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Anegada, British Virgin Islands - NA-023 |
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(click here for Feb. 2008 information) 2007 EPILOGUE: Althouth Sandy and I were at VP2V for our week as planned, no ham radio operation occurred. Problems with TSA and then with lost luggage resulted in minimal opportunity for operation. TSA in Chicago refused to let me carry most of my gear onboard my flight. I had planned to carry-on most of my electronics as well as a couple of fishing reels. As far as electronics go, I had the following in my carry-on bag:
I've carried electronics onboard many times in the past, with an occasional question being asked or sometimes they swab the items for explosive residue. This time was different. The bag was flagged by the x-ray inspector; I had already mentioned to her that there was a lot of electronics in the bag and I suspected she would want to examine them, so no surprise here. Usually it seems that up front frankness helps. So another TWO inspectors did the item by item search. They immediately started swabbing for explosives and called their supervisor over. I tried to explain what the equipment was and why I had it, offered to show them the FCC and VP2V licenses and other documentation, but they were not interested. I think their minds were already made up by then that this was not going to fly. They didn't like my Heil BM-10 headset at all. The thin rod supporting the mic element really bothered them. Then they found the ziploc bag with all the cables. They REALLY didn't like that, even though I offered to plug things up to show them what was what. The final clincher was the spare batteries. The supervisor saw those, looked at me, and said "you ever heard of IED's (improvised explosive devices)?" then proceeded to tell me how they were a real problem in Iraq. He then told me either this stuff wasn't going to be carried on with me or else I wasn't going to fly that day. After I complained about having to send nearly $2000 worth of relatively fragile electronics through checked luggage in whatever kind of container I could come with in a hurry, the supervisor allowed me to pick out the most expensive items for carry-on. So I did get to carry the two transceivers with me. Fortunately we had arrived at the airport more than two hours early for our flight, so I had some time to work on this problem. I returned to the airline check-in counter, explained my situation, and asked if they had a box and some tape. The lady at the counter was very helpful and spent quite a while looking for a box for me which she eventually found. She also gave me some packing tape and a pen to use to cut the tape. The cardboard box was about twice as large as I needed for the gear so things were pretty loose. The box was in pretty bad shape as well; I wrapped a LOT of tape around it. Then I took it back to the airline counter and checked it in as my 2nd bag. I figured I would never see it or the contents together again. The box did arrive in Tortola (VP2V) with us on Sunday evening. It didn't look too badly beat up so I was hopeful that things still worked. However, my suitcase with the antenna hardware, mounting base, coax, tools, and other misc. items was lost. Later on I learned that it was mis-routed to St. Martin. I did not receive it until late Wed. evening. Delivery was then complicated due to the only transportation from Tortola to the island of Anegada being a ferry which ran only on Mon, Wed, and Fri., so we had to arrange to get the bag to me via that ferry. As ham radio was a low priority for me this trip, plus that the fishing, snorkeling, and socializing were so good, I decided at this late time in our stay that it was not worthwhile to spend time putting up an antenna for the limited operating time I would have. However, I did try setting up on one of the north shore beaches on Friday afternoon with my QRP setup. It took me nearly an hour to get the NCA antenna up only to find out that my Norcal BLT tuner that was shipped in the box would no longer work. So down came that antenna and that was the extent of ham radio for my VP2V trip. I still haven't checked out the rest of the items that rattled around in that box both ways. In retrospect, I can understand some of the TSA concerns. However, given past experience, I sure didn't expect these kind of problems. NEXT TIME: I'll do some things differently next time.
