[Mldxcc] Was: K1N Now: RTTY

[Rick WA6NHC]

Hi Alan,

I'd like to be on the island for a few days too and radio would have 
nothing to do with it.  A diving paradise, tropical paradise...  My 
history shows I won't get island fever for at least two weeks (at six 
weeks I'm physically edgy, waiting to leave).

Today they have a spider beam (17 meters/700 watts) in another bay (near 
camp, they just took a 1/2 hour break for a meal).  How long this will 
last, I don't know.  All morning has been spent calling EU on 17 and 10, 
even though they are grossly shielded by the terrain (their comments) in 
that direction (i.e. a near lost cause).  Now that they are back on the 
air, once again EU only.  Very little of their operating time has been 
directed to any other continent.

I realize their conditions are limiting and that the operators are all 
from EU, but they're ignoring excellent propagation and other 
opportunities.  One must listen to hours of EU only just for a narrow 
time window elsewhere.

At least I got them on 20 phone for the ATNO but I'll listen on a time 
available basis and not spent a lot of time on this one.

The K1N team set the bar high (spoiled us) but this is similar in style 
to the Italian effort to Somalia last year; at the least, frustrating.  
The frequent breaks (15 minutes was 90 actual) only add to that.

If folks would LISTEN, it would also go a LOT smoother, another topic 
altogether.

Rick nhc

On 2/17/2015 9:16 PM, Alan Maenchen wrote:
> Rick,
>
> I looked at the photos and it seems they are being forced to operate 
> at the park headquarters in Wafer bay.  I've been there (2002 - TI9M) 
> and we had to negotiate with the park ranger to operate from Chatham 
> bay. It was awkward negotiation since we really had no leverage, but 
> they relented and allowed us to operate from Chatham. It takes 
> persistence.
>
> The difference is huge!  Wafer bay has very high and steep mountains 
> in all directions except SW to W. So, I'm not surprised that no one in 
> EU can hear them .. NA is also difficult from there.  By contrast, 
> Chatham bay has across water path from NW to almost directly E.
> http://www.dive-the-world.com/maps-cocos-island.php
>
> That said, there is a reason the rangers don't want operation in 
> Chatham. There is virtually no land to set up a tent that doesn't get 
> underwater at high tide. The tide swing is huge.
>
> I have many stories about Cocos. It's a beautiful island. Wish I could 
> go back there.
> Remember the helicopter entry to Jurassic Park (the movie)? That big 
> waterfall?  That was filmed at Cocos.
>
> 73, Alan  AD6E / KH6TU