Topband: ZL9HR

[Michael Tope]

Steve, et al:

I also found this blurb on K3EL's blog:

http://k3el.wordpress.com/

"One of the conditions of our landing permit is that we are off-island 
during the hours of darkness – we will return to the boat at night. So, 
don’t expect to hear us on the air between approx. 1000-1500 UTC. 
Exceptions may be made if, for example, bad weather makes a safe return 
to the boat impossible – so if you do hear ZL9HR on at night, don’t 
assume it’s a pirate, we’re probably just stranded due to wx and happily 
taking advantage of the low band propagation."

By chance I have a copy of the 9V1YC produced ZL9CI video which I had 
never bothered to watch (I was saving it in case I ever needed it for a 
radio club meeting program). I just watched the video and they mention 
that they were restricted from being on the island from local midnight 
to 5:30 AM local which is roughly consistent with the 1000-1500 UTC 
restriction mentioned above (ZL9CI took place in January which may 
explain some of the difference). For the ZL9CI expedition, the zodiak 
trip from the boat to the docking site took just a few minutes and the 
meteorological station buildings were only a short walk from the zodiac 
docking site. These restrictions should allow for ~ 80 minutes of 
operating time from local sunset until mandatory departure. On the ZL9 
sunrise side folks in central California will have a brief shot during 
mutual "twilight" (wouldn't you know that Los Angeles misses mutual 
darkness by a few minutes :-( ).

73, Mike W4EF......................

On 11/25/2012 5:16 PM, wb6rse1 at mac.com wrote:
> On Nov 25, 2012, at 4:43 PM, Michael Tope wrote:
>
> http://k3el.wordpress.com/dx/zl9hr/propagation/
>
> "2. Operating times -- It is a condition of our operating permit that we leave the island during the hours of darkness.
> _______
>
> All: Thanks for the comments on and off list. Mike, W4EF, found the definitive caveats as noted above.  It's been so long since ZL9 has been QRV that I didn't recall the restrictions. As far as 160/80 are concerned, we can only hope they can stay QRV for some time after their sunset before having to leave for the night. And/or that the wx is just enough to keep them overnight but otherwise not severe.
>
> Past operations I know of:
>
> ZL4LR/A 1978
> ZL9AMO et al 1988
> ZL9DX & K8VIR/ZL9 1997
> ZL9CI 1999
>
> Good hunting all.
>
> Steve WB6RSE
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>