IOTA Contest GM2Z and GM4A
A group of operators from the West of Scotland ARS will be active from the Isle of Colonsay (EU-008) during IOTA Contest on 26 - 27 July 2008. Two contest callsigns will be used - GM2Z (CW) and GM4A (SSB). A separate station will be working PSK outside of the contest, callsign is MS0EPC (http://www.eu.srars.org). At the moment our team consists of MM0DFV, GM0WRR, MM0GDL, GM4TOQ, GM7WED and MM3LKV. A couple of other operators may join us. QSL cards for both contest stations and MS0EPC should be sent to MM0DFV.
73 de MM0DFV (GM2Z)
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The Tortola Excursion
Cal White, V31EA
 At least once a year we all get edgy and need to go somewhere. I was getting that feeling, so at the next Texas DX Society (TDXS) meeting I brought up the possibility of going to the island of Tortola (NA-023) in the British Virgin Islands. Immediately, several hands came up and the trip was filled!
Our completed DXpedition crew consisted of four members of the TDXS bunch: myself, Cal White, WF5W; Paul Franz, W5PF; Bill Frink, K5WAF; Bob Mennell, WB5IUU, and our companion, Nancy Kott, WZ8C, stateside Queen Bee of the FISTS group.
We planned to use the two Kenwood TS 480HX’s, two SteppIR Big IR verticals and some wire for dipoles. We had ICE filters to insure we would be able to operate side-by-side radios. The Alpha amplifier company provided T-shirts and DX Engineering donated some hats.
Computers had been set up to tie into both radios and have programs in place for RTTY.
We rented a five-suite villa on Smugglers Cove, which had been a landing spot for pirates in the days of old and set the theme for our trip. The pictures that we saw on the internet of the land around the villa did not give us a good feeling for the antenna layout. There didn’t appear to be a lot of open space and power lines were right near the building. The villa also has a Condo Association that didn’t look favorably on our activity when we first explained it to them in an attempt to get permission to operate. Amateur Radio is not well-known in Tortola (there are less than a dozen licensed Hams on the island), and they were concerned that we would cause interference to the neighborhood. Eventually, we obtained prior permission from the local powers-that-be to erect the antennas with the understanding we had to put up $1,000 extra security deposit. That says something about the area.
Paul, Bill and I planned a stop in San Juan for a look around before continuing to Tortola. Tricia, K5WAF’s XYL, said she had been looking at a hotel in San Juan, The Convento, for 30 years and this was the first time to get there.
What a trip! The Convento lived up to its reputation. We were ready for luxury all over the place. Good walks, good shopping, nice weather and good food, and last but not least, great beds and pillows. What more could we ask of this place for only 24 hours? It had been 45 years since I had seen El Moro castle, it remained exactly the same as I remembered it.
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