3D2R Rotuma 27/9-7/10/2011

[IK0ZCW]

Press Release DXpedition to Rotuma as 3D2R

After many months of careful planning, we are pleased to announce our DXpedition to Rotuma-3D2R with a large multi-national DXpedition Team.

Rotuma is located in the South Pacific Ocean and is #32 on Club Log’s most wanted DXCC list.

Hrane Milosevic-YT1AD has recently visited Fiji and has obtained the license of 3D2R and a landing permit. We have received the Rotuma Island Council’s official approval as well as from the Prime Minister’s Office.

The team of 19 operators will meet in Fiji on September 24th and sail to Rotuma with an arrival slated for September 27th. We will be active on all bands and modes from September 27th to October 7th, 2011.

We will focus on the low bands at this time of the year and will make every effort to satisfy the needs of EU operators.

At this time, we are seeking Foundation, Club and Individual Sponsors to help us defray the costs of carrying out this DXpedition.

Our official website: http://www.yt1ad.info/3d2r/index.html

3D2R Team

[IK0ZCW]

Update by Team 3D2R – Rotuma

A team of experienced amateurs and friends are preparing a serious amateur expedition to the far away island of Rotuma, which belongs to Fiji, but is very important for the amateur, because it counts as a separate country on the DXCC list.

Our goal is to activate the beautiful island of Rotuma on all frequencies from 1.8MHz to 144MHz, all modes.

The team will gather in Fiji on 24 September 2011 and expects to depart from the port of Suva the following day. The journey takes 36 hours. We expect first activity on 27 September and will be active for the next 10 days. Return to Fiji is expected 8 October.

We hope that the whole amateur world will enjoy this amateur activity and QSO’s with our team.

Official website: http://www.yt1ad.info/3d2r/index.html

[IK0ZCW]

Update by Team 3D2R

After many months of careful planning, we are pleased to announce that our preparations for a large multi-national DXpedition to Rotuma are going according to plan.

Rotuma is located in the South Pacific Ocean and is #32 on Club Log’s most wanted DXCC list.

The Team is meeting in Lami Bay, Suva on September 22nd and departing by ship to Rotuma on September 25th. The Team expects to arrive in Rotuma and become active on Tuesday, September 27th. We will complete our DXpedition on October 7th, 2011.

The main goals of this DXpedition are to work every amateur radio operator who needs Rotuma for a new DXCC country. We will be active on all bands from 1.8 MHz to 144 MHz, including the 5MHz and 50 MHz bands. In addition to CW, SSB and RTTY, we will be active on PSK, SSTV and EME. Special attention will be made to work far away stations such as Europe and Africa during those periods when propagation permits. The propagation window for EU and Africa is very brief at times and signals may be weak, so we ask everyone in the honored HAM SPIRIT to stand by when asked so that we may fulfill this need.

We plan to upload our logs on a daily basis to our online log. We will upload to LOTW approximately six months following the DXpedition. We wish everyone good propagation and hope that you enjoy working the 3D2R Team.

At this time, we are seeking additional Club and Individual Sponsors to help us defray the costs of carrying out this DXpedition.

Official website: http://www.yt1ad.info/3d2r/index.html

[IK0ZCW]

Update by Team 3D2R

All 3D2R Team members have now assembled in Suva, Fiji. Upon our arrival, we learned that our shipping container is delayed in New Zealand. Fortunately, the team members have brought radios, amplifiers and antennas with them to Fiji. We will be able to run five stations and emphasize the low bands as planned.

We are now preparing our ship for the two day voyage to Rotuma. We anticipate arriving Rotuma late in the evening of September 27th and expect to be active early on September 28th.

The 3D2R team wishes you good luck and good fun in working us.

Official website: http://www.yt1ad.info/3d2r/index.html

[IK0ZCW]

3D2R team continues activity from the beautiful island of Rotuma. The current situation regarding QSO’s after 3 days can be viewed in the graph opposite. Since arrival, 6m was set-up and transmitting on 50.095 Mhz, but have not heard any openings at this time. Beacon is active with call 3D2R/B.

Today, we will start with SSTV activity on 20, 15 and 10 meter bands. Top band propagation has been above average. We’ve installed an Inverted L of 160 meters over the water, plus have a 4 square on 40 and 80 meters. This evening, we’ll make our first 60 meter QSO of many to come. EME have very bad time and extremely high noise. We will try last 2 days again for EME.

Hrane (YT1AD) and Oms (PY5EG) have started and will continue to provide amateur radio lessons to two groups of students at the Rotuma High School. A TS-570 HF Rig with power supply and 3 element will be donated to the High School upon our departure. Maybe very soon we will have call 3D2RI from Rotuma Island.

We want to thank the international amateur radio community for their professionalism in the way they have conducted their QSO’s with our team.

Sept 30/18z 160m now active.