[ADXA] [Fwd: [DX-NEWS] South Sandwich / South Georgia Post Expedition report]

[Earl]

FYI !!
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-------- Original Message --------
Subject: South Sandwich / South Georgia Post Expedition report
Date: Mon, 18 Feb 2002 00:25:37 +0000
From: James 9V1YC <jamesb@pacific.net.sg>



17 Feb 2002


The 2002 South Sandwich - South Georgia DXpedition is now officially over,
and all operators are back home safe and sound.  The DXpedition achieved all
its goals, and results were absolutely outstanding.

For those that may be interested, here are some facts:

1.      The expedition made 70,428 QSO's in total using SSB, CW and RTTY.

2.      On-air time was 80 hours at VP8THU, and 7 days, 10 hours at VP8GEO.

3.      Operators were EI5IQ, EI6FR, HB9ASZ, K0IR, K4UEE, K5TR, N5KO,
PA3FQA, VE3EJ, W3WL, W7EW and 9V1YC.

4.      At Southern Thule Island, South Sandwich, VP8THU (59'27" S, 27'25"
W) station location was at the Hewison Point Peninsula.  Stations consisted
of four Kenwood TS50's and Force 12 vertical dipoles (single element only -
not dual) for each band 10m-20m. The lower bands of 30m and 40m were simple
1/4 wave verticals with two elevated radials each.  There was no 80m or 160m
operation, and we had no amplifiers.  Power for radios and heat was provided
by six tiny Honda 1KW generators - model EU10i, and logging was by four old
Dell Pentium 133 laptops.

5.      Weather at South Sandwich was as expected, with high wind, snow,
rain and temperatures hovering around 0 deg C all the time.  Access to the
island was rather dramatic and was accomplished by jumping one by one from a
heaving zodiac onto a slippery, penguin covered rockface. This was followed
by a steep, and rather dangerous 40 foot climb up a cliff. A human chain
then ferried all equipment up the cliff-face to the peninsula summit.
Departure 4 days later was the reverse, and was accomplished by jumping (one
by one) off the cliff face into the zodiac during a 55-knot snowstorm and an
8-foot swell.  'Terrifying' is the best word to describe our departure.

6.      At South Georgia, VP8GEO (54'10"S, 36'45"W) we were active for
exactly 7 days and 10 hours using six Kenwood TS50's stations and the same
single element vertical antennas.  One AL-811 amplifier was brought ashore
to provide 400w on 80m and 160m, but all other bands were at 100w.  Station
location was at Husvik Bay where we were assigned the manager's house at the
old whaling station.  As planned, a few of those 7 'active' days were spent
off the air enjoying the island and hiking through some of the most
beautiful Antarctic scenery on Earth. The return voyage from South Georgia
to the Falklands was rough and unpleasant, with 25 foot seas and a very
'green' team of DXpeditioners.

7.      QSL routes are as follows:

         VP8THU is via VE3XN
         VP8GEO is via VE3GCO

Logs are with the manager, QSL's have already been printed, and cards are
now rolling out.  At this time we do not have a website or an on-line log check.

8.      As mentioned in our only press release in December, this DXpedition
was meant to be a challenge - to both to DXers at home, and to us. For DXers
at home it was a challenge to work harder and figure out just how to bust a
pileup from such a weak-signal operation. For us it was an experiment in
low-power lightweight DXpeditioning from environmentally tough location, and
to see if 'mega-expedition' results could be achieved with 'micro-light'
equipment.  Over 70,000 QSO's with all parts of the planet (and to ALL
levels of stations) prove that its good operators on both sides of a pileup
- not fancy equipment - that really count.

9.      Many thanks to the Northern California DX Foundation for making this
DXpedition possible.  Thanks also to the incredibly talented crew of the R/V
Braveheart, whose skill at handling rough seas and dangerous landings was
simply astounding.

And of course, from all of us on the "Micro-Lite Penguins DXpedition Team"
thanks to all the DXers at home who made the extra effort to work us.

(Full writeup will appear in the usual magazines, and stay tuned for two
really cool videos coming out soon).

73

James, 9V1YC




-- 
Earl F. Smith - N5ZM
PO Box 20065
White Hall, AR  71612-0065