Fancy going on a DX-pedition to BOUVET? These guys were finding it a touch difficult!
BOUVET is and always will be a most sought after entity on the ARRL list. NARC made a donation to the previous attempt which failed, but all donations were then transferred to this present expedition. Hopefully a number of NARC members will be able to work them, hopefully on the legacy modes as a preference. If you get time, please watch this Utube video and you can then appreciate more the dangers that these guys are subjecting themselves to in order to give you a QSO. They actually PAID for this torture personally! If you are a DX-er then make time to get them in the log because it is unlikely there will be another expedition there in the next 20 years or so.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B7nbdhTDP4s&t=146s
Getting on and off Bouvet is a very dangerous operation itself, much less spending a couple of weeks or more trying to work the hordes of callers and suffering the slings and arrows of deliberate QRM that will be inevitable. It is cold, uninviting and uninhabited. Injuries could happen and although they have an MD among them there is no quick trip to the local trauma centre if anything serious happens.
They have now arrived AT the island and the difficult task of getting ON the island starts. Using the inflatables they have to carry ALL the equipment, including generators and antennas, rigs and tents and so on, to the island and then get it to the top of the cliffs, They then spend a day or two setting it all up in awful conditions.
Spend a lot of time listening. Don't be tempted to jump straight in with the transmitter. Learn how they are operating, where they are listening themselves - obviously it will be split operations - and try to find the least occupied frequency you can. Respect a QSO, do not transmit while a QSO is in progress. Big guns, those with linears and beams, will be first in the order so be patient. They will listen for little pistols. There are several FOC ops on this expedition and they are very experienced. Be patient. It might take hours of calling to work them and also days but it will be worth it.
Be patient!
Download, read and save the DX Code of Conduct:
https://rsgb.org/main/operating/dx-code-of-conduct/
Above all, enjoy the experience. If you are new to DX-ing, what better way to start than to work Bouvet, one of the most wanted entities.
IT IS ALL JUST ABOUT TO START!!!
