K9ZW
Step-In Island
WI039R
West Twin River, Manitowoc Co.
May 2007

Steve K9ZW, with his friend Carl KA9WYK (blue jacket) qualify Step-In island.

Operators were myself K9ZW (in the brown jacket) and Carl KA9WYK our local club president.   This was an easy drive on Island, but very noisy with farm tractors and fishermen driving feet from us.  VERY cold and windy.   We did enjoy a lot of interest in what we were doing and may have recuited some prospective future amateurs as a result.  Only worked 40 QSO's - most on 20m   Main operation was Saturday 5th 1400z to 1700z, when we retired to the Island's Bar for steak sandwiches & beers.   I went back out on the 6th and 8th to log some safety QSOs and to get additional DX.  We had Spain on Saturday, but with the QRM from three QSO parties I wasn't happy that we had a solid QSO.  Logged Spain again, but as my Dell Laptop did an emergency shutdown I lost the logs on the 6th, so on the 8th I went out and logged YU1XA a solid 59 from Serbia on 20m.   Special QSL cards will follow from a printer in Israel (GlobalQSL) via Bureau.   We used three rigs - TenTec Scout (SSB),  Icom IC-706g3 (SSB) TenTec Pegasus (PSK and SSB)   Power was a Aircraft sealed cell battery.   Antenna was a Hamstick Dipole at 15 ft on a military surplus mast system.  Used a Workmate bench as the mast base & operating desk, with the battery lending weight.