HK0NA Malpelo Island 2012

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HK1R , HK1T , HK1X con DXARC e il DX Columbia Amateur Radio Club prevedono di essere attivi nel 2012 da Malpelo Island come HK0NA.
Idea è quella di essere attivi sui 160 ai 6 metri nei modi operativi: CW, SSB, RTTY
Ci saranno otto operatori colombiani e quattro stranieri

Nei prossimi mesi ci saranno nuove informazioni.

Vi segnaliamo il sito
http://hk0na.wordpress.com/the-team/

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UPDATE – official permission from HK Government. License shown. [tnx HK1X, PR]

The DXARC DX Colombia Amateur Radio Club HK1NA announces its next expedition to Malpelo Island in 2012 as HK0NA. All efforts have been made ​​by the Colombian group ahead of Team leader Jorge Prieto HK1R.

The big idea of this DXpedition is to be on the air from Malpelo Island all bands and modes allowed by Colombian laws. The group of operators will be integrated ​​by four international and eight Colombians.

Full details:
http://hk0na.wordpress.com/

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The number of operators has increased to 15. The new members are VE7CT John, LU9ESD Manu ,WB9Z Jerry. Also, the start date for HK0NA – Malpelo has been approved for January 22, 2012.

http://hk0na.wordpress.com/

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The Malpelo 2012 DXpedition is pleased to announce that the HK0NA operating team is now complete with 16 operators. This is an international team of excellent operators, representing 8 different countries, and includes 3 members of the CQ DX Hall of Fame.

The team will depart from Buenaventura, Colombia on January 22, 2012 for the 235 mile trip to Malpelo. Depending on sea and landing conditions, we expect to be QRV within 36 hours after landing for about 10-12 days. The team will return to Buenaventura on Feb. 6, 2012

Operations are planned on 160 through 6 meters on CW, SSB and Digital modes.

We wish to thank Elecraft for the loan of seven K3 transceivers and five of the new KPA 500 amplifiers. RF Concepts (Alpha) has agreed to loan the team three Alpha 8410 amplifiers for use on the low bands and DX Engineering will supply most of the DXpedition antennas.

Thanks to N2OO and the SJDXA who have graciously agreed to handle QSL duties. You may recall the expert job they did for 3Y0X and K5D recently.

Contributions are being sought from DX Foundations, DX Clubs and individual DXers. Your financial assistance is kindly requested. You may contribute directly to DXARC (Colombia) or to K4UEE (North America), DJ9ZB (Europe), or JA1ELY ( Asia/JA). See our website for further details on how you can help.

We plan periodic press releases with information of interest. Also, watch the website for breaking news.

Thanks,
Jorge Prieto, HK1R
DXpedition leader

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The Malpelo 2012 DXpedition is pleased to announce that the HK0NA operating team has added two new operators, both physicians..W0GJ and K9SG. The team now consists of 18 operators representing eight countries.

Two members of the team will travel to Malpelo for a reconnaissance visit in late October. The purpose is to check out possible operating sites and make final decisions on the type and placement of antennas. We want to try to have antennas oriented for all parts of the DX world. Also, some equipment will be moved onto the island and stored until our DXpedition begins in late January 2012.

Every effort is being made to extend the length of time available for operating. This requires coordination with the authorities and agencies that oversee the island and the charter boat company. It appears that we can get to the island one day earlier and may have the option of staying a few extra days. Of course, our costs will rise accordingly. The current plan has the team QRV on or about January 23rd for 12-14 days.

Operations are planned on 160 through 6 meters on CW, SSB and one Digital mode.

Several of the Elecraft K3s are already in Colombia. The other K3s, five KPA500 amplifiers, antennas from DX Engineering, and Spiderbeam 65 foot masts for the low band antennas will be shipped soon. The Alpha 8410s are on their way.

The Malpelo team is paying all their transportation expenses to/from Colombia and putting up about one-half of all the DXpedition costs. To cover the remainder of our expenses, your financial assistance is kindly requested. Contributions are being sought from DX Foundations, DX Clubs and individual DXers. You may contribute directly to DXARC (Colombia) or to
K4UEE (North America), DJ9ZB (Europe), or JA1ELY (Asia/JA).

