VK9NU - Norfolk Island

[VK4ADC]

I will be operating as VK9NU from 23rd April 2016 from Norfolk Island for 9 days during a holiday trip. I am calling it a "A.R. holiday activation" rather than a DX-pedition as operating times may be spasmodic.

Equipment will be an Icom IC-7000 (100W) plus a LDG autotuner and switchmode power supply. Antenna will be either a multiband dipole/ inverted V covering 3.5, 7, 14, 21 28 (and possibly 50) MHz or a vertical wire, depending on the proximity of the palm trees outside the unit. Both antennas will be taken along for the ride.

Details will be updated on http://www.vk9nu.net closer to the time and the log put up afterward as internet access is unlikely during the trip itself.

[VK4TI]

It's possible to obtain wireless through telecom on the island for a nominal amount , perhaps ask your hotel ?

[VK4ADC]

It is now just over three weeks until I do my "holiday activation" on Norfolk and have sorted out most of what I am taking - but am wondering if anyone knows if the locals on Norfolk use something like 146.500 as a local liaison frequency and thus whether it would be worthwhile taking a 2M/70CM handheld as well. Anybody with any recent info ???

I will be taking an IC-7000 & 12V SMPS with a trapped dipole/V antenna covering of 3.5, 7, 10, 14, 18, 21, 24, 28 and 50MHz plus an autoATU and a short wire with it's toroidal matching transformer as an alternative antenna in case I can't get the dipole/V up. My initial frequency plan is on the website at http://www.vk9nu.net, working split on HF and single frequency on 6M.

I don't have an operating times plan at this stage as that will partially be determined by the XYL and her involvement/timing in quilting retreat activities. I would ask that if you hear me on, please spot me on the DX Clusters so that others become aware of the frequency at the time.

Thanks & 73
Doug VK4ADC/VK9NU

[VK3HJ]

There is almost no AR activity at all on NI apart from visitors.

There are two residents who are licensed, but rarely on air. You might like to look up John VK9JA, he lives on Mission Hill Rd.

You will probably find nobody to talk to on VHF/UHF, and there is certainly no repeater there.

Internet is available on island. Contact your accommodation, and NI Telecom.

In May, there will be five of us operating as DXpedition VK9NT, VK3QB, VK3YB, VK3GK, VK2CA and VK3HJ, but you'll miss us by 3 weeks.

Enjoy Norfolk Island!

[VK3MEG]

i'll listen out for you Doug have fun.
not taking any thing for 2m ssb just incase? plenty of trees around to get that antenna up
cheers

[VK4ADC]

Steve

The IC-7000 covers 2 and 70cm as well as HF/6 but not planning on extra any feeders or antennas for those bands - the radio/tuner/PS/antenna/feeder stuff I am already taking will occupy a fair amount of my suitcase weight.. I won't take the handheld and accessories as it probably would be extra dead weight (based on Luke's posting) and I should use that to take some decent clothes - to keep the XYL happy

The accommodation does have wireless internet access available so I will use that to update my log to the http://www.vk9nu.net website each day but will not be on-line continuously for DX Cluster spots etc, or to receive emails.

The antenna and gear will be set up late on the 23rd, or early on the 24th April, and will be available until sometime on the 2nd May. The full trapped dipole/V antenna array covers all bands 3.5 to 50MHz but I will lose access to 10, 18 and 24 if I can't get the second dipole sections in place.

I am already getting the bits and pieces ready as it won't take long for the remaining time to elapse.

Doug

[VK4CLG]

Hi Doug.
Bit of a shame you can't take any Microwave gear with you as that would have been a real bonus but as you said it's not a DX-pedition just a holiday AR activation. I would definatly have gone to the effort of going portable with my microwave gear to make contact with you on VK9. I don't have a great HF setup here but will have a listen out and hope my deaf ears can pick you out on 40 or 20 mts. Have fun on the island.

Robert
VK4LHD

[VK2CSW]

Hi Doug,

Be sure to visit the RSL during your stay - a fine friendly bunch.

ANZAC day is a very big day on the island.

Now it is said that Norfolk attracts newly weds and nearly deads. Which group do you represent?

[VK3HJ]

Oh yes, Anzac Day is commemorated with a Dawn Service at Emily Bay. This is the first Dawn Service in Australian Territory, being so far east.

The Dawn Service is well-attended, and breakfast is served at the Administrator's residence in Quality Row a short walk from Emily Bay, this being all in the old penal settlement at Kingston.

