[Mldxcc] [Elecraft] VK4XQA 160/80M Operation - An update

[Dick Wilson]

Relayed from WA6NHC.
This reminds me of the N6BT/WA6VEF operation from Saipan where they
got to use a SW BC antenna at a new installation.

> -----Original Message-----
> From: elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net [mailto:elecraft-
> bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Jeff Cochrane - VK4BOF
> Sent: Monday, November 14, 2011 3:28 AM
> To: elecraft at mailman.qth.net
> Subject: [Elecraft] VK4XQA 160/80M Operation - An update
>
> Hi everyone,
>
> This is just a reminder of our up and coming VK4XQA operation on 160M &
> 80M that is scheduled for 19/20/21 November 2011 from Euramo, QLD,
> Australia.
>
> All systems are go here, the antenna is ready, the rigs and amplifiers are
> ready, now we wait until we can all congregate at the site at the end of
> the week.
> The site is at Euramo (Grid Square QH22XA for those that need to know) in
> North Queensland, Australia.
>
> The antenna we will be using is a yet to be commisioned commercial AM
> broadcast band top loaded vertical antenna that is resonant at 693KHz and
> it is 60M tall. (Yep, that's over 200 feet!)
> It is sitting on top of a 5+ Acre ground mat and our time there has been
> graciously approved by the sites owners Coastal Broadcasters (AKA,
> Innisfail AM broadcast Radio Station 4KZ)
> The original commercial tower on this site was destroyed by cyclone YASI
> and we will be using the brand new replacement antenna even before the
> owners get too!
>
> Our operation times and frequencies will be fairly flexible with operation
> mainly during our nights here and with prime consideration being given to
> top band operations.
>
> Top Band Operations:
> We will have one operator (John - VK4TL) who will be our designated CW
> operator and who will be operating in the CW section of the band,
> somewhere around 1820KHz.
> Our SSB operators will be myself, Jeff - VK4BOF and Gary - VK4FD (who may
> also grace us with his CW skills), Chris VK4YCG will also be operating on
> occasion, mainly on AM for the old time operators out there. <Grin>
>
> SSB and AM operations will be on or about 1845KHz though we can go lower
> for those of you out there that are not permitted operations in that
> section of the band.
> These frequencies comply with the suggested band plan here in Australia
> and also seem to be ok for IARU region's 1 & 2 as well.
>
> Please bare in mind that we will only be operating with ONE RADIO at a
> time, therefore we cannot devote all our time to just CW or just to the
> AM/SSB side of it, we must share it aound amongst all modes and operators.
>
>
> 80M band Operations:
> Please be aware that our 80M band operations are secondary to our 160M
> band efforts.
>
> SSB & CW Operation on 80M will be within the frequency range of 3779KHz to
> 3799KHz. (AKA, the 'DX Window' here in Australia.)
> We *may* operate at a lower frequency (ie: between 3500 & 3700KHz) but it
> will be a much lower priority.
> In fact our whole 80M band activation is going to be of a lower priority
> for us, we are mainly going to be on-site for 160M band operations.
>
> 40M and higher bands
> Operation on these bands is unscheduled however, we may try out the
> antenna system on these bands on Thursday (18/11/2011) afternoon & evening
> local time however operation on these bands is not guaranteed.
>
>
> Rigs & Power Output
> Power output on all modes and frequencies will be the Australian legal
> limit for the appropriate mode.
> The rig will be an Elecraft K3 and the amplifier will be an Elecraft
> KPA500.
> An Elecraft P3 Panadaptor will also be in use to see the activity around
> us on the bands.
>
> A short note on our callsign, VK4XQA.
> In 1914 a man by the name of Marcus Brims applied for and received the
> first experimental radio licence in Queensland, Australia.
> Marcus lived in the township of Mareeba in Far North Queensland and he was
> interested in and got a licence for operations for frequencies not too far
> removed from the present 160m band and we thought that to honour him and
> his pioneering work we should get and use the modern equivalant of his
> original callsign for this 160M operation.
> His callsign? Why XQA of course. (Meaning X for Experimental, Q for
> Queensland & A being the first licence issued.)
> Our club (T.R.E.C.) has assisted some of its members to help cosmetically
> restore Marcus' original Spark Gap transmitter and it now has pride of
> place at the Mareeba Heritage Centre.
> Further information on the XQA exhibit is here:
> http://treclub.org.au/index_htm_files/TREC%20NEWS%20June%202011%20Vol%204%
> 20-%206.pdf
> The Mareeba Heritage Centre has a website here:
> http://www.mareebaheritagecentre.com.au/index.htm
>
>
> We as a club are all looking forward to our little 'DXpedition' as this
> whole 'Top Band' thing is a new one for all of us.
>
> Thanks for sparing me a little of your bandwidth,
>
> 73 de
> Jeff Cochrane - VK4BOF
> East Innisfail
> QLD, Australia
> Vice President - Tablelands Radio & Electronics Club Inc. (T.R.E.C.)
> http://treclub.org.au
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