The International DX-Convention conducted in Visalia, California was an excellent event. Over 850 DXers from around the world converged on the Visalia Convention Center to review many DX topics and upcoming events.Along with my ZL9HR team mates Glenn KE4KY, Les, W2LK and Rich KY6R (North America Pilot) we had an enjoyable weekend in Visalia.

The International DX-Convention conducted in Paestum, Italy this past weekend was also an excellent meeting. The venue was the ancient city of Paestum, just south of Salerno. Walking through the archaeological sites of the ancient city that was founded around the end of the 7th century BC by colonists from the Greek city of Sybaris, and originally known as Poseidonia was an amazing experience.

Meeting some of Italy's top DXers was a treat, as well as meeting Tomi HA7RY (of PT0S) was also fun. Did I mention the food and wine in this part of Italy are among the best one can find. My wife and I enjoyed the company and friendship of many outstanding DXers during the weekend.

ZL9HR team mate Glenn, KE4KY, wrote an very informative article about the Visalia event and
DXing, it can be seen at: 

http://ky4dx.org/

73,
Gene K5GS

But KA3NRX did get an ATNO with ZL9, I remember working you on 20 meters shortly before we went QRT.

 

See you there Rich..

John,  fly to LAX or SFO and drive.

The reason it's in Visalia is tradition,  it's midway between SFO - LAX, or better said: The Northern California DX Club and the Southern California DX Club, who have been putting this event on for 64 years.

73,

 Gene, K5GS

Several years ago I wondered why the Balleny Islands didn't count for DXCC.  Clearly, they meet the distance from New Zealand requirement.

The first answer I received was nonsense - they don't count because they're surrounded by ice year round. Well, I know that wasn't true because I've sailed around the Balleny Islands twice while serving on weather ships in the Southern Ocean.

The real answer is exactly what is posted above re: no new entities below 60 South as long as the Antarctic Treaty of 1959 is in force.

You can see a photo I took of the Balleny's on Dec. 26, 1965 at:

http://www.aspen-ridge.net/Shipmates/USS_Calcaterra/DER_390_Photos_1/DER_390_Photos_6/BallenyIsl.jpg

73 and Happy Holidays,
Gene K5GS

We are back in New Zealand after a rough 2+ day sea journey from the island.

The last of the logs will be uploaded soon.

Everyone in good health,  we will sleep soundly tonight in a read bed that isn't rocking and rolling...

73,
Gene K5GS

Logs to be uploaded daily.  Just finished the DoC safety briefing,  everything went well, we're on schedule for the morning.

73,
Gene K5GS

Sunday, November 25, 2012
Invercargill, New Zealand

The ZL9HR team has arrived and is prepared to depart on Monday morning. The team was warmly greeted by the local ZL hams who hosted lunch and dinners along the way.

The NZ Department of Conservation (DoC) briefings and quarantine inspection processes began with the transfer of all the equipment to the inspection / quarantine station. The bulk of our equipment was inspected on Saturday morning, all passed with no exceptions. DoC management said everything was in good order. A process that normally takes all day was completed in less than 3 hours even though items were repackaged in plastic bags / wrapped in plastic sheets, or placed in bins. Cardboard is not permitted on the island so new items like antennas were repackaged. The team then went off to fill the 55 petrol containers and return them to our transport vendor, Lindsey Carrying.

Invercargill weather has been unusually warm and even sunny on some days, with rain on others.  Weather reports on Campbell Island show temperatures ranging between 6c and 9c (43f ­ 48f) with winds up to 45 km/h (27 mph).  Rain is in the forecast for each day for the forecast period; all not unexpected. The boat returned from Auckland Island 2 days ago where a team was conducting an inventory of penguins.

Today we’re doing last minute shopping for items missed or misplaced and will buy snacks and other goodies not supplied in our contract with the boat.

We are all excited about the departure planned for mid day Monday, Nov. 26th. Once underway there will be no Internet access. On the island we will communicate with the designated Pilot stations and upload load photos via satellite phone. We will not be reading blogs, reflectors or personal e-mail. If you have suggestions or complaints please e-mail your region’s designated Pilot station.

Good luck to all we'll see you in the pile-ups!

73,

The ZL9HR team

So, the big question is (drum roll):

Will it all be ready by ZL9HR  ??

73,
Gene K5GS

ZL9HR Update
Saturday, 27 Oct. 2012

Current Status:

Everything is on schedule; the team is excited and ready to begin their journey to New Zealand. Team members will begin arriving in Invercargill, NZ on November 22.

