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VK9XU - Christmas Isl.

Updated: Mar 4


VK9XU Update (Mar 04)


VK9XU went QRT today! Last QSO was on March4 at 02:57z with VR2CO in FT-8.


Christmas Island was great! We achieved around 58 000+ QSOs, which is well above our expectation. Thanks to everybody on the other end of the pile up and in particular thanks for the exceptionally good discipline in the pile ups.


We already disassembled all antennas and we are currently packing all our stuff for the flight to Cocos (Keeling) Island. As we will arrive only well after sunset, we will only start with a limited activity in the first night and set up all antennas after sunrise next day.


Cu agn from VK9CU Cocos! 73 de VK9XU team.



VK9XU Update (Mar 02)


Part two

One of the three amplifiers in use blew up this morning. We are going to run the FT8 station barefoot for the remaining 20 hours.


Part one

Bands: we were active all nights on low bands either CW or ft8, either 80 or 160m. Strong demand. High bands deliver busy pile ups most of the time.


Antennas: a storm broke our 12/17m rhombic antenna today. We were able to fix it.


Atatus: all ops tired. We are now somewhere at 55k QSOs. Tuesday morning we will pack to relocate to Cocos. Till then full operation



VK9XU Update (Feb 27)


80m: we were on 80m CW and FT8 for the whole night. Our signal went out well into NA and later into EU. However, reception suffered a lot from QRN. Today we will prepare the lowband RX ant and hope for improvement.


6m: the first 6m QSOs are rushing in! (FT8)


QSO status: will exceed 40k today.



VK9XU Update (Feb 24)


FT8 info: we modified FT8 frequencies to avoid possible interference with other digital channels - see 'operating frequencies' on this website.


status: despite all the antenna limitations, we will pass the 30 000 mark today.


weather: we are just learning the hard way that this time of year is the wet season (at least the roof keeps tight...)



VK9XU Update (Feb 20)


Steve VK6SJ seems to be a magician. He managed to lend aluminum lattice elements from a company on the island and we set up our hex beam same day. We also found a reasonable workaround for our 30m monobander, which is now also available.


The main remaining shortfall is the missing mast for our low-band vertical. But there is new hope: we got a call from the airline that the bag was found and will be sent to Xmas soon (whatever soon means). We are getting closer....


Clublog Livestream does not work on the CW station for unknown reason. We are working on it.


See you on the bands!



VK9XU Update (Feb 19)


Antenna situation: no news on the missing masts yet. However, there is a little hardware store on the island where we found some material for setting up a second antenna, i.e. we are now QRV with two stations. Not yet with the beam, though.


Software problem: this morning from 5:08z our log software for a while incorrectly sent the call VK9CU instead of VK9XU. This was possibly due to an installation problem. In our log, however, our QSOs were correctly logged as VK9XU. This went undetected for a while, but was then corrected. We are in fact on Christmas Island, we use the call VK9XU and will LOTW and QSL as VK9XU. We suggest correcting our error in your log. In case of doubt please work us again.



VK9XU Update (Feb 18)


Oh boy... we made it to Christmas Island, but our most important piece of luggage did NOT make it: the oversize bag with most of the rods for the antenna masts. We will therefore have to start with only a subset of our planned antenna farm.


First thing tomorrow, we will try to find a temporary replacement, in particular for the mast for the beam.


The next flight to Xmas will only arrive o Friday. Therefore, please keep fingers crossed that the missing bag will then be delivered.


We have, however, begun initial operation at 11:53z, first QSO was with VR2KW on 15m FT-8. Guys, see you on the bands!



VK9XU


Ops: DF4GV, DJ9RR, DL2AMD, DL2AWG, VK6CQ & VK6SJ


Bands: HF


Modes: CW, SSB, RTTY, FT4 & FT8


Qsl Info: Qsl via DL2AWG (direct or buro) or ClubLog OQRS


Start Date - End Date: Feb. 18 - Mar. 04




 
 
 

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