Category - Blog

GB2NZ – Spanning the globe

The VERY start of global radio communication

 

October 2024 marks the centenary of a seismic event in radio communication – the first trans-global two-way radio communication. On these pages you can read about the event, how it happened, and who was involved.  You can also learn about the centenary celebrations taking place to recognise the event. Use the index to explore the pages and learn more about GB to NZ by radio.

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VE3KTB/VY0 Nunavut

Qsl Cards received from the Printer today for the May activation of Victoria Island (IOTA NA-006), Nunavut by Pierre VE3KTB.
Cards will be out in next week’s mail.

YJ0VK Vanuatu

”Team YJ0VK is heading back to Vanuatu 20-27 August 2024.
The team enjoyed the location and operating conditions so much we’ve decided to head back for a short activation. As per last time, the bands will be 40-6m, and most of the operation will be CW with some FT8.
 
The team comprises four operators: Luke VK3HJ, Chris VK3QB, Patrick VK2PN and Olgierd VK5XDX.
 
More news to follow…..”

7O8AD / 7O8AE Yemen

I have uploaded the entire 7O8AD log to LoTW – 43.000 QSOs. Thanks for being in the pileup – it was great fun! 7O8AE will also be uploaded now.
 
In addition we have completed our mission to provide families in Yemen with electricity. We have donated solar panels to families in Dhihamri that did not have electricity, and done the installation. They now have lights and cooling during hot summer months. I wish the future will be bright for Yemen, it was truly an amazing island to visit!
 
I am working on the next one, it has taken me 6 years, let’s see what future will bring!

ZL7DX / ZL7QT Chatham Islands

A re-design of cards for Chris ZL7DX on the Chatham Islands. The new card features Chris’ wife Catherine. Her Call is Callsign ZL7QT (nice suffix 🤭)

A41CK / A42K Oman

Qsl Card design now completed (tnx Syl DX TK4TH) and cards are printing at UX5UO Print Shop.

GB80DDAY

In 1944 the US Air Force (USAF) 438th Troop Carrier Group were based at RAF Greenham Common Airbase, near Newbury, Berkshire UK. This would be critical in transporting men of the US Army 101st and 82nd Airborne Divisions in the build up to D-Day in June 1944. The airbase had over 400 of the Waco CG-4A gliders (figure 1), along with their Douglas C46 & C47 towing aircraft, and were used to carry troops, jeeps and munitions for the D-Day operation.

US General Eisenhower, Commander-in-Chief of the Allied Expeditionary Force, himself paid an important visit to Greenham Airbase on the eve of D-Day and saw the first of the Airborne troops take off for France (figure 2). Read More

ZS2DL

Please note I am no longer Manager for ZS2DL

I think I was at the end of a long line of guys who acted as his Manager and I’m pretty sure we all allowed him to leave the service for the same reason.

Anyway, I’ll not get into the threats he has issued as sadly, I feel really sorry for him.

Please beware if ZS2DL contacts you to ask as his Manager, research him fully before accepting him or you will most likely end up with slanderous, unfounded comments and threats all over social media and the internet.

M0OXO – Out of Office

I will be ‘out of office’ until the 3rd July 2024. During this period, you will get a brief response to your email, although these responses will not be as fast as usual. Please see the advice below relating to my status which may help you during this period;

All Qsl requests for Direct Qsl Cards that arrived at my home or were requested on OQRS before 12.00UTC 27th of May have been processed and were mailed on Wednesday 29th May 2024, see below.

7P8EI, 8R7X, YJ0VK, VI60IOTA, VK5FIL & VP6G requests were all mailed on Wednesday 29th May 2024 also.

Logs & LOTW updates will be updated and Qsl Card requests can be requested as usual during the period I am on Vacation but QSL mailing will not be possible until I return home.

Busted/Missing Call checks will be processed as normal. Please use the ‘Not In Log’ form on OQRS ONLY! Email & Social Media requests are highly discouraged.

Thank you for your attention and I apologise for any inconvenience.

73 de Charles M0OXO

ARRL LOTW update

From the ARRL LOTW Office;

If you are seeking Logbook support, please note that per https://www.arrl.org/news/arrl-systems-service-disruption, ARRL is experiencing a service disruption with our computer networks.

All Logbook and DXCC/Awards data is secure/safe.

When we are able to announce that systems are back in service, a post to the ARRL web site and an email blast to Logbook users will be made. At that point, whatever challenges you experienced beginning May 12th can be re-tested by you. These include:

Reupload to Logbook of any Cabrillo or ADI log files.
Resubmission of any Call Sign Certificate Renewals or New/Expired Certificate requests (Expired or New Certificate Requests need to have any pending earlier requests deleted {right click on pending requests and delete them}) then resubmit.

Follow our main website URL for further updates at https://www.arrl.org/news/arrl-systems-service-disruption