The seas have been calm; we passed the half way point last night. The /MM station has been busy, with over 1,500 Qs in the log. Francesco IK0FVC is the primary SSB operator, various other operators have been working CW / FT8. Today we begin conducting planning meetings for the arrival.As a reminder, we are using WSJT-X in Fox/Hound. Callers “must” transmit above 1,000hz. Please note: we are not using MSHV or any other derivative. Additionally, we plan to operate split on the other modes. This morning we installed a 6m dipole and are making FT8 contacts, 50.313. Shogun has 3 custom built, double bottomed, aluminum skiffs, designed to minimize damage when transiting the reef. The boat crew developed their landing plan and they will help us with some of our major tasks. Cheers, GS K5GS
Author - Tim Beaumont
We had a late start from San Diego due to weather. After the first day of rough seas the ocean is now relatively calm and the team is in the ship’s routine.
Currently, we’re about 3.5 days from Clipperton. We estimate 2 days to move the equipment to the island and setup the campsites.
The Elecraft K4 / KPA-500 is being used on CW, SSB and FT8, last count just over 1000 QSOs in the log.
While underway we’re using N6WM/MM.
The /MM QSL card will include a Date / Time – Grid Square lookup table.
The Early Donor Program has been extended until the first QSO from the island is logged. Cheers, GS K5GS
In preparation for the H44WA QSL cards arriving here in two weeks time from now, I have printed off all QSO and address labels from OQRS. OQRS will now show the “QSL Status” as SENT. They will not be sent yet of course until i post the letters at the end of January all being well.
It seems that some of you are very famous and do not need a street number or street name on your letter? Please always make sure that you enter the address correctly on OQRS, this is the first line of ensuring that your QSL gets to you without any dramas. Considerable time and effort has gone into proof reading and correcting some of your addresses which would have failed to get to you had i left them.
I now have several boxes of envelopes ready for the printed cards to arrive.
After a bumpy first 12 hours the seas have calmed down and the team is getting into the Shogun’s daily routine.
Boat crew served a wonderful breakfast this morning, and posted today’s menu.
Over the next few days, we’ll have team meetings to discuss the: landing plan, campsite setup / management, and then radio setup / operations.
The maritime mobile station is up and running: N6WM/MM using the Elecraft K4D, KPA-500 and a 4BTV vertical antenna.
To answer a question we’ve received: The TX5S call sign is only valid for 15 days, we could not use it for the /MM operation.
Cheers, GS K5GS
San Diego – We began loading the boat at 8AM on Tuesday. Three helpers from Fishermen’s Landing, 4 or 5 crew from Shogun and several of the TX5S team. By noon almost all of the equipment was aboard with just the generators on the landing waiting to be brought aboard this morning.
Just a few more supplies to buy at Costco today and we leave on Thursday morning after our passports are inspected.
Have fun in the pileups, should be no problem to work us from Tucson.
Jan. 1, 2024 TX5S Clipperton Island DXpedition (NA-011) January 18 – February 1, 2024
This will be the last Press Release before we depart from San Diego on January 11, 2024. We will release periodic updates from the island.
The DXpedition equipment is packed and ready for the voyage to Clipperton Island, the team will begin assembling in San Diego on January 8th. Weather permitting, we expect a 6 day voyage each way, camp setup will take approximately 1.5 – 2 days.
Follow the Shogun
We expect to have a Garmin in Reach transmitting Shogun’s position at regular intervals. You may follow the ship at: https://share.garmin.com/TX5S Also reachable from the website: TX5S.net
Log Uploads
There will be two Starlink terminals on the island. Logs will be uploaded at least once a day to both Clublog and to M0URX.com ClubLog Live Stream will be available at: https://clublog.org/livestream/TX5S
Shortly after we leave the island, confirmation requests (OQRS) will be processed only at M0URX.com
Early donors that work us will receive their LoTW while we are on the island.
Not in Log and busted calls will be investigated by submitting the form at M0URX.com.
Please, no emails about Not in Log or busted calls. You must use the reporting form on the OQRS system.
