The Antarctic Sun - News from Antarctica

Posted by Peter Rejcek
Hello, Sun readers.  As many of you know, life and work continues apace even during the holiday season, so don't forget to check out new stories every week. 

Recent feature stories http://antarcticsun.usap.gov  include: 

A two-month science cruise aboard the Research Vessel Icebreaker Nathaniel B. Palmer called Sea Ice Mass Balance in the Antarctic (SIMBA) set out earlier this season to characterize a sea ice ecosystem off the coast of West Antarctica…. and many more features…

Remember, all content is now in html format. Finally, don't forget you can keep up with the weekly postings at the new Sun Web site by hitting the "Subscriptions" link on the left side of the homepage. That will take you to a page where you can subscribe to the latest gee-whiz Internet technology — RSS feeds. RSS makes it possible for subscribers to get Antarctic Sun updates delivered directly to their desktops whenever we post new content.

Peter Rejcek

Editor, The Antarctic Sun

Peter.Rejcek@usap.gov

http://antarcticsun.usap.gov

Novo Aerodrome (Blue One runway) WAP MNB-Ø6

Posted by Dominik DL5EBE

Thanks to Dominik we are pleased to show the very first picture of  Blue One runway.

DL5EBE wrote:

Please find attached a picture from Novo Aerodrome. This picture was taken from a friend of mine on transit to Neumayer Base. I am sure Oleg UA1PBA, can provide me with some better picture material. He just sent me an SMS that he just returned to Cape Town from Troll Station. Best 73s from cold Moscow, Dominik   DL5EBE

As usual we thanks Dominik for his help and friendship. The map on the right, shows Blue One  runway position in the Antarctic.

WAP,  the genuine Antarctic passion lives here.

Henryk Arctowski Antarctic Station (WAP POL-Ø1).
HFØPOL has been reported on air on Jan. 5. Operator is Marek SP3GVX,  and as for his previous expeditions in Antarctica, he asks QSL via SP3WVL.
Posted by Adam K2ARB on F5NOD’s Antarctic reflector.
Marek, SP3GVX, has been on King George Island since November 2007. He is at the Polish "Henryk Arctowski Station" managed by Polish Academy of Science (Institute of Antarctic Biology). At the moment he has many duties to perform, but he should soon be  active as HFØPOL. This is his 4th time there, and he is going to be there the whole year during 2008. His QSL manager is the same as last time: Tom, SP3WVL.
TNX K2ARB

KC4AAA Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station. WAP USA-21

Following the interesting debate on the Antarctic Reflector, a group of American Antarctic veterans are working on a solution of the problem.

Now, Adam K2ARB, is pleased to report that Larry K1IED has a freshly printed stack of KC4AAA cards ready to fill out. Once he receives the logs from Helmut he will begin answering QSL cards from Helmut's operation (KC4AAA by W6KDX) immediately. It would be very helpful if those of you have unanswered QSLs for US Antarctic stations would send me an email giving any identifying information for the operators you worked, ie name of operator, his/her personal callsign, Antarctic station contacted, and the date of the QSO. Perhaps we can find out if any logs exist for that operator. All QSL requests in Larry's possession will be answered with QSLs in the near future, one way or another - either confirming the QSO, or thanking the unlogged station for its signal report.
We will also place a log search on the upcoming United States Antarctic Program Amateur Radio website that is in the early development stage. If one of you is handy with this application, please email me directly, Adam said.
TNX  Adam K2ARB - VP8DKF - KC4/K2ARB
TNX Medhi F5PFP for scan copy of  KC4AAA QSL.

R7C/ANT Novolazarevskaya  special callsign 2007
Last March 2007,  R7C/ANT operated by Wally RU1ZC, did show up from Novolazarevskaya Station WAP RUS-Ø9. Now the cards have been printed and can be requested Direct via RW3GW Valery,  who is the Official QSL manager.
RZ3EC Eugene is also managing this cards, specially for the subscribers of Antarctic reflector. He has Cards & Logs and also the permission from RW3GW to proceed with QSLs.
RZ3EC address,  is correct in any Internet database as well as QRZ.com.
TNX Eugene, RZ3EC   rz3ec@rekom.ru 

WAP Awards & Antarctic Activity Week on TCA Magazine.

