The DSTAR Repeater, W1AAD, suffered a hardware failure that left the internet connection down, but the RF part working. The internet section was repaired by John Mills, Ted Wrobel, and Bob Beatty this morning. Unfortunately the RF side is now offline.
Ted and Bob will return to the site tomorrow, install a new UPS, and get the RF side back up and running.
As of 15:35:35 UTC, W1SYE, was ON THE AIR from Gardner Island.currently on 7.238 MHz. By 16:25 UTC Gardner was officially qualified (31 Qs and 4 DX stations). As of 16:31 they had moved to 20 meters, 14.266 MHz. The band wasn’t cooperating well, and the guys went QRT around 17:50 UTC.
Today’s operators were Jim, KA1ZOU, and Pete, W1LAB (Boat Master, and Photographer).
Jim, KA1ZOU, at the operating position on Gardner Island, RI (Note Goblin in background)
4BTV antenna located close to shoreline. Note copper strap leading into salt water.
As the tide went out their ground connection was gradually exposed, which may help explain why signal levels were down a couple of S units on 40m 2 hours later.
Things took a bit of time to setup, it was a long haul to the island, and the harbor master took exception to them being on a private island until they indicated they had permission from the owner.
Having secured permission from the owner, NCRC Bay Island Activators will activate Gardner Island for the first time this Saturday, August 20th. We’ll start on 40 meters, around 7.235 MHz, at 10:30 (or perhaps a bit earlier due to the tides), then move up to 20 meters, around 14.260 MHz. Why not give us a call and put US Islands RI-016S in your log book?
Gardner Island is in Point Judith Pond.
The following comes in from Jim WA1ZOU, reporting on the Gooseberry (West Passage, off Hope Island) activation of RI002S (Note, RI002S was originally listed as Gooseberry off of Hazard’s Beach in Newport, for indeed there are two, that second Gooseberry Island will be renumbered in the future):
The NCRC Bay Activators were finally able to activate Gooseberry Island (West Passage) on August 7th. An earlier attempt was abandoned when it became evident that several species of gulls were actively nesting. This activation was our Scarborough Reef—steep rocky flanks with very little surface for our station setup. With clever engineering by Willy, W1LY, we were on the air by 11:00 AM. In response to requests from local hams, we started on 40 meters and it quickly became clear that we were on the downhill side of solar cycle 24. Contacts were slow in coming, but picked up in mid-afternoon on 20 meters with strong QSB. The final log shows 75 contacts and 4 DXCC entities.
Thanks to Pete, W1LAB, who is behind the lens in these photos, and provided transportation for the crew as well as on-air talent.
Rocky shoreline of Gooseberry Island is evident
Wily, W1LY, sets up the 4BTV
Willy, W1LY (on left), and Jim, WA1ZOU (on right), on the air
Two wild and crazy guys enjoying a rocky activation!
Officially RI027S as of 15:14 UTC, (VE5XU happened to be the 25th contact), Evan, K1GEA, is still busy adding contacts to the log, having started at 14:47 UTC.
Their operation will be on 20 meters ONLY today, 14.260 +/-
Evan, K1GEA, rowing onto Rabbit Island with all the gear
Rabbit Island Operating Position — Could the antenna be more in salt water?
Evan, K1GEA, operating W1SYE from Rabbit Island
Log shows 25th contact about 27 minutes after the first contact.
Goblin, Pete’s (W1LAB) hard-bottomed inflatable support boat
Hazard of operating near the shore — rising tide! (Evan had to move the coax a bit shortly after this)