27 December 2025 A.R.I. DX Bulletin
No 1808
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*** 4 2 5 D X N E W S ***
**** DX INFORMATION ****
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Edited by I1JQJ & IK1ADH
Direttore Responsabile I2VGW
>>> KP5/NP3VI: DESECHEO 2026 <<<
In collaboration with the Vieques Island Amateur Radio Club (NP3VI) and
the Manyana DX Foundation, KP5/NP3VI is expected to be "a landmark DXpedi-
tion" to Desecheo Island, currently ranked as the 14th most wanted DXCC En-
tity worldwide.
Located approximately 13 miles off the west coast of Puerto Rico, Desecheo
Island has not been activated since 2009. This operation represents the
first Puerto Rican-led DXpedition to KP5 in 48 years, following the historic
KP4AM/D activation in 1978.
Plans are to deploy two self-sustained RDUs (Remote Deployable Units) pro-
vided by the Manyana DX Foundation. The deployment window is 12-14 January,
weather permitting. Once deployed, the DXpedition is expected to operate 24
hours a day for approximately 30 consecutive days, until the scheduled re-
covery date. The stations will utilize state-of-the-art remote operating in-
frastructure from Remote Ham Radio (RHR). KP5/NP3VI will be QRV on 160-6
metres CW, SSB, and FT8 (always MSHV, never F/H). Club Log's Live Stream
feature will be enabled. QSL via M0OXO.
The equipment is currently undergoing extensive stress-testing at the
KP4AA contest station in Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico. This QTH is located on a
hill overlooking the Caribbean Sea and sits just under 30 miles from
Desecheo. Signal characteristics should closely resemble what the DX commu-
nity can expect from KP5. The station is operating using the KP4ES callsign,
and DXers worldwide are encouraged to look for KP4ES on the bands and help
the remote operators gain experience managing large pileups and long operat-
ing schedules.
The station will remain on the air until 29 December, at which time the
team will disassemble the equipment, perform a thorough cleaning and prepare
it to comply with the strict biosecurity protocols required prior to trans-
portation to Desecheo Island. Remote operator training will continue using
KP4ES from the Palmas RHR station in Puerto Rico.
More information and updates can be found on
https://desecheo2026.com/kp5/
and
https://www.facebook.com/people/Desecheo-2026-Dxpedition/61585525894897/
9A - To celebrate their 15th anniversary, members of the Croatian Flora
Fauna ARC (9A1WFF) will be active as 9A44FF and 9A44FF/p between 1
January and 31 December. See
https://www.qrz.com/db/9A44FF for in-
formation about the Anniversary Award.
DL - To commemorate the centenary of the first Kurzwellentagung - the
landmark convention for German shortwave enthusiasts held in Jena
on 16-17 January 1926 - the special callsign DF100KWTJ will be
active between 1 January and 31 March. QSL via the bureau.
DL - The DARC Team SES will operate five special callsigns at various
times throughout 2026: DA100LH, DL100LH and DK100LH for the 100th
anniversary of Lufthansa Airlines; DA100TV and DL100TV to cele-
brate 100 years of television in Germany.
G - Using vintage equipment manufactured by KW Electronics Ltd from the
mid-1950s to the 1970s, the GB8KW multi-operator station will be
active again over the "KW Weekend" (3-4 January) from the Cray
Valley radio club's HQ in Eltham, England. Other special callsigns
are expected to be activated by collectors and restorers across the
UK during the month, notably GB2KW from Scotland.
HH - Members of the Radio Club d'Haiti will be active as 4V1L on 1-31
January. The special callsign memorializes Marie-Jeanne Lamarti-
niere, who fought alongside her husband during the Haitian Revolu-
tion. QSL via N2OO; QSOs will be uploaded to Club Log.
HK - Christoph, DF3TJ is active from Colombia as HK4/DF3TJ until some-
time in January. "There will also be activations of HK0/DF3TJ from
San Andres (NA-033) and Providencia (NA-049) on short term notice",
he says. All QSLs via ON5JC.
J3 - Rikk, WE9G will be active as J38WG from Grenada (NA-024) on 1-16
January. This will be a SO2R (Single Operator 2 Radios) activity on
160-6 metres, mostly FT8 with some CW and SSB. "I might also do
some POTA", he says. QSL via Club Log's OQRS, LoTW, or via WE9G.
PJ7 - Giovanni IZ2DPX as PJ7/IZ2DPX, and Flavio IW2NEF as PJ7/IW2NEF will
be active from Sint Maarten (NA-105) on 13-21 January. They will
operate SSB and FT8/FT4 on various bands. Additionally, side trips
to St. Martin are also being planned, with limited operations as
FS/IZ2DPX and FS/IW2NEF from a mobile setup. QSL PJ7/IZ2DPX and
FS/IZ2DPX via Club Log's OQRS, LoTW, or via home call. QSL PJ7/
IW2NEF and FS/IW2NEF via Club Log's OQRS, LoTW, IK2DUW (direct, or
via bureau to HE9ERA). [TNX IZ2DPX]
W - The Straight Key Century Club's annual on-air event, commemorating
the club's founding in 2006 and celebrating the original instru-
ments of early radiotelegraphy (straight key, bug and cootie keys),
will run on 2-31 January. Look for K3Y to be aired from the ten US
call areas (K3Y/0 through K3Y/9), plus /KH6, /KL7 and /KP4. Infor-
mation on the event and QSLing instructions can be found on
https://skccgroup.com/k3y/k3y.php.