Press Releases
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – November 8, 2024
Contact: Gregg Marco W6IZT gregg.w6izt@gmail.com
3D2Y Dedicated in Memory of Bob Allphin K4UEE
On February 10 of this year Bob K4UEE became a silent key. Bob was without doubt the most prolific DXpedition leader of our generation. It is with great honor that our team dedicates the 3D2Y DXpedition to Bob’s memory.
Bob and I met in 2006, and if it wasn’t for Bob, I would not have had the opportunity to be on the far side of the pile-ups on several DXpeditions. We had many memories, and always enjoyed a good laugh together. I was with Bob the day before he passed, and we shared one last laugh. TU ..
I’ll share some comments from a few of Bob’s closest colleagues said Gregg W6IZT.
Allphin was a natural leader. “Bob was always optimistic and hopeful in DXpedition planning. He encouraged and coaxed his fellow team members to bring out the best in everyone. If there were disappointments, he turned them into humor and diplomatically mitigated conflicts. He excelled in DXpedition PR and financing,” said Ralph Fedor, K0IR, who frequently co-led DXpeditions with Allphin.
“Bob was very good at organizing and motivating people to participate,” said Dr. Glenn Johnson, W0GJ, who co-led several DXpeditions with Allphin. Allphin always found a way to make the best out of challenging operating conditions. “He was always thinking outside the box. His concern was to put on the ‘best show’ possible and work the hard-to-reach areas,” said Johnson.
In early 2000, Johnson was preparing to travel to a medical assignment in Bhutan, which was #2 on the DXCC Most Wanted List at the time. He had applied to operate while in the country but was initially denied a license. Then, in April, Johnson got a call from the Bhutan Ministry of Information and Communication asking if he can bring a team on the first of May. Immediately, he involved Allphin. “I called Bob, and within 2 weeks we had a team assembled and equipment shipped over. A52A was a very successful DXpedition and still holds records,” said Johnson.
Iconic activations were Allphin’s specialty. According to his QRZ page <https://www.qrz.com/db/K4UEE>, Allphin participated in, led, or co-led DXpeditions to 11 of the top 10, including: Baker and Howland Islands, Heard Island, Bhutan, South Sandwich Islands, South Georgia Island, Peter I Island, Lakshadweep, Desecheo Island, Saba/Sint Eustatius, Amsterdam Island, and Navassa Island. In all, he participated in 38 contest DXpeditions.
Allphin was a dedicated amateur radio mentor who wanted to help others succeed. Craig Thompson, K9CT, was one of many Allphin helped along the way. “As an aspiring DXpeditioner, Bob was so approachable and helpful. We had many common friends, and because of those relationships, it was an honor to be asked to join any of his DXpeditions. At Amsterdam Island, he was my roommate, and I enjoyed his sincere joy of leading our team. He loved 160 and CW but mostly the challenge of doing something really hard, like going where they said he couldn’t go. That is why he was on so many top-ten DXpeditions! What an honor to know him,” said Thompson.
Beyond his prowess as an operator, Allphin leaves a legacy of kindness among those who knew him well. “He was a gentleman’s gentleman, always cordial, friendly, and jovial,” said Johnson.
Allphin was a generous donor to ARRL through the years, being honored as part of the President Class of the Maxim Society and was a member of the Diamond Club. He was a major gift donor to the 2014 ARRL Second Century Campaign. “Bob leaves amateur radio with a legacy of accomplishments. Above all, he strove to do things well, do things right, and do things fairly,” said Fedor.
The team begins our journey to Rotuma on November 12. We arrive on Rotuma on November 15, and will be on the air through December 3.
We are still working hard to reach our funding raising goals.
Please consider supporting the 3D2Y Rotuma DXpedition. Every donation gets us closer to our fund-raising goal.
Visit our website for details: rotuma2024.com <http://rotuma2024.com/>. All donations are greatly appreciated.
We hope to see you on the bands, the op on the other end is likely a young ham experiencing the thrill of a DXpedition pile up for the first time!
