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g4tut
08-28-2007, 08:10 AM
3B7C St. Brandon Island DXpedition getting close

The 3B7C St. Brandon Island DXpedition is getting close, with the advance party of Neville G3NUG, Don G3BJ and Don G3XTT flying out this Friday 31st August.

On arrival they will supervise the unloading of the shipping container (6 tons of gear) onto the Sainte Rita, a converted trawler which will take equipment and team the 24 hour crossing to Isle du Sud. The generators (six of 5kW capacity each) have already been taken out to the island by the regular supply vessel.

The remainder of the team arrives Monday 3rd September and will board the ship immediately, ready for sailing.
We expect to arrive on Isle du Sud on 4th September, but operations are not expected to commence until midnight UTC on Friday 7th September, by which time all stations and antennas will have been assembled. However, the 6m beacon on 50.090MHz will be activated at the earliest opportunity so that 6m DXers can start to monitor for possible openings.

TEAM MEMBERS

We are delighted that Michel FM5CD has joined the 3B7C team, bringing us up full strength with 20 operators, enough to man all operating positions whenever the bands are open.

QSLing

Bureau cards can be requested via the webpage. The QSL Manager is Neville G3NUG (qrz.com for address) but please note that we don't need cards for individual contacts - a listing in log order is best.

ONLINE LOGS AND CONTACT WITH 3B7C

Other than our radio gear, contact with the outside world is limited to an Iridium satphone which will be used primarily for uploading logs on a daily basis.

The online log lookup, reached via the 3b7c.com website, breaks new ground because it will feature a lookup for your zone, showing what times you, or others in your zone, have made contact with 3B7C on each band. If you have not worked 3B7C at all, just enter your country prefix for the data to show both country data (if available) and zone data.

If you have worked 3B7C on one or more bands, put your call into the search engine for confirmation that you are in the log, and also for the data on best times to work 3B7C on the other bands. Note that this information is not “predicted" but rather derived by analysing all the QSOs in 3B7C's current log. To make it more fun, the search facility also shows you which operator you have worked on each band

Ahead of this real-time data, team member Eric K3NA has prepared some detailed propagation forecasts which can be found on the webpage.

If you have any feedback for the team, it can be emailed to 3b7c@g3wgv.com. Messages will be read by John G3WGV in the UK and a daily digest of key information sent by him to the island to help with the planning of operating schedules, etc. Please do not expect John to engage in detailed correspondence - his task is merely to pass information on to the team. Any significant news from the island will be mailed to John who will upload it to the 3B7C web site as required.

3B7C Web Page: http://3b7c.com

The website also features a leaderboard which shows the top 100 band/mode slot DXers. There are 38 potential slots. No prizes this time, just have fun.

We look forward to working you from 3B7, on many bands and modes! We will, as promised previously, ensure that towards the end of the expedition we spend time operating CW at lower speeds for the benefit of those who are new to the mode.

SPONSORSHIP

Thanks again to our many sponsors all of whom are shown on the 3B7C website. Our top sponsors have been:
Yaesu (Principal Sponsor), ARRL Colvin Award, Continent 8 Technologies, Martin Lynch and Sons, Milemark LLC, NCDXF and Nevada.



Don Field G3XTT, NK1G
(g3xtt@lineone.net)
FSDXA Publicity Officer





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KC0W
08-28-2007, 08:27 AM
Hope ya don't mind if I "piggyback" on your DXpedition thread guys.

I will be moving to St. Helena island September 2nd. My callsign is ZD7X. Info here: ZD7X - St. Helena (http://www.qrz.com/zd7x)

Hope to work 3B7C from my new home of St. Helena Island in September.

While DXing in Martinique last year as TOØO, I went out to dinner with the newest member of your DXpedition, FM5CD........... Michel will be a great asset to your efforts of getting 3B7C on the air .


# # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # #Good DX,


# # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # Tom kcØw - zd7x

NN3W
08-28-2007, 01:30 PM
Looking forward to lots of ZD7 contest contacts Tom...

N2RJ
08-28-2007, 03:32 PM
I hope I can point my MonstIR your way, Tom.

SteppIR is saying any day now!!! http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

KC0W
08-28-2007, 04:50 PM
Sounds good, Ryan.

You should be able to work both the 3B7C boys & myself with only minimal antenna rotation on your part. Both of our operations will be around the same beam heading from your QTH.........Two birds with one stone?

With that new beast of an antenna & the new rotor, you might actually enjoy swinging the big beam around when not using the slick 180 degree reverse beaming capability that the MonstIR has.

I'm sure that you will have everything up & running by the time CQ WW rolls around in late October.

Now if I can only get the Europeans to point straight south & North America to point SSE, I should be a pretty good contender for breaking some contesting records for the African continent. (except the ones being held by D4B & CN2R!!!)


Tom kcØw

w3wn
08-28-2007, 05:46 PM
Looking forward to working you Tom.

But aren't headphones tough to put on with that banana in your ear?

73, ron w3wn
Quantum materiae materietur marmota monax si marmota monax materiam possit materiari?

N7YA
08-28-2007, 10:48 PM
I hope to work both of you, i need both entities.

Tom, im just curious...why are you moving to St. Helena? Thats a big jump. I know that Napolean wanted nothing more than to get OFF that island. :-)

73...Adam, N7YA

KC0W
08-29-2007, 01:36 AM
Quote[/b] (N7YA @ Aug. 28 2007,22:48)]I hope to work both of you, i need both entities.

