By Glenn Petri KE4KY

In mid-April, I had the grand opportunity to attend and participate in the 2013 International DX Convention. This was my very first experience attending an international convention devoted solely to Amateur Radio DXing. This year’s convention convened in Visalia, California at the spacious Downtown Visalia Convention . . . → Read More: How Much is That DX QSL Card Worth?]]> “How Much is that DX QSL Card Worth?”

By Glenn Petri KE4KY

In mid-April, I had the grand opportunity to attend and participate in the 2013 International DX Convention. This was my very first experience attending an international convention devoted solely to Amateur Radio DXing. This year’s convention convened in Visalia, California at the spacious Downtown Visalia Convention Center. DXers from all over the globe made their way to the Convention to enjoy its educational, informational, and social offerings aimed directly at the Amateur Radio DX enthusiast.

This Convention offers much to the hard-core DXer:

• New Equipment Reviews

• Antenna Forums

• Technical/Teaching Forums

• Showcase of Recent DX-peditions

• Three full days of DX related topics and conversation

One major highlight of the Convention is the opportunity to interact with many of the world’s top DXers, whether it is asking questions during a formal presentation or rubbing elbows during one of the many informal venues set aside for relaxed conversation coupled with adult beverages, known as the “attitude adjustment hour.”

I traveled to Visalia with Les W2LK and Gene K5GS, two of my ZL9HR 2012 Campbell Island DX-pedition teammates. Les provided the overview of the ZL9HR effort on 160m/80m at the Top Band Dinner on the Friday evening of the Convention, and Gene highlighted the operation the next day during one of the regular forum periods set aside for the more prevalent operations of the prior year. It was not possible to attend every forum session I wished to see, but I was able to sit for:

1. 3D2C – Conway Reef, presented by Paul N6PSE

2. 7O6T – Yemen, presented by David K3LP

3. ZL9HR – Campbell Island NZ, presented by Gene K5GS

4. 6O0CW – Somalia, presented by the I2YSB Team

5. PT0S – St. Peter & St. Paul Rocks, presented by Fred PY2XB during the Convention Breakfast on Sunday
NOTE: The Convention sponsors awarded the DX-pedition of the Year to the PT0S Team

One of my main reasons for attending the Convention was that of representing the ZL9HR Team and being available for questions, comments, and general conversation regarding our experiences surrounding the operation. Gene, Les, and I were overwhelmed with the positive reviews and supportive comments provided by many of the attendees that we were able to meet. Many of the other DX-peditioners and DX-pedition team leaders met with us throughout the weekend providing us an additional opportunity to share our experiences and to do some serious “networking” for future opportunities that might come our way.

During the forum presentations, one was able to hear first-hand from each represented major DX-pedition about its initial inception, its planning, its logistical demands, its “on-air” operation, and its unique individual struggles. Some of those struggles or obstacles were:

• Safety of the Team from hostile governments/citizens, terrorism, criminal activity, cultural prejudices, etc…

• Hostile weather environments (hot / cold)

• Dangerous ocean travel

• Ability to keep antennas operational given weather/sea conditions, space constraints, etc…

• Available space for radio operations, sleeping, resting, & eating during the operational period

• Medical/Safety Issues (ticks & other insects, dehydration, exposure, physical injuries, 900 lb. sea lions)

• Obtaining permissions for entry into a specific country or DXCC entity

• Difficulty obtaining the necessary radio license

• Getting large quantities of equipment to and from an entity

• Lack of sleep or rest

• Water

• Food

• Funding $$$

Planning a DX-pedition is no doubt a difficult and daunting task. When one reads the comments of Internet forums, it would seem that many believe that a DX-pedition is merely a “vacation” for its planners and operators and are often quick to criticize the operation for some aspect of its operation. It would seem that there is no consideration given to what it took to get the operation on the air to begin with; nor what the team is likely to endure while pushing out the Q’s for days to weeks that the operation may continue. While it is the goal of every DX-pedition to provide that ATNO to as many folks as possible, just remember:

IT IS NOT THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE DX STATION TO GET YOU IN THEIR LOG!

