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KB8NW > DX 17.05.12 15:40l 163 Lines 8743 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
BID : OPDX.1062.1
Read: GUEST
Subj: Ohio/Penn DX Special Bulletin No. 1062.1
Path: IZ3LSV<IW0QNL<ON4HU<CX2SA
Sent: 120517/1437Z @:CX2SA.SAL.URY.SA #:60344 [Salto] FBB7.00e $:OPDX.1062.1
From: KB8NW@CX2SA.SAL.URY.SA
To : DX@WW
The Ohio/Penn DX PacketCluster
DX Special Bulletin No. 1062.1
BID: $OPDX.1062.1
May 17, 2012
Editor Tedd Mirgliotta, KB8NW
Provided by BARF80.ORG (Cleveland, Ohio)
Thanks to the Northern Ohio Amateur Radio Society, Northern Ohio DX
Association, Ohio/Penn PacketCluster Network, AB5K & the AR TelNet
Clusters Network and K3LP for the following DX information.
ANNOUNCEMENT
7O6T =96 Socotra Island DX-pedition
April 30 thru May 15, 2012
By Dmitry (RA9USU; Leader), Igor (RA3AUU; Co-Leader) and David (K3LP; Co- L=
eader)
Dated: May 16, 2012
It gives us great pleasure to bring the 7O6T =96 Socotra Island DX-pediti=
on
to a successful finish on May 15, 2012, at 2100 GMT. As we finalize the
checking of our Club Log QSO data, we celebrate with each of you in
achieving the 162,029 QSO=92s logged. Each of our team members achieved
many individual and team successes. This included working outside their
normal operating comfort zone and working day after day using 8 to 12
hour work shifts with only getting 4 hours of sleep then hitting the
stations operating again. They did not complain as they forged forward
in a manner we=92ve never seen. For this, we are extremely proud of their
efforts.
As part of the informal operating agreement, we were limited to six
radios and ten operators total. Remember, this means five operators
available during anyone shift with six operators operating during peak
performance periods. When you break these five operators into CW, SSB,
RTTY & 160/80 Meter, you can run out of enough people quickly just
because all bands and modes are open at the same time. We had three
camp locations in order to reduce interference; CW Camp (Summerland
Hotel), SSB Camp (Taj Socotra Hotel) and 160/80 Meter Camp at a remote
beach location. Each of these locations remained on gas or diesel power
generators throughout their operation. We would lose power at least once
or twice each day at the Taj Socotra Hotel location for 1 to 3 hours
each time. We acquired a gas powered generator for use at the 160/80
Meter Camp.
Though in any major DX-peditions such as this, there are issues that
get identified and warrant re-direction, re-planning and even a few
changes in operating philosophy. Prior to, during and after closing
our operating positions, the team had many review meetings to improve
our team=92s performance. The DX Community at large provided valuable
information that helped us to succeed. Thank you for your emails and
comments regarding adjustments to frequencies, band openings, best use
of operators, mode use, and logging errors. This input made us stronger
and will be applied as we move forward on future planned DX-peditions.
As early as February 2010, the planning for this trip began. Initially,
one may not believe that such an event would be even possible. This trip
came about as a result of focusing on being a good person and building
meaningful relationships in the Republic of Yemen. After numerous Dmitry
trips and flights from Moscow to Sana=92a, then from Sana=92a to Socotra
Island, it became evident that a future DX-pedition to the Republic of
Yemen might be possible. Just like in business, even a 99% possible
business deal sometimes doesn=92t close. For this reason, events occurring
prior to Dmitry=92s formal announcement were never released or discussed
except with the two Co-Leaders, Igor (RA3AUU) and David (K3LP).
Dmitry (RA9USU) and David (K3LP) had various conversions along the away
leading up to this event regarding the Operating Plan and Logistics. Our
plan was to have the DX-pedition occur the first week of June 2012 when
we both had cleared our work schedules and when all the radios, amps,
antennas, and supplies would be shipped in advance. After Dmitry landed
on Socotra Island on April 12, it became apparent that our plan was
coming to fruition faster than expected. Dmitry made a couple of round
trips to and from Socotra Island and Sana=92a resulting in several formal
approvals being given. At this point, we were faced with a choice on
either to have Dmitry operate as a single operator or try to invest as
much energy as possible in brief moment to organize a team and have them
fly two days later to Socotra Island. We elected to proceed with a bigger
team and try our best to make the event significant!
Dmitry (RA9USU =96 Team Leader) and Igor (RA3AUU) had contacted David
(K3LP) just as he arrived in California at the Visalia DX-Convention on
April 18-19, 2012, that our trip was a go and needed to be started on
April 30 and ended on May 15, 2012. This forced us to abandon our prior
Operations Plan and quickly devise a quick and dirty approach before the
opportunity disappeared. This meant assembling an operating team that
could go immediately, applying for VISAs, having each team member pack
their applicable radios, amps, computers, antennas, filters, keyer,
headset, coax, etc., immediately purchase their airline tickets and
get ready to depart on April 26, 2012 arriving in Socotra Island on
April 28, 2012.
This also meant that we were not in a position to discuss or request
donations from organizations, clubs or individuals in fear of having
the DX-pedition cancelled. As you can imagine, this was an expensive
trip that lasted from April 12 (i.e. included on site planning) through
May 16, 2012.
In order not to draw any attention to our activities, we used only one
large movement of equipment into the country and prevented our second
arriving team members to bring anything. In addition, no informal or
formal announcement was made until April 30, 2012 as we activated our
7O6T website (www.yemen2012.com) and communicated our intentions via
the internet and emails.
After getting limited team member contributions requested beyond their
personal hotel, food and airline tickets (about $2,800.00), we are still
in the hole about $25,000.00, so your individual contributions are greatly
really needed. A complete 7O6T Finance spreadsheet was put together
detailing all income and expenses for this trip and will be shared with
NCDXF upon our return in hopes of getting their support.
You can submit your QSL Card request direct or via the bureau. Each
will be responded too in a timely manner. In saying this, it takes a
lot more time to process the manual requests. In order to provide an
expedited QSL service, here are a few adjustments that we are making
to our website (www.yemen2012.com):
=95 Adding PayPal payment for electronic QSL Card confirmations. No need
to send QSL cards, once you =93valid date and time=94 of your QSO=92s on
line and make a payment, these cards will be sent out first.
=95 Adding key space for major sponsors to the website
We want to thank the DX Community for their hard work, patience and
willingness in making this DX-pedition a major success. We are all on
our way home at this time.
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** IMPORTANT NOTICE/REMINDER ** The Ohio/Penn DX Bulletin now has a new
FAX number. Contributors can now send/fax their DX information to the
following number: 1-419-828-7791 ( F A X only! )
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SPECIAL NOTE BY EDITOR: If you are having a problem receiving bounced
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mail to me via " kb8nw@arrl.net "...... TNX de Tedd KB8NW
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PLEASE NOTICE (as of February 12th), NEW ADDRESS CHANGES FOR THE
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ALSO VISIT THE NORTHERN OHIO DX ASSOCIATION'S WEB HOME PAGE:
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