TCA is “The Canadian Amateur” Radio Magazine.

On Sept-Oct.2007 issue,  there are 4 nice pages written by Garry Hammond VE3XN,  fully dedicated to the International Polar Year and to Antarctica, with a lot of details about WAP, Worldwide Antarctic Program. Of course we're happy when someone recognize our devotion and passion!

WAP thanks Garry very much  for having dedicate a big portion of the article about Antarctic and let’s congratulate him for having been with us as VA3ANTA (WAP-71) during last AAW 2007.

Hi Garry,  keep up the good work and thanks for join Antarctica.

WAP Staff

We've been the first ... share the Antarctic passion with us!

Bouvet 3YØE Propagation forecast

At http://www.bieszczady.pl/hosting/bouvet/predictions.html# you can get a nice diagram showing the best time of openings from any location towards Bouvet.

Designed and coded by Stan SQ8AQD, it’s a nice tool that helps Hams looking for a contact with Petrus 3YØE.

Click on your nearest location to see estimated, approximate short-path predictions for your area. Predictions may vary depending on SSN, coronal holes' activity and other sun activity factors.

Predictions calculated with VOAProp software for 3 el. Yagi beam and 100 watts..
TNX  Stan SQ8AQD for the great job!

Information from Bouvet are unfortunately not good. Medhi F5PFP posted the following message on F5NOD’s Antarctic reflector:

After a long and difficult research I could obtain Bouvet island mission phone number and I spoke 2 times to Petrus 3YØE. Bad news, he is currently unable to transmit due to a  problem with his transceiver and he hopes to repair it  but nothing is sure .

TNX  Mehdi F5PFP, while we wish Petrus and the whole Team luck and success for their activity down there and a Happy beginning of 2008.

The several spots on Cluster are telling us that Petrus did fixed the probles, so now we just wait to be lucky enough to work him!

Blue One Runway: WAP MNB-Ø6 

Rif RZ3BJ is operating in Antarctica as R1ANR at Blue One Runway (aka Novo Runway) WAP MNB-Ø6. He is not yet on QRZ.com, but you can find his address under UA3ADK his previous callsign. For those in needing, on http://www.qrz.ru/callsign you can get access to the Russian callbook.

RZ3BJ Adress  is:
Salikhov Rifkat R.
ul. Dubninskaya, 44-1-64,
127591, Moscow, RUSSIA
TNX RZ3EC

Polar cruise ship M/S Fram struck an iceberg
Last  Dec 29 a Norwegian cruise ship with 300 people on board rammed an iceberg in the Antarctica after its motor failed. No injuries were reported.
The ship (M/S Fram) had engine problems and lost power shortly before the accident near Browns Bluff in the Antarctic. The crew restarted the engine and the vessel was headed for King George Island where be inspected for damage. Chilean Air Force members help passengers of the  M/S Fram cruise ship, as they arrived on lifeboats at the aerial base of Chile's President Eduardo Frei Montalva in Antarctica.
TNX Reuters http://www.daylife.com/photo/0d727Ji6hr3qm 
This new accident catch up the attention about the numbers of the tourism in Antarctica. The icy Continent has got 6,000 visitors in 1992 and 30,000 in 2006/07 !

Spanish Base Juan Carlos I (WAP ESP-Ø1)

Information posted by Josè EA3NW 

The Spanish Team going to activate the base Juan Carlos I, is travelling aboard  of the Spanish Polar Ship "Las Palmas". Actually  Las Palmas is temporarily stopped offshore Antarctica by the ice. Even if they remained clogged, some went brought to the Spanish base with a ship of the Chilean Navy. The Radio operator and his companion are now in, even with a little delay  from the beginning plans. Up dated info to follow.

TNX EA3NW

Polar Vessel "Canal de Beagle"

Info posted by Medhi F5PFP.

The polar vessel "Canal de Beagle" left Buenos Aires for a supply mission to the Argentine Antarctic bases. On board, 2 radio officers allowed to operate under LU4ACB/MM on amateur radio frequencies. They will operate mainly on the Antarctic DX Net managed by LU4DXU and could appear this week end on air. Thanks to Horacio LU4DXU for having arranged a such operation.
TNX LU4DXU & F5PFP

Useful to know....
By the end of the 70es the ships of Naval Transports were almost at the end of their life. A government’s  decree of the 3/10/1975 did  authorized to build three new cargo ships for the service of the Southern Coast and Antarctica. They were  ordered to the Shipyard Principe, Menghi and Penco. Ther name of the ships build were: "Canal de Beagle", "Bahia San Blas" and "Cabo de Hornos" . On 1978 these ships were assigned to the Naval Transport service of the Argentinean Navvy.

