Archive - July 2018

Radio Amateurs members of Russian Robinson Club will be active as RT65KI from Idlidlya Island, IOTA AS – 065, 19 – 25 August 2018.

QSL via UA3AKO, ClubLog OQRS.
Pilot – EU7A.
QTH Locator – AP37ob.
WLOTA LH – 2266.
RDA – CK – 08.

Log upload planned on daily bases via the Satcom IRIDIUM GO (TNX RL3AA).
Due to complex and expensive logistics we need your financial support. PayPal address is [email protected]. Please include your call sign.
For those who supported us before expedition starts RT65KI QSL cards will be mailed primary without any additional payment (of course if QSO in log!).

There were no activity from this IOTA group over the past 26 years

The full log from this last few days activity on Great Blasket Island has now been uploaded to M0OXO OQRS.

The Log name is ”EJ0DXG EU-007 GT BLASKET”

So far there have been no surprises, everything is on schedule.

As you may recall, we are using the same Elecraft radios and amplifiers as the recently completed KH1/KH7Z Baker Island DX-pedition. Some people were concerned that the short turnaround time could be a problem. We’re happy to report the following:

On Friday, July 20^th the Baker Island Elecraft equipment was delivered to the factory in California. Elecraft will inspect, test, and refurbish the 8 K3s / KPA 500 stations.

We will also have 4 team owned high power amps for use primarily on the low bands. We will collect the equipment from Elecraft on about August 3^rd. Our other equipment is already in California or will be brought to California by K3EL and K5GS.

On August 2^nd Gene K5GS, Dave K3EL, Walt N6XG, Steve W1SRD, Mike WA6O and Chris N6WM will meet in Northern California to begin the process of integrating the equipment, testing and packaging for shipment to Braveheart in New Zealand. We will use the same shipping cases as KH1/KH7Z.

We will meet with members of the Baker Island team to discuss their experience, especially with FT8.

We will have 3 BGAN terminals on the island thanks to the Intrepid DX Team (Paul Ewing N6PSE) for loaning us their Hughes 9201 BGAN. The lineup will be one Wideye Sabre 1 BGAN and two Hughes 9201 units. We will integrate and test the BGANs in California. Bob Schmieder KK6EK (Cordell Expeditions) is also loaning us equipment for the project, including all the laptop computers which have been refurbished by Steve W1SRD.

While underway aboard Braveheart we will send position reports using our Garmin inReach device. From the island we’ll be posting regular updates to Twitter / Facebook, and sending Press Releases to the DX bulletins. We think the use of Twitter / Facebook will minimize the usual Internet rumors.

Unless they bring their own satellite device, team members will not have access to their personal e-mail accounts while on the ship or the island. Team member families and the Chief Pilot will have our private BGAN e-mail address during the project. We expect to send some photographs from the island but the cost of about $6(USD) per megabyte will limit the number (size) of the images.

VP6D was issued a permit by the Pitcairn Island government to collect plant and soil specimens that will be sent to the National Antarctic Scientific Centre of Ukraine for their climate change research.

Financial support continues to build, with many DX foundations and clubs already onboard. We’re still waiting for a few clubs and foundations to respond to our request for support. If your club / foundation is not on our sponsorship list (VP6D.com) please contact the officers and ask for their support of VP6D.

In the next few weeks we will be announcing some exciting project details.

Thanks for your continued interest in VP6D.

Team Ducie 2018

Radio Amateurs members of 599 DX Group will be active as PS1S, from Santana Island, IOTA SA – 077, WLOTA L – 0714, ARLHS BRA – 062, DIB – RJ – 06, 26 – 30 July 2018.

Team – PU4ALZ, PY2VTC, PY2ZA.

They will operate on 80 – 10m CW, SSB, Digital modes, including activity in RSGB IOTA Contest, 28 – 29 July 2018.

QSL cards will be available via M0OXO OQRS

From EI9FBB – ”Delighted to add Martti Laine OH2BH to this year’s line-up of speakers at DX Féile 2018. Martti will present ‘Kosovo – a NEW DXCC entity’ along with the latest Z66X DXpedition.

Martti OH2BH completes the programme and will present alongside Don Field G3XTT, Jeremy Sheehan EI5GM, Sebastien Poulenard F5UFX, Declan Craig EI6FR, Enda Broderick EI2II and Franz Langner DJ9ZB.

From Martti OH2BH;

”The Kosovo International Friendship Consortium, Z66X, will activate Kosovo once again beginning July 19 through July 30th with emphasis on FT8 Digital from 80m through 6m and utilizing the recently released DXpedition mode version 1.9.1, downloadable from https://physics.princeton.edu/pulsar/k1jt/wsjtx.html