INFORMAL DXPEDITION TO FRENCH POLYNESIA

Transcription

1 INFORMAL DXPEDITION TO FRENCH POLYNESIA AB1OC and AB1QB February 18 th 23 rd, 2012

2 Tonight s Presenta@on Planning and Prepara@on The Des@na@on Our Sta@on in Bora Bora Opera@ons Propaga@on QSL ing What we learned What s next for AB1OC and AB1QB? Q & A 2

3 Planning and Checklist ü Set dates and travel plans ü Secure Local License FO is a CEPT country and requires an FO license Noted band and power restric@ons ü Determine sta@on configura@on & modes Antennas, radio, computer, accessories, Antenna Modeling Backups for essen@al items ü Test final configura@on/modes before leaving Iden@fy & correct any problems ü Create Opera@ng Aids Prop. predic@ons, Az. Projec@on, Band Plans ü Develop and put in place a good QSL plan ü Setup online informa@on QRZ.com, LoTW, eqsl, ClubLog.org Communica@ons PART list, DailyDX.org, Announced DX Opera@ons ü Pack and Go! 3

4 The Culture and Environment Located in the South Pacific, northeast of Australia Travel by air and then by Boat Bora Bora is a long trip! Bora Bora is Part of French Polynesia Mt. Otemanu on main island surrounded by lagoon and Motu #1 Industry is Tourism major recrea@on is water sports Most residents are Polynesian, some French Weather is warm and sunny temperatures in 80 s 4

5 The Bora Bora Island A Ham s View DX most wanted list from CLubLog.org; maps from Google Maps Bora Bora is one of many islands in French Polynesia (FO) Locator BH43dm, IOTA OC- 067 It is 160 of 343 on the DX Most Wanted lists (semi- rare) Closest significant landmass is New Zealand (2,640 mi) 6,540 mi from Boston, 4,120 mi from Los Angeles Our loca@on was 8 above salt water 400 yds. from shore 5

6 Our in Bora Bora Overview Transceiver and accessories are lightweight, small and perform well Icom 7000 Transceiver (100 w), LDG Auto Tuner, 30A Switching Supply, Power Meter Heil lightweight headset microphone and trigger PTT switch SignaLink USB Sound Card, CAT USB Cable for PC Transceiver control & automated logging Computer and Sonware MacBook Air running OS/X and VMware/Win7; ipad for Ham Radio Deluxe/DM for logging, DX cluster access and digital modes JT65HF for weak signal work and WSPR for Echolink and DVDongle for accessing WB1GOF and other repeaters Antennas TransWorld TW2010 Short Dipole (20 m, 17 m, 15 m, 12 m & 10 m) 2 Element 10 m Beam built from Buddipole parts 6

7 Our in Bora Bora Antennas Over Saltwater TW2010 on 15 m in NH TW2010 on 15 m in Bora Bora Modeled over Poor, Rocky Ground +6.5 db Gain Improvement 19 o Lower T/O Angle 2 Element 10 m Buddi- Beam 12 dbi Gain 7 db F/B Ra@o 21 o Takeoff Angle 24 Above Saltwater Used EZNEC to model antennas prior to trip To select antennas to bring, op@mize installa@on, and es@mate performance Significant improvements due to loca@on Saltwater Amplifier Lower Takeoff Angle = Berer DX Antenna tune- up changed on- site due to: Higher installed height & surroundings Having an Antenna Analyzer was essen@al 7

8 The Big Picture DX Country Saudi Arabia (HZ1DG) Uzbekistan (UK8ZC) Kuwait (9K2HN) Ukraine (UT1FG) Spain (EC7MA) Kyrgyzstan (EX8MAT) Distance 11,490 mi 11,120 mi 10,920 mi 10,370 mi 10,010 mi 9,180 mi Source: HRDLog.net FO/AB1OC + FO/AB1QB 1,550+ QSOs in 6 ½ days Contacts with 52 Countries Worked all 50 US States Top countries by QSO Count USA Japan Brazil - 58 Canada - 32 Australia - 30 Argen@na