Last Dec.17^th M/V Canal de Beagle weigh anchor, heading South. It is going to supply the Argentinean Antarctic bases with fuel and foods. M/V Canal de Beagle will be able to reach  all the bases with the exception of  Marambio and Belgrano 2 which can only be approached by icebreakers". The bases that will be supplied are: Esperanza, Jubany, San Martín, Primavera, Orcadas, Camara, Petrel, Brown, Melchior and Matienzo. During the summer, it is planned that  another ship will sail down to resupply the bases of Marambio and Belgrano 2. Source: inforegion.com.ar

As sailing the Antarctic waters, LU4ACB/MM will enter in the WAP Awards and also on French Antarctic Challenge.

ABOA Station (Pic on the Left) OJ1ABOA (WAP FIN-Ø1)

Yesterday 25 Dec. on 40 mts , many Antarctic Hunters  have logged OJ1ABOA  easily. Mika was coming up with an excellent signal. Congrats and thanks to him and Medhi F5PFP for the great job.

Medhi F5PFP wrote:
ABOA base is located a few hundred meters away from the Swedish station "WASA" so I suggested Mika OJ1OBOA to be active from it. He was interested because an operation could be easy to set up.
On Archive3 at WAP “News & Information” pages http://www.waponline.it/Default.aspx?tabid=134 last Oct. 29  we did write:
The Swedish Research Station Wasa (WAP SWE-Ø4) 73º 03' South, 13º 25' West (Pic on the Right) is located only 200 metres from Aboa. Together the two stations form the Nordenskiöld Base Camp (WAP MNB-NEW). In other words, if Mika will operate from WASA Station can also give us a New MNB as well; a real good opportunity though.
TNX F5PFP & OJ1ABOA

WORLDWIDE ANTARCTIC PROGRAM

From L. to R.
IZ8BRI, IK8OZZ, I1HYW, IZ1HKE, IK1GPG. IK1QFM, IZ1GJK

WAP, Antarctic passion lives here ..... stay with us and enjoy it!

3YØE up date

Posted by Rhynhardt Louw ZS6DXB.
3YØE (WAP NOR-Ø2)  was on air yesterday 22nd Dec on 14.305MHz around 15:30Z. The only news at time of this media release, was that Petrus had some problem with his e-mail and the antenna system. It is possible that the problem with the e-mail settings and antenna system has been resolved and that he was actually on air. We have to date not confirmed if Petrus has managed to fix the antenna system and urge anybody that hears him on air to make a recording of the activity and e-mail it to the Pilot Station, at zs6dxb@kats.za.net.  

The official 3YØE website is now also linked from the Link Page here at WAP. Check it to get last Press Release and be informed on what's going on down there. From the 3YØE Team,  Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

73 Rhynhardt Louw ZS6DXB, www.3y0e.com
TNX ZS6DXB

VP8DIF Husvik Base (WAP GBR-27), South Georgia Isl.
ARI Mondovì local Radio Club,  which is representing a group of motivated Hams and Antarctic enthusiasts, has decided, through its President IK1VKH and the WAP Award manager IK1GPG (prot.2007/124), to support VP8DIF activity at Husvik (WAP GBR-27), in the South Georgia  by sending a contribution.

ARI Mondovì, is managing all the national DCI activities, WAP Awards: WAP-WACA & WAP-WADA and supports Worldwide Antarctic Program since its born  in the year 1979. MMØDWF, Lars Boheme  will operate from around 26^th  January 2008 and he will close and  leave the island on 1^st  March 2008.  QSL via buro or direct  to DJ9ZB.  For additional information, check: http://www.lars-boehme.de/vp8dif/index.html. Donations are welcome. If  interested in doing it, please write to: vp8dif@lars-boehme.de

TNX IK1VKH & IK1GPG

5th ANTARCTIC ACTIVITY WEEK

Spanish Administration has given AO1WAP callsign to be used during the 5th Antarctic Activity Week (18 to 24 Febr.2008) . 

