K1N Navassa Island DXpedition 2015

[IK0ZCW]

Photos from Navassa Island

7 February 2015


Ralph KØIR


Glenn WØGJ lighthouse OP at night LED lighting


The MEG tent with Ralph KØIR, George AA7JV, Jeff NM1Y, Mike NA5U and Jerry WB9Z


MEG whiteboard


Antenna patch panel


Glenn WØGJ


Sleep area 2


Jerry WB9Z, Lou N2TU and George N4GRN


Tomi KT7TTT


SSB OP with shade cloth

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News / Updates

9 February 2015

@1300Z

Courtesy of DokuFunk, click HERE http://audioboom.com/boos/2875970-satphone-interview-with-glenn-johnson-w0gj-on-navassa-9-february-2015-13-00z for a link to an interview this morning with Glenn WØGJ by Wolf OE1WHC via satphone directly from Navassa island.
Here is some information from that interview:

We have 83,000 Qs in the log.
We'll likely be in "full-swing" through Friday evening with our first load of gear leaving the island.
We'll be on the air all day Saturday and through the night.
On Sunday morning at dawn we must QRT; some of the team will already be in Jamaica.

@1154Z

It's not all about the pileups on Navassa Island. Our youth pilot, Brandon KF5NYQ who is 11 years old, recently received his DXCC -- and before working K1N! Read about it HERE http://www.wlox.com/story/28055499/young-ham-radio-operator-receives-prestigious-honor

[IK0ZCW]

News / Updates

10 February 2015

@1304Z

We are just now shy of 96,000 Qs and should top 100K this afternoon. Everyone still healthy and in good spirits. Pileups CONTINUE to be fierce. Very little slow down at all. Still walls of Europe....and we work them until the bands close. We really thank everyone for standing by while we work our propagation windows, especially to Japan. The low bands have been good until last night when the QRN levels were very high....then at dawn a storm came through.

Our last helicopter supply flight arrives within the hour with the last of the needed water and gasoline.....and will remove our empties and garbage.

In the next day or two when the weather forecast is known better, we will probably have our first flight out with supplies either Friday night or early Saturday morning. We must vacate the island Sunday. Overnight Saturday, we hope to keep at least 4, maybe 5, stations on the air and QRT at sunrise Sunday.

We have been eating MREs and, in fact, the ones we have are quite good. We won't know how to eat in a restaurant unless the food is delivered in a little bag. Very handy, no dishes!

Onward.....to the pileups!!!!!

73, Glenn WØGJ

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Photos from Navassa Island

10 February 2015


Can you say "pileup"?!?


US Flag on the lighthouse


..and closeup..


Do we have antennas, or what?


Sunset

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News / Updates

12 February 2015

@1850Z

Still in full swing with 120,000+ Qs in the log. Everyone is healthy, good spirits, and well-fed with MREs..... Pileups still huge, no let-up in sight!
Will be full-steam until late Friday, when first helicopter flight leaves with two people and mostly cargo used for camp construction.

Full op schedule until Saturday dawn when SteppIRs come down. Planning three outbound flights Saturday, leaving three people overnight with three radios and wire antennas. They leave early Sunday morning to vacate the island.

Hard to believe finish is in sight....wish it could go on, but will be good to be home with families!

73, Glenn WØGJ

@0106Z

FLASH! We'll be on 75M SSB tonight transmitting on 3730kHz. Check out spots for where we'll be listening; we plan to be on all night...

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News / Updates

13 February 2015

@1456Z

The rules for ATNO days:

DEFINITION: ATNO = ALL TIME NEW ONE

This means that you have NOT YET worked K1N on ANY BAND or ANY MODE. They WILL have the log at their fingertips, so please do NOT call them if you already worked them.

Only call K1N as per their announcement. They may be calling specific areas.

There will be TWO ATNO operations:

SATURDAY, Feb 14, will be WORLDWIDE ATNO DAY on 20M SSB between 1300-2400Z. 14.240 (plus/minus) will be our transmit frequency, listen for instructions. ONLY ATNO stations will be logged.
FRIDAY Feb 13 AND SATURDAY Feb 14 will be TWO JA, ASIA AND OCEANIA ATNO DAY operations on 15 meter SSB between 2200-2400Z. Transmit frequency 21205 + or -. ONLY JA-ASIA-OCEANIA ATNO stations will be logged. Times MAY be extended.
The 20 meter operation will have a worldwide focus. The two 15 meter slots were selected to help our friends in deep Asia and Oceania who have not been able to work K1N have a realistic chance to work Navassa for an all-time new one.
Other band operations will be occurring during these activities, and they will not be ATNO operations. But let's be fair at this point to make sure that the little pistols have a chance. It will be a VERY long time before Navassa comes back on the air.
Be aware that the team is beginning to dismantle, and prepare for final departure on Sunday. Some operators have already left.
See ya' in the Pileups!
Bob Schenck, N2OO
Chief Pilot, K1N - Navassa DXpedition


@1355Z

A storm is brewing within the next two-three days.
Everything that needed re-loading onto "Electra" has been finished. Mike NM6Z, Tomi KT4TTT & George AA7JV are safely on "Electra" and will be leaving Lulu Bay within the next few hours to get out of the way of the storm. High seas are expected, but this will not affect helicopter off-loading, except for maybe a passing squall.

