ILLW net - Reports 2010

Reports 2010

From Grassy Hill Lighthouse VK4GHL

The Tableland Radio Group once again travelled to Grassy Hill Lighthouse in Cooktown and used our callsign VK4GHL for the 6th year in the International Lighthouse Lightship Weekend 2010 - with 2 of our regular visitor members,Pat VK4MUY and Dave VK4FUY, having taken part for 2 years previously using their own call signs. So our adopted light has been involved for 8 years.

Once again the Cook Shire Council, and Mayor Peter Scott, have been very supportive and afforded much assistance with exclusive access, as the area is being redeveloped - with the Lighthouse being a major historic part in the scenic lookout area.The Cooktown News also did an extensive interview with us and visited and took many photo's of us in action. This year also saw several hundred visitors drop by to talk and see us "in action" and were impressed with the theme of this event and the numbers taking part - we are looking at a dedicated tour guide next year !!

This year we also had Sam VK2FMAS come up with his parents and join in - which we felt was terrific. Sam said he'll also be back next year to talk about the history of the lighthouses, as well and his parents are fully supporitive of his aim.

The friendly "family athmosphere" of this event between stations operating from various lights makes this event unique - with time to talk about the history of the lighthouses, the operators and technical issues with the setting up and operating and the multitude of humerous events in just staying on air when its blowing a gale etc.this year saw us make contact with many lighthouses in Australia and overseas plus many amateurs who were just enjoying the event, as well, from home, mobile or portable.it was very pleasing to experience the camradie of those at the lighthouses and stations assisting others to make contact.

We had Wilf vk4znz, Stan vk4mfa and xyl Val, Dave vk4fuy, Pat vk4muy, Ross vk4aq and xyl Bev, Bill vk4wl,Sam vk2fmas,Russell vk3rjl and Mike vk4mik take part locally

Thanks must go to the Ayr Amateur radio Group and Kevin, VK2CE for organising this great Amateur Radio event once again.

The infamous callsign VK4GHL will be back for 2011

73's

Mike Patterson vk4mik

for the Tableland Radio Group

VK4GHL_operating_at_Grassy_Hill_Lighthouse_Cooktown_2010_002

VK4GHL_operating_at_Grassy_Hill_Lighthouse_Cooktown_2010_001

VK4GHL_operating_at_Grassy_Hill_Lighthouse_Cooktown_2010_003

VK4GHL_operating_at_Grassy_Hill_Lighthouse_Cooktown_2010_004

From Peter Parker, VK3YE, via his post on our Facebook page:- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YCDyx7Qv5vc

FROM VK3WI AT THE WILLIAMSTOWN TIMEBALL LIGHT AND TOWER:-

Kevin,
 It was more than a great weekend from the perspective of the
Williamstown Lighthouse and Timeball Tower. At last count we had 36
and possibily this could end up 40 other lighthouses mostly VK but
including ZL and G. That exceeds previous years.

The 20m band opened up at 4.30pmish both days giving us an hour to work DX
with Europe, Africa, North America and Martinez. Plus we had back-to-back
QSOs with a R1 station in Russian Antarctica and then Canada. Only once
before did we have a brief contact with Hawaii on 20m and Canada on 40m

Parks Victoria has a new guy responsible for the park and lighthouse, he
visited us twice and is talking about providing signage next year. All
great stuff.

Re numbers we worked the Cape Don Tender and I think one other VK who was
not on the list. Will check for the final registrations in a couple of
days.

Thanks and Rgds, Jim VK3PC

FROM LEONIE VK2FHRK AT KOORAGANG ISLAND, NEWCASTLE, NSW:-

Hi Kevin

This year would have been great BUT unfortunately there were gale force winds on Kooragang and with only two people setting up, it was impossible for us to participate, although we did make one contact. I arrived at the site at approx 8am and began to set up a gazebo, which took flight in the wind. I managed to grab it before it did too much damage. I sort of put it up side down until someone else arrived. When another member Garry VK2MMM, arrived we actual got the gazebo standing But the wind was so great that even tying the thing to a wire fence did us little good. We actually stood inside the gazebo with our backs against the fence trying to hold the darn gazebo in one spot. Eventually about 12pm(midday) we decided that in the interest of our own safety, we should probably disasemble everything and so we did...and then we went home.

My idea was to set up the gazebo...cover in the sides and operate from within. I/we used a 7 and 10 metre squid pole. The 7 metre one we used to support our 40metre antenna and the 10metre squid pole was use for our 80metre antenna, but as I stated previously due to weather we couldn't really operate, although the conatct we did make reported that our signal was 5/8 and that was to Noarah Head. There was very little if any noise on the airwaves. I am so dissappointed that the weather was so bad on Sat but was perfect on Sunday but I was determined to at least have a go.