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – November 4, 2024
Contact: Gregg Marco W6IZT gregg.w6izt@gmail.com
3D2Y 6 meter terrestrial and EME plans
We plan to make every effort to hand out as many 6 meter QSOs as possible. Our 6 meter station consists of an Elecraft K4 + KPA 500. Our 6 meter antenna is a Momo 5 element @ 20 ft that will be positioned to take advantage of the moon’s location at the horizon for moon rise and moon set.
6m EME operations will be captained by Don N1DG, and all of our EME operators will be remote. Our 6 meter EME schedule will be published in advance. Working EME with a small team DXpedition is a challenge, by utilizing our remote team we can leverage their expertise resulting in a much better opportunity to make as many EME contacts as possible.
6 meter terrestrial operations will be manned by a mix of local and remote operators. We will monitor PSK reporter the ON4KST chat room for openings. We are able to receive notifications of potential openings in real-time.
Our primary terrestrial FT8 frequency of operation on 6 meters is 50.313. We will QSY as needed.
The team begins our journey to Rotuma next week. We arrive on Rotuma on November 15, and will be on the air through December 3.
We are still working hard to reach our funding raising goals.
Please consider supporting the 3D2Y Rotuma DXpedition. Every donation gets us closer to our fund-raising goal.
Visit our website for details: rotuma2024.com http://rotuma2024.com/. All donations are greatly appreciated.
We hope to see you on the bands, the op on the other end is likely a young ham experiencing the thrill of a DXpedition pile up for the first time!
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – October 28, 2024
Contact: Gregg Marco W6IZT gregg.w6izt@gmail.com
3D2Y Clublog Leaderboard Challenge
As a thanks to the stations who have helped us to attain our QSO goals we are announcing the 3D2Y Club Log Leaderboard Challenge. The objective is simple. Work us on as many band slots as possible!
We will be awarding a personalized bound photo album to the top 5 stations on the leaderboard on each of the five continents, North America, South America, Europe, Asia and Oceana.
Positions 6 through 50 on each continent will receive a certificate signed by the team.
We are hopeful that the challenge will add additional excitement and incentive to work the 3D2Y team.
To be eligible, a station must make an early donor donation, or request a card through OQRS.
We are still working hard to reach our funding raising goals for the November DXpedition.
Please consider supporting the 3D2Y Rotuma DXpedition. Visit our website for details: rotuma2024.com. All donations are greatly appreciated.
We hope to see you on the bands, the op on the other end is likely a young ham experiencing the thrill of a DXpedition pile up for the first time!
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – October 28, 2024
Contact: Gregg Marco W6IZT gregg.w6izt@gmail.com
3D2Y Clublog Leaderboard Challenge
As a thanks to the stations who have helped us to attain our QSO goals we are announcing the 3D2Y Club Log Leaderboard Challenge. The objective is simple. Work us on as many band slots as possible!
We will be awarding a personalized bound photo album to the top 5 stations on the leaderboard on each of the five continents, North America, South America, Europe, Asia and Oceana.
Positions 6 through 50 on each continent will receive a certificate signed by the team.
We are hopeful that the challenge will add additional excitement and incentive to work the 3D2Y team.
To be eligible, a station must make an early donor donation, or request a card through OQRS.
We are still working hard to reach our funding raising goals for the November DXpedition.
Please consider supporting the 3D2Y Rotuma DXpedition. Visit our website for details: rotuma2024.com. All donations are greatly appreciated.
We hope to see you on the bands, the op on the other end is likely a young ham experiencing the thrill of a DXpedition pile up for the first time!
ONE MONTH UNTIL OUR ARRIVAL ON ROTUMA
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – October 15, 2024 Contact: Gregg Marco W6IZT gregg.w6izt@gmail.com
One month from today, on November 15th, our 6 member multi-national on-island team will board an early morning, 1 1/2 hour flight aboard an ATR72 from Fiji to Rotuma. Our equipment will be pre-staged at our operating location, we will be ready to begin setting up our stations immediately upon our arrival, with a goal of having all stations on the air by the end of the day.