Tom, im just curious...why are you moving to St. Helena? Thats a big jump. I know that Napolean wanted nothing more than to get OFF that island. :-)

73...Adam, N7YA
Thanks Adam.

Will give the full report this Saturday night in a thread before I leave very early Sunday morning for St. Helena. I'm sure that I will title the thread something eye catching. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif



Tom kcØw

KC0W
08-29-2007, 01:42 AM
Quote[/b] (w3wn @ Aug. 28 2007,17:46)]Quantum materiae materietur marmota monax si marmota monax materiam possit materiari?
Haha.......Glad you also enjoy Latin, Ron.

Hope the 3B7C boys don't mind the hijack of this thread. It is quite the adventure they are going on. Good luck guys, will be listening for ya!!!


Tom kcØw

W2IRT
08-29-2007, 03:00 AM
Quote[/b] (N2RJ @ Aug. 28 2007,08:32)]I hope I can point my MonstIR your way, Tom.
SteppIR is saying any day now!!! http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif
Probably the same time as my Force 12 40m Yagi comes. Force-12's blown 3 deadlines for my so far.

W2IRT
08-29-2007, 03:07 AM
Quote[/b] (KC0W @ Aug. 28 2007,01:27)]I will be moving to St. Helena island September 2nd. My callsign is ZD7X.
Wow. Hope you have a safe trip, that all goes well and your new adventure is rewarding in every sense of the word. Looking forward to working you on 40, 80 and 160 as well as RTTY in the coming months. I'll definitely be a few points in yer log in CQ World War!

Any chance to get the ship's captain to stop by Tristan for a couple of days R&R http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif ?

W2IRT
08-29-2007, 03:27 AM
Quote[/b] (g4tut @ Aug. 28 2007,01:10)]3B7C St. Brandon Island DXpedition getting close

Safe travels and hope the DXpedition is a success. Since I have 3B7 confirmed on a number of bands I'll hold off calling to give the others a chance, but I'll still be looking for you on 160, and if the propagation ghods are happy, on 10 and 15 as well!

N7YA
08-29-2007, 07:06 AM
I look forward to it Tom, and i will certainly be looking for both stations. Good luck to you, and thanks for increasing the odds for a new one!

73...Adam, N7YA

KC0W
08-29-2007, 01:46 PM
Quote[/b] (W2IRT @ Aug. 29 2007,03:07)]Any chance to get the ship's captain to stop by Tristan for a couple of days R&R http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif ?
I'm one step ahead of you on that one. I already have exchanged emails with a cargo line that sails to Tristan once a month........More info about it this weekend in my last posting as kcØw.

Pretty much everyone needs Tristan on 75/80 meters & for sure on 160.


Tom kcØw

NN3W
08-29-2007, 02:02 PM
ZS8 too..........

N2RJ
08-29-2007, 03:08 PM
Quote[/b] (NN3W @ Aug. 29 2007,09:02)]ZS8 too..........
You mean ZD8?

Look for Ian - ZD8I. He's frequently on 20m PSK31, which is where I last worked him.

NN3W
08-29-2007, 06:58 PM
No, I mean ZS8....

KC0W
08-29-2007, 10:42 PM
Quote[/b] (NN3W @ Aug. 29 2007,18:58)]No, I mean ZS8....
Anything "down there" is a pretty good catch. The islands of 3Y & ZS8 are screaming for someone to activate them. As you can imagine, the travel costs associated with getting to either Prince Edward or Bouvet island are staggering.

I will hopefully do my part next year (if all goes according to plan) by leaving St. Helena for a few weeks & traveling to Tristan da Cunha on the supply ship that departs Cape Town once a month. The emphasis of this TENTATIVE trip will be operation on only 3 HF bands. Those bands being, 20, 80 & 160 meters.

The capitol of Tristan (and really the only inhabited town) is located on the south part of the island with tall mountains "blocking" the view northward to where the rest of the HF world is located.........Unless traversing the South pole. Only 200 people live on the whole island.

Stay tuned!!!



Tom kcØw

MZ8A
08-30-2007, 12:00 AM
Tristan's "capital" : Edinburgh of the Seven Seas is at the
north coast perfectly open to the north (Europe, NA)
-- should be no problem !
Andy, ZD9BV is activ from there.
Cheers from SHETLAND
Hans
MM0XAU
MZ8A

KC0W
08-30-2007, 12:34 AM
Quote[/b] (MZ8A @ Aug. 30 2007,00:00)]Tristan's "capital" : Edinburgh of the Seven Seas is at the
north coast perfectly open to the north (Europe, NA)
-- should be no problem !
You are 100% correct.........Too many different islands on my brain right now.

Tom kcØw

N7YA
08-30-2007, 11:14 PM
Quote[/b] (KC0W @ Aug. 29 2007,17:34)]Quote[/b] (MZ8A @ Aug. 30 2007,00:00)]Tristan's "capital" : Edinburgh of the Seven Seas is at the
north coast perfectly open to the north (Europe, NA)
-- should be no problem !
You are 100% correct.........Too many different islands on my brain right now.

# # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # #Tom kcØw
I can think of worse things to have on your mind. :-)

n6kkk
12-30-2007, 02:05 AM
i have lost my url to "beam headings" . can someone please help me ? .. thx .. n6kkk