The majority of our equipment arrived at a storage facility in Invercargill on Oct 18.

Current Schedule:

November 23 - the equipment will be taken to the NZ Department of Conservation (DoC) Quarantine Inspection station.

November 24 - everything will be unpacked and inspected; including personal items, once inspected everything will remain at the station until departure.

November 25 - the team returns to the inspection station for DoC briefings on: safety, landing permit conditions and working around the islands wildlife.

November 26 - the team again returns to the DoC inspection station for inspection of personal items not processed on Nov. 24.
- Equipment will be trucked to Bluff, NZ and loaded aboard the boat for departure, currently scheduled at approximately 12:00 (local).
- Several local hams have offered to assist with loading the boat.

With good weather we estimate the voyage will take 40 hours, arriving at Perseverance Harbor sometime between midnight and 06:00 (local) on November 28.

During the DX-pedition daily traffic with the team will be handled by the designated Pilot stations. We ask the DX community to direct their compliments / suggestions / concerns to the Pilots who will summarize and forward to us via e-mail. We plan to upload photos and logs on a daily basis. The Pilots are listed on the Team page of our web site www.campbell2012.com

Team member Dave, K3EL, updated his ZL9HR blog on Oct. 21 http://k3el.wordpress.com/

Initially we had a band / mode survey page on the web site; due to some Internet pranksters the survey was removed. However, we did collect enough data to get a view of needed bands / modes.

In closing we want to again thank the corporate sponsors, clubs, foundations and individuals who have provided products and funding to make the activation of Campbell Island a reality after a long radio silence.

That’s it for now; safe travels to the ZL9HR team as they begin their journey.

Our next update will be in November from New Zealand.

73,

The ZL9HR team

W2IRT:

Yes, we have some plots for 20 meters, Dave will make them available when he has time, he has a ton of other data he's been crunching.

AF3Y:

There are no sandy beaches on ZL9 thus no footprints in the sand, just a rocky coast line with thick vegetation to the waterline, home to large - grumpy sea lions whose home turf we are invading. Having been to Campbell Island many times for non ham radio purposes I think we have the conditions well understood and properly aligned for our purposes.

73,
Gene K5GS

For what it's worth, the DoC has been cooperative and helpful with the team's planning.

ZL9 is a remote nature reserve which was restored to its pristine state about 11 years ago, this after 200 years of human pollution. The restoration happened after the last major DX-pedition from ZL9, so some things may have changed.

The island is home to about 8,600 pair of Southern Royal Albatross, which I believe is the largest nesting area in the world. Other wildlife lives there without worry about human intervention or external predators, i.e. rats.

Rather than complain about the restrictions we should be dancing in the streets that DoC is helping us put this one on the air. We understand the terms of the landing permit and will abide by them. Ham radio isn't a priority for DoC but they do understand the hobby and are willing to work with us.

ZL9 is a remote sub-Antarctic location with the usual associated hazards, we created emergency plans, each of us has evacuation insurance and appropriate medical coverage. The cost of a medical evacuation from ZL9 is about $20,000, it requires 2 helicopters to be dispatched from the mainland.  There are no sandy beaches on ZL9 from which antennas can be placed, team safety is top priority.

As you can see from Dave's plots, we should be able to satisfy the need for ZL9 as an ATNO for most people.

73,
Gene K5GS

Thanks for your continued interest in ZL9HR Campbell Island DX-pedition.

We’re making great progress during the planning and preparation phases.  The Hellenic Amateur Radio Association of Australia members and the local ham community have pitched in to make this DX-pedition a reality.

Our current status:

6 Meters:

We received approval for use of 50 - 51 MHZ.  Some areas in New Zealand use 50 MHZ for television transmission; therefore it is not an Amateur allocation. Since Campbell Island is uninhabited we received a waiver from the NZ authorities to use those frequencies.

Additional Corporate Sponsors signed on since last update:

- Elecraft
- Rojone Pty Ltd
- Amateur Radio Supplies
- OptiBeam

DX Foundation, Club and Individual Sponsors:

The list continues to grow.  Please see the web page for the most current list of supporters
http://www.campbell2012.com/index.php/sponsors

Equipment:

Our equipment is on the way to New Zealand. The gear was packed in crates and prepared for sea shipment from Sydney, Australia to Christchurch, New Zealand. Once through NZ Customs they will be trucked to Invercargill, New Zealand and placed in a storage facility, arrival at the storage facility is scheduled for Oct. 11th. A bond was posted to get the equipment into New Zealand. In order to reclaim the bond we must remove the equipment from New Zealand upon completion of the DX-pedition.

