I've had some problem with the logging computer, but I DO have a copy of the logs on a thumb drive. I was looking at the logs, and realized I worked 45 DXCC Entities: I had no idea I had done so well. Thanks for all of the QSOs!
Some of the most memorable QSOs almost didn't happen... On July 8th, I was supposed to QRT before dawn, and catch the 7:30am flight to St Maarten, but my wife and I wanted to spend a few more relaxing hours on Saba. We were able to delay the flight until 4:30 pm, so we spent some time looking at a nearby cottage for rent, and then went to the shop behind the church in Hell's Gate, where they sell the famous Saba Lace. These women are true artists, and their lace work is very delicate. After walking around, my wife took a nap, and I snuck in a few more hours of operating. The opening to EU netted a few extra countries, a number of Italian QSOs, and the noteworthy QSOs with 4X4DK and SV8CS! Thanks to I0JX who alerted me that 4X4DK was calling. Appearantly a lot of guys in this opening were hearing me better than I was hearing them.
Here is a list of DXCC Entities worked:
4X
9A
9H
CT (8 QSOs)
CT3
CU
CY0X
DL (63 QSOs)
E7
EA (17 QSOs)
EA8
EI
ES
F (27 QSOs)
FJ
G (87 QSOs)
GD
GI
GM
GW
HA
HB0
HB9
I
IS0
K
KP4
LX
LY
OE
OH
OK
ON
OZ
PA (44 QSOs)
PJ7
PY
S5 (13 QSOs)
SM
SP
SV
V4
VE
VP2M
Z3
Monday, July 14, 2008
Friday, July 11, 2008
Results
We're home!
Stephanie and I had a WONDERFUL time on Saba. We fell in love with the island and will be back as often as we can. We love the quiet island, friendly people, and beautiful and rugged views of the island and the ocean.
I have added a few more pictures of the operation...
The initial results are 745 QSOs on 6m, and most of them were EU. More details to follow...
73, Kenny K2KW
Stephanie and I had a WONDERFUL time on Saba. We fell in love with the island and will be back as often as we can. We love the quiet island, friendly people, and beautiful and rugged views of the island and the ocean.
I have added a few more pictures of the operation...
The initial results are 745 QSOs on 6m, and most of them were EU. More details to follow...
73, Kenny K2KW
Monday, June 9, 2008
PJ6/K2KW & PJ6/KD8GKM
Hello DXers!
My wife and I are heading to PJ6 - Saba Island from July 1-8, and we will then be on St Maarten from July 8-10. This is our (delayed) honeymoon, but somehow my loving wife (Stephanie KD8GKM) suggested I bring the radio! Who am I to argue, especially since she want's to operate too!
While many of you are aghast that I would contemplate bringing my radio on our honeymoon, you have to know my wife. While on Saba, I will be supporting her passion: scuba diving (I don't dive). Stephanie hasn't been diving in a long time, but she can't wait to get in the water again. While she's diving, I'll likely be on the radio.
QTH: On Saba, we are staying at a small cottage called Duchie Cottage in the town of Upper Hells Gate. The cottage has some of the best views on the island and is about 1250' (370m) up the mountainside, and about 3000' from the ocean. There is a water view from the mid-west USA, through north to EU, AF, and to the SE (I think). Take a look at the terrain profile to EU!
ARRIVAL/OPERATING DATES: We will arrive on Saba around 5:30 pm local time on Monday, July 1. That is assuming the flight takes off from St Maarten! Saba is the smallest commercial airport runway in the world and is only 1300' (400m) long! If the weather is bad, they don't fly there.
http://www.b-v-i.com/SabaAirport/default.htm
Assuming we get to Saba as planned, I'll set up as much as I can on Monday night, but I won't get on 6m until the next morning. Operations will stop Monday night (local) July 7th (around 0200 GMT July 8th).
INTERNET: There won't be internet at the cottage, so we won't be able to alert the 6m community when we're on, or our QRG. We will try and check Email once a day while in town.
6m FREQUENCY: During the first part of our trip, there will be a number of DXpeditions who have announced their frequency. Since our operations will be more casual, we will have to work around them.
