Marion Islands DXpedition

Rhynhardt, ZS6DXB, reports: "Following the fairy tale of 3Y0E Bouvet Island, Petrus Kritzinger, ZS6GCM, sets out to yet another unique amateur radio venture that many DX'ers around the world can only dream about.

Petrus will be QRV from Marion Island - #6 on the 'DX Magazine 2007 Most Wanted List' as ZS8T. He is expected to be QRV by May 2008 depending on his work load.

Building on the success of the 3Y0E Bouvet Island operation, Petrus wanted to take his amateur radio activity to the next level. Having more time to effectively plan the operation from Marion Island as ZS8T, work began to set a team together that could rise above the high standards that were set during the 3Y0E Bouvet Island operation.

The ZS8T team consists of the following people:
Rhy ZS6DXB - Press Officer/Logistical Support
Don N1DG - Finance/Logistical Support
Tom N4XP - Finance Support
Emil LZ3HI - QSL Manager
Christian DL6KAC - Website construction
Col MM0NDX - Website construction
Stan SQ8X - Website design, graphics & multimedia, media
& PR advisory

One of the first tasks was to start work on a website that could take DXpedition Web sites to a new standard.
Chris DL6KAC, Col MM0NDX and Stan SQ8X really stood up to the challenge and created an interactive website that will change the future of DXpedition Web sites.

The team has built in a unique news cluster into the site that you can subscribe to that will enable you to receive all the latest news from the team behind ZS8T direct.

Please register to the Web site on the following link: http://zs8t.net/newsletter/

The second challenge was to obtain better radio gear than was used during 3Y0E. The ZS8T team is proud to announce the following principal sponsors to the ZS8T operation; these principal sponsors were strategic in getting the hardware needed for ZS8T. Without these sponsors ZS8T would never off made it out of the harbor..

* ICOM America donated an IC7000
* Spiderbeam donated a 5 band HD Spiderbeam yagi
* NCDXF donated funds to obtain an Ameritron AL80 Amplifier, with a SteppIR Vertical.
* Tigertronics donated a Signalink USB digital interface
* Mr. Emil LZ3HI at Gold Print Services donated all QSL cards and QSL management services
* INDEXA, GDXF, GMDX, EUDXF, Chiltern DX Club, Clipperton DX Club, David Topp W5BXX, Mile Hi DXA, Aurum Telemedia, Funkamateur, Passau DX Club, Danish DX Group, DXXE and EUDXF made financial donations to offset costs.

Donations from kind individuals during 3Y0E, we are pleased to announce some of that money helped offset the cost of
radio equipment now being used on Marion Island. It also greatly assisted with shipping costs to South Africa. In addition, Marios 5B4WN, offered his awesome online log facility that has been used with great success at VP6DX, TX5C etc. for ZS8T online log look-ups.

The team behind ZS8T would like to thank each and every organization and individual that has contributed to date in making the operation afull success.

Petrus, ZS6GCM, has also undergone extensive training and will be active on the following bands 160, 80, 40, 30, 20, 17, 12 and 10 meters.

He will be active on the following modes: SSB, CW and RTTY. A detailed timetable with frequencies and modes will be made available closer to the QRV date.

Petrus will also be communicating with Rhy, ZS6DXB, on a regular basis, and you can expect regular updates with photos and even the possibility of videos from the Island as the year progresses. ZS8T will be uploaded to LOTW on completion of the operation.

Without any further ado, please join us on a life-changing journey to Marion Island, official website address: http://zs8t.net. Within ZS8T.net you will find an abundance of information, discussions, images/movies and enough viewing to entice you into working Petrus.

The entire ZS8T Team would be delighted if you joined us in following Petrus by subscribing to the RSS-feed at: http://zs8t.net/feed/
Or our ZS8T-newsletter at: http://zs8t.net/newsletter/

73.... Rhynhardt Louw ZS6DXB"

There is an interesting 12-minute audio interview with Petrus, ZS6GCM, about his upcoming ZS8T operation available on the Web at: http://zs8t.net/interview-with-petrus-kritzinger-zs6gcm-zs8t/