1. We know of the recent earthquake in Chile. The boat has an on-board tsunami alert system that tracks our position against the event. The skipper informs us that we are not in any danger whatsoever. However, he did say if we see him running, we would best be right behind him.

2. We’ve had some e-mail server problems but they now seem to be resolved, we are sending and receiving e-mail. The logs were sent to our
QSL manager. If you get duplicate e-mails please delete as necessary. I don’t have the time to fix the distribution lists.

3. The team is now well into a daily operating routine, which, weather permitting, we will follow for the rest of the expedition.

4. The equipment continues to work well. We are aware there was a CW keying issue with one of the stations, this should now be resolved.

5. The 160 antenna is installed and should get a workout tonight.

6. The pile-ups continue to be energetic and fun. We’re getting good cooperation from the DX community, although at times things can get chaotic when the pile-up attempts to control the operator. We know our call sign, please don’t repeat it to us.

7. We want you in the log, so please follow the op’s instructions.

Team Mellish 2014 

1. After 2 full days of setting up equipment – 5 stations opened for business at 2:40PM local time, March 30th.

2. The boat is at anchor 500 meters from the reef.

3. Because of the coral heads that surround the island we can only transit to Mellish Reef during daylight hours, 5:30AM first trip and last trip of the day at 5:30PM.

4. Teams will alternate operating through the night.

5. We opened on 10, 15, 20 on CW and 12, 20 on SSB, working energetic but courteous pileups from Japan, Korea, Europe, South Africa, and the USA.

6. The temperature is in the 30s(C) during the day, with continuous 20 – 30 knot winds that required us to reset the tents and guys first thing this morning. There are no trees on the reef, no shade.

7. No antennas were damaged during the high winds.

8. Only the 160 meter antenna and low band receive antenna remain to be installed.

9. The team is in good spirits and happy to finally be on the air.

10. There are many sea birds nesting on the reef, they don’t seem to be bothered by our presence. We are not bothered by any other local wildlife.

11. As with their other DX-peditions, the crew of Evohe is very helpful, bringing over all the equipment, doing all the heavy lifting, and keeping the team well fed.

12. We do have a problem with the computer used for the satellite terminal, we’re working on a solution. We will start log uploads as soon as possible.

We are NOT monitoring personal e-mail accounts.

Next update in a few days.

Ed: Logging issues should be directed to M0URX. Please do not email pilots with logging issues. Either work the slot again or ask Tim, M0URX to check log. 

Some Outgoing Bureau feedback. OE7PGI, Philipp, reports receiving PJ4DX, OY1OF & EA6/G4MKP QSL cards already. Requested on 25 January 2014 using OQRS. Posted to the Austrian Bureau on 3rd February. Excellent service. 

Remember all Bureau cards are posted DIRECTLY to World Bureaus every 3 or 4 months, posted using Air Mail service for fast shipment. So by using my OQRS you can receive your Bureau cards quickly.

Thank you Philipp for the feedback! Bureau does not have to be slow!

It is very important to remember that if you need a QSL sent through Bureau please always use OQRS http://m0urx.com/oqrs/ 

If you send a QSL via Bureau you MUST write  “QSL Via M0URX” and highlighted, in larger text than the DX station P3J for example.

Writing the QSL Via on the QSL card, does NOT always mean that the QSL will be routed as you intended.
A good reason to use OQRS instead.

Remember for most DXpeditions or contest stations and many DX, your QSL will NOT be needed. It is very important to save Bureau costs and use OQRS ONLY.

As postage costs rise year on year, we are at that threshold where $2 barely covers costs outside Europe for a QSL, let alone covering other QSL expenses. So how can IOTA and DXCC DXpeditions be self sufficient? handle their own QSL management and cover all the costs like printing, labels, postage and bureau expenses?

Many QSL managers have chosen to increase QSL costs to $3, $4 or even $5. That is NOT our choice! There are two options that I would like to put to you, full QSL management and Independent QSL management. Both of these options include using Royal Mail’s Online Business Account for posting your QSL cards. Some years ago I negotiated an International Mailing Contract with Royal Mail that was designed especially for posting QSL cards from DXpeditions with UK based QSL managers.
Remember, using stamps is the most expensive way to post QSL cards. With this contract we have a licence for a Postage Paid Impression for the envelope while the QSL manager accesses the account through the www.royalmail.com website.

Full QSL Management.
Both myself Tim Beaumont, M0URX and Charles Wilmott, M0OXO have facilities to handle all IOTA and DXCC QSL management to provide full QSL services, free QSL printing, postage costs, free outgoing Bureau. OQRS and FREE LoTW handling.
Our QSL costs are: Direct QSL: $2 – OQRS: €2 and Bureau: Free.
You can find out more by going to either of our websites www.M0URX.com or www.M0OXO.com

Independent QSL Management.
If you want to handle your QSL’ing yourself but need to lower postage costs then we can give you access to the mailing account so that you can handle your own cards.
You also have access to our Outgoing QSL Bureau at £1 per 100g. We post Bureau cards to ALL World IARU QSL Bureaus DIRECT every 3 or 4 months, using Prioirty Air Mail & M-Bag products.
If you are planning a DXpedition and want more information please contact Tim Beaumont, M0URX on +44 7976 292980

For the larger DXpeditions where you are posting more than 1.5kg to a country destination then we currently have access to the most competitive International postage rates in the business.
Whether you are planning a one man DXpediiton to the Channel Islands or a major Top 10 Most Wanted, we have the two options above for you to consider.

Both Glen (G0SBN) & Bob (M0KLO) spent Saturday afternoon doing a dry run of putting up the 8m mast with the newly acquired Hexbeam from Ant (MW0JZE). It was more than a bit windy so it was a quick up and down in the paddock to check on guy lengths. The second Hex is going up on a 12m Clark mast so hopefully that will be a bit more straight forward.

We used the Hex in 2012 for GB5DX and it was a good performer which encouraged Glen to make the plunge. The latest Hex from Ant is a lot lighter and has evolved a great deal and we are looking forward to giving it a good run out.

This week will see the testing of the 40m, 80m verticals and also the beverage RX antenna. We hope to be QRV on 160m which will most likely be an inverted ‘L’. The following week is a dry run of the shack and networking on Wintest which should leave us enough time to minimise ‘murphy!’

The three stations are going to be Kenwood 590s with bandpass filters fitted and running 400w from two of them and barefoot on the third. There will also be a Kenwood TS480SAT which will be configured for data mode operations.

Lots of lessons are being learnt during preparation and we can see why many operations opt for a waterside location and verticals. Its no easy feat wheeling around a Clark mast but hopefully it will be worth the effort!

We’ve recruited two extra recruits – Max and Jed who are Bob’s Border Collies. They came with us on GB5DX in 2012 and people seemed more interested in knowing what they were doing than about the station so they’re back on the team.

Cheers, Bob, M0KLO

GS0NWM will be the call sign of the Tynemouth Amateur Radio Club’s IOTA activation of Isle of Arran, EU-123, from March 26th – April 2nd 2014.
The team will enter the CQ WPX Contest (29th & 30th March) as GM5NMulti Op.