So there you have it Kevin.....I really would like to try again next year. On the entry form I put both callsigns VK2AWA and my own VK2FHRK...because either way I am willing to give it another go.

Cheers

Leonie

Hello Kevin,
Here are some pics from St Johns Point Lighthouse IE0005 Donegal, Ireland. Myself and two other operators went portable for our activation yesterday.We enjoyed the activation and it was great to hear so much non contest activity on our bands with many stations calling lighthouse hi hi :) It was a long day but well worth it and an nice opportunity to get away and be relaxed operating radio.

We are already talking about next year!!!

73 de Charlie EI8JB/P
John EI6GHB/P & David EI7GEB/P

EI8JB_lighthouse John_Lighthouse

johnanddavid

FROM DALE MCCARTHY AT ARCHER POINT NORTH QUEENSLAND:-

Members of the Tableland Radio and Electronics Club Inc. (TREC) activated the Archer Point Lighthouse AU0065 for the 2010 ILLW.

Archer Point is located some 200kms north of Cairns in Far North Queensland on a very exposed headland. Lighthouses seem

to always get erected in similar locations in many cases, strange that Hi Hi.

TREC members travelled up from the Atherton area a 600 km round trip. Archer Point is a very isolated location with no facilities

available so we had to be totally self sufficient. Tents, camping gear, batteries and generators were the order of the day.

Antennas were erected on the Friday and VK4WAT, the TREC call-sign, was on air at 0001 Zulu on Saturday morning.

Whilst erecting a portable mast the wind was so strong that caused one of the aluminium poles to break allowing the vertical

antenna to crash to the ground with a resounding thud. No damage to the antenna fortunately. We set up two stations, one from

a vehicle right next to the lighthouse and the other station a little way below the lighthouse in a slightly less windy location.

Conditions proved to be very good on 20, 40 and 80 metres. A total of 36 other lighthouse amateur radio stations were contacted

around Australia, New Zealand and the United States of America. Lighthouse stations in every state of Australia were contacted.

We also worked many other amateur radio stations world-wide including Marion Island in the southern Indian Ocean,

Nevus in the Caribbean New Caledonia plus many other Australian and International Amateur Radio Stations.

The Tableland Radio and Electronics Club with over 30 members has been established for over 22 years and is based on the

Atherton Tablelands inland from Cairns in Far North Queensland.

Thanks to all the stations who worked VK4WAT this year and sorry for mentioning our 28° temperatures especially to the operators at

Cape Leeuwin who shivered in only 3° temps.

We are looking forward to working ILLW again next year.


Dale McCarthy VK4DMC.

From the Netherlands:-

Hi Kevin,

We had a great weekend! With my good friends PD2J, PA1RBZ and PD0PDB we activated the lighthouse in the city of Harderwijk:

NL0038 De Vischpoort for the first time. We enjoyed every minute of it. We made many contacts, including contacts with Curacao,

Canada, Colombia and a lot of UK and USA. The press was very interested in the event, so many people became aware of what

we were doing in this old lighthouse. We only have had positive feedback! During the weekend we had an online livestream on our

webpage (www.pg6hk.com) so people could see what we were doing. The keeper of the lighthouse was very impressed by the

things we did and the contacts we made and decided he will become a HAM himself.

Pretty sure we will activate this lighthouse again in 2011!
73 Gert PA2LO

50DSC_0630

34_Zendamateurs_2

From Roger VK7ARN in Tasmania:-

Photos tell the story, click here.

From West Malaysia:-

We had a great weekend with my good friends starting 1st time ILLW event at Cape Rachado Lighthouse year 2008 and 
now 2010 in Tg Gelang Lighthouse MY0002. We arrived at Tg Gelang Lighthouse at 01.00 am, Saturday early morning. 
The antenna is still up , so not much of a problem fixing the station and going on air. About 5.00 am take a break for 'sahur'. 
We manage to setup the station with 2 station operating on 20m band with antenna Buddy stick, 2 el monoband & spider 
beam for the 40m bandthe antenna is dipole & G5RV only. 
The keeper of the lighthouse from Jabatan Laut wass very impressed by the thing we did and the contacts we made 
especially he saw the couple of QSL cards for the ILLW on the last year. 
In sumarry, we manage to log 57 contact on 20m band, 8 contact on 10m band & 27 contact on 40m band. 
So in total we manage to log 92 stations in this ILLW 2010. 
Many thanks especially all best friends are staying together like 9W2GUU, 9W2KRZ, 9M2SQL, 9W2TTK, 9M2RZL & 9W2WF. 
Special thanks to Jabatan Laut, TLDM Tg Gelang & PERAMAH friends like 9W2WWW, 9W2JDY and all hams friend from
Kuantan for the sapporting this activity.

