CQWW SSB 2005 From Anguilla
By Clarence J. Kerous W9AAZ/VP2EAZ
The year 2005 marks the 10th anniversary of members of the Florida Dxpedition Group, Inc. (FDXPG) traveling to the Caribbean for the CQWW SSB contest. This year we decided to do it a little different and be more Laid back. Instead of operating a high power multi-two effort, we would each do a low power single operator, single band entry. Three members of the FDXPG signed on for this year’s trip. They were Bill W4WX, FDXPG President, Clarence W9AAZ, and Cory N1WON. Bill W4WX assigned the task of finding a good location to Cory N1WON. He quickly came up with a really good looking place on Anguilla in the British West Indies which very easily met all our requirements and then some. He found a super beach house at the Ferryboat Inn on Blowing Point on Anguilla at a very reasonable off-season rate, which we then secured from Marjorie, who owns the Ferryboat Inn. Bill W4WX then contacted Mr. Wycliffe Richardson of the PTT on Anguilla for information on licensing. Wycliffe advised that a ham license would cost each of us $100.00 EC, or East Caribbean dollars, which is $40.00 USD. Bill scanned and emailed Wycliffe copies of our US licenses, and the picture page of our passports. We could have any call sign, which was not already assigned. Bill took VP2EWX, I took VP2EAZ, and Cory chose VP2ECM. Wycliffe advised no problem, and we could pay for the licenses upon our arrival. My assigned task was to find airline tickets at a reasonable cost. I started searching the internet, and soon found that for us, who live in the Jacksonville, Florida area, it would be easier and less expensive to fly to Dutch Sint Maarten and take the ferryboat across to Anguilla. The three us then booked our tickets from Jacksonville (JIA) to (SXM). Sint Maarten. We figured we were now all set, how wrong we were!
We then set our minds to the task of preparing for the trip and the CQWW. We would all be taking Kenwood TS-570 transceivers. We would also pack two Sigma 5 verticals, a Hustler 6 BTV vertical, and a delta loop for 6 meters. We decided on verticals because past experience had shown us the verticals really do well when mounted on the beach, and the villa we had secured was right on the beach front. We also took a couple of all band dipoles as back ups, but never had to use them as the verticals all performed flawlessly for our entire stay. Bill W4WX made up the usual list of gear that each of us was to bring so we would be ready for just about anything. We also would be carrying 4 laptop computers, 3 for each of the stations, and one for a back up. We would each be running CT for logging, and I would also be using one for CW operating. I would also pack a secret weapon, more on that later! A week or so before we were to leave Bill and I got together and carefully packed all the gear and weighed each bag to make sure we were not going to be over weight.
Around the middle of August we all got emails to contact the airline as our flight had been changed. Originally we would be flying out of Jacksonville (JIA) to Charlotte, NC (CLT) and then direct to Sint Maarten (SXM). Now the final leg of our return flight home had been canceled. After several hours on the phone and numerous emails we got the last leg of the flight changed to another airline to fly us home back to Jacksonville (JIA). We now figured we had all our ducks in a row, but unbeknown to us, thing would take another turn at the last minute.
My alarm clock jolted me out of bed at 300am on the morning of October 25th, which was when we would be departing for VP2E land for the CQWW. The three of us then met at Bills, and we then piled us and our bags into my pickup and drove to JIA for our 715am flight to Charlotte (CLT) and Sint Maartin (SXM, and then onto Anguilla by ferryboat. We arrived at JIA and checked in via a touch screen computer. We had already printed out our own boarding passes off the internet the day before. Then we walked to the TSA security check in, where our carry-on bags were x-rayed, alone with our laptops, and shoes. From there it was only a short walk to the waiting area to board the plane. Soon the call for boarding was put out and we then boarded a Boeing 757 jet and had s smooth uneventful flight to Charlotte (CLT). Upon arrival, we walked down to the concourse to check in for the flight to Sint Maarten (SXM). The lady at the check in counter said we should go down to the ticket desk because for some reason the last leg of our return flight, which had been changed was now showing not confirmed. Cory and I nervously went to the ticket desk, while Bill watched our luggage. We learned that the last leg had again been canceled. Now what? We were very lucky indeed, as the lady helping us out really knew what she was doing. She quickly issued new tickets for all three of us for our return trip. We would now fly out of Sint Maarten (SXM) to San Juan, Puerto Rico (SJU), and then to Philadelphia, Pa. (PHL), and finally a flight back to Jacksonville (JIA) As the old saying goes “you can’t get there from here”. It was a roundabout way, but it’s the only choice we had. We now had some hopes that our flights were now all OK, wanna bet? Don’t, you’ll lose!
