3B8MU - Photo survey for CQWW-CW operation at l'ILOT by 3B8XF
L'ILOT QTH is a small islet about 100m off the main. Surrounded by sea-water, it provides an excellent location for visiting DXers!
l'ILOT QTH provides not only an excellent location for Amateur Radio but also many dramatic sunsets. Link to "Google Map" l'ILOT is approached by a short 100m causeway. There is just one house on the islet, and it is totally surrounded by sea-water.
As seen from the mainland to the west, l'ILOT has the causeway coming from the right and the single house (white) is seen behind the trees on the left. The small building on the right (with a pole above it) is the shed with the stand-by power generator. The pole next to the shed supports the electricity cables which run to the mainland across the causeway.
Looking towards the ILOT from the mainland at low-tide. The (overhead) power cables that run from the mainland can just be seen on the left. The power cables go to the pole next to the generator shed. Local fisherman (with basic fishing rods) do come close to l'ILOT both on small boats as above, but also by walking to the rocks near the ILOT. They are pleasant and cheerful.
Vertical antennas on the rocks that make use of the numerous short poles
The rocks get covered with water at high-tide. This is the base of the 160m vertical. A T-antenna was used on 160m. There are several short vertical poles which are firmly cemented into the ground and which provide useful supports. The posts are there to support a notional boundary. Several posts were used to support the base of different verticals on the rocks at the side of l'ILOT.
Vertical (probably 17m) tied to a convenient dead tree trunk close to the rocks. Putting up the 160m vertical is a multi-person task, especially when it's windy. There are convenient tie-points both on the rocks (sea-side) and on the trees (land-side) The 160m vertical (T-antenna) is in the foreground and another vertical is seen further back.
A 40m vertical on the rocks at the northern end of the islet. The radials were run across the rocks and straight into the sea. Several of the convenient white posts are seen here as the tide comes in. On the right is the base of a vertical.
A clockwise panorama taken from the front (the mainland side) of the house on the l'ILOT.
1. Looking towards the house from the mainland/causeway side of the island. There is a parking area in front of the house. 2. Looking to the right of the house where there is the main rocky area for the installation of antennas.
3. Looking towards the east and further round to the area of the flat rocks beyond the small wall. 4. Looking to the south-east (long path USA), over the rocks and with the causeway track road coming in on the right.
5. Looking towards the causeway track road on the left and the shed for the stand-by electricity generator is appearing on the right. 6. The shed for the automatic standby power generator is next to the pole which brings the power cables across from the mainland. The standby generator starts up automatically in about 30 seconds. When the mains power comes back on again there is a further break of about ten seconds. Yes, it's annoying in a contest, but it's better than having no automatic standby power!
7. Looking beyond the generator building across towards the mainland. There are a number of holiday houses close to the beach. At low tide the sea goes out completely leaving a wide beach. 8. Looking towards the mainland and returning towards the house.
9. Back to the start of the panorama view in front of the house. The stand-by generator generator shed as seen from the beach. The causeway to the mainland runs off to the right.
IMPORTANT : How to cure the local noise problem from the outside LEDs !
The house is usually illuminated (automatically) at night from the outside, which includes several dozen LED light which are buried in the ground. These LEDs are an annoying source of noise..... .... which is solved by turning off [0] the one "timer switch" which controls all the outside lights. The timer switch is in the mains fuse box in one of the outside rooms accessed by the kitchen door.
The key to the door to the small room outside with the fuse box. The door to the room with the main fuse board..... .....and the key to this door which can be found in the drawer in the kitchen which has all the keys.
The rooms and accommodation in l'ILOT
The central lounge area, facing towards the (closed) front door. This part of the house is not air-conditioned. The four bedrooms are each individually air-conditioned, if needed. There are doors to two rooms on the left. These are Bedrooms 2 (used as shack by 3B8XF) and Bedroom 1 (main bedroom with double bed). The passageway to the right leads to two other bedrooms (3 and 4). Bedroom 3 has a double bed and and Bedroom 4 has two single beds (children's room.). The further passageway on the right goes into the kitchen.
Bedroom 2 (which has a double-bed and en-suite shower etc) was used the shack by 3B8XF. There was access through a balcony door out onto the side of the building where the vertical antennas were located close to the sea on the rocks.
Bedroom 4 (children's room) with option of two single beds.
Bedroom 3 (one double bed with shower and toilet facilities separate across the corridor). Shower and toilet facilities for Bedrooms 3 and 4 are separate, whereas there are en-suite showers etc for Bedrooms 1 and 2.
Miscellaneous photos of l'ILOT
Looking at the East side of the house as well as at the large balcony area (which is used for eating) on the back of the house.
Looking across the causeway towards the mainland and [I think] towards the villa that 3B8MU used for CQWW a few years ago. Given that most of the verticals have their bases under water at high tide, there has to be a regular untangling and tidying of the radials.
Collecting up all the 160m radials ...... out of the sea.
Bag of antenna bits including 3 x 10m Spiderpoles, eight guys for G0CKV's 18m Spiderpole, set of 11 clamps, five lengths of coax: 40m RG8-mini, 50m RG8-mini, 50m Ultraflex-7 2 x 30m Ultraflex -7. 24 radial wires for use with 80 or 160 vertical. The flat rocky area to the side of l'ILOT is ideal for vertical LF antennas, but the area is covered by sea-water at high-tide.
A conveniently placed stub of a dead tree can be used to support a vertical pole, but the base is prone to flooding at high tide!
This160m vertical required 50m of coax from the shack. If additional verticals are to be placed further away on the rocks, longer coaxes (i.e greater than 50m) will be needed. Showing two vertical antenna supported by fibre-glass poles. A 40m vertical and probably a 17m vertical dipole.
The rock adjacent to l'ILOT regularly used by local line fisherman. Seen from the west side. A 40m vertical is at the water's edge.
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