As DXers, we should strive to do all that we can on our end to put the odds in our favor to catch that much needed Q. Whether it is improving our antennas, improving our individual skill sets, working other modes, or just by losing some sleep to catch them on a different band or two, we need to earn that QSO by putting in the time and the effort required.

One of the largest hurdles facing major DX-pedition planners to semi-rare entities is COST. With the price tag to places such as Bouvet Island, Heard Island, and the up-coming Amsterdam Island being $500k+++, it is essential that the DX community at-large consider some measure of monetary support to these operations to help make things happen. An individual team member usually bears a major brunt of the costs, expecting to be out-of-pocket some $10k-$15k towards the cost of the operation. A team member is also responsible to cover their own airfare, lodging, and meals while heading to drop-off points for the operation, as well as any personal equipment that may be required for the operation (wet/cold weather gear, etc…), an additional financial obligation that adds substantially to the overall cost paid by the individual team member. Considering that four to six weeks away from home is also required, a lot is being asked of those that step forward and travel to these rare entities.

Simply stated, the more rare…the more expensive. The travel costs to the remotest parts of our globe don’t come cheap, and in order for that to happen it takes years of planning, overcoming many logistical issues, fund raising, and in the end….lots of money. Don Greenbaum N1DG has done exhaustive research regarding DX-pedition funding and has spoken extensively about this issue. Don stated during a Q & A session that in the time span of the first QSO to the last QSO, a major operation currently costs a staggering $20 per minute to put on the air.

Individual DXers can do their share on many fronts. Support of our foundations and organizations that issue grants to the rarest of DXCC entity projects is the most efficient manner in which to support efforts now and for in the future. On-line QSL services are fast becoming a stream of revenue for the larger DXpeditions. Many who request QSL cards on-line also contribute just a few extra dollars over the cost of the QSL card that go to balancing the books of a recently completed operation. Individual donations prior to the start of DXpedition are probably the most important contribution one could make, helping to insure that much of the up-front money required by the operation is in the hands of organizers and utilized for those items requiring purchase prior to even setting foot on that DXCC entity. The rarest of DXCC entities have an average cost of nearly $5.00 per QSO, a rather staggering thought as it pertains to the funds required to get an operation successfully “on the air.”

Without our support, or the support of the major foundations, these projects to rare DXCC entities would never send out their first CQ, nor be capable of sending out that first QSL card. Please consider supporting groups like the Northern California DX Foundation (NCDXF) or the International DX Association (INDEXA).
Help make DX Happen!

73,

See you in next pile-up!

Originally published http://ky4dx.org/2013/04/27/how-much-is-that-dx-qsl-card-worth/   Many thanks to KE4KY for allowing m to share his post.

One of the most exciting ham activities is building. There are kits available to build everything from add on . . . → Read More: Build it and they will come]]> Amateur radio has got to be the most diverse activity available to the average person. There are dozens of activities and anyone that ever says they are bored with ham radio must not have any imagination.

One of the most exciting ham activities is building. There are kits available to build everything from add on components to complete transceivers and everything in between. Some of the most popular kits are the Rockmites, small QRP transceivers that will fit in an Altoid tin.

Many of these projects can be assembled in the matter of a few hours to a few days. Of course, there are the many junk box projects. A hand full of parts and pieces scavenged from old circuit boards or broken, out dated gear can yield some amazing conversation pieces.

Of course for the hardiest among us there is always the venerable amplifier project. A lot of these have become significantly smaller and more compact but none the less present a challenge to the ham.

Probably the greatest satisfaction, however, received from kit or junkbox building is that sense of accomplishment….. I built that!   A great place to start looking for like minded hams in the Louisville metro area is the homebrewers club.  You can visit their website at http://oldradiobuilder.com/club.html

So go find a project, anything from that simplest dipole antenna to the most complex transceiver or amplifier and join the ‘I built that’ club.

