Why “Sky Blue Camp” has never been On the Air?

 

Following a quick research about remote camps never been activated so far, eventhough still in operation, we have found among a dozen of them, this easy one:
Sky Blue camp. WAP GBR-new

From: http://antarcticmonkey.blogspot.com/2006/03/sky-blu.html

The blogger over there did write:
I was sent to Sky Blue for a spell. The main feature of 'Guantanamo Blu' (lots of people sitting around in orange overalls doing nothing...) is the blue ice runway which enables planes to land on wheels instead of skis. The main function here is as a refuelling and stopping-off spot for projects further south.

Being at 75 degrees South & 1300m high, the weather can be a little chilly.

When it's -30 and 60km/h winds theres no incentive to go outside unless the pee bottle is full. It's at times like these that the Field Assistant's mantra of 'sleep till you're hungry, eat till you're sleepy' comes out.

However, when the wind drops and the sun comes out it does feel a bit more pleasant. Thats when the planes start flying and you're busy unloading fuel from big planes and putting it into little planes, then running back to the hut to give weather observations to the other pilots. And skiing......

 

Why do they don’t install an HF station over there and be on the air all day long?

Maybe a more springly life could come up with a great deal of pleasure …isn’t it?  So… people from Rothera … please do an additional effort and put this spot on the air. Antarctic Hunters will be more than pleased …they simply want you!

 

Living Antarctica and it’s strange world…only at WAP!

 

VP8/LU1UQ (WAP BGR-01) Posted by Chris F5UTE

Hello WAP friends,

Received VP8/LZ1UQ  QSL card for St. Kliment Ohridski Base, Antarctica, last week. Best regard from French Antartica hunter Chris / F5UTE.

TNX F5UTE

This card among other thousand of them,  is loaded on the WAP Antarctic QSL Gallery. Surf it and you will enjoy the largest Antarctic QSL Gallery  in the world!
Thanks to you all for sending us your scan copies , and share the cards with the chasers!
Antarctica ...our passion!

 

Posted by Vlad RU3HD, forwarded by Gita OM5MF

R1AND (Novolazarevskaya base CLUB CALL)
Op. Valentin  Home Call RU1ZC.
Novolazarevskaya Base (WAP RUS-Ø9) has recently been re-opened as every years and R1AND is very active after 15:00 UTC on  SSB at  14160 - 14165 KHZ. QSL card via  Home Call to RU1ZC (QRZ. com)
HF condx in  ANTARCTICA: Rig: Kenwood TS 50 - 100 Watts, Home made aluminium antenna Delta Loop  at about 5 meters from the ground, and it si pointed to the North.
Propagation is very good.
73 VLADIMIR. RU3HD.
TNX Gita OM5MF

1969   -  29 OCTOBER   - 2007

XXXVIII ANNIVERSARY

Of  the  Marambio Base fundation in  Antártida Argentina 

 

Marambio is a permanent base (WAP ARG-21), founded on  October 29, 1969. It was named after Argentine Air Force pilot Gustavo Argentino Marambio, one of the first pilots flying over Antarctica. Prior to its foundation a team led by Vice-Commodore Mario Luis Olezza built the 1200m (3800ft) long, 40m (120ft) wide landing track, the first one in the continent.
Supplies are taken to Marambio Base during the whole year, to be later distributed to other Argentine bases nearby (except for Belgrano II WAP ARG-06). There are over 100 intercontinental flights every year. The base has 27 buildings in a total area of 4,278 m2, of which 1,155 are used for accommodation. The 45 m² medical suite is attended by one doctor and three paramedics, and has three beds and X-Ray facilities. 492,000 litres of Arctic gasolil are used every year for transportation, and the four power generators with a capacity of 1,000 KWs.
The base also has a sewage treatment plant.
                                                        TNX Marambio Foundation www.marambio.ag

 

Posted by Oleg Sakharov UA1PBA (ex R1ANF)
Dear WAP friends.
I am in Russia, close to Arkhangelsk. Time by time I operate with my home call UA1PBA.
Unfortunately, I will not go to Bellingshausen this year, cause my job is changed. However, one friend of mine Slava Savkin, ex UA1PAI,  is going to stay over winter there. He is not big fun of Ham radio any more, but he promised me to be active as R1ANF. For this reason, my FT-897 and amplifier will continue stay at Bellingshausen and may be we will get Slava back to our world .
73, om! Oleg, ex R1ANF
Oleg Sakharov UA1PBA, is a Radio engineer; he has been Chief of Bellingshausen Station for several years.
Viatcheslav (Slava) Savkin UA3MKV (Ex UA1PAI), is a Technician and Antenna expert.
Through the WAP pages we would like to say THANKS to Oleg UA1PBA for his great job down there, and send Slava our best wishes for the new assignement. Hope to hear him soon from Bellinghausen Base, WAP RUS-01 .

