MERRY XMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR....and Bouvet is coming!

 

             Keep your fingers crossed!

Sadness

My intention with this post is not to infrorm. It is just to exprees my deep sadness.

February 3, 2018, 2000 UTC: During the last 72 hours, we continued to experience the high winds, low clouds, fog and rough seas that have prevented helicopter operations since our arrival at Bouvet. No improvement was predicted in the weather forecast for the next four days. Then, last night, an issue developed in one of the ship’s engines.
This morning, the captain of the vessel declared it unsafe to continue with our project and aborted the DXpedition. We are now on our long voyage back to Punta Arenas. As you might imagine, the team is deeply disappointed, but safe. There is already talk about rescheduling the DXpedition,
Bob, K4UEE
Ralph, KØIR
Erling, LA6VM

With these words, the most important dxpedition of all times has been aborted. We all wish to the crew safe jurney back home.

Happy new year!

Let us hope that  top band  will not be the only usable band in 2017.

Propagation is dying, dxing not....

As the 24th cycle  declines rapidly there is not much propagation left to revive the bands. And it will keep going that way for several years until the 25th cycle shows up. Under these difficult conditions two major dxpeditions are taking place right now: The number 4 (FT4JA ) and number 5 (VK0EK) of the most wanted countries in the clublog list.

 VK0EK (too much cold)

 Having them in the log is hard work, especially for VK0EK, but the job is done after all. In my opinion it will take a while to have such fun again. So dxers of the world enjoy!

FT4JA (too much heat)

VP8STI-VP8SGI: The expedition of the year!

This is not just an other expedition. It is an epic adventure giving ham radio a clear positive feeling. After a lot of difficulties the first step of the expedition completed successfully. As I am writing these lines they are traveling to South Georgia for the second step. Our thoughts are with them. They suffer a lot to give to the rest of us the opportunity to work them  from our warms shacks. This is truly an extraordinary act and we all owe them full respect . So god bless you fearless children of Braveheart! Keep going...

DXing never dies

This is the Willis island. VK9WA is the last dxpedition that keeps us busy. In spite of the DQRM and the low propagation that are present in recent  dxpeditions,  it still has a lot of fun. It is a challenge to work them but it worth it.The photo is just a proof of how crazy old men can be.  Good luck to the crew and the ones that follow in upcoming events. They keep the hobby alive and all of us who are involved very happy!

Working 9M2TO

9M2TO is a very active station transmitting from West Malaysia. I have made several QSO with him in many bands and modes since 2008. But on 2nd of June of this year I had the chance to work him in magic band. It is the only far east station I managed to work this year! That was, of course, a singularity of this great band during a poor propagation conditions. Actually I haven't get his QSL card yet. However today I got an other kind of confirmation even more valid. Log of the world!! Rodriguez island as well.

If predictions of future solar activity would turned out to be true, these QSO are probably the last ones.