[South Florida DX Association] TX5C

[Bill Marx]

Thanks to John K1XN

73,
Tony N2MFT

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TX5C   DX NEWS
    Date: Sat Mar 1, 2008 4:03 am ((PST))

We've been at sea now for two days.  The weather is perfect and the seas are 
quite calm.  On our first day out we were visited by a coast guard cutter 
(see photo section <http://www.clipperton2008.org/dxpedition/photos.htm>) 
who came along side but did not board the Shogun.  The team is in great 
spirits and we're all well and having a lot of fun.

We put up a vertical antenna mounted on the upper deck with elevated radials 
yesterday.  Within an hour or so we got our Icom ProIII setup and 
operational in the galley.  Bill, N2WB made our first contact on 20 meters 
as FO5A/MM to VE6OA at 2206utc 2/28/08.  By the time we all turned in 
yesterday evening, we made a total of 1000 contacts on 20ssb and 40cw.

As of 6:00am pst this morning, our position was 27 19 north, 115 20 west, 
traveling at 9.5 knots.

This morning, we were successful in making our first satellite internet 
connection and uploaded some initial photos to our photo section and sent 
and received a few emails.  In true ham spirit, we did what they said could 
not be done...connect to the satellite while in motion.  We had an excellent 
connection and now expect to be able to update our website daily before we 
get to Clipperton...so keep watching THIS PAGE!!

Many of our team are keeping personal journals which can be accessed via the 
OPERATORS <http://www.clipperton2008.org/operators/operators.htm> 
page...just click on any operator's picture to view their journal.

At 2200z, the Shogun and the team were 1000 nautical miles from Clipperton 
Atoll at 26 04n 114 56w.