The EJ7NET team has arrived on Tory Island, Co.Donegal

The EJ7NET Westnet DX Group has arrived safely on Tory Island (IOTA EU-121) and we are currently erecting antennas. The QTH is fabulous and has great take-off over the ocean in most directions. It is extremely scenic here, with views towards the mountains on the mainland. Our ferry trip was very calm and the weather has been fantastic so far.

A panorama showing antenna setup on Tory Island.

One station is already up and running, with Gordon GM7WCO operating on 30 metres CW. Tony EI3HA, our chef, is preparing dinner.

This year's team is as follows: Declan EI6FR, Tony EI3HA, Dermot EI5IQ, Liam EI7DSB, Anthony EI2KC, Bernie HB9ASZ, Rolf HB9DGV, Barry GM3YEH, and Gordon GM7WCO.

Video from our activation of Gola Island by Gordon GM7WCO

This lovely video featuring a mixture of photos and video footage with music from the EJ7NET activation of Gola Island was created by team member Gordon GM7WCO. We hope you enjoy!

Rain, wind and mixed propagation. Oh, and antenna damage!

It's Monday morning and overnight we've had some very strong wind. As a result, there was some slight damage to the antenna system. The Sota pole holding up our 20/15m wire vertical broke in the wind and needed to be repaired, while the 30m wire vertical came loose from its pole. However, a short time later we were up and running again.

Sunday night was good on the bands, with decent action on 40, 30 and 20. Most of the activity has been on CW, but Liam EI7DSB is quite active on SSB, especially on 20 metres. We passed the 2,000 QSO mark last night. There was some action too on 6 metres. We made 11 QSOs, some with EI stations and there were some Europeans who made it into the log, including several from Croatia and Italy, and one each from Poland and Slovenia. We will keep a listening watch on 50 Mhz during our stay using a dedicated FT897 and a two-element beam.

Band conditions this morning are not that good. After a promising start with a good rate on 20 cw, the action died off. 30m has been OK, and 40m has been very hit and miss.

I've received information from Peter EI7CC that Gola Island was in fact activated before, by Paddy EJ7GK, in 1997. So we're not the first!!! Thanks for the information Peter. At least we know now!

The food has been excellent, thanks to our chef, Tony EI3HA, who has been looking after us very well. We will surely put on a few pounds while we're here, sitting around working radio and eating all the time!

I took a walk to the western end of the island with Declan EI6FR yesterday. There are fantastic views from the top of the cliffs out into the Atlantic Ocean.

A splint is added to support the broken Sota pole.

Roast beef for Sunday dinner. Yum.

A card EJ7GK to EI7CC from his Gola activation in 1997.

Anthony EI2KC at the edge of the cliffs on Gola.

Annual IOTA trip is heading to Donegal this year

Gola Island off the NW coast of Ireland (© Bing Maps)

Tomorrow, Saturday 22nd August, I'm heading to a very special location with members of the EJ7NET Westnet Group. This year, we're activating Gola Island, off the County Donegal coast, for our annual island activation. It doesn't unfortunately, have its own IOTA designator, but is part of the EU-121 Irish Coastal Islands group. However, it is a rare island (I'm not sure if it's ever been activated before) and the Maidenhead Locator square is IO55tc.

This year's team comprises Declan EI6FR, Liam EI7DSB, Tony EI3HA, Gordon GM7WCO, Rolf HB9DGV, and me. We are planning to have a 6m station, so if there's any activity on that band we will do our best to work as many as possible. Band conditions in advance of the trip have not been wonderful. Let's hope the propagation picks up a bit over the weekend.

If not, we will probably spend a fair amount of time on 40m and 20m like last year on Cape Clear when conditions were poor. But we'll see. Depending on 3G/4G availability, I may be able to post updates on the blog, but I won't know that until I'm actually on the island tomorrow afternoon. So keep visiting back and if I'm able to post updates I will.

I will be bringing the camera equipment to take photos and videos. Hopefully I will be able to share some of these with you during the trip. If not, I will have to do a big blog upload afterwards!