K6TU Propagation Tools
Stu K6TU has again made his personalized propagation tools available at no charge during TX5S. You can click on the logo displayed at: https://clip.pdxg.net/k6tu-propagation-tools/
DR2W Propagation Tool
Another package of free to use propagation tools are available by clicking the link at:
https://clip.pdxg.net/dr2w-propagation-tool/
Groups.io Forum
The pilot team will use Groups.io to collect input from the DX community. A Groups.io account is required to post to the group. You may subscribe to the forum by sending an e-mail to: [email protected] You may also e-mail the pilots with your reports, although Groups.io is the preferred method.
Fundraising:
TX5S donations are only at ~53% of the goal. While adding a donation to your OQRS request is always appreciated, the cash flow challenge is real, the bills must be paid before we sail.
Since the last press release the following organizations have joined the project as sponsors:
– Liga Amadores Bras de Rádio Emissão (Brazil)
League of Brazilian Amateur Radio Broadcasters
– Motherlode DX Club (significant donation)
– The Carolina DX Association
We wish to thank the organizations and individuals who have already pledged their support to TX5S and ask those of you who have not yet processed a donation to consider supporting the project before we sail on January 11, 2024.
FT8 Operation: Unless otherwise noted, we will use WSJT-X in Fox/Hound mode. You must transmit above 1,000hz.
Special Thanks to Our Suppliers:
Equipment support from our suppliers was welcomed.
DX Engineering, Elecraft, RadioSport, ON5UR QSL Print Service, The DX Store, M0URX.com, The Daily DX , LBS, RigExpert, Spiderbeam and SQ1K Bart’s Shop (for providing the team clothing). Additionally, John N7CQQ provided the 240V amplifier power grid, and other items, from previous Clipperton DXpeditions.
Good luck in the pileups.
73,
Clipperton 2024 Team
Social Media: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tx5s2024
Website: TX5S.net
Groups.IO: Clipperton-2024
Questions to: [email protected]
The work from the November DXpedition H44WA to the Solomon Islands has continued and we are now pleased to report the QSL card has been designed by ON5UR Max and the QSL is now in the print room. We expect to be able to post cards out later in January. You can request your QSL on OQRS.
TX5S Clipperton Island DXpedition (NA-011) January 18 – February 1, 2024
Equipment Week: During the first week of December several team members will meet in Northern California to prepare the campsite and radio equipment for shipment to our boat Shogun which is docked at San Diego. We will inventory the tents and review their installation procedures, the Elecraft transceivers will be integrated with the computers, amplifiers, and the island’s WIFI environment will be configured and integrated with Starlink. The EME and satellite stations are separate turnkey packages. Shogun will provide meals on the island; we will provide the necessary campsite logistics and management.
Clipperton Island ATNO Day Planned Clipperton remains #26 most wanted in Europe and #37 most wanted globally. It will have been 11 years since the last major DXpedition to Clipperton we know there are many people that need it for an All Time New One and band fills.
Log Uploads We plan to upload the logs at least once a day to both Clublog and to M0URX.com
Shortly after we leave the island confirmation requests (OQRS) will be processed only at M0URX.com
Not in Log and busted calls will be investigated by submitting the form at M0URX.com. Please, no emails about Not in Log or busted calls, you must use the reporting form on the OQRS system.
FT8 Operation The team will use WSJT-X exclusively for all FT8 operation. We plan to use Fox / Hound on non-standard frequencies. Occasionally, we might start up on a standard frequency in normal mode, then QSY. See the website for the band plan.
Groups.io Forum The pilot team will be using Groups.io to collect input from the DX community. The process worked so well at VP8PJ we will again use it again. A Groups.io account is required to post to the group. You may subscribe to the forum by sending an e-mail to: [email protected]
Fundraising: The long-standing DX-pedition funding model is to split the DX-pedition cost equally between the expedition team and the DX community, i.e., organizations and individuals. TX5S donations are only at ~45% of the goal. While adding a donation to your OQRS request is always appreciated, the cash flow challenge is real, we must pay the bills before we sail, we need your help.
