This is Bill, W2BWL. I and my wife come to Antigua at least annually and stay at the Siboney Beach Club (info@siboneybeachclub.com). It's right on Dickenson Bay, so propagation over the salt water is good. The owner, Tony Johnson, and his staff, have welcomed my amateur radio operation every year.

The USA and others have reciprocal licensing agreements with Antigua. Arthur Bird (arthur.bird@antigua.gov.ag ) from the Telecom office has been very helpful. The real Antigua and Barbuda license is rather colorful. Here's the application link:  www.telecom.gov.ag/Amateur%20Form.pdf

While Siboney may not (or maybe it could) be your choice for a rough and tumble DXpedition, your wife will love it. Many people come back year after year. It has a beautiful and secluded tropical garden and pool, as well as an excellent classic restaurant right on the beach. (Dickenson Bay has arguably the best beaches on Antigua.) I enjoy casual radio operation there while on vacation, but I can also choose to have fun managing some DX pile-ups.

Antenna's View from Roof ---- Balun/RG-213 Feed ---- IC-7000 with IT-100 and Gamma PS

Siboney's hospitality includes an antenna that's installed on its roof overlooking the water for complimentary use by visiting hams. (Being right on the beach seems to be like having an amplifier.) Carlos or other staff can pass down the feedline to many of the balconies of the hotel. (Just make sure you reserve both the antenna and your room at the same time, for obvious reasons. Ask for Lorraine. She will set this up.)

Also understand that the Siboney people are not antenna experts. We are. So the antenna comes with no warranty, but it should work just fine. Besides, there are two Radio Shack stores on Antigua if all else fails.

The antenna has no coils. It's a trapless fan dipole (modified Alpha-Delta) for 40, 20, 15 and 10 meters fed by heavy RG-213 cable and a Palomar choke balun. One section is half wave on 40 meters so it works well on 15 meters, being about 1 1/2 wavelengths there. I was surprised at the easy contacts I made on 17 meters.

Bring your transmatch. My IC-7000 with an IT-100 "Autotuner" loads everything from 40 meters to 6 meters without problems. I'm particularly fond of night time 40 meters from here, and hearing many voices from the Caribbean on 7188 about 7 am on the "Friendly Net."

I have also perfectly loaded up the antenna and made some contacts on 75, but this misapplication of a 40 meter dipole is lossy.

Pack your portable rig, a PS and a transmatch in with your beach stuff and have fun on Antigua! We do.