Today’s activation of RI026, Cornelius Island, is on the air as of 14:34 UTC.

Evan, K1GEA, and Jim, KA1ZOU, are today’s operators.  They are starting out on 7.235 MHz as there been feedback from near-by states that 20-meter copy is challenging so close by.  They will shift to 14.260-265 at some point in the future.

To hit 40-meters, they are using a new Hustler 4-BTV vertical today — it does 20 meters as well.  This is unlike the R6000 which does 20 but not 40-meters.

As of 15:14 UTC, Cornelius Island was officially activated and became RI-026S. And as of 16:00:00 UTC they have moved to 14.260 MHz.

Tune in tomorrow for an activation of Rabbit Island (not qualified but hopefully soon to be RI027S).  Will start on 40m and move to 20m starting about 14:00 UTC.

Jim, KA1ZOU, on left, Evan, K1GEA, on right. 4BTV on the left, and R6000 on the right

KA1ZOU, Jim, at the controls

Operating at the edge of the water is the key — the antennas should be less than 1/2 wave from the water’s edge

Propagation is NOT stellar for sure, but the pileups are persistent:

As the winds were picking up, operation was shut down around 2 PM.  But not before putting 63 40-meter QSOs in the log along with 78 20-meter QSOs.