[OKDXA] Cocos Island DXped

[okdxa@mailman.qth.net]

The following press release was received from Bob Voss, N4CD, one of th=
e TI9 team members.
For immediate release February 13, 2002




The Cocos Island 2002 DXpedition Team is gathering in Costa Rica and ho=
pes to depart Puntarenas on Sunday,
February 17, with arrival at the operating location approximately 48 ho=
urs 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.
The DXpedition founder and leader, Henry Grunbeck, TI2HMG (TI9M), has a=
ssembled an international team of world-class
operators for this rare trip. The world's largest uninhabited island, C=
ocos 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.

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

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 add=
itional 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 an=
d protecting the equipment from the elements. The
final day of operations will be March 2, 2002.

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

Team members:

William Turney, WS4Y
Martino Rizzi, IK3RIY
Alan Homer, KI7WO
Larry Strain, N7DF
Flo Moudar, F5CWU
Matt De La Hunt, KA0KKO
Rob Snieder, PA5ET
Ronald Stuy, PA3EWP
Robert Voss, N4CD
William Boeckenhaupt, AK0A
Alan Maenchen, AD6E
Richard Smith, N6KT
Simon Gadaleta, IZ7ATN
Eugene Kuleshov, RK3AD
Henry , TI2HMG also TI9M


ed:  This announcement oughta REALLY fuel the fires & the "Sour Grapes"=
 attitudes of the
     Costa Rica Radio Club.  Shame on Henry for not asking for their bl=
essings. lol

     Most of the time, it's easier to make things happen WITHOUT asking=
 permission from
     the "Holders of the Keys to the Island".  Same sentiment applies t=
o Mt. Athos et al.=