[Dx-qsl] VU4K Andaman Islands

[Murray Green (K3BEQ)]

Interesting writeup by Krish, VU4K, operating from the Andaman Islands. 
No easy task.



    "VU4K -- Andaman Islands
    <http://dx-world.net/2014/vu4k-andaman-islands/>
    SATURDAYMAR 22, 2014

*TAGS:*Andaman Islands <http://dx-world.net/tag/andaman-islands/>,AS-001 
<http://dx-world.net/tag/as-001/>,Port Blair 
<http://dx-world.net/tag/port-blair/>
53 COMMENTS > <http://dx-world.net/2014/vu4k-andaman-islands/#comments>

*UPDATE*from Krish VU4K

    "The pile has been crazy is an understatement. 15kc spread is just
    not sufficient to pick folks out. I have tried AGC off, AGC with
    filter and full auto. Unless I can segment the pileup, there is no
    way I can pull people out. It is just an unintelligible buzz that is
    heard at this end in the entire 15kc spread.

    There was some useless chap from EU telling that "everyone
    everywhere is better". The crap started when I told I am moving to
    15m to work NA. The tirade was on 17m and was against me doing
    numbers and alternating between NA and EU. I had to get the QSO's
    rolling no matter. I cannot let people keep calling me endlessly and
    take away that hope of a QSO, and did not want the probability to go
    down to zero either. I was on 15m and I moved to 17m since the path
    was open to NA, whereas 15m did not show any opening to NA that
    early on and that EU chap did not like that.

    Its been days since I have had any sleep over 2 hours. I was finding
    it hard to concentrate after long runs. Day #1 and with 26 hours of
    operation, there are over 1600 Qso's. I will upload a picture today
    of the setup. It took 8 hours to install the 2Ele steppir and the
    sunset is 5:30pm. We spent 2.5hrs on the terrace with a flash light
    in the dark. There is a sheet metal roof which is an open sloping
    walk way to the terrace and nothing will stop one from rolling down
    from at over 6 storey. Treacherous especially when hauling gear across.

    The vertical has not yet been installed. I am not sure if the
    vertical is going to do any better and it takes at a minimum 4 hours
    to install and I need to run 500feet of LMR400 to get to the water.
    Except for 80m, the steppir covers all bands. I will take a call in
    the next day or 2, but the priority is to hand out QSO's.

    Internet has been an issue. The USB dongle seems to recognize the
    SIM data card and i can see the full bars for the signal but there
    is a problem with trying to connect. The same setup worked fine on
    Mainland. it could be an authentication issue for establishing the
    connection down here. I will spend some time to look into it. It is
    such a handicap without real-time net access."

MORE > <http://dx-world.net/2014/vu4k-andaman-islands/#more-50427>