3B9C - Bulletin No. 2

Project Star Reach (3B9C) – Bulletin No.2
21 December 2003


This is the second bulletin concerning Project Star Reach, a project focused around a major expedition to Rodrigues Island, with the callsign 3B9C.

Since the first bulletin, additional team members have come on board, and several additional sponsors. The shipping container has now been packed and has begun its journey to Rodrigues. This container holds considerably more equipment and antennas than we took to the Comoros (D68C), including capability for 70cm (satellite and moonbounce). We really do intend to cover as many bands and modes as possible, not only to satisfy the demands of the many specialist groups within the ranks of amateur radio, but also to encourage those of you who do tend to specialise (whether in HF, LF, RTTY or whatever) to try something new.

Sponsors
Firstly a comment about sponsorship, as some correspondents have asked why this is necessary, when there has been quite a lot of emphasis in recent years on small-scale “lite” expeditions, often self-funded by the expedition participants. Quite clearly, expeditions of that type have their place in keeping the bands buzzing; major expeditions are, of necessity, few and far between, given the costs and logistics involved. But for many would-be DX chasers, with modest home stations, their chances of working a “lite” expedition on, say, 160 or 80m, are low to non-existent. Hence the need for occasional major expeditions, using high power, phased arrays, specialist receiving antennas, etc. Of necessity, though, the costs of procuring and shipping so much hardware are high – in the case of 3B9C we estimate shipping costs alone to be of the order of $20k. We believe it appropriate that the wider community have the opportunity to help make this happen, rather than the burden falling wholly on the team members (who, of course, will make some contribution to the logistics costs, in addition to finding all their own travel and accommodation expenses).

As well as Yaesu, who we announced in the first bulletin as Principal Sponsors, we are happy to welcome the following:

Commercial Sponsors:
Air Mauritius
Array Solutions
Carl Zeiss UK
Cotton Bay Hotel (Rodrigues)
Daily DX
Hertfordshire Display plc.
Heil Sound
Linear Amp UK
Martin Lynch & Sons.
Nevada
Trident Antennas


Clubs:
North Ohio DX Association

Individuals:
G0WAT G3HBR G4PIQ K7VI KB3IFH N7MQ

Details of how to become a sponsor were included in the first bulletin and are on the Website. More information about sponsorship and about Project Star Reach as a whole will also be mailed shortly to major DX clubs worldwide.

New Team Members
Since the first bulletin, we are pleased to welcome Robert F5VHN and Eric K3NA to the team.

Magazine Articles & Talks
It is very much our intention to use Project Star Reach as an opportunity for educating non-DXers into the “how, where and when” of working DX. We are delighted that several major amateur radio publications recognise the importance of this in revitalising our hobby from within, and have agreed to run articles ahead of the 3B9C operation, giving suitable hints and tips (which will, of course, be equally applicable to other expeditions as time goes by). Within the constraints of time and geography, we are also happy to entertain requests for club presentations along similar lines. Drop me an e-mail, and let’s see what we can do. While bulletins such as Daily DX, 425 DX News and OPDX number their subscribers in the thousands, there are literally tens of thousands of amateurs with the capability to work DX, but who are largely inactive on the bands, though they may still belong to their national society or local clubs. One way we hope to encourage participation in Project Star Reach is by way of the Nevada Rodrigues Trophies.

The Nevada Comoros Trophies offered as part of the D68C DXpedition for working band-slots were extremely popular with DXers, with the winners working D68C on 23 band-slots. Trophies were also available to clubs, to encourage their members to be active and work D68C either from home or perhaps from the club station. During the 3B9C DXpedition we will be running the Nevada Rodrigues Trophies. The rules will be broader than those used for the Comoros and there will be continental awards as well as awards for clubs outside the UK. There will also be special awards for newcomers to HF. Details will be available soon.

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)
21 December 2003
(3B9C Publicity Officer)