“My name is John Hager amateur call sign N4KJU and most people call me Johnny. I have been a amateur radio operator for thirty years. My first exposure to amateur ham radio was in 1978 when the my home city of Paintsville was evacuated due to a temporary dam about to . . . → Read More: New DEC For District 9]]> A Note From the New DEC:

The following spring I passed my Technician Class  and issued the call of N4KJU. Shortly thereafter we had the flood of 1984 and used two meters for the first time sending  and receiving messages to local hams regarding water conditions throughout Paintsville and Johnson County.

In 1986 I became EC of Johnson County and have served several terms in that capacity. In addition to that I have served one previous term as DEC. Also I am active as a fire fighter, EMT,member of the Haz  Mat team,Rescue Squad Member and member of the LEPC and EM staff and a lay speaker in the United Methodist Church and currently hold an extra class ham license along with being a ARRL VE.

As DEC I want to use my abilities,interest,contacts, and experience toward biulding a great ARES team here within Kentucky’s  Ninth District. I am a firm believer in management by participation using the TEAM concept which is Together Everyone Acieves More. If can be of assistance feel fre to contact me. My e-mail is n4kju@yahoo.com or you can call me at 606-789-4109.”

Who said that the Internet would be the death of amateur radio??

Nothing could be further than the truth with the Internet currently being a such great adjunct to the hobby in so many ways.  It would be extremely difficult to list all the ways the Internet supplements the amateur . . . → Read More: The Internet – The Demise of Amateur Radio OR The Rumors of my death have been greatly exaggerated]]> by Glenn Petri KE4KY

Who said that the Internet would be the death of amateur radio??

Nothing could be further than the truth with the Internet currently being a such great adjunct to the hobby in so many ways.  It would be extremely difficult to list all the ways the Internet supplements the amateur radio hobby currently, but look at a few I could readily list:

• QSL Information
• DX Bulletins
• “Fresh off the press” DX news
• Web-based packet clusters
• Contest (radio sport) information, results, and calendars
• Technical bulletins
• Solar activity & propagation forecasts
• Used radio sale listings
• Amateur forums for every aspect of the hobby
• Emergency Communications (Training, Trends, Networking, etc..)
• DXCC history, DXpeditions of the past (BS7H, for example)

And it could go on and on…just so much information at the tips of your fingers!

An interesting new Internet technology has first been put to use during the recent TX5K Clipperton Island 2013 DXpedition utilizing a concept of nearly instant feedback regarding the on-going status of the operation.  The DXA website is a big hit with DXers around the globe and will most certainly be seen again during the 2014 Heard Island DXpedition.

A quote from the TX5K website:

“DXA is a dynamic website that allows DXers to view the current status and activities of the DXpedition in near-real-time. Within a minute or so after making a contact with the DXpedition, the DXer is able to see confirmation of that contact entered in the expedition log. Information such as the callsigns logged in the last minute and in the last hour, and the band modes currently being worked by the DXpedition, are displayed in a simple, automatically-updated interface. The entire application runs within a standard browser–no software needs to be downloaded or installed.”

A screen shot of the website shows many different features alive at once.

• Current band(s) in operation, including current mode
• Bands you have already worked (or not)
• Days remaining of operation
• Current QSO Counts
• Calls of the most recent contacts and their location (hint on propagation status)

This will certainly add to the sideline interests of those chasing a rare DX station for operations that utilize such a feature in the future.  It is very interesting to work a DX station and then within moments have that instant feedback of a successful QSO.

reprinted with permission...... originally at http://ky4dx.org/2013/03/07/internet-the-death-of-ham-radio/

Dave N4FND getting into the material

The first class was held in January 0f 2009 during the infamous ice storm and graduated about 20 new hams. This class was requested by a couple of members back in late December so . . . → Read More: Tech in a Weekend VI]]> The Bullitt Amateur Radio Society in Shepherdsville recently held their 6th Tech in a Weekend class.

Dave N4FND getting into the material

The first class was held in January 0f 2009 during the infamous ice storm and graduated about 20 new hams. This class was requested by a couple of members back in late December so the call was put out and the response was amazing.

Full classroom, lots of eager faces

There were 38 guys and gals from all over the Commonwealth, from eastern Kentucky to southern Indiana.

The course goes something like this. Each person that ‘registered’ was given a couple of links to prepare for the class. It was stressed that the student needed to read through the material several times and come well prepared.

