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FLASH NEWS @ 19:15z on Monday, April 21st, while Zorro was working a 40m SSB pileup, Monk Apollo SV2ASP/A called him. From their conversation it transpired that Zorro will be visiting Mt Athos on April 23rd. At this stage it’s unknown if he will QRV from there.

Zorro JH1AJT is currently active from Amoliani Isl EU-174 as SV8/KH0WF/P.

QRV on SSB.

QSL via JH1AJT.

UPDATE to our Breaking News from yesterday, courtesy N0UN http://n0un.net/

Zorro (JH1AJT) and his small work team will travel to Mount Athos on April 23rd to repair/install SteppIR antennas, and to also install a 12/13 Meter tower for Monk Apollo (SV2ASP/A). Zorro is bringing a 500 watt amplifier and a Kenwood TS480HX radio that he plans on donating to Monk Apollo before departing Mount Athos on Monday, April 28th.

Due to the special requirements for radio operations on Mount Athos, and also the major task(s) of repairing/installing antennas and a tower still ahead of the team, Zorro does not know at this time whether he will have the time or if the circumstances will allow him to operate from Mount Athos.

UPDATE to our initial Breaking News, courtesy N0UN.

Zorro’s Greek work team has returned to Greece. He is alone on Mount Athos until his scheduled departure on Monday, April 28th. Monk Apollo returned to Mount Athos today and they had a very good meeting. Zorro and his team were able to install a new tower, but the SteppIR antenna is still broken. There are two issues with the antenna. One is the SteppIR motor is intermittent, the other is the Control Box is not functioning properly. Zorro could not get the SteppIR to work as it should. More repairs will be required. In the meantime, he hung a 15 & 20 Meter dipole from the tower.

Monk Apollo plans to operate Sunday morning (April 27th) with Zorro at his side from around 0800/0900Z for one hour or so. Frequency unknown. This is all the time Elder Apollo has for radio operations as he is busy with his duties on Mount Athos. As far as Zorro operating alone from Mount Athos while Monk Apollo is tasked, that is not a decision that can be made by Monk Apollo or Zorro. There is a 20 Monk committee that must approve any and all communications operations. 14 of 20 committee votes are needed to allow any such endeavor. Monk Apollo is all for furthering the hobby from Mount Athos, but it is not his decision.