Cape Town Amateur Radio Centre: CTARC Lighthouse Weekend Report-Back

Despite rather moribund solar figures combined with rather wet weather overnight on the western seaboard, the CTARC held a successful Lighthouse Weekend on 15 / 16 August 2015.

Members met at the clubhouse on the morning of Saturday 15 August and loaded up the Force 12 beam antenna, gin pole, rigs and associated hardware.

We then made our way to the Green Point Lighthouse, where the antenna hardware was unloaded onto the lawns under overcast skies and the ham radio rigs moved into the Lighthouse building.

By now, assembly of the rotatable beam antenna is a reasonably well-rehearsed operation and erection of same was done smoothly and without mishap. Kevin, an interested member of the public, got into the spirit of the event and assisted us with assembling the antennas! At the same time, the club's 40/80m W3DZZ dipole was strung up between the lighthouse proper and one of the outbuildings, and a 2m antenna was also raised for VHF operation. Barry / ZS1FJ assembled and erected his very portable DX-pedition 20m vertical dipole fed with 300 ohm twin-feed. The club banners were flown from the top of the lighthouse, from the operating room building and at the base of the main beam antenna. Danny, Shaun and others set up the rigs and ATU's in the operating room. ZS1CT/L was ready to go on air by about 11h00.

The station continued throughout the afternoon, with club members visiting and operating the station. As dusk approached, the weather looked as if it was going to deteriorate. However, it would be a betrayal of a sacred tradition to let that dampen out enthusiasm for our traditional sundowner braai. Even if it required a feat of imagination to actually see the sun... The charcoals were thrown, the fires duly lit on the raised entertainment platform and the sizzle of meat and snapping of beer caps could soon be heard. We managed to get our meat done before the gathering rain became too intense! The Lighthouse Braai is always an enjoyable social occasion.

A dedicated core of operators (Shaun / ZS1RA, Barry / ZS1FJ, Rob / ZS1SA and Matt / ZS1MTF) remained at the rigs throughout the small hours. Owing to security regulations, those staying overnight had to be registered in advance.

Over the weekend the station worked approximately 100 stations on Phone and PSK31, under very poor band conditions. The W3DZZ and Force 12 beam antenna both worked well.

More visitors arrived in the morning. The rains had more or less ceased and a fresh, cold wind was blowing. The CTARC bulletin was broadcast as per usual at 08h30, and Rob / ZS1SA delivered a Field Station report. The station remained active until 10h00 on Sunday morning. We had quite a few members and friends come to visit the operation over the weekend – thank you for doing so, including Dirk, Audrey and their new harmonic!

At 10h00 on Sunday morning, we started dismantling the station and transporting the antennas and rigs back to the clubhouse.

We have subsequently learned that the Lighthouse staff were very pleased with the way we looked after their facility and cleaned up afterwards.

All in all, it was a good Lighthouse weekend. Thank you to all those who assisted and participated. We look forward to doing it all again next year!

Paul / ZS1S kindly made his trailer available for transporting the heavy gin pole.

Danny / ZS1BL transported the Force 12 beam antenna

A brief discussion in the clubhouse prior to setting off for Green Point

At Green Point, Noel / ZS1FW and Paul / ZS1PXK assemble the Force 12 beam on the ground

Danny / ZS1BL strings up the W3DZZ dipole from the top of the Green Point lighthouse.

Noel / ZS1FW (left) and Kevin (right), who kindly assisted us with assembly of the anetennas!

Shaun / ZS1RA lays out the main feedline for the beam antenna

Kevin and Paul / ZS1S make adjustments to the rotator

Hylton / ZR1HPC puts his back into the task of sinking stay rods for guying the antenna!

Final touches to the Force 12 beam by Noel / ZS1FW and Paul / ZS1PXK
while Rob / ZS1SA holds the bag of rivets

Saun / ZS1RA pulls the feedliness from the antennas through the window

Assembly of the gin pole for raising the antenna

The prevailing weather was windy and stormy, rains predicted for later on.

Danny / ZS1BL and Shaun / ZS1RA setting up the operating position

One of the CTARC banners marks the operating room as well as the raised entertainment area above
where we were later on to hold our braaivleis

Kevin fastens the beam antenna on to the rotator. At this stage, the whole assembly
has to be lifted on ladders so as not to damage the fragile antenna