We are looking forward to working ILLW again on next year.

Thanks & regards
Rizal 9M2RDX
West Malaysia

From Italy:-

Hi,
my name is Carl, IZ0EGC, Team leader of IQ0FM/p, call sign activated in last
21,22 august from Monte Orlando-Gaeta, Italy (IT0007) Lighthouse for ILLW
2010.

There is a video clip here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a5Em558_ijs

There is a log on-line here:
http://www.aribassolazio.it/front-end-log/5/band/u/
and some pics here:
http://www.aribassolazio.it/photo-gallery/category/11-illw-2010-international-lighthouse-lightship-weekend.html
Many thanks and best 73's de Carl.
P.S. see you next year, maybe with special call-sign for us.
under_LH operation2
Team_on_lighthouse

Hello Kevin,

Here our report from Noordwijk aan Zee te Netherlands.

Best 73's Jaap PA7DA

The PG6N-team had a great weekend. Not because the total count of contacts. But the social contacts during the weekend and promoting our hobby

was even important.Still there was a havy wind during the weekend, wich did give the team some difficulty's to build the antenna's.

Also the propagation was chaning every moment. During thesaterday during daytime on HF only contacts on a short distance where able

and Es propagation on 10 and 6 mtrs where possible. During the evening 20 mtrs was goodand we made contacts with Canada (VE),

Japan (JA), Saudi Arabia (HZ) and also a Lighthousestation in South Africa, Kapetown (ZS1CP). On 6 mtrs some contacts where

made with hams in Eastern Europe and Finland. On 2 mtrs the most of the contacts where made with hams in the Netherlands -PA-, Germany -DL- and some

lighthousestations in France -F- and the UK -G and M-. The farrest contacts on 2 mtrs during this ILLW, where made with Eirland -EI- and Austria -OE-.

Antenna's used this weekend: For HF FD4 Windom and a Vertical, on 6 mtrs the V2000 vertical and on 2 mtrs a 4 el Tonna.

Tranceivers used during this weekend: HF FT990 and FT857, 6 mtrs MFJ9406 and 2mtrs the good old FT225.

There are two video's to watch:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=11x6bcSMoFg

and

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lLlKlujYkpA

Hello,

for your gallery here some photos from the lighthouse "Falsthoeft" (DE0007) during my activation in ILLW 2010.

73, Lutz / DL5KUA

From the team at Lighthouses of Australia who went to Greencape Lighthouse for the weekend and lit the original light on Friday 
and Saturday night. VK2CE was scheduled to go to Greencape as usual but an unfortunate vehicle breakdown prevented attendance this year.

Hi Kevin,

I am sending you a couple of photos and I will be writing the report for the next Prism, so will send it as soon as I have it. Hope it is not very urgent,

I have just started to put the Prism together so you should have the article in about a fortnight.

It would have been nice to meet you at Green Cape, we had a great party there!!

Big Breakfast was held on Sunday morning just before we all headed back home. We ate almost every leftover we had. I switched the light on on Friday

evening after Cliffo rigged it and covered up the new light on the lattice tower. Steve Merson (Mersie) switched it off on Sunday morning, that's why the light

is all covered during the big breakfast. BB 2 features Mersie (with his back turned), William Searle, Garry Searle,Richard Jermyn, Jessica Clifford and

Craig Dickmann, the Ranger.

As I said, there were unfortunately no radio people.

Ciao Denise (President LoA)

Fort Niagara Lighthouse, Youngstown, New York USA

US 0048

Sponsored by Niagara County, New York A.R.E.S. club KC2YYL

Operators made over 300 plus contacts over the 2 day event. The lighthouse at Fort Niagara is one of the oldest lighthouses on the great lakes. The lighthouse is located on Lake Ontario at the mouth of the lower Niagara river at the historic site of Fort Niagara. I have included some links for you to see Fort Niagara and view our youtube video along with our operators photographs. Our team actually had the honor of being allowed to set up and operate from within the lighthouse in the light house keepers room. We are looking forward to next years event.

Mark Titta

N2XXH

Public Relations Director, A.R.E.S.

