ARLA/CLUSTER: VP6R - DXpedition à Ilha de Pitcairn está a ser um exito

[João Costa > CT1FBF]

VP6R Pitcairn Island DXpedition - update

As of 0000Z on 25th October, we have approximately 47,000 contacts in the log.

Late yesterday we were hit with a tropical storm with torrential rain
and gale force plus winds. We had several antennas come down, but they
are repairable and will be back up when it is safe to go outside,
probably not until tomorrow morning.

We have had great band conditions from 160 to 10 meters. We had a very
successful night on 60M 5.357 MHz two days ago and will be on again.
We are using FT8 in Fox/Hound mode.

We have been working a lot of FT8 on all the bands (except 160M) and
find that this “weak” signal mode is putting a lot of new and unique
callsigns into the log, proving that this mode is valuable for a great
many! Most DXpeditions, including VP6R, are using FOX/HOUND MODE. If
you are not in F/H mode when you call us, it will be impossible to
make contact. MAKE SURE THE RADIO TAB HAS SPLIT SELECTED and you have
selected HOUND MODE ON THE ADVANCED TAB !!!!!

If the Hound is using the wrong software version, it does not respond
properly to the Fox. The message formats are not compatible. The Fox
will call the Hound three times and then they are dropped without
making a successful contact.

Summary for a successful FT8 contact:
1. MUST use WSJT-X version 2.1.0 Any other version is INCOMPATIBLE!
2. MUST be in F/H mode
3. MUST be in SPLIT mode (in WSJT-X program, NOT your radio)
4. MUST set your transmit frequency ABOVE 1000 Hz

When conditions are good and everyone has FT8 set up properly, we have
seen peak rates over 1000 contacts/hour and often sustained rates of
400 contacts/hour from a single station! And, yes, it is possible for
one person to operate two stations at once. We do it often.

We will be on 160M with FT8 starting 0000Z, Tuesday, October 29.
Frequency – 1.836 MHz. Mode: FT8 FOX/HOUND. Depending upon success, we
might spend additional time in that mode on 160M.

We have had two successful schedules with the Dorothy Grant Elementary
School (K6DGE) in Fontana, California. It has been fun to chat with
the kids and answer questions. We love their enthusiasm!

We will be temporarily shutting down about 2200Z on Friday to prepare
for the CQWW SSB Contest. We will be in the Multi/Multi category on
all bands. If you need VP6 Pitcairn Island on SSB, look for us in the
contest this weekend.

After the contest we will be back in “DXpedition mode” until October 31.
That is when we must start dismantling to get ready to meet the
Braveheart which will take us to Mangareva for the weekly flight back
to Papeete, French Polynesia, and then to our homes.

Our next news will come after the CQWW SSB Contest.

73, Glenn W0GJ