The 6M station and antenna are now packed.

There will be one helicopter flight today to carry back camp construction supplies and unneeded items. Two people will be on that flight, leaving ten men on Navassa.

We expect full radio operation to continue until daybreak Saturday, when the SteppIRs will be taken down and all stations packed except for the three that will remain on the air until daybreak Sunday.

Saturday we expect three helicopter flights out by the end of the day. Left behind will be Craig K9CT, Jerry WB9Z & Glenn WØGJ to man the stations. Their personal gear will already be off the island. The only thing to do Sunday morning is to pack the radios and take down the dipoles, as the helicopter will arrive early Sunday morning for the last flight.

Maybe some of this is a repeat, but the "evacuation plan" is looking good. We've had so much fun and wish we could stay....but we all want some REAL showers and a REAL bed....and to see our families!!!

Even with 125,000+ QSOs it is amazing that the pileups yesterday were almost as fierce as the very first couple of days.

73, Glenn WØGJ


@0010Z

TURDAY, Feb 14, will be ATNO (All Time New One) DAY on 20M SSB between 1300-2400Z.
14.240 (plus/minus) will be our transmit frequency, listen for instructions. ONLY ATNO stations will be logged.

Saturday will be our leaving day and we'll have three stations on after day break, but not always manned before the last helicopter flight leaves Saturday -- but the 20M ATNO station will be on continously except for helicopter arrival/departure. After the last flight on Saturday, all three remaining stations will be on until daybreak Sunday when we go QRT.

73, Glenn WØGJ

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Photos from Navassa Island

12 February 2015


Our 160M station


The gang with the NCDXF banner


The gang with the INDEXA banner


The gang with our own Navassa 2015 banner


Antennas at sunset

[IK0ZCW]

News / Updates

15 February 2015

@1500Z

K1N went QRT at 1130Z Sunday, February 15th.
The last helicopter flight left the island at 1500Z with the last three team members who over-nighted to keep stations QRV until the last possible moment. There was an excellent opening to Asia/Oceania almost all day and all night during the last 24 hours.

All team members are back safe, healthy and happy in Jamaica.

All logs have been uploaded to ClubLog with 138,409 contacts with an amazing 35,702 unique call signs! Statistics can be seen on ClubLog.

We really want to thank everyone for standing-by while we worked those areas with short propagation windows. The Jamaica Amateur Radio Association members provided valuable support for all phases of our operation.

For QSL information, click the "QSL Info" tab on any K1N Navassa website page. Refresh often.

73, Glenn WØGJ
For the KP1-5 Project

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News / Updates

19 February 2015

@2139Z

OQRS (Online QSL Request Service) is now up and working. Go to the "Am I in the Log?" menu button above (and on any K1N web page), enter your callsign and click the "Request QSL" button below your list of QSOs.

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News / Updates

21 February 2015

@2203Z

PRESS RELEASE
February 21, 2015
From KP1-5 Project

The K1N DXpedition team has only been home a few days, but we are slowly recovering from what was a difficult project. It was over too soon considering that it took 15 years to gain permission, plan and execute the DXpedition. The DX world is very complimentary of our results...140,000 QSOs and over 30,000 uniques. This is especially impressive when you consider that we had only had 14 active operators, seven HF radios, five small amplifiers and only four small beams. Many of our QSOs were made barefoot and with dipoles hanging very high on the lighthouse on Navassa. This is what we called a MVC (Minimum Viable Configuration) necessitated by the use of helicopters for primary transport.

We have many to thank. The USFWS for allowing our operation after 22 years off-the-air. The terrific team of USFWS officers and biologists who accompanied us and became part of our team. Our sponsors, both equipment and financial, our team of radio pilots, our helicopter crew of Danilo, Nelson and JC, the staff of Moxon's Beach Club, the staff at Ian Fleming Intl. Airport and our new friends, the Haitian fishermen at Navassa. When we departed, they received gifts from us of gasoline, clean water, clothing, food and other items. Hopefully, this will help them in their difficult and dangerous existence.

Lastly, we want to recognize and thank a group of 1943 DXers. These people heard and responded to our plea for financial support prior to our DXpedition as this when the majority of our considerable expenses occurred. Last night, these special and generous people had their QSOs with K1N uploaded to LoTW (Logbook of The World). This service was NOT a condition of their contribution, but comes as a completed surprise.

Thanks to you all for a memorable experience!

73, The KP1-5 Project
Bob-K4UEE- President
Glenn-WØGJ-Vice President
Mike-NA5U-Secretary

http://www.navassadx.com