Z81X South Sudan 14-28/11/2013

[IK0ZCW]

Radio Arcala Adventures 2013



Helsinki, Finland, October 23, 2013

REPUBLIC OF SOUTH SUDAN, Z81X

A multinational group of Dietmar, DL3DXX; Wayne, N7NG; Hans, PB2T; Olli, OH0XX; Martti, OH2BH; Pertti, OH2PM and Veijo, OH6KN and Tevfik, TA1HZ (team doctor) will be in Juba, South Sudan from November 14 to 28, 2013 and will activate Z81X with an emphasis on low bands, 160m and 80m. The period includes the CQWW CW contest with some single-band entries and low-band SSB focus during the contest weekend.

Hosted by the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications, the group led by Hans, PB2T will conduct a series of workshops and establish a sound amateur radio spectrum management regime and related regulations. It will also introduce Amateur Radio to Ministry of Education. Also participating in these efforts are two local amateurs; Massimo, Z81B (IZ0EGB) and Diya, Z81D (YI1DZ). This part of the program is supported by Yasme Foundation Inc.

The plan is to activate three FTDx3000 stations & amps and low-band verticals and beverage antennas. Two different radio locations may be used. The operation will be generator based.

Z81X team will use their QRZ.com pages for providing further updates and recognizing their supporters with Vlad, UA6JD as their webmaster.

The Z81X Project Goodwill South Sudan is organized jointly by Radio Arcala, DX University, IARU Region 1 and Rock City Investments Co., and the equipment sponsor is Yaesu Musen Co. Ltd of Japan.

In support of the DX University we will observe specific relationships between pileup behavior and operator technique. Additional information will be available before the expedition begins.

The highest cost item is equipment transport, with courier service the only reliable means of transportation. The group welcomes support from individuals, clubs and foundations to offset some of the high equipment transport expenses. You may contact any of the group members for your potential support or use Paypal at Z81X QRZ.com.

Z81X QSL via OH0XX

[IK0ZCW]

NEWS FROM SOUTH SUDAN, SUNDAY 17-NOV-2013

What a wonderful occasion it was when twenty-one Ministry of Telecommunication and Postal Services administrators, led by Director General Meshack Madol Yol, arrived for a full-day Amateur Radio training session organized by International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) R1 and Radio Arcalas Mission Goodwill South Sudan.

The session was conducted by Hans, PB2T, IARU R1 President together with Wayne, N7NG and Martti, OH2BH. The memorable occasion took place at the European Union compound in the capital Juba. A joint working group was formed and the day was capped with the interview by local broadcasters in the nation’s capital. The program is sponsored by IARU R1, ARRL, EUDXF, DX University and YASME Foundation. The next day and with some 600 QSOs under his belt, Hans departed to resume his subsequent duties at ITU in Geneva.

The low-band operation also got underway for the first night with no receiving antennas but 160M and 80M verticals gave a good start, with a full footprint for the United States and the first 50 JA station logged on the first shot indicating the same for the Far East. Now both directions are also covered by beverages. It is now expected that 160, 80 and 30M will be active every night on CW for the next six days and then providing an 80M SSB toward the weekend.

The team of Dietmar, DL3DXX; Wayne, N7NG; Pertti, OH2PM; Olli, OH0XX, Martti, OH2BH and Veijo, OH6KN with valuable support from Diay, Z81D and Massimo, Z81B are at the controls. They use three Yaesu FTdx3000s with no interaction between the bands in operation. Yaesu is their radio provider while Acom and Italian SPE amps are employed on the low bands.

With the low-band QSO total now exceeding 2000, it is also noted that both nights were different with regard to the overall propagation profile. Therefore one bad night may be followed by a good night, requiring a sharp ear and great patience. So far the split is Europe 67%, NA 19% and ASIA 13%.

Z81X QSL via OH0XX

[IK0ZCW]

OH0XX will be active from South Sudan in CQ WW DX CW Contest 23-24 November 2013 as Z81X
He will be in SOSB 15m Category
QSL via OH0XX