[SADXA] Fwd: Malpelo 2012 DXpedition update !

[Keith Schlottman, KR7RK]

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Bob Allphin <k4uee at comcast.net>
Date: Sat, Dec 17, 2011 at 11:19 AM
Subject: Malpelo 2012 DXpedition update !
To: kr7rk at arrl.net


Dear Members of the Southern Arizona DX Assn,

I wrote to you some 90 days ago about the upcoming DXpedition to Malpelo.
With only about 30 days to go, I felt it was time for an update as some
things have changed since asking for your support earlier.  It has become
apparent that there will not be another DXpedition authorized for Malpelo in
the foreseeable future.  So, we have decided to go all out!  The team has
been expanded to 20 members representing six countries.  Many are
experienced DXpeditioners with credentials including VK0IR, A52A, FO0AAA,
K5K, 3Y0X, K5D and many others.  Additionally we have decided to increase
the number of stations from 6-7 to 10.  Most significantly, we now have the
option to stay for as long as 17 days, if funding is available.

The dates are pretty firm.  We expect to arrive on the island on Jan. 21,
2012 and begin operations immediately.  Four members of the team will travel
to the island in late December and have the mission to erect the operating
sites, infrastructure to support twenty people for 17 days, and erect all
the antennas and stations.  This is a huge sacrifice on their part as they
will be on the island until our departure on Feb. 7 th. It is likely they
will be QRV prior to the main team arriving.  SEE: www.hk0na.com  for a
complete list of operators.

The team will be QRV on 160m-6m, CW, SSB, and Digital modes.  Elecraft will
be supplying the team with eleven K3 transceivers and five new KPA 500
amplifiers.  Alpha will supply three of their High Power 8410's amplifiers
for use on the low bands and DX Engineering will supply many of the antennas
to be used. We plan to have two operating sites and as many as ten stations
QRV on open bands/modes. One of the operating sites will be placed near the
summit of the island with antennas to cover the areas of the world that have
been blocked on previous DXpeditions. Our antennas will be strategically
deployed to maximize our signal and to ensure DXers worldwide will have an
opportunity to work us.

With the addition of more days, more operators, more radios and more power
our costs have escalated accordingly. The operating team is providing 58%
($110,000+) of the total cost anticipated.  The team is hopeful that the DX
community-at-large will contribute the remainder of the needed funds.  This
includes contributions from DX foundations, DX clubs, corporate sponsors and
individual DXers.

So, please consider a generous contribution to this project. Everyone who
supports the DXpedition will be listed and properly thanked on our website.
Larger contributors will have their logo displayed on the website and QSL
card, along with the call signs of large individual contributors.
We encourage you to visit the Malpelo 2012 DXpedition website
(www.hk0na.com) and donate via the PayPal link. It's free and easy. You can
contribute with a major credit card, AND you don't even have to have a
PayPal account to do it! If that is not convenient, you may print the
contribution from provided on our website and mail a check or money order.

If you choose to use the mail, be sure all checks are made payable to: Bob
Allphin/Malpelo. And, remember to indicate on the "for" line: "Malpelo
Island 2012".

Please mail all contributions to:
Bob Allphin, K4UEE
4235 Blackland Dr.
Marietta, Ga. 30067

Thanks in advance for your support.

CU in the pileups from HK0NA
73, K4UEE