Watch our lighthouse video

http://www.youtube.com

Fort Niagara, Youngstown, New York USA

http://oldfortniagara.org/history/

Tour of Fort Niagara

http://oldfortniagara.org/visit/virtualtour.php

Dear Kevin, 
 
The Cape May County Amateur Radio Club (CMCARC) was pleased to  participate for the 12th time in the 2010 ILLW.  
This year we added  several twists.  We partnered with the South Counties Amateur Radio  Association (SCARA) and manned stations 
at 3 lighthouses: Absecon,  Hereford Inlet and Cape May.  The Absecon light was staffed by SCARA  personnel, Hereford Inlet jointly 
by SCARA & CMCARC personnel and the  Cape May Lighthouse was staffed by CMCARC personnel.  We offered a  certificate to
stations working all three of our lights.  
Twelve CMCARC members and four guests worked the station at Hereford  Inlet.  Thirteen CMCARC members and three guests 
operated the station at  Cape May.  The Herford Inlet station utilized two Kenwood TS870 rigs, a  rotatable 10-15-20 meter rotatable
 dipole and an all band vertical.  The  vertical performed poorly and it was replaced by a G5RV.   The Cape May  station utilized an 
Icom IC-7000, Kenwood TS-480 and a Yaesu FT-897D in  conjunction with a G5RV Lite and an all band vertical.  Performance by  
the vertical at Cape May was also poor.  It was replaced by a second  G5RV Lite.  Although the Hereford Inlet station logged all the 
CMCARC  international contacts, the Cape May station logged the most contacts  overall.  
As is usual the weekend produced camaraderie and fun for all.   Unfortunately rain on Sunday afternoon brought the weekend 
to an early  close.  We have already held after-action discussions and next year's  event is being discussed. 
 
Please find attached two pictures from the Hereford Inlet light and two  from the Cape May light. 
 
73 From The Cape May County Amateur Radio Club 
 
-- 
Bill Cole, N2CSA, North Cape May, http://www.517thartillery.org 
"Paddle faster, I hear Banjos!"

Hi Kevin, 
 
The Barrenjoey lighthouse, north of Sydney, was activated again by the  Manly-Warringah Radio Society during ILLW 2010.
 Operation was carried  out during the day on Saturday and Sunday on the HF bands. On the  Sunday, there was a flyby 
by one of the club members. A great time was  had by all. Here's the video I made about the event: 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nNBshtURiNA 
 
Cheers ... Gerard, VK2IO

From Ireland:-
Hi Kevin

Some feedback from  IE0002.  11 members of Limerick Radio Club activated IE0002 Tarbert  Island Lighthouse in Co. Kerry, Ireland.  
Conditions on HF were very  good with over 900 Q's being made in total and we got 2 of our newly  licensed op's on air.  
The weather at times was pretty wild, expecially  when we were taking down our beam but we all thoroughly enjoyed it 
and  looking forward to next  year!
 73
Ger

CS2010M

Celebrating the centenary of Montedor Lighthouse a team of 4 Portuguese ham operators

(CT1DSV, CT1ENV, CT1ETE and CT1HXB) were active during the ILLW weekend.

We made around 800 QSOs, both in SSB and CW, and it was really fun to participate

in the event. QSL cards were already sent, so if you have contacted us you'll get yours one of these days.


Hope to meet you next year in another Portuguese lighthouse.

73's


CT1DSV

And from Spain:-

Lighthouse: Faro de Higuer ES0016

other: WE HAD PROBLEMS TO WERE ACTIVE BOTH DAYS.WE RUN ONLY ON SUNDAY.

THE RIG WAS YAESU FT 857D AND INVERTED V FOR 40 M AND VERTICAL FOR ALL BANDS.

I STARTED WORKING ON 30M WITH SEVERAL STATIONS BUT WITH MANY QSB AND QRM ON CW.

AFTER 1 HOUR CHANGED TO 40M SSB, VERY WELL TO EA STATIONS , DURING 4 HOURS WITH MANY QRM.

PASSED TO 20M CW AND 17 M CW AND WAS WELL WITH MANY JAPANESE HAMS , SEVERAL DX STATIONS , LOT OF QSOs.

EVENING WAS POOR WE HAD STORM , NO TX FOR 1 HOUR AND AFTER THIS QRN , QRM, BAD CONDITIONS.

THE GENERATOR WORKED WELL NO PROBLEMS WITH THE EQUIPMENT AND ANTENNAS.

THIS LIGHTHOUSE WERE POSSIBLE BY :

EA2SPS SANTI HEAD AND MANAGER , LOGISTICS

EA2CNN JOXE ELECTRICAL TECNICIAN

EA2FH JUAN MARI MECANICAL TECNICIAN

EA2JJ MARCI COOKER

F5VMN / EB2TT ETOR RADIO OPERATOR , TECNICIAN AND LOGISTICS

BEST REGARDS ED2SPS

FIN

Last Updated on Monday, 14 August 2011