- [UPDATE] –
A short update from Antoine to say that he’s still under antibiotic treatment but is now slowly improving, however he’s not able to walk more than around the house. Antoine’s currently using the time to digitize the 3D2AG/P logs for Rotuma, which he hopes will be uploaded towards the middle of next week (almost 10K QSOs, with a high proportion on CW/SSB with EU).
===
- [NOVEMBER 20] –
Antoine, 3D2AG says the boat for Fiji left Rotuma on Monday 18th at 0600 UTC, and he’s now back at home. He had quite an ordeal the last week on Rotuma having contracted both a viral infection and a severe cellulitis of the leg which had him bedridden for three days, and unable to complete taking down antennas and pack his gear, at risk of missing the boat.
Luckily, Gregg W6IZT and Jamie M0SDV came by to visit Antoine on Sunday 17th, and helped with taking down the remaining antennas. The cellulitis, which could have proved life-threatening if left for a few more days, is now being aggressively treated, but still very painful and making walking and standing very difficult. While in convalescence, Antoine will digitize the Rotuma logs for posting online on at Club Log.
He thanks all that made contact with him behind the manual paddle key and microphone, and hopes to have given at least a few new ones, despite not being able to activate 160/80/40 due to the logistical and health challenges of a solo operation. This could be Antoine’s last trip for a while, considering the other big Rotuma operations that took place.
Gregg W6IZT and Jamie M0SDV, with Pita Aisake, elder brother of the late Aisea 3D2AA (credit: 3D2AG)
- [NOVEMBER 15] –
Antoine, 3D2AG/P informs DX-WORLD that he will QRT on Sunday (Nov 17th) around 0800 UTC. Boat is leaving for Fiji on Monday afternoon. He will digitize logs on return home. For the moment, he has put up a 30m antenna and will be taking down the Spiderbeam later today (local). All pictures courtesy of Antoine on Rotuma.
- [OCTOBER 28 by 3D2AG/P] –
After I arrived, the weather had been quite bad for about a week, with heavy rains and wind. This delayed the setup of the main Spiderbeam antenna, as well as the power side (diesel generator + solar PV array). There were also many logistical challenges, such as the need to refurbish coax that had been left on the island since 2022, setting up a space for the shack, and the most recent one being a sudden failure of the hose from the fuel tank to the engine of the diesel generator, which happened on a very rainy day when my solar battery was also down. Luckily, I managed to find a suitable replacement hose by cycling to the next village and asking someone who also has a similar generator. The various delays and interruptions to operating meant that I was on air not before the evening of the 26th of October, and could not really take part in the CQWW SSB contest.
However, things are getting more stable now and I will be trying to be active as much as possible on 20-10m, and also 6m now that the 5-el yagi has been put up. Being on my own, it will remain to be seen if I manage to setup any 80m and 160m before I have to leave the second week of November. I am also involved in work related to Surface Seawater Temperature (SST) monitoring of the coastal waters off Rotuma, and some SCUBA diving will need to take place.
Concerning operating, I am focusing mainly on SSB and CW, with some digimodes when there are no takers elsewhere (single stream on normal operating frequencies, or multistream on DX frequencies (28090, for instance). Usually all digimodes are using solar power and about 30W output into the Spiderbeam. For SSB and CW, I have one ACOM 600S linear.
It has been a hectic week flat-out setting-up the station and solving various problems, but I hope to see you on the air soon. The weather is now more calm and sunny, however extremely hot which limits the amount of time one can work outdoors.
Thanks to EMCOM (VK3ATQ and team) for relaying this message via HF PACTOR. Internet access is very rare where I am staying on the island.
- [OCTOBER 18] –
Antoine, 3D2AG informs DX-WORLD that he is sailing to Rotuma tomorrow evening (19th of October) via the monthly franchise run, for a research-related trip lasting three to four weeks (depending on the timing of the return boat in November).
While on the island he will operate radio during free hours as 3D2AG/p, mostly on CW and SSB, 160m to 6m (with a focus on higher bands).
The equipment will consist of two ICOM radios (IC-7300 and IC-706MKIIG) and an ACOM 600S linear (600W on CW / SSB). Antennas will include a 5-el Spiderbeam (20m-10m), an 18m high Inverted-L (80m / 160m), verticals and/or inverted-vees (30m, 40m, 60m) and a 5-el Cushcraft A50-5S for 6m. Power source will be a combination of a 3.5 KVA diesel generator and solar power (35W for digimodes). Frequencies will depend on QRM and other expeditions, usually around the lower portions of the band for CW and SSB.
Note that Antoine will have no internet or email access during the trip (except a HF PACTOR link for emergencies) and will not be able to read the cluster, answer sked requests or post logs online during the trip. As usual, the CW operation will be with a manual iambic paddle and paper logs (which will be digitized online after the trip). He hopes to complete the setup and be on-air by at least the 25th of October, and if so will try to take part in the CQWW SSB contest between the 26-27 October.
Confirmation will be via Club Log OQRS / LoTW as per details on the 3D2AG/p QRZ page.
