VK9XG - Christmas Island DXpedition - by Charlie, WØYG  
     
  VK9XG Diary 2003  
  Nov 23, 2003  
  QSL cards have been ordered and I expect them to be delivered towards the end of the year. QSLs are coming in and I am stacking them up in the order received. I have printed labels for all contacts in the log so that process has been finished and just waiting on the QSL cards.  
  I would like to remind everyone that the QSL route is via W0YG direct only. You must include a SAE, no envelope labels without envelope, and enough postage to guarantee your QSL card's return. No bureau cards.  
     
  Nov 10, 2003  
  I have taken down the station. The QSO results are not what I really wanted but almost 200 80m contacts and something like 736 RTTY contacts with a few dupes. That should lower the need for VK9X on that mode.  
  My TNC for RTTY went out the last morning so I shut down early. Was not actually able to work into the States but on Saturday night, I worked Europe until no one else called. Hopefully everyone who needed Christmas Is was
able to make it into the log.		  
  I am sure there must be some busted calls in the log. For those who think they worked me, send me an e-mail with time and I will check to see if the logs need correcting.  
     
  Nov 8, 2003  
  I didn't operate last night but did this morning. I will be on again this evening and tomorrow morning, then go QRT. It has been fun but disappointing at the same time. The solar activity really hammered me.  
     
  Nov 7, 2003  
  I continue to work lots of EU stations on RTTY during my evening, 11-13Z as well as Stateside 22-01Z. I will continue to operate that mode on 14.080 or 21.080 as propagation dictates. I have almost 700 RTTY QSOs in the log now.  
     
  Nov 6, 2003  
  I had a great RTTY opening into EU yesterday and into the States today. I have almost 500 RTTY Qsos in the log now. Hopefully I can make a few more before I have to pack up on Saturday.  
  The low band swill have to wait for the next group to come out. There was a big wreck yesterday and the crane I was using is the only thing that can pick up the construction truck and get it out of the bush. So, they took the crane and my 160/80M antennas this morning. I don't know if I will get the crane back but let's hope.  
  Still lots of QRN. That coupled with rain showers, solar flares, high humidity, heat and crabs makes for an interesting stay on the island!  
     
  Nov 5, 2003  
  Well, another frustrating night. I at least can work into EU at my sunrise but only for about 10 minutes before and 5 minutes after before the band drops out. I managed a few QSOs this morning but apparently only the strongest are getting through. I can hear others calling but I cannot make out not one single letter. I work out my frustrations on RTTY as I have worked a lot of European stations on that mode. I will be on the lower bands, probably not 160 as it is dead, every evening and morning here so hopefully I can add a few more to the log before I have to QRT on Saturday.  
  There is a big rugby match here on Saturday afternoon and they have asked me to take down my antennas so the sporting field is clear for that match. Not a problem.  
 

I will continue to hang in there!

 
     
  Nov 4, 2003  
  Conditions still horrible. Rain/mist almost every day so that noise is often S9 on my phased pennants. I still try for EU every morning here but not much response. I can hear the guys calling but I cannot make out individual calls. I even tried 160M this morning for EU but only 9V1GO, Bob, calling CQ.  
  Nov 3, 2003  
  Well conditions continue to be awful. Almost every QSO on 80M involves fighting the QRN and QRM to pull a callsign out of the mud. Everyone seems to be right at the noise level which makes operating quite tough. I do have a pennant antenna with 22 dB preamp pointed right on EU but still not much help. I am not sure about 160 meters as I cannot even hear well on 80 but will keep trying. Worked many EU stations on RTTY last night but will continue operating on that mode to try to satisfy the need.  
  Please hang in there and keep calling. I need to hear callsigns more than once as under these conditions, sending the call one time usually means I miss it. Stations needing Christmas Island on CW please send the call more than once!  
  Last night due to a glitch all the 80M logs were lost. I do have a paper log of the callsigns but I need the times that I worked stations. So, please if you worked me last night let me hear from you via my W0YG address so I can reconstruct valid logs from my paper notes. All is not lost and nobody will miss out on a QSL card but in some cases, like 7K4??, I need the balance of the callsign which I will recognize.  
  That is it for now. Will keep trying. Conditions though are not easy.  
  Well, if the conditions aren't well, I have at least some pictures for you. Enjoy!  
     
