VP6DX
Tue, 01/08/2008 - 10:36 — EA4TV
VP6D - The final countdown for the VP6DX Ducie Island team (DL3DXX, DL6FBL, DL6LAU, DL8LAS, ES5TV, K3NA, N5IA, RA3AUU, SP3DOI, SP5XVY, SV1JG,
UA3AB and WA6CDR) has started.
The team expects to reach the island at the local sunrise on 9 February and to be QRV not earlier than the local night on the 11th.
They plan to set up seven stations on two widely separated locations, with one 26m-tall vertical for 160m, five 4-Squares (80, 40 and 30m), five vertical dipole arrays (20, 17, 15, 12 and 10m) and one 5-element Yagi for 6m. Actual QRT time will be dictated by weather and sea forecasts; if conditions are good, operations will end on 28 February.
QSL via DL6LAU, direct only (Carsten Esch, Drosselweg 3, 21376 Salzhausen, Germany). Bureau card requests will be accepted only through the Online QSL Request System, which can be used for direct cards as well (see www.vp6dx.com for full information on QSLling). All of the remaining QSOs will be confirmed automatically via the bureau after 8-12 months.
"This is really quite a major serious expedition with a huge amount of hardware intended to make working 'everyone' possible", DL6LAU says. "We are doing all this to make a standout presence on the lowbands in particular, and all the bands in general. We are going to a major amount of effort to make simultaneous operation in the same band not only functional, but darn near perfect". Donations are still being sought: details on how to contribute, news, on-line logs and much more can be found at http://www.vp6dx.com
Via: 425DX News (870)
Time:
02/11/2008 - 02/27/2008
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Comments
VP6DX
VP6DX NOW QRT. After breaking several QSO records (including the most QSOs by a DXpedition), the VP6DX operation from Ducie Island went QRT at 1359z, February 27th. The team made a total of 183686 QSOs (CW - 87294, SSB - 86140 and RTTY - 10252). The complete breakdown (by band and mode), as well as the log and updates on their trip home, is available on their Web page at: http://www.vp6dx.com
ADDED NOTE: On February 21st, the Ducie Island expedition submitted data for over seven thousand VP6DX contacts to the ARRL robot. These contacts were with over 900 stations whose owners made financial contributions of at least five U.S. dollars to the expedition through February 24th.
Via Ohio/Penn DX Bulletin No. 848
VP6 - DUCIE ISLAND, OC-182
Due to bad weather VP6DX had to shut down earlier than scheduled on Feb 27 at 1359 UTC after logging more than 183.000 QSOs. This is not only the largest number of QSOs made during a DXpedition but several other records were broken as well.
This is the fabulous band/mode-breakdown of VP6DX:
Band CW SSB RTTY Total
---------------------------------------
160m 5.097 1.574 0 6.671
80m 9.756 8.592 0 18.348
40m 14.487 14.935 1 29.423
30m 10.576 0 3.699 14.275
20m 12.852 17.205 3.479 33.536
17m 11.813 16.603 3.073 31.489
15m 12.366 15.526 0 27.892
12m 6.046 7.215 0 13.261
10m 4.301 4.490 0 8.791
6m 0 0 0 0
---------------------------------------
Mode 87.294 86.140 10.252 183.686
Via DXNL 1561
VP6DX
VP6DX ---> Operations from Ducie Island began at 5 UTC on 11 February, with a little "cooking session" (1034 QSOs in four hours and a half) to check out the stations and available antennas. Continuous operations began at 3 UTC on 12 February, with 10,000+ QSOs logged in the first 16 hours.
Please have a look at the frequency table on the website, as some of them have been adjusted.
VP6DX will participate in the ARRL DX CW Contest "in a limited fashion":
- Operators are likely to pick a frequency based on band conditions, so VP6DX
might not be found on the "normal" CW frequencies on 160, 80, 40, 20 15 and
10 metres
- They will answer ALL callers (USA/VE and others)
- They will not be chasing multipliers and will not be able to handle pass
requests
- Operations on non-contest bands/band segments will continue as they have
the last few days: split operations, with priority to difficult propagation
paths.