Since the last press release the following organizations have joined the project as sponsors:
– Northern California DX Club
– Fort Wayne DX Association
Sponsor logos appear on our website and will appear on the TX5S QSL card. We wish to thank the organizations and individuals who have already pledged their support to TX5S and ask those of you who have not yet processed a donation to consider supporting the project before we sail on January 11, 2024. After the books close, all sponsoring clubs / foundations will receive a TX5S financial summary.
Social Media: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tx5s2024 Website: TX5S.net
Groups.IO: Clipperton-2024 Questions to: [email protected] 73, Clipperton 2024 Team
DXpeditions need funding before the team depart to pay for expensive shipping of equipment and for the charter of a vessel to get to the island. Quite often these expensive costs need to be paid at least by means of a deposit up to 12 months before the DXpedition. The best way that we can raise these funds is by using the teams Donation page on their website. This not only helps the teams funds but also if you are in the log your QSL and LoTW will be sent for you automatically.
To help you understand some changes on OQRS you may find this helpful.
The Pre DXpedition DonationOnce you fill in the form on the donation page, the data on that form is automated onto an Excel file. Once the DXpedition sends me the first log update. I upload the Excel file to OQRS, this file is then populated to the relevant QSL address fields and your QSL is queued, while your LoTW QSL is automatically uploaded to LoTW. This is repeated for every log update that i receive. ALL your QSOs are covered by the donation.
It is the DXpeditions IT team that must prepare the Excel spreadsheet correctly. I will provide the Excel spreadsheet to the team with all the needed fields laid out correctly. High end DXpeditions may attract 1,500 personal donations and this has to be automated by the team. As you can imagine doing this manually would not be possible.
“Express LoTW” In recent times some DX’ers have said that they do not want a QSL, but want to request an early LoTW and not have to request a QSL card. So for this reason Express LoTW replaces the QSL request. You are not forced to pay for the LoTW upload and neither is it an extra QSL charge.
DO not use Express LoTW if you want a QSL card. You will NOT get one.
Express LoTW will upload all QSOs in the log so far…. It will NOT upload any Qs you make tomorrow.
“OQRS Direct + LoTW” If you want the QSL and LoTW this is the option you should use.
“OQRS Direct” – NON DXpedition logs are normally uploaded to LoTW when the log updates arrive, either by me or the log owner.
“Busted/Missing Call Requests” VERY IMPORTANT Please do not send ANY busted or missing call emails – Use the “NOT IN LOG” Button on OQRS. All inquiries are handled on the system. NO EMAILS.
Finally, ALWAYS without fail, CHECK the QSL Policy of the DXpedition that you are wanting a QSL confirmation. 1 or 2 dollars will not be enough and your letter will NOT be replied to.
Please also remember, Bespoke OQRS is self-funded so it is not always possible to do upgrades that you may think are relevant and/or worthwhile. A lot of thought is given to upgrades and in particular the cost implications that surround them.
With another 2,500 Incoming Bureau cards received yesterday, I am finding it very hard to understand why so many people find it so difficult to follow QSL information?
My QSL information on QRZ.com and on my website is very clear:
BUREAU QSL – OQRS IS ONLY BUREAU ROUTE
Request your QSL. Please don’t send it. Use OQRS only. (Online QSL Request System)
NO OTHER ROUTE – ONLY OQRS
“QSL Via” is not permitted by the RSGB and most of these call signs are not RSGB members. The cost to receive these cards is not viable. Please READ the QSL information for the station you need the card from. The biggest problem is the culture of the German and Japanese sending every QSO a QSL Via the Bureau. These days are long gone. The year is 2023, please get a grip!
There is clearly a need for the DARC and JARL to re-educate their members in how to initiate a Bureau QSL response.
You DO NOT just flood the Bureaus with QSL cards from every QSO in your log.
Go to QRZ.com – Check QSL Policy
If you need the QSL for a new band slot or Mode, or you would just like to receive the QSL, then USE OQRS to request the QSL for either DIRECT or BUREAU.