[QSL NEWS] –
Our reliable QSL manager has carefully checked all log requests and posted a revised log on Club Log online. Duplicate QSOs within a few minutes have been removed. Several hundred LoTW confirmations have also been uploaded for our supporters and previous OQRS requests via PayPal. Unfortunately, it is not possible to upload thousands of QSOs at once, so this will take some time. The LoTW upload for all QSOs will be completed by April 2026 at the latest.
[OCTOBER 6] –
Our DXpedition is slowly coming to an end. On Monday afternoon local time, we will dismantle the beam and the large vertical antenna. The other antennas will remain in place for a few more hours.
Unfortunately, Murphy was on board this time. The beam and the fifth station were missing for the entire first week, and in the second week, the sun caused radio conditions to Europe and the USA on the higher bands at distances of over 10,000 km to come to a virtual standstill for a few days.
The internet was mostly readily available and the 120V power supply was quite stable throughout. The Rachel Beach Resort was well equipped with spacious rooms, kitchenettes, showers, and balconies. The resort was also quite suitable for propagation, being located directly on the sea, and we are grateful for the opportunity to set up antennas and conduct a radio expedition from here. Weather-wise, we had pleasant temperatures, around 29 degrees Celsius during the day and at night, but also heavy rain and wind.
With a total of over 90,000 QSOs from more than 160 DXCC areas and over 20,000 unique stations, we are very satisfied with the result. On Tuesday, we will return via Guam and Tokyo. After our arrival in Germany, the log will be checked for accuracy and a final version will be made available on Club Log for the OQRS. Our sponsors will then receive their LoTW confirmation shortly. The QSL cards should be printed in about four weeks, and then our QSL manager will begin shipping them according to priority. Generous sponsors will receive a small photo book, which should be available in early December.
Thank you from our team of nine to everyone who supported us and worked with us.
[PICS] –
With ~70,000 QSOs in the V6D log, and QRV until October 6th, a few new pictures were recently added to the team’s website. Here’s a small selection courtesy of V6D crew.
[OCTOBER 1 @ 0230Z] –
Conditions on the high bands are slowly improving again, but there is some news that will not please most people. It concerns 160m. Our 18m high vertical antenna for 80 and 160m is about 15m away from the shack and the raised radial is 12m. It performs very well on both bands and is rather good as a receiving antenna too.
The K4 transceivers are excellent. However, when transmitting on 160m, there is extreme RF interference on the touch panel display of the other K4s, which then become somewhat confused and can no longer be operated. This happens at power levels of just over 100 watts and only on 160m. Everyone knows how sensitive touch switches are to RF. Perhaps Elecraft could provide a way to disable the touch function of the display for this special case with multiple transmitting stations during a DXpedition and instead use only an RF mouse connected via USB on the front panel, as with a laptop?
We are well aware of how important 160m is and how many people are waiting for a New One there. We will try to be on 160m in FT8 tonight, especially from 11 to 13 for USA and from 17 to 19 UTC for Europe. Frequency 1839, 1840 or 1844 kHz.
[SEPTEMBER 30 @ 2230Z] –
After a week’s delay, we were able to pick up our missing luggage at TKK airport on Monday. The wire beam and the fifth station were set up on the same day. Unfortunately, the good conditions on the high bands now seem to be over.
All antennas have good takeoff to Europe, the USA, Central America, and Japan. Out of consideration for other guests at the resort, however, the antennas had to be set up in a very confined space, which sometimes causes interference between them. This is particularly disruptive in poor conditions.
We are QRV on all bands from 160 to 6 (except 60 ). At the halfway point after one week, we have logged over 50,000 QSOs. The team is in good spirits. The internet is not always stable. However, we are unable to respond to the many emails with log inquiries, comments, and requests. Please note that the livestream does not replace the log at Club Log. After a QSO, please wait at least 24 hours for the next correct log update. [Tnx DL7VEE]
[SEPTEMBER 25]
Ronny, DG2RON reports the missing luggage has finally arrived! Now the team can set up the LZ-Beam. The team have also made well over 50K QSOs – see log.
[SEPTEMBER 25] –
After three days, we have over 20,000 QSOs in the log, even though we are not yet QRV on all bands.
Unfortunately, the missing luggage with the two-element wire beam and the fifth station has not yet arrived. We check with TKK Airport on Chuuk every day. That’s why we improvised today and set up additional single-band wire antennas for 160, 17, and 10m using our spare equipment. We will try 160m tonight.
The weather is hot and humid with occasional storms and heavy rain.
Our log is online at Club Log and is updated at least once a day. Most of the time, the V6D livestream runs with all four stations. The QSOs currently being made are displayed with a delay of a few seconds. One station is used most of the day for CQ in FT8 on 50.313 MHz. We are very pleased with the good openings on 6m towards Japan and China. 80m is also working quite well.
The team is in good shape and highly motivated, and is still hoping for the arrival of the missing radio equipment. The two pieces of luggage are at Tokyo Haneda Airport. It is not easy to organize forwarding from here.
