News Bulletin #15 - 24/4/01

Last Day Today

This is last day of the Mellish Reef Site Survey DXpedition.

  With such a small team the stations cannot be run 24 hours a

day every day.  Propagation to EU was on the improve when

VK9ML went QRT on 15M yesterday, but this has been really

tough going for the operators and they do need some sleep!

 Today there will be operation on 15M, 10M and 6M.

 The team expect to start dismantling antennas and masts around

0500 today +/- which only leaves a few hours of daylight

to pack up.  The IC-706 10M station and the TS-60 6M station

will be the first to QRT.  The tents will be taken down whilst

the 15M station continues to operate until the very last moment.

Although an exit path has been plotted the crew must leave on the

high tide so that the catamaran does not get caught in the reef.

There are many contacts on 10M and 6M that have been logged

on paper by hand due to problems with laptops.  The on-line log

book will be updated in due course.  If you don't appear in the

on-line log right now, then don't worry!!!

Remember, we plan to come back to Mellish Reef so if you

didn't work us this time, then there will be next time.

This is where you can help !

Donations are essential for the next DXpedition, as it will be an

expensive exercise to charter a vessel large enough to transport

a bigger team.  Individual donations can be sent (why not

include something with your QSL request) or you can contribute

via your DX Association.

Information on donations is on the QSL Information page.