BU2AI/9 Matsu Islands (IOTA AS-113) Operation (2008/Feb/1 ~ Mar/21)

Background

My job requires rotation to other places in Taiwan. This year (2008) I have the chance to visit Matsu Islands during Feb.(Nangan township) & Mar. (Beigan township). Matsu islands is located some 110NM northwest to Taiwan and is very close to the coastline of mainland China (P.R.C.). It was the front line during the days of confrontation with communists, and relics of war are everywhere which become the major scenery spots for tourists. Nowadays it becomes the doorway to enter southeast of China. Further info about Matsu Islands will be added later. Some information in Chinese can be found on Matsu Information website: http://www.matsu.idv.tw/

Transportation

There are two major ways to get to Matsu Islands, air transportation and ferry. No matter which method, the weather plays the key role. The Uniair airline flies to both Nangan and Beigan from Taipei daily. Nangan airport is a VFR airport, and Beigan airport requires 3200m visibility with 1300 ft ceiling. The Taima ferry and Hofu ferry from Keelung to Matsu are also available for one turn-around a day. Information in Chinese can be found on Shinhwa Ship company. The ferry will be postponed if the predicted wave is more than 3m. Helicopter is also available but only after the regular flight and ferry are canceled for days.

Amateur Radio Operation on Matsu Islands

As of present time, there is no known permanent residents who set up amateur radio station at Matsu islands. Previous temporary operations include:

1994/7/13~21 BO0M Matsu island. First time on air.
1997/7/24~31 BO0M Matsu island. joined IOTA Contest.
1999/7/23~28 BO0M Matsu island. joined IOTA Contest.

BO0D (date uncertain)

BO1/JA1JKG (date uncertain)

BO2/JP1RIW (date uncertain)

There are two kinds of licenses to transceivers for amateur radio in Taiwan, fixed operation and mobile operation. It is required that all fixed stations to be examined by the authority on-site. Taiwan amateur regulations require that all operations other than home QTH must either move the home QTH to new location or use mobile setup only. For the mobile operation, once the transceiver is licensed by the authority, it will require no further paperwork to operate everywhere in BV lands, even including the BV9P area. Considering the delay for examination by the authority for new fixed station, mobile operation is the best solution for my short visit to Matsu Islands.

Foreign amateur radio operators who want to visit Matsu area and get on air here may apply for temporary operation permit from National Communications Commission (NCC) via CTARL, just like the way to operate on Taiwan main island.

Equipments

Rigs will include ICOM IC-7000, Diamond BB7V broadband vertical antenna, and a backup Diamond WD330S T2FD. The computer interface still need some setup due to new NB with Windows Vista. Hand-write log will be used before the interface problem resolved.

My location at Matsu Nangan will be at the northeast side of the island, and the antenna is at about 372ft height MSL (about 40m AGL). This location is very high but better use vertical antenna instead of T2FD for installation restriction. Location for Beigan will be notified later.

Schedule

My rotation for Nangan starts from Feb/1 till Feb/20. Then there is a short relief from duty till Feb/29. I will fly back to Taipei on Feb/21. On Feb/29, I will fly to Beigan again for the next rotation from Mar/1 till Mar/20. On-air schedule will depend on weather and actual flight schedule. I might QRT one day before departure for packing.

Update News:

Jan/31

Due to bad weather, air transportation to Matsu islands has been suspended since Jan/25. Scheduled ferry is also postponed for days. I flew to Matsu Nangang in the afternoon by SVFR charter helicopter. The gust wind goes to 40kts when landed. Luggage weight limit is 5 kg per person. All equipments will be sent by regular schedule fix-wing aircraft later when weather permits. The temperature here is about 3C, and under 40kts wind, one man antenna work will be very difficult.

Feb/4

Weather finally cleared out today, and all equipments arrived as well as my other personal luggage. Hopefully QRV after 1200 UTC tonight. Antenna can see the sea to the north, east and south at 372ft height MSL (about 40m AGL). Grid locator: OL96XD

After test run, vertical setup of the Diamond BB7V shows typical noisy characteristics of vertical antenna. Due to close by aviation NDB and DME (500W & 1KW each), noise floor goes to S9 on every HF band. Not even one amateur station can be heard.

Feb/5

Tonight tried 20m & 30m. By horizontal setup, the BB7V seems to perform well on TX, but still noisy for RX (only minor improvement). Real report to EU stations is about S2. Will try lower bands in next couple days. Sorry for my poor RX due to nearby NDB and DME. Currently has no band pass filter, except one low pass. Antenna was disassembled after QSO due to restriction and also the 40kts gust. It was quite difficult to do the antenna work under 30+ kts wind with rain. (Worked about 82 stations today, thanks!!)

