W1AA To Activate Dumpling and Historic Lighthouses

W1AA/  Dumpling Rock QSL cardK1VV and N1DT plan to activate Dumpling Rocks (USA 1321) and Historic (USA 247) Lighthouses on Saturday July 7, 2007 from 7:00 AM EDT (1100 UTC) until about 2:00 PM EDT (1800 UTC).

Whitey, K1VV notes that he and Don, N1DT will begin operations on 75 meters around 3996 kHz plus/minus 5 kHz. “We will go to 40 phone after we run 75 phone dry,” he writes. On 40 phone, look for W1AA between the nets. “Tune for us around 7234,” adds K1VV.

They’ll be on 20 phone later in the morning above 14270. “If we experience QRM, we will QSY above 14310.” If band conditions allow, Don and Whitey will also try 17 meters, around 18150, then they’ll return to 40 phone about 1500 to 1600 UTC, again, around 7234 kHz.

Morse code operation will be conducted roughly on the half hour, on 7035, 10116, 14035 and 18080 kHz, plus or minus QRM.
“We should be able to access the RF packet node so we will be posting our spots on the DX Summit. But we would appreciate any spots,” Whitey adds. See http://oh2aq.kolumbus.com/dxs/hfdx25.html .

DX QSLs are via the W1 Bureau and stateside are via W1AA please with an SASE. A photo of the Dumpling Rock lighthouse will be furnished. “Remember that the postal rates changed on May 14, 2007, so make sure you have enough postage on your SASE,” writes K1VV.

A two-story, stone dwelling was erected on Dumpling Rock at the west side of the entrance to Buzzards Bay. It held a lantern on its roof and was first lighted on October 19, 1828. In 1888, the Lighthouse Board announced that the structure was in such bad condition that it would have been a “waste of money to give it further repair.” Instead, a new wood-frame dwelling, 26 by 34 feet, was built on the old foundation in 1890. A square wooden tower was attached to the house, with a lantern containing a fourth-order lens. A terrible hurricane in 1938 destroyed the house. In 1942, the remains of the lighthouse were removed and a skeleton tower was erected in its place, exhibiting a flashing green light. The automatic light at Dumpling Rock remains an active aid to navigation.

–Thanks, K1VV and Lighthouse.cc

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