Operating Plan for VK9NA

Mission statement

To have a safe and successful return to Norfolk Island, aiming to eclipse our total QSOs in 2010 by giving a new entity on the most wanted Band/ Mode combination on 50MHz To 10GHz.
To help us reach this goal we will employ good operating practices and endeavour to provide accurate and timely Log Data.
In return we ask DXers NOT to rework us on bands they already have worked us on, and we ask them to adhere to the list of operating frequencies and times designated on this Website.

Frequencies


Band	Frequency	Notes
50 MHz	50.125	We will also call CQ on 50.110 and QSY to 50.125 for contacts, remaining there while stations are calling. We will monitor the 50 MHz page of vklogger.com while we are active on 50 MHz. On 8 Jan this frequency suffered from some local interference so we may have to adjust our nominated frequency on this band, to cope with interference.
144MHz	144.125 MHz for all modes and all propagation types including EME. If you hear us calling cq, call us.	We will also periodically call CQ on 144.100 and QSY to this frequency for contacts. On digital modes we will always call first period. This frequency will also be used in the VK VHF/UHF Summer FD as the rules do allow this frequency to be used (this has been confirmed with the contest manager). While active on this band we will monitor the 2m page of vklogger.com. EME frequency 144.125 JT65b TX first. Will monitor N0UK logger JT65 EME-1 for EME operations.
432 MHz and higher bands	We will use the standard calling frequencies generally 100 kHz up from operating band edge.	432.1, 1296.1, 2403.1, 3400.1, 5760.1, 10368.1 When we are operating on one of these bands this fact will be notified on the 2m/70cm page of vklogger.com.

Operating Schedule

The plan is to be operational during all practical periods where propagation is available.

We will be alternating between EME and terrestrial operations as fairly as possible during times when EME is feasible.

As a guide the moon rise times leave the earliest part of the day free for terrestrial work, subject to propagation.

Our general approach will be to set up the station each day as early as the conditions justify, and to operate on at least 144 Mhz with liaison via vklogger.com chat site. The plan for each day will need to be revised to suit circumstances and the conditions experienced on the expedition to date. The plan will be notified on this site and updates flagged to vklogger.com and other sites as notified here.

These plans have to take the weather into account. We will be limited to only 2m and 6m operation from the hotel if weather conditions make it impossible to operate from the mountain.

EME on 2m

We aim to be as active as possible, especially at moonrise and moonset, on as many days as we can. During the period of the operation, the moonrise times are from about 2200 UTC on the 8th, decaying by about an hour per day through to 0730 on the 19th. These times are all daylight hours for Norfolk Island (UTC +11.5).

Moonset times range from 1000 UTC on the 8th to 1800 on the 19th. These times correspond to roughly 2130 to 0530 local time. Depending on weather some of these times may be impractical so the best thing is for us to notify EME operators of our plans, as far in advance as possible. This will be done via this web site.

Update 13 Jan. It appears likely that we will be able to operate in the period before moonset on most days. We will be able to operate at moonrise most days.

However all these plans depend on the weather at Norfolk Island. A strong wind warning and possible gale force winds are predicted for Norfolk some time in the next 3 days. There is talk of the airport being closed for two days, so if this happens we will certainly not be able to operate on EME, as the antenna is not strong enough to survive such winds.