[NEWS UPDATE] – by VU2RS
DXers and IOTA chasers, get ready for an exciting opportunity! A team of talented radio operators is gearing up to reactivate Arnala Island (AS-169), Maharashtra, from May 28th to 31st, 2025.
— The Team
Led by experienced operators Sarath (VU2RS), Adersh (VU3WEW), Girish (VU3GDS), Anil (VU3DXA), Renju Gopi (VU3TPW), Jatin Shah (VU2KTW), and Huzefa Merchant (VU2HIT), this team is all set to make some new IOTA contacts.
— A Big Thank You for Your Support!
The team is seeking help to procure essential equipment, including amplifiers and band pass filters. Your contribution will not only make this expedition a success but also benefit future endeavors. Donate via PayPal: sarath@lven.in.
— Green Signal from Authorities!
The team has received the green signal from W.P.C, Government of India, and secured all necessary local permits. Local hams Huzefa Merchant (VU2HIT) and Jatin Shah (VU2KTW) have been instrumental in setting up arrangements on the island.
— Get Ready to Catch ‘Em on the Air!
With the callsign AU2M, the team will be active on various bands. Stay tuned and visit their website for updates. Let’s make this expedition a memorable one!
[MARCH 6] – by VU2RS
Our license application has been successful, and we’re expecting to receive it within the next couple of days.
Our team is super excited to set up three stations, featuring a hexbeam, 10m beam, 6m beam, and two vertical antennas. We’ve had numerous requests for 6m operations, and we’ll be monitoring and active on this band when conditions permit.
We’ll be operating on CW, SSB, and Digital modes, but we’ll adjust our modes based on propagation conditions to maximize contacts. Our goal is to make as many contacts as possible with the amateur radio community.
To take our setup to the next level, we’re working hard to include at least two amplifiers. Hopefully, we’ll also receive support for band-pass filters, which will significantly improve our station’s performance.
We’re grateful for the support we’ve received so far and invite you to be a part of our adventure! If you’d like to contribute or stay updated on our progress, please visit our website: https://vu2rs.com/au2m or email me directly at sara@vu2rs.com.
Stay tuned for more updates on our AU2M Arnala IOTA Reactivation project!
[FEBRUARY 19] –
DX India Foundation is heading to Arnala island, AS-169 from May 29th to June 1st, 2025! This time, we’ll be operating under the callsign AU2M (Proposed Callsign).
This is a rare opportunity for IOTA enthusiasts around the world to log this highly sought-after entity, currently the most wanted IOTA in India! Our team has worked tirelessly to make this activation happen, and we can’t wait to share it with you!
Meet the Dream Team!
We’re proud to have an experienced team on board, including:
Sarath, VU2RS
Aderesh, VU3WEW
Anil, VU3DXA
Renju, VU3TPW
Girish, VU3GDS
Huzefa Merchant, VU2HIT (Local Support)
Jatin Shah, VU2KWJ (Local Support)
As part of our mission to train and mentor other radio hams, we invited Huzefa and Jatin to join us on this adventure.
Here’s the Lowdown on QSL and Donations:
To help cover our costs, we’ve set the OQRS fee at $10 and Express LoTW at $5.
"We want to be transparent – we’re not in this to make a profit,” says Sarath. "Any support you give us will go directly towards funding future DXpeditions and building a contest station in India.”
