[UPDATE] Steve, VK6SJ (as VK9XX) made just over 4000 QSOs on 80-10m bands. He says he will be returning to Christmas island from “time to time” and will aso bring an amplifier with him next time. A reminder to QSL via EB7DX.

MAY 25 UPDATE 

I will be active from VK9XX from the 28th May for between two and three weeks but I’ll be working on the island so not on 24/7. I will be taking a Yaesu FT-857D and a simple Sotabeams antennas plus an ATAS mobile vertical. I will also be barefoot. This will also be mostly outside working hours and focused on the night time bands and mainly FT8.  My first priority will be work and I doubts that I will have any time during the day so any requests for operation during the day are unlikely to be filled.

QSL for this operation will be via EB7DX. David did a stirling job on VK9CE and very happy to have him back on this operation. 

The plan is to operate a separate band each night (I don’t want to go out and change the antenna at night!) Caveat here is that if I have a dead band, I will change band rather than call into nothing.  

Expected hours of operation will be 1100Z-1500Z and 2200-0000Z each day. If I get ahead of schedule in my work, I may squeeze in a day off, in which I will see if I can tune up the dipole on 6m, 10m & 15m during the day. 

APRIL 15, 2021 – Steve, VK6SJ got in touch with the following info for DX-World readers about an upcoming trip to Christmas Island during May 7-25, 2021. 

I will be working whilst on the island so operation will be evenings and early mornings only. Radio will be simple; FT-857D transceiver, barefoot with wire antennas and possibly a vertical. Operations will be focused on 80, 40 & 30m. Mainly FT8 operation. The antennas will favour mainly North and the West, as I will be in the main town area of the island which is towards the top of the side of a mountain. VK9XX is the club callsign of the Christmas Island Amateur Radio Club, of which I am a member. QSL will be via EB7DX.