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3DA0WW team operation from Eswatini

Discussion in 'Contests, DXpeditions, QSO Parties, Special Events' started by NT2X, Oct 10, 2021.

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  1. NT2X

    NT2X Ham Member QRZ Page

    If you think the Kingdom of Eswatini lacks DX activity, here's another one for you:

    3DA0WW team to be active from the Kingdom of Eswatini, October 12-26, 2021.

    The operation was planned for some time. The team consists of Yuris YL2GM (Team leader), Pavel UU0JR, Alex UT7UV, Jack YL2KA, Wlad US7IGN, Vlad UW7RV.


    Members of the gang have previously operated from some rare places in Asia, Africa, Pacific and the Carribean. They possess ample DX and contesting experience.

    Non-withstanding current operating by another DX group from the same location, 3DA0WW group plans its own extensive operation during their stay.

    All HF bands and modes.


    Will try to post progress reports, happenings and images from 3DA0. They will attempt to upload the logs directly from Eswatini, so contacts can be verified, but that depends on the quality of available internet. Poor connection = no logs, as partial loads confuse DXers into thinking they are not in the log. We will address this later.

    DXpedition website is located here - https://lral.lv/3da0ww/

    73, Ed/NT2X
     
  2. NT2X

    NT2X Ham Member QRZ Page

    Most every DXpedition begins with pre-departure airport photo, 3DA0WW is no exception :)

    [​IMG]
    Jack YL2KA and Yuris YL2GM at Riga Airport (Lativia). Other ops will be meeting them in South Africa
     
  3. NT2X

    NT2X Ham Member QRZ Page

    The previous image had disappeared somehow.
    Most every DXpedition begins with pre-departure airport photo, 3DA0WW is no exception :)

    [​IMG]
    Jack YL2KA and Yuris YL2GM at Riga Airport (Lativia). Other ops will be meeting them in South Africa
     
  4. NT2X

    NT2X Ham Member QRZ Page

    On the flight from Kiev, Ukraine to Dubai, UAE

    [​IMG]

    Team members, left-to-right: Vlad, UW7RV, Alex, UT7UV, Paul, UU0JR and Wlad US7IGN
     
    W1BR likes this.
  5. NT2X

    NT2X Ham Member QRZ Page

    Awaiting their flight to South Africa in Dubai

    [​IMG]
     
  6. NT2X

    NT2X Ham Member QRZ Page

    Things are moving along. The team has gathered at King Mswati III International Airport[​IMG]
     
  7. NT2X

    NT2X Ham Member QRZ Page

    Hotel has sent two vehicles to pick them up. A truck for 230 kg of equipment and few of the passengers, the rest rides in sedan

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
     
    W1BR likes this.
  8. W1BR

    W1BR Ham Member QRZ Page

    Great ops. First class!!
     
  9. NT2X

    NT2X Ham Member QRZ Page

    The operation has began. They were on 40 meters last night and this morning were on 21 MHz CW. Solid signal into the USA, I managed a contact after about 20 min of calling in the EU pile-up

    Few images from the place of operation

    [​IMG]

    This is the area adjacent to the hotel. Not sure what direction this is but you get an idea. The accommodations looks good and plenty space for the beverages

    This cottage in the center, on the photo below, looks like their operating location, with the spider beam in front

    [​IMG]

    A classy place they checked themselves into, if you ask me :)

    The first antennas had been raised, but not without some trouble

    3DA0WW spider beam and a vertical
    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    So what's the trouble with raising antennas? You are looking at her. This benign-looking local doggie is actually a big-time saboteur. She instantly chewed though 2 of the guy wires, causing a vertical antenna to fall down after it was installed. Also chewed through the Spider Beam guy wire but was caught in time. Not enough trouble? Apparently there was more. Team guys caught her beginning to assault the coax cable.

    [​IMG]

    Imported wires and coaxes must have been irresistibly alluring to her palate. She had to be dragged away by the hotel personnel to some sort of aviary, but put up a fight on the way there.

    For the Ukrainian members of the team - a bit of home away from home.

    [​IMG]

    More to follow...
     
  10. NT2X

    NT2X Ham Member QRZ Page

    This is from this morning FT8 operation, on 21 MHz, first contacts
    [​IMG]
     
  11. NT2X

    NT2X Ham Member QRZ Page

    DXpedition backyard. Too bad they don't grow in New York State, where I live.

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    One of the operating locations is on the photo below. I wonder who brought the straight key and what for?

    [​IMG]

    Alex UT7UV reports lots of RF noise on HF bands. On one of the photos posted earlier, showing their cottage, there is a hill on the left with what looks like a cellular tower. Could it be the culprit? I sure hope they would run their lowband beverages away from that structure.
     
  12. NT2X

    NT2X Ham Member QRZ Page

    Few more photos are seeping in from the ops. Antennas are up. Some well-wishers suggested buying and applying cayenne pepper to protect guy wires against canine encroachments, but that would not be necessary. She has been confined for the duration of the operation, and poses no danger to hams worldwide.

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    The low-bands vertical is up as well. They have been on 80 meters and promise to be on 160 shortly

    [​IMG]

    The have had some trouble with K3 transceiver on FT8, where is the frequency was shifting by 10 Hz every period. They were made aware of the problem, although I don't know if this is something they can fix in the field

    [​IMG]
     
  13. NT2X

    NT2X Ham Member QRZ Page

    Breakfast is being served by Alex UT7UV. From the photo I can discern eggs sunny side up, home fries, olives, tomatoes and either local bacon or sausage. I highly doubt though that the bottle contains tea or even coffee. Ah, what the heck, they don't have that far to crawl to their operating positions...

    [​IMG]
     
  14. NT2X

    NT2X Ham Member QRZ Page

    Their location has internet, but it is not very reliable. They often see themselves connected when in reality they are not.

    This is what 12 meters (24 MHz) FT8 pile-up looks like from the other side. Some are expressing displeasure that 3DA0WW spends too much time on FT8 and not enough time on other modes. Frequently, though, CW pile-ups quickly run our of steam and they have to revert to where activity is.

    [​IMG]

    Hey, gang! Post your own impressions of the operation from this end of the pile-up; remarks, observations, "wants". Will surely pass them to the 3DA0WW team.

    More to follow

    73, Ed/NT2X
     
    Last edited: Oct 16, 2021
  15. NT2X

    NT2X Ham Member QRZ Page

    Beautiful South African sunsets. Enjoy!

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
     

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