Update Mar,31: The helicopter didn't fly in on March 30, increasing the delay to four days. However, I didn't pack and unpack the equipment this time around. The fog was so heavy in the morning, there was no way that it will show up. After the propagation conditions got a little boost in the early morning of March 30, they were again poor this morning. Despite the fact that I uploaded the log from time to time, numerous stations kept calling for dupes. I could have easily made at least several hundreds of such contacts, but I refused to do it. The weather improved a bit, as we finally saw some blue sky in the afternoon. I am very happy for those who managed to get in the log during these extra days on the island. It makes this delay worth something. [more updates]

Update Mar,30: Internet service was restored last evening (March 29 at 23 UTC), after several days without it. Additionally, we had no phone land line either. I am still on the island, stuck here for three days now past my return date. My personal delay record for an IOTA operation is 9 days, back in 2009 for VY0O, which I hope that will remain unbeaten, hi. It was/is too much fog, freezing rain, and high wind for the helicopter to come. [more updates]

Update Mar,21: The internet service was restored around 10 UTC. This morning I had a very interesting propagation on 30 m, with the path to VK/ZL nicely opened. Not long ago there were a couple of so heavy wind gusts that the entire school building shook. [more updates]

Update Mar,21: I uploaded the partial log. During the first night, the propagation on 30m allowed contacts with central, northern, and western EU, as well as some with JA and UA9/0. During the second night, the propagation to EU on 30 was open wider, as stations from southern EU made it into the log, from YO to CT, as well as from the Baltic states, LY and YL. During this third night though, I logged very few EU stations, but the JA stations were much stronger than usual, and I could log a few VKs. A blizzard started this afternoon and continues throughout the night. The wind increased in strength, but the mast withstands it so well. It is so cold outside that if I bend the antenna wire, its plastic jacket breaks right away. [more updates]

Update Mar,19: I blew the second and last set of fuses I had, but with Adrian’s (KO8SCA) remote assistance, I was able to fix the amplifier for the time being. Let’s home that those power surges won’t be that much of a problem, otherwise this is extremely annoying. I sat on 20m for a couple of hours, but didn’t make many QSOs. The noise level is S2-3, not stellar, but not that bad. However, I cannot copy any stations anywhere on the bands, except for those calling me. If you copy me, it’s not a guarantee that I will be able to copy you! I’m still studying the actual propagation conditions. Got a couple of NA stations in the log, VE3VEE on 30m and VE7QTC on 20m. I’ll continue to call on 20 for a little longer, but I will eventually move to 30m. There is plenty of shifting ice in the Bering Strait, so the locals told me that this is something the polar bears like, and they may come in and go out at any time, hi. Since the heaviest noise level is on 40m, I may keep using 30m through the night, since if I’ll change it to 40m and the band isn’t good, I’ll have to go back again and move the antenna to 30m. I only made two QSOs on 40m this morning, so 30m has been so far the best operating band right now.

Update Mar,18: Made it to the island very late in the day. After organizing everything I was able to run some 30m in the night. The noise level was high, S7, but after midnight dropped a bit, to S4-5. The 30m conditions appeared to vanish, I wanted to move to 40m, but the blizzard was too strong, and I decided against going out. This morning I moved to 40m, but the noise level is very high, S9. I made a couple of contacts, after which the amplifier died on me. I tested everything possible, and my guess is that there must have been a power surge. I have spare fuses, but if this happens again, I won’t be able to use it anymore. I will move to 20m at 17 UTC, starting in CW first. I’m still testing conditions, but the noise level seems always very high. Many stations are calling fast, making it virtually impossible to pull out their callsigns, because of the polar propagation conditions. I’ll keep going.. [more updates]

Update Mar,17: The flight from Toronto to Seattle was uneventful. I arrived on March 16 at 9 pm, and spent the night on the airport. I had to check-in by 3 am, and will all the luggage it didn’t make much sense to go to one of the airport hotels, only for a few hours of sleep. On March 17, the flight from Seattle to Anchorage departed at 6 am, and from there, to Nome, where I arrived around 11:30 am. All luggage arrived too, in apparently good condition. There are about 4,000 people in Noam, and the little city appears buried in the snow. There is at least 50 cm of snow everywhere, but there are cars here and there on the streets road completely covered in deep snow. Temperature is around -15C. I spent most of the afternoon and evening in the company of Ramon, AL7X, wo lived here for about 55 years. I want to check with the heli company for tomorrow’s flight to Diomede, but when I phoned them I only got their answering machine. A pre-recorded message indicated that I need to be at their hangar at 1 pm. I will try to get in touch with them in the morning, in order to check on any update. [Read more updates here]

Update Mar,2: The only way to reach the island is by helicopter, and the helicopter flight schedule from Nome to Little Diomede and back obliges me to remain on the island for full 9 days. I recommend that those interested in this project should visit the expedition website at http://ve3lyc-kl7-na150.weebly.com where I will continue to update. My logistical plan considered operating from the village for a total of 6 days, which offers open propagation path to AF, AS, EU, and OC, and setting up camp away from the village for up to 3 days, in order to offer services to NA and SA. This is necessary due to the presence of a very steep and high volcanic hill right behind the village, which obstructs propagation to NA and SA. I am in touch with my contact on the island several times per day, and he informed me that yesterday the ice pack between the two Diomede islands broke, and confirmed this morning that all the ice between the island has been swept away due to warm weather and ocean currents. In this of this, it seems less likely now that I will be able to reach either the northeastern or south eastern edge of the island by pulling a sled over ice. There isn’t currently any ice, although a cold freeze could occur at any time. In view of the above, I am now looking at climbing that hill in winter, in order to setup the second camp on top of that hill. The risk of encountering wildlife on top of the hill is less likely, but going up the hill, with all the radio gear, camping equipment, and provisions will be far from trivial. While I am looking very seriously into this option, the expression of interest from NA chasers received over the last week is not nearly as high as I originally estimated. Please note that the length of activity from the remote site will be commensurate with the interest expressed by chasers from NA and SA. Best regards, Cezar, VE3LYC

Cezar, VE3LYC will be active as VE3LYC/KL7 from Little Diomede Island, IOTA NA - 150, 18 - 26 March 2019. He will operate on 40 - 17m CW, SSB. QSL via VE3LYC direct, ClubLog OQRS.