Category Archives: US Islands

Activation Crew on West Island Saturday Sept 1

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***Update 1705 UTC — The crew has completed the activation and is off the air (they have to leave before the tide goes too far out).  Thanks for all that helped to make this a successful Island and Lighthouse activation.

***Update 1625 UTC — The crew is on the air 7.261 MHz  West Island RI-030S and ARLHS US-718  (Became RI-030S at 1516 UTC)

***Update 1540 UTC — The crew is on the air 14.270 MHz  West Island RI-030 and ARLHS US-718

***Update 1520 UTC — The crew is on West Island having just transferred the gear.  Maybe on air in another 15-20 min.  Expect first attempts on 14.260 MHz

The NCRC Island Activation Crew will be activating West island, which is off of Sakonnet Point/Little Compton RI.  This is an island that has NOT been activated before under the US Islands Awards program  RI-030.

The Island is within the 3300 foot visual sight rule for Amateur Radio Lighthouse Society (ARLHS) as Lighthouse USA-718

Expect the crew to begin sometime between 1500-1530 UTC, on 14.260 +/- QRM, then change to 7.260 +/- QRM.

Those who work W1SYE during this event will receive credit for US Islands RI-030 on the air and Amateur Radio Lighthouse Society USA-718

Jim KA1ZOU (left) and Willy W1LY putting antenna together

Antenna is now up. How about that salt water ground plane?

Tiny people under the tent (Paul K1YBE by tent)

Under the tent: John K1JSM, Willy W1LY, Paul K1YBE, Jim KA1ZOU — Pete W1LAB taking photos

Jim KA1ZOU (left) and Willy W1LY enjoying a 20-meter QSO

An After Action Report is very important. Activators (L to R): Willy W1LY, Jim KA1ZOU, John K1JSM, Bonnie, Steve, Paul K1YBE

 

Island Activation Crew Ready for Tomorrow

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Congratulations to the activation team for three successful new island activations and a brief lighthouse activation.

The NCRC Island Activation is in the Elizabeth Islands again for the next three days and have plans of activating multiple islands for the first time.  Note all islands in that area are part of the NA046 IOTA Group.

Likely targets are Bull, Slates, Gosnold, Lighthouse USA215, and Weepecket (Marked in RED if activation is currently underway).

They should be spotted on the networks as W1SYE.  Usual operating time is around 11 AM Eastern (1500Z), and usual frequencies are 7.260 and 14.260 +/- QRM.

Island Activation Team – Front row left to right: Jim KA1ZOU, Mike AC1DV, Willy W1LY, Paul K1YBE. Back row: Pete W1LAB, Marshall, John K1JSM, Rosemary and Grant

 

Weepecket Island (July 25 Activation)

UPDATE July 25 1614Z – The activation is official so it is now Weepecket MA061S

UPDATE July 25 1520Z – The crew is on the air  14.257.  Will move to 40 later in the morning (7.261).  Conditions are MUCH better today and they are working a large pileup.

UPDATE July 25 1500Z.  The crew is on the island (MA061).  Expects to be on air by 1520Z.  14.260 and 265 are occupied — guessing 14.257.

Weepecket Island off the coast of Naushon

 

Gosnold Island (July 24 Activation)

Update July 24 1700Z.  The activation of the Lighthouse has gone QRT.

Good news is the team has officially activated Gosnold Island MA-059S, which allowed them to switch over to the Old Cuttyhunk Lighthouse early.  Many thanks!

Update: July 24 1600Z:  Still on 7.260 seeking enough contacts to qualify Gosnold.  They do plan to change locations to the Old Cuttyhunk Lighthouse ARLHS USA-215 at 1800Z.

Update: July 24 1550Z:  Shifted to 7.261 (20 meters was quite long skip)

UPDATE: July 24 1510Z- The team is on Gosnold.  Will likely begin at 14.257 (a tad lower to avoid QRM).  Expect on air by 15:30Z

UPDATE: July 24 1430Z – The activation team is waiting for transportation to Gosnold island (MA059/NA-046).  Should be on the air starting with 14.260 in the next hour or so.  The crew is still considering a second activation later today for the Old Cuttyhunk Lighthouse ARLHS USA-215.

