Hi Members of TVARC’s MailList (especially those interested in chasing rare DX),

As the excitement is building on the HF ham bands for the imminent start of the “Bouvet Island DXpedition” (3Y0J), I thought I’d share some of my preparations for the safari hunt to bag at least one confirmed contact with this rare DX entity (Bouvet Island, as many of you know, is the second most wanted DX location).  Due to this rarity, you’re going to need all the help/tricks you can muster to bust through the anticipated, huge, pile-ups of stations trying to contact 3Y0J.  So, see below, for my list of preparation step and tips that you may find useful.

IMHO, the single most important tip on that list is to setup and use the “Ham Alert” system.  This DX alerting system runs best using the HamAlert apps for mobile devices (Apple iPhones/iPads; Android smartphones, etc.).  Its web-based interface (via your computer’s browser software) is the easiest way to configure it.

Happy hunting for 3Y0J,

73,
Tony/K4QR

TO: FILE
FROM: Tony Hackenberg/K4QR
DATE: February 1, 2023 at 11:18:15 EST
SUBJ: Bouvet Island DXpedition (3Y0J February 2023)
=====================================================

DXpedition: The Bouvet Island DXpedition [February 2023]
" Call sign: 3Y0J
DXpedition's home page: https://www.3y0j.no/
" Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/3093983840726129
" QRZ.com  page: https://www.qrz.com/db/3Y0J

Contact info for Bouvet Island DXpedition 2023 (3Y0J):
  [Ref: https://www.3y0j.no/]
Via web-based form:
https://www.3y0j.no/contact
Via snail-mail:
3Y0J DxPedition
Amateur Radio DXpeditions
Org number 927 550 954
HARRVEIEN
1481 HAGAN
NORWAY
email: [email protected]

DX Alerting Systems:

  There are many avenues available to get alerts/notifications (spots) about DX stations.
  
    (1) "Ham Alert" is, by far, my (K4QR's) most favorite way of getting alerts about DX!
  HamAlert is my "go-to" spotting service @ https://hamalert.org .
"About HamAlert
    What is HamAlert?
HamAlert is a system that allows you to get notifications when a desired 
station appears on the DX cluster, the Reverse Beacon Network, SOTAwatch, 
POTA, or PSK Reporter. No need to keep checking these resources manually 
if you're looking for a certain callsign, DXCC, CQ zone, IOTA island, 
SOTA summit or WWFF/POTA reference." [Ref: https://hamalert.org/about]
See details below regarding how I setup my "trigger" in HamAlert for
the upcoming Bouvet Island DXpedition (3Y0J).
  
  (2) DXclusters (websites that aggregate world-wide spots) are very useful.
  My two (2) favorite DXcluster sites are:
  DXwatch   @ https://www.dxwatch.com/  ; &
  MyDxSummit @ http://www.dxsummit.fi/#/ ;
 
  (3) Chat Sessions/Groups (devoted to providing DX spots) are also very helpful.
  My favorite DX chat session is "Villages Spot" on Microsoft's "GroupMe" service
  @ https://web.groupme.com/chats > "VILLAGES SPOT"
  This chat group is limited to club (TVARC) members 
  who register to join it & then use it to actively provide DX spottings
  that go out to all the other registered members of the chat group;
  Contact: Frank Molloy (KA1AF);
  Frank is a TVARC member & the admimistrator for "Villages Spot";
  So, contact him if you're interested in joining this chat session;
 
  Setup of K4QR's "Trigger" in HamAlert for Bouvet Island DXpedition 2023 (3Y0J)
  [Ref: https://hamalert.org/triggers]
Callsign: 3Y0J
Band: HF
Mode: SSB, FT8
DXCC: 024
Spotter
DXCC: 291
CQ Zone: 5
Actions: App, SMS
Comment: K4QR Trigger: Bouvet Island DXpedition (3Y0J; Feb ~5? thru Feb ~26?, 2023) 
DXcall=3Y0J Spotter DXCC=291(USA) & CQz=5(ENA)
DXCC info for Bouvet Island DXpedition (3Y0J):
 [Ref: https://www.arrl.org/files/file/DXCC/2022_DXCC_Current.pdf]
Prefix Entity Cont ITU CQ Entity Code
3Y* Bouvet AF 67 38 024
QRZ's additional info regarding Bouvet Island DXpedition (3Y0J):
 [Ref:  Ref: https://www.qrz.com/db/3Y0J]
Grid Square Locator: JD15QN *
Location: Cape Fie, Bouvetøya
[* There's some confusion @ QRZ.com regarding this DXpedition's Grid Square: 
Is it JD15qn or JD15rn ?]
IOTA: AN-002. Group Name, Bouvet Island.
Ref: https://www.iota-world.org/islands-on-the-air/iota-groups-islands/group/116.html
POTA: The park [Bouvet Nature Reserve] has the designation LA-2524
Ref: https://pota.app/#/parklist
SOTA: Olavtoppen, Bouvet Island, 3Y/BV-001
Ref: https://www.sotamaps.org/
World Clock for Bouvet Island DXpedition (3Y0J):
  A searchable World Clock is available from TimeAndDate.com at --
  https://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/;
  and plugging Bouvet Island into its search box, you'll get to this 
  World Clock for Bouvet Island --
https://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/@3371122/;
DX News sites to keep you informed about DXpeditions, including the 
  Bouvet Island DXpedition (3Y0J):
DXWorld.net's 3Y0J DXpedition page -
https://www.dx-world.net/3y0j-bouvet-2023/
DXWorld.net's link to Timelines for various DXpeditions (including 3Y0J)-
http://www.hamradiotimeline.com/timeline/dxw_timeline_1_1.php/
DXNews.com's 3Y0J DXpedition page -
https://dxnews.com/3y0j/
DXNews.com's link to Calendar of various DXpeditions (including 3Y0J) -
https://dxnews.com/calendar/
Propagation Predictors (tools to help you predict/guess when the Propagation
"gods/goddesses" will simile on us and open up a RF pathway between your QTH
and the desired DX station's QTH):
There are several such propagation forecast tools.
My favorite is the "Voice of America's" one [VOCAP]:
VOCAP [Voice of America's propagation predictor]-
  Overview:
https://www.voacap.com/
  Propagation Tool/App:
https://www.voacap.com/hf/
  User Manual:
https://voacap.blogspot.com/2017/05/voacap-online-point-to-point-p2p-user.html

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