3B9C - Bulletin No. 1

Project Star Reach (3B9C) – Bulletin No.1
3 November, 2003


The Five Star DXers Association (FSDXA) is pleased to announce Project Star Reach, a large-scale DXpedition to Rodrigues Island, 3B9.

FSDXA, closely linked to CDXC (Chiltern DX Club), the UK DX Foundation, is the group which brought you the very successful 9M0C DXpedition to the Spratly Islands in February 1998 and the subsequent record-breaking D68C DXpedition to the Comoros in February 2001.

Yaesu have kindly agreed to be Principal Sponsor, and will be providing ten complete state-of-art stations consisting of FT-1000MP MkV Field transceivers and Quadra VL-1000 linears.

The centrepiece of Project Star Reach will be a major DXpedition to Rodrigues Island, to take place next March/April. However, the project also encompasses a range of other activities both before and after the DXpedition itself, including magazine articles showing newcomers to HF how to work DX. The DXpedition will also be a test-bed for StarLog and StarServer, a software system designed specifically to facilitate major DXpeditions of this sort.

The callsign 3B9C has already been assigned, and the plan is for an operation encompassing over three weeks of operation, including four weekends. The first members of the team will arrive in 3B9 on Tuesday 16th March 2004, and expect to spend the first two to three days installing antennas and equipment. Operations will commence before the weekend. Station breakdown will start on Monday 12th April, though operations may continue for a further day or two after that.

There are two main and several subsidiary objectives:

• To provide the possibility for every amateur radio station in the world - even those running QRP or a very simple antenna - to make at least one contact with 3B9C; and
   
• To enable top DXers to put 3B9C in their log on as many bands and modes as possible. It should be possible for top DXers active on all bands and on all main modes to work 3B9C on at least 20 band / mode slots!

Subsidiary aims and objectives:

• To use the DXpedition as a focus for increasing interest in HF amateur radio, especially among those new to HF, through magazine articles, presentations, an awards programme with categories for both new and experienced operators and clubs, etc.
   
• To use the skills of team members to help the islanders of Rodrigues through various activities currently in the planning stages
   
• To test the StarSoftware server-based DXpedition software in the most demanding of environments, with a view to making it available to other DXpeditions in the years to come.
   
• To encourage activity on all bands and modes at a time when decreasing sunspots may be causing some operators to lose interest in HF and 6m.
   
• To be one of the first major DXpeditions to link fully with the ARRL’s "Logbook of the World" initiative.
   
• By setting and maintaining high standards of operation, to uphold and demonstrate the highest standards of DXing practice.
   
• To encourage amateurs to explore new bands and modes, by being readily workable on all bands and modes over an extended period (one of the pleasant surprises with D68C was the way in which many HF operators made their first forays on to PSK31 and on to 10m FM especially to work the DXpedition). Specialist modes will include AO-40, EME and SSTV.

The last major activity from Rodrigues Island was the 3B9R DXpedition of 1999, which made some 47,000 QSOs. Since then this semi-rare DX entity has been activated almost exclusively by its one resident amateur, Robert 3B9FR. With the best will in the world, one individual cannot meet the world’s needs for a DXCC entity, and 3B9 has worked its way back up the "Most Wanted" lists.

For those who are into statistics, Rodrigues stands at number 81 in the 2002 world-wide listing of ‘Most-Wanted’ DXCC entities, published by the DX Magazine. However, for specific areas of the world and specific modes, it ranks much higher, for example 27th in Europe for SSB, and between 30th and 50th in the central regions of the USA on both SSB and CW. It also ranks high on the RTTY "Wanted" lists. It should also be borne in mind that many of the higher-ranked countries in the 2002 survey have since been the target of substantial DXpeditions, likely to have brought them below Rodrigues in the rankings.

In any case, our experience with D68C suggests that not too much credence should be given to the "Most-Wanted" lists, as only a statistically small number of DXers respond to the annual questionnaires. These tend to be those DXers on or near the Honor Roll, whereas in ‘real life’ very many more DXers will call a DXpedition than would be imagined from its ranking on the "Most Wanted" lists.

3B9C will build on the experiences gained during the D68C and 9M0C operations (and distilled into the successful book "DXpeditioning Behind the Scenes" – see below), to give both seasoned DXers and "Little Pistols" a wide range of opportunities to work Rodrigues on many bands and modes. The date of the DXpedition has been chosen with propagation forecasts in mind, and spans the spring equinox. Good propagation to all major areas is expected on all bands from LF through 10 metres.

