03/30/2016
Two major DXpeditions now are attracting hordes of DX chasers and raising the
activity levels on HF. While both the Heard Island VK0EK[1] and Juan de Nova
FT4JA[2] DXpeditions coordinated their operating plans in advance to avoid
conflicts and confusion, the fact that both DXCC entities are quite rare will
keep things hopping on bands where both are active at the same time. Heard
Island is number 5, and Juan de Nova is number 4 on ClubLog's DXCC Most Wanted
List[3].
"Because we will be on the air at the same time as the FT4JA DXpedition - and
because we will both be operating from a very similar time zone - it is very
important that we coordinate with the French Team, and we have," says the VK0EK
website. The VK0EK and FT4JA websites include the same graphical presentation
of their joint operating plan[4].
As part of that plan to head off potential conflicts, the VK0EK operators are
listening down from their transmit frequencies, while the FT4JA operators are
listening up from their transmit frequencies (both will always operate split).
This should minimize "pileup overlap," although if both major DXpeditions end
up on the same band and mode, operators not interested in working either
station could find it harder to locate a clear frequency.
The Juan de Nova DXpedition kicked off on March 30 and will operate until April
11. The VK0EK DXpedition will continue until April 10. Heard Island is in the
Indian Ocean about 1000 miles north of Antarctica, and Juan de Nova is in the
Indian Ocean in the Mozambique Channel between Mozambique and Madagascar, off
the southeastern coast of Africa.
The VK0EK team has offered suggestions to increase a DXer's chances of getting
into the log, but they apply to working any DXpedition. In short, the
DXpedition operators will always work split, never simplex. Listen to the
operator's instructions and watch for the operator's calling "pattern" before
you start calling. And, get familiar with the band plan posted on the
DXpeditions' websites.
The Reverse Beacon Network (RBN[5]) can be a useful tool for determining the
best times to attempt working a DXpedition, since it provides a glimpse at
real-time propagation.
The VK0EK DXpedition has said its number 1 goal is to give everyone an all-time
new one (ATNO). The team has asked DXers not to work VK0EK on any band for
which they already have Heard Island confirmed, from this or any prior Heard
Island DXpedition.
[1] http://vk0ek.org/
[2] http://www.juandenovadx.com/en/
[3] http://www.clublog.org/mostwanted.php
[4] http://vk0ek.org/the-plan/
[5] http://www.reversebeacon.net/
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