Worked TX5C on 30-Meters this evening and what a thrill Stadium Earth fans! The pile-up is fierce and the competition was remarkable. I'd say about 1-hour and 30-minutes before logging my first ever Clipperton QSO. Thirty meters off the checklist now, 80-, 40-, 20-, 17-, and 15-Meters going into tomorrow. Let's see what happens? Their signal is s9 peaking plus 20 on the central coast of California at 0237Z.
It's pizza time!
They are loud on 30-Meters and the CW operator is seamless. The pile-up is insane! But fun.
73 from the shack and Radio Dawg. Now, back to the game.
I worked CO8LY on 30-Meters at 0038Z adding a new counter for the band. Nice signal.
73 from the shack
There is something to be said about an electronic QSL card from either the Logbook of The World or eQSL services. One is affordability. Two is speedy delivery. I thought after reading the history section at TX5C, viewing previous Clipperton Atoll QSL cards, and listening to KE9V's podcast #50, that collecting DXpedition QSLs is an ultra cool endeavor.
Why? I can share the storyline behind the DXpedition when someone visits my shack-a-delic for a look-n-see. Nothing grabs interest like a good story and TX5C is facing one helluva challenge on an isolated island. That's legend making story worth telling a shack-a-delic visitor in the future.
On the other hand, I'm listening on 14.024.00 while prepping my VK9DNX and VP6DX cards, and read David, K2DBK's latest posting Clipperton and weather. I echo and support his comment about cluster behavior. It was one reason why I chose not to use cluster spotting when the TX5C signal hits the ionosphere. Why use a cluster when the DXpedition announced its band plan in conjunction with propagation charts? They gave me everything but the QSO.
Back to listening and 73 from the shack.
I get the feeling thousands of Ham Radio operators are listening on 14.024.00 but first things first. Heat is extremely dangerous and the TX5C team is working smart. The team's safety, for me, is more important than a QSO and I can wait.
Fluid consumption and work conservation is absolutely necessary given, as reported TX5C's DXpedition Hot News, 110-degree temperatures and climbing. This kind of heat is draining even under optimal care and precautions.
I was stationed in the desert during Desert Storm followed by another tour in the Middle East and worked in heat approaching, what felt like, the surface of the sun. We hydrated like there was not tomorrow and drank a gallon of water per day. Yet I was drained literally exhausted by the relentless beating of the sun. The team doesn't have the luxury of air conditioned tents like I enjoyed at camp Shawbu Dhabi or access to immediate medical care if one crosses into the danger zone.
They are facing the full force of dangerous heat on an isolated island.
I'm listening like the rest of the world but safety first. Soon enough TX5C will bring their signal into my shack and I'm more than happy to wait.
I was hoping good weather would follow the DXpedition, according to Ann WA1S, her on-line journal indicated rainy, windy conditions. That means the wind whips up white caps, generates wind swell, and lots of ocean spray.
My doublet is up, coffee is made, and Radio Dawg wants a walk. In the meantime, I'm listening to Jeff, KE9V's First DXpedition to Clipperton podcast #50 and waiting for the first signal from TX5C to hit the ionosphere. Currently, I'm listening on 10.107.00 at 1530Z approximately two hours into sunrise.
I decided against the use of spotting clusters instead, I'm following TX5C's band plan, propagation charts, and website announcing their signal. I want to further refine my operating skills using traditional methods such as listening, understanding propagation, following a band plan, and listening some more.
Good luck to everyone this weekend and see you in the competition for a TX5C QSO.
I'm looking forward to more daylight as NS Sprint Ladder (NSL) season #5 progresses toward summer. Not bad for the first night as a single-band entrant on 40-Meters. Two QSOs in the log using an inverted vee and 35-watts this evening.
Radio Dawg chomped on her chewy as I worked the F1 button.
Result.
Band(Raw QSOs)Valid QSO(QSO Pts)Pts/Q(Mults)
40 -- 2 -- 2 -- 2 -- 1.00 -- 2
Totals -- 2 -- 2 -- 2 -- 1.00 -- 2
Final Score = 4
NSL V is the fastest 30-minutes in RadioSport.
GO NS!
According to Steve, K6SGH's on-line journal the Clipperton Atoll DXpedition base camp is struck. That's great news and 1-day before their signal hits the ionosphere.
Check out TX5C's history page including QSLs and photographs from various DXpeditions. My favorite is the 1954 FO8AJ card and the 1986 FO0XX card. If you're interested, read more, on the 1986 FO0XX Dxpedition and their Clipperton diary.
I'm deploying my inverted-vee tomorrow evening for NSL V and the doublet follows late Friday afternoon.
My operating goals need corrected after following up on TX5C's bandplan. It looks like 40- and 80-Meters is not possible because of my General class license. But I'm looking forward to 30, 20, 17, and 15-Meters through the weekend. Let's see what happens?
73 from the shack.
This hot one hot off the Northern California Contest Club (NCCC) reflector.
Who has the fastest 30-minutes in RadioSport? The NCCC and NS Ladder (NSL) V will ripple the ionosphere like a killer set through Half Moon Bay on Thursday night. Imagine the Sprint Ladder like a behemoth Maverick wave towering 30-feet above then dropping in for the rush of a lifetime. It's big wave and just as fast - dudes and dudettes.
NSL V.
Read more at Bill, N6ZFO's NCCC Sprint Ladder - Ultimate Radiosport blog.
Read a sample from my archive here and take a tour of last year's wild run to the finish line.
Yeah baby, it's Sprint time! All code speeds and power levels welcomed.
Contest on.
I'm looking forward to a weekend of Ham Radio fun.
73 from the shack.
There is something inside DXpedition that appeals to me and it is high adventure. TX5C is underway aboard the Shogun destined for Clipperton Atoll. I'm discovering another exciting attribute of what it means to be a Ham Radio operator since my re-entry. Certainly, the Ducie Island DXpedition stoked my imagination and my passion perhaps morphing into single-mindedness.
But, when I read the biographies of each team member, I came away with this thought. For example, what a cast of tireless, dedicated, and passionate human beings like Wild Bill, N2WB and WA1S, Ann who continues updating her expedition log or K6SGH, "Hammer Time" Steve. I wonder what is on their minds as Shogun transports the team toward Clipperton Atoll? Read their journal entries to learn more.
Nevertheless, I'm looking forward to Round Two, of possibly the greatest DXpedition ever and I bet TX5C knows of the extraordinary VP6DX effort. Afterall, there is an edge going into Clipperton, and the King Kong of DXpeditions just concluded its operation. But, Godzilla was one tough hombre and never settled for seconds.
My calendar is marked for next weekend and I'm looking forward to chasing TX5C. Will I work Wild Bill, N2WB or Ann, WA1S maybe Hammer Time, K6SGH?
73 from the shack.
