ILLW South Solitary Island 2022 – Coffs Harbour & District Amateur Radio Club

When

19/08/2022 - 22/08/2022

12:00 pm

Event Type

Special & Field Events

International Lighthouse & Lightship Weekend. [ ILLW ] from South Solitary Island. 2022

Three Coffs Harbour Amateur Radio Club members operated their radio transmitters from South Solitary Island during the International Lighthouse & Lightship Weekend on Saturday & Sunday, August 20th – 21st. A large number of lighthouses throughout the world were also manned by similar radio enthusiasts, each attempting to contact others during the two day event. The three club members were Russell Wotherspoon VK4NGN, Fred McSkimming VK2FM and Steve Feeney VK2SPF. We used the callsign VK2FM. A similar two person group also operated from the Smoky Cape lighthouse. They were Frank Humphreys VK2AF, and Tony Jones, VK2VF using the callsign VK2VF.

The SSI trio made 81 contacts on HF and 13 contacts on VHF/FM/SSB.

Drone video and still pictures will be available soon.

The island radio group were given permission from the NPWS office in Coffs Harbour. Access to Solitary Island was by local helicopter company, Precision Helicopters. The 23 acre South Solitary island is 18km north east from Coffs Harbour is only accessible by helicopter, the trip taking about 15 minutes. Solitary Island is one of two island lighthouses off the New South Wales coastline, the other being Montague Island on the south coast.

The South Solitary Lighthouse number for the event was AU-0054 and being an isolated lighthouse there were a large number of remote radio operators attempting to contact the group on the island. Our presence on the Island was from Lunchtime Friday August 19th until Lunchtime on Monday the 22nd. We operated from the now vacant head-lightkeepers cottage which is adjacent to the lighthouse and made over 100 contacts.

HF frequencies were mainly on the 80m, 40m, 20m bands at different times, using a G5RV antenna on an extendable pole. Operation on the 2m VHF band using FM and SSB modes took place throughout the weekend for line of site contacts up and down the coast, using a 5/8 G/plane antenna mounted on a large camera-tripod.

The ILLW operating hours were ..

Local times 10:00 Saturday 20th to 10:00 Monday 22nd.

GMT times 00:01 Saturday 20th to 23:59 Sunday 21st.

I have been to the island 10 times in my working life as a Telstra technician, looking after the radio telephone system with its solar powered battery system. My first trip was in 1968, by the motor launch “Pamels Star”. This 18km trip took well over an hour from the harbour at Coffs. On arrival at the island we were lifted up 15m in cane basket, by crane, and then swung around onto the steel jetty. A similar operation took place in reverse when leaving the island. This could be quite alarming on a rough day, especially on landing back on the boat on leaving the island. Trips like this were always dependent on sea and wind conditions. This island Jetty has now rusted away and only the rusted base remains. More recently however, the island is serviced by helicopter and the trip takes about 15 minutes. Very different from years ago.

ILLW reference AU-OO54

The IOTA reference is OC-194.

