Mountain Breeze is primarily a couple and family vacation spot – a place to relax, enjoy the people, views, food and fun of the Caribbean. In addition, it is also home of Signals From Mountain Breeze – an amateur radio station.
Amateur radio is a national resource of licensed radio station owners and operators. The operators are licensed by the Federal Communications Commission in the U.S. and equivalent national governments in countries around the world. Often referred to as “ham radio”, the service’s purpose is to foster international good will, provide emergency communications and advance technologies. As you might imagine, on an island the emergency communications function is particularly vital.
”Signals from Mountain Breeze” is operated by George, radio call sign NP2N. It is a premier amateur radio station equipped with multiple transmitters/receivers, an amplifier, antennas and on site electrical generation capability. The radio room is in the lower level of the main house, with a private entrance and is fully air conditioned (although on nice days and evenings, you might like to use just the ceiling fan)!
To learn more about amateur radio, visit the website of the American Radio Relay League: http://www.arrl.org/
Some Details for Licensed Amateurs
If you are a licensed radio amateur, you are welcome to use the station. Note this is not a contest station – Signals is a DX station designed for those who like to DX, rag chew or want to try DXing in an easy, fun way! The station may, however, be used for contests if you choose. Do keep in mind the villa is a shared facility and hams always have courtesy for the neighbors.
“Mountain Breeze" is located about 100 meters above sea level with wonderful antenna views to EU, USA and Asia to the north!
License Note: All operators licensed by the United States are qualified to operate from St. Croix in the United States Virgin Islands. You will operate portable KP2, NP2 or WP2 (your choice). Operators licensed by other countries may operate if their country of license has a reciprocal operating agreement with the United States. For additional licensing details for international amateurs, see this website:
http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/regulations/io/#foreign
The equipment and antennas
Please note: Signals is under constant improvement and update. Contact George at NP2N@arrl.net for the latest updates and information regarding access to the station, equipment and antennas currently available. Follows are some photos and descriptions of the station.
Station 1: The “Pro
Station”
This is a station for the
serious operator and contesters. It consists of an
Icom 757II, Ameritron AL 1280 legal limit amplifier
and associated peripherals.
Station 2: The “DX
Station”
The fun station for the operator
who wants ease of operation combined with the fun of
operating as DX! The station is an easy to use Kenwood
440.
Station 3: The “Fun
Station”
If you just want to have fun,
try out QRP from a DX location or spend as many hours
as you wish rag chewing around the world, try the Fun
Station! The station is a no hassle Alinco DX70. It can be
operated from 5 to 100 watts, so you can pick your power
level and start the pileups or the rag
chew.
Antennas at
Signals
The current
antenna compliment consists of a 33 foot, US Towers crank
up tower with an AS – 3, 3 element beam for 10/15/20 meters
and an Alpha Delta trapped dipole for 40 80 and 160 meters.
There is also a standby 40 meter and 80 meter dipole for
use. Note, the crank up tower is left in the down position
and the dipole(s) are removed. It is a simple, 1 hour
operation to install the dipole(s) on the tower (in the
down position) and crank up the tower. The antennas system
is always being improved – contact NP2N for the latest
antenna update and watch for upgrades and
additions!
To Operate
Signals
To operate Signals, in general, plan on about 1 one hour
set up.
MOST IMPORTANT: Be safe – never ever climb the tower or
place any part of your body inside the tower. There is no
need to do this and you must never do it!! Safety is rule
ONE!
Please note that George NP2N will not be on the Island when
you are operating. You will have the rigs, antennas and
equipment exclusively for your use! George will be
available via phone, email and radio to talk over any last
minute details and questions you might have. Your on site
hosts Mony and Eric Westerberg are not hams. They will do
all they can to make your stay enjoyable but they do not
have knowledge about the radios – that will be one of the
fun parts of your stay – the easiest setup of a DX station
ever!
Your first job will be to remove the coax and pulley rope
from their stored position on the tower (using diagonal
cutters to cut the cable ties) and install a dipole on the
Dipole Arm of the tower (using the rope pulley system from
the ground – no climbing!).
Dipoles are stored in the radio room to protect them from
weather. The newest dipole is the Alpha Delta 40/80/160
meter trapped dipole. There are also dipoles for 40 and 80
if you chose. End ropes for tying off the dipoles are also
stored in the radio room.
There is a Kevlar rope and pulley system. Just remove the
protective tape from the coax connect, connect the coax to
the center conductor and pull up the pulley rope. With the
dipole installed and the coax/rotator cable spread out on
the ground, crank up the tower. If you’ve never had a crank
up tower, you will be surprised about how easy it is. Just
remember the first rule – BE SAFE – never put any part of
your body inside the tower and NEVER climb the tower!
As the tower is cranked up, make sure the coax and rotor
cable is sliding up the tower as it rises. It is nice to
have a second person to keep the cables and dipole from
tangling. Nice but one can do it.
When the tower is raised, simply tie off the dipole ends to
trees (for best results, use an east/west orientation).
Inside the shack, you will need to uncover the rigs and
plug in the rigs you will be using. Connect the two antenna
coax leads to the antenna switch, turn on the master AC
power switch, tune (dummy loads for each rig) and join the
pileups – from the DX end!
Computers at Signals
There is currently a cable connection for the lap top you
brought. It is routed from a wireless internet connection
and is shared at the Villa. Remember, you are on an Island
– do not expect a T1 connection and there may be service
interruptions. Watch for future upgrades of the computer
system!
A Shared
Villa
Mountain Breeze is a shared villa. Please expect to share
the air and space with the other residents, cooperate in
interference reduction and be considerate of non hams at
the Villa!
Contact George NP2N@arrl.net for more information.
