from recrimination either by geographical isolation or the absence of intimacy which come with hiding behind a microphone.
I wonder how many stations mentioned on ‘Blacklists’ are actually fair dinkum activities anyway…
If you are concerned with the legitimacy of a station that you have worked, my advice is to seek some clarification from radio friends on one of the many DX forums or the DX Group in question. They should be able to tell you if a member is active from the particular location you have identified and will give you access to the necessary evidence to prove it.
73 de Darren 43DA010 World HQ TeamThe Difference Between a ‘0′ and a ‘DX’
April 5, 2009 by Darren
On the topic of working or undertaking rare, most wanted or new DXCC DXpedition activities on eleven metre frequencies, the question is sometimes put, “What is the difference between a ‘0′ suffix and a ‘DX’ suffix?” What’s more, “Why do some DXCC activation callsigns end with a ‘0′ (eg. 146DA/0 or 344DA/0) while other callsigns (eg. 87DA/DX or 67DA/DX) conclude with the letters ‘DX’?”
As I understand it, the Alfa Tango group initiated this simple but effective system of identifying the past operating history of a DXCC entity many years ago. Essentially, this same system has also been embraced by every known radio group, including our very own Dx Adventure Radio Club (DA-RC) but with some slight enhancements…
The ‘0′ Suffix – What it means
According to the definition advocated by Alfa Tango, a ‘0′ callsign represents a first ever activation of a DXCC on 11m by a radio group without any member of that group living in that DXCC neither…
- At the release of authorisation for that activity by the group’s HQ; or
- In the DXCC’s past history.
Positively the most prestigious stations and callsigns to work, the ‘0′ suffix can be awarded only once, unless 200 contacts are not achieved. In this case it can be used again, and again if necessary, until such time that 200 contacts are realised!
The Dx Adventure Radio Club (DA-RC) is committed to delivering ‘0′ activities each calendar year but will only do so when a ‘0′ activity has never been conducted from that DXCC, regardless of the DX group involved. For non-rare DXCC we use traditional portable callsigns (See below), such as 320/224DA011 and 99/320DA011.
The ‘DX’ Suffix – what it means
A ‘DX’ suffix refers to an activation of an already activated DXCC without any resident member when releasing the authorisation. The ‘DX’ suffix can be used not more than three times. If, after the ‘0′ activation, other suffixes are used (IOTA or portable), they will have the same value as a ‘DX’ suffix.
The Portable Prefix – What it means
The term ‘portable’ is commonly applied to mobile operations or when a radio operator goes portable in the field.
For the purpose of this article, ‘Portable’ also refers to a Freeband operator visiting a DXCC which has less than 10 members of his radio club and operating a radio transceiver. In this case, the operator’s standard home callsign (his DXCC reference, dx group initials and unit number) follows the prefix of the visited DXCC entity.
For example, if 3DA012 Roger visited Argentina (4 Division) and was working on the radio, he would be classified as a portable dx station. His callsign, therefore, would be 4 / 3DA012 where the / is substituted verbally for the word ‘stroke’. Again, if 41DA105 Brian was holidaying in Australia with a radio in tow, his portable callsign would be 43 / 41DA105.
As is the case with some other DX groups, the request of authorisation from DA-RC Headquarters to operate as a portable station is necessary.
Additionally, portable stations must comply with the criteria outlined in DA-RC’s DXpedition Operations Protocol. (See http://www.delta-alfa.com/about/da-rc-protocol/ ). This includes filling out a DXpedition information form and submitting it to DA-RC HQ for perusal prior to the activity taking place so that the activity can be supported effectively, providing proofs to the DA-RC HQ Team via the respective Continental QSL Manager within three months after the conclusion of the activity, as well as guaranteeing actions to offset the DX activity’s carbon emissions and so reduce the DXpedition and Club’s carbon footprint.
[The Dx Adventure Radio Club is currently in the process of establishing a special team of experienced DXpeditioners from all continents to plan and deliver activities from DXCC that have never been active before on 11m.
If you would like more information on this initiative, including how you can participate and/or support it, please contact the HQ Team via the Contact form at http://www.delta-alfa.com/about/contact/ ]