The Zoneton Fire District was gracious enough to supply us a great classroom with all the neat tech gizmos such as PC projectors and extra monitors around the room.

Come Friday night at 6PM the parking lot began to fill and 38 fresh faces streamed into the classroom and the instructing staff knew they had their work cut out for them.

The time frame is rapid indeed. Class time Friday night ran from 6PM til just shy of 10PM and then started up early morning Saturday at 9AM. Of course it helped to have six dozen doughnuts to kick things off Saturday morning. We finished up just short of 1PM,

A sugar buzz to get things going

our target time. As you see, there is a lot of material crammed into less than 8 hours of instruction time.

The VE team rolled in at 1PM and the testing began in earnest. Past success rates averaged just shy of 90% and the team was hoping for similar results. Testing itself took nearly 2 hours to test, grade and get folks out the door.

Getting the paperwork in order

When the dust settled, there were 25 new technician class amateurs, one new general class and an upgrade to general. Not up to our past success rates but those that missed only missed by 2 or 3 questions and are well prepared to pass the test at their next opportunity.

Many thanks to our instructing and VE teams, Laddie AI4RQ, Dave N4FND, Matt KJ4LHU, Ray K4RDE and Tom K4TBI.

If you or your group is interested in running a similar class we will be happy to share our successes and failures.

73  Buddy KC4WQ

Unless you have unlimited funds and/or land, your antennas will be a bit of a compromise to match your operating techniques and style. . . . → Read More: It’s antenna time]]> I just received the latest issue of QST and March always brings on visions of monster quads or 80 meter curtains. So what are you planning for the upcoming spring/summer for antenna projects?

Unless you have unlimited funds and/or land, your antennas will be a bit of a compromise to match your operating techniques and style. Of course an understanding spouse goes a long way as well.

As far me, my wife is unbelievably understanding. She has tolerated my obsession for well over 2 decades, including 4 towers and all kinds of toys. She even after 20 years of marriage broke down and got her tech ticket a couple of years back!

For me, I have several antennas that need maintenance after some winter wind and ice and a rotator that doesn’t want to turn right. So what’s on your to-do list?

Whatever it is, be safe and get on the air. Try your best to make at least one contact a day and get those antennas up in the air.

The annual ARRL Simulated Emergency Test was held in Region 4 on Sunday afternoon, November 11th.  More than 50 amateurs in the following counties participated:  Lawrence, Carter, Elliott, Johnson, Floyd, Pike, Breathitt, Knott, Harlan, Letcher, and Perry.

The scenario for the test was a blizzard . . . → Read More: Region 4 SET Report]]>

Edwards and John Farler at SET Control Station, Jackson Weather Station.

The annual ARRL Simulated Emergency Test was held in Region 4 on Sunday afternoon, November 11th.  More than 50 amateurs in the following counties participated:  Lawrence, Carter, Elliott, Johnson, Floyd, Pike, Breathitt, Knott, Harlan, Letcher, and Perry.

The scenario for the test was a blizzard and luckily, the weather was nice that day, unlike a week or so before when some areas of the Region did have large snowfalls.  The central agency for the test was the National Weather Service office, near Jackson, in Breathitt Co. 

Warning Coordination Meteorologist Tony Edwards (KJ4FYM) operated the office station, WX4JKL.  The station contacted the individual repeater groups in each area which had taken local reports and  received simulated snowfall reports and conditions that participants had given to each NCS.

NCS Stations included KC4FNV,  Steve Tolliver, in Harlan; KK4WH, Tim Webb, Letcher Co. EC; WB4CLW, Bill Callihan, AEC in Floyd Co.; KJ4GRJ, Ross Leedy, EC in Lawrence Co.; and KC4CZO, Gary Oliver, EC in Perry Co.

Individual repeaters involved included Harlan, Whitesburg, Hazard, Jackson and Louisa.  The linked system was used by the other sites, including Paintsville,  Pikeville,  Prestonsburg, Inez, Phelps, Grayson, and Saylersville. To finish up the exercise.   all in the Eastern KY Linked System  including Hazard and Whitesburg,linked up to culminate the exercise. The Jackson NWS is at a high elevation for the type of terrain around it, so they can access a large number of repeaters from their site.

