Tristan da Cunha

Continuing the efforts to provide the first ever 6m EME contacts from rare DXCC, this is probably the most difficult and challenging I have faced so far. I have tried for some time to got to ZD9, but was told at the end of 2022 that my berth from Capetown to Tristan da Cunha had to be re-assigned to a government contractor who had been delayed due to the previous Pandemic travel restrictions. I have been placed high on the waiting list to travel to ZD9 in late August, 2024, so I will work hard to make it happen this time! In order to provide sufficient advance planning for stations wishing to contact me while I am in ZD9, I am providing plenty of advance notice of this DXpedition.

As you know, a good location can mean everything to the success of one of these DXpeditions. Ideally, the site must be quiet, provide enough open space to erect and operate the large antenna and - especially from a location as distant from potential contacts as ZD9 - must provide a good view of the moon rising and setting out over the ocean. I am hoping to be able to secure a spot for the antenna that will at least provide a good view out over the ocean on moonset.  The location on the northwest tip of the island is shown on the map above. The other maps show where in the world this remote place is located.  I hope you will make the effort to look for me!

LOGISTICS

Much of the trip depends on the availability of berths aboard the ships making the approximately one week trip sailing from Capetown, South Africa. These spots are very limited, and there are seven categories of travelers that have higher priority than me. So, anybody in those categories could once again block my ability to get a spot on the ship. You can see these different categories here: https://www.tristandc.com/shipping.php Ideally, I am hoping to be able to travel to Tristan da Cunha on the MV Lance during its August voyage, and return to Capetown in early October either on the MV Lance or the SA Agulhas II. I don't expect to be able to have my booking confirmed until a month or so before sailing, so the return trip schedule probably will not be known until I am in Tristan da Cunha. It should be possible to follow my progress on this vessel tracking page: https://www.vesselfinder.com/?imo=7638351 For general planning purposes, I would be leaving home  around August 12 and plan to finally arrive in TDC sometime  August 23.  I would plan to tear down and pack around the end of September and return to Africa  during the first week of October.  However, I hope to have everything operational in plenty of time for the optimum EME conditions.  I may even be QRV during the ARRL VHF Contest September 14-16!  Much of my operation will depend on the ship's actual schedule and the weather, which I expect to be brutal! I expect to have only occasional internet access from another building and hope to be able to announce my status via email and the ON4KST EME CHAT or HB9Q LOGGER pages, and periodically update my log of EME contacts on this web page. This period does include the lowest Degradation days of the month, which take place during a full moon, just before the ARRL EME contest weekend on September 21-22 ( I don't know yet if that is the weekend that includes 6m operations). For me, at least on the best days, this means EME operation during the night, which is the ideal time to avoid high TEC interference from locations so close to the geomagnetic equator. And I hope to be QRV over several weekends, and in the middle of the night, so no need to take time off from work!  I will do everything in my power to set up on the west side of the settlement so I can at least have an unimpeded view out over open fields toward the ocean on moonsets. The diagrams above show  a view out over the water through the north between azimuths 70 and 263 degrees. I should have good common moon windows with horizon-only stations all over the world at one time or another during the operation. I know many EU stations have already worked ZD9, but I will have mutual moonsets with many stations there.

OPERATING SCHEDULE

QSL INFORMATION

FREQUENCY, MODE AND SEQUENCE

CONTRIBUTIONS

It is extremely expensive to haul a 6m EME station halfway around the world to this location. Too many times, we hear DXpedition stations say they can't take a 6m beam and/or amp because "they are already overweight and cannot afford the excess baggage fees".  If you want to do a good job and are committed to going halfway around the world to succeed pm 6m EME, this unfortunately is a large part of the necessary expense.  Although I always keep my costs as low as possible, my travel, excess baggage and lodging costs for this operation will be staggering. And there are no amateur radio clubs or associations that provide funds for EME DXpeditions (they only support HF DXpeditions). Therefore, any contributions toward this DXpedition are greatly appreciated! 

If you would like to contribute, please send your contribution by check or cash to my QRZ.com mailing address, or directly via PayPal using the "FRIENDS AND FAMILY" option to my email address, which is my current PayPal account. I am only able to do these long distance 6m EME DXpeditions every year because of the continued generous support from the 6m community and I am extremely indebted to you for your continued support! I have the time and equipment to go more often than once a year to new rare DXCC, but I just don't have the finances available.  Many thanks to the following hams who have already very generously contributed to this DXpedition:

KJ9I, SM7FJE, KB7Q, K5QE, N7NR, K5XI, K7CW, N0TB, OH7KM, SP4MPB, K2ZD, G4BWP, G8VR, N4BAA, W6UC, ZL3NW, JE3GRQ, SP3RNZ, EA8DBM, SP7VC
 
     MNI MNI TNX for your continued support!!

                                

PHOTOS AND UPDATES

(more photos and updates may be available on my FACEBOOK page)