Archive - September 2024

3Y0K Bouvet (2026)

18th September 2024
This is a challenging project logistic wise where vessel and helicopter must be coordinated, and the contracts placed sufficient time ahead.
 
We have studied various offers for boat and helicopter services, in line with the scope of this project. Due to the postponement from 2025 to 2026 we also had to renegotiate the terms. We are now in the final stage of negotiating the vessel and helicopter contracts for the 3Y0K Bouvet Island DX-pedition anticipated for 2026 www.3y0k.com <http://www.3y0k.com/> We have agreed on the important price elements in these contracts, and will release more info once we have all details completed.
 
For now we aim to fully finance this trip upfront. This is a major DX-pedition where we also team up with a small private group to share the cost and risk for this DX-pedition. In addition the funding of this trip significantly depend on us building a team of 20 operators to finance the budget. We’re 14 operators and are actively looking for another 6 operators to complete the team.
 
As we are approaching the final stage of the negotiations we are again reaching out to anyone who wants to join our team to participate in this one in a lifetime adventure. We estimate to stay around the island for 21 days and the total duration should be around 40 days.
 
Should you wish to join our team please contact [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> or Cezar VE3LYC directly. For Peter I we are still looking for another 3 operators before the team is complete.
 
73, 3Y0K team

Amateur Radio Dxpeditions (ARD)

18th September 2024
Join or Renew Your Membership with Amateur Radio DXpeditions! 🎙️
 
As we look back on an exciting and productive year, we invite you to renew your membership or join our growing Amateur Radio DXpeditions (ARD) community!
 
Whether you’re a seasoned radio amateur or just getting started, ARD offers the chance to be part of dynamic DXpeditions and new projects, with members both in Norway and internationally.
 
This year, we completed 3Y0J our DXpedition to Bouvet island, merged with the LA Afrika Group, and are currently preparing our next Dxpedition to Namibia (V55LA).
 

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IOTA QSO Matching (via Clublog)

18th September 2024
For those of you who use Qso matching to retrieve IOTA Matching via Clublog please note the following change.
 
On the IOTA Website, you previously navigated through your Profile – Add Qso’s from Clublog – Login Credentials.
At that point you went to the next stage by entering your own Login and Password for the Clublog website. This now is no longer the case.
 as outlined above but now you need to enter a one-time ”Application Password” (available from the Clublog website). Once you have copied and pasted this App Password into the field on the IOTA page, continue as normal.

So, in short you don’t use your Clublog Password anymore.

I have attached a couple of screen shots that show you where to find the Application Password on Clublog, it’s very easy. See below; 
 

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Solar Cycle 25 continues to surge

18th September 2024
Solar activity continues to intensify. In August 2024, the average monthly sunspot number exceeded 200 for the first time in 23 years, almost doubling the official forecast:
 
The current solar cycle (Solar Cycle 25) wasn’t expected to be this strong. When it began in Dec. 2019, experts predicted it would be weak like its immediate predecessor Solar Cycle 24. Instead, Solar Cycle 25 may be on pace to rival some of the stronger cycles of the 20th century. Already in May 2024 we have experienced a century-class geomagnetic storm with auroras sighted in the South Pacific, central America and south Africa.
 
The last time sunspot counts were this high, in Sept.-Dec. 2001, the sun was winding up to launch the Great Halloween Storms of ’03, which included the strongest X-ray solar flare ever recorded (X45) and a CME so potent it was felt by Voyager at the edge of the solar system. A repeat is not guaranteed, but current sunspot counts tell us it’s possible.
Years from now, we may look back and realize that 2024 was the maximum of Solar Cycle 25. Or not; the original “official forecast” predicted Solar Max would occur in July 2025. Either way, we probably have at least 2 more years of high solar activity ahead.
Image; A composite view of sunspots in Aug. 2024. Credit: Senol Sanli
 
Credits to spaceweather.com

3D2Y Rotuma

18th September 2024
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – September 3, 2024
 
Our shipment arrives in Fiji
At about 0900z this morning the tracking devices attached to our shipment came on-line in Nadi, Fiji. The 330 Kg shipment left Atlanta by truck for LAX on August 24 and departed LAX on August 31 on Qantas Airfreight for Fiji via Auckland NZ, and Sydney AU.
 
Shipment by air freight is expensive shares Gregg W6IZT. To minimize shipping costs, the team will be carrying 2 ea. K3s, 3 ea. KPA500s, laptops, the StarLink terminal, and other gear as checked or carry-on baggage.
Our equipment will be picked up from customs in Nadi and placed in storage by our agent in Fiji in preparation for the trip by boat to Rotuma. The boat runs between Suva, Fiji and Rotuma about once per month. Our shipment will be picked up in Rotuma by our on-island representative for storage at our operating location. The team arrives November 15.
 
This DXpedition is a partnership with Youth on the Air (YOTA) encouraging youth participation and will feature three young operators who will be active on the Island while there will also be 60 or more hams operating remotely using W6IZT’s NexGenRiBs over Starlink.
We will be signing 3D2Y, not 3D2Z as previously planned.
Funding raising efforts continue for the November DXpedition.
Please consider supporting the 3D2Y Rotuma DXpedition. Visit our website for details: rotuma2024.com <http://rotuma2024.com/>
 
We hope to see you on the bands, the op on the other end is likely a young ham experiencing the thrill of a DXpedition pile up for the first time!