Here is the published list of 6m DXpedition frequencies (as of June 26, 2008):
50.095 - ZF2BI/ZF2ZD
50.103 - TO5E
50.106.2 - V36M/5J0M
50.108 - CY0X
50.110 - International Calling Freq
On CW, I would likely try 50.091, and on SSB, 50.121. It all depends on where other ops are, and if people are running split inside the DX window.
Equipment: IC706MKII, 2 ele 6m Yagi, and a wire for HF.
Grid Square: FK-87 While there are hams active on other islands in FK-87, currently there are no resident hams on Saba. Don, PJ6DM sold his QTH a few years ago. The new owner of Don's house now rents it and calls it Hummingbird House - it's a beautiful house - and he's friendly to hams.
Google Earth: here is the *approximate* QTH location.
17°38'23.27"N 63°13'46.81"W - we don't have confirmation of which building it is, but it's within the cluster of buildings around the coordinates.
Please QSL only via "Kappy " WA4WTG . SASE or SAE+$orIRC appreciated. WA4WTG is an avid stamp collector. If you have some foreign stamps you were going to throw away, we'd sure appreciate if you would cut the stamps off and send them to Kappy!
We hope to work you on the bands, especially on 6m.
73 and best regards. Kenny K2KW & Stephanie KD8GKM
My wife and I are heading to PJ6 - Saba Island from July 1-8, and we will then be on St Maarten from July 8-10. This is our (delayed) honeymoon, but somehow my loving wife (Stephanie KD8GKM) suggested I bring the radio! Who am I to argue, especially since she want's to operate too!
While many of you are aghast that I would contemplate bringing my radio on our honeymoon, you have to know my wife. While on Saba, I will be supporting her passion: scuba diving (I don't dive). Stephanie hasn't been diving in a long time, but she can't wait to get in the water again. While she's diving, I'll likely be on the radio.
QTH: On Saba, we are staying at a small cottage called Duchie Cottage in the town of Upper Hells Gate. The cottage has some of the best views on the island and is about 1250' (370m) up the mountainside, and about 3000' from the ocean. There is a water view from the mid-west USA, through north to EU, AF, and to the SE (I think). Take a look at the terrain profile to EU!
ARRIVAL/OPERATING DATES: We will arrive on Saba around 5:30 pm local time on Monday, July 1. That is assuming the flight takes off from St Maarten! Saba is the smallest commercial airport runway in the world and is only 1300' (400m) long! If the weather is bad, they don't fly there.
http://www.b-v-i.com/SabaAirport/default.htm
Assuming we get to Saba as planned, I'll set up as much as I can on Monday night, but I won't get on 6m until the next morning. Operations will stop Monday night (local) July 7th (around 0200 GMT July 8th).
INTERNET: There won't be internet at the cottage, so we won't be able to alert the 6m community when we're on, or our QRG. We will try and check Email once a day while in town.
6m FREQUENCY: During the first part of our trip, there will be a number of DXpeditions who have announced their frequency. Since our operations will be more casual, we will have to work around them.
Here is the published list of 6m DXpedition frequencies (as of June 26, 2008):
50.095 - ZF2BI/ZF2ZD
50.103 - TO5E
50.106.2 - V36M/5J0M
50.108 - CY0X
50.110 - International Calling Freq
On CW, I would likely try 50.091, and on SSB, 50.121. It all depends on where other ops are, and if people are running split inside the DX window.
Equipment: IC706MKII, 2 ele 6m Yagi, and a wire for HF.
Grid Square: FK-87 While there are hams active on other islands in FK-87, currently there are no resident hams on Saba. Don, PJ6DM sold his QTH a few years ago. The new owner of Don's house now rents it and calls it Hummingbird House - it's a beautiful house - and he's friendly to hams.
Google Earth: here is the *approximate* QTH location.
17°38'23.27"N 63°13'46.81"W - we don't have confirmation of which building it is, but it's within the cluster of buildings around the coordinates.
Please QSL only via "Kappy " WA4WTG . SASE or SAE+$orIRC appreciated. WA4WTG is an avid stamp collector. If you have some foreign stamps you were going to throw away, we'd sure appreciate if you would cut the stamps off and send them to Kappy!
We hope to work you on the bands, especially on 6m.
73 and best regards. Kenny K2KW & Stephanie KD8GKM
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