• [NOW QRT] – by team VK9CV 

We have our last night ahead. Some antennas are already packed, and there is only one radio at each QTH. If conditions permit, you can still hear us on:

– QTH1: dipoles 12 and 17, vertical 30/40/15
– QTH2: vertical
– QTH3: 6m (yagi) and vertical 40/15

QRT around 23:30 – 00:00z (probably 15m SSB)

  • [NOVEMBER 13] –

Yesterday (Tuesday) morning, we had an early wake-up call as workers arrived to reinforce the dam. We took down the vertical antenna on 160m, packed up the radials, and in the evening, we set it up again in the same spot. Suddenly, we had a clean spectrum on 160m and worked with many new stations on FT8.

We made the first-ever QSO on 30m SSB, allowed for VK and Oceania. About 25 stations called.

The end of the expedition is approaching. The last activity on 80/160m will likely be on the night of Wednesday to Thursday. After that, we’ll gradually start packing up antennas and workstations, with one station planned at each QTH for the last night (Nov. 14-15).

QRT will likely be at our sunrise – Nov. 15, 2024, 00:00z.

Top left: VK5GR, OM4AYL, OK2ZA, OM5RW and OM4MW. Bottom left: OM4MM, OK6DJ, OM3PC and OM5ZW.

  • [NOVEMBER 11/ PICTURES] – By team VK9CV

The weekend was full of contests, so we found it harder to find space to operate. We mainly used the WARC bands. The callsign VK9CV was also active in the WAE RTTY contest, where Grant VK5GR made several hundred contacts. He is also doing well using the good conditions on 6m, making contacts as far as the Caribbean. Currently, he has 47 DXCC entities in his log. We are also trying to work on the lower bands, with Miro OM5RW on 80m and Lubo OM5ZW on 160m monitoring the bands all night, calling CQ every half hour on 1840 kHz.

Miro OM5RW

Grant VK5GR

Joe OM4MW and Sysa OM4AYL

  • [NOVEMBER 9] – 

With over 70K QSOs in the log, here’s a selection of antennas at VK9CV (credit to the team for sharing).  This weekend VK9CV is taking part in the WAE RTTY contest as a multi-1 entry. Additonal info from team below:

At 80 meters FT8 in the evening, we received calls from W6, W7; we focused on East Asia. Then about 10 times from KL7, KH6. After that, almost exclusively Northern EU, with minimal from other parts of Europe. An hour before sunrise, conditions spiked sharply, with QSOs shifting from FT8 to CW, and by sunrise, about 90 CW QSOs with EU, NA, SA, and the Caribbean. On 40 and 30 meters FT8, then on 30 meters CW, but only 50 QSOs due to interference on our frequency. Yesterday, mainly in the evening in our time, human modes were active, with about 5 stations at the same time. A massive pileup on 20 meters began with Japan, then North America, and finally Europe lasting late into the night.

  • [NOVEMBER 8 @ 0900Z] –
On Wednesday morning, there were no bands open. Joe OM4MW was on 40m CW during the night, but after sunrise, the bands closed. Altogether, we had very few QSOs with human modes in the morning, and the bands remained closed for almost the entire day. Only at our sunset (around 12:00z) was it possible to do something again, but the signals were very weak and fluctuating. We are also working on the lower bands. Today, we repaired the capacitive hat on the 160m vertical, which was torn off by strong winds. We set up another RX antenna (beverage) and moved the DHDL to QTH3. We’re doing everything we can to improve our reception. David OK6DJ made the first contacts on QO-100, and Grant VK5GR is monitoring the conditions on 6m; if the band opens, he gives it priority. We have approximately 64,000 QSOs in the log. We’re halfway through the expedition, and in the second half, we aim to focus mainly on the 160–20m bands, but everything depends on the conditions.

HIgh quality dish 😀

  • [NOVEMBER 6 @ 0600Z] –

With over 50K QSOs in the log, here’s some pictures of the crew in action, courtesy team VK9CV:

And a further news update by Pilot Station, OK1FCJ

The RX antenna on 160m is picking up some industrial noise from the island at S6-7. Weaker signals are not coming through. Conditions on all bands are very variable; two days ago, it was great, yesterday very weak. There are 13 CW contacts in the log on 60m. This is an error caused by a communication issue between the radio and PC. Those contacts belong to 20m CW. 60m is not permitted in VK. However, we’ll make the log corrections once we’re back home.

  • [NOVEMBER 5 @ 0630Z] –

Yesterday (Monday), we set up the 80m vertical and the RX antenna DHDL for 160m. The antenna receives excellently, but conditions for 160m weren’t favorable.

We made our first appearance on 15m SSB, and a lot of stations called us, HI. However, we have a request for stations in Europe. Our windows to NA are very short, and we have a difficult path to the eastern coast of NA. Therefore, we ask our EU friends for patience and cooperation if we make a directional call.

Please refrain from sending your requests for human modes on low bands because if signals don’t pass on FT8, trying CW/SSB is pointless. The propagation conditions from this location are very poor. We will try to set up a RX antenna at another QTH as well.