Sept-15 & 16.
Great WAP & DCI Meeting at Mondovì Italy.

As every year, the meeting organized by the local ARI Ham Section of Mondovì, at the presence of the local authorities, was an oportunity to speak about Antarctica; in fact the two days meeting is dedicated to the DCI-Italian Castles (hunters and activators) and to the up date about the WAP Program's activities.
This year we did present the new www.waponline.it web site, and the results of our 30 years work in the Antarctic field. Just few pics to show the conference hall and some of the WAP Staff.

TNX ARI Mondovì.

PRINCESS ELISABETH STATION, BELGIUM
While waiting some Ham's activity from this NEW Belgian Station in Antarctica, WAP is just reminding the readers that eventually everyone can support this project:
Support the Project
The International Polar Foundation welcomes support from both: companies and individuals. Acting as a technological showcase and a launch pad for wider understanding, the "Princess Elisabeth" station gives unprecedented visibility to Belgium's commitment - and that of its people and businesses - to meeting the climate challenge.
Donation for Princess Polar Station:
http://www.antarcticstation.org/index.php?sponsorship/donate&s=3&rs=25&lg=en 
Read more about Princess Elisabeth Station on:
http://www.antarcticstation.org/index.php?s=7&rs=8&lg=en
WAP means  Antarctica and its wonderful world..... Stay with us and enjoy it!

 

Posted by Dr. Davide Persico

Davide, will be back in Antarctica with an international group of scientists for a new mission which will begin next September 28.
Davide did write us, suggesting other 3 interesting web sites which are talking about drilling science down in Antarctica.

PSE go to:

www.andrill.org

www.progettosmilla.it

As Davide said, the new mission willl start from 28 Sept. and from that date and ahead,  information will be uploaded on the blog which will be periodically updated. Check www.anellomancante.blogspot.com  . 

TNX Dr. Davide Persico for joining us.

 

Posted by Dominik DL5EBE, through F5NOD's Antarctic reflector:
I would like to inform you that I received the new DPØGVN QSL cards from UA6HPR printing service yesterday. All direct and buro cards will be processed this week-end and will be sent out to you on next Monday.
Best 73s, Dominik DL5EBE (Op. UA3AWA)
TNX DL5EBE

Posted by Maurice F5NQL
Hi WAP,
included, the TMØTAF 2007 (WAP-43) QSL card
73 Maurice, F5NQL.
We remind the chasers that TMØTAF can be requested via F4TTR
TNX F5NQL

FALKLAND ISLANDS, WAP GBR-25.
Chris, GMØTQJ will be QRV as VP8CXV starting September 8 to January 15, 2008.  He will be active using mostly SSB, but will also do RTTY and PSK31. 
QSL via RSGB Buro to home call (GMØTQJ) or direct.

Any contacts with Sub & Peri-Antarctic locations (such as The Flaklands), are validfor WAP Awards WACA & WADA. Falklands islands are WAP referenced as GBR-25.

Source of information: http://www.arf.fsu.edu/Site_Features_LibraryResources.cfm
McMurdo News
Six members of the AMGRF staff, curators (Matt Olney and Matt Curren), visiting post-doctoral fellow Davide Persico), graduate student (Steve Petrushak) and two undergraduate students (Kelly Jemison and Charlie King) traveled to Antarctica for the inaugural ANDRILL project. The season was a wonderful success and the core recovered is a truly unique record of Antarctic geological history.  SHALDRIL is a consortium of U.S. scientists that are utilizing the RV/IB Nathaniel B. Palmer to demonstrate the feasibility of ship-based diamond coring along the Antarctic continental margin.
Dr. Davide Persico is an italian researcher, involved in several branches of studies in Antarctica. 
(ref. http://www.unipr.it/arpa/dipgeo/persico.html )

 

Posted by Reg VE7IG

In the 4th Antarctic Activity Week I did a QSO total for VA7ANTA (WAP-70) as follows: 

BAND       CW        SSB

80        177        109

40        429          0

30          3          -

20        335       1111

17        185        680

Total QSOs    3029;  1129 CW & 1900 SSB. 

TNX VE7IG
Congrats to Reg VE7IG/VA7ANTA  for such a great goal QSOs in the 4th Antarctic Activity Week 2007.
Don't forget to get ready for the 5^th AAW 18-24 February 2008!

