CTARC Forthcoming October Meeting - 27 Oct '18

The CTARC will hold it's next monthly meeting on Saturday 27 October 2018 at 14h00 at the usual clubhouse venue in Rondebosch.

At this meeting, the main topic will be presentation of the official video of the VK0EK Heard Island DxPedition put together by Bob Allphin, K4UEE,  Bob Schmieder KK6EK  and hosted by Paul, ZS1S

The VKOEK team assemble on the bridge
just prior to their departure from Cape Town

Members will recall that the DxPedition assembled at Cape Town harbour before setting off on their epic adventure in March of 2016. Many of you met the Heard Island Group when they were here in Cape Town and this is the video of the entire trip.

 It promises to be a good video and, who knows, some of our CTARC members may see themselves immortalised in deathless video! Certainly, the CTARC and a good number of local hams were there to assist, helping to establish Cape Town as a very useful staging post for future DxPeditions.

Do go along early to get your seat.

Don't forget the usual bring-'n-buy Swop Shop of amateur radio gear that takes place after the meeting.
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Note: This event has now taken place.

CTARC Heard Island is QRV - 23 Mar '16

The DXpedition to Heard Island near Antarctica is now on air.

The team on the Braveheart spotted land at around 10h30z on 22 March. That afternoon they set anchor in Atlas Cove and did a recconnaisance of the area for safe access for the ATV that will tow the crates of equipment to the base camp site.

The following day (23 March) the unloading of equipment and antenna erection began. It is going to be a very busy three weeks ahead!

See the VK0EK report here

CTARC Heard Island DXpedition - Mar '16

Some very exciting news is that a world-class DXpedition is planned to embark from Cape Town in 2016.

The DXpedition is a major scientific / communications expedition to Heard Island, an Australian sub-Antarctic island lying at 53°S 73°E. The location is very isolated and subject to extreme weather conditions. Consequently, it is infrequently visited - it was last activated as a DX entity 19 years ago in 1997 where a station was set up at Atlas Cove.

Paul Johnson / ZS1S, (and recent DXpeditioner to Tristan da Cunha as ZD9ZS), has joined the South African Support Team as Team Leader. Paul also will add friends and members of the local Cape Town ham radio clubs (including the Cape Town Amateur Radio Centre), and Paul’s good friend and fellow DX-er Dennis Wells / ZS1AU. Paul and Dennis join Pierre / ZS1HF (ex ZS8M) and Mal /  ZS6MAL on this key critical support team.

The Heard Island 2016 DXpedition, consisting of top DX operators, will embark from Cape Town on the m/v "Braveheart", usually based in Wellington NZ. This vessel has already featured in other DXpeditions as well. The voyage is scheduled for March 6 – April 20, 2016, with the amateur radio operation taking place on about March 16 – April 8.

The group hopes to make as many as 150 000 contacts with 50 000 possible radio ham stations worldwide during the DXpedition. The official callsign will be VK0EK.

The official website is here.You can subscribe to the VK0EK newsletter here.

Paul / ZS1S