Feb/6

The antenna was moved to a slightly higher position for vertical installation again. Today is the new year’s eve of Chinese New Year, so won’t QRV for long period because of the new year’s eve dinner. Worked only about 10 stations on 80m, 30m and 20m. Happy Chinese New Year to everyone and live long and prosperous!

Feb/7

Today the propagation seems to be good for NA on 20m around 0100Z. Worked some 200+ stations during my spare time today, mainly on 30m, 20m and 17m as well as some on 40m. I will try to satisfy all sked requests as my working schedule permits. Due to low efficiency on lower band, 160m, 80m, and 40m are quite difficult to get others to hear me. Also I tried some SSB earlier but not as good as CW during such low propagation and my high background noise. Sked QSO on 30m for Atlantic side of NA didn’t work today. Will keep trying in next couple days.

Feb/8

NA stations come in again during my morning time on 30m & 20m. West coast of NA seems to be better on 20m. Due to the nature of my work, QSO might be suddenly interrupted during my day time from 2300Z to 0900Z. I will announce QRX if a break for my work is needed. I tried to work on 80m and 40m, but again my RX is very poor due to local interference. Total QSO number after today is 369.

Additional note: the inside temperature is about 10C, and we have no indoor heating system. Please forgive me if you see my keying is full of error.

Feb/9

Today mainly work on 20 & 17m. Some SA stations come in but not very strong. Also worked some EU station on 30m during my evening time. Total QSO number after today is 604.

Feb/10

Total QSO after today is 692.

Feb/11

Some EU stations come in on 30m about 2240Z. Total QSO after today is 812.

Feb/13

Due to VP6DX on air, though my IOTA AS-113 is rare, most DXCC chasers will move their focus on the Ducie Island dxpedition. I also called them using bare foot output with vertical antenna. Worked them on 20m 17m 15m and 12m CW. Their QSX QRG is usually far from TX freq, sometimes hard for me to find a proper QRG to call CQ. I will try my best to meet all sked request. Total QSO number after today is 881.

Feb/19

I am starting packing up everything for my short 9 days relief and preparing to move to the next working location, Beigan township. Last QSO is made by 1050Z today. Total QSO number is 1202. On Feb/21, I will first take the ferry to Beigan with my baggage and then fly back to Taiwan from there to reduce the labor moving all rigs in and out Matsu islands. On Feb/29 I will fly to Beigan and hope to QRV on Mar/1 if time permits

Feb/27

Log for first operation period has been uploaded to http://dx.qsl.net/cgi-bin/logform.cgi?bu2ai-9 I will fly to Beigan island on Feb/29 afternoon if weather is ok.

Feb/29

Thanks to the weather, my flight from Taipei to Beigan arrived on time. Will try to QRV in next few days.

Mar/2

Rigs were setup today, and started QSO from 1030Z. Thanks for everyone interested in my IOTA operation. My location is on east side of Beigan island, grid locator: PL06af. However, there is another small island connected to Beigan main island by sand bar to the east. I can see the sea to the northeast and south. A mountain about 1000 ft is very close to my west side, so the result to EU may be somehow influenced. This QTH is again heavily influenced by nearby aviation NDB & DME. I will still try some low band QSO.

Mar/5

From Mar/5 to Mar/7, there will be two colleagues coming here for training. QRV time will be reduced.

Mar/10

Worked TX5C on 30m today using barefoot and vertical antenna. Very difficult to hear them on other bands for the past few days.

Mar/12

Total QSO after today is 627.

Remark

My computer log interface still need some work to get it work. My previous NB died one week before my departure from home QTH. I bought a new NB, but which comes with no com port and even worse it is installed with Vista. Everything need to be re-installed. My usual log, AALog, doesn’t work on Vista, even under XP simulation. The Hamport interface program also acts strangely with the Prolific PL-2303 USB-RS232 converter on Vista. In such situation, I couldn’t log the time and frequency automatically into computer log, nor using computer to key CW. I am using hand log at present time with my Schurr Proffi to send CW, so please do not QRQ too much. My writing speed is about 2 to 3 stations per minute, at best 4 per minute. Please kindly understand my current limitation. If anyone has the solution to my problem, please also kindly inform me your solution, thanks.

I will have a short break back to home QTH from Feb/21 to Feb/29. I will see if I have the time to be on air at home QTH.

QSL Info

QSL for QSO made during the stay in Matsu islands will be answered after return to home QTH in Taiwan. QSL card will be printed later after total QSO number is counted. QSL via home call, and both via bureau and direct are OK. All direct requests please kindly include the return SAE to facilitate the process.