We plan to have a total of 5 stations on the air, 2 of the stations will be Elecraft K3s + KPA500s, 1 is a NexGenRiB based on an Elecraft K4 + KPA500, the remaining 2 stations are NexGenRiBs with Elecraft K3s running 100 watts.
Our operating location is on the beach on the north side of the island with ample beach frontage for our antennas. Our antenna complement consists of verticals for 160-40, vertical dipoles for 20-10, and a 5 element yagi for 6 meters. We plan to use RX antennas on the low bands with active noise reduction to minimize the impact of local noise sources.
Commercial power on Rotuma is limited and will serve as a back-up to our primary power source, which is a 4500 KVA diesel generator. We have AC line filters available if needed, to address any RFI problems that may arise.
We will be active in CQWW CW, the young ops on the team are developing our plans for the contest. During the contest we will also be active on the WARC bands.
We will utilize Clublog real-time uploads and Leaderboard. We hope to participate in a number of podcasts during our operation. We will begin dismantling our stations on December 3rd.
We are very thankful for the generous support that we are receiving from clubs and individuals, as well as from our sponsors DX Engineering and Elecraft.
Our fund-raising efforts continue, for additional information please take a moment to visit our website at rotuma2024.com.
We look forward to seeing you in the pile-ups! Keep in mind that the operator on the other end may well be experiencing a DXpedition pile-up for the first time.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – October 10, 2024
Dean Chapman W2FQ
I started my amateur radio operator career in 1972 as WN2KFE, with a strong passion for Morse Code. After 5 decades as WA2KFE, I switched to W2FQ; much more efficient on CW. My interest in ham radio included ARRL ARES activities, traffic handling, rag chewing and DX. After a Heathkit DX60B / Hammarlund HQ140X set up, my prided and joy was my Drake C Line which I used before entering active Army. I chose the Drake C Line instead of buying a car! I reestablished my station in Massachusetts after active duty service and built a state of the art station that I wish I had in the 1970s. The mint Drake C Line is still the center piece of my multi station.
My Army service includes Combat Engineer, Infantry, and Special Forces branches in multiple assignments where I served the majority of the time as an SF Airborne RANGER. The SFODAs used CW through the 80s! My credo is teamwork, accomplish the mission, and never quit with always valuing the input from your men.
Currently I work as a Senior EHS Manager for Dairy Farmers of America with support provided to 10 ice cream / fluid milk plants from the East Coast to Nevada / Utah. I also own businesses in the firearms industry. Aside from presently being the Vice President of ARASNE W1AQ and the DX Dinner Prize Chairman for SWODXA, I was a member of K2OQJ, W2GTF, and K1UGE. My first DXpedition was to the Turks and Caicos in 2023 as VQ5Q. I also find a little time for golf!. RANGERS Lead the Way and CW forever.
Funding raising efforts continue for the November DXpedition. Please consider supporting the 3D2Y Rotuma DXpedition. Visit our website for details: rotuma2024.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – October 7, 2024
Connor Dickey KD9LSV
Connor, a 24 years old Electrical Engineer from St. Louis, Missouri has learned a lot of aspects in the Amateur Radio community starting back in 2018 at the Bradley University ARC (W9JWC). One of the aspects that he learned about early and enjoys is contesting and dxing. While this will be Connor’s first DXpedition, he has had the ability to operate at various contest operations such as K9CT, W0ECC, and most recently NU1AW/0. When he is not contesting, Connor operates a lot of the time remotely enjoys operating CW, SSB and Digital modes.
Funding raising efforts continue for the November DXpedition. Please consider supporting the 3D2Y Rotuma DXpedition. Visit our website for details: rotuma2024.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – September 30, 2024
Contact: Gregg Marco W6IZT gregg.w6izt@gmail.com
Lukas Bartkus LY7J
Lukas, a 22 year old amateur radio enthusiast from Lithuania, has been active in the hobby for 7 years. He is particularly interested in contesting and DXing, focusing on making long-distance contacts with stations around the world. Lukas continues to actively participate in the amateur radio community, aiming to expand his experience and knowledge by taking part in more contests.