3B9C will have up to fifteen high-power HF stations active simultaneously when band conditions allow. Activities will encompass SSB, CW, RTTY, PSK31 and, as appropriate, FM. There will also be satellite activity and possible EME. Large monoband antennas will be used on all bands, including a full-size two-element Yagi for 30m. There will be capability for working simultaneously on more than one mode on 10, 15, 20 and 80 metres when these bands are open. On LF we will use two phased pairs of Titanex verticals on 80m, one pair for CW and one for SSB. 40m will rely on our tried and tested 4-square array. 160m operation will utilise the well-known Titanex verticals, with various loops and Beverages for receive. Full details of the equipment and antennas will be given in a subsequent bulletin. Some 3 tonnes of equipment will be sea-freighted by container to 3B9 ahead of the DXpedition to allow the team to put on an operation of this scale.

By operating over four weekends, the team expects to be able to work through the demand for Rodrigues to the point where even the most modestly equipped stations will have a good chance of contacts on several bands. The extended period of operation also opens up the opportunity for a 3B9C entry in the CQ WPX SSB Contest and, perhaps, other contest events taking place during that period.

The multinational team is still being formed, but already includes many well-known callsigns, as well as some up-and-coming DXpedition operators. So far, team members include DL7AKC (Jens), EI5DI (Paul), G0MRF (Dave), G0OPB (Tony), G3NUG (Neville), G3BJ (Don), G3IZD (Ivan), G3NHL (Chris), G3RAU (Derek), G3SED (Mike), G3WGV (John), G3WKL (John), G3XTT (Don), G4FRE/WW2R (Dave), G4JKS (Hilary), G4KIU (Nigel), G4TSH (Justin), G4VXE (Tim), GU4YOX(Bob), JA1RJU(Kazu), JH4RHF (Jun), KF7E (Jim), M0DXR (Mark), M0GMT (Daniel), N7CQQ (John), NK7C (Pat), W3EF (Maury).

We are seeking contributions from sponsors to help defray the very significant logistics costs of this DXpedition. Donations in sterling may be sent to the Five Star DXers Association Treasurer, John Linford, G3WGV, Pennine View, Sleagill, Cumbria CA10 3HD, England (e-mail: g3wgv@aol.com): please make cheques payable to the "Five Star Expedition Fund". Donations in other currencies may be made by various means, the relevant account details being as follows:

• IBAN Number : IBAN GB14 BARC 2068 7950 8302 16
   
• SWIFTBIC Number : BARCGB22
   
• Bank Name : Barclays Bank
   
• Bank Address : PO Box 44, Poole, Dorset, BH15 1YA
   
• Sort code : 20-68-79
   
• Account Name : The Five Star Expedition Fund
   
• Account Number : 50830216

Donations may also be made by PayPal via the Web page or to FSDXA@g3wgv.com (you will need to have a PayPal account of your own to be able to use this facility).

Donations in US dollars may be sent to Wes Lamboley W3WL, 690 Hunterhill Way, Roswell, GA 300075, USA (e-mail: BLamboley@aol.com). Please make checks payable to "Wesley Lamboley".

Donations in Japanese yen may be sent to Taizo Arakawa JA3AER, 6-2-12 Mikanodai, Kawachinagano, Osaka 586-0044, Japan (e-mail: ja3aer@beach.ocn.ne.jp). All donations will be acknowledged.

The logos of all DX clubs etc which have helped to sponsor 3B9C will be shown on the 3B9C QSL card (subject to a certain minimum amount), as will the names and callsigns of those who make an individual contribution in advance of the DXpedition (again subject to a certain minimum amount) - please let us know if you do not want your name and callsign to appear on the QSL card.


This first Bulletin is intended mainly to alert you to Project Star Reach. Between now and March further bulletins will be issued, but you can already find out much more by visiting the Web site which is up and running at www.fsdxa.com/3b9c


Don Field G3XTT, NK1G (g3xtt@lineone.net)
3 November 2003
(3B9C Publicity Officer)


"DXpeditioning Behind the Scenes", edited by Neville Cheadle G3NUG and Steve Telenius-Lowe G4JVG offers, in the words of Wayne Mills N7NG, "A comprehensive view of virtually all aspects of a major expedition for the traveler and DXer alike. From early planning through QSLing, this book offers a variety of thoughts and suggestions on every facet of the DXpedition. It is by far the most complete ‘how to’ reference available". The book is available in the USA for $28 plus $3 shipping from IREF Inc, 118 Oak Ridge Drive, New Braunfels, Tx 78132. E-mail: ad5a@beecreek.net Elsewhere the book can be obtained for £16.95 plus postage from Nevada www.nevada.co.uk/book-DX.html, Unit 1, Fitzherbert Spur, Farlington, Portsmouth, Hampshire PO6 1TT, England (Tel: +44 23 9231 3090). Ordering can be by credit card. All surpluses from the sale of the book will be used to sponsor future DXpeditions.

Second bulletin.