Archive - October 2024

Today this was posted by the team going out to Namibia. Hopefully they will be on the air this weekend for some fun chasing them. Good luck and safe trip my friends.

V55LA Namibia
Dear All,
Our team has been working tirelessly to prepare for this exciting adventure, and we’re pleased to share that the flight tickets are confirmed, our QTH in Namibia is secured, and some of us are updating our vaccinations to ensure a safe journey.
We’re also proud to unveil our brand-new V55LA logo, beautifully designed by our longtime friend, Miguel EA5ZD. Stay tuned for more updates as we continue to finalize our preparations.
DXpedition Dates
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Departure: 30th October 2024
Return: 11th November 2024
During this period, the V55LA team will be active on all HF bands (CW, SSB, Digi), with a particular focus on the low bands. Our team consists of experienced operators skilled in “human modes”, so you can expect to hear plenty of activity on both CW and SSB throughout the expedition where it is needed for most of you.
Our goal is to make contact with as many operators as possible so Digi will be run too of course, and we’ll be doing our utmost to make this a memorable and enjoyable DXpedition for everyone.
Meet the Team
Rune – LA7THA (Leader)
Gjermund – LB5GI
Erwann – LB1QI
Svein – LA3BO
Morten – LB8DC
Chris – LA8OM
Philipp – OE7PGI
Svein Jarle – LA9KKA
Torvald – LB1FI
(Additional operators to be confirmed soon!)
Stay Connected
Our dedicated V55LA webpage is live! We’ll be regularly updating it with new information as the DXpedition date approaches. Visit us here:
https://www.ardxpeditions.com/dxpeditions/v55la
QSL Information
We are delighted to have Charles Wilmott (M0OXO) as our QSL Manager. QSL policy will be detailed soon.
Support Us
If you’d like to support our efforts, donations are warmly welcomed! Please send contributions to our PayPal address:
donations@ardxpeditions.com
We can’t wait to embark on this journey and look forward to making contact with as many of you as possible!
Warm Regards,
The V55LA Team (2024)

This coming weekend – 17th to 19th October 2024 – Hinckley ARES are helping out with a couple of our local scout groups with their Jamboree On The Air (JOTA) and Jamboree On The Internet (JOTI) weekend. This is where the beavers, cubs, and scouts get chance to gain their communication badge while learning about amateur radio. We have planned some fun activities for them and we have a Special Event Station (SES) call which we will be using to encourage the attendees to speak with other JOTA stations, some from around the world and not just in the UK.

We will also be using the call outside the event to test the antennas and equipment before letting folks loose. So look out for GB2HBB – Hinckley, Bosworth, Burbage scouts – and please do give us a call. A QSL card will be available via our QSL manager Charles (M0OXO) on his OQRS system and we will show the card when we have the proof of design.

GB2HBB – Hinckley, Bosworth, Burbage scouts –  Fox Covert Scout Camp, Kirkby Mallory, Leicestershire.  Locator; IO92ho  Worked All Britain;  SK40

What a cracking weekend. Didn’t start well with both mine and Charles’ (M0OXO) flights being delayed, causing us to be late in arriving at the hotel – well 19:00 rather than 18:00 – but that didn’t stop us from enjoying the local hospitality and beers. Dave (EI9FBB) collected us from Dublin along with Philip (DX6SP) and Tomi (HA8RT) who were giving a talk on their recent trip to Guyana 8R7X, but more on that later.

So after late arriving aircraft we got on the road for the 2 1/2 hour journey to Ennis in the south of the country, passing right through the centre of Ireland (Eire) on the motorway. Dave had me get the mapping app on my phone to show exactly where we were at that moment. We finally arrived at the hotel at 19:00, so quickly checked in and unpack my bags in the room and head to the bar. There was already a good group in there, most having food from the bar menu which I have to say was excellent all weekend, and just chatting over a beer. It was also good to see Adrian (KO8SCA) and his wife sat with the 8R7X team, Fred (G4BWP) and Kerry (G8VR). As there was a spare chair I joined them to catch up and talk radio. Eventually as the night wore on we all started drifting off, but for some reason I ended up staying through to 00:30 when the bar closed talking with some of the Irish lads about pensions, the Navy, and how we all started in amateur radio. I declined the trip in to town, finally getting in bed just before 01:00.

