VK9NT, Norfolk Island DXpedition, 2013

An ODXG team of ten amateur radio operators from Australia and one from the USA will this time be activating Norfolk Island, OC-005, from the 3rd of May till the 13th of May.

Goals

* To work as many stations as possible

* Build skills and experience in radio operation and dxpeditioning

* Have some fun and enjoy a bit of a break on a beautiful Pacific Island!

We plan to operate four stations as often as possible, but keep at least two stations on-air 18 hours per day. Visit our “Operating Principles” page for more information on our approach to dxpeditioning and how to work us.

We gratefully acknowledge our logistical and financial supporters for all their assistance. If any organisation or individual would like to contribute to help offset our costs etc please use the link on our Support page. Any donation will be gratefully accepted.

Our main goal is that you are successful in making a contact with us while we are there.

73 and see you on air!

The VK9NT 2013 Team

VK9NT is a dxpedition mounted by members of the Oceania DX Group.

Team Members

Chris Chapman – VK3QB (Team Leader)

Luke Steele – VK3HJ

Lee Moyle – VK3GK

Benton Vowles- VK3CBV

Allan Meredith – VK2CA (QSL Manager/Webmaster)

Catherine Hammond – VK4GH

John Hammond – VK4IO

Roy Seabridge – VK3GB

Peter Collins – VK3IJ

Graeme Lewis – VK3GL

San Hutson – K5YY

ODXG believes in openness and is committed to supporting all radio amateurs (both new and experienced) wishing to participate in successful DXpeditioning ; we want to ensure that all team members share a common set of goals; further, we commit to transparency with all DXpedition funds. The attached document formalises our goals and team member roles and responsibilities for this Dxpedition. This includes a budget break down, funding arrangements including dispersal of any surplus monies, team member requirements and operating plans and procedures etc. This is agreed and signed by each team member before the operation begins

A copy of the Team Member Agreement can be found here.

Radios: 

Kenwood TS-480X * 2

Elecraft K3 * 2

Elecraft KX3 and amp

Antennas:

Hex Beams, Spider Beam (10,15,20) Verticals and dipoles

At present we plan to operate on all HF Bands 80 -10 metres. Modes will be SSB, CW and RTTY.

Pacific Palms and Anson Bay Lodge properties – our QTHs and operating locations

VK9NT is being supported by ODXG. One of ODXG’s primary goals is to encourage new Dxpedtioners to come onboard and experience a Dxpedition first-hand in a relaxed environment. More experienced operators are always available to assist and provide support in dealing with the pileups, operating procedures and building confidence.

We recognise that many operators are happy to operate the radio for a limited number of hours each day and may wish to experience the other attractions that a new country/island has to offer. As such, please understand and be patient if the operator does not work as quickly as you expect or does not have the confidence in dealing with the “rabble” that often goes with pile-ups. We are all working to improve our skills and become better operators, not just for VK9NT, but for future operations. 

· Our goals are to provide as many amateurs as possible the opportunity to make at least one QSO with VK9NT.

· Before calling, please make sure you can copy VK9NT well enough for a good QSO. If signals are poor, it would be worth your while to wait for better propagation. We will be active for nine days, so there should be adequate opportunities to make your QSOs.

· Most of the time will use split operation only: Generally, we will be listening a few kilohertz higher than our transmit frequency. Please do not accidentally call on our transmit frequency. Instead, determine where we are listening (the VK9NT operator will say, or simply find the pile-up!) and call us there.

· Here are some tips: Who are we working? What is the callsign? Where is this station transmitting? While we are listening, you should quickly scan the pile-up to find the station we are working. On CW, increase your receive bandwidth if necessary. Determine where we are listening and then pick your transmit frequency accordingly.

· Our operators will try hard to work stations in all parts of the world, but some areas will require more time and effort than others. Listen to determine if we are trying to work a particular geographical area (again, the VK9NT operator will announce, for example, “Europe only” or “South America only”). Call if you are in that area. We willnot respond to callers who are not in that area. If you are not in the desired area, spend the waiting time studying the pile-up procedure of the operators.