[SEPTEMBER 23]
Our team arrived on Weno Island on September 22 as planned. However, there was a hacker attack on BER Airport and other airports. As a result, not all flights could be processed electronically, and two of our suitcases got stuck in transit in Helsinki. These included the two-element wire beam and technical equipment. Hopefully, they will be delivered in two days.
The temperatures are very hot and sweaty. The QTH is comfortable with air condition, but self-catering. Shopping in the few village stores with a rental car on very bad roads is a challenge. Nevertheless, we were able to set up four stations and install and calibrate the first single antennas using the 12 and 14m high fiberglass Spiderbeam masts. A 30-meter loop, a 40-meter triple leg, and loops for 15 and 6 meters. Other bands were not used on the first day. The signals from all over the world were good. At the same time, we are working with a livestream from Club Log.
Today, the planned 80-meter vertical is to be set up during the day.
In addition, please don’t spam us with emails about the log. No corrections during the expedition please. Simple – work us again.
[SEPTEMBER 22 @ 0600z] –
Ronny DG2RON reports the team reached Chuuk safely. They are now at Rachel’s Beach Resort. Since the LZ-Beam is missing, they will build 1-2 dipoles for the higher bands and the GP for 30m, 40m and 80m. Club Log
[SEPTEMBER 21] –
Team member Ronny, DG2RON reports the group have arrived in Tokyo on time. However, a suitcase is missing, as well as a ski-bag containing the LZ-Beam. He says these were not loaded in Helsinki – reason: the recent cyber attack on some European airport check-in desks. They fly to Guam next.
[SEPTEMBER 18] –
With both PJ7K and E44OM finishing their DXpeditions on September 22nd, a reminder that V6D starts their activity that day. Visit their webpage for full details. Logsearch will be here. News updates and pictures will also be posted on DX-WORLD within this dedicated post.
[SEPTEMBER 10] –
We are currently in the final stages of distributing luggage to team members throughout Germany. Our well-organized, "light” DXpedition to Micronesia begins in 10 days. But what does "light” mean? We will not be shipping any luggage or containers in advance. Each participant will carry well over 20 kg of radio equipment. Since it is warm in V6, this means only about 6 kg of personal luggage. Our group is flying from Berlin via Helsinki, Tokyo and Guam to Chuuk. All members have received their ESTA authorization, which is a required for entry into Guam.
We are very pleased to have received support for the DXpedition from Elecraft. We will now mainly use the excellent K4 transceivers as our station transceivers. Apart from the support for the DXpedition, several team members have invested heavily in upgrading their equipment. Most of the extensive technical equipment is privately owned by the team members.
This time, we are bringing one of the flexible 18m long Spiderbeam fiberglass masts for the 80 m and 160 m antennas. We will therefore switch between 80m and 160m at night. The remaining low-band antennas will be implemented with robust 12m and 14m long fiberglass poles from Spiderbeam for wire loops and verticals. The 6m antenna will also be mounted on one of these masts. The high-band antenna (20m to 10m) is our full-size 2-element wire antenna LZAW10-5 from LZ ANTENNA. With the LBS Pentaplexer, we can operate 3 to 4 high bands simultaneously with up to 400 watts.
As you know, we always try to provide attractive QSL cards. We aim to print these within four weeks after the expedition. We expect to start QSL traffic sometimes in November. Requests via OQRS are preferred, with paid direct cards being processed first. Free bureau cards can also be requested via QQRS. However, these requests will be processed after the direct applications. Of course, we also use LoTW. Direct LoTW requests will be processed immediately, the complete log will be uploaded to LoTW 6 months after the DXPedition. Hams who donate 10 USD or € will automatically be published on our homepage and receive their QSL as soon as the cards are printed.
All team members are looking forward to the DXpedition and to bringing you many QSOs on all bands and modes. See you on the bands!
By Rolf, DL7VEE.
Our DXpedition team (HU1DL, P29RO, T2C, C21MM) is ready for the next challenge. Although the sunspot maximum is gradually declining, we will return to the Pacific and travel to the Federated States of Micronesia (V6). This is a semi-rare DXCC wanted globally, particularly in North America and Europe, ranking well within the Top 100.
Flights and QTH are already secured. The timeframe for this larger yet lightweight expedition is set from September 22 to October 6, 2025.
The team includes nine operators DG2RON, DJ7TO, DJ9KH, DK5WL, DL1KWK, DL2RNS, DL4SVA, DL7JOM, DL7VEE. We are planning to operate 5 stations 24/7 from 160m to 6m in CW, SSB, FT8 and RTTY. 60m is not allowed. We use only carefully tested high-quality equipment, based on the experience of our previous expeditions. On the high bands we will utilize our reliable 2-element full size wire beam from LZ ANTENNA in combination with a pentaplexer, allowing us to operate on up to four high bands simultaneously.
The transceivers are K3S and K4 from Elecraft. All mostly private owned equipment, including small amplifiers from various manufacturers, will be with us during the flights to prevent transport damage. The fiberglass poles and the HD aluminium telescopic mast for the beam are manufactured by Spiderbeam. Highflexx 7 is the used coax cable.
More information and call sign will be available on our website soon. Stay tuned!
@ C21MM
@ T2C
