VP9/K3TRM Bermuda 2006
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Date: August 3-8. 2006 Grid: FM72pi IOTA: NA-005 Zone: CQ-05, ITU-11 |
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I began the year with every intention of vacationing and operating from Tortola, British Virgin Islands this summer. However, having started a new job in May, taking off for a whole week didn't seem feasible. Still determined to get away for a few days, it didn't take much arm twisting (mine or my wifes) to head back to Bermuda for a long weekend. While there, I planned to be active on 160-6M SSB and RTTY.
Results
| Band | SSB | RTTY | Total |
| 160 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 80 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 40 | 0 | 15 | 15 |
| 30 | 0 | 6 | 6 |
| 20 | 293 | 366 | 659 |
| 17 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| 15 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 6 | 4 | 0 | 4 |
| Total | 300 | 388 | 688 |
During our five days on the island, I managed to make 688 QSO's. Daytime and evening band conditions were not very good.
Propagation on the bands above 20M was weak and very sporadic, and the low bands were too noisy to operate.
In the mornings I had nice openings on 20M to Asia. During my previous trip, Sam, 7L1WII, alerted me to the demand for VP9. During
the first three days I managed to log 131 contacts with Asian stations on RTTY and three more on SSB. Luckily Sam was around for one of the openings
and I was finally able to put him in the log! Since the QSO rate began to slow down, I planned to spend the remaining mornings
looking for Asia on SSB. Unfortunately, the band didn't open.
During one of the few openings to Europe that week I was able to work YU6AO, one of the expeditions operating from Montenegro on 15M. Montenegro
had just been added to the DXCC entity list a few weeks earlier.
I had hoped for better conditions on 6M, since we went a few weeks earlier than last year. But I only managed to have two
openings to the east coast of North America. On the evening of the 5th I worked W4TAA/VE3 and was hearing a beacon from FN20, but couldn't
raise any activity. On the 8th there was a very strong opening to North Carolina where I worked K4QI and K4AVO. Since it was a
weekday afternoon, most people were probably still at work then.
Equipment
My portable station consists of an Icom 706MkIIG, LDG Electronics AT-100Pro antenna tuner, and Alinco DM-330MV power supply. After
we arrived I learned that Ed, VP9GE, also had other equipment, including his Yaesu FT-920, already in the apartment. The FT-920 came in handy,
because it allowed me to monitor for 6M openings while I was working the HF bands.
Ed also provides a number of different antennas covering 160-6M. The main antenna I used was the Cushcraft A4S for 20/15/10M.
On the lower bands I had a G5RV for 80M and resonant dipole on 40M. Ed also installed a 5-element 6M beam on a
push-up mast for me to use while there.
QSL Information
QSL's can be sent to my home call with SASE or through the US bureau. Non-domestic SAE's should include $1 US or 1 IRC. Cards with insufficient postage will be returned via the bureau. Additional information can be found on my QSL Information page.
Accomodations
If you're a ham visiting Bermuda, you want to stay at Tarrafal Apartments! The apartments are owned and managed by Ed Kelly, VP9GE. Ed's QTH is on north-western side of the island in Hamilton Parish and have a beauitful view of the ocean. You will definitely find Ed to be a gracious host with an amazing knowledge of island!
Conclusion
While the band conditions were disappointing, we enjoyed another incredible trip to Bermuda. The weather was perfect the entire time and it didn't rain until the night we left. Despite it's relatively small size, it's amazing how many things there are to do and see. We were surprised how often we would see something new, realizing that we must have driven past it at least a dozen times a year earlier and had not seen it before. I am looking forward to planning another trip to Bermuda again soon, and getting down to Tortola, since we didn't make it this year.
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