The Online Log now contains 47,534 QSOs with 14,398 unique callsigns (latest update 6.14 UTC on 15 February), and the first QSO Statistics based on the log database are now available. It could happen that not all QSOs are in the database, because of difficulties in transferring the data from the island to the server.
Bookmark www.vp6dx.com for complete details and regular updates.
VP6DX
VP6, DUCIE ISLAND (Update). The VP6DX operation is very active and will continue until they leave on February 28th. As this was being written, the VP6DX Web site was reporting just under 61,000 QSOs. Online logs are now available at: http://ducie2008.dl1mgb.com/onlinelog/index.php
For more details on donating funds and updates, visit the VP6DX Web page at: http://www.vp6dx.com
Via The Ohio/Penn DX No 846
VP6DX
VP6 - DUCIE ISLAND, OC-182
VP6DX showed up on Feb 11 and contrary to the QRG list in the last DXNL they decided to change the frequencies on 80m/160m. The new 80m SSB QRG is 3.781 MHz and the new CW QRG on 160m is 1.826,3 MHz. The most likely times (in UTC) to work VP6DX from Central Europe are via short path:
80m: 0430-0630; 40m: 0100-0800; 30m: 0730-1000; 20m: 1330-1630; 17m: 1430-1530 and via long path on 20m: 0630-0830, 1430-1730 UTC.
TNX DXNL 1558
VP6DX
VP6D - The VP6DX team set sail from Mangareva aboard the Braveheart on 5 February, and expected to reach Ducie (OC-182) at their daybreak on the 8th, a day ahead of the nominal timeline. Once on the island, the team will set up camps, stations and antennas; all the stations are expected to start activity almost simultaneously on 10 or 11 February.
Announced frequencies are (* = QSX down):
CW SSB RTTY
----------------------------
160m 1821.3 1843.3 -
80m 3502 3784 -
40m 7002 7099 -
30m 10104 - 10139*
20m 14002 14172 14089*
17m 18072 18165* -
15m 21002 21295 -
12m 24892 24987* -
10m 28002 28495 -
6m 50105 50105 -
QSL via DL6LAU, direct only - please visit www.vp6dx.com for information on bureau cards and QSLling policy, as well as for updates, on-line logs, operating information and much more.
Via 425 DX news 875
VP6, DUCIE ISLAND (Update). By the time you read this, the VP6DX operation should be active. The VP6DX team was expected to arrive a day early on the island (Friday, February 8th) and should be done with their setup on February 10th. For more details on donating funds and updates, visit the VP6DX Web page at:
Via Ohio/Penn DX Bulletin No. 845
VP6DX
VP6 - DUCIE ISLAND, OC-182
The DXpedition to Ducie Island (OC-182) will take place from Feb 11-28.
DL3DXX, DL6FBL, DL6LAU, DL8LAS, ES5TV, K3NA, N5IA, RA3AUU, SP3DOI,
SP5XVY, SV1JG, UA3AB and WA6CDR will hit the airwaves with up to seven
stations simultaneously signing VP6DX on all bands from 6-160m. Two
separated QTHs will feature several vertical antennas (the 160m antenna
will be 26m tall) and five 4-square-arrays which should produce good
signals on the lowbands. The estimated budget for VP6DX is 200.000 US$,
so any donations are welcome. How to contribute and more information
about VP6DX can be found on their homepage: http://www.vp6dx.com
QSL cards should be sent direct to DL6LAU, bureau QSLs can be requested
via the online QSL-request-system on their homepage only. All QSOs
which are not confirmed after six or eight months will be QSLed auto-
matically. These are the frequencies VP6DX announced to be QRV (MHz):
CW SSB RTTY
160m 1.821,3 1.843,3 -
80m 3.502 3.784** -
40m 7.002 7.099 -
30m 10.104 - 10.139*
20m 14.002 14.172 14.089*
17m 18.072 18.165* -
15m 21.002 21.295 -
12m 24.892 24.987* -
10m 28.002 28.495 - * QSX down!
6m 50.105 50.105 - ** +/- QRM
Via DXNL 1557
Updates...
