CY9C Update

by | 2016-08-19

Good morning from Dingwall, Nova Scotia.

I arrived at The Markland Resort at 6:30PM on Wednesday, August 17th after having stopped in Ingonish, NS (30KM south of Dingwall) to fill 50 gas cans with 1250L of 91 octane gas. The locals looked at the 50 gas cans on the ground and then gave me slightly slanted looks. The station owner, however, was quite pleased 🙂

We had our DXPedition dinner where a few changes were announced. The boat captain we had originally contracted with had mysteriously disappeared, and after speaking with one of the more well known locals, we were referred to another boat operator named Paul. Paul has been an amazing resource on this trip. However, due to the wind direction yesterday, the boat wasn’t able to get out there.

That left Pat, N2IEN, who happened to bring his own helicopter and aviation mechanic (Barry), to ferry as many people and as much gear to the 2 sites as was possible while we had daylight. So, at the last minute, we staged everything as best as we could and got people, survival gear, a couple of generators, a little bit of gas, and limited radio gear to both sites. I was the first to land at Atlantic Cove in order to start building the network bridge. Things didn’t go as planned.

The cellular repeater site I was planning on getting coverage from in Neil’s Harbour went down in bad weather about a week ago and Bell Canada hasn’t been able to get it back up yet. Even with a 70dB cellular booster, I couldn’t get cellular coverage in Atlantic Cove. As well, the network gear hadn’t made it over to the North East Point yet, so we couldn’t test the UHF bridge. The GOOD news is that the North East point HAS cellular coverage, and without even the need of any cellular boosters, so I opted to come back on the chooper to the mainland for the night with the access points for Atlantic Cove in my duffel bag and swap them with the access points going to the North East Point. Paul, the boat operator, was nice enough to put me up for the night in his guest room.

When I woke up this morning, the ground was wet and I was told that a big thunderstorm had rolled through town and it was currently out over St. Paul Island. As I write this, it still looks pretty nasty out there, and Lee, WW2DX reports that it’s pretty miserable on the North East Point and they’re waiting out the storm. However, Paul decided to head over to the island despite the weather and is hoping he’ll be able to unload everything within the next few hours. The chopper is on stand down until the weather clears, but we’ve got the next few loads staged and we’re hoping the weather clears by the afternoon and we’re able to ferry the rest of the gear over.

CY9C has been on the air since yesterday. As soon as the network is built, the current logs will be uploaded, and if all goes according to plan, further QSOs will be logged live to Clublog. For now, Wayne and I are at the Markland staying dry and waiting out the storm.

More to come. vy 73 de VA3QR/VE1.

9 thoughts on “CY9C Update

  1. JC Daehler

    Best of luck to you all. I was on the Island twice in 1993 and 1994 as part of the Cy9CWI dxepedition.
    Great memories. My call at that time was VE2JCX
    73
    JC Daehler
    VE7OI

  2. Marvin VE3VEE

    I worked you guys last night on 20m SSB and 20m CW. Now I just need a 20m RTTY QSO and I will be a happy camper. I wish you good weather and good CONDX. Have fun. 73 de Marvin VE3VEE

  3. Lee K2HAT

    Thanks to all involved with the DXpedition.

    Be careful. Hope to say hello on a few bands. 🙂

    73 K2HAT

  4. Bob N7XR

    Seems logs aren’t uploaded or contacts from 8/19 20/17m were pirates. Hate Insurance contacts but only way to confirm. Good luck guys.

  5. Marco

    Just worked you guys on 20m…
    Keep up with the good work!

    73
    Marco IU2DXF

  6. Andy

    Fond memories of 2 visits to SPI (81 as VE1SPI – 82 as CY0SPI) During the 81 operation hit the most outstanding 2 and 6 meter opening I have ever seen with well over 300 contacts on 2 and over 1000 on 6. Had the first ever contacts on 30 meters as well.
    73 Andy (VE9DX ex: VE1ASJ)

    BTW yes it was CY0 back then – long story.

  7. Bob Griffin NF4C

    Tnx to all of you guys,beautiful sigs on the bands even 160 m, be safe , GOD BLESS !! NF4C Bob

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