Category - Blog

– We are approaching 6,000 requests for QSL cards, Direct and Bureau.

– 731  Not in Log requests have been investigated and answered. For a DX-pedition with 83,500 QSOs and 20,500 unique call signs in the log this is a very small number, it indicates the DX-pedition team’s attention to logging accuracy.

– LoTW processing is up to date. All donor LoTW records were uploaded. Current OQRS LoTW uploads are processed daily.

– The VP8PJ QSL cards are being designed by the team. VP8PJ OQRS OPEN

Due to the Covid-19 situation I have been asked to report to work 7 days per week, for a 10 hour shift. I will continue to process QSL confirmations and research issues as time allows, please be patient.

For those who have not yet reported a Not in Log problem, please use the form on OQRS QSO entry page. Responding to individual e-mails is time consuming and non productive. Please do not send screenshots unless requested, and never send your log files, spreadsheets or screenshots of your log, they are of no use to researching a problem.
Tim M0URX

5Z4/G3AB Log uploaded to OQRS Last QSO in the log: 27 Mar 2020 23:33 UTC
Due to Covid-19 crisis it has not been able to get a compete log update at this stage. Please be patient.
Please do not use not in log form at this stage. Please wait for us to get the log update complete.
Until I have these files I cannot answer any questions or log inquiries.

I have had several inquiries about how Covid-19 affects the delivery of your QSL cards. It is a fluid situation and after taking advice from Royal Mail i can inform you that posting from the UK is continuing as normal.
Nearly all mail is sorted by machine so is not touched by human hands. Large mailings are bagged from here and sent directly to London Heathrow Distribution Centre and the bags put on onward flights to the destination country. Remember many flights are cancelled and this can also add to delays.

Royal Mail has a page on the website updated for “International Incident Bulletins” this link will take you to the page so that you can see what restrictions are in your country and where delays may apply.

Updated 24/03/2014 – As air flights around the world reduce very significantly to avoid the spread of Covid-19. This has a knock on effect on a restriction of air freight available to send post around the world. International Post WILL be more expensive and will also experience delays as most flights are not available to carry mail. 

Thee below images (courtesy of Flightradar24) show the decreased capacity from February 26th to March 25:

Thanks for the pileups!
We have all left Punta Arenas and are either home or another location of choice.
Several of us left Punta Arenas sooner than planned because of the Coronavirus situation and possible airline chaos. Fortunately, of those I’ve heard from, we had no problem buying a new ticket and getting to our final destination. 
On Sunday when Rob and  arrived at LAX the Immigration and Customs area was empty, so no delays.  All our flights were uneventful and on time.
After being away for 5 weeks we need to get our personal affairs in order and will work on DX-pedition related tasks as time is available. So please be patient, we have all have other life responsibilities.
If you have a Not in Log or suspected busted call,  Do not send e-mails, and please don’t send screenshots or log files unless requested.
Follow the Not in Log procedure:  https://sorkney.com/qsl/

Sending unsolicited e-mails slows the process, Tim works the Not in Log queue in the order received, unsolicited e-mails waste our time and will not be processed.

I’ll be posting some photographs on the website. We’re disappointed that the major conventions have been cancelled, and hope that the worst of Coronavisus comes to an end soon. We’re still planning Friedrichshafen in late June, maybe that one will happen.
Last I talked with Tim he’s making good progress with Not in Log issues, and is regularly uploading LoTW, although I did see he had a computer failure and acquired a new machine.
We appreciate the kind words from the Group and in personal e-mails from the community.
Many of you have “suggested” the next DX-pedition location, we’ve already had those discussions before and during VP8PJ.
73, GS K5GS

I do not understand? Why am i getting hundreds of NOT IN LOG emails every week when the Last QSO in Log date is clearly showing when a log last had a log update? Can’t you guys read? Or are you so impatient that you cannot wait for the op to update the log? Words fail me!

Please Please read the instructions…  Last QSO in the log: 11 Feb 2020 20:12 UTC

A huge thank you to Bernie W3UR at Daily DX for organising the big IRC donation from hams in the USA. 739 old expired IRC’s arrived here this morning and will be sold privately and the money will go towards the sending of our Bureau QSL cards in 2020.
On behalf of both myself M0URX  Tim and M0OXO Charles, a huge thank you to the Radio Amateurs listed below for your wonderful donation.

AA6DY, K0DEQ, K2SLZ, K4BAI, K4RX, K5KG, K5YY, K7VC, K8PT, KE0A, KH2L, N4TOL, NA5DX, NS9X, W0CVF, W1TC, W3FF, W3UR, W4DR, W6TMD, W7DGP, W7UT, W8GEX, W8UVZ, W9VA, WA9JWL, WB4DNL and WB6JJJ

Old expired IRCs can be donated by posting them to my address on my contact page, Thank you. 

VP8PJ QSL Policy is on this link. $5 by OQRS or Direct.
Please read the QSL Policy it is there to assist you get the QSL safely.
STRICTLY NO EMAILS! NOT IN LOG form on OQRS ONLY!

Please note the team DO NOT have sufficient satellite signal to upload logs from the island.

March 3rd  16:00z 80m antenna repaired earlier today. As the day progresses we will be on all open HF bands. Special emphasis tonight on 40m, 80m, and 160m, using both CW and FT-8 modes. Weather depending, Wednesday March 4th will be the last full day of operations.
Shutdown time to be announced. We plan to use most of the day Thursday to completely tear down the operating positions and the camp.