[VK4WDM]

There is significant WW2 military history on NI. It was an important transit link for aircraft going between the USA and Australian and NZ and for anti-submarine patrols. I must try and get there before I move beyond the "nearly dead"

73

Wayne VK4WDM

[VK4ADC]

Now it is said that Norfolk attracts newly weds and nearly deads. Which group do you represent?

Given that my 100+ year old mother in law lives with us, I don't consider myself yet to be in the nearly dead category.
Further, given that my XYL and I have been married for over 40 years, I don't consider myself in the newly wed category.

I would prefer to think of myself as being in the prime of life category :
Hey I can still see, hear, walk, drive, think, mow, swim, solder 0603 and 0805 SMD parts, build HF/VHF/UHF & microwave antennas and transverters, fault-find radios, work with a computer (if I am not repairing one's hardware or software), have a facebook page, have two active websites, and, finally, will be travelling to Norfolk Island to sight-see and work DX. E&OE.

Yes, we will be there for Anzac Day but may not make the Dawn Service however will make sure we visit the RSL at some stage during the trip.

No microwave gear going for the ride. With my luck, I probably wouldn't work anyone across either of the primary water paths (VK & ZL) even if I could fit it in the suitcase. (Question for consideration : how would you fit a large alloy WLAN gridpack reflector inside a small suitcase ? And don't suggest flattening or folding it as it still wouldn't fit....)

[VK2CSW]

I would prefer to think of myself as being in the prime of life category :
Hey I can still see, hear, walk, drive, think, mow, swim, solder 0603 and 0805 SMD parts, build HF/VHF/UHF & microwave antennas and transverters, fault-find radios, work with a computer (if I am not repairing one's hardware or software), have a facebook page, have two active websites, and, finally, will be travelling to Norfolk Island to sight-see and work DX. E&OE.

Touché

[VK4ADC]

The VK9NU 2016 operation has finished given that I arrived back in VK4 last night..

I managed 976 QSOs in the log across the 21,18, 14, 7 and 3.5MHz bands although I did try the 24, 28 and 50MHz bands without success. Propagation was extremely variable and a solar event around the time of my arrival on-island didn't help much.

My thanks to the (mainly) VKs and ZLs who put up spots on the DX clusters though some consistent W calls also helped out there.

More comments, photos, on-line log, etc on the web site at http://www.vk9nu.net

Thanks all
73 Doug VK9NU/VK4ADC

[VK3MEG]

great activation Doug it was fun working you and listening to your pile ups you seems to be enjoying yourself and your signal was great at times.
cheers
steve
vk3meg

[VK4CRO]

tnx for the contact Doug good signal on my Dipole
73,s CRO

[VK4ADC]

The VK9NU log has now been uploaded to eQSL but I am waiting on a certification before it can be uploaded to LOTW.

[VK4ADC]

VK9NU log now uploaded to LOTW and "in the queue"...

[ZL3ADT]

Hi Doug
Thanks for the LOtW conformations, 4 new bands is great.
Thanks for your effort.

73 Ross

[VK4ADC]

Ross

I haven't been back to LOTW to see if they are there but with your advice, they must have worked through the queue. Sorry to not have made it on 24950 with you as that would have then been 5. Maybe you will make it on 12m with VK9NT as it is only a few days now before they hit the island.

The 'paper' QSLs are now sorted and I have a small quantity printed locally to start responding with, 500 more to come in a month or so. I don't know how many I will actually need but the printing quantities these days seem to be based on 1000 cards. I have written the software to extract from the ADIF file and can print all QSOs with any station in the VK9NU log directly on the back of the card. In your case, I think there were 10 contacts listed in total as I used yours as a worst case scenario... you were the one I worked the most times. The first of the 'direct cards' were printed yesterday and will be mailed shortly.

I did a bit of research on DXCluster spots for VK9NU a few days ago and extracted the ones I found. I put them up on the web site at http://vk9nu.net/web/index.php/vk9nu-dxcluster-spots as a reformatted list. Some interesting comments posted there: lonely, good ears etc.. I really appreciated the operators putting up the spots as it let people know where to find me, internet access was fairly costly and thus I couldn't self-spot.

73 Doug

[VK5BC]

Hi Doug

Thanks for the contacts from Norfolk Is, have received LOTW confirmations for all contacts.

73's Brian
VK5BC