Besides the NWS in Jackson, 16 local agencies were served and information was sent to NWS-JKL.  These came from 16 localities from Louisa to Harlan, and some were from local Eoc’s in the communities.

In addition, the Jackson NWS Office had a story on their daily news link that can be seen in the archives below.

http://www.crh.noaa.gov/news/display_cmsstory.php?wfo=jkl&storyid=89261&source=2

A pre-test press release was also sent to the Hazard TV Station, WYMT, for use in one of their evening weather reports.

John Farler
K4AVX
ASEC,
Region 4

ZL9HR Campbell Island DXpedition 2012: A DXer’s Dream Come True!

By Glenn Petri KE4KY

In 1975, . . . → Read More: Trip of a Lifetime ZL9HR]]> Several months ago one of our club members excitedly told us that he had been selected as a member of the ZL9HR Campbell Island DXpedition slated for December 2012. The following is Glenn’s first hand account of a trip of a lifetime.

ZL9HR Campbell Island DXpedition 2012:
A DXer’s Dream Come True!

By Glenn Petri KE4KY

In 1975, at the young age of twelve, I entered the world of amateur radio when I received my Amateur Novice Class License. Shortly after getting “on the air,” I was completely fascinated with the ability to communicate all over the continental U.S. with such ease. As my antennas, radio equipment, and operating skills began to slowly improve, I was now hearing and easily working stations all over the globe. As time progressed, I was learning more about propagation, pile-ups, QSL-ing, and the finer points of being a DXer. At the ripe old age of fifteen, I was now thoroughly bitten by the DX bug! Forward some thirty-four years later, I am still enthralled with the joy of making a contact with someone on the other side of the globe! Almost daily, I am reading or browsing through the latest DX news available on the Internet, or digesting one of the many bulletins that I subscribe.

Over the last several years, I have viewed several professionally produced videos that profiled some of the larger DXpeditions of the last two decades. As I watched prominent DXers activate many of those rare DXCC entities, I began to feel a growing desire to be one of those operators on the other side of the pile-up. I often asked and wondered:

How is one invited on such a venture?
By what means do you make it known that you are sincerely interested in being a team member of a future DXpedition?

As I searched answers to those two questions, I was sorely disappointed to find out that most DXpedition teams are comprised of folks that know each other well, or comprised of some very prominent DXers with a long and distinguished expedition resume. Very seldom did I read open invitations for even the not-so-rare locations that are activated every other year or so. Although this seemed a slow path, I could do nothing else except stay on top of the latest DX news and visit the prominent DX websites on a regular basis to keep abreast of any new announcement.

In March of 2012, I received an email from a close friend regarding an upcoming activation of ZL9 Campbell Island NZ (OC-037). The intriguing aspect of the email was that the leaders of the project were actively seeking operators to fill the nine positions available for the operation. Having viewed the ZL9CI Campbell Island (1999) video more times than I wish to admit, I was quite familiar with the much-wanted DXCC entity. It was one of those DXCC entities that I often dreamed of traveling to one day, and while watching the video, could only hope that I too could someday be part of major DX operation to some place similar.

Having received the email while I was at work, I did not do much research on how high the entity placed on the DXCC “most wanted” list, but readily knew that any operation to Campbell would be a major undertaking. I quickly responded to the email address provided in the release and kept my fingers crossed. As days went by with no response, I began to dismiss the notion that I would receive even the least bit of consideration for this operation because I had no prior dxpedition experience to provide as qualifications of my radio “experience.”

As I recall, it was just a week or two later I received an email requesting information should I still be interested in being a member of the ZL9 team. Following a day or two of anxious waiting, the email(s) arrived stating that I was now an official member of the 2012 Campbell Island DXpedition! I was very pleased to learn that three other team members were also from the U.S. After some emails and phone calls with the other U.S. ops, it was set that the four of us would meet in mid-May at the 2012 Dayton Hamvention and begin that all-important team bonding process.