 

LU8DSC/MM Cancelled

Posted by Miguel LW9DX
The operation from on board of M/V Suboficial Castillo, scheduled for Friday, ,August 31^st has been cancelled, due to some technical reparations on the Ship,  before the next  Antarctic campaign.

Miguel LW9DX will not operate LU8DSC/MM though.

Miguel is really sorry ....and we too!
TNX LW9DX Miguel

Be patient, next Antarctic Season will star from next October and we’ll have plenty of emotions to share together.

Stay with us and enjoy WAP.

 

LU8DSC/MM- Aviso ARA Suboficial Castillo

Posted by Miguel Angel Calleja LW9DX.

Next Friday (August 31^st) MiguleLW9DX will be again on board of M/V Suboficial Castillo starting from 18:00Z on 14.315, signing LU8DSC/MM. QSL via LU4DXU
TNX Miguel LW9DX

 

M/V Suboficial Castillo is a Polar Ship, actually anchored in the Port of  Mar del Plata, Argentina.

Just to remind the readers that  any contacts with Polar Ships are valid for Antarctic Challenge  of the French Polar Team, indipendently from where they are.
WAP-WACA Award rules states differently. 
WAP-WACA requires that  contacts  with Polar Ship, Vessels, Passengers ships, Icebreakers and so on,  are valid only if they  are sailing Antarctic, or Sub & Peri-Antarctic waters.

 

 8J1ANT, WAP-76

January 29 of 2007 marked the 50th Anniversary of Japan opening the Syowa Station as a base for Antarctic research.

The National Institute of Polar Research  and other Japanese organizations involved in different fields down in Antarctica did celebrate this event in so many different ways, where veterans and researchers did report about Antarctic experiences.

 

Special callsigns 8J1ANT, have been issued to celebrate the event and  special stations have been active from different Japanese call areas such as 8J1ANT/1, 8J1ANT/2 and 8J1ANT/8.

Thanks to Yuki, JI6KVR , WAP have got a sample of several  8J1ANT & 8J1ANT/2 QSLs that have been used to confirm contacts with these stations which are all together  WAP referenced as WAP-76.

 

 

50th Anniversary of the Japanese Antarctic Research Expedition’s  QSLs  represent Japanese research stations in Antarctica, wildlife and Antarctica pictures,  a real  theme combining the accumulated expertise of 50 years with pioneering researches in Antarctica.

 

 

 

 

               
TNX Yukihiro Deguchi, JI6KVR

QSLs  from  K2ARB

Chasers should remember that somehow a large box of QSL cards from Russia for Adam’s recent Antarctic operation has been lost in the mail on its way from Russia.Things have been recovered well and Adam is now able to QSL. 

 

 

Posted by Adam Brown K2ARB

I am happy to report that all direct QSLs received for last season's operation as CE8/K2ARB from Punta Arenas and KC4/K2ARB and VP8DKF from Patriot Hills were answered yesterday. Bureau cards are being answered via the bureau.
73, Adam  KC4/K2ARB.

Through the WAP pages we would like to express our gratitude to Adam for his kindness, and for his great activity from down South. Thanks Adam, you did a real great job!

Just to remind the readers that CE8/K2ARB is referenced for WAP as CHL-13, while KC4/K2ARB & VP8DKF are MNB-Ø2

TNX K2ARB

WAP, the unique WW web site fully dedicated to Hams and Antarctica Chasers ... Join us and enjoy it!

WAP software, is a tool developped by Carlo Delle Monache IK6CAC, in order to let you building up your list of the Antarctic stations worked, as much easy as possible, with WAP references and Base names. To do this, , the source of informations are coming from the WAP Dbase.

Since the 1st edition of Carlo's job, back in the year 2002, the Dbase is updated regularly (about twice a year) with the insertion of last entries.
Posted by Carlo, IK6CAC
You can download update #6 of WAP database.
best 73, Carlo IK6CAC
http://www.ik6cac.com
WAP Staff would thank Carlo immensely for his great assistance and wonderful job.
Chasers can download the 6th edition  of  WAP DBase which is the official Antarctic Stations DataBase
Only at WAP...!