See our website: http://www.hk0na.com for further information on how you can help.

N2OO and the SJDXA have graciously agreed to handle QSL duties.

We plan periodic press releases with information of interest. Also, watch the website for breaking news.

Thanks,
Jorge Prieto, HK1R
DXpedition leader

[IK0ZCW]

Press Release #2 – HK0NA, Malpelo 2012 DXpedition

Three members of the Malpelo 2012 team have just completed a seven day reconnaissance visit to Malpelo. To see a short written summary of their observations and view some very revealing pictures, visit here.

This will be a very demanding DXpedition for several reasons. The terrain is particularly difficult, near vertical at times. And in order to have a clear radio view of Asia, the Pacific region and W6/W7; it will be necessary to locate operating site(s) and antennas at the top of the mountain. This further complicates the difficulties and physical risks to the team.

Team members vary in age from 25 to 73. But under the leadership and constant urging of our team’s medical doctors, K9SG and W0GJ, we have all embarked on a physical training regime. We should all be ready for the challenges come early 2012.

Three members of the team K4UEE, N4GRN and W6IZT will travel to Colombia on Nov 5-8 for a planning meeting with team leader, Jorge HK1R and other team members. The purpose of the meeting is to review all the checklists and responsibilities for each team member. With the information gained on the recent reconnaissance visit, decisions can be finalized concerning camp/operating sites, antenna types and placement, safety measures and other critical decisions necessary to the ultimate success for the DXpedition.

One critical decision to be made concerns the duration of the operation. We have permission to stay on site for 17 days versus the 14 days now planned. We will be reviewing the DXpedition budget to determine if we can afford the extra $15,000 expense for 3 additional days.

Contributions are gratefully accepted at our website.

We plan periodic press releases with information of interest. Also, watch the website for breaking news.

Thanks,
Jorge Prieto, HK1R DXpedition leader
Bob Allphin, K4UEE-co-leader
Gregg Marco, W6IZT-co-leader

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Recently three US members (K4UEE, N4GRN and W6IZT) of the Malpelo 2012 DXpedition flew to Cartagena, Colombia and met with six of their Colombian counterparts. The purpose of the two day meeting was to make some critical decisions about the upcoming DXpedition to Malpelo Island. Also, checklists and inventories were finalized and all team members’ responsibilities were assigned.

Since it is highly unlikely that the various Colombian authorities will permit another DXpedition to Malpelo anytime soon; a decision was made to extend the DXpedition to 16-17 days from the previous 12-14 day plan. The approximate dates of operations will be January 21, 2012 through February 5/6, 2012.

Four team members will travel with all equipment, radios, antennas and infrastructure to Malpelo in early January. They will be transported by the Colombian Navy. They will arrive about two weeks prior to the rest of the Team and will set up camp, the two operating sites, radios and antennas. They will spend about 30 days on the island. This will allow the rest of the team to begin radio operations immediately upon arrival by chartered vessel.

As mentioned there will be two operating sites, each with a complete complement of antennas and radios with amplifiers. The first operating site will be co-located with the Colombian marine’s camp on the east side of the island. It is clear to East Coast USA, EU and Africa. In order to have a clear shot at JA/Asia, the Pacific region and W6/W7; the second operating site will be located near the top of the highest mountain peak on the island. However, to lessen the physical risks to the team members, the operating site will be located on platforms situated below the actual peak. Still, it will be a 45 minute uphill climb to reach the platforms. The antennas for that site will be on the top of the mountain peak. At times, there will be as many as nine stations QRV with the capability of dual mode operations on all bands.

Safety of the team is paramount. We will be installing a winch system to hoist team members and all of our equipment from our chartered ship’s Zodiac onto the island. From there, manpower will carry the equipment the 300 meters straight uphill to the marine camp. The trail to the elevated operating site is extremely dangerous. We will utilize harnesses and safety ropes to minimize the risks. This is going to be a difficult and expensive DXpedition. Every effort will be made to maximize QSOs while protecting the safety of the team members. It is a delicate balance.

Your financial support is necessary and gratefully accepted. Contributions can be made via our website at: http://www.hk0na.com/sponsors

We plan periodic press releases with information of interest. Also, watch the website for breaking news.

