Attempts started in 2002 for the granting of permission for us to gain
access to the area where we could operate as North Cape Lighthouse. The
major stumbling block in the 2002 attempt was the communications over certain
matters between DOC and the local IWI. While none of this involved us,
it certainly affected us and the IWI advised us to apply for access to
their land at a later time. That year, 2002 we used Cape Reinga. 2003 we
used Pouto. Earlier this year, we started planning for our 2004 trip. Letters,
phone calls and fax's continued to pass back and forth between the Te Manawa
O Ngati Kuri, Northland Department of Conservation, the Te Rio Mihi IWI
and ourselves. NZ Marine Safety had already granted permission.
It was a long process, but one that we knew had to be completed. We also
needed approval from Juken Nissho Ltd., the forest operators of the Apouri
Forest that we needed to pass through. If it sounds like a lot, well it
was, but now looking back, all very much worth the time and effort.
Members of the ZL6LH team are Dave ZL1AMN, John ZL1BYZ, John ZL1ALZ
and David ZL1DK. The very hard decision of Dave ZL1AMN not to participate
this year due to the remoteness of the location was made early so the other
members of the team could organise themselves. The usual list of equipment,
slightly modified reflecting Dave's decision, was circulated by John ZL1ALZ.
The team for 2004 was John ZL1ALZ, John ZL1BYZ and David ZL1DK.
Time passed so quickly we had just 2 versions of the list before we
were collection the gear a day before setting off on our trip from John,
ZL1BYZ's TQH at Paerata. We didn't take all the gear I had collected but
a backup for the backup was a bit over the top. I work on the basis that
if we have it with us…. Great… it's a long way back. We always seem to
be short of an important item and this year was no different but a substitute
was found for the missing can opener!
The 6.00am departure from Paerata on Friday was not too early as there
was quite a lot of traffic on the motorway heading North even at that time.
Our trip North was uneventful and after a few hours travel we were in Kaitaia
at McDonalds for a late breakie.
Another couple of hours and we were at the Waitaki Landing. From the
store, we phoned the IWI rep as arranged for the key collection from Te
Hapua and then we continued our drive. Our original plan was to locate
our operation from the DOC property, located through the Maori Land and
beyond the Forestry operations. DOC advised us on the Thursday that the
road was in face closed due to continued rain in the area. Our alternative
site was a shed in the Aapouri Forest, which is before the DOC Reserve.
As we drove into the forest the road conditions were not all that bad but
we later saw the reason for road closure. It was just after 2.00pm when
we rounded a corner and there is was, the 'Blue Shed'. From the photo,
you can see that on first impressions, it looks great. A closer look showed
that the missing front sliding doors were stacked inside as some time earlier
a vehicle had ripped them off. The 3 Novaroof type panels in the roof on
the eastern side had very little panel material left. This allowed a view
of the blue sky and fresh air to circulate thru the building. Later in
the weekend, it also allowed the rain in. The floor of the shed was dirt.
The rubbish included material from past mechanical jobs and also proof
that the local semi-wild horses had very recently been using the shed for
protection. We had a broom and shovel and soon had a clear area in the
left rear quarter of the shed. We had a good number of those waterproof
blue covers and after laying the largest one on the ground and hanging
another from the roof, we soon had a tidy work area. We set 2 tables up
for radio operation and the 3rd for the kitchen area. The photo's
show both the operating setup and the kitchen area. The generators were
located outside and on ground a couple of meters below the shed level.
Friday was a terrific day in the Far North and it was not long before we
had some of the aerials up. A large dead tree behind the shed, which can
be seen in the photo on page 19, was an ideal start for the 80m dipole.
The antenna stretched behind the shed. The other aerials were all
mounted on aluminium poles. In front of the shed was a pole holding the
40m and our new 30m dipoles. And the photo on page 18 shows these dipoles.
The photo on page 19 also shows clearly, the large area that we had to
work within. It was far better that earlier thought when we considered
that we may be trying to erect aerials around 2 - 3 meter high pine trees.
