SOUTH ORKNEY ISLANDS 2020

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The Northern California DX Foundation (http://www.ncdxf.org) has announced it will be a major contributor to the Perseverance DX Group's February-March 2020 DXpedition to the South Orkney Islands (https://sorkney.com/). "With the cost of ships, fuel, and freight continuing to rise the future of major DXpeditions rests in the hands of the worldwide DX community", the PDXG says. "We appreciate the
Foundation's generosity and their confidence in our project team and plans".
The primary purpose of NCDXF is to help fund well-organized DXpeditions to rare, difficult and expensive DXCC Entities like the South Orkneys (currently #16 on Club Log's Most Wanted List). Since 2016, NCDXF-supported DXpeditions activated five of the ten most-needed Entities, and during the last 47 years NCDXF has granted nearly $1.2 million to hundreds of DXpeditions.

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Ken, NG2H and Dave, WD5COV have joined the radio team, which now consists of 14 operators. The Northern California DX Foundation's significant grant of USD 30,000 will help cover the estimated project cost of USD 325,000. The fundraising drive began in mid-March, and "in just a short time we've received donations from 19 clubs/foundations and over 130 individuals", the team reported on 28 April. They "look forward to receiving support from the global DX community" - please visit https://sorkney.com/ and consider making a donation. Several team members will attend upcoming ham radio events, including Dayton Hamvention (17-19 May), Dallas Ham-Com (7-8 June), Ham Radio Friedrichshafen (21-23 June) and the Pacific Northwest DX Convention (9-11 August).

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VP8/VP8DXU is the callsign to be used by the Perseverance DX Group's team during their DXpedition to the South Orkney Islands next year. "Project plans continue to be developed", the team reported in thier Press Release #3 (26 May). "The radio and antenna strategies are complete and work is underway building detailed project plans and sourcing equipment". The fundraising campaign continues, and "a total of 29 clubs/foundations have committed to support the project and 178 individuals have shown their support" so far. "This is a good start, but we still have a long way to go in order to meet the goal of the team members funding 50% of the estimated project cost of $325,000(USD)" - please visit https://sorkney.com/ and consider making a donation. "As with previous PDXG DXpeditions, we are again offering a tiered structure for early LoTW upload (from the island) and free QSL cards at the $50 or greater level". [TNX K5GS]

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The project planning for the 2020 South Orkney Islands DXpedition continues on schedule, other companies have joined the corporate sponsors team, the "tent assembly project" is scheduled for 12-15 July, 80m SSB has been added to the operating plan and the fundraising campaign continues: "the next payment to 'Braveheart' is due in July and our shipping budget of USD 25,000 is tracking close to plan", the VP8/VP8DXU team reported on 27 June. "As of this writing, 30 clubs/foundations and 236 individuals have shown their support to the project. We have a long way to go in order to reach the goal of 50% team member funding of the estimated project cost of USD 325,000. If you need South Orkney for an ATNO, or plan to work us, we would appreciate your help, expenses must be paid before we sail". Please visit https://sorkney.com/ and consider making a donation. [TNX K5GS]

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Beginning on 24 October, team members will meet near Palo Alto (California) "to consolidate, integrate, test and pack the equipment for its transport to Punta Arenas, Chile".
Similar to their Ducie Island (VP6D) plan, "the antenna team designed a strategy that considers Signy Island's location and topography. Vertical Dipole Arrays will be directed towards Europe, over water. For other geographies the topology is less suitable for VDAs so instead Moxons will be used. Low band vertical antennas will be used for all geographies".
As for fundraising, 44 clubs/foundations and over 350 individuals have supported the project so far. "We still have a long way to go", the team says, "but we're encouraged by the response. If you or your club aren't listed on our website, please consider a donation".
Read the latest Press Release (#7, 11 October) on https://sorkney.com/.

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During the week of 21-27 October team members and helpers met in Placerville and Los Altos Hills, California to consolidate, assemble, test, and prepare the equipment for transport to Punta Arenas (Chile) and eventually to the South Orkney Islands. Antennas were assembled, tuned, tested and marked for easy transport and reassembly. All software was loaded on laptops, QSOs were entered into N1MM and test logs were uploaded to their log search server over the Inmarsat BGAN satellite network. Photos of the week are posted at: https://sorkney.com/equipment-consolidation-week/

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Alan Cheshire (VK6CQ) has joined the South Orkney Islands DXpedition team; he replaces WD5COV who has had to leave the project. Loaded into a sea container, the equipmentis on its way to Chile. It is expected to
arrive at Coronel on 21 December; subsequently, the shipment will be taken to Punta Arenas. The estimated cost of this project is 310,000-325,000 USD, with the most expensive line items being the ship, freight and cold weather shelters. As for fundraising, 49 clubs/foundations and over 400 individuals have supported the project so far. "While we still have a long way to go", the team reports, "we continue to make progress towards our goal of the radio team paying 50% of the project cost with sponsorships paying the remainder". The next major milestones include finalizing the radio operating schedule and assigning team member responsibilities for camp setup, radio and antenna installation. Read the latest Press Release (#8, 3 December) on https://sorkney.com/.

