The big DXPedition FT8 money grab, or not?

The new trend in big DXpeditions? Maybe so. With an average of $5 cost to get your QSO’s confirmed on LOTW, then pay ARRL for the awards? I don’t thing so, as running and funding a large DXpedition is by no means cheap. As for me, I’ll gladly pay $5 to get my confirmations. Yes, the DXpeditions get donations to carry out the these adventures, but you’d be hard pressed to call the DXpeditions lucurative. But, who am I to say? You be the judge. Read on.

The Big FT8 Money Grab

Clipperton Island DXPedition 2024

The Clipperton Island DXPedition TX5S, has reached the island tonight. As of 02:00 Zulu, there were 9 team members on the island, with the rest of the team landing on the island tomorrow, preparing to stage equipment. More details on TX5S web page

Clipperton Island is is an 8.9 km2 (3.4 sq mi) uninhabited French coral atoll in the eastern Pacific Ocean, and the only French territory in the North Pacific.

I’d expect radio operations to start tomorrow Jan. 19th. The plan is to stay for 14 days. It’ll be fun to hunt these guys. I’m expecting pretty hefty pile-ups.

 

73 de K4TOR

Added power winch on tower

Finally got to replacing the POS manual winch for the Optibeam OB12-4 tower with a 110 V 2000 lbs hoist. What a relief. The tower went up to 75 feet in about 60 seconds. No effort at all. So why is the hoist offset on the platform? Because the cable needs to be in close to the center of the tower.