Alberto, LU1DZ at home in Buenos Aires. [Photos courtesy of GACW]
By Hector Ombroni, LU6UO,
With Introductory Notes by Alberto Silva, LU1DZ
April 5, 2002
Deception Island, Antarctica, is one of the islands in the Shetland Islands Group. Its remoteness and legendary bad weather seem to attract DXers like a moth to a bright light. A group from Argentina found the challenge irresistible.
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Alberto, LU1DZ at home in Buenos Aires. [Photos courtesy of GACW] |
In the Antarctic summer of 1997/98, two members of the Argentine Group of CW (GACW)--Hector Ombroni, LU6UO, and Ernesto Durante, LU2AS--activated LU1ZC on Deception Island in the Shetland Islands Group. Their goal was to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Argentine Navy Detachment settlement on Deception Island by the Antarctic National Direction and Argentine Navy (DNA).
The first step was to arrange for permission for the trip and to find a means to transport people and supplies to the site.
Mr. Luis Fontana, founder of San Martin Base, and the General Secretary of the DNA, introduced Ombroni and Silva to Captain Juan C. Ianuzzo of the Argentine Navy (ARA). The two men were in charge of the Detachment and the Navy Radioamateurs Service.
The next step was to find two Amateur Radio operators who could, with clear conscience, abandon their families and jobs for a period not less than 90 days. Two hams volunteered, but it would first be necessary to get the cooperation of two institutions: the Air Force (FAA), and the Argentine Federal Police (PFA). They gave the necessary authorization for Hector, LU6UO, who was technically responsible for the Air Station in the General Pico town in the province of La Pampa, and Ernesto, LU2AS (then LU4AXV), who was working as a radio operator in the police telecommunication network, to go on the extended trip. Permission was granted.
[The remainder of this story is told in Hector's own words. --Ed.]
Drawing from our previous experiences in planning the trip to South Orkney
Islands, LU6Z, we knew we had to arrange carefully for this trip to the
Antarctic Territories. In addition to preparing everything connected with
our radio work, we also had to adapt our private lives to face an absence
at least of three months. We started our preparations with a complete
medical test in The Air Space Health National Institute according to the
requirements of the Antarctic National Direction and Argentine Navy--in
order to get its embarkation authorization.
(Left to right) Hector, LU6UO, and Ernesto, LU2AS, in the radio room of LU1ZC, Deception Island. Brrrr. |
The equipment--consisting of radios, rotators, directional antennas, wire, parts and accessories--was packed in sturdy wooden boxes with hemp rope handles. The DNA supervised the packaging in their Polar Storehouse in the Buenos Aires City Port.
We flew south on a Hercules C-130 airplane to the town of Rio Gallegos, province of Santa Cruz, and then via another Hercules to the Vicecomodoro Marambio Air Base (Seymour Island) in the Antarctic. Our baggage followed by ship.
That same evening we boarded the Almirante Irizar
icebreaker, a beautiful and modern Antarctic ship. It was used as a
hospital ship during the Malvinas/Falkland Islands war because of its medical
facilities, including an operating room. Our ship made stops at Ross
Island, the Esperanza Base, the Jubany Base (LU3ZI), and Livingston Island.
We arrived safely at our destination on December 16.
A view of the Argentine Navy station and LU1ZC on Deception Island. |
Deception Island is a ring-shaped volcanic island with an inlet leading to an interior harbor. Sailboats take shelter here from the strong Antarctic winds. In earlier times, seal-hunting ships from Spain and other countries took shelter here.
Immediately upon arrival we began working side by side with the professional personnel of the detachment--fighting against a hard climate, carrying the gasoline tanks, the food, and of course, our all-important radio gear. The job took 8 hours. Finally, at 1700 we could turn our attention to our cargo--the radio equipment. We were so enthusiastic that we started immediately to erect the Walmar 3340--a 3-element Yagi for 20, 15 and 10 meters and one element for 40 meters--and an open feed-line for a multiband Hertz antenna.
We made our first 40 meter QSO on the 18th with OH3TY. In the first days of operation we had to wear Antarctic outside clothes because the station was in a house erected in 1948--without heating devices (until now)--and the temperature never went above 0 degrees Celsius. As days went by we mended a door, a window, filled the holes and installed a heating system to make our stay and operating position more comfortable.
Taking into account that year-by-year there has been increasing radio activity from the Shetland Islands, the pileup on 40 and 20 meters day after day--until 0100--was a pleasant surprise. We were expecting a quiet operation. Keeping the antennas intact was something else, however. It became a never-ending job, without rest, changing antennas or modifying and mending the first ones destroyed by the weather.
PY5CC was our first 6-meter QSO. We didn't make many contacts on this band, but it was an interesting experience. Regretfully for the 6-meter lovers, we had receiver trouble and couldn't repair it. For this band at least, we lost hope of any more contacts.
On January 10 we had two complete stations operating. The weather held just long enough to allow us to install a 2-element 40-meter antenna. It had a 7-meter-long boom and 13-meter-long elements and weighed 21.5 kg (55 pounds). It wasn't easy to get it to the top of our 25-meter tower in the face of 200 km/hr wind speeds. With the antenna in position we were able to work SSB into Europe and North America. Because we are not fluent in foreign languages--and because we are primarily a CW group--we had to ask several of the base personnel for help. They jokingly suggested that we could use some English lessons.