Soon the call to board was put out, and we boarded another Boeing 757 and were soon cruising at 37,000 feet and heading to Sint Maarten (SXM) After a three and one half hour flight we touched down at SXM on Dutch Sint Maarten. We then went through immigration and had our passports stamped. Then we proceeded to the luggage carousel to retrieve our 5 check bags. Then we saw a sign that said “Customs”. We got a little worried as we had a lot of radio gear with us, and have had problems getting it through customs in the past. We soon found out there was NO reason to worry, the customs officer had taken the day off. We walked right through without a care in the world! No customs check period! Once outside we secured a large taxi for the three of us and our luggage. We were soon on the way to French St. Martin, or as its called “the French side. When we got to the border of Dutch and French St. Martin we pulled over and took a few pictures of us standing with one foot in each country. There is no checkpoint at the border; you just drive on by. After a thirty-minute drive with a very nice taxi driver who told us all about St. Martin and its 13 Casino’s, we arrived in Marigot and the ferryboat dock. We secured tickets and paid a $3.00 USD departure tax, and began the six-mile journey across the channel to Anguilla. It was a beautiful day with calm seas, and after a very pleasant thirty-minute ferryboat ride we arrived at Blowing Point, Anguilla, aptly named as there is always s stiff breeze running. Again we had our passports stamped, and NO customs check, only a friendly “Welcome to Anguilla, enjoy your stay with us”. We secured another taxi for the very short ride to the Ferryboat inn and our beach home away from home for the next week. The place was just fabulous, two-bedroom air conditioned, daily maid service, complete kitchen, cable TV with all the US channels. We would really be roughing it in style for the CQWW! We quickly unpacked and stowed our luggage. Bill and I then changed to shorts and sandals. We walked out on the front porch of the beach house and found we were only 30 feet from the water’s edge. Dutch and French St. Martin were only six miles away, the sea was a breathtaking blue/green color. A view like this easily belongs on a post card.
By now it was starting to get dark, but Bill, now VP2EWX assembled his Sigma 5 vertical and got his station up and running, and started to make some RTTY and PSK-31 contacts with MMTTY and Digi-Pan . I unpacked my secret weapon, a Yaesu FT-817 all band 5 watt QRP rig and a whip antenna and put out a quick CQ on twenty meter CW de VP2EAZ and was rewarded with a Call from a Maryland station, then one in Spain, and finally one in Italy, all with 5 watts! Finally the long trip started to take its toll on us and we were soon all in bed sawing logs. I slept right through until the next morning and got up at first light, and immediately got on 30 meter CW and called CQ with no results, the bands were stone dead. Soon Bill VP2EWX was up and calling CQ on 20 meter RTTY and after many calls managed to work a few stations. By now it was day light and Cory VP2ECM was up and assembled his Sigma 5 vertical and I put my 6BTV hustler together and mounted it in the sand on the beach. Then Bill and I walked to the grocery store for provisions. I got some great pictures of the sunrise on the beach, and when we were walking to the store, got some great shots of a herd of goats wandering down the road. Then I cooked up a leisurely breakfast, which was world class, and then did the dishes and cleaned up the kitchen. Shortly after that Mr. Wycliffe Richardson stopped by to hand deliver our licenses which he had already issued. Now that is what you really call service, the Minister of the PTT stopping by to present us with our Anguillan ham tickets. Does the FCC ever do this? Not in your wildest dreams! We all took a nice picture of each of us shaking hands with Wycliffe as he presented our licenses to us. Wycliffe then had a nice rag chew with us. We noticed right away that Anguillan’s are a very friendly people and love to converse with you. You don’t just go into a store and say I’ll take this, you say Hello, how are you doing, and always end up having a nice conversation with them. It is so much different then the USA. The three of us whiled away our first full day on Anguilla calling CQ in various bands, Bill as usual on RTTY and PSK-31, Cory on SSB on the WARC bands, and me on CW. We logged a lot of contacts, although band conditions were not all that good.
Cory N1WON Receiving his VP2ECM License
The next morning I was up at first light and got on 30 CW, boy band conditions were really poor. I made a pot of coffee, and soon Bill was up and calling CQ on 20 meter RTTY with few results. I grabbed my trusty camera and took a walk on the totally deserted sugar white sand beach. By now the sun was up and it was just a beautiful day. I found some really nice sea shells and coral. I looked across the channel to St. Martin and past Dutch Sint Maarten I could see 2 more island off in the distance on the horizon. Needless to say I took some really nice pictures. Then it was back to the beach house to cook breakfast and work the pileups with Bill and Cory. Later on that evening I had a sked with a ham buddy back home. At 2200 Zulu. I was on 14.080 calling K5WTA on Hellschreiber mode. Jake and I had arranged this, as he is a Hell nut and needed VP2E on Hell. I got an answer from him right away, the band was horrible with deep fading but I managed to complete the contact and logged him. This might have been the first Hell mode QSO from Anguilla. Earlier, Wycliffe had told us that the digital modes are quite rare from VP2E. Also as usual I had brought along my handie talkie, a Yaesu VX5R. I put out a call on 146.76, and heard “This is the PJ7R repeater on Dutch Sint Maarten”. Immediately I got a call from Mort PJ7UQ who welcomed us to the area, and then also worked David PJ7VP, and Paul VP2EP, and several stations on the French side. Wow, three DXCC entities on two meters with a hand held, it just does not get any better than this!