Logbook for the ILLW weeknd is now visible at www.clublog.org

Fred [ freddo ] McSkimming. VK2FM. 02-66531511. vk2fm@dodo.com.au

International Lighthouse Lightship Weekend (South Solitary Island) Logbook 2022

VK2FM
Date (Local)	Time (Local)	Date (UTC)	Time (UTC)	Callsign	RST S	RST R	Frequency	Power (watts)	Mode	Operator	QTH	Comments/LH
19/08/2022	1720	19/08/2022	720	EA8MF	57	59	14.32MHz	85	USB	Rainer	Canary Islands
19/08/2022	2145	19/08/2022	1145	K4JPD	59	55	7.138MHz	85	LSB	Steve	Georgia, USA
20/08/2022	950	19/08/2022	2350	VK2MCL	57	59	7.115MHz	85	LSB	Steve	Nowra
20/08/2022	954	19/08/2022	2354	VK4AML	59	59	7.115MHz	85	LSB	Greg	Brisbane
20/08/2022	959	19/08/2022	2359	VK2VF	59	59	7.115MHz	85	LSB	Tony	Smoky Cape
20/08/2022	1002	20/08/2022	2	VK2WRC	59	59	7.115MHz	85	LSB	Lyle	Sugar Loaf	AU0033
20/08/2022	1005	20/08/2022	5	VK2ZVG	59	59	7.115MHz	85	LSB	Steven	Maclean
20/08/2022	1025	20/08/2022	25	VK2CPC	59	59	144MHz	50	FM	Les	Bonville	5X 146.0
20/08/2022	1025	20/08/2022	25	VK2FJMP	59	59	144MHz	50	FM	John	Coffs Harbour
20/08/2022	1052	20/08/2022	52	VK2AF	59	59	144.1MHz	50	LSB	Frank	Smokey Cape
20/08/2022	1238	20/08/2022	238	VK2HBG	59	59	7.135MHz	85	LSB	Gerald	Warden HD	AU0035
20/08/2022	1245	20/08/2022	245	VK2CLR	59	59	7.13MHz	85	LSB	Brad
20/08/2022	1246	20/08/2022	246	VK2HV	59	59	7.13MHz	85	LSB	Paul	Maitland
20/08/2022	1249	20/08/2022	249	VK2SD	59	59	7.13MHz	85	LSB	Jay	Newcastle
20/08/2022	1250	20/08/2022	250	VK2MET	59	59	7.13MHz	85	LSB	Alan	Port Stevens
20/08/2022	1250	20/08/2022	250	VK4TSB	59	59	7.13MHz	85	LSB	Stuart	Burpengary
20/08/2022	1252	20/08/2022	252	VK2CPC	59	59	7.13MHz	85	LSB	Les	CFSH
20/08/2022	1254	20/08/2022	254	VK2CLR	59	59	7.13MHz	85	LSB	Brad	Yamba	AU0013
20/08/2022	1255	20/08/2022	255	VK2YP	59	59	7.13MHz	85	LSB	Colin	Newcastle
20/08/2022	1259	20/08/2022	259	VK5PAS	59	59	7.13MHz	85	LSB	Paul	Adelaide
20/08/2022	1300	20/08/2022	300	VK2DLR	59	59	7.13MHz	85	LSB	Samual	Dunkeld
20/08/2022	1305	20/08/2022	305	VK2YVA	59	59	7.13MHz	85	LSB	Mal	Cambelltown
20/08/2022	1310	20/08/2022	310	VK2UGB	59	59	7.13MHz	85	LSB	Graham	Seal Rocks
20/08/2022	1315	20/08/2022	315	VK2BDS	59	59	7.13MHz	85	LSB	Bret	Balina
20/08/2022	1320	20/08/2022	320	VK2AJB	59	59	7.13MHz	85	LSB	Adam	Valla Beach
20/08/2022	1336	20/08/2022	336	VK3GA	59	59	7.13MHz	85	LSB	Graham	Melbourne
20/08/2022	1340	20/08/2022	340	VK2IO	59	59	7.13MHz	85	LSB	Gerrad	Hornsby	AU0041
20/08/2022	1344	20/08/2022	344	VK4HKK	59	59	7.13MHz	85	LSB	Noel	Ipswitch
20/08/2022	1346	20/08/2022	346	VK3KTT	59	59	7.13MHz	85	LSB	Steve	Melbourne
