PDA

View Full Version : Hurricane Ivan does not prevent W4D activation


09-22-2004, 12:48 PM
AMATEUR RADIO OPERATORS UNDETERRED BY IVAN

A group of five couples from Chattanooga, Tennessee will be on Dauphin Island the weekend of September 24th to set up a portable radio operation. The trip, which was planned prior to hurricane Ivan, was all but a lost hope due to damage on the island. However, the group, citing worldwide promotion via the web, continued to work to make the trip a reality, a challenge made more difficult due to the lack of phone service on Dauphin Island. The assistance of Dauphin Island’s Mayor, Mr. Jeff Collier, and Boardwalk Reality made the trip possible. The group has offered its services to the local town with health and welfare communications if needed during the stay.

For the newer amateur operators, Dauphin Island is one of hundreds of islands that are numbered and categorized by the amateur radio group “Islands on the Air”, which is based in Great Britain. Amateur radio operators around the world look for these islands to be activated with radio operations. The confirmed contact of radio exchanges from these islands becomes part of a collection of accomplishments and on-going practice radio for operations during emergencies. The specific island number for Dauphin Island is North America 213.

The Chattanooga, TN radio group are all members of the Tennessee Valley DX Association. The association web site is http://tvdxa.com. This organization promotes amateur radio and the interest in making DX contacts. The group is sponsored by TVDXA and ICOM AMERICA and will use Icom’s newest flagship radio, the IC-7800. The team consists of Greg and Barbarra Gregory, WA4NFO and WA4RMC, Tom Morgan, K4VCM, Lynn Petras, K0MAI, Paul Pagano, WA4AA and his wife Nancy, Tommie and Kay Wright, K4KWK and KI4GYS and Kenny and Kathy Young, AB4GG and W4KRY.

The radio operation has been issued the special call sign of W4D. Operations will begin in the afternoon of Friday, September 24 and will be completed early on Monday, September 27. More information may be obtained at the web page http://w4d.us.

n6ajr
09-24-2004, 09:28 PM
I remember that place while at Keesler AFB for training (1966).. Got a mean sunburn....good luck

n7spy
09-26-2004, 08:24 PM
Hey Guys (and YL's)!!!

Be/Stay safe down there... and post pictures if you can.

KG4HYL
09-27-2004, 03:58 PM
Way to go, I will be glad to hear all about it when you get back home.:D

N4ADO
09-28-2004, 04:03 AM
Hello everyone,

Sorry I missed you all, but I was kinda busy with Hurricane Jeanne. My home QTH is Vero Beach, Florida.
From Friday evening till Sunday night, did not do computer nor HF radio. Power is out and am using my generator. Anyway, Sorry I missed you, BTW we came thru ok with the Hurricanes. Lost HF and VHF base station antennas. Only can operate mobile.

73 to all, N4ADO