The three of us spent the next few days before the CQWW calling CQ on various bands and modes, working as many stations as we could. We even put the little Yaesu FT-817 on 50.110 and would occasionally call CQ 6 meters, but to no avail. We never heard a signal on six the entire time we were on the island. Bill VP2EWX had some pretty good results on 15 and 20 meters with Digi-Pan, as it is a good weak signal mode, and the signals were none to strong.
Bill W4WX Receiving his VP2EWX License
Friday evening finally rolled around and we all got ready for the CQWW, which would start at 800 PM local time. I would be a single band, single operator, low power (100 watt) entry on 10 meters, Bill would be the same on 15 meters, and Cory would do the same on 20 meters. By the time the contest started at 0000 Zulu the bands were just about gone. I managed to work 22 contacts on 10 meters before the band went flat, and Bill and Cory did not do much better on 15 and 20 meters. We all shut down about 0130 Zulu with only a quiet hiss in our headphones, no signals could be heard at all. As usual I was up first light on Saturday morning and 10 meters was dead flat. Bill and Cory got up shortly after me and the only thing open was 20 meters for Cory who made a few contacts. After breakfast 15 meters opened for Bill and he started to work a few contacts. It was almost 1000 am before I could hear anything on 10, and then it was only South and Central America. I kept at it as I kept hearing Bill and Cory logging stations, but it was really slow going on 10 meters. Finally around 200 PM the band opened to the north to the USA and to Africa. For a while I had a good run of stateside stations, and then really had some good contacts from Africa including ZD8, TT8, 5U4, 5X1, and a lot of ZS stations. As fast as the band opened, it closed, and once again all I could hear was South and Central America. In the Meantime Bill and Cory had some nice pileups going at times. It was just that at this point in the sunspot cycle 10 meters was just not as good as it could have been. Contesters live and die by the SFI! It was pretty much the same routine on Sunday of the contest, except conditions on 10 meters were even worse. I never heard any USA stations at all. Meanwhile Bill and Cory kept pounding out the contacts. To show you how band conditions were, none of us even heard, let alone worked any JA stations. Usually there is always an opening to Japan, but not this year.
At last the clock on CT rolled to 0000 Zulu and the contest was over. We all backed up our logs to a floppy, and then cooked up steaks out on the grill. Bill and Cory then watched the news on CNN, and I got on 30 meter CW and made some contacts. We all hit the sack early that night after the stress of the contest had taken its toll on us.
Once again I was up at first light on Monday morning, and for a change had a nice pileup to work on 30 CW. A little later Bill VP2EWX stumbled in and got on 20 meter RTTY, running MMTTY, and got a roaring pileup going in short order. As usual Cory was the last one up and after breakfast he got on the WARC bands again and logged a bunch of stations. Around two PM we all shut down our stations and showered and shaved. Wycliffe was going to stop by and he was going to give us a tour of Anguilla, and then we were going to take him out to dinner. He soon picked us up and drove us around the island showing us the sights. We stopped in The Valley, which is the capital of Anguilla and did some shopping for peace offerings for our XYL’s back home. Then Wycliffe took us to a little Bistro called Uncle Ernies Grill. It was right on the beach in Shoal Bay. The sun was just setting as we got there, and it was simply Beautiful. We all enjoyed a gourmet meal as we watched the sunset, and partook of several Carib’s, which is the local beer. After this we figured the tour was over, but it was not. Wycliffe drove us back to The Valley, to his government offices, in which the Anguillan Police Force was also located. We went up to the second floor to his office, and walked in a room, which was filled with various radios from one end to the other. It was the Anguillan Emergency Ops Center, which Wycliffe had been instrumental in setting up. It had various Motorola radios for the many governmental services. A dual band Alinco VHF/UHF rig. It also had a new Icom IC-746 Pro which was set to the inter-island ham frequency of 7.195. The EOC even had a CB radio. With this they pretty much had everything covered. Of course they had many antennas on the roof, as well as emergency power available. It was quite a set up, and Wycliffe can be justifiably proud of his work in setting it all up. Then it was back to Blowing point and the Ferryboat Inn. We all shook hands with our new found Friend, and bid a very fond farewell to Wycliffe. By now it was after 900pm and we decided to pack up our stations, then all we would have to do in the morning is take down and pack our verticals.
