Please note that the propagation predictions for 80/160 to
the Midwest and Western USA are incorrect. The Eastern
part of the Midwest should have a chance at their local sunset
and mid-W6 up to VE7 should have a good chance at their local
sunrise. The areas that look improbable for any chance on
160 are Western W5/W0, Eastern W7 and Southern W6, but they
all should have a reasonable chance on 80.
Bill W4ZV
>* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
>* H E A R D I S L A N D D X - P E D I T I O N *
>* PILOT PROGRAM MESSAGE # 44 *
>* RADIO OPERATIONS FROM HEARD ISLAND *
>* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
>
>Peter, ON6TT is responsible for the coordination of all
>radio operations from the island. Peter has written a
>comprehensive "Radio operations" manual, which is available
>on the Heard Island Internet Web site, and from we
>distilled some highlights.
>
>Goals
>-----
>1. Provide as many hams as possible with a new country
>2. Evenly spread the attention over the different
> continent's audience, and give a special attention to
> the difficult paths and regions (USA)
>3. Evenly spread the modes (only CW on 160)
>4. Provide as many band-countries as possible
>5. Provide as many band/mode countries as possible
>6. Make as many QSOs as possible
>
>Operating positions
>-------------------
>Basically, there will be two radio tents, each with two
>high power operating positions. Then there is the 'storage'
>tent, which will shelter the beacons, a fifth high power
>station (mainly used for the low bands) and a spare
>station. The VHF position and the satellite telephone will
>also be in the same "storage" shelter.
>
>Equipment
>---------
>Each station consists of one transceiver (FT1000MP or
>FT900)and one amplifier (Alpha 91B) plus a laptop computer
>running CT, networked to the other computers, linked to the
>radio with a band-switch cable and a CW cable and a CW
>keyer (and other accessories, such as filters etc.)
>
>Shifts
>------
>Every operating shift will be 6 hours, or two times 3 hours
>per 24 hours. The shifts will change every day, so no one
>will be running the same pile-ups to the same continent day
>after day. The only one excluded from the HF operating
>schedule is Arie, PA3DUU, whose operating schedule will be
>dictated by the opening times of the satellite. This means
>there are 19 operators available for the shifty schedule.
>In each operating shift, specific tasks will be assigned to
>each operator( e.g. work Europe on 20-15 CW, JA on 40 SSB,
>NA on 20 RTTY or look for edge openings etc). These
>schedules are made up every evening and are displayed in
>the kitchen shelter. Inputs for each day's schedule will be
>taken from the pilot stations (feedback from the DX
>community), from propagation charts as well as from current
>experience.
>
>In principle, each operator works alone from his operating
>position, though someone might ask if he can listen in on
>the second headset. Again it is for the main operator to
>decide if that is OK. He is the master of his "position".
>
>There is a sixth operating position (the spare barefoot
>station) free for anyone who has spare time... It has no
>logging computer and will be used for monitoring only.
>Operating the spare station in itself has no priority.
>
>Slaves
>------
>It is important that everyone can get the most from his
>operating shift, and can completely concentrate on his
>task. This means that he should not interrupt his pileup to
>refill the generators, prepare food, get drinks etc..
>The "slave" duty people therefore should take care of
>"running the camp" and to serve the others. This includes:
>
>- refilling the generators
>- going around the tents to see if there is any food or
> drinks needed.
>- keeping the water hot and the soda cold
>- preparing food
>- cleaning, general camp maintenance.
>
>
>Expedition transmit frequencies (depending on QRM)
>--------------------------------------------------
>CW RTTY SSB
>28.024 28.475
>24.894 24.945
>21.024 21.085 21.295
>18.074 18.145
>14.024 14.085 14.195
>10.104 10.140
>7.007 7.065
>7.022 7.030
>3.507 3.799
>3.522
>1.8265 -
>
>As a rule the expedition will always work split frequency.
>The operators will indicate their split. The detailed
>operations manual (which is available on the WWW pages)
>list all the special band sub-sections (e.g. novice,
>advanced etc) as it exists in sebveral countries (e.g.
>USA and Australia), and the operators will take the
>frequency limitattion into account when giving their
>QSX frequencies. Towards the end of the expedition they
>will also listen on their own transmit frequency, in
>order to accomodate those who do not have a separate VFO.
>However, do NOT try to call them on their own frequency,
>without being invited to do so.
