Upper Brewers Mill Activation - Update.

The activation of Upper Brewers Mill Island held yesterday, May 31st, was unsuccessful.

Unfortunately, with high winds and driving rain - what was first thought to be antenna issues, quickly became a major issue as they realized it was actually due to radio failure, and no contacts were able to be made.  This was unfortunate and very frustrating for the guys who were there.  There will be another attempt at this island later in the summer.

Many thanks to the Frontenac Radio Group who attempted this first time activation, and to the many stations who were standing by waiting for them to come up on frequency.  Your patience was really appreciated by all concerned.

Forans Island Activation

Our old friend John, VE3ISE, will be doing a first time activation of Forans Island, FN03, near Grimsby, Ontario.  This is a small island that is scheduled to be a condo development in the near future.....so get it in your log while you can !!

This activation will take place on Tuesday, June 2nd, at 2200 UTC.

John will start out on 40m and move to 20m later.

Frequencies will be:

40m - 7.260 +/- QRM
20m - 14.260 +/- QRM

Let's all hope the propagation improves for this activation.

Upper Brewers Mill Island

The Frontenac Radio Club will be activating Upper Brewers Mill Island this coming Sunday, May 31st.  This will be another attempt to try and have a successful first time activation and secure an island number.

Upper Brewers Mill island is on the Rideau Canal system which was built by the Royal Engineers between 1826 and 1832 and stretches 202 km between Kingston and Ottawa, Ontario.

The activation will take place between 1400 UTC and 1800 UTC.

The frequencies in use will be ( +/-)

7.250
14.250 to 14.260
28.450
50.125 (depending on propagation)

Callsign being used: VE3FRG

Bates Island, Ottawa

Unfortunately we received this information too late in the day to post it in time for the activation.  

But it should be noted that Dave, VE3AAQ, did in fact activate Bates Island, ON283, Grid FN25 this afternoon.  Dave was planning on being active from 1700 to 2000 UTC.

His rig is a FT-817 running into a Buddipole antenna system.

Let's hope Dave enjoyed himself and made a good number of contacts!

   

News from our US Island Friends........

Hams Hit the Water for the new US Islands Awards Program’s “One-Day Getaway” - Saturday, May 9, 2015

Fans of portable ham radio are encouraged to grab their equipment and head for the water as part of the new “One-Day Getaway,” sponsored by the US Islands awards program. The annual event will make its debut on Saturday, May 9, 2015, from 0000 UTC through 2359 UTC (Friday evening to Saturday evening in the continental US).

Founded in 1994, US Islands promotes portable ham radio operations from islands found in all bodies of water: lakes, rivers, streams, ponds, and coastal islands in US territorial waters. The One-Day Getaway is an on-air activity, not a contest: no scores are tallied and no prizes are awarded. Participation from all radio amateurs, regardless of experience level, is encouraged.

“US Islands is a great way to go on a mini-DXpedition without spending a lot of money,” said US Islands Awards Manager Jay Chamberlain, NS4J. “Discovering islands in your own back yard and setting up a station outdoors is always a good time. If hams have only operated outdoors during Field Day, we offer another route to get outside and enjoy portable ham radio in a different way.”
Contacts can be made with any station; US Islands offers achievement awards for both island activators and island chasers, including a certificate for your first US Islands activation.

While there are over 2,800 islands on the US Islands list, there are more than 17,000 islands within the United States. Participants can use Google Earth to locate new islands and be the first to operate ham radio from that location!

Complete information on the US Islands Program, a how-to guide for One-Day Getaway participants and a list of currently qualified islands is available at www.usislands.org. 

We're on Facebook now!!

Canadian Island Activators has decided to join the 21st Century and we now have a Facebook group page up and running.  We'll be posting activation information here and on Facebook.

The number of Canadian Island activations has been done in recent years and we're doing everything we can to promote this aspect of our great hobby.

Click HERE to go to our Facebook group page.

Join us on Facebook as well!!

Haywood Island and Canadian Lighthouse CAN-541

Its time to get back out and activate an island/ Lighthouse.

 

John, VE3ISE, is planning to be back out on Haywood Island on Sunday March 29, 2015 weather permitting.

The long range forecast looks good so he hopes to activate Haywood Island ON292 along with Canadian Lighthouse CAN 541 on the above date.

Operating start time would be 1500 Z   on 40 meters 7260 +- QRM switching to 20 meters 14260 +- QRM around 1700Z.   

Other bands might be possible depending on conditions.

 

All QSL's should be sent to John's call.