The Kerguelen Island, FT5XO DXpedition

The major event on the ham bands is now the DXpedition to the French Kerguelen Island, located in the sub-antarctic region of the Indian Ocean.

A team of 12 operators representing seven nations – the USA, Switzerland, the UK, Poland, Canada, Australia and Singapore, are now on the air from that rare spot until April 1, operating on all bands and modes. All team members are experienced DXpeditioners.

They run up to 7 stations at once but only vertical antennas are used, no beams and amplifiers. So, their signals haven’t been very strong, but enough to attract huge pile ups often at least 10 kHz wide. Their operating skill is remarkable with a QSO rate of 7 to 10 per minute!

Just like the 2002 DXpedition to South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands, there are no websites, pilot stations or on-line logs. “We feel that a DX QSO made by the hard work of knowing propagation, listening, skillful calling and paying attention to the DX station’s pattern is more meaningful and fun.

We have purposefully advanced minimal publicity about our DXpedition in the spirit of putting the operator instead of the technology back into the forefront of the DX chase.”

QSL Manager is Garry, VE3XN. QSL direct with a self-addressed envelope and 1 new style IRC to get a direct QSL card, or you can QSL via the bureau.

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