Ten, 12 and 17 meters stayed closed or were erratic. Reviewing the log I see that 15, 20, 30 and 40 meters were the most-used bands. Each morning at 08:00 we were pleasantly surprised to hear JAs with a regularity that made us suppose that they were waiting for us. So we were careful to not let them down. The 80 and 160 meter bands showed great activity and we spend a lot of time calling there, but had no replies, so we moved to more appropriate bands for DX. Although the GACW coordinators insisted that we work more SSB, we didn't find much traffic--not even when the propagation conditions were good.
Hector, LU6UO, poses with the assembled Walmar 3340 beam. |
Every antenna we installed worked quite well--with the exception of the 12-meter delta. The Hertz outperformed it. Our two 25-meter-high towers were really helpful and we loaded them up with the following antennas:
Walmar Yagi--3 elements on 20, 15 and 10 meters and 1 element for 40.
40-meter-long multiband Hertz with open-line feed.
Separate delta antennas for 30 and 12 meters.
Ringo Ranger for VHF.
2-element 40 meter beam.
During the operation we had two difficult moments with the antennas. The first was damage caused by the action of high wind. The second was short circuits caused by the action of an ash-like but greasy material from volcanic emissions.
We also made a 14 MHz delta antenna for base communications with the continent. We had excellent results.
The equipment used was as follows:
HF: ICOM IC-737A, Yaesu FT-101D and ICOM IC-726.
VHF: Icom IC-260A, ICOM IC-3220H and Yaesu FT11R.
Ameriton 4 x 811 and Homemade 2 x 813 Linear Amplifiers.
Beacon receiver for 10 meters.
The hard work involved in this operation prevented me from making as orderly an account of the chronology as I had done for the South Orkney Islands Operation, LU6Z. There, we had fewer night operating hours and consequently greater free time for pastimes and note-taking.
It was during my tour of duty in 1964 when all my dreams came true in relation to Antarctic activities. I was assigned to 12 months of Navy Detachment life on Deception Island. This is why, when I arrived at the house where I had been living for that year, I felt strange sensations. When I walked the long corridor that joined the rooms, it seemed as if my old companions were saluting me from their rooms. Looking into the empty radio room, where we made weather forecast transmissions to the sailors (but which now served as a place to operate LU1ZC), I could hear a mixture of 500 kHz calls--the 4 and 8 MHz announcements we made to navigators. But then with the fury of our pileup on the high bands a great feel of satisfaction and happiness took over my spirit.
I'm part of this reality, from a mysterious island, with a long tradition of shipwrecks, suffering and discord, cold water covered by volcanic vapor, low clouds and fog. I remember the urgency when the English and Chilean installations had to be abandoned when they were destroyed by volcanic eruptions. The last eruption was registered in 1992 and it is once again giving signs of new volcanic activity.
In a few days we would be going home, and there was anxiety due to contradictory feelings: we missed our families, and yet we really wanted to stay here and enjoy the magnificence of the Antarctic.
The exact date of our return was in doubt. The icebreaker was delayed because it was sent to search for three people missing from a boat sailing near the South Orkney Islands. We modified a delta antenna to make it work on 20 meters and connected it to the FT-101ZD and spent the rest of the time packing our accessories and baggage.
We came here to perform a mission, and I think we did it satisfactorily--making more than 37,800 contacts. But we received in return the present of being in this place--a privilege that moved our spirits and warmed our hearts.
We closed the windows and packed the last of our equipment on March 7. I walked through the old house saying goodbye to the ghosts of my old friends. We waited for the ship. On the 11th, at 1100, with adverse climate and some snow, we left the island and headed for Ushuaia, on the mainland.
The smooth trip on the Irizar ended abruptly when we started into the Drake Passage. The ship did what is known as the Passage Crossing Dance--a rough ride. Then we were approaching Cape Horn in the middle of a dense flog. On the 13th at 0300 we arrive in the channels of Tierra del Fuego. That afternoon we could see Ushuaia--the most southerly city in the world. Our adventure was ending--all around us was civilization, and Jorge Vrsalovich, LU7XP, was waiting for us. He had a bungalow where we could stay until we were ready for the last step--a flight to Buenos Aires.
To the Tenant Oscar WOLF Navy Detachment Chief and to the staff of the Navy and to the DNA scientists, for their co-operation and for sharing all our efforts and fun during our staying.
To our wives and families who bore our long absence in silence--because we are a bit mad and we love Amateur Radio.
To my companion Ernesto "Ernie," LU4AXV, and his excellent comradeship in all aspects.
To the GACW coordinators for their help, support and confidence.
To Dr. Luis Fontana and to the staff of the DNA, who made our voyage possible.
To my friend Fassano who prepare the beacon radio memory.
To all the GACW friends--they were with us in silence, monitoring our operation and taking charge of our necessities.
And to the whole community of DXers. They let us feel important and justified our efforts.
To all--thank you very much and see you next time.
Hector OMBRONI, LU6UO, learned Morse code at the Railroad Company at the age of 11. His first visit to Deception Island was in 1964 as a technician. He is the President of Pampeano Radio Club.
Alberto Silva, LU1DZ, and a small group of hams established the Argentine Group of CW (GACW) in 1977. Today the club has grown to 550 members and Alberto is the club coordinator. LU1DZ activated LU3ZI in the South Shetland Islands, Antarctica, in 1983, making more than 20,000 contacts with 200 countries.
Hector and Alberto can be reached via the GACW link shown above. They live in Buenos Aires. Click here for information on awards and DX from Argentina.
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