Approaching the 5th Antarctic Activity Week (18-24 Feb. 2008), we're happy to pubblish TMØTAF results got on last AAW's Edition.
Posted from Thierry F4TTR, forwarded  by Maurice, F5NQL
TMØTAF 2007 (WAP-43) and QSOs Results of the 4th AAW.
1-Band QSOs:      1770
 2-Band QSOs:        85
 3-Band QSOs:         8
 4-Band QSOs:         2 
               SSB      CW       SSTV    PSK31   TOTAL
------------------------------------------------- 80m        533        385         0          0        918
40m        74         284         0          5         363
30m          0         197          0         0        197
20m        276        161         6          1        444
17m          1         56           0          0        57
15m          2         28           0          1        31
-------------------------------------------------              886       1111        6          7      2010
 TNX Thierry F4TTR & Maurice F5NQL
http://f4ttr.spaces.live.com/perso
http://www.f6kop.com

Antarctica and it’s  most known fauna specimen.

Penguins are practically everywhere on the coasts of Antarctica and Sub-Antarctic territories, and we have learnt a lot about them.

Hereby, we are getting the lifecycle of an Emperor penguin, hosted at USAP web site.
Photograph by: Zina Deretsky
National Science Foundation.

TNX NSF, USAP & Zina Deretsky

http://photolibrary.usap.gov/Portscripts/PortWeb.dll?query&field1=Filename&op1=matches&value=PENGUIN_LIFECYCLE_H.JPG&catalog
=Antarctica&template=USAPgovMidThumbs  

 

This and other educational web site addresses,  are reported on the Antarctic Links section, recently updated and available by a specific task button from the Home Page of WAP site.

Stay with us and enjoy Antarctica as much as we do!

 

Base Naval Ushuaia Almirante Berisso.

 

Antactic chasers and DXers know that LU-Z means Argentinean stations located  in Antarctica, while LU-X means mostly of the station located at Tierra del Fuego Province, a Sub Antarctic Territory, WAP referenced as ARG-23. 

In 1947 the central government closed the old prison over there , and the building was acquired by the Ministry of Marine to create in 1950 the Base Naval Ushuaia Almirante Berisso.

Naval Base Admiral Berisso (Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego) is the more southern  harbour of the Argentinean Navy, from where it projects control on the zone of the austral channels, the main logistic port access to the Antártida.
Cape Buen Suceso (Lat. 54°49´ South,   Long. 65°13' West ) is in the South end of the Tierra del Fuego , Antártida and islands of the South Atlantic province, in the South coast of the bay of the same name, in front of the Straits of Le Maire. It is partially controlled by Argentinean Navvy which have some buildings over there.

Some DX hunters have been lucky in January 2006 to work a seaman (operator Diego) who was there involved for a while , signing LU1XY/X ; this could be qualify as a rare contact!Naval Base Almirante Berisso has its local callsign as LU1XY and eventual contacts made can be confirmed through this address:
NAVAL USHUAIA ALMIRANTE BERISSO BASE
BASE NAVAL USHUAIA S/N
USHUAIA TF 9410, ARGENTINA
I would like to thank Pupi LU8XP and Miguel LW9DX for this QSL card, useful to learn something more about the Sub Antarctic locations. Without their help, I think it could have been lost!

TM5TAF  WAP-79
Posted by F6AXX , forwarded us by Maurice F5NQL.
This is the QSL card for the 2007 AAW op by the Union Francaise des Telegraphistes, UFT members.
73 Maurice, F5NQL, UFT Vice President

TNX F6AXX & F5NQL

All the QSLs of the Antarctic Special Events are loaded into a dedicated Album on the WAP Antarctic QSL Gallery. 

DPØGVN QSL cards
Posted by Dominik DL5EBE (Op. UA3AWA)

Please find attached the new DPØGVN QSL card for the WAP QSL’s Gallery archive.
I would like to inform you that the DP0GVN QSL cards for the current operation by Mirko, DG9BHQ, are in print now and will be delivered to me shortly. I expect tp start sending out cards by next week.

73 Dominik DL5EBE (Op. UA3AWA)

 

Thanks Dominik, as usual you’re doing great job!

 

VP8- Falklands WAP GBR-25

Cape Pembroke Lighthouse on the Falkland Islands will be activated by Don VP8ON and other Hams from Stanley  during the ILLW. Callsign will be VP8LGT and QSL goes  via VP8ON. Being the Falkland Islands a Sub Antarctic Area, it is not to be forgotten that, any callsign from there is WAP referenced as GBR-25 and valid for WAP Awards (WACA & WADA).