· Call us only when we are asking for anyone to call, e.g. after a CQ call or, more likely, when an existing QSO has been fully completed. When the VK9NT operator says “VK9NT QRZ?”, announces his listening frequencies, or says “VK9NT… thank you” (“VK9NT TU” on CW) that is your cue to call.

· If we respond immediately with your full callsign and a signal report, fine. In that case just reply with your signal report to us and that is a good QSO. But bear in mind that many stations are likely to be calling and it is possible the VK9NT operator will not have been able to copy your complete callsign the first time. He would then respond to a ‘partial’ call (e.g. “the Mike Zero Alpha station, you’re 59”, or “station ending X-Ray Yankee Zulu, you’re 59”). Please call again then only if your callsign corresponds to that being called, or is very similar (one matching letter in your callsign is NOTenough!) We will not respond to calls from stations other than those we are addressing.

· If you do not hear who has been called, listen for a short time as the operator will repeat the call. We recognise that QRM might have covered the VK9NT signal just as you are being called! If in doubt, please do not call again, but listen to the VK9NT operator. If he has heard you, he will call you again if you do not respond straight away.

· Be sure you have made a good QSO. If you aren’t sure, make another QSO. It is best not to send a report until the operator sends your callsign correctly, as he will take reception of your report as a confirmation that he has copied your callsign correctly. If the operator does not send your callsign correctly, make another QSO later. Logs will be uploaded to ClubLog as often as we are able, so check whether your callsign has been logged correctly before trying for an ‘insurance’ contact.

· Reiterating, we will not work stations who are:

o Calling out of turn – when we are trying to work someone else

o Calling out of the called area – wait for your turn

o Calling with an obviously wrong partial callsign – study the pile-up

· We will not be monitoring the DX Cluster network, so do not try to communicate with us that way

· We understand that no-one is perfect, and that everyone makes mistakes. People will transmit on our frequency, and they will do so repeatedly because often they can’t hear the DX station. Please don’t get frustrated and respond to this: let us deal with the situation!

Our thanks to Wayne N7NG, Steve 9M6DXX and members of the T32C and VK9NT team for contributing to this document.

OQRS: Online QSL Request (Bureau and Direct available) at Clublog is the PREFERRED method. 

We do not need your qsl cards but are of course very happy to supply one of ours to you.

Please note all direct requests without sufficient postage etc will be returned via the bureau system.

We would prefer to lighten the load on QSL bureaus, at least one way, and of course the OQRS will make the Bureau response much faster! Logs will also be available as soon as possible after the dxpedition on LotW (ARRL Logbook of the World). – again please consider this method instead of bureau cards etc.

QSL either OQRS (Clublog), ARRL LotW, Direct or via the VK QSL Bureau to VK2CA

Direct – (if for some reason you cannot use the OQRS or LotW)

All Direct to VK2CA only – please do not send to other team members!

At least 1 new version IRC (preferred if possible) or US$2 (in good condition if possible) for return postage.

Please use UTC/GMT times (not JST or others)

Please do not send stamps (even Australian) as it just makes things hard to manage. (I do collect stamps so if you have some from your own country I would be very happy to receive some – even used ones – for my collection)

Please include a self addressed envelope.

Please try to supply a self-sealing envelope as licking hundreds of them is not that much fun 🙂

Please do not use envelopes that do not seal at all! (strange but true!)

Make sure your return envelope, if folded, has the fold to the bottom of the sending envelope. This saves it being cut in half when the original is opened.

Please mark your return envelope as “Air Mail” or use a pre-printed Air Mail envelopes

It would be helpful if your QSL card had your callsign on both sides

I am happy to include past operations but please list each operation on a separatecard (this applies to Bureau cards as well).

Please only QSL via one route. e.g. If you send a card direct do not send another via the Bureau! Extra work with no benefit to anyone as I will not send twice!

Note: No, or insufficient, postage QSLs will be returned via the Bureau system.

We don’t mind paying for our trip….but we don’t think we should have to pay for your direct card as well!

Note: VK QSLs need only supply SSAE (Stamped Self Addressed Envelope)

Direct Address:

 

A. Meredith

PO Box 890

Mudgee

NSW 2850

Australia

ARRL Logbook of the World (LotW) updates will be available as soon as possible after completion of operation.