GRAND CAVALLO 7U5CI IOTA AF 104

The last group – IOTA ALGERIA, the eastern part – the Mediterranean Sea, Coast Eats group

After two years time of preparations and one aborted attempt in 2006, the right time came and we could achieve our goal. On June 23rd 2007 in the morning, we - it means Robo – OM1KW and OM3CGN accompanied by Jaro OM1II, who took us by car to the Vienna International Airport, have started the expedition to the last inactivated part of the Algerian isles - i.e. their eastern part.

Following a smooth flight from Vienna to Rome and to Algeria we were welcomed by our contact man – Franta 7X0RY/OK1DFP. After a very warm welcoming - I don´t know whether this became already a custom- we headed straight ahead to a wedding party. Overthere we met the rest of the expedition members. Last time we could enjoy a Czech – Algerian wedding symbolised by so called Swedish tables and European style procedures. This time Yves 7X0MT/F5MSR got married, i.e. this time it happened to be a French – Algerian wedding with a lot of nice moments, soft drinks but in the evening the has come for checking the preparedness for our expedition.

Except for minor faults, everything was well prepared. In the morning at 05:00 hours LT, we set out, one lorry and two other cars, their crew consisting of Yasmin (SWL) – driver, Afif 7X2RO, Ivan OM3CGN, Robo OM1KW, Yousef 7XHF withhis family and Fauzi 7X2FD with the driver - SWL Nadir and, of course, our equipment and material. We set out for an approximately 8 hours lasting trip. After several short refreshments and thanks air conditioned cars we have safely reached our destination at about 17:00 hours LT.

Our aim was to get to the island as soon as possible in order to start the operation on the bands. We are not acquainted with the local environment and everything is unknown for us. Yousef is trying to get a boat and the group which joined further two members – Reda 7X2EB and Azzedin from 7X5VRK, assembly the vertical antenna a carries the material to the shore.

After a short time our carrier – the seaman arrived. The first cargo included a table, a chair, some equipment, vertical antenna and the generator. Now let´s go - the OM3CGN, 7X2EB disembark a we start the operation. We encountered some minor problems- the fuel tube of the aggregate was damaged by the vibration during the journey, therefore we have to find a new one somewhere. Never mind, temporarily we could run the equipment from the battery.

Suddenly the first contact appeared in the log. It was on 20 m band, 17:06 GMT, IK8PGC, vertical antenna, power 100W. A pile up started, rated up to 300. The second team-group and the material arrived. We alternate, Ivan OM3CGN is the starter, Robo OM1KW works for the next hour and Reda 7X2EB does not wish to leave behind...well, the operation is running smoothly. Step by step we built up the camp, till the sunset the 3 element 4 band from DD AMTEK was prepared. Unfortunately, we are on the south side of the island there is no posibility to disembark on the northern side. In front of us there are tons of lava and stones up to a height of approx. 60 and 25 metres. Now you know why our signal was so weak..... I am convinced that we succeeded to eliminate this weak point by a well running operation and nevertheless, which station we were able to receive, a QSO was sure. The keying device from microHAM worked even in Algerian conditions perfectly. The direction was opened only to the USA, the rest by 90° grades. In the range from 315° to 90° there were only rocks.

Anyhow, we did not give up, the number of QSO´s was growing, the situation proved to be not so bad. Next day we erected the Spiderbeam from DF4SA. Alredy by the first attempt the antenna worked excellently without any problems and showing an oustanding PSV. I also installed 2 x 40 m of wire for the lower bands. Well, everything has been prepared and we were working hard.

Together with Jasmin I went for terrain reconnaissance. On the western part of the island we found a place, where it could be possible to erect an antenna. Following the consideration of the situation, after a very difficult steep part of climbing with a lot of bushes, this possibility was rejected. Through the eastern part we got to the northern part of the island. The area proved to be excellent, the space opened in the range from 300° up to 70° through the south, simply superb possibility.... but.... the northern wind was blowing constantly. We did not posess another tent and it was necessary - more or less impossible – to transfer the equipment through the bushes to the height of approx. 50 metres.

Fauzi, 7X2FB is not willing to give up. Next day he brought one VHF and 6 m equipment and tries to make a contact, but unsuccesfully, the 2 m band seemed to be „dead“.

On June 26th in the afternoon at 16:26 UTC there was the first opening on 6 m band. In the late afternoon we were transferred to the mainland. To our surprise, we did not manage to return back on the same day, because the sea waves rose higher and nobody was willing to bring us back. Fortunately, the Algerian part of the team was on the island and maintained the operation.

The number of QSO´s was increasing continuously. My plan to reach 10.000 QSO´s suddenly seemed to be realistic.

The last but one day in the morning I transferred the vertical antenna to the VHF working station. Stations from Europe announced for 10:00 hours opening on 24 MHz, therefore I immediately called the other station to start the activity on 28 MHz. The band was nicely opened. The base camp station heared only approx. every fifth or tenth station. Oh, not to forget, Mr. Murphy has been with us everywhere.... after a 3-hours operation and a wonderful pile-up the generator got stuck. Our question was: Couldn´t it happen somewhere else and at another time?

Neither the strong northern wind, nor the wild wind whirlpool, which was about to carry away our tent, or the strong stream of hot wind of abt. 50°C lasting for about 1 hour, nothing could not spoil us those 7 nice days on the island. We enjoyed the wonderful environment, we layed about 2 metres from the sea, experiencing air-raids of sea-gulls, being stung by desert flies and during the night accompanied by rats and ants as well as being daily occupied by visitors from nearby surroundings.

We finished the activity on June 29th 2007 at 04.09 hours. I woke up the sleeping teammates and we started packing. Transfer back to Alger, late in the evening trying specialities of the local quisine and next day the flight to Milan. Because Alitalia prepared a surprise for us, we missed the flight to Vienna. Therefore we could spend a nice evening in Milan and the next day we arrived home. However after a week–long stay in tent we could appreciate this unexpected change. A good dinner, toilette, bath tub, a real bed and a warm bath were things, we hardly could remember after the whole time.

Our luggage arrived a bit later, but we were happy that after all it arrived in good order.

What is to be added finally? We made 9679 contacts what in the meantime is the maximum what we could achieve from IOTA in the Algerian region. Do you think was it not enough? Try yourself and you will be surprised...

Mni 73´s ,

IVAN OM3CGN