To the left of the shed was the 10m mono bander while the tri bander was
located on the right of the shed. All poles were very well guyed and there
was no trouble even with Sunday evening's high winds. The station included
Kenwood TS440, Heathkit SB200 Amp for the 30m, 20m and 15m operating. Another
Kenwood TS440 was used on 40m and the third |
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Kenwood TS440 was on 80m. We had a second SB200, the 40m and 80m operation
was all up to 100w. While conditions were not bad, the volume of CW contacts
we had did show that conditions favored that mode. During the weekend,
there was a steady number of contacts able to be made on one or more of
the stations.
The photo on page 19 also shows clearly, the large area that we had
to work within. It was far better that earlier thought when we considered
that we may be trying to erect aerials around 2 - 3 meter high pine trees.
To the left of the shed was the 10m mono bander while the tri bander was
located on the right of the shed. All poles were very well guyed and there
was no trouble even with Sunday evening's high winds. The station included
Kenwood TS440, Heathkit SB200 Amp for the 30m, 20m and 15m operating. Another
Kenwood TS440 was used on 40m and the third Kenwood TS440 was on 80m. We
had a second SB200, the 40m and 80m operation was all up to 100w. While
conditions were not bad, the volume of CW contacts we had did show that
conditions favored that mode. During the weekend, there was a steady number
of contacts able to be made on one or more of the stations.Early in the
morning 20m was open as was 80m. Later in the day, 30m can into play and
from around the world. An interesting band, 30m added 146 contacts to our
total. The 40m station was also a great performer for us adding 138 contacts.
20m included 276 CW and 367 phone contacts. 15m was also used and added
a further 43 CW contacts. The 80m station completes the list and we had
4 CW and 78 phone contacts. In total, we made 1052 contacts. 476 on CW
and 576 Phone. This total is now our second best from the 7 years of our
operating ZL6LH. Our 40m and 80m signals were reported as being very strong
most times. 30m (CW only) was a good addition this year and provided many
contacts. It was interesting while trying to setup the dipole. The band
is very narrow and you may have expected that the dipole would be able
to cover the 10 or so kHz. Cut to the formula but when erected the SWR
was 2.6:1 We played around with the aerial for some time but no matter
how much wire we added or adjusted the angle at the apex we were not able
to lower the SWR. This will be a project for us to look at during summer.
This year we had a small amount of equipment trouble. On one of the
SB200 amps, a relay was not operating correctly. While this did not stop
the use of the amp, it will need to be fixed. One of the TS440S's
also developed a fault in the ALC area. The ALC would go full scale and
the radio SWR also go full scale and output would subsequently close down.
This was quick and appeared as clipping of the audio. Going away on a trip
like this does highlight some of the funnies that we experience in our
hobby. One being a solid signal in Steve ZL1TWR in Katikati and the same
from Alan ZL2VAL in New Plymouth. Both these stations were strong with
us but neither could copy the other at all. The use of an amp also has
it's problems. While we can get a good signal out, it's heard by many with
poorer antenna systems who while replying, create a lot of QRM. This may
have been the reason why we did not have so many J's and European stations
this year. The weather was not too bad. The days were fine but as we had
experienced at Cape Reinga, there are quick showers at nite. Friday's arrival
and Monday's packing for departure was in great conditions. Sunday nite
was the worst for us. Early in the evening, the clouds were getting darker
and darker. Not long after, we could see lightning further South and it
was not long before a storm was on us and the wind and rain bashing down
onto and into the shed. We were protected with the blue covers, which kept
the water away from the radios and other equipment. The weather blows by
quickly in the Far North but while radio conditions later opened and the
lightning abated, the rain showers were still so noisy hitting the shed
that operating was very hard even with headphones on. Monday saw the last
few contacts being added to the logs and then it was time to pack up and
head off the 500 kms to Auckland.
Well, it was not before we were ready to leave after what we consider
to have been a very enjoyable weekend operating. Its been interesting to
watch our group develop different techniques for the various tasks we have
to perform during the planning, setup and breakdown stages. We should have
it just about right by the next International Lighthouse Lightship weekend…
Finally, we will produce our QSL card. That is a challenge this year with
the lighthouse in two parts and locations. You will have to wait to see
the final design outcome when you receive your ZL6LH QSL card for 2004.
If you didn't work us, you will have to wait till the 2005 card is forwarded
and 2005…. where will that be from??? |
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