VP6, DUCIE ISLAND (Update). Milt, N5IA, a team member of the VP6DX DXpedition, reported on Saturday, February 2nd, that he is expected to be in Papeete, Tahiti, on Sunday, February 3rd. All the VP6DX team will be in Papeete by the early morning hours of Monday, February 4th. The team will have it's first official meeting in the afternoon after a lunch with local FO hams. The flight to Mangareva in the Gambier Islands is early Tuesday, February 5th. As quickly as possible, the team will clear immigration and customs and board the Braveheart. The Braveheart is now at dock in Mangareva. Milt has been in daily contact with Robin, WA6CDR, for the last 4 days, via 40 meters SSB. The Braveheart crew is waiting for the VP6DX. Milt states that the cruise time to Ducie is 72 hours with off loading to the island to begin at first light the morning of Saturday, February 9th (~1400z). Construction of the camps and seven operating stations/antenna systems is planned to take 3 full days. Operation, with all seven stations coming on the air near simultaneously, is anticipated to occur near sunset on Monday, February 11th (~0400z, February 12th).
The most unknown element in all the planning is the weather. Operations will be non-stop (24/7) with 7 stations for approximately 18 days. They will have 13 operators. Milt states, "Figure it out folks. That is essentially a '12 on/12 off' schedule for each operator for the entire DXpedition operating period. Shifts will most likely be in the 3-4 hour range. Eating, sleeping, personal hygiene, laundry, etc., all have to take place in the limited time off periods. This is not your normal 'working vacation'. Wish us wellness and the stamina to make it all happen." For TOPBANDERS and the low band operators, Milt recommends the reading of News Release # 9 on the VP6DX.com website. Go to: http://ducie2008.dl1mgb.com/index.php?option=com_frontpage&Itemid=1 Also, look for VP6DX to operate in the CQ 160 SSB Contest at the end of February. Milt states, "This period of time will be the prime opportunity for Topband SSB contacts with the expedition. I am looking forward to being the operator when many of the Topband contacts are made..... Please be patient and follow instructions. You will make it into the log if there is propagation. We will be operating approximately 18 days if all goes as planned." For more details on donating and updates, visit the VP6DX Web page at: http://www.vp6dx.com
TNX Ohio/Penn DX Bulletin No. 844
More info
VP6, DUCIE ISLAND (Update). A press release on the VP6DX Web site reports that last week on Sunday, Eric/WA6HHQ of Elecraft Radio flew from Aptos to Long Beach, California, in his Cessna, and met Robin/WA6CDR to drop-off K3 radios to be used on VP6DX. A new custom carnet for the radios and a few other items were prepared and stamped by Homeland Security during the last few days. Robin flew from Los Angeles via the Cook Islands to Auckland, New Zealand, Thursday night with these items. Over the weekend, Robin met with the crew and master of the "Braveheart" to inventory all loaded equipment and acquire locally the last items (e.g., beverage antenna supports). All the air and sea freight shipments from the USA and Germany over the last two months were delivered to the "Braveheart" on time, and the ship was ready to set sail. As reported in last week's bulletin, a typhoon passing through the region (New Zealand) delayed the departure of the ship "Braveheart" to Mangareva, French Polynesia. The extra day's delay in departing New Zealand should not cause any trouble: the "Braveheart" will arrive at Mangareva around February 1st or 2nd, several days before the remainder of the operating team. The press release on the VP6DX Web site states, "The ship is stuffed full of DXpedition equipment! Diesel fuel burned during the transit to Mangareva will be drawn off fuel bladders on the deck freeing up some space. We will be cramped for space when the remaining 12 operators join the crew!" The group plans to depart for Ducie between February 6-9th and hope to be on the air by February 11th. The DXpedition continues to ask for funds because of the high cost of this operation. There are 3 ways to donate funds: 1) PayPal on the VP6DX Web page. 2) Checks (USDs) sent to K3NA. 3) USA donors over 100 USDs may make a directed gift to the Northern California DX Foundation, designated for the VP6DX project. For more details on donating and updates, visit the VP6DX Web page at: http://www.vp6dx.com
TNX Ohio/Penn DX Bulletin No. 843
More info
PITCAIRN ISLAND, VP6. Yoshi, JJ8DEN is QRV as VP6PR from Adamstown, IOTA OC-044, until February 9. Activity is on 160 to 10 meters using CW, RTTY and PSK. QSL direct to home call.
TNX ARLD005 DX news