March 2nd  16:30z Quickly approaching 58,000 total Qs in the log. The team is outside in the blowing snow and wind repairing the 80m vertical for use tonight. VP8PJ Team

March 2nd  10:00z  Major winds swept through again overnight. The 40 meter 4-square is now a single vertical. Other verticals damaged again as well, but quickly repaired. Standing at 55,000+ total Qs. Depending on weather & sea conditions, we anticipate the following schedule:
– Radio operations through March 4th
– Teardown remaining equipment / camp on March 5th
– Depart Signy Island on March 6th VP8PJ Team

March 1st 17:30z The VP8PJ team remains in good spirits. We’re continuing to make ourselves available on the bands.
Heavy winds returned last night and today. Several of the verticals have been damaged, the team is out repairing them now.
Approaching 51,000 total QSOs in the log.
Next log update possibly in the next 24 hours. VP8PJ Team

OY1OF, Olavur Frederiksen emailed in to report that Storm Jorge caused extensive damage in the Faroe Islands over the weekend, in particular to the Club Station Foroyskir Radioamatorar. (FRA) “We lost the 17m, 20m, and 40m GP, so not many antennas left, while the road to the club house is closed”.
We would like to wish our friends in the Faroe Islands our best wishes for a speedy clean up and repair to the Club Station. Thank you to Olavur for the photographs.

VP8PJ team will be operational as ZL1NA/MM from the Braveheart. QSL will be available after the team return home.

VP8PJ wil be QRV until approximately March 5th.
ZL1NA/MM OQRS

VP8PJ OQRS 

Update March 1st 01:00z: Pre DXpedition donor Excel file, updated. Uploaded to OQRS, exported ADIF for donors and uploaded to LoTW. This will also be uploaded to LoTW after each log upload.

Update February 29th 12:00z: “We have all your comments to the pilots and a summary of the groups.io reflector.
After a storm blew through we’re currently experiencing the weather conditions we expected. The antennas are staying up, with only some challenges with the larger verticals.  The WeatherPort buildings have performed as expected, even with occasional wind gusts that we estimate at 75 – 80 kph, or higher. We have reports of missing FT8 QSOs, we can not fix that on the island, Tim M0URX will handle the missing contacts once he has all the FT8 files.

Schedule:
We must depart the island by the afternoon of Thursday, March 6th.
Depending on the weather, we expect to begin tearing down the camp on Weds, March 4th.
We estimate (with reasonable weather) March 4 – 5 for the tear down, load the ship and be ready to sail on Thursday.
Estimated time at sea is 5 full days, and arrive at the entrance to the harbor on the evening of March 11th.
We will unload the ship on March 13 and turn to equipment over to our Customs Broker.
Braveheart will leave Punta Arenas on March 15th. 73, VP8PJ Team”

Update February 28th 18:00z: Log uploaded Last QSO in the log: 28 Feb 2020 12:24 UTC
Update February 27th 18:00z: Unable to go back to boat today, snow storm and very cold wind. Maybe tomorrow for log upload.

That message was received using Garmin inReach. The team can only send logs from the Braveheart as the terrain on the island blocks the path to the satellite.

Update February 27th  RR73, but not in log? KNOWN ISSUE  FOLLOW OUR ADVICE

This is a historic problem for DXpeditions. 10% of ALL FT8 Qs will be dropped and cannot be entered into the log until AFTER the DXpedition. 

This is a KNOWN PROBLEM.

Please follow the instruction on OQRS which is very clear!

Not in Log/Busted Call check request on-line function will be available shortly after the DXpedition.
Do not send log check request email!
If you are not in log, work again or wait until this function will be enabled.

The ops are already aware of this FT8 dropping QSO issue and it has been an issue for the last 3 years. Please be patient and follow the advice above. Make a security QSO if you can.

Update February 25th 21:00z Log uploaded:  In a message from the Braveheart, K5GS Gene reports. “We are having spotty success getting an adequate signal from the satellite, even from the ship. We’ve been in contact with the service provider and we all agree that the problem is the terrain and the satellite’s low angle in the sky. 

That said, we’re here to work DX and will deal with the usual challenges all DX-peditions to the Southern Ocean tend to experience. One of the ship’s crew asked “they make a contact on the radio and need to Internet to confirm they made the contact?”. Interesting observation from a fellow that knows little about ham radio.

We ask that people do not send us or the pilots e-mails asking about logs, if we can get uploads done, we will. If not you’ll have to do your best to get a contact. This is an experienced DX-pedition and Contest team, if you hear them repeat your call you’re in the log.

The pileups have been what we expected, always energetic, sometimes chaotic but no surprises. The team is working under very cold and windy weather conditions, with snow at night. Doing any work outside is challenging anytime and can not be done at night.”

Update February 23rd 14:00z “We are unable to find a solid satellite connection on the island. We are waiting to change to a different satellite, but it’s not clear there will be any difference. We know it is not a hardware problem because we have 3 satellite terminals of this model and one of another model. If we can not find a solid connection we will try to upload logs from the ship every day, and even that path to the satellite is very poor. They are are continuing to install additional antennas today.  It’s cold and difficult to use hand tools in the wind.”

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