C21JH DXpedition

Grid Square: RI-39

CQ Zone: OC-31

ITU Zone: 65

IOTA designator: OC-031

Local Time: UTC +12h

The main objective of this DXpedition to Nauru is to focus amateur radio activity on the six-metre band. In the past six years there’s been virtually no concentrated six meter operating from this tiny 21sq kilometre island located just 53 kilometres south of the equator.

Local amateur radio activity has been limited to the HF bands, however, I hope to introduce the magic of six meters to a number of the resident radio C21 amateurs. Presently, Ruben C21RK, John C21JJ, Norman C21NJ and Robbie C21DX are active sporadically on HF; hopefully one of these people will adopt an interest in 50MHz by the time I leave the island.

Above: The tiny 21 square km island, some 53km South of the Equator as seen from the air.

Duplicate contacts will be frowned upon during pile-up situations in order to give newcomers a fair go at working C21 for a new one. A checklist will be maintained to eliminate duplicate contacts. To set an example in decent DX operating ethics people will be expected to use their full call signs (I will not respond to “last two letters” style of calling) and exchange signal reports in the proper manner.

Primarily 50.110MHz will be monitored and should a number of stations begin calling, I will move up to 50.140MHz (or higher if need be) in order to leave the call frequency “open” for other DX stations and prevent ‘bleed-over’ from any potential pile-ups. Names, locations, grid squares and other information are NOT required nor sought by me, so please keep contacts brief, a simple exchange of call sign and a signal report is sufficient.

Brief announcements concerning 45-49MHz indicators or 50MHz-beacon reception will be made on 28.885MHz. I am not interested in conducting any lengthy conversations on this frequency when there are signs of pending openings on six.

Limited 80-10m HF activity will be conducted around the usual DX and IOTA spot frequencies on SSB when 50MHz is quiet, I will also look for contacts on the 29MHz FM band using 29.600 and 29.280MHz from time to time. I will NOT be checking into any HF DX nets during this operation as 50MHz is the primary band.

C21JH will be located on the top floor of the Od-N-Aiwo Hotel (south/west coast of the island) with all antenna’s around 45 feet above sea level (see map). The main transceiver is an Icom IC-736 (100 watts HF & 50MHz), five element 50MHz beam, half-wave 28/29MHz vertical, ED-52C 80-10m trap dipole and a Yaesu FC-901 ATU.

Left:

View from the C21JH operating desk.

Air Nauru 737-400 approach to land

Being alone, I plan to take naps when the band is quiet with the radio scanning 45-50MHz with the squelch up. Meal times will mean an absence from the radio for around 40 minutes three times per day. However, I will defer a meal break if 50MHz is open. Hopefully, Dumas Dabwido C21DD will come and operate the station for an hour or two each day and give me a chance to go for a swim or walk.

Adam, VK4CP, will post daily reports on the News & Events page. As the Internet is still in the developing stages on Nauru I will have very little access to the net. Unfortunately, rooms in the hotel do NOT have telephones and the telephone at reception is unreliable so it will be virtually impossible to contact me other than via the radio.

There is also the possibility of a power failure on Nauru, so if I disappear from air in mid contact this will be the most likely reason. Power outages can last anything from a few minutes to many hours.

Unfortunately, there will be no beacon or keyer in operation during this operation. A good indicator of a 50MHz path to this region, and possibly C21, would be the reception of V73SIX (RJ-39) beacon on 50.014MHz.

This special C21JH operation would not have been made possible without the valuable support and generosity of the following individuals and organisations:

Thank you all and let’s hope that 50MHz comes alive during my 12 days on Nauru!