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Here is one of their new charts (for Orinda, CA):
The VOACAP Online prediction shows possible propagation paths from 40 – 12M, while the K6TU prediction is a bit more “conservative” showing 40 – 15M. Of course – your area will show much different propagation, for example, Europe shows:
And now JA:
As it turns out – the predictions for all areas of the world look great for ATNO’s – especially given that we will be past the peak of the sunspot cycle. We hope you will agree that it is a worthwhile investment to donate Before the ship sets sail – since most of the expenses are incurred Before the ship leaves Cape Town. You can get an hour by hour and band by band prediction for your area on the K6TU web site. Now, lets take a look at the HFTA Analysis that our very good friend and team mate, Dean Straw, N6BV has created for us:
The diamond on the lower left is the Atlas Camp – and you can see the terrain of “Big Ben” on the right – its a profile or side view. Here is what HFTA says about trying to beam to the SF Bay Area through Big Ben:
This graph shows that Big Ben cuts off anything below 11 degrees off in the direction of KY6R’s QTH in Orinda! This means the best and strongest low angle path signals are completely cut off – leaving the higher weaker angles available – but when you think of a howling gigantic pileup – all but the strongest big guns would get through – the “little pistols” would be very lucky to get in the log.
Now, lets look at Spit Bay:
As you can see – not only is there nothing in the way from Spit Bay to KY6R in the SF Bay Area, but the most favorable kind of terrain exists at this site. A drop off going right to salt water! Here is HFTA:
Almost all of the lowest angles to the SF Bay Area up to Saskatchewan are now fully covered with much stronger signals.
From personal experience, I can contact South Africa on both 40M and 20M every West Coast morning on the long path. The path is the same path to Heard Island (which is short path to Heard), and also short path to Australia – and both of these are also as strong as a local station. For this reason, I do not really believe the propagation predictions. FT5ZM and FT5XO, and even FT5WJ – were all much easier than any prediction tools had predicted. But we will combine real on the air testing with modeling tools just for fun anyway.
We will be using these kinds of advanced propagational analysis and data to ensure the absolute highest ATNO counts and rates to the entire world. We will do everything we can to get the highest Unique and ATNO count possible.
One of the things we will ensure is proper antenna selection and placement. All antennas will be strategically chosen and set up to ensure maximum beaming power in YOUR direction, and where we will be able to more selectively give every part of the world as much an equal chance as propagationally possible.
Take some time to look at our sponsors. We will have the radios, antennas and other gear to maximize propagation and directivity and give you the best possible VK0EK / Heard Island DX-pedition experience possible!
Huge thanks go to Dean, N6BV and Stu, K6TU for the tools they have built and the analysis they have produced for our DX-pedition.
The LOG is N1MM+ which DXA reads and sends back to a replica in the US. Therefore – DXA is the LOG. If you see your QSO in DXA, then you are in the log and should not have to worry about making a second “insurance QSO” for that band slot. Please bookmark this link and use it while you are making QSO’s – you will find that its a valuable resource.
For Early Donors or anyone who checks out using our order page (accessed from DXA), your LOTW and Clublog data will be uploaded within hours of making the QSO (if you are an early donor), or within hours if you check out of the store.
Everyone will eventually get LOTW and Clublog credit, so no purchase is required. We just wanted to give a special “express” thank you to our financial supporters.
During the stay on Heard Island, we will carry out a full-service all-band, all-mode amateur radio operation using the callsign VKØEK.
