TX5S Clipperton Island DXpedition (NA-011) January 18 – February 1, 2024 (June 30, 2023)

Corporate Sponsors: Joining as a Corporate Sponsor is: Bart, SQ1K – Embroidery For Ham Radio Bart is providing the team with TX5S clothing which will also be available at his webstores at: https://www.ebay.com/str/sq1kbartsstore and https://www.etsy.com/shop/sq1kbartsshop/?etsrc=sdt Equipment Week: The first of two equipment consolidation projects occurred on June 6 – 8, 2023. Team members met in California to begin the process of emptying and inventorying and our equipment storage locker to make room for TX5S equipment.

John Kennon N7CQQ, a veteran of three Clipperton DXpeditions, donated equipment from his previous projects. Most importantly are the 220VAC power grid and rebar tent / antenna staking solutions used in past years.

The next planned equipment meeting will be in December, 2023 to integrate, test and repack the DXpedition equipment. Beginning in July we will be sourcing the campsite tents, generators and other logistics.

Satellite Update: Our satellite station manager, Andreas N6NU reports the following preparation activities:

First QSO’s made on the IO-117 (GreenCube) Satellite. This Satellite has passes that last over an hour and has a huge footprint since it is in an almost 6,000 KM orbit.

Andreas has an 11 Element 70CM antenna, RAS Mini AZ/EL rotator with Green Heron Controller, Icom IC-9100H, Rigblaster TI-5000 and Icom AG-35 mast mounted pre-amp. The 6ft mast uses a home brew base. The next step is to configure an Icom IC-9700 as backup. Then on to RS44 and 6m and 23 cm EME.

We appreciate the help and advice offered by several AMSAT members.

Ham Radio Events: We met many DXers at the Dayton Hamvention and at Ham Radio Friedrichshafen (Germany). Next stop will be Tokyo Ham Fair in August where we will attend a DX Seminar / Dinner on Saturday, August 19th. Additional details: http://ict-kuwa.net/tokyodxseminar/

Fundraising: Our fundraising campaign continues with 29 Clubs / Foundations and 147 individuals showing their support for the project.

At 31% of the target, we still have a long way to go in order to reach the goal of 50% team member funding of the estimated project cost of $350,000(USD). If you need Clipperton for an ATNO, or will work us, we would appreciate your help, most bills must be paid before we sail. We wish to thank those organizations and individuals who have already pledged their support to TX5S.

Since the last press release the following organizations have joined the project as sponsors:

– The German DX Foundation – with a significant grant to TX5S
– Kansas City DX Club
– Nara DX Association
– Radio Society of Great Britain (RSGB)
– GMDX Group
– West Tennessee DX Association
– Dominion DX Group
– Tokyo 610 Group
– East Tennessee DX Association
– Madison DX Club
– Tennessee Valley DX Association

Social Media: You can follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tx5s2024
Additional details will be released as they develop. Website: https://TX5S.net Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tx5s2024 Please direct your questions to: info@pdxg.net

73, Clipperton 2024 Team

The Northern California DX Foundation (NCDXF) recognizes the negative impact deliberate QRM (DQRM) is having on our hobby. We believe this is a problem that can be mitigated by amateur radio operators applying their vast knowledge and creativity to the advanced receiving and direction finding technology currently available. In order to spur research into solving this problem the NCDXF Board of Directors at their April 2023 Board Meeting allocated $100,000 for grants to develop DQRM solutions.

NCDXF will entertain grant proposals from individuals or groups that specifically outline their approach to identify bad actors. A group of NCDXF Directors led by Craig Thompson, K9CT and Don Greenbaum, N1DG will weigh the probability of success of their proposals as well as monitor the progress of the grantees.

Funding will be available for R&D as well as implementation of technology proposals. It is hoped that manufacturers will also assist NCDXF and grantees with equipment and other resources.

NCDXF will shortly outline specifics for how to apply for these DQRM grants. We have created a webpage devoted to this project, DQRM Project

For Immediate Release Press Release #3 May 23, 2023
TX5S Clipperton Island DXpedition (NA-011)  January 18 – February 1, 2024

Fundraising: Our fundraising campaign is underway with 18 Clubs / Foundations and 87 individuals already showing their support for the project.

At 24% of the target, we have a long way to go in order to reach the goal of 50% team member funding of the estimated project cost of $350,000(USD). If you need Clipperton for an ATNO, or will work us, we would appreciate your help, most bills must be paid before we sail.

Many of the current individual donors and organizations have supported our previous DXpeditions whether they needed the entity or not. We appreciate their confidence in our team, and invite others to sign on.

