9L5A Sierra Leone

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F6KOP can now inform the DX community that its next expedition will take place by the end of 2024 to SIERRA LEONE (9L). This DXCC entity had already been activated by F6KOP in 2019 (9LY1JM) but is however in 80th position on the most wanted list.
14 operators are planned and “human” modes (CW and SSB) will have an important place in
traffic. More information to come… (F2DX, communication manager).

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Preparations for our 2024 expedition were stressful. First, the team was ready to go to Kassa island in Guinea (3X). As soon as we announced it the Russians from RUDXT declared they were going there just before us. We consequently decided to start from scratch and change the destination, which will allow the Russians to go to 3X peace of mind.

We had already been to Sierra Leone in 2019 – 9LY1JM Banana Island – but our hardware and human resources were limited. Sierra Leone being ranked 80th of the most wanted list the decision was taken to return there 5 years later with a larger team of 15 operators and most equipment.

This was without counting once again on the Russians of RUDXT who, the day after our announcement, informed the community that they were also going to Sierra Leone. Fate is definitely coming down on us! Are there still some principles among expedition organizers? Wouldn’t it be time to communicate with others to avoid working on the same project?

As everything was almost complete on our side and the work done was already substantial we made the decision not to change destination again. Our expedition is scheduled from November 27 to December 8, 2024. After all, if another team really leaves just before us, we will adapt our traffic according to demand and you will be the first beneficiaries.

Our situation on November 1st: The license is assigned, the plane tickets are paid, the hotel is booked and privatized, the 10.5 kVA generator is purchased, the airport/hotel transfer by bus and ferry crossing is paid, we have our 15 visas and have already paid the airport security taxe, the 15 operators are up to date with mandatory vaccination against yellow fever.

Note: 9L5A had already been awarded in 2009 for a CQWW. However, this is the callsign that was officially assigned by the telecommunications regulation authority of Sierra Leone and we have not been able to change it.

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The preparation of the equipments for 9L5A continued this weekend at Radio Club de Provins F6KOP. Most of our equipment is now tested, packed, weighed, labeled and listed. Our laptops have been updated with the latest software versions. Discover 50 photos of this preparation on our site.

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Why a hippopotamus on our logo? The pygmy hippopotamus is found in only 4 African countries including Sierra Leone. It is an endangered species ; a bit like us? If you want a quality custom-made logo, do not hesitate to contact our sponsor Hamradio Logo F4CVQ.

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We will work SPLIT only! Please pay attention to the SPLIT MODE on your transceiver before calling, and listen also to the operators instructions.

CW : up 1-5
SSB : up 5-15
RTTY : up 3-10

FT8 : MSHV program (2 to 6 slots) will be used for FT8 on the announced frequencies. As DXpedition (fox) we will not use F/H mode. All hunters can call us in normal mode (with locator or report) and stay on their frequency even for answering. Please do not call us on our transmission frequencies! The QSO will be logged on our side once we send RR73 or 73.

NOTE: Our band plan has been established taking into account that of 3D2Y (Rotuma) whose DXpedition is at the same time.

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To benefit from a fast LoTW confirmation it has become more and more common to have to pay or, otherwise, to wait 6 months (or even more). F6KOP does not support this practice. 9L5A log will be on LoTW as soon as we return from the expedition (subject to a short delay for the usual corrections). LoTW will therefore be free and immediate for everyone.

However if you want to help us, everyone is free to make a donation (without any obligation). Donors via Clublog of an amount equal or greater than $7 will automatically benefit of free OQRS request for their direct QSL. You can also help us via PayPal without asking for the QSL and you will thus appear on the list of donors on our website.

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For each of our six 9L5A stations, we have created a sheet with a global view of the propagation forecasts for all continents and all bands. Europe will be very easy to contact. The objective is also to favor other continents when the forecast is suitable. Please follow the operators’ instructions when they ask for « NA only », « SA only », « OC only », « JA only » etc. because our goal is to satisfy as many people as possible and not just Europe. In VK/ZL for example 9L is ranked #24, and #36 in Japan.