Here is our on site radio team:
Ken has was first licensed in 1955 and credits amateur radio for launching his interests in science, engineering and oceanography. He was awarded BChE & MEng (Chemical) from the University of Louisville and later MNucE & MS (Oceanography) from the University of Washington. Ken entered the Navy through the NROTC program, and served in the Nuclear Submarine Service commanding two nuclear fast attack submarines and then serving as the senior member of the Navy’s Atlantic Fleet Operational Reactor Safeguards Examining team responsible for evaluating the safety of nuclear ships, tenders, and shore facilities. He was presented the “Legion of Merit” (three awards) and other honors during his 25 year Naval career. Ken retired from the Navy and joined the Institute of Nuclear Power Operations (INPO) as a team manager and senior representative. INPO is an industry excellence-in-safety organization formed after the accident at Three Mile Island to oversee and evaluate nuclear safety at commercial nuclear generating stations. He then served as Vice President of the Advanced Reactor Corporation (developing new electric generation reactor designs), President of KRK Inc., and as an expert with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). After many busy but rewarding years Ken is now devoting more time on the air and pursuing interests in scientific activities that align with his education and experience supporting meaningful initiatives. He is a member of his area Amateur Radio Emergency Services (ARES) organization, enjoys teaching leadership and facilitating professional teams in business and non-profit organizations to attain challenging performance objectives. Ken is also a long time member of Rotary International (motto “Service Above Self”) and is a member of R.O.A.R. (Rotarians of Amateur Radio). Ken reports that being a member of the Heard Island Expedition is a tremendous honor and the kind of meaningful challenge he relishes.
Perth, Western Australia & Singapore Home Calls: VK6CQ, 9V1DX Antarctic Calls: VP8PJ, VKØLD, 9VØA Commericial Merchant Marine Radio & Electronics Officer Licence BSc Radio Physics & Telecom Engineering, Grad Dip IT MIEEE, MIET, MInstPhysics Ex British Antarctic Survey VP8PJ 1976 -1980 Ex Australian National Antarctic Research Expeditions VKØLD, VKØMM 1999 – 2001 Ex Antarctic Logistics & Expeditions. VP8PJ, 9VØA, CE9/VKØLD at Patriot Hills summer camps 2003 – 2012 I work as telecom engineer in the oil and gas industry. Other DX location calls over the years: A4XYF VS5AC V85AC P29AC VK8AC
Dave has been a licensed ham since 1970 has enjoyed a passion for DXing and CW Contesting. An experienced DXpeditioner he has traveled to and operated from over 40 different DXCC entities. They include being a member of the last group of hams on Navassa (KP1) in 1993 and joining KK6EK on Easter Island (XR0Y) in 1995 as well as Clipperton (TX5K) in 2013. His list of operations are: 3DA0 (twice), 6W, 6Y5, 8P, C6A (twice), CE, CE0A, EI, ES, F, FJ, FM, FO8, FS, GI, GJ, GU, J3, J6, KH6, KP1, KP2, KP4, LU, LY, OX, P4, PJ2, PJ4, PZ, SP, TF, V2, V31, VE (Zones 1 & 2), VP2E (twice), VP5 (6 times), VP9, YL, ZF, ZP and ZS. He maintains details of each trip at http://www.wj2o.com. Since the age of 22, Dave has been a small business entrepreneur building a number of different enterprises. He currently operates a software and database development firm. He and his wife raised two daughters and enjoy four grandchildren.
Dave started playing with radio as a youngster in the early 1970s, listening to Radio Moscow battling it out with the Voice of America and the BBC on the broadcast bands. First licensed in the UK as G4HJT, he was keen to chase DX. With a QTH at the bottom of a valley and low-powered equipment, CW was a much more effective mode for DXing than SSB; bitten by the CW bug, that’s been his favorite mode ever since. College, moves to the USA and Canada and back again, work, and other activities kept Dave out of amateur radio for many years, but active again he now enjoys CW ragchewing, occasional contesting, SOTA (chasing and activating), chasing DX, and when possible, being DX. He was a member of the ZL9HR DXpedition to Campbell Island in 2012, operated as TX5RV from Raivavae, Austral Islands in 2013, and on the team of the VK9MT Mellish Reef DXpedition in 2014. When not playing radio, Dave works as an analytical scientist in pharmaceutical development. He holds a BSc in Physics and PhD in Chemistry from the University of York, and has worked in academia and industry, with a particular interest in separations science.