From April through November, the ZL9HR DXpedition was a central focus of all my non-work related activities. Everyone on the team became active in some fashion with helping the project proceed forward. I volunteered for the tasks of creating the Facebook and Twitter pages that were very useful in disseminating information regarding the status of the operation. There were weekly teleconference calls scheduled for the team, and the stream of emails between all of us seemed to be endless. Gene K5GS and I volunteered for the task of creating a safety plan required by the NZ Department of Conservation. This safety plan was a required element to comply with terms of the DoC island entry permit.

With fall quickly approaching, the operation was moving into high gear. All of the team members participated in the promotion of the project by contacting major DX clubs and foundations, visiting popular Internet DX forums, speaking to local clubs, etc… The ZL9HR web page was also very active, with updates regarding the operation posted via the Internet on a weekly basis.

As mid-November finally arrived, it became time for all of the team to begin the process of assembling in New Zealand. On November 19, I began the much-anticipated journey from Kentucky to Auckland New Zealand. I was fortunate to be able to meet Dave K3EL and Les W2LK in San Francisco, California for the long overnight flight. Upon arrival in Auckland, Jacky ZL3CW offered up his home for overnight stays to four of us prior to proceeding towards Invercargill where the complete team would then assemble for the first time to complete several necessary tasks. I cannot say enough about the hospitality that Jacky and Sue Calvo offered to Don VE7DS, Dave K3EL, Les W2LK, and me. They were great hosts, treating all of us as though we were family. We cannot thank them enough for the generosity they showed during our short stay.

After our arrival to Invercargill, the team was required to meet representatives of the NZ Department of Conservation. The DoC is the agency responsible for issuing the entry permits and regulating the access to the protected New Zealand Sub-Antarctic Islands. (I would encourage everyone to research the Internet regarding Campbell Island. The island is a unique place and has the status as a World Heritage Site as designated by U.N.E.S.C.O.)

DoC Inspection of personal gear

The DoC required an inspection and “quarantine” of all our equipment and personal gear to insure that no foreign seeds, plant matter, insects, or rodents were inadvertently carried to the island and introduced into the recovering eco-system.

All gear was unpacked from the shipping crates during the inspection process.

All gear is unpacked, inspected, then sealed for transport

Even the gen-sets were bagged or wrapped in a shrink-wrap style of plastic film for transport to the island. Since we did not sail for two more days, the team kept just enough clothes and personal items out of our luggage so that the larger duffels and suitcases could remain in the quarantine area until loaded for transport to the port city of Bluff.

The Expedition Yacht EVOHE

Prior to leaving the wharf at Bluff, EVOHE Captain Steve Kafka was receiving the latest updates of the weather and sea conditions between Bluff and Campbell Island. It was determined that with conditions of 50mph plus

Our first view of Beeman Point, Campbell Island

On the morning of November 30 Campbell Island materialized out of the mist. The excitement throughout the team was palpable, with everyone grabbing cameras to capture those first moments of our arrival. As we approached Beeman Point, the abandoned MET Station came into full view. For those of us that were familiar with this site, we knew that we had truly arrived! Following the EVOHE dropping anchor in Perseverance Harbor, the zodiac was lowered to the water and the first wave of team members were headed to the wharf. In typical Campbell Island fashion, the weather was cloudy, windy, misty, and with a chill that cut you to the bone. On this day, foul weather gear was an absolute must. I am so glad I had invested in my extreme weather parka and bibs for this trip. We had all anticipated the weather to be as we had encountered, we just hoped that we could start the set up process without there being a constant rain.

As the first hours at the island passed, the process of transferring the equipment from the boat was safely accomplished. With the aid of the EVOHE crew, we were able to move the equipment up the hill quickly and in the general area of the Beeman Cove Hostel. Slowly, the antennas were coming on-line, with the team dividing themselves into small units to tackle the simplest antennas first, then moving on to the more complex process of building the Spiderbeams. The EVOHE crew once again provided extra hands for completing these time consuming tasks.

