VP8STI and VP8SGI have a plan to work Japan

VP8へのペディションの案内が届きましたので披露します。
この2つATNOなのでドネーションもいたしました。

Dear friends

The Intrepid-DX Group was formed in 2010 following our successful Dxpedition to Iraq as YI9PSE. Since them, we have organized or participated in Dxpeditions to the new country of South Sudan as ST0R, Rotuma Island as 3D2R, Ethiopia as ET3AA, Conway Reef as 3D2C, Socotra Island, Yemen as 7O6t, XZ1J Myanmar and E30FB Eritrea.

Our next Dxpedition will be to the remote islands of South Sandwich as VP8STI and South Georgia as VP8SGI in January, 2016. Getting to these islands is arduous and expensive. Our vessel charter to make this 36 day voyage is $300,000 USD (36,000,000 JPY).

At the time of our activation, South Sandwich will be the #3 most wanted DXCC entity world-wide and South Georgia will be the #7 most wanted entity. We will be on each island for ten days and we plan for eight full days of radio.

We know that contacts with these islands are very much needed in Japan as well as for all of Asia. We are closely studying propagation by time of day and we are forming our strategy of how to best work Asia from these remote islands. We are using the extensive capabilities of K6TU.NET to prepare our propagation studies for these two islands.

Our propagation studies show us that 10/12 meter propagation might be possible around 0400 UTC. We will certainly try these two bands although propagation appears doubtful from the results of our studies.

Better propagation will be found on 15 meters from 0600 UTC to 1500 UTC. 17 meter propagation will be even better from 2200 UTC to 2000 UTC. That is almost around the clock propagation on 17 meters!

Our study of 20 meters shows excellent propagation from 0700 UTC to 2400 UTC. On 30 meters, propagation begins at 1800 UTC and extends to 2200 UTC. On 40 meters, there may be propagation as early as 2000 UTC extending to 2200 UTC. Our modeling shows that contacts on 80 meters are not likely however rest assured that we will listen for JA stations as will we on 160 meters, listening down for JA stations and up for North American stations.

We know that our short path beam heading to Japan is at 155 degrees while our long path heading is 355 degrees which is directly over North America. This will require us to beam directly to Japan only at 155 degrees or ask North America to QRX as we listen for JA stations at 355 degrees. We will coordinate daily with our JA Pilot Station Harumi-JR4OZR to help us do a good job for Japan.

We want to convey to the Japanese DX Community that we will make a sincere effort to work all of Asia just as we have done from our many other activations. We know that the propagation studies are a pointer but we are often pleasantly surprised when we go QRV of just how good the bands really are.

We hope to see you and your friends on the bands and we hope you can find a way into our logs.

Sincerely,