Author - Tim Beaumont

As is now commonly known already via most social media outlets, the callsign for the 2012 St Paul Island Dxpedition is *CY9M*.

Since the first press release, progress continues at a fast rate of knots. It’s clear to see, with clubs and organisations joining our project, that demand for this DXCC entity is significantly higher than many operators perhaps realise. We thank each and everyone who supports this exciting expedition.

The website is now launched. Credit indeed to the team behind DX Coffee<http://www.dxcoffee.com/eng/>for
this important aspect of the CY9M journey. You may want to use the logo (designed by Jen, wife of team member AB5EB) for your personal website and support.

Twitter will also be used by various team members as we traverse – join and follow us.

Website: *http://www.cy9m.com/*
Twitter: *https://twitter.com/#!/CY9M*

(Editor) United Radio QSL Bureau are proud to be associated with this project. You can be sure that we will be working hard to give the team the support they need following this expedition.

TN2T QSL cards have arrived from the print room. Cards have been posted over a few days.

24/02/2012 502 letters posted European Union.
25/02/2012 500 letters posted Rest of World.
27/02/2012 1,172 letters posted for Japan & USA.
GDXF & DDXG Sponsor packages posted

Letters & OQRS that arrived in the last 3 days will be sorted and posted during the next few days.

United Radio QSL Bureau have a number of IRC’s For Sale worldwide.

Steve, 9M6DXX, will be operating as 9M8Z from Sarawak (DXCC East Malaysia, IOTA OC-088) once again from 23 to 28 March, including a single-operator all-band high-power entry in the CQ WPX SSB contest on 24 / 25 March.

QSL via Tim, M0URX, direct (SAE plus $2 or 1 new IRC), via the bureau, LoTW, or OQRS (see m0urx.com/oqrs).

73, Steve, 9M6DXX / 9M8Z

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?>A new QSL card has been designed for John 9M6XRO. Ten thousand QSL cards have been sent out in the last four years so it is time to have a new design. Cards will be available from March.

Press Release #1
St Paul Island is called the ”Graveyard of the Gulf” and that is where an international, seasoned team of DXers will be heading to later this year.

Plans are well under way for a 10-man team to activate this now wanted DXCC entity, which was last on air in 2005. When you consider most needed entities (perhaps out with the Top 10) are activated every five years or so, it is now time to mount a serious effort from CY9.

Most operators will be unaware that in 2010, St Paul Island became the highest mover on DX Magazines most wanted list; from #77 to #47. Today, according to that list and ClubLog, CY9 is more needed than entities such as Tokelau (ZK3) or PY0T (Trindade & Martim Vaz).

The team consists of Mike AB5EB, Oscar EA1DR, George EA2TA, Christian EA3NT, Simon IZ7ATN, Col MM0NDX, Bjorn SM0MDG, Vicky SV2KBS, Steve VA3FM and Kevin VE3EN.

From late July to early August, IOTA contest included, the group will be active all bands, modes (160-2m) with special attention on 6m and 160m if propagation allows.

A website is currently under construction and will be ready in a few short weeks where much more info can be found.

QSL manager for the expedition is M0URX. For more information click CY9M

Work is continuing with TN2T, all direct letters received have been processed through the log, with OQRS requests being processed at the same time.

Max ON5UR has designed the QSL card which has now been printed and due to arrive here on 22nd February. QSL cards will be posted soon after.

LoTW has already been uploaded shortly after the DXpedition.

Steve 9M6DXX writes “I will be QRV as V85/9M8Z from Brunei (IOTA OC-088) from around 0900UTC on Friday 10 February until about 0100UTC on Monday 13 February. Activity will be on 10 – 80m, SSB only, using a Butternut HF6-V vertical on top of the hotel roof over 100ft high. On 80m I plan to use a quarter-wave inverted-L with elevated radials, also around 100ft high. Sunrise in Brunei is at 2236UTC, sunset at 1033UTC. QSL via M0URX direct (with SAE and $2 or 1 new IRC), bureau, OQRS or LoTW.
Logs will be uploaded to LoTW within a day or two of the operation concluding.”

73, Steve, 9M6DXX / 9M8Z

OY1OF Ólavur Frederiksen this week reports that the strong Aurora made some quite specacular views on Faroe Islands. Thanks for sharing these beautiful images.
Photographs courtesy of Ólavur Frederiksen.

TN2T DXpedition  to the Republic of Congo will be QRV 22nd to 31st January 2012. QSL Via M0URX with full OQRS and Paypal services from the team.