Latest news

06-Oct-2007 @ 14:30 UTC

I now have the definitive logs from the island and we have reloaded the on-line log with these data. As far as I am concerned this in now the definitive on-line log.

I've received a number of requests to amend the log, where for one reason or another the QSO is busted/not found. Can I remind everyone that FSDXA policy is that we will not alter the log. Our QSLing software allows us to record both the original logged callsign details and the QSL callsign details if different. This enables us to do very accurate and detailed busted calls analysis, which helps us improve our operations on the next DXpedition. Please do not ask us to alter our log! Please also see FAQs 3 and 4.

28-Sep-2007 @ 22:00 UTC

Press release #8 has been published and is available by clicking on the link above

From the team leaders, in Mauritius:

All antennas were dismantled and the ship loaded in 36 hours, and the team left Isle du Sud at 08.00 local on 26th September.

The team safely arrived back in Mauritius, after another rather rough sea crossing. All equipment is now back in its container and loaded on a ship destined for the UK. Most of the team have already left Mauritius for London and the US. The rest leave over the next few days.

Key statistic is an unaudited total of 137,500 QSOs. 3B7C now stands as the third largest DXpedition ever in terms of QSO totals (behind the other two FSDXA expeditions to D6 and 3B9). And this at the minimum of the sunspot cycle! (The solar data during our operation showed zero sunspots for most of our time on the air). There was no PSK operation, as stated on the web site, because of the huge demand (still unsatisfied at the end) for RTTY. But the RTTY total was an impressive 6,500. In terms of band scores, the 3B7C operation exceeded the previous 3B9C QSO totals on 160, 80m, 30m and 20m. We believe that we have broken the all-time QSO record for 30m.

27-Sep-2007 @ 07:30 UTC

I discovered that a log segment, 1200Z to 16:00Z on 23-Sep-07, had not been correctly imported into the on-line log database. This has now been fixed and there are now 137,488 QSOs in the database. I believe the database is now fully up to date and my apologies for any alarm caused by the missing segment.

I have not heard anything from the team since they closed down. I expect that they will have had a much needed rest on the ship and will now be in Mauritius.

26-Sep-2007 @ 09:00 UTC

The team should have finished packing up 3B7C and loading it onto the ship for the return to Mauritius. I wouldn't expect to receive any news until that task is completed and they are either on board ship or even safely back in Mauritius. More news when I get it.

Following a number of questions on the matter, I have added a couple of new FAQs and associated answers, dealing with how the leader board positions are calculated and what we know about pirate operation affecting 3B7C. Please see the FAQ link.

25-Sep-2007 @ 19:40 UTC

The on-line log has now been updated to include all QSOs up to 03:31Z today, when 3B7C closed down. There are now 135,718 QSOs in the log. This is the final, complete log as far as I am able to tell. When I get the actual logs from the logging PCs in a few days time then I'll be able to publish on-line logs based on those. Hopefully there will be no significant differences, otherwise I will have some software bugs to sort out!

I'm hoping to get an update from the team once they have finished packing all the gear on the ship for their return voyage to Mauritius. As soon as I hear anything I'll publish it here.

Thank you for all your kind comments on the DXpedition and your good wishes for the team's safe return. I have passed these on and they have been much appreciated by the team.

25-Sep-2007 @ 08:30 UTC

3B7C closed down at 03:31Z this morning. I am working on getting the final log uploaded but this may be delayed until this evening for various technical reasons.

From the team:

Unfortunately 160m conditions were mediocre the last several days. No further zone 3 stations were heard, and openings to North America during its evening hours were characterized by weak signals buried in the QRN. Many European callers were also detected the last two days with signals too weak to copy. Occasionally a wiggle in the ionosphere would bring up one station for a few seconds, often too short to copy a full callsign, let alone complete a QSO. Nonetheless, a few hundred more stations were added on top band in the last two nights.

In contrast, 10m experienced surprising openings, including lengthy E-skip sessions with Europe after our sunset. A handful of QSOs with North America were worked on 10m during the last two days, including VE7s worked along the terminator.

Don G3XTT will draft a press release later today, when the ship has been loaded.