  Nov 1, 2003  
  I had a minor opening to EU on 80M and worked some of the big guns. I am extremely aware that everybody needs VK9X on 160M and I will be there when there is an opening. I was there for 10 minutes before my sunrise today but nothing, not a peep. I have a pennant antenna on EU so can hear with low noise too but 160 is DEAD! I haven't even worked a VK yet on that band.  
  I will not be on tonight, Saturday evening here. There is a party I will be attending and besides, I need a break. Only been averaging 4 hours sleep a night.  
     
  Oct 31, 2003  
  Things are going well but wish communication conditions were a lot better. I have been on every morning for Europe on 80M and so far only worked ON4UN and ON4WW, both with big signals. I will keep trying. There has been no 160M openings as I try there too. These flares are not helping matters any.  
  I have the 43 meter high crane for another week so will still have the high dipole on 160 and the 80 meter dipole hung vertically. When conditions settle down, those antennas should shine.  
  I did a bit of RTTY last night and worked all over Europe. Signals on 20 meters were loud so I will try again tonight. I have never heard such large pileups; it was hard picking out any individual calls.  
     
  Oct 30, 2003 - from The Daily DX  
  VK9XG, Charlie, reported the tribander and the rotor are broke. He did manage to get three antennas hung on the 43 meter high crane. The 160 meter inverted V is now higher than anything else on the island! Charlie will try to attach a full sized 80 meter dipole. Despite the expected bad conditions over the next few days he will continue to put an emphasis on 80 and 160 meters. His nights have produced a few contacts with the big guns and a few not so big. The QRN has been bad. Phased pennants have been installed and the Force 12 antennas
will soon be in place. The first logs have been sent to DF3CB. 		 
  Oct 29, 2003  
  Hello from Christmas Island! Not many contacts but I have really only been on 80 meters. It is like pulling dragon's teeth to work back into the States. Only today did I get up a decent 160M antenna so will be on that mode tonight.  
  Have set up the RTTY station but the triband antenna has some major problems. Will need to get the Force 12 Sigma 40XK up and running in the next day or so which will allow me to start making RTTY contacts.  
  Today we fixed the high 160M inverted V for 160. The crane it is attached to is 43 meters high. I am going to try that tonight but terrible flares might obliterate the entire band.  
  Regards and 73,  
 

Charlie, W0YG..>>

  
  One more note from Steve, VK6VZ, from Topband reflector:  
  For those in Europe, Charlie VK9XG will try to be active approximately one to two hours before his sunrise, on 160/80. Please could those who have worked VK9X before on 160/80 let the 'first timers' have a clear shot at
working him.		  
     
  Oct 27, 2003 - from Steve, VK6VZ  
  G'day  
  Waved goodbye to Charlie VK9XG this morning, who will arrive on Christmas Island today (Monday 27 Oct) and stay for 13 days.  
  Charlie's main priorities will be the low bands on CW (particularly 160 and 80m) plus some digital modes on the HF bands. Antenna plans for 160 are sophisticated, with a crane-supported inverted vee dipole at 50 metres high
and a Force 12 60' vertical. Phased pennants will be used on receive for North America, with a KD9SV 160/80m tuned preamp.		  
  On-line log facilities have been kindly provided by Bernd DF3CB and logs will be uploaded regularly to the VK9XG web-site at: www.df3cb.com/vk9xg/  
  Charlie's aim is to provide VK9X as a new country to as many topbanders as possible and he requests those who have worked it before on 160 to give a clear run to those who haven't.  
  Good hunting, blokes!  
  Vy 73  
 

Steve, VK6VZ

 
     
   
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