Winter is nearly over, it's time to start planning this years Island Activations. Here's an event to kick it off:
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, US and Canadian, is very much encouraged.
Get out there and fire up the ionosphere !!
Doug VE3GJ and John VE3ISE will be activating the last two islands in Cootes Paradise. These are: Cockpit Island ON-315, and Hickory Is. ON-316.
Their timings will be Saturday, Sept 24th from 1800Z to 2000Z.
They will be working 40 M along with 17 M, band and weather conditions permitting, and they will be running 100 Watts from the mobile.
John, VE3ISE wrote to tell us:
"I will be activating Hanley island along with VE3GJ tomorrow morning Aug 27/2022. Starting at 1600Z on 40M and moving to 20m later in the day. Running mobile 100 watts to hustler verticals."
Thanks John, let's hope you have a great day.
In and around Kingston, VE3FI, VA3QV, VE3MNE, and VE3SIQ, will be activating Washburn Island and Upper Brewers Mill Island.
Good luck to all!!
So you have three weeks to find a suitable island to activate and take part in one of the best QSO Parties there is! Get out there and operate and help boost the Canadian content of the event!
Rules can be found HERE.
Get out and some fun operating portable!!
They are:
Centre Island, FN03ch, is now ON-312, and
South Island, FN03ch, is now ON-313.
Well done to John for getting all four of the islands activated!!
Congratulations go out to John, VE3ISE, who once again has completed a first activation....this time for North Island, FN03ch33.
North Island will now be given the number, ON-311.
Once again, congratulations John!
Congratulations go out to John, VE3ISE, who has successfully activated Neare Island, FN03ch. Neare Island will be added to the list on Ontario Islands as ON-310.
We're looking forward to John's next activation.
After a long hiatus it seems people are starting to head out to the islands again...always a good sign!!
John, VE3ISE, will be activating 4 new islands on Saturday, March 26th, weather permitting. Timings will be from 1600 UTC to 2200 UTC.
John will work on 20m and 40m, as well as possibly 10m if conditions are right.
Let's hope John has good weather and good propagation for the day!!
This event is sponsored by the US Island Program.
Bands to be used are 160-6 meters, excluding WARC (30m, 17m, 12m) and 60m channels. No repeater, or Internet-sourced contacts allowed. If clear, normal W/VE island frequencies as outlined in general rules for the island programs are suggested. Band plans of US and Canada must be followed.
This weekend is used to promote the U.S. (USI) and Canadian (CIA) islands programs to amateurs worldwide. To promote verifiable amateur radio contacts with stations located on islands in the U.S. and Canada.
Due to Covid, participation has been down for the last two years. Let's all choose an Island and get outside on the air!!
Once again Pierre, VE2GT, has once again successfully activated a new island! This time he has put Ile Melville on the map. This island is now QC-111.
Located near Shawinigan in FN36om.
Well done Pierre!
Congratulations to Pierre, VE2GT, who gas successfully activated I'lle Sainte-Quentin. This island has been awarded the number, QC110.
Please be advised that the Committee has modified the Rule requiring 25 contacts to successfully activate an island. It has been changed to bring us into line with the US Islands Award.
As of May 18, 2021, you now require only 15 contacts, in 2 DXCC to qualify an island.
Congratulations to Chris, VA3ECO, for activating a new Island - Victoria Island - which is now ON308.
Victoria Island is in the Lake of the Woods, and is in EN29op.
Some pictures below of the activation supplied by Chris.
Last year, 2020, was a disaster for activating Islands here in Canada, and we all know why. Very few activations took place, and all of them in Eastern Canada.
Let's hope 2021 is a a lot kinder to us all, and we can safely get out and do activations across the country.
For those of you who may plan an activation over the winter months.....pay attention to these safety charts below.
Stay safe and stay healthy!!
