TO9W 2019 Activity
4-13 DECEMBER 2019
4 Dec - The team arrived OK, but American Airlines failed to carry the case with important materials for the 80/160 antennas. We expect to receive the case late on 4 Dec. We are currently QRV on 17, 20, 30 and 40. Currently 2 stations are operational. Soon we will have the 3rd station. On 5 Dec we will construct the 80/160 antennas assuming we receive our case late on 4 Dec.
20 Nov 2019 Update:
The golf cases are packed and all equipment has been tested. The laptops have all been tested and loaded with the latest software. The computers will be networked and if our internet connection holds, we will be doing real time updates to Club Log.
We have been made aware that JA hams use 3572 for FT8. At our sunrise, we will be trying 3572 to maximize our JA QSO's.
4 Nov 2019 Update:
In less than 30 days, we will be in Saint Martin! We arrive late on December 3rd and we will spend all day December 4th and probably into the 5th setting up antennas. We will put one station on the air as soon as possible, most likely 20 meters. Ultimately we will be able to have 3 stations operating simultaneously. All antennas will come down on December 13th. We have a new large fiberglass mast for an improved 160 meter TX antenna. We will alternate between CW and FT8 on 160 meters.
Please make sure to update your logging programs to recognize TO9W as Saint Martin. Our intention is activate Club Log real time log updates, assuming a steady Internet connection. We plan to upload to LOTW daily. All questions, comments and requests for schedules should be sent to our pilots, K9NB or W9MK. Our QSL Manager is W9ILY.
73 from the TO9W team – W9ILY, K9NU, N9AOL, K9EL, W9MK, K9NB
We are returning to the beautiful island of Saint Martin from 3-14 December 2019. Our primary operating focus will be on the low bands - 40, 80, 160, primarily using CW and FT8 to maximize the number of contacts. We will pay special attention to Asia as the window is very small. There will be activity on other bands and modes as time permits.
Team Saint Martin 2019 operators include:
Paul, K9NU John, W9ILY Gary, N9AOL John, K9EL Marco, FS4WBS
Team Saint Martin 2019 pilots:
Nick, K9NB lead pilot Mike, W9MK co-pilot
Both Nick and Mike have previously operated from Saint Martin, so they know our operating conditions.
Equipment will consist of three Elecraft K3 transceivers, two Expert 1.3K amplifiers and one Elecraft KPA500 amplifier. Accessory gear includes MicroHam interfaces plus laptop computers.
160: Vertical
80: Full Size Dipole
40: Quarter wave vertical
30, 20, 17, 15, 12, 10: Dipoles
6: 3 element yagi
Low Band Receive: SAL20 Shared Apex loop
The team's primary focus will be on 40, 80 and 160 meters during hours of darkness. We will also operate 30 through 6 depending on openings. Primary modes will be CW and FT8. Our plan is to operate FT8 in Fox/Hound mode on DXpedition frequencies. SSB and RTTY are also planned. There will be NO operation on 60 meters or PSK modes.
When the normal FT8 frequencies are busy, we will operate Fox/Hound mode on:
3567, 7056, 10131, 14090, 18095, 21091, 24911 and 28091 KHz. If those frequencies are busy, we will announce our operating frequency.
We will be an entry in the ARRL 160 Meter contest, 6-8 December.
https://clublog.org/logsearch/TO9W
If you do not find your call in the log, please email TO9W2019@gmail.com
TO9W - W9ILY will handle all QSL requests. All QSOs will be posted on LOTW. QSL cards will be available. We prefer the use of Club Log OQRS for both direct and bureau cards. Cards may also be requested direct to W9ILY - Unfortunately IRCs cannot be accepted. Requests via the bureau are also OK.
FS4WBS - via IZ1MHY
Daily uploads to ClubLog and LOTW are planned.
We will be operating on a hillside location not far from Orient Beach with excellent takeoff to most areas of the world.
During the operation please send all reports, schedule requests, log checks and comments to our pilot stations. Nick, K9NB can be reached at k9nb@arrl.net. Mike, W9MK can be reached at mikew9mk@gmail.com.