20/08/2022	1348	20/08/2022	348	VK2DRB	57	59	7.13MHz	85	LSB	Rob	Jarvis Bay
20/08/2022	1350	20/08/2022	350	VK4DCM	59	59	7.13MHz	85	LSB	Russ	Cleveland
20/08/2022	1400	20/08/2022	400	VK1JS	59	59	7.13MHz	85	LSB	Ivan	Port Macquarie
20/08/2022	1403	20/08/2022	403	VK2DJP	59	59	7.13MHz	85	LSB	Mike	Cessnock
20/08/2022	1406	20/08/2022	406	VK2JF	57	57	7.13MHz	85	LSB	John	Gosford
20/08/2022	1408	20/08/2022	408	VK4BYE	59	59	7.13MHz	85	LSB	Joe	Abbottsford
20/08/2022	1411	20/08/2022	411	VK3MDC	56	59	7.13MHz	85	LSB	Matt	Turpintine
20/08/2022	1413	20/08/2022	413	VK3OHM	55	55	7.13MHz	85	LSB	Marc	East Melbourne
20/08/2022	1414	20/08/2022	414	VK3IK	57	44	7.13MHz	85	LSB	Chris	Wallan
20/08/2022	1415	20/08/2022	415	VK2CDB	23	59	7.13MHz	85	LSB	Chris	Toowomba
20/08/2022	1420	20/08/2022	420	VK2GTS	59	59	7.13MHz	85	LSB	Gary	Kempsey
20/08/2022	1436	20/08/2022	436	VK2TEV	59	59	144MHz	50	FM	Steve	Macksville Club
20/08/2022	1440	20/08/2022	440	VK2FRE	59	59	7.125MHz	85	LSB	Wade	Crowdy	AU044
20/08/2022	1450	20/08/2022	450	VK4ATM	59	59	7.125MHz	85	LSB	Terry	Lowood
20/08/2022	1455	20/08/2022	455	VK2WFT	59	59	7.125MHz	85	LSB	Wayne	Inverell
20/08/2022	1500	20/08/2022	500	VK2FSNP	59	59	7.125MHz	85	LSB	John	Coffs Harbour
20/08/2022	1505	20/08/2022	505	VK4GLA	59	59	7.125MHz	85	LSB	Francis	Gladston	AU0124
20/08/2022	1510	20/08/2022	510	VK4ATT	59	59	7.125MHz	85	LSB	Phill	Brisbane
20/08/2022	1906	20/08/2022	906	VK6AV	59	59	144MHz	50	FM	Alan	Grafton	portable
20/08/2022	1910	20/08/2022	910	VK2TEV	59	59	3.625MHz	85	LSB	Steve	Macksville
20/08/2022	1915	20/08/2022	915	VK6AV	59	59	3.625MHz	85	LSB	Alan	Grafton
20/08/2022	1938	20/08/2022	938	VK2GTS	59	59	3.625MHz	85	LSB	Gary	Kempsy
20/08/2022	1955	20/08/2022	955	VK2PHW	59	59	3.625MHz	90	LSB	Pat	Coffs Harbour
20/08/2022	2015	20/08/2022	1015	VK4WIN	59	59	3.65MHz	85	LSB	Paul	Darling Downs	Club net
20/08/2022	2019	20/08/2022	1019	VK4WIN	59	59	3.65MHz	85	LSB	Dougal	Darling Downs	Club net
20/08/2022	2023	20/08/2022	1023	VK2NCS	59	59	3.605MHz	85	LSB	Steve	Seal Rocks	AU0033
20/08/2022	2120	20/08/2022	1120	VK3SPL	59	59	3.615MHz	85	USB	Stuart	Split Point LH	AU0032
20/08/2022	2129	20/08/2022	1129	VK5ARC	59	59	3.59MHz	85	LSB	Malcolm	Point ?	AU0029
20/08/2022	2136	20/08/2022	1136	VK4XG	59	59	3.595MHz	85	LSB	Wayne	Brisbane
21/08/2022	825	20/08/2022	2225	VK2NJP	59	59	7.065MHz	90	LSB	John	Nowra
21/08/2022	830	20/08/2022	2230	VK2YN	59	59	7.065MHz	85	LSB	Derik	Berry
21/08/2022	930	20/08/2022	2330	VK2ES	59	59	144MHz	50	FM	Eric	Croydon	echolink
21/08/2022	945	20/08/2022	2345	VK2BPH	59	59	144MHz	50	FM	Ronn/Karen	Kororo	long chat