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The callsign for the Perseverance DX Group's DXpedition to the South Orkney Islands (https://sorkney.com/) will Be changed to VP8PJ. "In past years it was relatively easy to get a preferred VP8 call sign for the British Antarctic Territory", the team says.
"After a licensing administrative change", however, they were unable to obtain a VP8 callsign, and decided to use VP8/VP8DXU (VP8DXU is the Falkland Islands callsign issued to Doc, W7XU). But Alan, VK6CQ, "a recent addition to the team, holds the call sign VP8PJ that was issued to him for operation from the British Antarctic Territory. After submission of a copy of Alan's license, ARRL has issued us a new LoTW certificate for the use of this call from South Orkney for the duration of our expedition". [TNX K5GS]

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In their Press Release #10 (20 January, https://sorkney.com/) the South Orkney Islands DXpedition team reported that the final approval has been received ("landing and camping at South Orkney requires permission from several government agencies, and this multi step process takes months to complete"), the sea container arrived in Punta Arenas (Chile) on 13 January, and new companies have joined the corporate sponsors team.
The operating team "will follow a rotating 4 hours on and 8 hours off schedule", and "each team member is assigned tasks while on the island.
Major activities are prioritized and staffed accordingly. The Braveheart crew will help with the heavy lifting and other setup activities. After landing, designated teams will first erect the WeatherPort shelters, install the power grid, and furnish the sleeping and operating shelters. Meanwhile the antenna teams will install the HF antennas, followed by the low band antennas. Weather permitting, setup is expected to take approximately two days".
As for fundraising, 52 clubs/foundations, over 500 individuals and 60 Premier Sponsors have supported the project so far. "We appreciate the support from the worldwide DX and amateur radio community", the team says, and "we continue to make progress towards our goal of the radio team paying 50% of the project cost with sponsorships paying the remainder". One more press release is expected before the team leaves home in early February. [TNX K5GS]

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"The project is on schedule", the VP8PJ team reported on 2 February in their Press Release #11. Team members will begin arriving in Punta Arenas on 9 February. The "Braveheart" is scheduled to depart for
Signy Island, South Orkneys (AN-008) on 15 February. Shortly before she leaves Punta Arenas, the Garmin inReach personal locator will be activated.
You will be able to follow her journey during the estimated six days at sea to and from the island by going to https://sorkney.com/ (click on the "Follow Braveheart" tab).
- BAND PLAN: it can be found on the DXpedition's website (click "Operating Plan" in the dropdown menu under the "Island Operations" tab). Unless otherwise announced by the operator, all radio operations will be split. FT8 will use Fox/Hound mode on all bands except 60m.
- PROPAGATION: Stu, K6TU has made available his "Propagation As a Service" tool at no cost to you. Accessed from the DXpedition's website (click on the "K6TU Propagation Tools" tab), the tool is configured with VP8PJ's station and antenna specifications; all you have to do is to enter your Maidenhead Locator and your antenna configuration, and the tool will generate your customized propagation charts.
- REFLECTOR: it is available at Groups.io (https://groups.io/g/VP8PJ) for you to provide thoughtful and helpful information to the team (no requests for log checks, busted calls, not in log, or schedules). The pilots will monitor the reflector and summarize pertinent information by region. They will still perform their normal functions, though, so feel free to contact your regional pilot as found on https://sorkney.com/pilot-team/ should you wish not to post to the reflector.
- LOG SEARCH: assuming a stable satellite connection, QSOs will be uploaded to the log server in near real-time. You can monitor logging activity at https://www.m0urx.com/oqrs/logsearch.php?dxcallsign=VP8PJ. The OQRS will be available within ten days after the team leaves the island, as they need time to validate the logs. The QSL manager (M0URX) will work on Busted Calls and Not in Log issues after the log is validated. Please use the form on Tim's OQRS site, and do not send e-mails.
- FUNDRAISING: 55 clubs/foundations, over 600 individual donors and 73 Premier Sponsors have supported the project so far. Early donors (those who donate before 15 February) will receive their LoTW confirmation(s) usually within 24 hours of the contact(s). All other donors will receive their LoTW confirmation(s) when OQRS opens.
All donations are appreciated and will help offset the project's estimated cost of about 310,000 USD. "With the 'Braveheart' and freight bills paid and the equipment in Chile", the team says, "our last remaining major expenses are shipping the equipment back home, generator fuel, port fees, general surcharges, fuel surcharge and a few smaller but still significant expense items. It's not unusual for unexpected fees and other charges to materialize so we remain vigilant with the budget management". [TNX K5GS]

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The team will use callsign ZL1NA/MM during the voyage between Punta Arenas to Signy Island.
QSL also via M0URX.

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The "Braveheart" reached Signy, South Orkney Islands on 20 February. The team reported they had "ice to contend with regarding our planned landing area", and waited for the winds to change and blow the ice out. The following day they were able to get the equipment ashore and move it to their preferred site. The team anticipates that it will take two days (21 and 22 February) to set up camp.

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The team has been on the air from Signy, South Orkney Islands (AN-008) since late 22 February, and is working hard to hand out as many QSOs as possible under very cold, windy and snowy weather conditions. Having a consistent and stable connection with the available satellites has shown to be a challenge. The terrain on the island blocks the path to the satellite, and the team can only send the logs from the "Braveheart", as and when they can. So far the online log includes 14067 QSOs made from 23.56 UTC on 22 February until 19.00 UTC on 25 February:
https://www.m0urx.com/oqrs/logsearch.php?dxcallsign=VP8PJ
As for FT8, "RR73, but not in log" is a known issue and a "historic problem for DXpeditions", the QSL manager (M0URX) says. "10% of all FT8 QSOs will be dropped and cannot be entered into the log until after the DXpedition". The operators are aware of this problem, so "please no email, phone calls, texts, WhatsApp", M0URX says. The "Not in Log?" form on his website will be enabled when the log is consolidated at the end of the DXpedition. "If you are not in the log, make a security QSO if you can, or wait until this
function will be enabled".