Desecheo Island DXpedition dates announced

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has notified the team that February 12-26, 2009, will be the dates allocated for the radio operation. These dates are coordinated with other USFWS research activities scheduled on other parts of Desecheo Island as well as scheduling USFWS security personnel for the camp.
 
Fifteen operators will be allowed on the island at any given time. A total of 6-8 stations will be operational, including 160-6 meters.
 
A reconnaissance trip to Desecheo is scheduled for Friday, December 19. Three team members, USFWS personnel and an UXO (unexploded ordnance) expert will sweep and clear the assigned area of UXO and other hazards.  There will be no radio operations.
 
The 15-man team will assemble in Puerto Rico on February 8, 2009, for mandatory UXO training. The next three days will include team operations training, and last minute preparation and staging of the several tons of equipment for transport. On February 12 th, landing will commence and two stations will be immediately activated. Likewise, stations will continue to operate until the final moments before departure on February 26th.
 
Halfway through the operation, on February 19th, approximately half of the operating team will be replaced with fresh operators for the final week.
 
The team has been diligently planning antennas and propagation paths to take advantage of every possible band opening to Asia, where Desecheo is #2 on the Most Wanted List and to Europe, where it is #3 on the Most Wanted List.
 
Contributions are being solicited. To assist us and for the latest news, please go to the team’s website: http://www.kp5.us

 
73,
Glenn Johnson, WØGJ
Bob Allphin, K4UEE
Desecheo 2009 co-leaders