21/08/2022	1005	21/08/2022	5	VK3SRC	59	59	7.105MHz	85	LSB	Joe	Queenscliff	AU00
21/08/2022	1015	21/08/2022	15	VK2PEZ	57	59	7.125MHz	85	LSB	Andrew	Jervis Bay LH	AU00132
21/08/2022	1038	21/08/2022	38	VK4FW	59	59	7.118MHz	85	LSB	Bill	Gympie
21/08/2022	1039	21/08/2022	39	VK2GSV	59	59	7.118MHz	85	LSB	David	Woy-Woy
21/08/2022	1045	21/08/2022	45	VK2FRB	56	59	7.118MHz	85	LSB	Ryan	Walchatta
21/08/2022	1051	21/08/2022	51	VK4NL	59	59	7.118MHz	85	LSB	Noel	Harvey Bay
21/08/2022	1057	21/08/2022	57	VK4KC	59	59	7.118MHz	85	LSB	Marty	Burpengary
21/08/2022	1103	21/08/2022	103	VK2PKT	58	59	7.118MHz	85	LSB	Keith	Parkes
21/08/2022	1109	21/08/2022	109	VK4NH	59	59	7.11MHz	85	LSB	Ray	Hodgleigh
21/08/2022	1115	21/08/2022	115	VK2IAN	59	59	7.11MHz	85	LSB	Ian	Newcastle
21/08/2022	1121	21/08/2022	121	VK2ADA/4	59	59	7.11MHz	85	LSB	Allan	Yeepon
21/08/2022	1127	21/08/2022	127	VK4ABJ	59	59	7.11MHz	85	LSB	Jeff	Rockhampton
21/08/2022	1133	21/08/2022	133	VK2MZ	59	59	7.11MHz	85	LSB	Rob	Sydney
21/08/2022	1138	21/08/2022	138	VK2TEV	59	59	7.11MHz	85	LSB	Steve	Macksville
21/08/2022	1140	21/08/2022	140	VK4VIP	59	59	7.11MHz	85	LSB	Brad	Toowoomba
21/08/2022	1143	21/08/2022	143	VK4KLA	59	59	7.11MHz	85	LSB	Llew	Ocean View
21/08/2022	1145	21/08/2022	145	VK3IH	59	59	7.11MHz	85	LSB	Paul		AU0037
21/08/2022	1152	21/08/2022	152	VK2ABJ	59	59	144MHz	50	FM	Adam	Valla	mobile?
21/08/2022	1240	21/08/2022	240	VK2PCT	58	39	7.11MHz	85	LSB	Paul	Emu Heights
21/08/2022	1301	21/08/2022	301	VK2AGG	59	59	144.1MHz	50	LSB	Allan	Coffs Harbour	new radio
21/08/2022	1330	21/08/2022	330	VK5CJL	56	55	14.21MHz	90	USB	Allan	Cape Jarvis	AU0094
21/08/2022	1339	21/08/2022	339	VK2GTS	59	59	144MHz	50	FM	Gary	Cres HD	hand held
21/08/2022	1356	21/08/2022	356	VK2AGG	59	59	144.1MHz	50	USB	Allan	Coffs Harbour
21/08/2022	1402	21/08/2022	402	VK2GTS	59	59	144MHz	50	FM	Gary	Cres HD
21/08/2022	1420	21/08/2022	420	VK2ION	59	59	144MHz	50	FM	Ion	Macksville
21/08/2022	1512	21/08/2022	512	VK2ION	56	59	7.125MHz	90	LSB	Ion	Nambilla Heads
21/08/2022	1610	21/08/2022	610	VK4TST	58	59	7.093MHz	90	LSB	Michael	Bribie Island
21/08/2022	1612	21/08/2022	612	VK2NCS	59	59	7.093MHz	85	LSB	Steve	Seal Rocks	AU0033
21/08/2022	1849	21/08/2022	849	VK2WL	59	59	144MHz	50	FM	Darrel	Coffs Harbour
21/08/2022	1855	21/08/2022	855	VK2WL	59	59	3.615MHz	85	LSB	Darrel	Coffs Harbour

International Lighthouse Lightship Weekend (South Solitary Island) Logbook, August 20 - 21, 2022

Weekday	Time AEST	Frequency MHz or Repeater	Note
Monday	20:00	3.609	Add 3kHz if QRM
Wednesday & Friday	20:00	VK2RCH repeater at Coramba. 146.850	Echolink Node 719656