The International Lighthouse/Lightship Weekend (ILLW), organized and managed by the Ayr Amateur Radio  Group, will take place from from  00.01 UTC on  18 August  until 23.59  UTC on  the 19th.  Full information  about  this worldwide event can be found at http://illw.net. The official list of  entrants is at http://illw.net/2007_list.htm

 

 Polar Ships & MM collectors: posted by Francois F8DVD

I have received the print of the QSL RØUPOL for the activity of our good friend Victor who was on board of French polar boat TARA during the ice drift (from September 2006 to April 2007).
Victor will send me the log in the coming weeks. So, when I'll get it,  I will be able to answer all direct and buro cards very shortly. Best regards, 

François 

F8DVD  JW/F8DVD  TM8ANT  TM4IPY

TNX F8DVD. 

Just to remind the readers that the address for F8DVD for direct request is: 
BERGEZ Francois
6, Rue de la Liberte
71000 MACON, FRANCE

 

WAP Scores and Antarctic QSL Gallery fully available on line.
HI folks,
Continuing to complete the work on the WAP web site, we have just finished to upload the WAP Awards section with the WAP-WACA & WAP-WADA list of Awards issued and Scores.
Gary VE3XN (picture left) & Reg VE7IG (picture right) are the top two in WACA Score, while Les GM3ITN (picture in the bottom) & VE3XN are the top two in WADA.
We did also complete the upload of the WAP QSL Gallery which is now loading a large number of Antarctic QSLs such as:
797 Antarctic QSLs
377 Sub Antarctic QSLs
72 Special Event QSLs
The Gallery also contains 114 Polar Ship pictures and 189 Antarctic Philatelic items.
Thanks to all those friends and Antarctic Chasers for helping us in feeding the largest Antarctic QSL Gallery WW and in particular today we wish to thank VE7IG, OM5MF, F8DVD and RK1PWA for the last ones sent.
If you have some missing cards, and if you wish to share them with the rest of the world, just send a scan jpeg copy to I1HYW varettos@tin.it and your cards will be immediately put on line.

Enjoy Antarctica ...with WAP!

 

 

Received by: Manfred Eisel HB9DAX

Dear  WAP
Best thanks for the sticker to WAP-WADA Nr. 58 and for Honour Roll (Award No.11) I am make me happy on Ceramic plaque for which I will send you in the next days my request by letter.
Also, looks under www.polarstationen.ch , is a  website only in German however interesting.
I’m  working  only QRP and  CW,  member in AGCW, BTC, ARCI, U-CWC, RTC, HSC, RRC, CTC, SP-CW, Fists Marconista (now 275 country in QRP) and many QRP Club`s.

73, from Switzerland Fred  HB9DAX

 

Congrats to Fred for being so proud with the WAP Awards, well dispayed on the shack!
Enjoy Antarctica as much as we do!

 

Posted by: Miguel Angel Calleja LW9DX
FARO CABO PENAS (Lighthouse ARG-028), WAP ARG-23 Tierra del Fuego
During the Lighthouse Weekend (18 & 19 August), Hams of  Radio Club Rio Grande LU2XX will be active from Faro Cabo Penas LH  ARG-028 .
Callsign will be LU2XX/X same as of the year 2006.
QSL info via LU8XQB (SASE +2IRC will be appreciated by Stations outside Argentina).
73 Miguel LW9DX
Many thanks to Fredy DEØMST for the pictureof Cabo Penas LH.

TNX LW9DX & DEØMST

Antarctic Activity Week 2008
As already pubblished, the 5^th AAW 2008 will be held from 18 through 24 February 2008. People interesting to participate to this event are requested to apply through the local Country's Auitorities for a special call (such as WAP,ANT, POLE, ICE and so on) and let us know about it,  in order to issue your WAP reference and join us. Purpose of the A.A.W. is to improve the Worldwide interest around Antarctic Continent and its related  matters.  Up here, on WAP (Worldwide Antarctic Program) web site, you can find a new banner named Antarctic Activity Week. By clicking on it you will be moved to the AAW callsign’s history from the 1^st AAW of the year 2004 till the 5^th edition of 2008. Some station have already booked for next  year’s event, and you can see the calls listed in the 2008 session.
AAW is the unique event WW where Hams are celebratingthe wish to improve Worldwide interest around the Antarctic Continent and its related  matters,  to understand and share what the Nations and Organizations are doing to protect this still non contaminated corner of the world & share a message of peace WW.
For Award collectors, WAP-ASEA (Antarctic Special Event Award) is covering this particular Antarctic events and it's  is much more than  an amusement; The Diploma WAP A.S.E.A. launched by ARI CASSINO (http://www.aricassino.it) and sponsorized by ARI C.R. LAZIO, is available to OM and SWL starting from 01-01-2006.

WAP, Antarctica is passion & culture, join us!