We wish to thank the most recent organizations for their sponsorship. We also appreciate the individual donors who have donated through the website and/or directly.

o Southwest Ohio DX Association 
o Southeastern DX Club
o National Capital DX Association
o Mile High DX Association
o Bullitt Amateur Radio Society
o The Intrepid DX Group
o The Swiss DX Foundation
o The Hoosier DX and Contest Club

TX5S JA Website: We want to thank our partners in Japan for creating a dedicated JA website for the TX5S DXpedition project, and representing the project in Japan (http://ict-kuwa.net/tx5s/index.htm):

o Hiro JA4DND, Project Manager
o Seiji JK1KSB, Public Relations
o Karl JA4BUA, I/T, Website
o Joe JJ3PRT, Pilot, Fundraising

Joining the Team: Paul Ewing N6PSE needs no introduction. Many of you will know Paul from his DXpeditions to rare entities, including: YI9PSE Iraq, ST0R Republic of South Sudan, 3D2R Rotuma Island, ET3AA Ethiopia, 7O6T Yemen, 3D2C Conway Reef, XZ1J Myanmar, E30FB Eretria, VP8STI South Sandwich and VP8SGI South Georgia Islands. Paul brings years of DXpedition DX experience to the team.

Band / Mode Additions: Satellite: Look for TX5S from Clipperton Island on the satellites. We’re in the process of sourcing the necessary equipment.

6m EME:  With the help of Lance, W7GJ, we’ve added 6m EME to the Clipperton project plan.

Science:
Joining the team are three French citizens each who have interest in Clipperton Island:
– Anthony Tchékémian and Patrick Leleu are scientists who will conduct research while on the island.
– Jean-Francois Beaulieu is with the “Association la Passion-Clipperton”, an organization dedicated to improving and preserving Clipperton Island’s environment.
Ham Radio Friedrichshafen, Germany: Several TX5S team members will attend this world class event, we look forward to meeting many DXers.

Groups.io We will again have a Groups.io presence during the DXpedition. Registered users will be able to communicate directly with the pilot team using the Groups.io platform. The address will be announced before we sail.

Social Media: You can follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tx5s2024

Additional details will be released as they develop. Website: https://TX5S.net Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tx5s2024 Please direct your questions to: info@pdxg.net

73, Clipperton 2024 Team

Team H44WA is pleased to announce it is advancing the date of its planned Solomon Islands DXpedition to November 15, 2023 through November 29, 2023.
Info taken from Daily DX
For those wondering if there was an H44WA pirate on 14.074 FT8 on Friday morning, 5/12/2023, fear not, that was a preview: After the DXpedition is over in November a QSL will be available. Please see our website, H44WA to review our pre-DXpedition program for receiving automatic LoTW uploads and QSL cards, when they become available.

QSOs from this reconnaissance trip will be uploaded to our OQRS soon.

UNITED NATIONS ARCDXC Club 4U100QO activity on Es’hail-2 / QO-100 Satellite.

Date: Jan 01 – Dec 31. 2023
Operated by 4U1A Club.  NOTE: QSL Manager for 4U100QO is M0URX Tim – QSL Policy | OQRS , Clublog , LoTW |

The geostationary satellite Es’hail-2 carrying amateur radio transponders launched from Kennedy Space Center at 20:46 GMT on Thursday, November 15, 2018 and is now in a geostationary orbit at 25.9° East. These are the first amateur radio transponders to be put into geostationary orbit and they are expected to link radio amateurs from Brazil to Thailand. Es’hail-2 carries two “Phase 4” amateur radio transponders operating in the 2400 MHz and 10450 MHz bands. A 250 kHz bandwidth linear transponder intended for conventional analogue operations and an 8 MHz bandwidth transponder for experimental digital modulation schemes and DVB amateur television.  

For Immediate Release Press Release #2 April 20, 2023

TX5S Clipperton Island DXpedition (NA-011)  January 18 – February 1, 2024

The French national frequency agency, ANFR, has reserved the callsign TX5S for use during the Clipperton Island DXpedition, the license will be valid for 15 days. We expect to operate maritime mobile, call sign to-be-determined.

As the cost of expeditions to highly most wanted DXCC entities continues to increase the importance of donations to support these projects has never been greater. The Clipperton Island project budget is $350,000. The ship’s fee represents the largest expense and must be paid in advance. We have set a fund-raising target of $175,000. To date we have raised $35,800.

