XRØY XR0Y Rapa Nui 2009

Successful antenna tests at SP3GEM’s

Monday, 14.09.2009 · 19:23 UTC

Stan SQ8X, Zbig SP7HOV and our off-island supporter Pete SQ9DIE visited Jurek SP3GEM – a very famous antenna constructor on Sunday, Sept 13, 2009. This was our field antenna test day as Jurek has built 2 verticals for us: 160/80 (80m with CW/SSB capability) and a vertical for 30 meters.

Both antennas are very simple but very robust built, since they will have to sustain windy conditions at Easter Island. We’ve been training assembling and disassembling both antennas by putting them down/up several times. Advanced tests with antenna analyzer were made: both antennas tune just great! The antennas are being packed now and prepared to be shipped to Chile next week. This is another step forward of our preparations for XR0Y. Also some other final arrangements are in progress now. There’s no way back from XR0Y now – we must go there!

Apart of testing our verticals, visiting Jurek was a great ham radio experience. SP3GEM’s QTH looks like a huge antenna plant in a middle of rural plateau. It’s a perfect location for his amazing antenna systems. As a very experienced and adventurous ham operator, Jurek is also a great source of ham radio stories you may hear only from top DXers and persons with such a long ham radio experience. And once you take ie. his 80m QSL card album, you may spot all entities confirmed with unique and extraordinary cards. As of now, he misses just 3 or 4 entities on particular bands. Now he will be looking for FT5GA on 80m only :-) He currently helps his younger student – Borys SQ3JVW – to get proper ham radio training. It’s great to see that the ham radio tradition is being cultivated and shared with younger generations.

The entire XR0Y 2009 team wants to pass big thanks to Jurek SP3GEM for supporting our DXpedition.

See entire gallery of pics taken at SP3GEM’s QTH »