Funding raising efforts continue for the November DXpedition. Please consider supporting the 3D2Y Rotuma DXpedition. Visit our website for details: rotuma2024.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – September 26, 2024 Contact: Gregg Marco W6IZT gregg.w6izt@gmail.com | Katie Campbell, KE8LQR pr@youthontheair.org
In partnership with YOTA, we have assembled a multi-national team to participate in the upcoming 3D2Y DXpedition.
These future DXpeditioners will have the thrill of experiencing the DXpedition pileups for the first time.
We can accommodate a few more young operators, if you are interested, please contact Kees W0AAE at arrl.kvan@gmail.com It will be great to have you onboard!
Fund raising for this exciting adventure continues, please visit our website at rotuma2024.com 73, and hope to see you in the pile-ups. The 3D2Y team.
CLICK HERE TO MEET THE 3D2Y OFF-ISLAND YOUTH TEAM
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – September 16, 2024
Contact: Gregg Marco W6IZT gregg.w6izt@gmail.com
Fundraising continues for 3D2Y – Please consider supporting us!
Gregg W6IZT reports that fundraising continues for the upcoming 3D2Y DXpedition to Rotuma Island. “With continued support from our sponsors and donors we are on target to meet our funding goals, but we still have a way to go.”
The shipment of most of our equipment has arrived in Fiji, cleared Customs, and is in storage awaiting transfer to the boat that will transport our gear to Rotuma. To minimize the cost of air freight the team is carrying 2 Elecraft K3s and 3 KPA500s. Baggage constraints on the flight to Rotuma are strictly enforced, limiting what we can carry with us.
The operation runs from November 15th to December 4th.
Donations can be made through our website at https://rotuma2024.com using PayPal or debit/credit card. Alternatively, donations can be made by check payable to:
PACIFIC ISLANDS DXPEDITION GROUP
P.O. BOX 73
ELMWOOD, IL 61529
USA
The PACIFIC ISLANDS DXPEDITION GROUP is a 501c3 foundation. Your donation may be tax deductible. Check with your tax professional.
“Thank you for your generosity and we hope to see you in the pile-ups 73!”
The 3D2Y team
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – September 10, 2024
Contact: Gregg Marco W6IZT gregg.w6izt@gmail.com
Gregg Marco W6IZT
First licensed in 1968, Gregg is an avid DXer, DXpeditioner and occasional contester. A veteran of numerous DXPeditions, He is #1 DXCC Honor Roll with 349 DXCC entities confirmed and achieved 10 band DXCC. Over the past 30 years Gregg has operated as BV/W6IZT, TI/W6IZT, K5D, FS/W6IZT, HK0NA, PJ2T, C6AGU, C6AZT, KH6/W6IZT, PJ6A, PJ6/W6IZT, K1N, 3Y0Z, VP6R, VP6A, JW0A, and 9X4X. Gregg has been on 4 teams that have received the prestigious SWODXA DXpedition of the Year award.
Most recently, Gregg has been focused on development of the NexGenRiB, a self-contained Radio in a Box that supports both local and remote DXpedition operations. The NexGen RiB is the cornerstone of a new mindset for DXpeditioning focused on reducing the escalating costs of DXpeditioning, while expanding the user experience without compromising the overall effectiveness of the DXpedition.
Funding raising efforts continue for the November DXpedition. Please consider supporting the 3D2Z Rotuma DXpedition. Visit our website for details: rotuma2024.com
We hope to see you on the bands, the op on the other end may be a young ham experiencing the thrill of a DXpedition pile up for the first time!
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – September 3, 2024
Contact: Gregg Marco W6IZT gregg.w6izt@gmail.com
Our shipment arrives in Fiji
At about 0900z this morning the tracking devices attached to our shipment came on-line in Nadi, Fiji. The 330 Kg shipment left Atlanta by truck for LAX on August 24 and departed LAX on August 31 on Quantas Airfreight for Fiji via Auckland NZ, and Sydney AU.
Shipment by air freight is expensive shares Gregg W6IZT. To minimize shipping costs, the team will be carrying 2 ea. K3s, 3 ea. KPA500s, laptops, the StarLink terminal, and other gear as checked or carry-on baggage.
