Northern California DX Foundation www.ncdxf.org Spring/Summer 2005 FT5XO: Another low-fat, high-fiber DXpedition by James Brooks, 9V1YC , FT5XO DXpedition leader Kerguelen is not exactly the most Six years later in popular island in the world to visit. mid-2003 the idea came It’s not near anywhere, it’s not on the back out of my head. It way to anywhere and it’s not really had been a year since anywhere anyone would want to go the VP8THU-VP8GEO kto. It’s a place where the wind can DXpedition and I began reach typhoon strength on any ordi- to wonder if the same nary day and it’s a place where the lightweight method weather is almost always cold, wet could be applied to Ker- and miserable. guelen. So, with Bernie, In fact, Kerguelen is so unpopular HB9ASZ, working on that even Antarctica gets more visitors. the landing permits So why would anyone want to go and permission, myself to Kerguelen? Because of DXCC, working on logistics and finances, we the normal DXpedition load. Small that why. began the long, arduous process of radios, small antennas, small genera- Kerguelen ranks as one of the most staging a major Antarctic DXpedition tors, low power — even if it meant wanted DXCC entities (even higher to the end of the world. our signal was going to be weak to than Peter I in the USA) and that the world — that would just have to makes it a perfect spot for the Micro- Planning do. In exchange, we would take the Lite Penguins DXpedition team. Hard These trips are never easy. From to reach, cold climate and very rare. a logistical standpoint they present Our team’s specialty. a major challenge in terms of safety, INSIDE THIS ISSUE I came up with the idea to activate environmental restrictions and travel FT5XO: Another low-fat, Kerguelen in 1997 when I was given distance and, from an administrative high fiber DXpedition ........1 a chance opportunity on the way back level, they require many, many years from Heard Island. We only stopped of patience. Heavy Hitters for 2004 .....4 briefly at Kerguelen, and by a stroke Because of these difficulties, our Visalia 2005 .......................5 of luck I was given a free helicopter “micro-lite” approach to Antarctic ride to an old, unused whaling sta- DXpeditioning was born. Safety and VU4 DXpedition 2004 tion about 10 minutes flight from the environment concerns outweigh all — a challenge activity .......6 French base. Only one other VKØIR others when dealing with this for- 3YØX-2005 – The one team member was with me at the time midable region of the world, so the that got away! .................10 (KK6EK), so it remained a bit of a ability to get on and off an island in a secret for many years. I “filed” this rapid manner with minimal hardware 6OØCW — Somalia potential DXpedition site away in my is key. DXpedition .....................12 head as place to think about in the For the VP8 trip we did every- Video Lending Library .....15 future. thing we could to “trim the fat” off Northern California DX Foundation P.O. Box 1328 Los Altos, CA 94023-1328 USA Phone 707/794-9801 • Fax 707/794-8033 www.ncdxf.org President ...............Len Geraldi, K6ANP [email protected] Vice President ......Al Burnham, K6RIM [email protected] Secretary .............Tom McShane, NW6P [email protected] Treasurer ...........Bruce Butler, W6OSP [email protected] Directors .............. Ken Anderson, K6TA Three of the Microl-Lite Penguins shoveling through the SSB pileups at [email protected] FT5XO. James Brooks, 9V1YC (in baseball cap), team doctor Lew Sayre, W7EW (in plaid shirt) and John Sluymer, VE3EJ. Rusty Epps, W6OAT [email protected] best operators we could find. Essen- “exclusive sponsor,” which would Steve Merchant, K6AW tially, 6dB less signal would have to mean that nobody else (such as com- [email protected] be made up with 30dB more operator. mercial equipment manufacturers) Dave Pugatch, KI6WF The dangerous islands of South could contribute. In exchange for [email protected] Sandwich were the first where this the exclusivity they would give us a Chuck Ternes, N6OJ idea was tried: no heavy amplifiers, much larger sum of money than had [email protected] no large low-band antennas and no ever been given before. This ex- Tim Totten, N4GN big transceivers. VP8THU was ap- change had worked well for us on the [email protected] proached with a lightning strike 4-day VP8THU-VP8GEO trip in 2002, and M. Glenn Vinson, W6OTC stay and it worked. Two days later we they were pleased to help us again. [email protected] landed on the slightly less dangerous The NCDXF board especially Advisors ............ Lou Beaudet, K6TMB island of South Georgia, and contin- liked our idea to keep things small Howard Brainen, WZ6Z ued with VP8GEO. and easy. After all, the “micro-lite” Bob Fabry, N6EK In many ways, South Georgia and method had been tried and tested Bob Ferrero, W6RJ Kerguelen are quite similar: Both before, and there was no reason to are tough to reach Antarctic destina- believe it wouldn’t work again. They Peter Jennings, AB6WM/VE3SUN tions, but with calm, safe anchor- were also reassured when we pre- Dave Leeson, W6NL ages and a higher safety margin that sented a detailed plan, an experienced Steve Lund, K6UM allows a little more weight allow- team and a good, reliable ship. Charlie Mason, W4NJK ance. When planning the Kerguelen That of course meant the Brave- Dick Wilson, K6LRN trip we decided to continue with the heart, the same ship used for ZL9CI, Editor .................... Steve Thomas, N6ST vertical antenna approach, but this VP6DI, VP8THU and VP8GEO trips. [email protected] time stretch ourselves a little by tak- An experienced crew, knowledgeable Graphic Designer .................Debi Shank ing some small amplifiers and two in the workings and needs of a DXpe- Webmaster ..........Doug Bender, WW6D larger transceivers to help us out on dition was essential for a trip like this, Newsletter produced at WorldRadio the low-bands. Though we departed and I could think of no better choice. slightly from the 100W-only rule on We arranged to board the ship in all stations, our overall weight load Durban, South Africa, and planned still stayed very manageable. to sail her across to Kerguelen. After Logistical issues aside, there is that, we were to continue with the another big problem with Antarctic southern ocean currents to Fremantle DXpeditions: money. So, in early (Perth) in Australia where we would 2004 with the help of Trey, N5KO, end our journey. (Trying to sail we approached the NCDXF for fund- against the strong ocean current and ing. The idea was for them to be an return to South Africa would have Page 2 Northern California DX Foundation Newsletter been extremely rough, uncomfortable er to enter the territory, nor does one a large 6M Yagi that was to be used and time consuming.) need to be a French citizen to be in exclusively for EME. Assembly was Another of the Micro-Lite Pen- the group. TAAF actually welcomes a bit difficult due to the strong winds, guins DXpedition Team credos is that tourism, but unfortunately the bureau- but by the morning of 20 March we we have no websites, no pilots and no cratic nature of the French govern- were on the air! online logs. This is a significant de- ment stretches the permit process into Stations consisted of three Ken- parture from what most DXers have years and it costs a team like ours wood TS-50 transceivers for CW come to expect from a major opera- almost $10,000 in landing fees. (same units used during the VP8 tion like this. At first, some DXers We arrived safely at Kerguelen on trip), plus an Icom 756 Pro and an could not quite understand why we 19 March after smooth sailing for just FT1000MP for SSB. We also had a did this, but in time most understood. We feel that the Internet and all the electronic publicity available to DX- ers today was gradually draining the whole DXpedition experience. A step backwards into the true Ham spirit of DX is what we are all about. The old fashioned way of DXing would strictly apply, and everyone at home would have to keep a keen ear out to work us, and our weaker-than-aver- age signals. The FT5XO team. (from left) VK6DXI, VE3EJ, W3WL, SP5XVY, N6MZ, Though I was sad that my old 9V1YC, GIØNWG, W7EW, HB9ASZ, MØDXR, NØTT and AG9A. friend Trey, N5KO, could not make the trip due to family commitments, I under 10 days. After a brief check in Yaesu FT897D for the EME station, did end up assembling a fine team of at the French base for passports and which was to be manned by our team 12 very experienced operators, most administrative matters, the Brave- doctor, Lew, W7EW. Finally, at 0624 of whom were on the South Atlantic heart proceeded to our DXpedition UTC on March 20, we were on the air “Micro-Lite” trip in 2002. location, which was at the old whal- with the call FT5XO. ing station of Port Jeanne d’Arc about Overall, more than half of all our Departure 40 km to the southwest. QSOs were with stations from Eu- On 9 March, after a wonderful The DXpedition campsite at rope. That was followed by Japan, the send-off from the Ham community Port Jeanne d’Arc was found to be USA and the rest of Asia. This very in Durban we set out for Kerguelen perfect, with a beautifully restored unequal distribution was due mostly — directly into the famous rough seas house containing beds, heaters, to propagation, distance and general of the southern ocean.