Update November 14, 2024: We have our last night ahead. Some antennas are already packed, and there is only one radio at each QTH. If conditions permit, you can still hear us on:

– QTH1: dipoles 12 and 17, vertical 30/40/15
– QTH2: vertical
– QTH3: 6m (yagi) and vertical 40/15

QRT around 23:30 – 00:00z (probably 15m SSB)

Update November 13, 2024: Yesterday (Tuesday) morning, we had an early wake-up call as workers arrived to reinforce the dam. We took down the vertical antenna on 160m, packed up the radials, and in the evening, we set it up again in the same spot. Suddenly, we had a clean spectrum on 160m and worked with many new stations on FT8.

We made the first-ever QSO on 30m SSB, allowed for VK and Oceania. About 25 stations called.

The end of the expedition is approaching. The last activity on 80/160m will likely be on the night of Wednesday to Thursday. After that, we’ll gradually start packing up antennas and workstations, with one station planned at each QTH for the last night (Nov. 14-15).

QRT will likely be at our sunrise – Nov. 15, 2024, 00:00z.

Update November 11, 2024: The weekend was full of contests, so we found it harder to find space to operate. We mainly used the WARC bands. The callsign VK9CV was also active in the WAE RTTY contest, where Grant/VK5GR made several hundred contacts. He is also doing well using the good conditions on 6m, making contacts as far as the Caribbean. Currently, he has 47 DXCC entities in his log. We are also trying to work on the lower bands, with Miro/OM5RW on 80m and Lubo/OM5ZW on 160m monitoring the bands all night,
calling CQ every half hour on 1840 kHz.

Update November 9, 2024: This weekend VK9CV is taking part in the WAE RTTY contest as a multi-1 entry. 

At 80 meters FT8 in the evening, we received calls from W6, W7; we focused on East Asia. Then about 10 times from KL7, KH6. After that, almost exclusively Northern EU, with minimal from other parts of Europe. An hour before sunrise, conditions spiked sharply, with QSOs shifting from FT8 to CW, and by sunrise, about 90 CW QSOs with EU, NA, SA, and the Caribbean. On 40 and 30 meters FT8, then on 30 meters CW, but only 50 QSOs due to interference on our frequency. Yesterday, mainly in the evening in our time, human modes were active, with about 5 stations at the same time. A massive pileup on 20 meters began with Japan, then North America, and finally Europe lasting late into the night.

Update November 5, 2024: Yesterday (Monday), we set up the 80m vertical and the RX antenna DHDL for 160m. The antenna receives excellently, but conditions for 160m weren’t favorable.

We made our first appearance on 15m SSB, and a lot of stations called us, HI. However, we have a request for stations in Europe. Our windows to NA are very short, and we have a difficult path to the eastern coast of NA. Therefore, we ask our EU friends for patience and cooperation if we make a directional call.

Please refrain from sending your requests for human modes on low bands because if signals don’t pass on FT8, trying CW/SSB is pointless. The propagation conditions from this location are very poor. We will try to set up a RX antenna at another QTH as well.

If you’re not logged after an update, please wait at least 24 hours for the next update. PLS, don’t send requests for corrections and NIL; everything will be addressed after the expedition.

Update November 4, 2024:  VK9CV 6m monitor receiver is now running and reporting to PSKReporter.info – if you see yourself being heard let us know. We are watching the 6m screen as well when we can looking for openings. We will also call CQ from time to time.

Update November 1, 2024:  They have landed on the Cocos Islands together will all of their luggage. 

Update October 30, 2024:  VK9CV team now at Istanbul airport ready for next flight to 9M2, then onto VK6.

Update October 20, 2024:  Today we were packing all the equipments and antennas. We have totally 250 kg of material. Second part of antennas is waiting for us on the island, thanks Grant VK5GR. C U on the bands!

Update August 27, 2024: The VK9CV team report that conditions to the USA on the upper bands last a very short time, so they have decided to use 3 QTHs to be on same band at same time using CW/SSB/DIGI. The distance between them is approx. 700m so they hope for as little QRM as possible.

Update August 13, 2024: Miro OM5RW has joined the VK9CV team. He’s a very experienced operator and will focus on 160m.

Update July 13, 2024: 

ClubLog -- During the expedition, the team will upload to ClubLog.org once a day. Livestream will not be active.

LoTW Certificate -- Today we received LoTW Certificate. VK9CV is the valid callsign for DXCC!!

6m band will be active -- The VK9CV team announces that they will also try to activate the 6m band. Frequencies and modes can be found here

OM5ZW, OM4AYL, OK6DJ, OK2ZA, OM3PC, OM4MM, OM4MW and VK5GR will be QRV on 160-10m (CW, SSB, FT8 and RTTY) and QO-100.as VK9CV from Cocos - Keeling Islands on November 1-15, 2024.

Band plan
Band CW     SSB     FT8 FT4   RTTY
160m 1826.5 – – –  1840 – – – – – –
80m   3525*  3790  3578   ?   – – –
40m   7025   7170  7056   ?   – – –
30m  10105  – – – 10144   ?   10142
20m  14025  14240 14084   ?   14084
17m 18070   18150 18096   ?   18090
15m 21025   21300 21091   ?   21090
12m 24891   24950 24923   ?   24923
10m 28005   28470 28091   ?   28091

* 3504 for Japan and Asia
60m operation is not allowed in VK at this time.

QSL via OK6DJ, LOTW.