Carlos is 66 years old and was born in Santiago, Chile. He is a biochemist, holding a Ph.D. in Biochemistry from Baylor College of Medicine (Houston, Texas). He has over 58 scientific publications and five US patents. He left Chile over 30 years ago. He lived for three years in San Juan, Puerto Rico, where he was licensed with his present Extra Class (NP4IW). In addition, he holds a “Superior” class in Chile (XQ3AQI). He was one of the organizers (with KK6EK) of the 1995 Easter Island/Salas y Gómez expedition XRØY/Z. He personally led the expedition to Salas y Gómez (XRØZ) resulting in a new IOTA (SA-083). He was one of the organizers (with KK6EK and ON6TT) of the 1997 Heard Island (VKØIR) expedition. He was the prime organizer and expedition leader for the 2002 San Félix expedition (XRØX). He was a member of the Peter I Island expedition (3YØX) in 2006. He continues participating in several radio contests, particularly from the South of Chile as part of the Temuco Radio Club, Chile (XR6T).
We thank and greatly appreciate our sponsors! Without your generous support, this project would not be possible.
Tools, materials, parts, food, liquor, satellite terminals, digital storage media, gasoline, galley equipment, 55-gallon plastic drums, 2-m handheld radios, satellite phones, tent stakes, folding tables, pots and pans, propane heaters, blankets, cots, flashlights, batteries, Inmarsat terminals, parkas, gloves, waterproof containers, lab chemicals, specimen jars, cleaning supplies, hand tools, electric drills, white boards, …
Because we will be on the air at the same time as the FT4JA DXpedition – and because we will both be operating from a very similar time zone – it is very important that we coordinate with the French Team, and we have.
In 1997, VK0IR stayed at Atlas Cove, which you can see in the above map – in the upper left hand corner – and where you can see it provided good service to all parts of the world except the West Coast, parts of the Central US, and VK/ZL and Oceania.
Dean Straw, N6BV has completed a full HFTA analysis of both Atlas Cove and Spit Bay, and found that the 8,000 foot tall Mawson Peak (aka “Big Ben”) that is in the middle of the island acts as a major blocker to signals when you are at either end of the island. We will use this natural blocker to our advantage – and will set up stations at the original VK0IR site – Atlas Cove, and at a second site – Sealers Beach / Doppler Hill – which is located at Spit Bay (which is the area on the first map above that is in the lower right hand corner of that map).
Antennas
We will be using phased vertical arrays on all bands 80 – 30M plus a very tall 160M antenna with top loading. It will be guyed in 5 places due to the high winds. We will be using an excellent receiving array on Top Band. All verticals will be placed next to a salt water wash – so we expect great low band signals. and Vadym, UT6UD is a multi-award winning Top Band operator who is leading our low band charge. We will be using yagi’s up on the rise for all bands 20 – 10M. We have consulted with Arliss, W7XU who told us what worked and what didn’t as far as guying antennas during the VP8 DXpedition. The rule of thumb is to “over guy” – guy antennas more than you would have ever expected to have to guy them during your initial planning sessions!
The combination of the best antennas, unobstructed directivity, using the blocking affect of Big Ben on rejecting unwanted signals, and full legal power will mean our signals will be very strong to all parts of the world. Here are our station plans – with equipment being loaned or donated from Elecraft, Array Solutions, DX Engineering, Force-12 / Innovantennas and Arlan Communications.
Our phased vertical arrays will be set up next to the sea and our high band yagi’s will be set up at the top of the hill on the upper right portion of this photo – and will be pointing straight over water towards the US West and Central portions of the US. When the US is not accessible – this location will fill in several other areas that Atlas Cove does not cover as well. This means – we will have MUCH better coverage than VK0IR, and even with a declining sunspot cycle – we will have an SSN twice what VK0IR did. Almost all paths are non polar to the entire world – so we are very excited about our coverage and our antenna plan!.