A VHF DXPedition to Namibia took placer January 7-17, 2009. The primary goal of this DXpedition was to activate Nambia on EME, which was very successfully accomplished on 2m and 23cm, and with more limited success on 70cm. Dan HB9CRQ, Hal ZS6WB, and Pine ZS6OB were the primary EME operators. Daniel ZS6HR and I also operated the EME station. It was hoped to operate 6m and 2m meteor scatter, LEO satellite operations, and and tropospheric ducting. The meteor scater operation did not take place, but Hal ZS6WB had some success on LEO satelites with a handheld Arrow antenna , the strong winds having destroyed the satellite antennas. Trans-oceanic tropo operation was also unsuccessful due to equipment failure and high winds.
Hal had invited me along to focus on transoceanic ducting, a topic we have communicated a lot on during 2008. Naturally I was pleased to accept his invitation as the expedition was at an excellent location at just the right time of teh year to focus on long range VHF and UHF across the South Atlantic ocean Hal asked me to the lead tropo coordinator. This section of my web page focuses on the tropo aspects of the expedition and my role in those efforts.
The EME operation is described on the HB9Q web pages for updates! This pages is focussed on teh tropo aspect of the DXpedition.
Dates of EME operation were January 7 - 16, 2009. The QTH was Luderitz Bay, Namibia, grid locator JG73NI. The callsign used on tropo was V5/N7BHC.
EME The original and largest aspect of the V51 expedition is EME. The EME station operated on 144, 432, and 1296 MHz.
LEO SATELLITE We presently have a high level of interest in satellite operation on the low -earth-orbiting satellite in South Africa and other nearby countries. While there are few active satellites, and passes are relatively short, we plan to devote as much time as we have available for this enthusiastic group.
TROPOSPHERIC DUCTING My primary role in the V51 expedition is to research and attempt trans-oceanic ducting across the South Atlantic Ocean. Target locations are St. Helena and Ascension Islands and mainland South America. Read this section for a full overview of operations. Sections are:
BLOG and ANNOUNCEMENTS An ongoing blog of the tropospheric ducting station at V5. This page will be updated regularly during the DXpedition.
LOCATION The location was at Luderitz Bay, Namibia. The operation site is within a few hundred feet of the ocean at Diaz Point.
A nice aerial photo view of the Diaz Point Accommodation guesthouse we stayed at just below the lighthouse.
Long: 15.0918ºE (15º05'31"E)
Lat: 26.6356ºS (26º38'07"S)
Grid Locator JG73NI
OPERATORS Several operators are already committed to joining the team. This list shows those committed and their area of specialty.