August 2023. A family visit to the Plaka Lighthouse at the northeast end of Lemnos takes place. From there you can see to the north, the huge mountain of Saos (Moon) on Samothraki Island and further east Imbros, which is just a breath away. This is how the idea of activating the lighthouse was born in the context of World Lighthouse Day… but the following year…
September 2023. A coffee with my friend (and Elmer) Stratos SV8SXD had a unique topic of discussion: how we could organize a “mini” expedition to the lighthouse. At the same time, I am trying to convince my friend Pantelis (SV8SYI) from Mytilini (Lesvos Island) to come to Lemnos for a few days for a family vacation. I tell him my thoughts…. My friend Pantelis, it was so easy to convince you (Hi Hi).
October 2023. One of my first CQ calls on CW, straight key, on 40 meters, had an unexpected answer: SV1DAY… the hyperactive, unfiltered Manos and later my advisor in the CW Academy courses. In the following period, the questions were many as were the discussions mainly with his friend Kostas SV8GGI, who without hesitation shared his knowledge and his experience from similar events he had organized and participated in the past. Of course, I cannot forget the valuable advice and motivation of Takis SV1FWV.
July 2024. The process of submitting the papers to issue the special call has started. What call did we request? We decided on this together with Stratos and Pantelis. After 5 days we had the license in our hands. To our great surprise, this was unexpectedly fast! So what now???? We had to get the call on the air. Our initial plan was to use batteries and have two transceivers and two laptops. The stay time would be limited to 3-4 hours in this case. It was enough for us. We would make our contacts and drink some ouzo, after diving in the waters of Lemnos. And somewhere there, the transfer of the summer took place! Manos SV1DAY, in a beautiful meeting in Volos, decided to participate in the activation of the Lighthouse. Along with his experience, he brought a generator, useful equipment, and of course an insatiable appetite. So the 3-4 hours could become many hours of continuous CQ with of course some protection from the sun.
August 16, 2024 Just one day before the event. The four operators are in Lemnos. We did a final reconnaissance of the place we would set up, and we are ready. However, Merphies Law strikes and our friend Stratos could not come with us due to an unexpected illness…..Stratos, you need to know that we feel as if you were with us!
We managed to work on SSB and CW modes for about 20 hours and made 651 contacts in 52 different countries!
August 17, 2024. Early in the morning. Under very strong winds of 7-8 Bf, the three of us try to erect the first antenna on a 12-meter mast. Unfortunately, it is impossible. Luckily we had Plan-B and… C. So an End Fed was mounted on a 7 meter mast and a multiband mobile antenna on the roof of a car.
Additionally, we installed a cloth to protect us from the hot sun. We used an adjacent chapel to protect us from the wind. This made our long stay in the field most dignified.
SZ1A offered us 3 Low power Band Pass Filters. This helped us to work without QRM and protected the front end of our two transceivers. We also want to thank our friend and regular visitor of Lemnos, Vassilis SV1VN, for the kind sponsorship of a ten-meter coaxial cable (POTA Flex 7). His offer was valuable.
We managed to work on SSB and CW modes for about 20 hours and made 651 contacts in 52 different countries!
Many people visited us during our stay there. They learned and saw firsthand the joy and usefulness of ham radio.
The moments we spent together cannot be captured in photos or videos. The intensity of the pileups, the difficulties you try to solve at that moment, is a unique experience. The enchanting landscape with a view of the imposing Lighthouse and Samothraki and Imbros islands will be unforgettable.
Thanks to everyone who listened and answered our calls and especially those who took some time out to spot us, and to SZ1A for donating the BPF filters and especially everyone who visited and saw us in action.
Equipment
- 1 Yaesu FTDX 10
- 1 Yaesu FT-891
- 1 End Fed
- 1 multiband mobile Komunica HF Pro 2
- 3 Bandpass filters 40-20-15m
- 1 CW key Begali Expedition
- 1 CW key Bamakey
- 1 generator Honda 1KVA
Operators of J48PLH
- Pantelis Klidaras (SV8SYI) – Lesvos island
- Manos Chalaris (SV1DAY) – Athens
- Stratos Imvriotis (SV8SXD) – Lemnos island
- Kostas Manolis (SV8SXF) – Lemnos island
QTH
- Lighthouse Plaka in Lemnos Island
- Lemnos Island EU-049
- ARLHS GRE-107
- ILLW GR0012
CU AGN SN 73 De SV8SXF
Links
Note: This article is writtten by Kostas Manolis SV8SXF. RAAWG - SZ1A hosts these kind of articles with great pleasure. We are waiting for yours. In this case we had an additional reason: one of the members of the J48PLH team was Manos SV1DAY, who is also one of our members...
