Topband: [Fwd: Re: K4M on TopBand]

Wed Oct 21 01:48:07 PDT 2009

Hi All,

I did read all the comments about the K4M operation and all the others about 
FT5GA.
Let me add mine which may be will help to undestand.

First, sure location is location, you cannot win all the time.
For K4M, I have 2 QSO on 10 MHz, of course I wished to get them on others 
band, 40 m should have been possible, they were coming through with a nice 
signal every time I was hearing them, but the pile up was too big and the 
jammers too crazy, so that's it. On top band I never heard them, may be 
beacuse I was not at home at the right time. (I am working and it can take a 
big part of my mornings, days and even evening...)
I knew it would be very difficult for me in the south west France, So, I 
didn't really expect anything on the low bands.

About the FT5GA comments, I must say I am a bit sad to read what I read, 
because it's absolutely not possible to compare these two operations, and 
sur not to compare with VP6DX who clearly said that they would focuse on the 
low bands.
The K4M and many recent expeditions went to the Islands or what ever DXCC to 
operate on the bands and not to do that much esle (I know some of them had 
to care about the wild life or something like this)
FT5GA had the autorization to go and operate on this Island under a lot of 
restrictions.
First to be member of the team you got to be in the army, no civil operator, 
only 5 operators could get "holidays" (if I put holidays in bteween quotes, 
it's because the time they have been there will be deducted from their 
holidays even they are in duty.)
With only 5 operators you cannot do the job a team of 15 or 20 operators can 
do.
They couldn't operate all the time, they were doing a lot of work on the 
Island which were keeping them away from the radio many hours per day 
sometimes.
They were limited with the weight of the equipements, so they took with them 
very light equipement, no Kenwood, Yeasu, Icom...etc sponsoring, Just one 
answered that they will sponsor their next operation....
What said Mike W4EF is right, They had to stop operating when it was time 
for breakfast, lunch or dinner. only one service, and no possible to bring 
food to the station, not even a sandwich...
They were not alowed to set up their antennas where they wanted, they had to 
put them up in the middle of the island, a long way from the beach because 
of the turtles and all the wild life. Not good location for low bands.
If you add a more than S9 QRN because of all the storms in this area at this 
time of the year.
May be you can undestsand better why their operation has not been what the 
whole radioamateur community could expect.
Nobody can say Europe were getting so much more advantages, It took me two 
weeks to go into the log, mostly because when I was home, either they were 
calling JA, either they were calling NA.
It was better for EU whem I was at work, you must also do with your own 
timetable.
Of course better for us because of the distance, it is a lot easier to all 
US West Coast to work all Pacific.
What I wish to add also is, that they had this opportunity to go on 
Glorioso, now, it took 5 years to F5OGL to get the bill, they knew all these 
restrictions before going, but they choose to do it, knowing before that it 
was going to be difficult.
Two others opertors was supposed to go, F5PTM is in duty in Afganistan 
(T6YA) and F5PHW in duty in Tahiti (FO8RZ).
The time of the year was not the best also, but they didn't want to delay 
their operation, the risk would have been to cancel it again for different 
reasons the army could find because of this or that event
That's it, but any way there is more than 50 000 QSO in the log, more than 
10 000 unique calls, which is not bad under these circonstances.

Taking all these restristions with so much respect, will probably alow them 
to consider another DX expedition in the near future.

73/88 de F8BPN, Mau
f8bpn at wanadoo.fr
http://perso.wanadoo.fr/ph-martin/f8bpn
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Michael Tope" <W4EF at dellroy.com>
To: <garry at ni6t.com>; <topband at contesting.com>
Sent: Wednesday, October 21, 2009 6:57 AM
Subject: Re: Topband: [Fwd: Re: K4M on TopBand]

>
>
> Garry Shapiro wrote:
>
>>I sent the comment below to Dave, but since there have been several
>>comments, it seems relevant to share it.
>>-----------------------------------------------
>>I just want to point out that all Pacific DXpeditions listen for Europe.
>>What part of Europe is heard depends to a significant extent upon when
>>the DXpedition is QRV.
>>
>>Four years ago we went to Kure Atoll as K7C--about this time. We had a
>>Titanex V160e on the tide line facing out across the lagoon, with 32
>>radials and 700W. Being 1200 miles from Honolulu and thousands from any
>>other significant place, and being experienced topband operators, we
>>expected great things. We were QRV all night, every night.
>>
>>Great things did not occur. Every night at sunset a grinding noise
>>appeared, and stayed until sunrise, S7 and more on the meter. One
>>operator managed four QSO's with UA4 and that was the extent of Europe.
>>We were never able to figure out where that noise came from or what it 
>>was.
>>
>>At Kingman Reef in 2000, we did better, at the end of October. But the
>>prop would move west from zone 16---then zone 15, still holding up, then
>>eastern zone 14, still OK through DL and even F. And then it would die.
>>The UK cried out, as now. But what was there to do? The prop did not
>>cross the Channel.
>>
>>If you think you are disappointed, you should have been here in zone 3
>>for the Glorioso farce.
>>
>>Garry, NI6t
>>
>
> Gary,
>
> I know a lot of folks (including myself) were disappointed with the
> results of the FR/G operation, but in their defense I understand that
> they were saddled by the military on FR/G with some pretty onerous
> restrictions. They were essentially on-duty during the operation and
> subject to the whims of the military command. For example, I heard they
> had to shut down and eat with everyone else at the mess or go hungry.
> Also, they weren't allowed to setup their antennas by the water so their
> signals weren't as good as had been hoped. The list goes on. I am sure
> they were just as frustrated as the rest of the DX community with all
> these limitations, so it really pains me when I read disparaging remarks
> about the operation. BTW, I am not singling you out, Gary. Calling their
> operation a "farce" is pretty kind compared to many of things I have
> read.
>
> The only highlight for me was hearing them on 80CW at dusk for a few
> minutes. Unfortunately, I was outgunned and did not get a QSO -:(
>
> 73, Mike W4EF........................
>
>
>
>
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