Les W2LK (foreground) & Glenn KE4KY operating SSB

Les W2LK, Dave K3EL, & Jacky ZL3CW grinding out the CW QSO's

Campbell Island, and nearby Auckland Island, have been instrumental in the restoration and return of the Hooker’s Sea Lion populations. It is one of the rarest sea lions on earth, having nearly been hunted to extinction by sealers throughout the last two centuries. With adult males weighing in at 350-450 kg (roughly 900 pounds), we were constantly on the watch for their sudden appearance. I personally found their behavior intimidating, with the some of the juvenile males closely investigating our activities every chance they had. I was extremely surprised on how mobile the animals were while on the land. They could cover ground very quickly and often blocked the path to and from the wharf area.

As we settled into a routine, our dependence on the great crew of the EVOHE was quite clear. The meals provided were highly anticipated, with the crew providing excellent service to our team. The EVOHE crew was so helpful in many ways, it would be difficult to list every area they assisted our team in accomplishing our daily tasks. Suffice it to say, the EVOHE was a big part of the success of the ZL9HR team!

We reluctantly decided to reduce the station positions from six to four for the last

The EVOHE anchored in Perseverance Harbor

On 12/08/2012 at 16:04 UTC, the 17m SSB QSO of K9UQN became the last QSO for the ZL9HR DXpedition. As the dawn progressed, we quickly began the final chores of lowering the remaining antennas, packing the remaining HF gear, and performed the dreaded

Antennas: (L to R) Spiderbeam, 12/17m Optibeam, SteppIr Vertical, 40m Vertical

It was now time to take a deep breath, consider our accomplishment, and get ready for the long journey back to our respective homes.

With this being my first DXpedition, I was quite apprehensive about whether or not my skills would closely match those of other members of this team. I was in the presence of some very good ops, such as ZL3CW and 9M6XRO, which have been part of many major DXpeditions in the past. In short,…I wanted to perform well!
As I sat down for the first time to start calling “QRZ,” I could feel the rush of adrenaline and the see the trembling in my hands as they rested over the computer keyboard. The SSB pileups were much more personable, with names and states sometimes relayed during the QSO. I quickly developed a style of handling the pileups based on my years of hearing experienced DXers work the massive pileups I may have been trying to break through myself. The CW pileups each had their own distinct personalities, and after a couple of days, I was able to realize what my goals should be for dealing with each. The pileups with no one signal being stronger than any other, and with all signals seemingly on the weak side, were certainly a challenge to quickly go from one caller to the next. One issue that slowed this process considerably was the constant calling over stations attempting to provide their complete call after initiating the QSO with only a partial call. At times, three or more attempts were required to obtain the complete call over the QRM. On the flip side, when there were many strong signals being heard up and down the spread, best described as that one signal that just “pops” out over the rest, the QSO rate just seemed to explode, and I had a great feeling of satisfaction for quickly working those wanting that much-needed CW contact.

As far as the pile-ups were concerned, they were usually very large and mostly well behaved. I prepared myself for the onslaught of callers by doing a fair amount of reading from the likes of N7NG and G3SXW. Their writings, which can be found easily on the Internet, describe exactly the proper QSO mechanics and pileup management that is necessary to efficiently work as many callers you can in the time allowed. By doing some research, I was able to grasp many of the basic concepts of pileup management prior to even stepping foot on the island. While traveling to Campbell, I used every opportunity I could to speak with the more experienced ops to get their own insights on ways to cope with the large pileups. The largest SSB pile I commanded was twenty kilohertz wide at its widest, and the CW pile-ups were generally no larger than ten to fifteen kilohertz at most. A great learning experience and I sincerely hope to build on that experience again in the future!

Being part of this radio expedition is certainly one of the standout moments of my life. Campbell Island is a unique place on our earth….a place that not many people get an opportunity to go. To couple that with being a team member to a top twenty most wanted DXCC entity is still hard for me to put my arms around. As I reflect on the experience, I feel so very blessed to have had this opportunity offered to me. It truly was…

…a dream come true!

(L to R) KE4KY, 9M6XRO, VE7DS, K5GS, HA5AO, VK2IR, W2LK, K3EL, VK3YP, & ZL3CW Total QSO’s: 42,922