Picture 1..This is Tim Kymes KC8BZE's trusty boat!Tim along with Dale Johnson KC8JLH activated Fire and Harbor Islands under our Call KC8MHX!.They also activated Bay Island under KC8BZE.

Fire Island At Last!

Yes,Fire and Harbor Islands were *Special* Why?,they were First Time Activations! Sure,any Island is great fun but First activations create pileups with the folks who collect USI Islands.I will never forget the joy one ham expressed when he landed Fire Island..he said "Fire Island at last!".The photo above was shot on the shores of Fire Island,Dale is again working the bands,from around the World and also here at home in Michigan,many Ham's cast their signal out in hopes of catching Fire!

The DXpedition began on Saturday July 28th. Tim and Dale launched from the 4 Seasons Resort located on Drummond Island.On Saturday,this MDXA Crew had Rain and moderate winds. The Waves were 1-2 footers,much better than our first crew's attempt but not ideal conditions.It was overcast and they had an occasional sprinkle. It then turned Sunny and HOT! but then again,this was Fire Island right!.On Sunday,the crew reached Harbor Island and made many contacts in that location as well! The DX Cluster reflected the Strong interest in these activation's!.Tim and Dale were focused on 20 meters but they did take time to work people in Michigan on 40 meters.

How many contacts were made?. Well,you must remember that these Crew members activated 3 Islands in just 24 hours! There is not enough time to make hundreds of contacts on every Island when you have to keep moving to the *next* Island!.USI requires 25 contacts and 2 DX contacts to make an activation "official".The Crew had more than enough contacts to do that and ended up with 63. Whew! 3 Islands in 24 hours! Bravo to Tim and Dale!

The Eqipment

Island activations are not like Field Day except for Base Camp.At base camp,you can have all the Beams,Dipoles,Computers,HBO,Internet Connections ect but that is not the case when jumping from Island to Island! You have to travel lite! One must leave most of the equipment @ base camp. On Fire and Harbor Islands,Tim and Dale were using very good equipment. They used a Yaesu FT920 running 100w off the battery pack. For 2 meters,they used an Icom 2000H into a 1/4 wave homebrew Vertical. The G5RV more than did the trick on HF.

HARBOR ISLAND

Did you see the photo of Dale on the boat working from Harbor Island?.This is also a good shot of the rear of the Yaesu FT920.I dont know what the towel around Dale's neck is for,perhaps to wipe the sweat off from the Pileup or to dry off from the rain?.

You can also see a photo in our slide show as Dale claims Harbor Island for the Michigan DX Association

Epilogue

Through "Team Effort" we are able to claim a 3 Island success

This has put us into the USI Island history books with our club call!

MI070L Fire Island Lake Huron Chippewa KC8MHX

MI071L Harbor Island Lake Huron Chippewa KC8MHX