"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]