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January 6, 2009
Desecheo 2009 Press release #3
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

During the week of December 17-21, six members of the February 2009 Desecheo DXpedition team met in Puerto Rico. The team spent the first evening with local DXers and members of the Puerto Rico Amateur Radio League and enjoyed a wonderful dinner and a night of fellowship. The hospitality was gracious and very much appreciated.

The following day the team visited US Fish and Wildlife Headquarters in Boqueron and met with the Chief Refuge Manager and law enforcement personnel. Later that day, the DXpedition team members underwent UXO (unexploded ordnance) training. The following morning, Friday, Dec. 19th, they accompanied U.S. Fish & Wildlife law enforcement and UXO personnel to Desecheo. The campsite and antenna fields were thoroughly swept for UXO and several areas were found suspicious. These areas were clearly marked, mapped by GPS and declared off limits for the DXpedition. USFWS will allow antennas on the ridge above the helicopter pad, thus providing a clear shot to EU, NA and JA. Other antennas will be located on the beach below the helicopter pad. The only radio operation that was conducted was to test a 2m link to Puerto Rico. After three hours on the Island, the team endured a rough passage back to the mainland.

Logistics and staging of equipment is ongoing and will be complete before the team arrives in Puerto Rico on Feb. 7th. The team will transit to Desecheo on Feb. 12 to begin the two-week operation. Eight HF stations plus 6 meters will be operational. An incredible array of antennas has been planned. Transportation and logistics have been arranged for a fast deployment and quick appearance on the air.

The Desecheo 2009 team wishes to thank our sponsors for their generous support. Special thanks go to North American and Japanese DX clubs and individual DXers. Their support has been especially noteworthy.

Fundraising continues….if you or your Club would like to help out, please go to www.kp5.us/help.htm. While on the team website, click the "Pictures" menu button and check out the pictures taken on the recent reconnaissance trip to Desecheo.

73,

Co-leaders:
Bob Allphin, K4UEE
Glenn Johnson, WØGJ

Just a very small report this time. No E44M in the log yet, though I have worked E4 on many bands before. I would like to work them on RTTY, and did have a listen on Friday, but I couldn’t hear them. However, UK9AA was on 30M RTTY at the same time as E44M. I worked him for #174 on RTTY. UK9AA has been worked a few times before on 6M and 10M, so nice to work him again. A few minutes later, 3B8CF was spotted on 40M. I have 3B8 on many bands, but not 40M. After a few minutes in the pile-up, he was in the log (#223 40M).

Soundclips:

• 3B8CF 40M CW – 4th band worked

I’m starting the year with a little different post, at least compared to the last few months. The last week it has been pretty cold, ranging from -10C to -20C most of the time, and the ice has built up on my antennas and the trees around. This makes for several nice motives. Yesterday I took a lot of pictures out in the cold. Today I picked out the best, and I have now uploaded them to a new album which is called "Winter In Norway 2". Go here and enjoy.

And to all my readers out there, I wish all of you a Happy New Year with hopes that the new year will bring a lot of DX  in your log!

JD1BLY was spotted Monday morning on 30M, but nothing heard here. A few hours later, he was again spotted, this time on 40M. I quickly checked the band, and there he was, simplex with a strong signal. After a few calls, he was logged for a new one on 40M (#221). KP2/NY6X was also worked on 40M with a nice signal. An hour later, BD4KUU was cq'ing. Signal was up and down, but he copied me after a few tries and yet another new one on 40M  (#222). Conditions sounded very good this morning, so I found a quiet freuqency and called for some DX. N2ED answered my first call. Ed was 599 here, and I worked him 3 times before on others bands. Always nice to work people on new bands. W2LNB Phil was worked on the second band. I worked him on 30M a few weeks back. K4NK Les gave me a new state with SC (#34). W2SF Bob was worked on band number 4. I have worked him many times, but this was a first on 40M. VE3EJ John was the strongest today. He was 20 over. K5FA Fred called in from MS and gave me another new state today (#35). 16 USA stations and 2 VE stations made it into the log today. K1ZZI Ralph was the last one with his MonstIR stack.

An hour later, Martin KH6MB was calling on 40M. I worked him for our third band. I worked him on 30M and 20M back in August. Last QSO on Monday, was OX3YY on 30M.

Soundclips:

• JD1BLY 40M CW
• BD4KUU 40M CW
• KP2/NY6X 40M CW

Finally a few days off and some more time for radio. Conditions seemed fairly good on Thursday. The first one in the log was FK8CP Remi on 40M (#219) CW. Then I noticed XW1B was on RTTY on 20M, I was too late, but found VR2XMT Charlie instead and worked him for  a new one on RTTY (#172). Several years ago, I heard Charlie on 6M, but I couldn’t work him. Hopefully when 6M opens again for F2, he’ll get in my log. WH6R was CQ’ing with not too many takers on 40M CW. I got him after repeating my call several times. He was in for hours. Listen to him below. The last new one was YI9AJ on 40M (#220) CW.

On Friday XW1B was on again. This time on 40M RTTY (#173). He was easily worked, and had a BIG signal as usual. E21EJC was CQ’ing down on CW with a nice signal. I gave him a call and worked him easily. I decided I wanted to try a few calls, since band conditions seemed fairly good. The first to answer was K6KII Cliff. Quickly followed by 4 other California stations. The other stations worked were W6AUG, AE6RS, K6YK and W6FI. W6FI was the strongest signal and were peaking 599. I had a quick try on 30M and worked WS1F Bob again. I worked him on 17M back in 1999. W2MF Manny called in with a good signal. The last QSO in the log was F5BTT Pierre, who visited my homepage and left a message in my guestbook. You had a nice signal Pierre, and I hope to work you again on other bands.

Soundclips:

• FK8CP 40M CW – new on 40M
• YI9AJ 40M CW – new on 40M
• E21EJC 40M CW
• WH6R 40M CW
• W6FI 40M CW – Mike, QSB and lots of noise on the band

On LoTW I got another new one confirmed with UN7GCE. Total now is 197. Other nice ones confirmed are VK9CXJ, V26K, VP2EDL and JE6UWU who I worked on 30M last weekend.