ARCS trip to Telok Melano, Sarawak.

Date: 17th September 2018
Station involve: 9W8CH ,9W8PTS, 9W8JJJ, 9W8MED, 9W8JAM, 9W8GAD, 9W8JIP, 9W8LIM, 9W8TIM,9W8LWM, 9W8ECO,9M8WAT

ARCS short trip this time went  to Telok Melano Village in Sematan District. The location not far from Tanjong Datu, the farthest west point of Sarawak land. The group was gathered at Moyan Square before going up to Bau Town, then meet up with our guide for the trip (9W8GAD & 9W8JAM). The journey took 2 hours and 180km distance. All the way, all station tried do simplex from time to time, because distance among vehicle, the respond was very good.

From SematanTown, the distance to Telok Melano was 25km, the road still 30% under construction and mostly already been asphalt. All station really enjoy the trip and rag chew in frequency.

The main purpose of this activity is to gathered few station and meet new club member. During at Telok Melano, we set up a HF station for test 9W8CH homebrew  wyre dipole 40m antenna. Running with 'barefoot' , he manage to contact one station from 9M2 land (cannot remember the call sign) with report 3/3. 9W8JIP, manage to contact with YB7IJM from Kalimantan Selatan with report 5/9, +10bd. 

Set up station only takes 30 minutes with few station working together and know their role when to set up, this also one of indirectly emergency exercise from time to time. By 1330hrs, we're packing up all the station and move to Sematan to have a late lunch.

During journey back to Sematan Town, 9W8JJJ jalopy had a problem with the fuel station, and luckly 9W8JAM already stnby all the way if any jalopy had a problem along the journey. 9W8JJJ jalopy can driven all the way back home without any arise problem along the way . The group separate, after the lunch and going back to Kuching city with small group of vehicle. 

The one day trip was very interesting for those who first time to Telok Melano, this is because the road just open to user from mid of this year. The scenery by the beach was awesome and we cannot wait till sunset. The village had provided a home stay for visitor who want to stay overnight.

9W8JAM & 9W8PTS , once arrive at the beach

Resting before set up a HF station

Setting up wire dipole antenna (40m wire antenna)

As always, 9W8GAD, our strong man when come to setting up antenna. Thank's GAD

9W8JIP, 9W8CH & 9W8MED.

9M8WAT tunning the antenna using LDG auto tunner. get 1:1 SWR

9W8CH under a very hot & shinning sun that day

9W8MED secure the portable pole. Very easy to set up 

9W8CH, trying to make some contact

Few kilometers of the road still under construction 

9W8JJJ jalopy, had a problem on the way back, thank's to 9W8JAM and group to make a short repair. Not a major problem

Crossing Samusam river

ARCS committee wish thank you to member club who join this program. We hope in future, will be more member club this kind program.We hope in future ARCS committee will organize a big convoy to others part of state in way to introduce this hobby to public 

LAYAR CYCLING CARNIVAL 2018

Date: 30th August - 2nd September 2018

Venue: Betong Division

Stations Involved : 9W8CH ,9W8KIF, 9W8JJJ, 9W8ROT, 9W8MAD, 9W8STK, 9W8LTZ, 9W8SIM, 9W8JSJ, 9W8GAD,  9W8JIP,  9W8LTC,  9W8CTT, 9W8JAM, 9M8WAT, 9W8MED, 9W8PTS

This is the second year that ARCS is involved with Layar Cycling Carnival. ARCS provided communication support for this cross country cycling event of approximately 100km. After setting up our temporary repeater for the event, all stations carried out signal checks along the cycling route. The terrain was challenging with many hills and valleys making signal coverage challenging. After some adjustments to the repeater position and identification of locations that could reach the repeater, we appointed one station to stay as a relay & report station during event. With 15 stations involved, we manage to cover the entire area and assisted the organizers along the race. This event also trained amateur stations how to handle big events and any emergency situations in future.

Set up a temporary repeater lead by 9W8CH, assisted by 9W8PTS, 9W8KIF, 9M8WAT. Location, highest ground not far from the cycling route
 

Time to setup, less than 30 minutes

Repeater antenna (F23H) on pole height 34 feet

Stations drive off from Kuching, 250km from the event location

Happy faces and ready to serve (Thank's 9W8JJJ, for photo)

ARCS mastermind for the event (9W8KIF)

Briefing session and distribute station to the location and mobile station 

The most important moment, refill energy after run a signal test for three times , the day before event. Thank's to the Gengsurai long house

Before start the event.....ready to serve

At start & finishing line

9W8JIP with his slim jim homebrew antenna, 5,9 all the way

9W8JJJ, also with homebrew slim jim at his mobile station. middle in the jungle

9W8JAM, with his mobile station, at Sg. Langgit junction. 150m ASL

Podium team after 2 hours cycle through hilly terrain

Pit stop at 9W8JAM point

ARCS strong man , 9W8GAD, after disassembling the repeater 

Happy faces after duty, 9W8GAD,9W8ROT,9W8CTT, James

9W8KIF with event organizer

see you in 2019....73....

  ARCS committee wish thank's to all station that involve in this event ,especially to YB Gerald Rentap Jabu and Tuai Rumah Gensurai for provide us place to stay and meal along the event . We hope in years to come, there will be many more stations that will join for such activities. This activity, will train amateur station indirectly how to coordinate in many situation. Feedback from organizers - they really appreciated what ARCS had done during the event, and hope will assist again in years to come.

FRIENDSHIP THROUGH AIRWAVE

SATANG BESAR ISLAND 2018 DX-PEDITION

DATE  : 28th-30th July 2018

VENUE       : Satang Besar Island (OC-165)

CALLSIGN :9M8RC

OPERATOR: 9M8ADX, 9M8WAT

This year only two station able  go to dx-pedition at Satang Besar Island (OC-165). The dx-pedition , injunction with RSGB IOTA Contest. On the first day, setup antenna only focus on 10m,15m,20m and 40m. Mode operation only on SSB. Antenna to use is Multi Band (tribander) 10,15,20m. For 40m, the station using wire antenna that in slopper position and focus to west. The propagation for that date was very bad, and only have a little  bit window open for 15m. 20m and 40m. The dx-pedition took place for the fourth year since 2011. For this time, we very lucky because can see turtle laying eggs during night and early morning.       

In charted boat with 40hp, it only take 45 minutes to reach the island

In front of the Satang Besar Island

Unloading all the equipment ,under a hot sun

Set up HF antenna (hex beam) before replace by multi band yagi

Spacious house for dx-ing

Dx-ing on the beach, what a lovely moment

9M8ADX, concentrate dx-ing on 15m & 40m

Lucky dx-pedition watch turtle laying eggs, in middle of the night

9M8ADX, won't miss the moment

Before departure back to mainland (OC-165 to OC-088)

Very beutiful & clean beach

Good bye Satang, see you on 2019

For Dx-pedition this year, we manage to get 30 station for 24 hours operation. The propagation was very poor during that time. The weather was fine for the two nights. ARCS Committee hope in year 2019, will more station will join the dx-pedition and gain experience in HF

73

de 9M8WAT & 9M8ADX