My IOTA QSL card for NA-142 and NA-085. The photo was taken prior to Hurricane Ivan.
NA-142 -- Okaloosa Island
(also known as Santa Rosa Island)
NA-142 Okaloosa Island, near Destin, FL on the Gulf of Mexico. Photo taken by Ned Linch (N4LS) from operating location which is facing north in this photo toward the bay side of the island.
NA-142, 27 Jun 06.
Toyota FJ Cruiser with a Little Tarheel II antenna.
Flying my RV-4 down the beach at NA-142.
NA-142 looking East toward Destin. The Destin harbor is next to the bridge. Hwy 98 cuts across the island. Most of the island is owned by the USAF. The East end of the island is called Okaloosa Island (in Okaloosa County). The western end of the island is called Santa Rosa Island (Navarre and Pensacola Beach). I call my expeditions to NA-142, "Lunch-peditions" because the island is 15 minutes from my work location and I go there for lunch and operate. Many of the beautiful dunes on this island were destroyed by Hurricanes Ivan and Dennis--2004 and 2005.
At NA-142 parked toward the west during the March 2006 CQ contest. I'm using a "BuddiStick" mounted on the car. The BuddiStick seems to boost my signal better than the "Hamsticks". I had just talked to the Marshall Islands on 15m when I took this photo. In the foreground are docks destroyed by the recent hurricane season. The condo in the background is located in the small commercialized area of the island. The poweline noise is extremely high in the commercialized area due to the saltwater enhancing the noise.
Post card from NA-142 Okaloosa Island
NA-085 -- Dog Island
"Dog-pedition-1"
NA-085 Dog Island. Ned Linch (as KA4AXS) operating from back of RV-4 aircraft during Field Day 2005. Working conditions were a Yaesu 897D, Buddipole and a Honda 2000w generator. All items carried in the aircraft. The only route to Dog Island is via an unscheduled ferry or aircraft landing on a remote grass runway. I was the first amateur radio station to operate from Dog Island. On June 25, 2005, I worked enough stations (US and DX) to activate the island with the US Islands program.
Dog Island (NA-085) is small and the only way to get to the island is by boat/ferry or landing on a grass/sand runway. The island has taken abuse from all the recent hurricanes. The island is very rustic and lots of junk cars dot the island. It is very difficult and expensive to bring stuff to and from this island.
Another photo looking north from my operating position on the tail of my airplane. The Honda generator is awesome for this type work and the Yaesu 897D is quick to set up and start operating. The only visitor I had for this Dog-Pedition was a raccoon.... Most of the cars in the background are junk cars left behind after being flooded during hurricanes.
I took out the back seat of the airplane to fit all my gear.
Dog Island from the air.
Dog-pedition-2
to NA-085/FL-005 Dog Island April 6, 2006
It was a beautiful day for flying and I had the day off. Why don't you fly down to Dog Island my wife suggested so I loaded my gear and headed for the airport -- Ruckel Field (FL17). Ruckel is a small private airstrip owned by a local wealthy family. The runway is turf and around 3000 feet long. I packed my Honda 1000w generator, a 12v 55Ah battery, Yaesu 897D and buddistick. I searched around and found an old beach umbrella and I was on my way. The water along the coast was beautiful and was showing why this area is called the Emerald Coast.
Dog Island -- April 6, 2006.
I arrived at Dog Island around noon. The waters were calm in the Gulf of Mexico and I enjoyed the views as I flew down the island toward the landing strip. The runway is private but the public is welcome as long as you pay the $10 landing fee and put the money in their mail box. I landed and was surprised that things were different since my last trip here in Jun 2005. The 2005 hurricane season had done a lot of damage to this tiny island. Since there are no bridges connecting the island to the mainland, removing debris is difficult. Debris was piled up in the aircraft parking area and the smell in the air was worse than a wet dog. In addition, I had sand flies flying around my head and giving me a sting. Well, this is not going to be a good dog-pedition unless I find a new operating location. So, I hiked to the other side of the island and set up my station on the beach. Since this took more time than I had planned, I was only able to operate for 2 hours. In addition, 20m conditions were extremely poor.
Planned operating position on the south side of Dog Is.
Sting Rays in the surf. I had several crusty sand crabs visit as well.
I used my chair to hold the radio and sat under the beach umbrella in the sand. I was very careful with the sand.
I set up my BuddiStick on 20m with four 16' radials. I used 3' sections of PVC with the end cut to a point and the other with a T connection. I had 32' of wire on each pipe but I didn't have time to mess around on other bands.
Radials connected at the base of the BuddiStick.
PVC pipe with T connections used at the end of each ground radial.
12v 55Ah wheel chair battery "Power Sonic"
I was on the air from 1725z to 2006z. I made multiple CQs.
The battery did well. Note: this battery is heavier and more difficult to carry than my 1000w Honda generator (which I did not even use this day).
Attempting to make contacts and not get sunburned.
One last photo after taking down the station. I used drift wood to hold the camera. I was tired and ready to fly home. 42 QSOs was not what I expected but the real reason I went to the island was to prepare myself for a trip to Haiti in June 2006. I am going on a missions trip with the local Methodist church and I plan to operate from the location of a Christian FM station, 4VEH near Cape Haitian. I'm expecting my Haiti permit soon.
