[QSL STATUS] VK9CE – Cocos Keeling Island

UPDATE – VK9CE QSL manager EB7DX informs that all direct requests will be sent on April 19th.

MARCH 29, 2021 – Steve, VK6SJ provides DX-World with the VK9CE story [pdf] or [docx] and QSL manager David EB7DX lets us preview the card which is now in the printing process.

QRT (MARCH 23, 2021) – We have now finished the Cocos Keeling Islands activation, making just over 10,000 contacts from the evening of the 16th of March to just after 1300 local time on the 23rd March. All contacts have been uploaded to Club Log, eQSL, LoTW and QRZ. David, EB7DX – our hard copy QSL Manager will be doing cards shortly and is in the process of setting up OQRS on Club Log to do the Bureau card requests as well. For queries on logging, and electronic QSLs, please email me – Steve VK6SJ. For queries on hard copy QSL cards, please refer to David EB7DX.

MARCH 20 – One of the radio operator positions (including all CW contacts) isn’t uploading in real-time to Club Log/eQSL etc. Therefore, the team are doing this manually about once a day or so.

MARCH 17 – Pictures of VK9CE activity courtesy VK6NU.

Operating VK9CE

Shack view at VK9CE

“QRZ – VK9CE”

Look out for some pictures of the expedition on @DX_World soon👍 https://t.co/cj9UHFybiN.
QSL via EB7DX
— DX World.net (@DX_World) March 17, 2021

FEBRUARY 15, 2021 – Steve, VK6SJ got in touch to inform about an upcoming DXpedition to Cocos Keeling Islands with callsign VK9CE:

Trip planned for 16-23 March. 10 Operators travelling from Perth. Operational on all bands from 80-6m on Voice, CW & FT8. May not be 24/7 but should be close. All contacts will be uploaded to LoTW, eQSL, Club Log and QRZ on at least a daily basis. Paper QSLs will be handled by David, EB7DX (direct or via bureau).

12 Comments

DONGKYU, LEE on March 23, 2021 at 12:25 am

Thank you for the courageous and wonderful DX-Pedition operation for hams around the world in this season of COVID-19 peak.

Please return home safely.

73 & GL,
Kyu HL2WA

GARY TILLMAN on March 22, 2021 at 3:21 pm

I’VE NEVER BEEN ON A DXPEDITION, BUT WITH OUR NEW SOLAR CYCLE WHICH HASN’T BEEN ALL THAT GOOD YET, I WOULD THINK YOU WOULD WANT TO BRING AT LEAST A (2) ELEMENT BEAM & A AMP WITH YOU TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF QUES YOU GOING TO ACHIVE. THESE GUYS WERE ONLY RUNING 60 WATTS & A DIOPOLE, WHICH JUST ISN’T GOING TO ACHIVE ALOT. ALSO THEY WEREN’T CHECHING ON DX SUMMIT THE FREQUENCIES THEY WERE OPERATING ON, CAUSING QRM ON A JAPAN DX GROUP THAT WAS OPERATES THEIR EVERY DAY(14.253) EASY FIX, HAVE ANOTHER OPERATOR NEXT TO YOU ON THE COMPUER CHECKING CLEAR FRQUENCIES , MAKE IT SIMPLY FOR EVERYONE….THESE ARE JUST MY THOUGHTS TO HAVE A SUCESSFUL TIME,PLUS MAYBE INCREASE YOUR QUES & MAKE THE EXPEDITION A SUCESSFUL EVENT…..

Paul ZS1S on March 21, 2021 at 4:56 pm

PLease listen for Africa including ZS on the long path 0400 UTC onwards.

73 de ZS1S

David on March 21, 2021 at 3:47 pm

During ARRL DX, the East Coast USA was copying East Coast VK 20m Long Path late afternoon (around 2100Z), just before our JA East Coast opening which was 2200-0000Z. Agree that this area of the world is fairly antipodal for the East Coast USA and this makes propagation difficult.

Tony BuRT on March 21, 2021 at 7:36 am

To the much deserving Ws who haven’t worked VK9C yet. Please keep an ear out on the long path. Having operated on Cocos Keeling the path to USA is very very very difficult and the path to EU and JA is almost open constantly. Look for long path openings as this is where we worked the most USA stations. Good luck for you all. Best Regards Tony VK3TZ (team member VK9XI)

BARRY W1JFK on March 19, 2021 at 12:00 am

Today was another day of hams calling without listening, with little logic or control on either end. The result was that the great majority of callers were unsuccessful in working VK9CE. One solution could for the Cocos (Keeling) team to begin working split, allowing everyone to hear them on a clear frequency while spreading callers across a few MHz of the band. Another would be to consider propagation conditions and specify a geographical area the team will be listening for. And then enforce it. The DXpedition team has spent a lot of time, money, and hard work to give us the opportunity to work a rare one. It would be a shame not to make the very best of their efforts.

Barry
W1JFK

Tom 9A2AJ on March 18, 2021 at 10:01 pm

To day in 11:24Z we have QSO on 14mc CW, Why not in Log ??