Our equipment will be picked up from customs in Nadi and placed in storage by our agent in Fiji in preparation for the trip by boat to Rotuma. The boat runs between Suva, Fiji and Rotuma about once per month. Our shipment will be picked up in Rotuma by our on-island representative for storage at our operating location. The team arrives November 15.
This DXpedition is a partnership with Youth on the Air (YOTA) encouraging youth participation and will feature three young operators who will be active on the Island while there will also be 60 or more hams operating remotely using W6IZT’s NexGenRiBs over Starlink.
We will be signing 3D2Y, not 3D2Z as previously planned.
Funding raising efforts continue for the November DXpedition.
Please consider supporting the 3D2Z Rotuma DXpedition. Visit our website for details: rotuma2024.com
We hope to see you on the bands, the op on the other end is likely a young ham experiencing the thrill of a DXpedition pile up for the first time!
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – Aug 26, 2024
Contact: Gregg Marco W6IZT gregg.w6izt@gmail.com
Elecraft is Major Sponsor of the 3D2Z Rotuma DXpedition.
We are pleased to announce that our good friends at Elecraft are a major sponsor of the 3D2Z Rotuma DxPedition scheduled for November 2024.
Elecraft has now joined DX Engineering, and the Northern California DX Foundation (NCDXF) as a “Premier” sponsor supporting this unique DXpedition.
This DXpedition is a partnership with Youth on the Air (YOTA) encouraging youth participation and will feature 3 young operators who will be active from 3D2Z on the Island while there will also be 60 or more hams operating 3D2Z remotely using W6IZT’s NexGenRiBs over Starlink.
Elecraft co-founders Eric Swartz, WA6HHQ, and Wayne Burdick, N6KR, have once again demonstrated their commitment to DXPeditioning and support of youth involvement in our hobby.
The K4 provided by Elecraft has been incorporated into a NexGenRiB and will showcase the K4s remote capabilities.
We are extremely thankful for the support from Elecraft.
In addition, we are grateful to the following DX clubs and associations for their generous support of the 3D2Z project enabling DXPeditioning for the next generation of amateur radio operators:
- Southeastern DX Club
- Southwest Ohio DX Association
- Long Island DX Association
- Twin City DX Association
- HamJam – North Fulton Amateur Radio League
- RSGB
- Western Washington DX Club
- Oklahoma DX Association
- EUDXF
- Madison DX Club
- CDXC The UK DX Foundation
- Lone Star DX Association
- Eastern Iowa DX Association
- German DX Foundation
- INDEXA
- North Alabama DX Club
- West Virginia DX Association
- Northern Ohio DX association Inc.
- Swiss DX Foundation
Funding efforts continue for the November DXpedition.
Please consider supporting the 3D2Z Rotuma DXpedition by visiting our website for details: rotuma2024.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – August 16, 2024
Contact: Gregg Marco email: gregg.w6izt@gmail.com
3D2Z announces team member change; Dean Chapman W2FQ joins the DXpedition team!
The 3D2Z team is pleased to announce that Dean W2FQ has joined our on-island team. A resident of Seekonk MA, Dean has been licensed since 1972 , and is a retired Special Forces Airborne RANGER. He currently works in management for the Dairy Farmers of America, and also operates his own business in the firearms industry.
Dean shares “My military service includes Combat Engineer, Infantry, and Special Forces branches in multiple assignments. I was fortunate to finish a 20+ year career as a Special Forces Airborne RANGER. The lessons learned from my service were teamwork, accomplish the mission, and never quit with always valuing the input from your men. This is my first DXPedition and I couldn’t be more excited to be part of the 3D2Z team”.
We are pleased to have Dean join our team. Dean’s skills, leadership and experience compliment our team nicely. His primary role over the next few months will be to lead our fund-raising efforts.
Hal W8HC has stepped down from the team due to personal reasons. We would like to thank Hal W8HC for his contributions.
Funding efforts continue for the November DXpedition.
