• [NEWS] – 

s21DX team report that an 18m mast check with accessories was completed. 17m and 12m VDA elements been prepared too. More redials for 160m antenna also added.

  • [NOVEMBER 18] –

A few days ago the team procured and tested a new 5KW genset. A quick reminder the S21DX IOTA AS-140 DXpedition is scheuled for 13-19 December 2024. Full details and previous (2022) DXpedition below. 

S21DX DXPEDITION WEBSITE

  • [OCTOBER 5] 

In preparation for the upcoming S21DX DXpedition, team members S21MOB and S21FIA tested their K9AY receive loop and made some QSOs on 80m – the TX antenna was a 1/4 wave vetical. 

  • [SEPTEMBER 16]

S21DX team member lineup is ready for their 2024 IOTA DXpedition. Many youth operators are participating this time who will gain substantial know-how of operating, antennas and propagation. Mainly they will have the start of doing DXing and handling pileupS. YL Raka who was volunteer for the last two S21DX activations in 2021 and 2022 will join this time as an operator, her callsign is S21YLJ. Pictures show a few team members busy making new antennas for low band DXing and the team – [tnx S21RC].

  • [AUGUST 18] –

Dates: December 13-19, 2024. Proposed team for Dhal Char, IOTA AS-140 2024 activity is: S21RED, S21YLJ, S21AM, S21FIA, S21TG, S21ACP, S21MK, S21D, S21DW, S21OM, S21MOB, S21RC, S21TQ, S21BK and S21OD. Check here for rigs, antennas, stations and more. 

  • [JUNE 29, 2024] – 

We are planning to activate another IOTA in this December. Our main goal this year is to focus on hands on training and capacity building for the local HAMs to understand different types of HF antenna, Propagation and Pileup handling. We hope in coming days we will see more HF station doing DXing from S2.

After checking all the islands in the two groups, considering Logistics, Transport and Cost we have decided to do the IOTA from the same island as before (Dhal Char, AS-140). The other nearby island is not suitable due to antenna orientation problem and also drinking water is not available in all of them, some are not inhabited.

Why not join the team – see details here (last date for application is 31st July). DX-World is very happy to once again be official news outlet for S21DX. Check out the 2022 activity documented below:

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  • [DECEMBER 17, 2022] by Team S21DX:

Thanks to all the supporting organisations and hams around the world. With your support we have managed to do around 10,000 QSOs from 10m to 160m. We admit our preparation was not adequate and we failed to meet many of your expectations.

From our side we did our level best, living in small tents, operating under tarp all night long with cold wind, had to rest the single small genset every few hours, going to the woods for natures call. Carrying drinking water from km away where there is a tube-well in a small village. And volunteers cooking meal for us.

Challenges were mainly low power, inexperienced (to handle pileup, HF propagation etc) operator etc. As you already know there are very few active HF stations in Bangladesh (if any at all), we tried to give some S2 QSOs to the world. We may have failed many – but at least we made 10000 happy. Something is better than nothing.

Please remember that it’s a small local initiative with small budget. Many of you sent us email/spot suggesting propagation etc, we highly appreciate that. Those criticising and swearing in the cluster, please move on – find another better station to QSO. Or you can go out of the comfort of your house and start operating in remote places.

We should have mentioned Ken JN7FAH – who persuaded us to active 160m. We have done some QSO on 160m, thanks goes to Ken though he couldn’t manage a QSO.

We might activate another island if we feel for it someday in the future, till then – stay safe, happy DX,

73/88, S21RC
Dhal Char, Bhola, Bangladesh.
S21DX, AS-140, NL51iu

  • [DECEMBER 16 @ 1800z] –

S21DX is now QRT. Special thanks to team member Raka for all the pictures showing the DXpedition in full flow. 

Note: S21RC has been active on 160m FT8 after 18:00z. This is because the S21DX license expired at that time, but the ops are still in situ, therefore some activity on Top Band taking place for the moment. 

  • [DECEMBER 16 @ 0700z] –

The team are winding down operations today and plan to QRT soon. Check here to see if you’re in the current log upload. 

Today is also "Victory Day” in Bangladesh and here’s a little video taken by S21RC.

Video Play
  • [DECEMBER 14 @ 18:50z] –

Fazlay S21RC updates DX-World readers with the following news:

  • Internet connection is not so good. 
  • Due to location difficulties (remote area and island) it took longer than expected to install all antennas.
  • Two linear amplifiers had earlier failed, although both now appear to be fixed and working again.
  • New ham ops within the group have been very good help installing antennas, setting up stations etc, but they are not trained for HF pileups.
  • S21AM & S21RC doing most of the SSB QSOs.
  • 160m antenna is ready.
  • 12m BPF failed.
  • Team trying their best to give you QSO. 
  • [DECEMBER 14 @ 1355z] –

Antenna checking and repairs earlier today on the island. A reminder that S21DX is QRV until December 16th. Listen to S21DX on 10m SSB. 

Credit: Raka