Quarantine Inspection:

Before any person or equipment lands on Campbell Island an inspection of all personal items and equipment will be conducted by the NZ Department of Conservation.  Our gear will be unpacked at the inspection station in Bluff, NZ on Nov. 24, 2012. Special attention is placed on items which may contain soil, rocks, stones, insects or other organic material. Boots and shoes must be scrubbed to remove any accumulated soil. Since the boat is used by the DoC for their expeditions were comfortable the boat is prepared for its inspection.

Island Logistics

1.  As you may have seen with other DX-peditions to remote / uninhabited locations once on the island accommodations must be made for meals and sanitary considerations. Fortunately, the New Zealand Department of Conservation has allowed us to use several buildings and the toilet facilities in one of their buildings. These buildings were part of the weather station that once operated at Beeman Cove; they have been kept in good repair over the years since. Again, we appreciate the DoCs cooperation and assistance to the ZL9HR team. Sleeping accommodations will be on the boat, the team will shuttle back and forth from the island.

2.  Since the weather will be cold and wet we'll wear layers and waterproof foul weather clothing.

3.  We'll bring food, snacks, a medical kit, and other emergency supplies in the event we can't get back to the boat due to weather conditions.

4.  No trash is permitted to remain on the island; we'll be carting all refuse back to the boat for proper disposal. The boat is not permitted to empty its sanitary storage tanks while anchored in Perseverance Harbor so the skipper will occasionally take the boat out to sea to empty the tanks.

5.  There’s been recent Internet chatter about our antennas and their placement. Under the conditions of the landing permit antennas are permitted only in DoC designated spaces, all antennas must be inland. No antennas are allowed in or near the water, nor are we allowed to walk along the shoreline. While there are some optimum antenna locations on the island they are off limits to the team. Well use vertical antennas for the Low Bands, and weather permitting, a 40 meter beam will be placed on a hill with a drop off towards the sea.

6.  We've been advised there may be 2 scientific expeditions on the island while we are operating. The DoC does not anticipate any interaction between the DX-pedition team and the participants of these expeditions.

7.  ZL9HR team member Dave Lloyd, K3EL, prepared some information about our antenna placement and propagation. You may read his articles at:

http://k3el.wordpress.com/dx/zl9hr/azimuthal_map/

http://k3el.wordpress.com/dx/zl9hr/antenna-choice-and-location/


8.  As previously mentioned, we are governed by the conditions of the DoC issued landing permit, some of those conditions are:

a. Specified number of DX-pedition operating days
b. Antenna field designated by the DoC
c. Other than use of the wharf, no access to the shoreline
d. Team members restricted to island locations indicated on the permit
e. No overnight stays unless the weather prevents return to the boat
f.  Second to personal safety is wildlife awareness and safety are highest priorities
        i. Antennas must be marked to avoid bird strikes and ground borne wildlife may not be disturbed
g. Digging, trenching or other defacement / scaring of the land is prohibited.
        i. We are permitted to install guy stakes for the antenna support structures

Team members have made their bookings to and from New Zealand, several will meet in Auckland before the DX-pedition, others will meet in Dunedin and eventually we'll first meet as a team in Invercargill, NZ on Nov. 23rd.

In closing we want to thank our corporate sponsors, clubs, foundations and individuals who have provided products and funding to make the activation of Campbell Island a reality after a long radio silence.

Next update in late October.

73,
Gene K5GS and the ZL9HR team

www.campbell2012.com

The ZL9HR DXpedition to Campbell island is coming together with all equipment due to be packed into four containers and ready for shipping to New Zealand by the end of this month. The equipment will go by sea from Sydney, Australia to Christchurch, New Zealand. Then by truck to a warehouse in Invercargill, New Zealand.

Prior to loading on the boat at Bluff, NZ the Department of Conservation will conduct a quarantine inspection of all equipment and personal gear going to the island.

ZL9HR is also assembling an off island team which includes following pilots: VK2NN (VK/ZL), KY6R (NA), KH6CG (Pacific), V51B (Africa) MM0NDX (Europe) and VK2ARE Australian Publicity officer.

73,
Gene K5GS

In late November, 2012 an international team of 10 will sail from Bluff, New Zealand to Campbell Island. This DX-pedition is being coordinated and sponsored by the Hellenic Amateur Radio Association of Australia.

The ZL9HR DX-pedition will operate for approximately 12 days.

