RI0ZF AS-039 operation has been approved for the IOTA awards. The LOG has been uploaded to Club Log. OQRS is available. The trip to Beringa Island was quite expensive for Konstantin R7KF. If you want to send some donation please do it by Pay-Pal to k2pf[at]arrl.net

To Kamchatka, our group flew on September 13, 2017 at 12.30 on the Kamchatka time. This day was given to acclimatization (9 hours of time difference with Moscow.) Nevertheless, I put the antenna in the courtyard of the dacha on which we were placed, and tried to make at least one QSO with the call sign R7KF/0. But my attempts were not crowned with success. The reason for this, in my opinion, was the
location of the dacha: it was in the lowlands, surrounded by high hills. In addition, in the yard grew tall stone birches, which also did not contribute to the spread of radio waves. I clearly heard the Japanese stations, as well as the station from New Zealand. And if the Japanese were still trying to hear me by accepting two letters from the callsign, then New Zealand did not pay any attention to my call.

The next day, September 14, was devoted to a helicopter tour of the south of Kamchatka. On Commander, we flew on September 15 at 10.00 local time. The flight took more than three hours, since we were going to refuel in Ust-Kamchatsky. L410 takes 15 people, not counting the crew. And luggage is also limited to 10 kg. Therefore, some of the things had to be left at the country house.

We reached the island of Bering at about 14:00 local time, took a seat in the hotel and went on a rover at the rookery of seals and sea lions. In the absence of roads, this trip lasted until the evening, taking the last forces. But upon arrival at the hotel, I immediately set about installing the radio station. Conditions were almost ideal. I had a separate room on the first floor. The window overlooks the ocean. Direction – North- West. The hotel itself is located on a high steep bank, and in front of the windows there are two electric poles at a distance of 30 meters from each other, to which I hung my dipole. Here I needed a thick fishing line, which I took for a similar situation. Unfortunately, I could not tie the antenna up high – it was dark. So antenna was only two meters above the ground was. I returned to my room and at 08.58 GMT I spent the first QSO with UA0LBF. Immediately I was called by the Japanese alternately with some Russian stations – RU9UC, UA0LDW, UA0LCZ etc. The beginning was promising. But my eyes were sticking together. I had to finish the work. I removed the antenna, because the next day there was a trip on a caterpillar all-terrain vehicle to the other end of the island, which, as it turned out, took more than two days.

We returned to the hotel only 18.09 in the evening. I refused all the events and returned on the air. This time I managed to lift the antenna five meters above the ground, and above the sea level was at least 30 meters. But turning on the transceiver, I found a monstrous QRM on all bands. Apparently, somewhere near me worked some kind of generator. Nevertheless, I began to give a common challenge and suddenly I heard VK3GA! Next came the Japanese, the Far East. In four hours I managed to spend more than 70 QSO, among which even an Italian made his way. This inspired hope.

In the night I switched on the transceiver several times, walking along the bands, but everywhere there was only white noise. The was not propagation in the morning too. I gave a CQ CQ at 11 am in Kamchatka time, which nobody answered for half an hour. And then suddenly Alaska calls me – AL7JX. Immediately, Japanese stations connected, which for almost an hour almost did not let anyone get through, except for a couple of some Americans and several of our Far Easterners. As I later found out, checking my records, some Japanese stations contacted me two, three, and one even four times – well, for them to be sure of QSO! By one clock in the afternoon the pressure of the Japanese had decreased, and Americans, South Koreans, began to make their way to me, and a little later – PY5DK. Gradually, the Japanese began to crowd out our guys, first from Far East, then with Eastern Siberia, Western Siberia, the Urals. Then Central Asia, the Caucasus, and the European part of Russia joined up to the first district. And then I can work with Europe – Sweden, Finland, Bulgaria, Greece, Italy…

My 100 watts was at the limit of hearing. Reports were 559, 449, and someone gave me even 539. But at least they hear me! And who cares what all my equipment fits in the coffer from under the laptop, including headphones, a manipulator and an antenna. By the way, I connected the antenna directly to the transceiver without a tuner. SWR was 1,5. But it suited me, since the losses in the connections were minimal. The tuner for some reason did not give the expected result. With tuner the SWR was almost the same.

On this day (19.09), the propagation was perfect. I heard very weak stations from Europe. The ether was almost transparent. And we could conduct many more contacts, but … At 6 pm in the recreation center of the village of Nikolskoe on the island of Bering, my concert was announced for local residents. Reluctantly, I had to temporarily stop working on the air and perform the duties of an artist. The concert was with a great success. But when I returned to the hotel, the propagation was over. The remaining 20 QSOs I’ve worked the next morning until the fly to the mainland. I barely had time to remove the antenna. The plane will not wait.

In conclusion, I want to express my deep gratitude to the people who helped me prepare for this mission. This is A.A. Prozorov, R7KM, who suggested receiving a special callsign RI0ZF, and also financially and technically supported me. This is Alexander RA7KW and Victor RA7K, specially for this trip assembled and tuned three- bands dipole. This is the chairman of Crimean branch of SRR Rustam RU6K, who helped to obtain the necessary permits and a special callsign. These are my friends from the USA and Moscow who financially supported my project. My result, though rather modest, but it is, and several hundred HAMs were able to conduct QSO with the island of Bering, IOTA AS-039, so I consider my mission accomplished.