9 The Details QSOs By Mode SSB PSK31 JT65 & Other 16% 1% 83% QSOs By Band 20m 17m 15m 12m 10m 66% 6% 6% Pileup management is an art form! Used split calls by the numbers 21% Many S0 contacts on our end its fun to work the weak ones! Used JT65 on a Sked basis to work must have contacts Used PSK reporter to find ac@ve digital sta@ons Some memorable contacts Calls to folks here in PART Young Hams and Technicians on 10 m 1% 8% 4% 6% A sta@on using SSB Phone on 10 m in the Midwest opera@ng QRP with 2.5 w! Another sta@on with 10 w and a ¾ wave ver@cal in the northeast 8% QSOs By ConUnent NA SA AS OC EU AF 4% 0% 17% 0% A JT65 QSO with South Africa; Anita s SSB phone QSO with Kyrgyzstan 71% 15% 1% 1% 13% 15% 16% QSOs By US District 15% 21% W0 (Plains) W1 (New England) W2/W3 (Mid- Atlan@c) W4 (Southeast) W5 (Southcentral) W6 (CA) W7 (West) W8/W9 (Midwest) WP (VI, PR) WK/WH (AK, HI) 9

10 Bora Bora to Boston 20 m Propaga@on, 4 pm EST Sources: and VOACAP predic@ons were prepared in advance ( Used WSPR as a tool for evalua@on (PSK Reporter also useful) Summary of experienced condi@ons: Good openings almost every day on 10 m 15 m openings during the first part of the day Some 17 m openings in the late anernoon into the Americas 20 m opera@ons during local nigh{me MUF changed rapidly causing bands turn on and off quickly Grey Line Enhancement was very no@ceable and some@mes drama@c! 10

11 QSL ing QSL Card by UX5UO Plan for this in advance it requires Important to have means to confirm QSOs LoTW, eqsl (AG), Bureau and Direct Near access to logs highly desirable We used ClubLog.org Helps ops you ve worked to have confidence that they are in your logs Be prepared to use good judgment and make reasonable log Take and create a well- executed QSL card Allow for mul@ple bands/modes 11

12 What We Learned Ø Get a local call sign Ø Complete a Full Test well ahead of leaving Isolate and fix anything that looks like it could be a problem Consider poten@al mechanical and loca@on related problems Ø Prepare a game plan to target certain bands/regions/modes in advance Focus more outside North America and on lower bands Berer balance between modes learn CW! Ø Bands below 20 m are difficult but important at night need berer plan Ø Use the Voice Keyer Ø Refine packing list & lighten the load 12

13 Useful Resources Resource Site Link DXpediUon InformaUon Portable Antennas License InformaUon Logs and QSL ing PropagaUon SoYware DXpediUon Announcements 100 Pound NE1RD s DXpedi@ons Portable Ant. Resources Buddipole Antennas TransWorld Antennas ARRL CEPT Info Licensing Info Online Logs QSL Card Printer Predic@ons Reports Ham Radio Deluxe JT65HF WSPR EchoLink DSTAR DV Dongle Daily DX Mailing List Announced DX Opera@ons DXpedi@oning Behind the Scenes ed. by Cheadle, et. al World Licensing & Opera@ng Directory (RSGB Book) This PresentaUon

14 What s Next? Finish the Bora Bora QSL Process Con@nue to work on our opera@ng technique and refine our portable sta@on 13 Colonies Patriot s Day Informal Contes@ng Field Day Con@nue to operate portable on business and other trips Learning CW important addi@on to our opera@ng por~olio Develop and test a mul@- op setup for portable opera@ons Filtering and antenna switching Develop more Buddipole antenna designs 3 Elements on 10 m 3 Elements on 15 m 4 Elements on 6 m A prac@cal 30 m & 40 m Ver@cal Looking forward to another DXpedi@on! 14

15 And a Special Thanks To. Rick: D ya know if Fred ll be doing voice on Bora Bora? Rich: I don t know. Rick: Why don t you ask? Rich: No, you ask! Rick: No, you ask! 15

16 Thank You! 16