LATEST NEWS
On air at Pitcairn (and current frequencies of operation)
I arrived yesterday (5th September) and have erected the DXCommander. The BTV is waiting until we find a short pole, which hopefully will be later today. The picture shows my current setup.
We have internet via 'Starlink', which is useful but it is quite slow and bumpy, so I won't be able to do much updating of this website.
So far I have been using the following frequencies - I will try to keep this updated.
(All are FT8 so far)
28.078
24.908
18.107
14.085
Baggage Problems
The picture on the right shows my three main bags (I also have a small backpack containing my Icom 705). The large blue suitcase contains my FT710 and a lot of wires and other parts for the DX Commander, and some tools. The weight is just a bit over the 'standard' allowance of 23kg but the check-in agent was kind enough to ignore this. The blue ski-bag contains the BTV antenna, the DX Commander collapsed pole and more wire for radials (this bag is around 17kg). The smaller suitcase is my carry-on bag, with the Juma PA1000, two tablets and a few other sundries. This is also a bit overweight for carry-on but so far it hasn't been checked.
A Broken Case
When I got to LAX, I had to retrieve all my cases and re-check them. At that point, I noticed that the larger blue case had lost one pair of wheels, with them having been completely broken off. I didn't fully inspect the case until after I'd arrived in Tahiti, but then I found not only was a pair of wheels missing, but another set of wheels had apparently been treated so roughly that the case was actually cracked. I took a taxi later on to a nearby 'Carrefour' and found a reasonable (although expensive) replacement.
Arrival on Tahiti - 1st September
I arrived here at the uncivilised hour of 0510 this morning, after travelling from LHR to LAX for 11 hours, followed by a 3 hour 'layover' at LAX and the 8 hour flight on to PPT. I have allowed myself two full days in case of luggage problems, but I glad to say all bags arrived (although unfortunately not in good condition). I've got tomorrow to maybe look around a bit and then have to go back to PPT at 0400 for the 0630 flight to Mangareva on Tuesday followed by the connection to the boat to Pitcairn and planned arrival on Pitcairn early on Thursday morning. The following picture is the front of the airport.
DX Commander setup - July 2024
Multi-band antenna setup, with elements for 10m, 12m, 15m, 17m, 20m, (30m) and 40m.
Nano VNA traces shown below from 6 to 15 MHz and 4 to 30 MHz.
The BTV antenna (lower) also covers 30m so I'll probably extend the
DX Commander 30m element to cover 60m as an inverted-L.
16 radials also prepared,ranging from 3 to 5 metres long.
The traces below won't be totally accurate but I plan to tune the
antenna again when it's in situ.
7th July 2024.
Mulit-band Vertical BTV antenna assembled and being tested.
Temporarily supported on Clark Pump-Up mast tripod base.
(I am obviously not taking the tripod mast base to Pitcairn)
26th June 2024.
Final purchase made (of Ultraflex cables)
Only two months left to go...
9th April 2024.
Flights booked (Air France and Air Tahiti)
Boat to and from Pitcairn booked
Accommodation on Mangareva and Pitcairn booked
Please use the last page (contact and comment) to make suggestions!