VK2/W7BRS – Lord Howe Island

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Been operating almost a week since the equipment finally arrived. I think I started rolling sometime last Friday maybe, I cannot remember.

At any rate, the number of Q’s in the log is really low and I believe part of the reason is the fact VK2 as a prefix does not sound like Lord Howe Island. Despite the official rule changes, the Lord Howe Island prefix of VK2 does not register with people.

Most amateurs are used to VK9L being a prefix that indicates the location. And yet, despite all of the efforts to get the country-data files updated and so on, most just aren’t aware of the fact that ACMA changed (or re-affirmed existing policy that was already esoteric) that Lord Howe Island is not VK9L.

I have a very strong suspicion that if I were to call CQ VK9Lxx something that the QSO counts would spike and I’d have real pile ups to worry about.

But I can call CQ pretty much for an hour and not get a QSO. Maybe a few from the mainland (VK) which is nice because they are strong stations. But not a single QSO from Japan on SSB? Not more than a handful of SSB QSO from the NA? I mean all of NA, I can count on one hand the number of SSB QSO.

I can understand that my 400W isn’t enough to carry a strong signal enough to reach the locations I’d like to. But 400W is still 400W. And, I can also admit that my antenna – although basic (in a good way) – is still not quite as effective as a beam antenna. But packing a beam antenna in Carry On is a difficult thing to do. If I can use the FT-8 telemetry as any reference, I do know that I can get out — to EU to SA, to NA to AS, and of course OC. But on either CW or SSB it is really difficult to have a pile up.

What I get is a pile up of a lot of stations that I cannot copy anyway because they are 1/2 S unit within my noise level (and my noise level is already pretty low here on the island).

I cannot do anything about the call sign. VK2/W7BRS recognized as Lord Howe Island? Not happening unless your logging software or the spot cluster knows this. Some do, thankfully.

I cannot do anything about the vertical antenna, but I shouldn’t need to because I can get out (per the telemetry data it’s clear I am).

The storms and rain and wind are another matter all together. A rain storm can increase the noise level I hear substantially – the static crashes and fluctuations in the band conditions when the WX suddenly changes are remarkable.

So anyway, we will muddle through! Try to make the best of a situation that is already quite difficult.

A couple things that will help (especially in CW) –

• If you send me your call again after I’ve sent it to you, it means (to me) that I didn’t copy it right. If I did copy it right, please don’t resend your call sign again. It misleads that I didn’t copy it — which wastes time trying to settle the call.
• If I’m clearly working another station (or even if using a partial call of another station), do not call. It just makes it impossible to hear them. Unless you know I am calling you, then wait. If
• you call on top of someone I am working (or in the process of trying to work), you’re just causing QRM by definition. Listen for your call (or partial of your call) and if that isn’t you, then don’t transmit until you hear me be ready for another contact.

https://blog.howeania2024.org/

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• [JULY 16] 

Whilst Jeff troubleshoots a fault in his KPA-500 amplifier, he also lists his operating schedule. Audio recording by DX-WORLD.

• [JULY 11 / NOW QRV] – via VK2/W7BRS blog

https://blog.howeania2024.org/

On the brightest day yet on the island, the Dash-8 zoomed in for a perfect landing. The storm that passed through last night was epic strong winds and rain that pounded the roof. But by morning the sun came out and for the first time I could see most of the island. I had a good feeling that the flight wouldn’t be canceled like the days before due to high winds or low visibility. What a great sight to see.  My missing bags that contained virtually everything that I needed to establish the station were on the flight. The air tags literally turned this around for the better.

https://blog.howeania2024.org/

After getting the gear loaded in the pickup truck and rambling back to the QTH, I spent the afternoon until dark assembling the antenna. It’s laying out in the grass ready for connection to the station tomorrow. The station itself will go together rather quickly. All of the systems are arranged on the wide operating table. It’s also a relief to have the extra clothing that I needed.

Current time is only 6:40 p.m. local but the sun has been down for about 45 minutes and when it goes down, it’s pitch black dark. No lights to speak of. I have a headlamp but it only illuminates a little bit of what I’m working on. I expect to have the station running tomorrow (July 14).

[JULY 8] – Bags are packed and ready.   I decided to bring enough fiberglass mast material to try to get on the low bands so there will be a chance of working 80m and 160m. No bag over 45 lbs.  Enough gear for decent station, K3, KPA, KAT, KX3 two Spiderbeam telescope masts, and coax and radials for the station — and everything else that goes in between.

• Operating

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