VI0ANZAC faced weather and propagation

Despite adverse winter Antarctic weather conditions the VI0ANZAC event in the Wireless Institute of Australia (WIA) ANZAC 100 program made it to air last weekend, with poor propagation enabling a total of 56 contacts to be logged. Those who had a QSO with VI0ANZAC were very pleased to be part of the WIA commemoration of the 100 years of the ANZAC (Australian and New Zealand Army Corps) landing at Gallipoli, Turkey. The operator Doug VK0DMV had been eager to use VI0ANZAC, but an earlier plan was postponed much to his disappointment when a storm struck with its high wind, a blizzard cutting visibility and freezing temperatures.

Doug VK0DMV described that storm as having wind reaching 112 knots and a fair bit of damage was caused, including to the antenna. He added: "There is always some damage after these sort of blows - this is the worse to date this year." However, it did go ahead on August 29-30. Sheltered in the antenna shack with a 50 watt transceiver was Doug VK0DMV. Because of the wind had to first obtain official permission before venturing outdoors. He spent the night there because winds were at 80 knots. Doug said: "Lots and lots of noise … but there were some very clear signals from mainly Queensland (VK4) which was a good break from the noise in the background".

He expressed sincere thanks to all those who contacted him and for a great couple of days. Many more listened or had signals too weak that could not be heard. Doug sent his apologises for having to leave early on Sunday, but a break in the weather was taken to get out of the antenna shack. "Even then it took me around 45 minutes to get back, as the ice build-up on the windscreen dropped the visibility back to less than 3 metres. Regular stops just to clean the build-up of ice/snow from the windscreen (wipers did not do anything), he said. The wind had started to decrease below 50 knots on Monday with very little snow and wind, appearing to be on the decrease that would allow normal work activities to occur.

There were a number of callers who asked about Doug's VK0DMV callsign as well, once he started using the VI0ANZAC callsign. The QSL information for both are on QRZ.com VI0ANZAC log sheets will be loaded on to the eQSL system and also submitted to enable verification of contact with Casey Station VKFF 571 by Park Chasers. A special QSL card will be generated for this event.
The WIA expresses sincere thanks to Doug VK0DMV and his sterling effort as part of ANZAC 100, and to the Australian Antarctic Division for their assistance that made it all possible.

While the world is commemorating 100 years since WWI (1914 to 1918), in Australia the WIA has run commemorative stations with a suffix of the protected word 'ANZAC'. The main activity continues until December 20, this year.

However, at the WIA annual meeting on Norfolk Island (VK9) on May 27, 28, & 29 2016, both VK100ANZAC and VI9ANZAC are to be on air.

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