Successful DXpedition to Herm Island

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The Martello Tower Group are very pleased to report that their inaugural DXpedition to Herm Island was a great success.

DXPedition organiser Keith, G6NHU said "Everything went to plan and we exceeded our initial QSO target by over 30% despite the fact that HF conditions weren't favourable. This was our first group trip away and we are very satisfied with how everything went."

The group activated Herm Island which is part of the IOTA EU-114 group using the callsign GP0PKT for four days at the beginning of last month.

Keith added "We've already decided that we're going back in 2013 and will stay for longer, take more people, have more aerials, more stations and run more power.

The DXpedition was sponsored by Kenwood, Icom and Hamtests who all loaned equipment for which the group are very grateful.

All QSOs have been uploaded to LoTW. The QSL manager is G6NHU.

A full report can be seen at the group's web site of http://martellotowergroup.com/gp0pkt/

Clipperton Island DXpedition

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The March 2013 DXpedition to Clipperton Island has received the callsign TX5K to be used during the operation.

With the addition of Luis/XE1L, Dave/WJ20, and Giovanni/I5JHW, the team has 23 members. One space remains available for another operator, scientist, or other supporter who wishes to join the DXpedition.

We are proud to announce that the QSL Manager will be Bob, N2OO. Offsite team member Dean, N7XG, is developing new software to help automate some of the operations at the QSL manager and his team.

The expedition will use DXA, the system that enables real-time Web display of the log data, first used on Kure Atoll K7C 2005, to provide confirmation of valid QSOs in about 1 minute after they are made. We will also make use of ClubLog and LoTW.

The DXpedition will be active on all HF bands and modes for about 10 days. In addition to the radio operations, the team will carry out numerous scientific projects of environmental science, especially involving studying invasive and undiscovered species that have potential for catastrophic disruption of the Clipperton ecosystem. The team will study vortex winds produced by the island, and will document foraging by congenitally deformed birds. Advisor Robert Pitman reports that a significant portion of the masked boobies are deformed and apparently are fed by their parents their entire lives.

The DXpedition is very pleased to acknowledge a personal gift from a<br />world-famous ham of 10,000 USDs. While preferring to remain anonymous, the donor hopes that his gift will stimulate others to support the project. A particularly interesting activity will be the real-time Internet video connection with students.

After the expedition the students will write essays for a compendium to be titled 'Saving the World, by We the Students.'

The publication is designed to be the first of a series of 'Saving the World, by...' The team also will collect and remove plastic debris from the island. You can help in these efforts by making a donation through the link on the Web site.<br /><br />Complete information about the project is available on the Web - http://www.cordell.org/CI

Conway Reef DXpedition

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The 3D2C team has arrived (4 October 2012) in Suva from our return voyage from Conway Reef. The group made 71,693 contacts from Conway Reef.

QSL cards will be in the mail in late November. We will upload to LoTW within six months.

The group are very grateful to all of our equipment sponsors, including ICOM and ACOM, and appreciate all of the financial support from INDEXA, NCDXF and all club and individual sponsors.

The equipment, now in storage for our next project, hoping to activate other rare South Pacific entities next year.

The 3D2C 71693 QSOs breakdown are as follows:

  • 39829/CW
  • 30608/SSB
  • 1054/RTTY
  • 10/SSTV
  • 192/PSK31

Continent breakdown:

  • 33%/AF
  • 25.21%/AS
  • 37.25%/EU
  • 33.33%/NA
  • 2.73%/OC
  • 1.15%/SA

QSL 3D2C via YT1AD, direct (w/SAE or SASE + 1 USD for normal postage, 2 USDs for Airmail), by the Bureau or use the OQRS on the Web page.

For more details and updates, visit the 3D2C Web page - http://www.yt1ad.info/3d2c/index.html