Cape Lookout Island Activation

The NR3X team for the 2009 Cape Lookout Expedition won the 1st place plague in the RSGB IOTA contest as part of the island activation.  Congratulations to the individual 2009 team members(W0UCE, N3ND, N4YDU,W4KAZ) and many thanks to the RSGB contest sponsors and ICOM UK for sponsoring the plaque.  It is BEAUTIFUL….

NA Expedition 1st Place Plaque, 2009 IOTA

N4A 2010 Extended Soapbox
2010 N4A Photographs
Updated July 30 2010, de w4kaz

The NC Contesters group, NR3X, again operated from near the Cape Lookout lighthouse over the weekend coinciding with the RSGB IOTA contest. This year’s group of castaways included N4YDU, N3ND, K2AV, and W4KAZ. W0UCE was unable to join the group and was missed.

Going into the weekend the sunspot situation seemed to be improving slightly, and propagation conditions did appear to be better than the pas couple of years. Everyone arrived at the docks within a few minutes of the ETA, and the group soon had N3ND’s vehicle loaded out and ready for the ferry trip across the sound to the South Core banks and Cape Lookout National Seashore.

YouTube clip of N4YDU running on 20m SSB

The first task upon arriving was to begin hoisting antennas. The wx was hot, the normal condition for CALO at the end of […]

For the past three years, the NC Contesters Club, NR3X, has activated the Cape Lookout Island, IOTA #NA-067 at the end of July.

The activation for 2010 will occur over the weekend of July 23rd through 25th.  The cast of characters is expected to once again be W0UCE, N3ND, N4YDU and W4KAZ.  We hope to be QRV by 20:00z on July 23rd, and expect to attempt activity on 10m and 6m should those bands open.  We will also expect be on the air during  the RSGB IOTA contest.

N4A 2009 Extended Soapbox
2009 N4A Photographs
Updated January 24 2010

The 2009 expedition was a high spirited affair, with lots of fun at everyone’s expense.  For an expedition, we were well prepared with creature comforts to combat the hot and humid conditions.  We were also the best fed expedition ever – catering and five-start dining provided by “Chef Archie” – a.k.a. W0UCE.

Cold beverages were passed around, equipment was set up, radios and computers were coaxed into cooperation(sometimes), and many QSO’s were worked in the high noise levels of  a summertime expedition.

The WX was at one point threatening, but the bad parts mostly seemed to slip around our island inhabitation.  There were a few light showers, but no heavy weather.  During the first early afternoon fueling of the generator we were treated to a beautiful double rainbow out over the Atlantic Ocean.

N4A  –  2009 Krewe of Operators:

N4YDU, Nate
W4KAZ, Keith
N3ND, Dan
W0UCE, Jack

N4A 2009 Extended Soapbox  
Updated May 25th 2009

The NR3X group will once again activate the South Core Banks at the end of July 2009. This year the group will be augmented by the addition of N3ND and W0UCE. We expect our station set up to be very similar to the last two outings, and we expect to have access to and attempt some limited operations on 6 meters once again.