[KCDXC] Fw: [ The Weekly ] [Fwd: Cocos Island DXPedition 2002]

[ak0a]

----- Original Message -----=20
From: Bernie McClenny, W3UR=20
Sent: Thursday, February 14, 2002 9:14 AM
Subject: [ The Weekly ] [Fwd: Cocos Island DXPedition 2002]


The following press release was received from Bob Voss, N4CD, on of the =
TI9 team members.=20
For immediate release=20
February 13, 2002=20
 =20
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The Cocos Island 2002 DXpedition Team is gathering in Costa Rica and =
hopes to depart Puntarenas on Sunday, February 17, with arrival at the =
operating location approximately 48 hours later. The official radio =
licenses for all 15 participants, as well as the landing and park =
permits, have been issued by the Costa Rican authorities.=20

The DXpedition founder and leader, Henry Grunbeck, TI2HMG (TI9M), has =
assembled an international team of world-class operators for this rare =
trip. The world's largest uninhabited island, Cocos is a popular =
destination for scuba divers, but it hasn't been activated on amateur =
radio for more than five years. Although Cocos Island is territorially =
part of Costa Rica, it is a separate DXCC country with the prefix TI9.=20

Because Cocos is a nature preserve, the DXpedition visitors will be =
required to sleep aboard their ship, a 90-foot fishing/diving vessel =
anchored 1000 feet offshore; there is no overnight camping allowed on =
the island. DXing is not exactly camping, however, and the team =
anticipates 24-hour operations with four HF transmitters on all bands =
from 160m through 6m.=20

Due to the logistics involved in the 350-mile crossing to Cocos Island, =
the team can't pinpoint exactly when they'll be on the air. They =
estimate 40 to 48 hours of travel time, with a few additional hours to =
set up and become operational once they reach the island. This part of =
the trip will be no small feat: The island receives over 26 feet of rain =
per year - about an inch a day - so the first priority is setting up =
shelter and protecting the equipment from the elements. The final day of =
operations will be March 2, 2002.=20

To keep track of the DXpedition's progress, visit the website =
www.qsl.net/ti9m. The team will update the page as often as often as =
communication links allow.=20

Team members:=20

William Turney, WS4Y=20

Martino Rizzi, IK3RIY=20

Alan Homer, KI7WO=20

Larry Strain, N7DF=20

Flo Moudar, F5CWU=20

Matt De La Hunt, KA0KKO=20

Rob Snieder, PA5ET=20

Ronald Stuy, PA3EWP=20

Robert Voss, N4CD=20

William Boeckenhaupt, AK0A=20

Alan Maenchen, AD6E=20

Richard Smith, N6KT=20

Simon Gadaleta, IZ7ATN=20

Eugene Kuleshov, RK3AD=20

Henry , TI2HMG also TI9M=20



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