We were all up early the next morning and in short order all was packed for our return trip. We arrived at the ferry boat dock shortly before 900am and purchased our tickets. There was a customs checkpoint but the baggage x-ray machine was covered with dust and had a faded hand written sign on it, which read “Out of Order”. We stowed our luggage on the ferry and settled in for the 30 minute boat ride to the French Side of St. Martin. The sea this morning was very rough with white caps and rollers. But other than a rough ride the trip was without incident. Once on French St. Martin we secured a taxi and proceeded to Julianna International Airport on the Dutch side. Once we arrived we found the proper airline check in area, and this time security officers opened our bags and looked through them. Finding nothing of interest we were then allowed to proceed to the ticket counter. Here our luck literally ran out. The lady at the counter had very little idea what to do. First she changed the first leg of our flight to a yet another airline to take us to San Juan, Puerto Rico, as first leg of the flight home had been canceled according to her. In order for her to do the tickets for the three of us took her over an hour, and when she was done she had a large pile up tickets which she had done wrong and was going to throw away. Finally she was totally overwhelmed and asked another ticket agent for help. He was on the ball and we finally had the proper tickets for all three legs of our return flights home, we were now all set, right, wrong again. We then walked to Immigration and had our passports checked, and then we had our carry on bags x-rayed, and then proceeded to the waiting area for our flight. We saw a small plane land and taxi across the tarmac toward us; it was our plane for the flight to San Juan (SJU). Good Grief, the plane looked like it belonged in a museum; it was an old De Haviland Dash-8. By now we would have taken a dug out canoe to San Juan! Soon we boarded and took off and due to a tropical wave the day before, the atmosphere was unsettled and we bounced all the way to Puerto Pico. Once in San Juan we proceeded to Immigration to have our passports checked again, and then it was on to The TSA checkpoint to have our carry-on bags and laptop computers x-rayed again. There were four x-ray machines, but only two were working so the line grew longer and longer and the time for our flight to Philadelphia (PHL) grew shorter. After an agonizing wait we finally got through and now only had a few minutes till our flight departed. We found a nice airport employee with an electric cart and told her our plight and she said to load our bags on the cart and get on. She sped through the airport ringing the bell on the cart to clear people out of the way. As we got to our boarding area they were just closing the door, and Bill W4WX let out a yell “wait, there’s three more”. They held the door and we just made it as they closed the door behind us. We found our seats and settled in for the four-hour flight to Philly. While enroute we were all served a gourmet meal consisting of two bread sticks, a cookie, and one lifesaver. The flight was very smooth on a Boeing 767, and we landed a little early. Once in Philly we only had one more leg and we would be home. We found the boarding area for our final leg of the trip at the other end of the airport and checked in and boarded a Boeing 737 for the 2 hour flight back to Jacksonville (JIA). After a very bumpy ride we landed in Jacksonville and proceeded to collect our 5 check bags and soon found out the bad news. ALL five did not arrive and were now lost. Needless to say we were not very happy campers. We filled out lost baggage claim forms and took our carry on bags outside where my wife was waiting to take us home. Fully two days later the airlines delivered 4 of our 5 check bags to us. Cory’s bag is still lost, and of this writing, there is little hope in finding it. Just remember while sitting in the comfort of your shack what others go through to bring you a DX contact. As soon as I got home I noticed a large pile of QSL cards already waiting to be answered.
All in all we had a great time, in spite of the abysmal propagation. The beach house at the Ferryboat Inn was just great, and the people on Anguilla were all just super. The only down side to the entire trip was the way the airlines kept canceling flights and reissuing tickets. Then there was the problem with losing our luggage, which for Cory still has not been resolved. With such poor service it’s easy to see why so many airlines are in such dire financial condition. We can only hope things will improve, but in all honesty I don’t think it will. Remember when taking an airline flight was an adventure to be looked forward to, not so today! But hope springs eternal, we will try the CQWW next year again from ?. See you in the pile-ups!
Written by Clarence J. Kerous W9AAZ/VP2EAZ
1104 Buggy Whip Trail
Middleburg, Florida 32068-3312
QSL info for VP2EAZ, VP2EWX, VP2ECM via QRZ.Com or direct to home calls with SASE ONLY, NO Buro cards please.
Lodging information:
The Ferryboat Inn
P.O. Box 189
Cul de Sac
Blowing Point
Anguilla, BWI
Telephone 1-264-497-6613
Email [email protected]
Website http://www.ai/ferryboatinn/