IOTA Contest : 27- 28 July 2013
IOTA : EU-012 - WAB : HU42
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
Ian G3WVG and Nigel G3TXF operated the 2013 IOTA Contest as MZ5A from Shetland (EU-012).
This was Ian G3WVG's sixth operation from Shetland. As usual the weather played a major role.
Our Friday flight from Aberdeen to Sumburgh was cancelled due to fog. Passengers were transferred to an already over-crowded ferry. No cabins or reclining seats were available, just the floor to sleep on for the 12-hour overnight crossing. Not a good start to a contest!
The two operators finally arrived at their IOTA Contest location with less than four hours to install all the antennas for five bands (inc a λ/4 vertical for 80m) and then set up the two stations before the start of the contest.
The two ops then just kept going for the full 24-hours of the contest, handing out MZ5A QSOs and the EU-012 Shetland Multiplier.
QSLs for MZ5A - via G3TXF |
|
| Dense summer fog in Shetland caused the cancellation of all flights to Sumburgh on the Friday before the 2013 IOTA Contest. |
|
 |
 |
|
| Ian G3WVG takes an unexpected ride on the overnight ferry from Aberdeen to Lerwick. No-where to sleep other than on the floor! |
The overnight Northlink ferry from Aberdeen arrives at the harbour in a foggy Lerwick, the main town on Shetland. |
|
 |
 |
|
| Thanks to the fog delays, the MZ5A operators arrived with less than four hours to install all the antennas and set up the two stations. |
Vertical antennas for 10m, 20m and 40m quickly installed at MZ5A just prior to the start of the 2013 IOTA Contest. |
|
 |
 |
 |
|
| The 80m λ/4 vertical was installed in an area next to the cottage rented for MZ5A. |
A 10m vertical dipole was installed before the Contest, but MZ5A made no QSOs on 10m! |
The 20m antenna was a simple vertical dipole supported by a 10m fibreglass pole. |
|
 |
|
 |
|
| After the contest Hans GM4SSA helps out by taking away some of the heavier equipment boxes. |
The first glimpse of the sun was on the flight back from Sumburgh to Aberdeen, a few hours after the end of the 2013 IOTA Contest. |
|
 |
 |
 |
|
| De-rigging the station (TS-590s and Alpha 91b amp) at MZ5A after the 24-hour contest. |
|
Hans GM4SSA with a ski-bag full of cables and station accessories. |
A tired G3WVG arrives back at Aberdeen after two consecutive nights without sleep. |
|
 |
|
 |
|
| This Loganair Saab 340 G-LGNE transported G3TXF and G3WVG from a damp, wet, windy and misty Shetland back to Aberdeen. |
An MZ5A QSL from an earlier Shetland operation by Ian G3WVG for CQWW CW in November 2006. |
|
 |
 |
|
| Nigel G3TXF operating one (TS590s + THP 550X amp) of the two stations at MZ5A. |
Nigel G3TXF waiting at Aberdeen airport for a non-existant flight to Shetland for the 2013 IOTA Contest. |
|
|
Back to G3TXF Mainpage
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|