DX-EXPEDITION

14-21July 2009

by 317AT101 Andy

It has passed 9 years since my last expedition. Many things have changed, I’m married, have a child, a job. And I came back to my hobby, it’s like opened a new breath. The idea of expedition into Maly Visotsky island appeared at 2008. But the sun activity was very bad at that time, so I decided to postpone my activation to the summer of 2009. By that time I already talked by the phone to Victor and we agreed that I will arrive. He has suggested me two huge batteries for 850 A/h each. That was a good idea for my equipment. So at 10 o’clock in the morning of July 13th 2009 I equipped the car and went towards Vyborg. It was a way of 1050km. after 15 hours driveng I very tired. I came to the island Visotsk and stayed at military unit’s territory. I had only 2 hours to sleep that day.



July 14th 2009

So the moment has come. Victor has given me the boat and a huge battery. He has although gave me his work clothes so that frontier guards wouldn’t suspect a saboteur in me. He has also given me a military map and marked nice sights on the island witch are good to see now. I put map for a bosom, packed all the equipment to the boat, I took video and photo cameras, my GPS and went towards the island. It seems to me I didn’t drive the boat with for about 10 years already. But anyway after 5 or 6 minutes I was near to the island and found a small bay where I could leave the boat. So I moored to the cost and started filming and making photos. Many has changed since my last time here. Large birches, liacs. Lots of bushes and trees. Going by a narrow footpath I came to big street with the buildings. Everything was destroyed, something was burned. Some buildings were destroyed to the bases, some were saved half. It is old Finnish village. Some time ago Finns have rented this territory, builded here sawmill and settlement.

I also found a path to catacombs. Later it was demolished and flooded. I shouted few pictures, fixed coordinates and went back to the boat.



Walked around the island, maked a few shots. I dumped everything out of the boat and moved to the western part of the island all the equipment. A bit later Victor sailed to help me. Together we moved the battery to my position. I assembled the antenna, installed the tent. The weather was excellent! I was glad when turned on my transiver and heard a propagation to Europe. Victor makes the first few shots. I'm not up to video and photos Then he had pity on the fact that they did. I am in the air Propagation excellent! After 3-4 qs’s, I had a PileUp at 27590. Number of contacts reaches 4-5 per People hear my voice good and give excellent report.. After 4 hours the band is covered. Victor goes back, and promises to pick me up at midnight.. So, a couple of hours passed and propagation opened again. This time with even greater force, I understand that I can not make QSO’s without to use of split frequencies. Number of causes is that sometimes I can not take anyone or not mention the fact that someone would hear me in this swap. It seems that calling of 100-150 stations. Turning on the split - 27590-27595. As a result, for half of the 12 nights I had 560 qso. Not bad for one day. Victor comes to me for help at midnight. Together we move the battery to the boat. And going back to the island Vysotsk.

The next day, June 15, was with bad weather!

Propagation opened in the East and the whole day was not closet on this arai, I was heard the station from Russia. I get qso with Thailand. I continued to hardly call for 27,555 to qsy to 27590. On this day as a result was only 15 qso’s per day. Not too much!

June 16 On this day, the propagation was good and I made around of 200 Qso’s. That even not too bad.

I hear all stations very very clear without qrm! Ether when the station can not hear me.. The big problem with my station receiving the signal. Probably location affects. And yet, my antenna faced the birch. But it is good on another hand, because if not, the antenna would have already blown by the wind. I work a 60 watt. Total 780 qso common on my at 11 pm I finished. Victor arrived as usual for me, that would help move has not yet discharged battery! A very good thing, by the way! I have had with a converter from 12V to 220V for laptop time to time disconnecting it from power supply.

June 17th. Propagation was similar. By 11 pm I had the 1076 qso.

June 18th. Absolute zero!! Propagation of the morning and during the day, by evening I hear but little 178sd111. By noon the wind increased again begins to drive the wave of the Baltic Sea from Vyborg to the side. My 2 el quads oppression of the ram's horn. Must be constantly readjusted. Stretched washing wires.



June 19th. Propagation still not here ... But at the evening the bend is opened. I continue to work, just before the morning I was doing 104 qso. PileUp no such as was the first day of June 14.. 1186 qso at the end of the day.



Morning of June 20th, it was sunny and very good condition, sounded the whole of Europe. And all ready midday 113 qso’s plus. After lunch, the band was closed again.



June 21th A moderate propagation and 120 QSO's finished at 22:00 is very early. Victor drove me. He was late for some meeting.

Expedition is over.



As a result 1502 QSO's.



317at101 Andy

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Published on: 2009-09-06 (338 reads)