Thanks,
Jorge Prieto, HK1R
DXpedition leader

Co-leaders:
Bob Allphin, K4UEE
Gregg Marco, W6IZT

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LATEST NEWS

Four members from the HK0NA Team, namely HK1N, HK1T, HK6F and HK1MW have departed from the pier at the Bahia Malaga Navy Base. They are aboard the Patrol Boat Jose Maria Palas.

The target of this advanced team called The Fantastic Four is to set up all 11 stations, 2 camps and wireless network in order to have everything ready for the main group arriving on January 21, 2012.

To these four brave men – who are going to spend more than 40 days on Malpelo and have sacrificed their holidays away from family – we have to express our admiration and gratitude.

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HK0NA – Malpelo IslandWednesday Dec 28, 2011tags: HK0NA, Malpelo, SA007
UPDATE - from Manu LU9ESD, Team Member HK0NA.

“The Fantastic Four” advance team arrived Malpelo today at 1400z. Now starts the hard job to build up the 2 camps with 11 stations and 18 antennas. We still need the help of everyone to achieve the DXpedition success.

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Jorge EA8TL mentions on Twitter that The Fantastic Four had been briefly active (testing) from Malpelo on 14158Mhz at 23.53UTC (Jan 2). They continue with the assembly of antennas and stations, whilst it rains much. The four will also have to mount new antennas for the low bands because the noise is strong there.

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January 7 – The “Fantastic Four” are working very hard and doing a great job on Malpelo! We are in daily contact with them. They are tired but in high spirits.

Most of the camp infrastructure and antennas for Op.B (bajo) is now complete. Two antennas require further testing. Today, they made the climb to the top of the mountain (300m), this will be the location for Op. A (alto). The purpose was to survey the antenna and operating locations. It is a fairly strenuous climb, and took about 40 minutes to get to the top. Afterwards, a decision was made to place the operating position and sleeping tent at the very top of the mountain and schedule operators for 2 day shifts to minimize transit risks. Set up of the camp infrastructure and antennas at Op A will begin in a couple of days.

We plan another press release prior to departure to Bogota on January 18th.

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January 8 – San K5YY and Col MM0NDX become Pilot stations for HK0NA

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The advance team to Malpelo, commonly referred to as the “Fantastic Four”, are working very hard and doing a great job on the Island, despite several days of heavy rain and wind. All of the camp infrastructure and antennas for OP.B (bajo) is now complete and the guys have tested all the antennas. They appear to be working as planned with good signal reports from around the world, including Asia long path.

The next step in the project is to make safe the climb to the top of the mountain where OP. A (alto) will be situated. Safety lines are being installed along the most treacherous sections of the trail.

Once in place, construction will begin. There will be an operating tent with four radios and 500 w amps and six antennas. There will also be a sleeping tent, as the decision has been made to send crews to the top for 48 hour shifts. This is to minimize the risks of transit up and down.

Under the current scheduling plan devised by W0GJ, each team member will serve on four 48 hour shifts during our stay on the island.

Beginning at 0001 Zulu, January 10, 2012 the advance team will start using the HK0NA call sign.

Please understand that their primary purpose on the island is to prepare everything for the team arriving in about 10-12 days. In their off time, they may be QRV.

Any contacts made with the men using their home calls should count as valid contacts with Malpelo and will be confirmed through the team’s QSL manager N2OO. Keep in mind their logs won’t be sent to N2OO until after the DXpedition and those QSOs will not show in the HK0NA “log lookup”.

The team has asked two experienced DXers to act as team “Pilots”. San, K5YY is chief pilot and all communications to the team will go through him. Col, MM0NDX will act as the European Pilot. Please check the website for their “guidelines.” And please, do not contact them prior to the beginning of the DXpedition, which should be on the afternoon of January 21st if all goes well.

We want to thank all of our sponsors for their generosity. This includes DX Foundations, DX Clubs and hundreds and hundreds of individual DXers who have contributed toward our expenses. Contributions can be made via our website at: http://www.hk0na.com/sponsors

We plan periodic uploads of pictures and updates from the island. Watch the website for ongoing news.

Thanks,
Jorge Prieto, HK1R Co-leaders:

DXpedition leader Bob Allphin, K4UEE, and Gregg Marco, W6IZT