VQ9, Chagos Islands

Jim, VQ9JC (aka ND9M), has returned to Diego Garcia for another four month tour and will resume operating as VQ9JC.

He informed OPDX that: "Operating times tend to run about 85% CW, 10% SSB, and 5% digital and is on 80-10 meters.

I must take a boat from my ship (where I am one of the few remaining Radio Officers) to the island where the ham shack is located and usually cannot be QRV before 1200Z (local time is GMT +6 all year.)

In order to be on the boat back to the ship, I must QRT by 1635z on Sundays through Thursdays, and by 1735z on Fridays and Saturdays, although I will occasionally stay overnight to work early morning DX."

Jim was heard this past week on 20/15 meters CW. QSLs go to ND9M (ex-WB9IHH); either by the Bureau or direct is OK.

Jim states, "My XYL will forward direct requests to me every three weeks or so, but mail typically takes about two weeks to get to the island once she mails it. As for direct QSL requests, I'm continually surprised to see the number of invalid IRCs coming through. A few are the older style that expired at the end of 2006, but the majority of them are invalid because they were not stamped by the issuing post
office. I wouldn't mind 'eating' two or three, but I've received
literally dozens so far this year. All QSL requests are answered of course, but requests that come with invalid IRCs will be answered via the buro.

CU in the pileups!
73 for now,
Jim, VQ9JC / ND9M"

Source: OPDX

Latest news stories..

• Get our news headlines for your website • Submit your news story

• Visit our bookshop