Zone 29??

[VA2FSQ]

Hi, this is one zone I'm still missing.  Are there any regular operators in this zone?  There was a dxpedition at Christmas island a while ago, but didn't here them at all, but then again, I didn't know much about dxing then (a bit more now).  Are there no operators in western australia?
Tom

[N2RJ]

Apart from Christmas I also worked Cocos Keeling and VK.

[K9NW]

VK6 and VK8 are in zone 29 with a decent number of active hams.  You may also find stations in Antarctica in zone 29 (as well as zones 12, 13, 30, 32, 38 and 39 which all come together at the south pole.)

[W2IRT]

Zone 29 is fairly easy. Western Australia is essentially our antipode, but on an easy path. A bit of power and a wire should be more than enough. I've worked many back in my 500W/dipole days. There are vastly more difficult zones out there!

[KF7BBJ]

I only have one VK6 in my log although I never tried to look for them. I do have multiple contacts with KC4AAA. YMMV. GL.

73,
Jonathan W6GX

[KA3NRX]

Zone 29 is fairly easy. Western Australia is essentially our antipode, but on an easy path. A bit of power and a wire should be more than enough. I've worked many back in my 500W/dipole days. There are vastly more difficult zones out there!

Amen!...Especially 24 and 26.....Perth, Australia is a big town....I am sure there are plenty of DXing hams in the metro area to work for zone 29.....which over the years, I have worked.....timing it what it's all about....

V
KA3NRX

[AF3Y]

KC4AAA is in Zone 29 and was easy to work.

Gene AF3Y

[NU1O]

VK6 and VK8 are in zone 29 with a decent number of active hams.  You may also find stations in Antarctica in zone 29 (as well as zones 12, 13, 30, 32, 38 and 39 which all come together at the south pole.)

A VK6 is a lot easier to work than a VK8 from the East Coast of the USA. VK6 has areas on the ocean and can be worked long path on 20 meters during our late afternoon and if conditions are good it can be worked again around 0600Z and at our sunrise. Perth is the largest city in WA, or VK6, with a population of 1.8 million. I've worked many stations from VK6 in 25 years.  

VK8 is in the Northern Territory and although it comprises a very large area the total population is less than 250,000 which is about 1% of the population of Australia. I believe Darwin is the biggest city in the NT but it only has a population of about 130,000.  I don't believe I have ever worked a station from Darwin. I have worked stations from Alice Springs in VK8. Alice Springs was home to a joint US/Australian eavesdropping post during the Cold War but I don't know if it still exists. It also served as a relay station for Apollo moon missions. I watched an interesting movie about the relay station which one would think few producers would want to make giving the dry subject matter but I found the movie quite good. No doubt my radio interest was a factor in my enjoying the film but I don't think one would make a film which just appealed to radio enthusiasts.

73,

Chris/NU1O

[N8HM]

These are my two VK6 QSOs from my Washington, DC apartment with a MFJ-1786 magnetic loop.

1.   2012-10-19    09:06   30 m   VK6CR  JT65  -19
2.   2012-10-20    09:23   30 m   VK6IR      JT65  -09

[VA2FSQ]

Thanks for all the interesting hints.  Like usual, it's a matter of looking at the right time of day, and the right time of the year.  I've only been on the air for a bit over a year, so patterns are not yet fully in place.