In a couple of taxi rides to the north shore beaches I did see DL2AU Andi's antennas set up at the beach cottage he was staying in, but I did not get a chance to meet him. Regardless, we had a good time and hope to return next year. In the interim I have time to re-think things, especially antenna ideas. 73, Steve AK0M ---------------------------------------------------------------- Prior website information: VP2V OPERATION PLANNED: Bands: 40, 30, 20, 17, 15, 12, 10, 6m. Possibly some 80m operation if antenna situation permits such. Emphasis anticipated on 40m, 30m and 17m, also 12m if the band is open. Modes: Primarily CW. Some SSB possible. Digital modes are not planned for this trip as I do not plan to have a laptop with me. Operating locations will be mixed between portable locations including right out on the beach (QRP levels only but with saltwater antenna enhancement) and from within our accomodations. NOTE: This is a holiday-style trip with the main purposes being rest and relaxation, fishing, snorkeling, and exploring. Radio operation will be limited and on a sporadic basis. I do hope to get on the air at least 2-3 hours each day. Sorry, I'm not taking schedules for QSOs... we want to keep our own schedule flexible! I'll be sure to divide up some of our clothing, etc. between my wife's bag and mine so that if one or the other gets lost, we still have clothes and personal items. Fortunately, it was my bag that got lost and not hers, and I made do pretty well with what I wore down plus the few items in her carry-on.ARRL DX CW Contest: Some limited amount of participation, perhaps 6-12 hours, in the ARRL DX CW Contest is expected, possibly in the QRP category. LOGGING NOTE: In order to keep weight and complexity down, I do not plan to take a laptop. Logging is expected to be done with the HP200LX palmtop computer running NA, or with a Palm IIIx PDA running GOLog software and interfaced to a Serial CW Sender. The Palm/GOLog combination is really nice for portable operation especially. However, I don't expect to be using a keyboard with the Palm as it prevents me from using the Serial CW Sender, which I consider more important. Therefore I'll be entering callsigns using the Palm "Graffiti" writing method, which is a little slower and somewhat more susceptible to error than when using a keyboard. Please be patient with slightly slower-than-usual response times in a pileup due to this logging method, though it still should be relatively quick and snappy. Special thanks to David Ek NK0E for adding several features to GOLog to provide for easier use while running a pileup! LOCATION Other than for a short overnight stay on Tortola, we will be located at Neptune's Treasure on Anegada. This is a beachfront location, but faces south and therefore will not provide saltwater enhancement toward the US, Europe, and JA. There are a number of large salt ponds behind the resort (to the north), but it is not known if I will be able to get my antennas close enough for any benefit. I will be equipped to operate portable QRP from right on the beach though, and expect to be making frequent trips to beaches on the north side of the island where I may be able to operate and make use of saltwater enhancement to the north. Past experiences with QRP right at the water's edge have been extremely successful. EQUIPMENT The equipment list is still evolving, but currently I plan to have two complete stations with me (for the sake of redundancy) with one of them QRP for outdoor and "beach-portable" operation. Here is the current list being considered:
ANTENNAS Antennas are another facet of this trip that are still evolving. Whatever they end up being, they will be simple, lightweight, easy to transport, and easy to put up and take down. They will be transported in the Plano telescoping fishing rod case used on several previous trips to other locations. Fixed antenna:
11ft of
telescoping aluminum tubing with a 6ft telescoping
whip adjustable
to a 1/4-wave on 20-10m; tapped loading coil added at 11ft for 30/40m
use. This antenna combines features of the PAC-12, AD5X,
and Buddipole designs,
along with some ideas of my own. It currently telescopes down
to 3ft total length, but could be easily shortened to 2ft or less.
It usually gets mounted on a 3/4 inch
wooden dowel pushed into the sand
about
15 inches and requires no guys, but I expect to have a homebrew tiltover base with me this time to make band changes easier.
I plan to use twelve 16ft on-ground radials. Past DX-location performance has been very successful with this antenna.
QSL INFO QSLs for both VP2V/AK0M and VP2V/KC0RD via AK0M: Steve
Sutterer AK0M Photo QSLs will be ordered after our return. Check back on this website to determine status. Addressed envelope and return postage is required for direct QSLs. Direct QSLs are usually answered within a few days after
receipt. 73, Steve - AK0M, VP2V/AK0M, C6ASB Email: send to my US callsign at arrl.net. Last revised: 19 Dec 2006
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