Meeting summary

The club discussed their experiences at the W9DXCC convention and shared insights about DXpedition funding, propagation activities, and technical developments in CW operations. The group voted to support a DXpedition with a financial contribution and addressed administrative matters including meeting notices and website updates.

The group discussed their experiences at the W9DXCC convention, where Dick and Gary attended and found the presentations to be of high quality, particularly a talk by a professor on solar storms and propagation effects. Gary shared insights from a presentation about DXpedition funding, revealing that operators often bear significant financial risks and that only 15% of participants typically donate additional funds after operations. Adrian reported on his CW propagation activities in Australia, mentioning his development of a specialized CW speaker system that helps him copy weak signals below the noise floor, though he noted challenges in making contacts despite his high power output.

The club discussed funding for DXpeditions, voting to support a $51,000 expedition with a $200 contribution. They also addressed formatting issues with meeting notices and the need to update their website with information about supported expeditions. Ed mentioned that the club's DX cluster is operational and processing a significant number of transactions. The conversation ended with preparations to start a presentation about a recent 6-meter EME DXpedition.

Lance discussed his 20th 6-meter EMED expedition to Pigeon Island in Temotu Province, Solomon Islands, which was the first DXCC on 6 meters from North America. He described the logistics, including the existing 6-kilowatt generator, local accommodations, and challenges with obtaining a license. He highlighted the tropical TEP zone's impact on 6-meter operations and his concerns about dengue fever, though he only encountered one mosquito. He planned a three-week schedule to optimize EME operations during the first week, focusing on nighttime activities when the ionosphere is clearer.

Lance traveled to the Solomon Islands, initially planning to arrive on August 6th and depart on the 7th for Tomotu Province. Due to flight delays, he arrived in Honiara on August 10th and finally reached Lata on August 11th, marking the first commercial flight to the newly paved runway. Despite the delays, Lance managed to obtain a new license for the Solomon Islands and explored the area, including meeting with local officials and enjoying the local cuisine. He expressed disappointment about missing some moon passes but remained focused on making contacts during his time there.

Lance described his journey to Pigeon Island, detailing the multiple stops for refueling and the logistics of transporting luggage across different modes of transport. He explained the process of setting up his antenna, including the challenges of limited daylight and the need to adjust the mast setup. By Friday, Lance had successfully completed the mast assembly and tested its functionality, with plans to finalize the antenna setup the following day.

Lance described his successful 6-meter moonbounce operation, where he worked 54 stations during the first moon pass and encountered unusual ionospheric conditions causing one-way propagation. He detailed the setup of his antenna system on a 24-foot mast, which required careful tie-downs due to high winds, and explained how he lost transmitter output during the final moon passes due to an unexpected laptop software update affecting audio settings.

Lance shared his experience of a DXpedition to the Solomon Islands and Pigeon Island, where he made 156-meter EME contacts and one terrestrial contact with 3D2AG in Fiji. He described the logistics of transporting equipment, the challenges of dealing with luggage handlers, and the local culture at the Lomlom airstrip. Lance also explained his strategy for making EME contacts and the importance of timing and antenna positioning. The presentation concluded with a discussion about the optimal time to visit the Solomon Islands for DXing, considering weather conditions and ionospheric conditions.