Obtaining a ZD8 licence

• If you are a licence holder of a European, North American or any English speaking nation, a copy of your home licence is all that is required. If you are of a non-English speaking, non-European nation, I would recommend bringing an English translation of your licence. This is not strictly necessary but ensure that there are no problems with your application.
  
• There is only one class of ZD8 licence so no matter what your home licence class, you will receive a 'full' Ascension Island licence.
  
• Licences are issued by the Island Administrator through his office in Georgetown. 'Alberta' is the lady to speak to on +247 7000 or via email. Licences must be issued in person however Alberta is normally prepared to reserve a specific callsign so you can publicise your operation before arrival. This is a courtesy she is by no means obliged to do. I would recommend not ordering QSL cards until your licence is signed by the Administrator. The fee is £16.
  
• Ascension Island is a Region 1 country [bandplan] with the maximum transmit power allowed being 100W. A special permit is required for 60m band operation with application through the Island's frequency clearance procedures. This can take up to 4-weeks to obtain.
  

Getting here--See the Island Administrators website for full details.

Places to stay

There are no radio clubs, ham shacks or similar facilities. The Obsidian Hotel in Georgetown is however accustomed to visits by Radio Hams wishing to erect antennas. Accommodation is available through Obsidian as follows:-

• Main hotel - Room 14 is perfectly located on the ground floor at the hotel rear with plenty of open ground behind for antennas. The main hotel area also has wireless 'broadband' access provided by Cable & Wireless with charges of £10 (~$18) per day however off-island bandwidth is overloaded and data throughput is typically 5-20 kbs.
  
• Garden Cottage located high on Green Mountain, it enjoys fantastic views to the horizon from west thru' north to east. The mountain rises some 500' behind the cottage to the south making contacts in this direction poor. The mountain is far cooler than Georgetown although it can feel very damp in winter time. There are plenty of trees around the cottage for wire antenna supports. Access is via the steep and twisty mountain road which with a 20-minute drive to the nearest restaurant/bar makes a hire car and some degree of self-catering essential.
  
• Hayes House, Clarence House or the main hotel Annex are less suitable for Ham Radio operation as the antenna space is limited and dividing walls between rooms insufficient to dampen the radio noise.
  

Useful info

• There is no mobile phone network--hurray! Obsidian Hotel has an Internet station and limited broadband available through WiFi in the main Hotel building. Telephone calls to the UK/US are typically £1 ($1.80, e1.50) per minute.
  
• Mains power is 240V/50Hz with UK standard plug/sockets everywhere except at the American installations which is 110V/60Hz with US standard plug/sockets. Many US power supplies work fine are 110/240V however beware of using 110V extension cables/power blocks at 240V as some contain capacitors/surge arrestors which are liable to overheat.
  
• RFI can be a problem, particularly from the HF broadcast station which pumps out 1.5MW just 6km away from Georgetown. The problem is usually caused be receiver overload which is easily removed by use of the attenuator button or single band band-pass filters. There are no trees or other suitable antenna supports in Georgetown, so you need to bring these along. Adjacent to Room 14 of the hotel there is a short length of lattice mast with 2" post rising 2m.
  
• There are no ham shops and very limited electrical or hardware sources so bring everything you need.
  
• The sun is exceptionally fierce from mid-morning to late-afternoon and can burn unprotected skin in 15-minutes. There are small numbers of mosquitoes which carry nothing harmful but can be a nuisance outdoors during evening/night time. For both these hazards, you need to bring potions/protection as required.