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<P><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </P>
<P><SPAN style="DISPLAY: inline-block"><FONT face=Verdana>The <STRONG>VP6DX
DXpedition</STRONG> continues to attract huge pile ups on all bands and modes.
On February 19 they reported that 104,900 contacts were already made! Last info
in: <A
href="http://ducie2008.dl1mgb.com/index.php">http://ducie2008.dl1mgb.com/index.php</A> 170.000
QSO`s.</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN style="DISPLAY: inline-block"><FONT face=Verdana>Having in mind that
the team will wrap up on February 27 or 28, it’s very likely that all previous
records can be broken! Some interesting facts have been reported:
</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN style="DISPLAY: inline-block"><FONT face=Verdana>160 meter contact made
with opposite side of the planet. At February 18, 12.52 UTC, the VP6DX 160 meter
operator was called by, and completed a contact with A45XR, Alex in Oman. A45XR
is located less than 300 km from the antipode (exact opposite location on the
planet) of Ducie Island. This contact took place during the late afternoon, Oman
time, 1 hour 10 minutes before sunset. At the time of the contact, the
terminator was 2000 km from Oman, approaching from the east-northwest.
</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN style="DISPLAY: inline-block"><FONT face=Verdana>All directions between
antipodes are of equal distance. Over what path was this contact made? <BR>At
Ducie Island, A45XR’s signals were heard best on the 305° beverage antenna. This
suggests the signal path traveled over Japan, northern China, and
Pakistan…exiting perpendicular from the twilight zone. It is possible a single
E-skip hop between Oman and northeast Pakistan completed the path through the
2000 km daylight sector. <BR>Congratulations to both operators! – is said in the
VP6DX’s press release. </FONT></SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN style="DISPLAY: inline-block"><FONT face=Verdana>Now that we have shown
Ducie Island’s topband operating team can contact even the farthest point on the
planet, what’s stopping you from trying a top band contact with VP6DX? If you
think your antenna is inferior, or you are running limited transmitter power,
don’t give up! Look at comments in the guestbook section of the www.VP6DX.com
website: lots of stations are now in the VP6DX log book with very simple
antennas and low heights – even on top band! <BR>So, give every band and mode a
try. We are waiting for your call! We are stuck on an inhabited island with
nothing to do but work any station who calls us! </FONT></SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN style="DISPLAY: inline-block"><FONT face=Verdana>6 meter beacon now on
the air. On February 19 the VP6DX 6 m beacon began operations. The beacon
frequency is 50105.5 kHz. Beacon power is 70 watts to a Yagi antenna. We will
try beaming east-northeast for two hours around our sunrise…north-northeast to
USA/Canada/Central America for the reminder of the day. Please submit any
reception reports via www.VP6DX.com. You may call us on the beacon frequency.
</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN style="DISPLAY: inline-block"><FONT face=Verdana>80 meter long path to
OH and European Russia. During a window around Ducie Island local sunrise (13.45
– 14.45 UTC), long path contacts have been made on both 75 m SSB and 80 m CW
with stations in Finland and European Russia. The furthest contact was to
northern Finland, about 25,000 km from Ducie Island and 5000 km beyond the
antipodes.</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P><SPAN style="DISPLAY: inline-block"><FONT face=Verdana>The best reception at
Ducie Island for most contacts is on the 195° beverage antenna. This long path
route parallels the terminator (bearing 187° from Ducie) with signals traveling
over Antarctica…Heard Island…Rodriguez Island…the Pesian Gulf…and western
Russia. We encourage stations in Scandinavia and western Russia to listen during
these times and call VP6DX if they hear our signal. <BR></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P><FONT face=Verdana>Fonte: Radio Bulgaria DX Programme</FONT>
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