>
>Appendix: propagation charts
>----------------------------
>The propagation charts are modeled for our antennas (and
>those of our average public):
>
>Europe
>------
>band: openings:
>10m: 09:00-13:00
>12m: 08:00-14:00
>15m: 07:15-15:00
>17m: 07:00-15:30
>20m: 05:00-17:00
>30m: 06:15-18:00
>40m: 14:15-03:30
>80m: 16:15-03:00
>160m: 19:00-01:00
>
>Japan
>-----
>mode: openings:
>10m: 02:00-10:00
>12m: 01:00-10:45
>15m: 01:00-10:00
>17m: 23:30-01:30
>20m: 22:30-13:00
>30m: 21:00-18:00
>40m: 09:00-01:00
>80m: 11:30-22:30
>160m: 15:30-21:45
>
>NA-East coast
>-------------
>mode: openings:
>10m: 11:30-18:00 (10% chance)
>12m: 11:00-18:00 (10% chance)
>15m: 11:00-18:30
>17m: 10:30-21:00
>20m: 11:30-21:30
>30m: 15:00-23:00
> 03:30-06:30
> 12:00-16:00 (LP)
>40m: 18:00-07:00
> 09:00-17:00 (LP, low preobability)
>80m: 20:00-04:30
> 10:00-15:30 (LP, low probability)
>160m: 22:00-23:00
>
>NA-Midwest
>----------
>mode: openings:
>10m: 14:15-21:00 (10% chance)
>12m: 14:00-01:00
>15m: 14:00-00:15
>17m: 13:00-01:30
>20m: 12:00-04:00
> 07:00-11:30
>30m: 23:00-11:00
> 13:00-22:30 (LP)
> 00:00-02:00 (LP)
>40m: 23:45-11:45
> 11:45-02:00 (LP)
>80m: 12:30-18:00 (LP)
> 21:00-01:00
>160m: unprobable
>
>NA-West Coast
>-------------
>mode: openings
>10m: 22:00-02:00 (very low chance)
>12m: 16:00-03:00 (low chance)
>15m: 16:00-02:30 (50% chance)
>17m: 15:00-04:00
>20m: 14:30-07:00 (SP and/or LP)
> 11:30-12:30 +22:00-00:00
> 16:00-17:30 (LP)
>30m: 13:30-19:00
> 00:00-12:00
> 14:00-04:00
>40m: 02:15-17:00
> 13:45-04:00
>80m: 21:15-02:30
>160m: unprobable
>
>
>TOP BAND BEACON
>---------------
>Throughout the whole operation (from just before sunset to
>just after sunrise on Heard Island), whenever they are not
>running on 160, the Heard Island DX-pedition will run a
>topband beacon on 1,826.5 KHz. It will sign "V V V V V V V
>V V DE VK0IR VK0IR VK0IR " . The beacon will run with full
>legal power on a monoband top-loaded vertical.
>Check this frequency during times of possible propagation
>(likely when the DX-pedition will be operating on 80 or
>maybe 40m). Whenever the beacon signal is heard with a
>comfortable signal, the low band freaks are asked to come
>down (to 80 or 40m) and to inform the operation of the band
>opening. If possible, they will QSY immediately.
>SWL reports on this beacon with all details are to be sent
>to the pilots.
>
>NCDXF Beacon
>------------
>From the first day of the landing, while setting up camp,
>the NCDXF beacon will run from the island as VK0IR with an
>R5 vertical. It will transmit on 14.100, 18.110, 21.150,
>24.930 and 28.200 MHz. The beacon transmits for ten seconds
>on each band every three minutes. The VK0IR transmission
>on twenty meters is at one minute and ten seconds after the
>hour, and every three minutes after that. The ransmissions
>on the other bands follow every ten seconds with the ten
>meter transmission starting at one minute and fifty seconds
>after the hour, and every three minutes after that.
>
>On each frequency it sends VK0IR in CW at 100W, then 1
>seconds long steady tones, at 100, 10, 1 and 0.1 W and
>then moves to the next higher frequency. Let's ask our
>public to keep an eye open on these frequencies as they
>will provide unique information for when hell will break
>loose. The latest beacon information is available from
>WWW.NCDXF.ORG.
>
>This means that the beacon will be on the air probably 3
>days before the operation will start! Listen for the beacon
>and report peak times, strength and SP/LP specs to your
>area pilot station or directly to ON4UN
>
>via E-mail to John.devoldere@innet.be
>or via packet to ON4UN @ON4AWP.OVN.BEL.EU.
>
>The quality of these reports will be an important tool to
>draft the operating plan for the first days of operation.
>
>If this beacon does not interfere with normal traffic, it
>will continue to operate throughout the DX-pedition. You
>will informed as to the status of the beacon ON the island.
>Listen especially for openings on "higher" bands. When
>someone hears openings on bands higher than the ones they
>are running on, call them on the "lower" band and tell
>them.
>
>THE PILOT STATIONS
>------------------
>If you have the urge to get a feed-back to the island, get
>in touch with your local PILOT STATION. Comments,
>suggestions, appreciations etc are welcome.
>
>ON4UN: E-mail: john.devoldere@innet.be
>JH1ROJ: E-mail: isaonuma@nisiq.net
>N1DG: E-mail: don@aurumtel.com
>W0EK: E-mail: bbruner@upstel.net
>K0EU: E-mail: randymartn@aol.com
>W4WW: E-mail: scotty@iquest.com
>W2IJ: E-mail: pcb4u@ix.netcom.com
>
>73
>
>Your pilots: ON4UN, N1DG, W0EK, K0EU, W4WW, W2IJ, JH1ROJ
>
>* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
>* H E A R D I S L A N D D X - P E D I T I O N *
>* END OF MESSAGE # 33 *
>* Jan 09, 1997 - The Heard Island Pilots (radio.txt) *
>* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
>* H.I. INTERNET ADDRESSES *
>*Heard Island reflector: heard@ve7tcp.ampr.org *
>*Heard Island WWW site: http://www.ccnet.com/~cordell/HI/ *
>* http://www.aurumtel.com/hnews.html*
>*WWW log server: http://www.aurumtel.com/heard-log.html *
>* http://heard.eunet.be/ *
>*E-mail log server:heard-log@ve7tcp.ampr.org *
>* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
>
>
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