Please consider supporting the 3D2Z Rotuma DXpedition by visiting our website for details: https://rotuma2024.com/
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – July 26, 2024
DX Engineering (DXE) is Major Sponsor of the 3D2Z Rotuma DXpedition.
We are pleased to announce that our good friends at DX Engineering (DXE) are a major sponsor of the 3D2Z Rotuma Dxpedition scheduled for late November.
DXE has now joined the Northern California DX Foundation (NCDXF) as a “Premier” sponsor supporting this unique DXpedition.
This DXpedition is a partnership with Youth on the Air (YOTA) encouraging youth participation and will feature 3 young operators who will be active from 3D2Z on the Island while there will also be 30 or more YOTA operators operating 3D2Z remotely using W6IZT Radio in a Box stations (RiBs) over Starlink.
DX Engineering CEO Tim Duffy, K3LR has once again demonstrated his commitment and support of youth involvement in our hobby not only with this, DXE’s 3D2Z sponsorship, but is once again opening up his world-class K3LR Contest station to the young operators of the Dave Kalter Memorial Youth DX Adventure as they participate this weekend as K3Y in the RSGB IOTA Contest.
“Thank you” to DX Engineering and “Very 73 es GL” to the K3Y Contest Team!!
In addition to the NCDXF, we are grateful to the following DX clubs and associations for their generous support of the 3D2Z project enabling DXpeditioning for the next generation of amateur radio operators:
- Southeastern DX Club
- Southwest Ohio DX Association
- Long Island DX Association
- Twin City DX Association
- Lone Star DX Association
- RSGB
- Western Washington DX Club
- Oklahoma DX Association
- EUDXF
- CDXC The UK DX Foundation
- North Alabama DX Club
- Eastern Iowa DX Association
Funding efforts continue for the November DXpedition. Please consider
supporting the 3D2Z Rotuma DXpedition by visiting our website for details: rotuma2024.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – June 27 2024
Contact: Hal Turley, W8HC email: w8hc@aol.com
3D2Z announces team member change; Lukas Bartkus, LY7J joins DXpedition team
We are sad to report that due to unexpected circumstances, Mike, WØVTT has had to drop off of the 3D2Z on-island team.
In our continued efforts to bring more “Next Generation” amateur radio operators into DXpeditioning, the 3D2Z team is pleased to announce that our new 6th member replacing Mike is Lukas Bartkus, LY7J, a 22-year young ham from Lithuania. He joins Connor, KD9LSV and Jamie, MØSDV as our 3rd young ham making this a multi-national “Next Generation” DXpedition.
According to Lukas, he is a young ham “with 7 years of ham radio love.” He is a second-year electrical engineering student and a full time professional events photographer.
Meanwhile, Mike will remain a valued member of our off-island DXpedition team serving as one of the remote operators of the
2 NexGenRiBs which will be accompanying the DXpedition.
Funding efforts continue for the November DXpedition.
Please consider supporting the 3D2Z Rotuma DXpedition by visiting our website for details: <https://rotuma2024.com/>
NCDXF PRESS RELEASE – 14 June 2024
NCDXF is pleased to announce its financial support for the November-December 2024 DXpedition to Rotuma. This DXpedition is lead by Gregg, W6IZT and Hal, W8HC and features two important NCDXF interests, youth in DXpeditions and the RIB, Rib in a Box concept.
The NCDXF board has funded the DXpeditions’ request and added additional support for the two young operators joining the team on island. On the 3D2Z website, https://rotuma2024.com/ , they state “Enabling DXpeditioning for the Next Generation of Amateur Radio Operators”. The NCDXF applauds this with their unanimous support.
Remote operations will feature the RIB concept that the NCDXF has financially supported and will be led and coordinated by another young operator.
The mission of NCDXF is to provide necessary financial support for well-organized DXpeditions to desirable DXCC entities and to support advances in DXpeditioning skills, technology, and infrastructure. Those funds come from the contributions of our supporters in the DX community. Your contribution will help make DX happen. Visit our website: www.ncdxf.org.
Respectfully submitted.
