The Freeband’s best source of DX news, ‘11m DX Activities Oz’, can report that 43 Division’s Team SD will be active from Nobby’s Head Lighthouse on Wednesday July 2 and Thursday July 3 as 43SD/AUS-118. This is the first ever LOTA activity to have taken place from this particular lighthouse.

Of the 283 lighthouses, lights and/or lightships in Australia referenced by the Amateur Radio Lighthouse Society (ARLHS), Nobby’s Head (Ref: AUS-118) is arguably one of the most photogenic with the wide blue expanse of Newcastle Harbour giving the 150 year old lighthouse a breathtaking backdrop.

Built on a tiny landform known as Coal Islet, Nobby’s Head Lighthouse is at the end of a long man-made spit at the entrance to the harbour which now links Coal Islet to the OC-001 mainland.

The third lighthouse built in VK2 after the Macquarie Light in 1818 and the Hornby Light that was also built in 1858, the original 20,000 candle-power light was attended by three keepers from 1854 then converted to electric operation in 1935 and demanned.

During the Lighthouse on the Air (LOTA) activity, Team SD will be using an IC-706 MKII G through a 5 element yagi antenna up about 15 metres from the ground. According to Team spokesperson 43SD133 Jaye, the Sugar Delta operators hope to work stations in the Americas in the morning hours and then follow it up with successful openings to Asia and Europe in the late afternoon and evening.

“There’s been some noise from the Pacific also,” says Australia’s most experienced DXpedition enthusiast 43SD133. “Oceania DXCC like New Caledonia, Kiribatis, New Zealand and Hawaii have been logged by a few of the 43 Division operators up north, so we’ll be targeting them during the LOTA also.”

A special E-QSL designed by creative genius 43SD280 Jordan will be available to those operators fortunate enough to make the log of 43SD/AUS-118, as too will an attractive post card. No contribution is necessary.

QSL Manager is:

43SD054 Darren
PO Box 3140
Browns Plains LPO
QLD Australia 4118

All proofs will be posted on this site, as well as sent to SD Headquarters and the World Wide Radio Organisation (WWRO) for approval.

73 de Admin