News of the development of and repairs to Tristan's infrastructure - buildings, services, roads, etc.

Moon-bounce from Tristan da Cunha

Report and photos from Lance Collister

Lance Collister in the Tristan'Radio Shack' on 19th September 2024

Licensed Amateur Radio Operators ("hams") around the world try to collect contacts with as many countries and remote islands as possible.

This becomes more difficult on the higher frequencies, such as VHF bands, where the coverage is mostly local, or line of sight. However, with specialized equipment and large enough antennas, VHF signals can be sent to the moon and back. In that way, people around the Earth can be contacted using the very faint "moon-bounce" signals which are reflected back to Earth. Nobody had ever operated EME (Earth-Moon-Earth) from Tristan before, so most parts of the world never had a chance to contact this rare and remote spot. Of course, with EME contacts, the distances from Tristan are all really about a half million miles, and it takes between two and three seconds for the weak signals to return to Earth!

Lance's aerial set up to aim VHF signals at the moon

I chose the lowest VHF band at 50 MHz to activate Tristan for the first time on EME. After trying to get here for several years, I finally was advised of a last-minute cancellation and availability of a berth on the SA Agulhas II from Cape Town. I jumped at the chance to travel down here and set up a 50 Mhz EME station on Tristan. After a couple weeks of operation, I had contacted 136 stations around the world by EME. They included the first ever stations from North America to ever contact Tristan on VHF, as well as more distant stations in Japan and Alaska. And since now is the peak of solar activity during the current 11-year solar cycle, there was an opportunity to contact another 348 stations in Europe and 2 in South America by bouncing my signals off the ionosphere.

The aerial at dusk

We did have some high winds and storms, but the weather at times was actually very nice. I was fortunate that the large antenna successfully withstood what can be very challenging weather conditions this time of year. It was a very successful trip in terms of the radio accomplishments. But it also was a fantastic visit with very friendly residents in a spectacularly beautiful place! I will miss this very unique place and its people.

Cheers! Lance Collister ZD9GJ/W7GJ

Successful re-roofing after November 2019 Storm

'All Hands Day' achieves target as three key buildings repaired
6-Nov-2019
Full story >>

Tristan represented at Small Satellite Business Conference

Chris Carnegy attends event at European Space Agency
31-Jul-2019
Full story >>

Tristan Phone Fault Rectified

Phones now working properly
17-Oct-2018
Full story >>

Baltic Trader returns to Tristan service

MV Baltic Trader's October - November 2017 voyage
14-Nov-2017
Full story >>

From Tristan to St Kilda

Galliford Try contractor Sponge Jones who worked on the Camogli Healthcare Centre is currently working on a project on St Kilda, the remotest of the British Isles.
2-Oct-2017
Full story >>

School's Hospital Artwork

Children from St Mary's School visited the new Camogli Healthcare Centre to see their artwork in place.
12-Jul-2017
Full story >>

Chief Islander's Speech at the New Healthcare Centre Opening

The text of the speech made by Chief Islander Ian Lavarello at the opening of the new hospital
18-Jun-2017
Full story >>

Camogli Healthcare Centre Opens

Tristan's eldest resident opens the new Camogli Healthcare Centre.
12-Jun-2017
Full story >>