Crew on Gosnold Island MA-059. Long rough trip to get to the island.

Waiting for the raft to take them over to Gosnold

 

SLATES ISLAND (July 23 Activation)

UPDATE: July 23 1625Z – Station now OFF AIR.  Check back on Tuesday July 24 for a new island starting around 1500Z.

UPDATE: July 23 1615Z – Station now on 7.260 MHz

UPDATE: July 23 1600Z – Slates Island activation is officially MA058S and IOTA NA046 now.  Congrats on another activation.

At table (L to R): Jim KA1ZOU, John K1JSM, Willy W1LY. Behind table: Mike AC1DV, Paul K1YBE. Photo by Pete W1LAB

UPDATE: July 23 1500Z – They gang is on Slates Island MA058 and IOTA NA046.  40 may be a bust due to high local noise.  They are currently on 14.260

UPDATE: July 21.  First Island planned is Slates (MA058) and IOTA NA046 on July 23, starting about 14:00 UTC near 7.260

Slates Island

Check back often for updates.

 

W1SYE Official Hen Island Activated RI032S

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The Island Activation crew made it on the air at Hen Island today.  They were on the air shortly after 12:30 local time on the 40 meter band.  It was pouring rain, in the 50s as they setup.

As of 18:00 they were on 20 meters, 14.265 MHz.  At that point they have reached all the criteria for an official activation of RI032S.

Congrats to Pete W1LAB, John K1JSM, Evan K1GEA, Willy W1LY, Jim KA1ZOU, and Paul K1YBE.  They were QRT at 18:15 UTC.

Front to back: John K1JSM, Willy W1LY, Jim KA1ZOU, Evan K1GEA, Paul K1YBE — Operating in the rain

Antenna literally at the edge of the water (tide rising, antenna almost underwater @ 18:00Z)

John K1JSM (left), and Paul K1YBE under the tent out of the rain.

Thanks to Pete W1LAB for the photos — he’s usually on the other side of the lens.  However there was a sighting of the “Rare Pete” actually on Hen Island

Pete W1LAB standing, with Willy W1LY at the mic

Little Gould Island Activation Saturday ~11:15 AM

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*** UPDATE 1:15 PM *** The activation has completed and they are now QRT.  Not a lot of activity on 40-meters, but 20 was a great success.  Thanks to all that helped to activate the island.

*** UPDATE 12:45 PM *** The activation was made official on 20-meters, so it is now RI-031S.  The crew has moved to 40-meters on 7.270 MHz.

*** UPDATE 11:25 AM *** The crew is on the air now (RF issue resolved) they are making contacts.  They are on 14.270 at the moment to avoid the hurricane net.

The W1SYE Island Activation Team will be activating a new island on the air, Little Gould Island, which is located in the Sakonnet River near Tiverton RI.  The island designation is RI031, with the letter “S” added once the activation is official.

This is a rare treat as the island is not open to the public (it’s a bird nesting sanctuary), but a member of the crew is a trained biologist and therefore we have permission to land.

The gang should be on the air around 11:15 AM beginning with 20 meters near 14.260 +/- QRM.  After lunch, if possible, there may be a shift to 40 meters around 7.230 MHz.

Successful Activation of East Island – Now RI029S

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Pete W1LAB, Jim KA1ZOU, John K1JSM, and Willy W1LY, had another island adventure on Saturday July 22.  They traveled with two RIB boats to East Island, which is a few thousand feet from Sakonnet Point.  They were on the air shortly after 10:30 AM, and were off the air right after 1 PM.  All operations were carried out on 20 meters. This time there were no RF issues and they made a large number of contacts, officially activating East Island as RI029S

Jim KA1ZOU logging, Willy W1LY at Mic, and John K1JSM supervising

A view from East Island back to the mainland to the North. A rare sighting of the stealthy Pete W1LAB can be seen near the middle-left.