If you’re not logged after an update, please wait at least 24 hours for the next update. PLS, don’t send requests for corrections and NIL; everything will be addressed after the expedition.

Credit: OM4MM

  • [NOVEMBER 4 @ 0500Z] –

Since last night the wind has been intensifying. We need to take down some antennas (including the vertical for 160m and at least one Spiderbeam) because a major storm is approaching, and they are reinforcing the embankment where the antennas are set up. Therefore, it’s very likely that only a few signals will be on the air in the evening and at night. Health issues. Two members have coughs and fevers (not COVID). They probably caught something on the plane.

Meanwhile, Petr, OK1FCJ (team PR man) mentions about the set up at each QTH:

QTH1

– Area: approx. 150 m²
– Antennas: 12m and 17m Dipole, SpiderBeam, 30m/40m Verticals (on a single coax cable)
– Equipment: Expert Electronics SunSDR, Icom 705, Kenwood TS-480, 2x PA

QTH2

– Area: approx. 1000 m²
– Antennas: 160m Vertical, SpiderBeam, VDA (10m and 12m), DX Commander, DHDL toward EU
– Equipment: 2x Yaesu FTDX10, 2x PA

QTH3

– Area: approx. 4000 m²
– Antennas: Hexbeam, SpiderBeam, 30m Vertical, 40m Vertical, 80m Vertical, 3-element Yagi 6m
– Plan: 2x Beverages (one directed to EU and another to the US East Coast) or alternatively DHDL
– Equipment: 2x Yaesu FTDX10, Elecraft K3, 3x PA

160m RX antenna @ VK9CV (OM5ZW)

  • [6M NEWS] – Team member VK5GR gives an update regarding the “Magic Band” from VK9CV perspective:

VK9CV 6m monitor receiver is now running and reporting to PSKReporter.info – if you see yourself being heard let us know. We are watching the 6m screen as well when we can looking for openings. We will also call CQ from time to time.

  • [NOVEMBER 3 @ 0645Z] –

We have uploaded the first logs to Club Log. We know some FT8 contacts are missing because we lack synchronization. We’ll try to fix the issues by tomorrow. The next update should be fine. People should be patient and avoid sending us screenshots of confirmed contacts.

Antennas: Currently, we have 2x Spider, 1x Hexbeam, verticals for 40 and 30m, a DX Commander, dipole for 17m, and a VDA for 10 and 12m. We’ll be setting up additional antennas this afternoon when the sun is a bit lower. It’s very exhausting under the sun, around 40°C, so we build only in the morning and evening.

Pictures via VK9CV Facebook page

VISIT THE VK9CV WEBSITE 

  • [NOVEMBER 2 @ 0815Z] – 

As mentioned below – with credit to the VK9CV team – here’s a gallery of the first pictures direct from Cocos Keelng island. Keep an eye here for first logs to be uploaded. 

  • [NOVEMBER 2 @ 0230Z] –

On Friday afternoon our time, we set up 3 workstations and erected 3 antennas: so far, only 2x dipole and 1x DX Commander. Operations started on November 1st around 12:40z, with Lubo starting on 10m CW (about 150 QSOs), and Sysa, Ruda, and Martin were on 17m SSB (around 560 QSOs). Additionally, 12/17m FT8 ran all night, and another team started 40m FT8 on the vertical later in the evening. Today we’re going to set up more antennas and build additional workstations. Photos later.

  •  [NOVEMBER 1 @ 1245Z] –

Team landed on Cocos Islands earlier today and all of their luggage arrived in one piece too. Although very tired with all the travelling, they started activity just before 1245z today firstly on 28CW then 17SSB. 

  • [NOVEMBER 1 @ 0400Z] –

The team is complete with VK5GR meeting his team-mates for the first time.  They had to repack large 30kg bags into 23kg ones, and have fingers crossed that everything makes it to the final destination.

@ VK9CV FACEBOOK PAGE

@ VK9CV FACEBOOK PAGE

  • [OCTOBER 30 @ 1015Z] –

The team just completed a 10-hour flight from Istanbul to Kuala Lumpur. Now they have a 2-hour wait for the next five hour flight to Perth, Australia. Thereafter, another flight to VK9/C !

@ VK9CV FACEBOOK

  • [OCTOBER 30 @ 2245Z] – 

European contingent of VK9CV team now at Istanbul airport ready for next flight to 9M2, then onto VK6. Pic by OM4MM.

  • [OCTOBER 30 @ 1745Z] –

VK9CZ team members now beginning to check in and make their long way. First stop Istanbul, then Kuala Lumpar, then Perth..Pictures by OM4MM & OK6DJ. 

[UPCOMING] – Members of OM7M and CDXP will be active from Cocos-Keeling island as VK9CV during November 1-15, 2024. Team consists of OM5ZW, OM4AYL, OK6DJ, OK2ZA, OM3PC, OM4MM, OM4MW, OM5RW and VK5GR. QRV on all HF bands 160-10m; CW, SSB, FT8, RTTY and SAT QO-100. More info here