We will have at least 5 stations operating on 160-6 meters, SSB-CW-RTTY.  The equipment includes Kenwood TS-590 transceivers on SSB and Elecraft K3 transceivers on CW. The linear amplifiers are SPE 1KW amps and Elecraft 500 watt amps. Antennas will be a combination of Spiderbeams, monobamd moxon yagis and verticals.

Campbell Island, a New Zealand possession, is located 600 km south of New Zealand, is designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and is uninhabited. Discovered in 1810 by Captain Frederick Hasselborough of the sealing ship Perseverance, the ship was owned by Robert Campbell (thus the island's name); Perseverance Harbor was named after the ship. Ironically in November, 1810 Captain Hasselborough drowned in Perseverance Harbor when a sudden squall overturned his small boat while transiting the harbor.

From its discovery Campbell Island was a land of many uses. Originally a sealing, then a whaling station, the island’s usage changed after those species were over hunted. Sheep were introduced in an attempt to create a revenue producing business. Eventually that venture failed and the island again became uninhabited.

During World War 2 the island became a coast watching station. After the war the island was used as a weather station. In 1958 a new weather station was established just east of the former station, New Zealand scientists manned this station until 1995 when technology won out; the weather station was automated and the island once again became uninhabited.

After years of human habitation the island was infested with significant non native wildlife, including rats that attacked the habitat of the Southern Royal Albatross and other native birds. Campbell Island has the world’s largest population of Southern Royal Albatross, some 8,600 pair. In June, 2001 the world's most ambitious rodent eradication program was undertaken. Today the island is free of all human introduced species.

Campbell Island is tightly controlled by the New Zealand Department of Conservation (DoC). Landing permits are generally issued only for limited eco-tourism and scientific / ecological study. Ships are not permitted to tie up at the wharf; they must anchor in Perseverance Harbor.  All equipment and personnel must be brought to the island by small boat. Prior to departure from Bluff, NZ we will undergo a quarantine inspection. The boat and all of our equipment, including personal items, will be unpacked and inspected at a NZ DoC Quarantine Inspection Station.

The buildings located at Beeman Cove, artifacts from the old weather station, are kept in good repair and used by scientific expeditions; we've been given access to several of those building. The island’s weather is generally windy, wet, cold and very changeable with rainfall virtually every day, so we appreciate the DoC allowing us to use the facilities. Our antenna field has been designated by the DoC as are a few locations on the island we are permitted to visit. The landing permit will be administered by a DoC officer who will accompany us for the duration of the DX-pedition.

The last major DX-pedition from this DXCC entity was January, 1999 so the demand will be high.

The goals for ZL9HR are:
- Operator safety, especially when transiting the harbor
- Strict adherence to the conditions of the landing permit and DoC direction
- Provide an "All Time New One" to those who need it
- Band fills for those needing them
- Top Band focus
- Our QSL policies will be fair to everyone

We plan to upload logs daily using our Satellite Phone. As time allows, we expect to upload daily pictures of the operation.

Now the pesky reminder about financing: the budget for this DX-pedition is approximately $100,000(USD). The team is providing the up-front money to cover the cost of the project including their travel and living while in New Zealand, which is not included in the $100,000(USD) estimate. As some of you may have heard at Dayton, virtually all DX-pedition expenses must be paid in advance, at contract signing. We’re receiving donations from the worldwide DX Foundations, DX clubs and individuals. We appreciate the generosity of our supporters and corporate sponsors; we ask that all who need this rare DXCC entity do what they can to support the project.

We'll use this forum to answer questions and collect your comments / suggestions up to departure from New Zealand. Since it will be impossible to satisfy everyone's needs / desires we will focus on the greater DX community's requirements.

Once we depart New Zealand all communication regarding the DX-pedition will be handled by our designated pilot stations. We will not be checking web sites or answering non emergency e-mail from the island.

We encourage all who need this rare one to jump in to the pileups, our operating plan includes listening in the USA 20 meter General band.

Our web site is:  www.campbell2012.com

Thanks for your interest in ZL9HR.

73,
Gene, K5GS and the ZL9HR team

I agree with WB2WIK.

I have a 2K Classic that I bought new,  still have the original shipping box. It's been a few years since I used it. The box is very heavy cardboard with foam blocks at the bottom.   It's not a wooden crate..

Simply remove the chimney from each tube, then remove each tube.

Package the glass in a separate box and ship separately or in the larger box for the Henry.

I've moved this Henry around in the original box and never had a problem.

73,