Support of the DX community is more important than ever and we wish to thank our early individual donors, foundations, clubs and corporate sponsors:

· Foundations and Clubs:
o The Northern California DX Foundation $25,000
o The European DX Foundation
o UK DX Foundation
o The Clipperton DX Club
o Twin City DX Association
o Lone Star DX Association
o Danish DX Group
o LA DX Group
o Spokane DX Association
o North Alabama DX Club

· Corporate Sponsors
o DX Engineering
o GigaParts
o The DX Store
o The Daily DX
o RadioSport
o Rig Expert
o ON5UR QSL Service
o United Radio QSL Management Bureau

Team member update: Nodir EY8MM, Allan EA3SHO and Dave WD5COV have joined the team, in addition to Jacky ZL3CW, Dave K3EL, Steve W1SRD, Ricardo PY2PT, Gene K5GS, Heye DJ9RR, Laci HA0NAR, Walt N6XG, Rob N7QT, Glenn KE4KY, Chris N6WM, Andreas N6NU, and Arliss W7XU.

Look for TX5S team members at the International DX Convention in Visalia, Dayton Hamvention and Ham Radio Friedrichshafen, we hope to see you there.

Additional details will be released as they develop.

Website: https://TX5S.net Please direct your questions to: info@pdxg.net

73, Clipperton 2024 Team

About PDXG

Since its formation in 2013 the Perseverance DX Group (PDXG.net) has conducted five DXpeditions, logging over 340,000 QSOs. From being chased off Mellish Reef by a cyclone to living on an Antarctic Island for two weeks, the team continues to seek exciting DXpedition projects. https://pdxg.net

I am proud to present you the QSL design for J8NY, IOTA: NA-109 DXpedition to St Vincent Island, in the Caribbean February 2023.
QSL cards posted out on Thursday 11th May 2023.
Another QSL designed by Maxi-Print ON5UR
J8NY OQRS Open

As the 2022 – 2023 financial tax year comes to an end, it is time to take a look at how our mailing facility has worked over the last year. Overall  15,185 items of mail were posted at a cost of £13,626.65. We post QSL cards, bureau parcels and magazines using the various products as shown in the table below. With 2,978 more items posted this year, with Solar Cycle 25 this last 6 months providing much increased propagation on HF and an increase in DXpedition activity along with less Covid restrictions on the travel industry.
DX’pedition QSL costs are very competitive as always and we welcome talking to DX teams about mailing your QSL cards in the future.
The biggest challenge to Bureau shipments is the worldwide customs regulations where we are seeing many countries putting a customs tax on Bureau shipments.
Once again i can report the benefit of Brexit is that we no longer have to pay 20% tax on sending mail to EU countries a saving of £1k year on year.
With more DXpeditions over the next 12 months we remain positive for the future with only small increase in postage costs over the last 12 months.

Dervin PD9DX will be QRV from 29 May to 09 June 2023 as TF/PD9DX.
QTH: Iceland – Borganes – EU021 Phone and FT8/FT4.

QSL Via M0URX OQRS

For Immediate Release Press Release #1 March 20, 2023
Clipperton Island DXpedition (NA-011)

Since its formation in 2013 the Perseverance DX Group (PDXG.net) has conducted five DXpeditions, logging over 340,000 QSOs. From being chased off Mellish Reef by a cyclone to living on an Antarctic island for two weeks the team continues to plan projects that create excitement on the bands for the big guns and the little pistols.

After their successful 2020 VP8PJ South Orkney Islands and 2022 TX5N Austral Islands projects the Perseverance DX Group is pleased to announce their intention to activate Clipperton Island (NA-011).

Now designated a protected environmental reserve, visits to Clipperton require a lengthy and detailed application process. Leveraging our previous experience to sensitive and UNESCO World Heritage locations, the government of French Polynesia issued our team a landing permit.

Planning has begun for an expedition January 18 – February 2, 2024. A team of experienced DX and contest operators will operate from Clipperton Island for up to 15 days. The call sign TX5S has been reserved for this project. Up to eight operating positions are planned for 160-6 meters, SSB/CW/Digital operation. It will have been 11 years since the last Clipperton DXpedition, future activations may have to wait even longer. This will be the first 60m and FT8 operation from Clipperton.

The team will sail from San Diego, California aboard Shogun, a veteran of the 2000, 2008 and 20013 Clipperton DXpeditions.

Team members include: Jacky ZL3CW, Dave K3EL, Steve W1SRD, Ricardo PY2PT, Gene K5GS, Heye DJ9RR, Laci HA0NAR, Walt N6XG, Rob N7QT, Glenn KE4KY, Chris N6WM, Arliss W7XU, Philippe FO4BM, Dave WD5COV and Andreas N6NU. Joining the team will be a scientist from the University of French Polynesia who will conduct studies while on the island.

Additional details will be announced as they develop. Website:TX5S.net Please direct your questions to: info@pdxg.net

73, Clipperton 2024 Team