Update October 29, 2024: Wow, the contest was fun again. Amazing high band conditions except for those likely CME related periods of no propagation from my part of the world. Remember, I need 3-5 hops to take part in the party. The low bands were a no show on day one but a little better on day two. No QSO on 160m, not even ZL or VK. The weather was hell here with rain and very gusty winds. I did a SOAB low power again but assisted this year. All the time I was eyeing the battery status. With no sun at all the battery would not fully rechage. Together with those CME related noise only periods I did not manage to repeat last years result. I ended up with 400+ Q’s less. The contest was great fun nevertheless. 

Update October 25, 2024: Spent a bit more time to tune the 160 m antenna at 1835 kHz. I was CQing during my greyline but only two ZL’s were calling. I could see EI4KF CQing  in FT8.

We erected the first lattice tower. It first a first for me to erect a tower with a tractor. We have a hindge on the ground and can lay the tower down. This was done without antenna as we first had to attach and adjust the guy wires. It was very windy again and we were a bit nervous until we had the guys attached.

The posts for the guy wires for tower two were concreted into the ground.The tower base comes next. The local pub only opens a few days per week and we had a pre-contest dinner planned.

Some folks asked me about living costs on Chatham. It is very expensive here since climate is harsh. Average temperatures are around 12-15 C during the day, constant wind and it rains horizontally. So fresh food is difficult to grow and most is brought in via airplanes –> $$$. But see for yourself the prices in one of the two grocery stores on Chatham.

Otherwise I’m getting ready for the CQWW SSB contest were I will be SOAB LP.

Update October 21, 2024: 
– We run into problems with the welding lugs on the tower segments not fitting. We have to redo them or the towers wont be straight.
– We removed the anker post for guy wires of the tube towers that we took down. They were in the way to erect the lattice tower.
– Built a base pole for the 160m vertical. Assembled the vertical and guy wires. It was too windy in the evening to erect the vertical alone. I will have another pair of hands tomorrow. Look out for me on 160m around my greyline (06:20z & 16:45z).

Update October 17, 2024: 
– The hexbeam is working again. It wasn’t the coax run.
– The 80m vertical is back in business and working as well. I made 90 EU’s on 80 during my sunset.
– We also worked on the lattice tower segments. They are used ones and we cut out dodgy/rusty areas and welded them back together. The first tower is ready. The second one will be welded tomorrow. The tower bases are prepared and painted. If weather plays game we do the foundations tomorrow.
– Radio activity is on the side and therefore mostly in FT8.

Update October 16, 2024:
– The hexbeam installed in 2023 has bad SWR. It has to come down for inspection. I hope it’s not the long coax run.
– The lawn moving around the 80m vertical cut of a lot of the radials at the vertical base.
– We started preparing lattice tower segments but more welding work has to be done to remove rusted parts.We found a pre-loved NUC which I got set up this late evening so I can do FT8 on the side when doing other jobs.

Holger, ZL3IO will be QRV on HF Bands from ZL7DX station in Chatham Islands on October 15-31, 2024.
He will participate in the CQ WW DX SSB Contest as ZL7IO.

QSL via M0OXO.