National Institute of Technology (NITK) Amateur radio Club - VU2REC, Mangalore Amateur Radio Club - VU2RDO and MIT Ham Radio club -VU2MHC are joining hands for activating St. Mary’s Island between 26th and 28th of Jan 2024. Main objective of this activation is to take part in Amateur Radio Society of India’s National Field Day contest on 27th and 28th Jan and public awareness. Club members will be setting up stations and will start ops on air with special call AT3SM from 26th afternoon IST hours (UTC+5.30) till 28th afternoon IST hours.
St. Mary’s is relatively rare IOTA AS-096 and emit signals on the air after nearly 6 years. St. Mary’s AS-096 (Grid Square: MK73ij, CQ:22, ITU:41) is a tiny island just off coast of Malpe, Udupi in Southwest of India. Due to ecological sensitivity and other reasons, tourists are not allowed to camp/stay on this island. This group has received special permission from District and local beach development administration for 48hrs to be on the island.
More than 20 members of these clubs will be participating in this activation with up to 3 low power HF stations simultaneously on the air. We understand demand for IOTA chasers and operators will try to maximize the airtime. However, as this is a field day style activation, many official and school demos to popularize Ham Radio are planned during the day hours. So, we appreciate support from our ham friend’s worldwide if we slowdown or stop ops in between.
Station setup:
Rigs:
Kenwood TS 590 * 3 Nos
Kenwood TS 480 *1 No.
Bands and Antennas:
Verticals next to salt water for 40,20,15 and 10m bands (17m band may be tried, but no low band operation expected)
Modes:
CW, SSB and FT8 (F&H)
We will use split and listen 2 to 5 up for CW and 5 to 10up for SSB. Operating frequencies will be chosen on the conditions.
Logging and QSL:
All logs will be electronically maintained. Log upload to clublog will be done after the ops. LOTW confirmation will be done for all QSOs and OQRS will enabled for QSL cards. QSL card can be requested via QSL coordinator VU2XE. Direct Card request shall include SASE and postage. Any request without postage will be responded via buro.
St. Mary’s is relatively rare IOTA AS-096 and emit signals on the air after nearly 6 years. St. Mary’s AS-096 (Grid Square: MK73ij, CQ:22, ITU:41) is a tiny island just off coast of Malpe, Udupi in Southwest of India. Due to ecological sensitivity and other reasons, tourists are not allowed to camp/stay on this island. This group has received special permission from District and local beach development administration for 48hrs to be on the island.
More than 20 members of these clubs will be participating in this activation with up to 3 low power HF stations simultaneously on the air. We understand demand for IOTA chasers and operators will try to maximize the airtime. However, as this is a field day style activation, many official and school demos to popularize Ham Radio are planned during the day hours. So, we appreciate support from our ham friend’s worldwide if we slowdown or stop ops in between.
Station setup:
Rigs:
Kenwood TS 590 * 3 Nos
Kenwood TS 480 *1 No.
Bands and Antennas:
Verticals next to salt water for 40,20,15 and 10m bands (17m band may be tried, but no low band operation expected)
Modes:
CW, SSB and FT8 (F&H)
We will use split and listen 2 to 5 up for CW and 5 to 10up for SSB. Operating frequencies will be chosen on the conditions.
Logging and QSL:
All logs will be electronically maintained. Log upload to clublog will be done after the ops. LOTW confirmation will be done for all QSOs and OQRS will enabled for QSL cards. QSL card can be requested via QSL coordinator VU2XE. Direct Card request shall include SASE and postage. Any request without postage will be responded via buro.