The total number of QSOs made (net of dupes) during the seven-day operation was 21,552.

All QSOs were 2xCW.

The QSO break-down is shown in the table; see below for QSL Info and for VK9C photos etc

Equipment

Whenever possible three HF stations were used simultaneously. The three main transceivers were Kenwood TS-570D's, and a TS-50 was taken along as a stand-by. Two small Ameritron AL-811 amplifiers were also used.

It was fortunate that we had taken a spare rig as one of the TS-570D's failed totally a few days into the operation (another TS-570D had also failed during the FW/G3SXW-FW/G3TXF operation from Wallis in May 2000). Despite the failure of its bigger Kenwood brother, the smaller TS-50 did an excellent job as a standby rig, enabling simultaneous CW operation on three bands to continue whenever conditions allowed.

The three antennas were all simple verticals. Two R-7000's spaced about 200ft apart along the beach were used for the seven HF bands and a 67ft Titanex vertical was used for 30-40-80 and 160m.

Propagation

During our stay the HF propagation was generally better than we had been expecting. The SFI was higher than expected. There were some good openings into the East Coast of the USA (a difficult path from VK9C Cocos) on several occasions on both 12m and 10m. The higher end of the spectrum worked well. But you can't have it both ways. When it's good on HF, it isn't usually going to be so good on LF.

Although a considerable amount of effort was put into trying to get 80m and 160m QSOs the results were disappointing. Conditions at this time of year were far from ideal. Although a few 'big' European Topband stations were worked, we never got anywhere near working the hoped-for wider audience on that band either in Europe or in Japan (let alone in the USA).

Operating was generally 'at night'. The bands were useless from an hour or so after dawn (2340z) until mid-afternoon local time. Although a break was taken for an evening meal at around 1230z everyday, operation was pretty much continuous at all other times when the bands were open to anywhere.

Location

The West Island Lodge (the only 'hotel' in the Cocos Islands) is an ideal location in many respects for Amateur Radio DX-peditions : there's plenty of space to put up all sorts of antennas (and right by the sea too), there is a reliable power source, the hotel management is sympathetic and friendly towards visiting hams. Requests like "can we put our antennas right in the middle of your grounds?" and "can we borrow three tables to use as operating tables in the shack?" are all met with a friendly and positive "sure Mate, carry on - no worries!".

There is however one slight down-side to the West Island Lodge, and that is that the beach is 'facing the wrong way'. It faces south-west. Perfectionists would prefer that the straight-out over the sea take-off be between North West for Europe, through North (W1) and to the North East for JA and W6. However the beach did provide an excellent take-off for the the USA on the long-path. Although we were using vertical antennas we soon learned that many of the major openings to the USA were on the long rather than the short path. [Visiting hams using beams, rather than verticals, would be less concerned about the 'direction' of the beach/sea take-off]

Operators

The three operators [G3MXJ, G3SXW and G3TXF] are long-time keen CW operators and make no apology for the fact that this DX-trip to VK9C Cocos was 100% CW. Although we had four transceivers, three antennas and two linears, we didn't have a single microphone (or even a PSK 31 terminal) between us!

73 - Nigel G3TXF