Ken WM4D on March 2, 2021 at 3:30 am

I have 344 total and 335 current confirmed but no Cocos Keeling. Have been unable to hear last few operations. I hope for at least one contact any mode any band. Thanks for organizing this larger operation. Ken, WM4D

Duncan Campbell on February 23, 2021 at 2:15 am

What frequencies will you be operating on for FT8? Will you be working in DXpedition mode? for WSJT-X?

Looking forward to working you.

73 de Duncan Campbell, KF6ILA

Jess Guaderrama W6LEN on February 21, 2021 at 2:12 am

I can’t believe that having been licensed for 65 years I still don’t have this one. I will keep an ear out for you guys on CW. thanks for the effort. de W6LEN / Jess

Guy Cossette on February 17, 2021 at 1:32 pm

Hope cu on WARC cw 17 mètres.
Qso b4 ,foundind after .#staysafe and all the best to all !

John Owens on February 16, 2021 at 5:11 pm

Thanks for your plans and efforts – John Owens – N7TK

DONGKYU, LEE on March 23, 2021 at 12:25 am
Thank you for the courageous and wonderful DX-Pedition operation for hams around the world in this season of COVID-19 peak.
Please return home safely.
73 & GL,
Kyu HL2WA
GARY TILLMAN on March 22, 2021 at 3:21 pm
I’VE NEVER BEEN ON A DXPEDITION, BUT WITH OUR NEW SOLAR CYCLE WHICH HASN’T BEEN ALL THAT GOOD YET, I WOULD THINK YOU WOULD WANT TO BRING AT LEAST A (2) ELEMENT BEAM & A AMP WITH YOU TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF QUES YOU GOING TO ACHIVE. THESE GUYS WERE ONLY RUNING 60 WATTS & A DIOPOLE, WHICH JUST ISN’T GOING TO ACHIVE ALOT. ALSO THEY WEREN’T CHECHING ON DX SUMMIT THE FREQUENCIES THEY WERE OPERATING ON, CAUSING QRM ON A JAPAN DX GROUP THAT WAS OPERATES THEIR EVERY DAY(14.253) EASY FIX, HAVE ANOTHER OPERATOR NEXT TO YOU ON THE COMPUER CHECKING CLEAR FRQUENCIES , MAKE IT SIMPLY FOR EVERYONE….THESE ARE JUST MY THOUGHTS TO HAVE A SUCESSFUL TIME,PLUS MAYBE INCREASE YOUR QUES & MAKE THE EXPEDITION A SUCESSFUL EVENT…..
Paul ZS1S on March 21, 2021 at 4:56 pm
PLease listen for Africa including ZS on the long path 0400 UTC onwards.
73 de ZS1S
David on March 21, 2021 at 3:47 pm
During ARRL DX, the East Coast USA was copying East Coast VK 20m Long Path late afternoon (around 2100Z), just before our JA East Coast opening which was 2200-0000Z. Agree that this area of the world is fairly antipodal for the East Coast USA and this makes propagation difficult.
Tony BuRT on March 21, 2021 at 7:36 am
To the much deserving Ws who haven’t worked VK9C yet. Please keep an ear out on the long path. Having operated on Cocos Keeling the path to USA is very very very difficult and the path to EU and JA is almost open constantly. Look for long path openings as this is where we worked the most USA stations. Good luck for you all. Best Regards Tony VK3TZ (team member VK9XI)
BARRY W1JFK on March 19, 2021 at 12:00 am
Today was another day of hams calling without listening, with little logic or control on either end. The result was that the great majority of callers were unsuccessful in working VK9CE. One solution could for the Cocos (Keeling) team to begin working split, allowing everyone to hear them on a clear frequency while spreading callers across a few MHz of the band. Another would be to consider propagation conditions and specify a geographical area the team will be listening for. And then enforce it. The DXpedition team has spent a lot of time, money, and hard work to give us the opportunity to work a rare one. It would be a shame not to make the very best of their efforts.
Barry
W1JFK
Tom 9A2AJ on March 18, 2021 at 10:01 pm
To day in 11:24Z we have QSO on 14mc CW, Why not in Log ??
Ken WM4D on March 2, 2021 at 3:30 am
I have 344 total and 335 current confirmed but no Cocos Keeling. Have been unable to hear last few operations. I hope for at least one contact any mode any band. Thanks for organizing this larger operation. Ken, WM4D
Duncan Campbell on February 23, 2021 at 2:15 am
What frequencies will you be operating on for FT8? Will you be working in DXpedition mode? for WSJT-X?
Looking forward to working you.
73 de Duncan Campbell, KF6ILA
Jess Guaderrama W6LEN on February 21, 2021 at 2:12 am
I can’t believe that having been licensed for 65 years I still don’t have this one. I will keep an ear out for you guys on CW. thanks for the effort. de W6LEN / Jess
Guy Cossette on February 17, 2021 at 1:32 pm
Hope cu on WARC cw 17 mètres.
Qso b4 ,foundind after .#staysafe and all the best to all !
John Owens on February 16, 2021 at 5:11 pm
Thanks for your plans and efforts – John Owens – N7TK