Craig Thompson, K9CT
NCDXF Vice President
PRESS RELEASE – June 11, 2024
Team Adds 6th Member – Connor Dickey, KD9LSV
In the continued effort to bring more “Next Generation” amateur radio operators into DXpeditioning, the 3D2Z team is happy to announce the 6th member to join their team– Connor, KD9LSV, a 23-year old electrical engineer and graduate of Bradley University.
Connor, who obtained the rank of Eagle Scout, holds his Extra Class license and recently completed the CWops Level 1 Academy Class. He enjoys operating CW Contests and is a member of Society of Midwest Contesters. He attributes operating in the 2019 CQ WPX SSB Contest at Craig, K9CT’s contest station as having a major influence on him and giving him more appreciation of, “How big the amateur radio community actually is.”
Connor becomes the 2nd 23-year old on the team joining Jamie, MØSDV . Jamie is an avid DXer and Contest op who brings quite a bit of DXpedition experience with him– including the recent successful 8R7X Youth DXpedition.
Rotuma2024 Project Announces Website
In additional 3D2Z news, team member Nathan, K4NHW activated the DXpedition’s website early Tuesday morning @:
Here you will find more information about the 3D2Z DXpedition, the team, the operating plans or Rotuma Island itself… and how you can support 3D2Z.
PRESS RELEASE – May 21, 2024
November 3D2Z Rotuma DXpedition to Partner with Youth on the Air (YOTA) Americas; Young Amateur Operators to Participate in DXpedition via Remote Radio
In the interest of bringing more young amateur radio operators into DXpeditioning, the Pacific Islands DXpedition Group, Inc. (PIDXG) and Youth on the Air (YOTA) Americas are pleased to announce a partnership involving the upcoming 3D2Z DXpedition to Rotuma in November. Youth on the Air is a program for and by young amateur radio operators with the
expressed goal of building skills and fostering lasting friendships and mentors with younger operators.
Rotuma DXpedition organizer Gregg, W6IZT will be taking two of his NexGenRiBs as a complement to the 6 member DXpedition on-island team. Gregg says, “Following the success with the remote radio used at the recent CBØZA Juan Fernandez DXpedition, we will have two remote stations available to young amateur operators through YOTA on Rotuma. It is our hope that 75% of the remote contacts made from 3D2Z will be made by the
youth participants.”
Nineteen year old YOTA member Kees, WØAAE will coordinate the scheduling and operation by the remote YOTA operating team. A freshman aerospace engineering major at Iowa State University, Kees was the 2023 Bill Pasternak WA6ITF Memorial Amateur Radio Newsline Young Ham of the Year Award recipient. He coordinated participation in the Americas for December YOTA Month and is active with remote operation for young hams
through RHR.
YOTA Camp Director Neil Rapp, WB9VPG said that he welcomes this partnership with the youth members of the YOTA organization and the PIDXG DXpedition to Rotuma. “I think this is a great opportunity for our young operators to experience a DXpedition and enjoy operating in pileup conditions.”
The 3D2Z DXpedition is scheduled for November 15 to December 4. In addition to the young operators who will be involved with the remote-side of the operation, one of the on-island team members is 23-year old Jamie, MØSDV, who was one of the members of the recent 8R7X DXpedition to Guyana. Additional members of the 3D2Z team include veteran DXpeditioner
Hal, W8HC; Nathan K4NHW; and Mike, WØVTT. Gregg says that they are awaiting word on the sixth member of the team, another young amateur operator who will be named soon.
PRESS RELEASE – April 27, 2024
The Pacific Islands DXpedition Group (PIDXG) announces that Gregg, W6IZT; Hal, W8HC; Nathan, K4NHW and 3 additional operators (to be announced) will operate from Rotuma (3D2/R) November 15 to December 4 and will be taking part in the CQWW CW Contest. Preliminary plans call for the team to operate locally with 3 stations while Gregg will be taking along 2 of his NexGenRiBs that proved successful during the recent CB0ZEW DXpedition at Robinson Crusoe Island (Juan Fernandez). The team has secured the necessary permits and licensing and has confirmed accommodations to operate from the island’s north coast. Currently Rotuma stands at #68 on the ClubLog Most Wanted List. QRX for more information.