14th of Jan
Uffff, I got them on 12SSB yesterday afternoon. I was quite busy all the day, and went back home at 16:00z. Quite late, but they were there, barely readable on 10m (too late I guess), and with a very decent signal on 12m. I decided to go for the 12m slot, and called maybe half an hour to get them. What a EU + NA pile-up !!!!!!!!
After the HK1T QSO on 17m, this is my 2nd band for Malpelo, before the real expedition start. All what is done here will not have to be redone, so this is cool already !
We'll see today (I can't hide that 10m would be much appreciated.....Those 12/10m bands can only be worked during my week-end times, so this reduces the number of days for a possible QSO....
73 (GL to all !)
Ronan, F8AFC
13th of Jan 2012
3rd day the 4-fantastics started their sporadic activation with HK0NA call-sign, and still no QSO with them.
The European evening session has been a pure fiasco, I spent 2 hours monitoring both 20 and 17 meter bands, in both CW and SSB mode. But they didn't came in.
This morning, I even woke-up at 05:00AM (very early....), and they were on 40SSB.Just time to go to the shack, to program my split frequency, when I heard the guy saying "I'm QRT now"....Some French guys made it (F5BZB and F8DZY, you got up early guys !), so it was possible indeed.
Let's be optimistic, their signal was peaking to S7 here, and that was not the grey-line. So no reason why it should make it when the entire team (100% dedicated to be active) will be there.
One good news (based on their web-site) : DXCC desk has officially approved their individual call-sign operation as valid for Malpelo....cool !
Anyway, let's see this week-end (with its lots of jammers, QRM, endless callers etc....) if they'll be a bit more active...This would mean the 2 camps installation is on good tracks, and that they have more "spare" time to be QRV.
73, GL to all
Ronan
11th Of Jan 2012
Here we go, HK0Na has sporadically started their operation as all of you may know.
They have a sporadic activity so far (QRV only during their free time while going on setting-up the camps there).
I had HK1T from Mpelo last Sunday on 17SSB and based on their news, this IS valid for HK0/m, COOL...So already an All Time New One in the log, and this is my DXCC n°312. But still no QSO with HK0NA...
They were on 20m yesterday evening, peakign 5/7 sometimes, but with an incredible zoo despite of the 15Khz of the split. I tried during 1 hour, sometimes being on the good frequency, but he was taking mainly US and EA guys....
A bit later, he was on 17SSB, weaker (S3-S4 with QSB), and I also couldn't get himl.
I know, this is only the very beginning of this highly-wanted operation (the entire is not there, this is some extra-bonus operation), and I already got them on 17m...We will see as the days will come. Their signal was good, so I have some hope to get them on other bands. Good luck to all in all cases, it will not be easy..
73 !
Ronan, F8AFC