Rather a shock to the system when the alarm went off at 07:00 to get up for breakfast. As mentioned previously the food was absolutely delicious and the full Irish, or County Clare breakfast as the hotel called it, was one of the best I had tasted on my trips over to Ireland. Following breakfast and coffee to bring me around it was getting close to the time to go into the room where the presentations were to be held. The hotel, the Temple Gate in Ennis, used to be an abbey before the conversion and new buildings erected. The hall was the old chapel, and the wooden beams were still in place, encompassed into the whole design of the building. A magnificent setting for some interesting and diverse talks.

Dave (EI9FBB) went through the running order of the day and started off with the DX quiz. As suggested by the name all the questions are based on DXing and the DX community, for example “If you operate as 6Y7EI which ITU region are you in?” Or “JARA is the national society of what country?” Little did we know but both these questions were clues to the next EiDX Groups expedition which we will mention more of later. Oh the answer to the first question you ask, region 2. This is a team competition and it also gives you chance to meet new people who may only be there as a day visitor.

A CW and SSB pileup test was next, how these guys pull out the calls from the cacophony of noise is amazing. The CW was won jointly by Fred and Adrian both receiving a trophy later in the day. Fred did the double with winning the SSB event also. Adrian was the first presentation on his recent adventure on CY9C St Pauls Island. This had only ended 4 weeks previous and was being shown for the first time at DX Feile. 8R7X was next with 3 of the team, Jamie (M0SDV), Philip, and Tomi all doing their bit to tell the story and how they had overcome the difficulties of planning and getting the necessary permissions from the local government. Luckily they found a “fixer” who was well known in the area and got all the licences and a location suitable for what they needed – he was also a bit of a local celebrity and got the guys in the local paper and contacts with the government minister. 

Lunch break and time to again have a chat and refreshments. The hotel was not disappointing with what they offered, and with Dave liaising with the staff the menu had talk themed names for the dishes on offer – St Pauls fish and chips! Well done Dave for this, and to the staff for their fast and friendly service which we received all weekend. Back into the talks and time for a rookie expeditioner to give his view on the EiDXG trip to 7P8EI Lesotho. 

Denis (EI5GSB) started with his own view from a rookie’s point of view with 4 or 5 quick fire slides, delivered with the Irish humour and wit he is known for, saying thanks and ending saying “there you go Dave, got back the 45-minute delay” before giving an interesting and informative look at the trip from his angle as the new boy. Followed by Adrian with N5J Jarvis Island, it was incredible that he had left Jarvis Island, sailed back to Hawaii and onto home to immediately get back on a plane to go to CY9C, his wife must be a very understanding lady. This was the first big expedition to use the RiB (Radio in a Boat) concept where most of the operators were actually hooked u via the internet from their homes. 

The final presentation was given by Jeremy (EI5GM) with the announcement of the next EiDXG trip in March 2025. Remember the quiz question about JARA and 6Y7EI? Both clues to Jamaica. Looking forward to this one for some fun chasing and wish all safe travels. Close to the end with the prizegiving for the quiz and pileup competitions, and the raffle. All finished so retire to the room to freshen up and get ready for the DX Dinner. Food once again was excellent and then to the bar for more fun over a couple of local brew – Guinness.

Up on Sunday for breakfast before meeting in the reception to say our farewells. Jamie and I were on the same flight from Shannon to Birmingham, so Dave (once again) was the driver and dropped us at the airport with plenty of time to spare. We got coffees and sat waiting for the flight to come up on the board. Amazingly it was shown and we left 15 minutes before time and landed in Birmingham 30 minutes early. An excellent weekend with the best company and talks. Cannot wait for next years which is happening on October 11th 2025 at the same location.