If we did copy a station calling us in CW we replied in CW. Unfortunately we did only copy SM4IVE on 432 (did work him easy) and HB9BBD on 1296, but he did not copy us, so no QSO. We did see some other traces on 432 and 1296 but could not copy the calls.

Internet:

There was public internet access in the lobby of the resort, however it was expremly expensive to use. So we only sent out the most iportant informations and the stations worked list. Sorry we did not check our e-mails. 

QSL:

We only QSL if we get your QSL first.

Direct to HB9Q, P.O.box 133, CH-5737 Menziken, Switzerland

Please include self-addressed-envelope and IRC or 2$.

Donations are welcome and will be used for the 2011 DXpedition (very nice DXCC in Africa).

Problems to overcome:

On the island there was only 1 bungalow, which was at the right location (close enough, 20 meter to the open beach) and in the right position (north face of the island) for moon-window. The Resort Director was kind enough to let us have the right one, many thanks! Never the less, we had a somewhat restricted moon-set, which made the western window with declining declination much shorter. During our stay the declination went from + to -, which means we had extremely high elevation, actually the moon went up to 90°. On 144 MHz we could only go up to just under 80°. So we had to QRX for up to 3 hours most of the days. For 432 and 1296 we had to use a table on the beach (we only had 4m of cable to the antenna), so we could stay away from the bushes and palm-trees!

On the technical side the biggest problem we had to fight with was the 144 PA (1000JXX2) failing after just over 2 hours of operation. We were running at only 600W and perfect SWR, never the less one of the two power-transistors died. This was the same problem Bodo faced in 5N when using such a PA (we were using a completely new one, which was delivered only a few weeks before the DXpedition)! We are now working together with Sandro, I0JXX, to eliminate this problem. Knowing about this problem we had 2 spare modules with us and all tools needed to fix it. Bodo removed both used modules and replaced it with one new module. So we had only half the power (350W) but with no further problems at all. The PA worked excellent for the rest of the DXpedition (by the way, this was exactly what Bodo had to do in 5N!). All other tech-problems were minor and could be fixed with no problem. We were very lucky all equipment arrived save on the island and that we had NO other equipment failing on us.

On the operating side we lost a lot of time with stations calling us although they obviously didn't copy us! What a waste of time! Of course conditions change, sometimes very quick back and forth, never the less, it doesn't make any sense to call for hours if you do not decode the DX-station!!! Our recommendation is, if you do NOT decode do NOT call. If you decode and than lose the station, continue to call no more then 2 periods without decoding the station. Stop calling after 2 periods of no copy!!! Only start again calling if you decode again.

Conditions:

We were using a 14 element cross yagi on 144 MHz with a switching system which allows to change settings in a quick and very easy and save way. We could TX H and RX H, or TX V and RX V, or TX H and RX V or TX V and RX H. So all combinations were possible. We expected to practically eliminate polarization miss-matches. We were very surprised to find that very often, sometimes for hours, there was no way to make contacts. Although we did rx stations they did not rx us. The other way around we were rxed but we did not rx anyone in any polarization. There is obviously something like "one-way conditions" and "complete lock-outs" which can't be overcome with any polarization combination! During our V5 DXpedition last year we experianced the same conditions, but we were using only horizontal yagis, so we thought it was only a polarization miss-match. Never the less we were very happy to have the cross-yagi and the switching gear, because a little more than 50% of the QSOs were made in VV, VH or HV!!!

QSOs and getaways:

First of all many thanks for calling us and for the many completed QSOs! We had great fun and were very happy to work many of you! Unfortunately on 144 MHz we could not work all stations we have decoded, here the list of stations decoded but not worked: WA4EWV, K5DOG, AD4TJ, N6RMJ, W8PAT, ZS5Y, UX5UL, DG2VE, DC9YC, HG1W. We did call all this stations but could not complete the QSO, sorry!

Photos:

Pease go to the Photogallery on this home-page at: http://www.hb9q.ch/photo/main.php?g2_itemId=4334

Sponsors/Donations:

Many thanks to Gabriel, EA6VQ, for donating a VQ-log  license and to David, GM4JJJ, for the MoonSked license! Both software were of big help for us!

Many thanks for all donations we got with the QSL cards!!! We will use the funds for our 2011 project! Stay tuned! 

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