Major DXpedition to Bouvet in Planning Stages

NASA image of Bouvet Island, via CIA World Factbook

Well-known DXpeditioners Ralph Fedor, K0IR; Bob Allphin, K4UEE, and Erling Wiig, LA6VM, are putting together a "large team" DXpedition to Bouvet Island – the world's second most-wanted DX entity – for late 2017 or early 2018. 

According to the ARRL Letter, the group says it has already reached an agreement for transportation with RV Braveheart owner Nigel Jolly, who recently became a licensed ham in the U.S. and received the vanity call of K6NRJ. The group's preliminary plan has been accepted by the Norwegian Polar Institute (Bouvet is a dependency of Norway). The announcement is being made now, the group said, "so that other DXpedition teams that may be considering Bouvet … can redirect their time and effort elsewhere." The island was last activated in 2008.

North Korea … Again? … Maybe?

Map courtesy CIA World Factbook

 
Polish DXer Dom Grzyb, 3Z9DX, who surprised the DX world with an unannounced "demonstration" of amateur radio from North Korea last December, says he is waiting for the official OK to return for another brief operation . The ARRL Letter reported in mid-June that the call could come at any time, and that the operation's dates and band (either 10, 15 or 20 meters) would not be announced in advance.

Multi-Multi Station W3LPL Suffers Tornado Damage

The following is excerpted from CQ Contesting Editor David Siddall, K3ZJ's, August column:

On June 22, a tornado swept through the Maryland property of contester Frank Donovan, W3LPL, almost completely destroying the trees in front of his house under which several hundred contesters had sat just three days earlier at his annual open house. 

Tornado: 1, 200-foot tower: 0
This is what was left of W3LPL's 10- and 6-meter tower
after a tornado ripped through his property on June 22.
(Photo courtesy W3LPL)

One of Frank’s nine towers collapsed, and at this writing, Frank is inspecting his other towers and antennas for possible damage.  The collapsed 200-foot rotating tower had supported three stacked 8-element 10-meter Yagis on 48-foot booms and a 7-element six-meter Yagi on a 24-foot boom.  Fortunately Frank’s house was not damaged and he and his wife were unscathed.

Frank vows to have a replacement tower and antennas up and running by contest season.  A video taken of his station during a visit by K3LR and W8WWV just a couple of weeks before the tornado hit can be viewed at: <https://youtu.be/m1PzsVtxROc> and pictures are on the W3LPL QRZ page.