E51E Aitutaki island Sth Cook Is

[VK5BC]

Worked Norman E51E who is operating from Aitutaki island, South Cook Islands this morning on 10m. He advised me he plans to erect a 5el LFA antenna on 6m tomorrow and will be running a beacon on 50.130MHz. Norman will be there until the 5th Jan 2013. see http://aitutaki2012.com/

Norman also advised he has a 160m vertical up and will be looking on 160m from this evening (13/12/12).

Based on the last few seasons contacts into Victor E51CG we should be able to work Norman on 6m.

73's Brian
VK5BC

[VK5ZK]

Brian,

Thanks for highlighting details of Norman's E51E operation.

This is one that we have some chance of working.

Hopefully Norman will be operational soon and has many contacts on 6mx.

This is the best time of year for contacts to E51 unlike many DXpedetions that are just wishful thinking from most of VK.

Garry VK5ZK

[VK3HJ]

Hopefully his "slow CW" isn't "too slow" to work a good number of stations on 160m!
That's one I should be able to reach from here.
Worked N Cook ok in April.
73,
Luke VK3HJ

[ZL1RS]

Norman - E51E - Aitutaki, South Cook Islands - Locator BH01cc

Norman confirms that he has put the 5 element LFA Yagi up ... looks like he keeps to his word

Hopefully he will have the beacon/keyer running on 50.130 as published.

Now for some propagation ...

[VK3MEG]

he was on 160 early this morning no takers

[VK3HJ]

Darn, Steve. I set alarm for 1515z, but too tired to turn radio on.
I tried him yesterday morning, but his sig was barely readable and he didn't copy me. I then worked a Russian in St Petersburg, but had to go back to bed as big day at work Friday.
Will have a go again tomorrow morning...
73,
Luke VK3HJ

[VK3MEG]

I worked him on 20 now to get him on 15 and 10 and i'll be happy

[ZL1RS]

Worked Norman this evening for his first complete QSO on 6m from E51E (as he told me). He had a partial QSO with a CE a few days ago but just could not get the CE's callsign.

His beacon is running on 50.130 but has some problems ... it cuts out after 30 minutes and he is not sure why. The beacon was apparently heard very well in South America but the station there thought "E51E" was a defective beacon keyer and didn't pursue it until he happened to find Norman on HF later. Tough luck.

Anyway, I reminded him that we often get extremely good propagation to the South Pacific through the Christmas / New Year and there are many looking for his grid square / DXCC entity on 6m.

He was thrilled to work someone on 6m at last ... may there be many more before he departs on 5 January.

GL and 73, Bob ZL1RS

[VK6OX]

Well done Bob for being there and making it happen on 6m for him!

It's a good feeling to give someone the buzz of being their 1st 6m contact...I was fortunate enough to be able to do that a few times in my days in Carnarvon (Cycle 21) last millenium!!

73