AO1WAP will be WAP-137 , QSL via EA1CS bureau or direct.

Operators:

EA1CUB, EA1WX, EC1KV, EB1BOA, EA1EEY, EC1AIJ,  EA1AST, EA1AUM and EA1GHT,.

Operations 10 through 160 mtrs, CW, SSB, PSK 31 & RTTY.

73 Luís, EA1CS, www.ea1cs.blogspot.com

TNX EA1CS

Congrats to Luis EA1CS and his Team for this New Entry !

3YØE call approved
Information posted by: Rhynhardt Louw ZS6DXB
On the 19 December 2007 Petrus ZS6GCM was granted temporary permission to operate an Amateur Radio Station for the duration of the 2007/2008 scientific expedition from Bouvet Island. The call sign will be 3YØE. We would like to use this opportunity to thank Tom V. Segalstad LA4LN and Trond Olsen LA8XM, for the wonderful help and time they dedicated in obtaining permission to operate from Bouvet Island.
Secondly we would like to welcome Colin McGowan MMØNDX to the team. Colin has donated a dedicated website for the expedition and will act as the webmaster. We are hoping to receive regular logbook updates from Petrus via satellite phone and will have a logbook search page where you can look if you are in the log. The official 3YØE operation webpage address is www.3y0e.wordpress.com .
The site is under construction and we plan to have it fully operational in a couple of days. Feel free to visit the site on a regular basis for the latest news from Petrus.
Emil Stoikov, LZ3HI has began design on the 3YØE QSL card. Emil has donated the QSL card design and printing free of charge. He will also act as the official QSL manager for 3YØE. Previews of cards that was designed and printed by Emil can be found on his webpage www.lz3hi.com. We look forward to present you all with the official QSL card when it is done.
3Y0E QSL information: Emil Stoikov
P.O. Box 8, 6000 Stara Zagora, BULGARIA
Petrus will be notified via Satellite phone off his new call sign and permission to start operating. We certainly look forward to bring you more exiting news in the near distant future. ,
73 to all and good luck, Rhynhardt Louw ZS6DXB, 3YØE Pilot Station and Media Officer.
zs6dxb@kats.za.net
TNX ZS6DXB

Bouvet Island official press release by pilot station and media officer

18 December 2007

Posted to WAP by: ZS6DXB Rhynhardt Louw.

Newly licensed operator Petrus, ZS6GCM is currently on Bouvet Island, for the following estimated dates: 13 December 2007 until 14 February 2008.  He is part of a five man Norwegian led research team.  Petrus is the medical officer of the team and will also be involved with the research.

The Icom IC-735 and Hustler 4-BTV vertical antenna was made available by the NCDXF, OKDXA & Bernie, ZS4TX. 

Being newly licensed, Petrus ZS6GCM has limited HF experience.  A brief training session and operating procedures were giving to Petrus in Cape Town by Rhynhardt Louw “Rhy”, ZS6DXB, a couple of days prior to departure.  Video footage and audio recordings of past DXpeditions were used to ensure that Petrus had an understanding of what he was letting himself into.  Petrus displayed full understanding of the job at hand and I am more than certain the he will make a pretty good job from working pileups, Rhy said.

Rhynhardt Louw “Rhy” ZS6DXB has also been appointed as the station pilot and media officer should you require any information please feel free to contact Rhy ZS6DXB.

Application for a dedicated 3Y call is underway and will be made public as soon as the call has been approved.  Landing permission was granted months ago as it is a Norwegian research party that so happened to have a South African in their company.

Petrus will have limited time to operate as a result of the work load and availability of electrical power.

Future information to be made public:

1.      Official 3Y call

2.      Website address

3.      Preview of QSL card for this expedition

Contact information:

Pilot station and Media Officer:

Rhynhardt Louw ZS6DXB

E-mail address: zs6dxb@kats.za.net

QSL sponsor and Manager:

Emil Stoikov LZ3HI
P.O. Box 8, 6000 Stara Zagora, BULGARIA

TNX ZS6DXB

D88S great job by Lee Sanghoon DT8A-DS4NMJ

Posted by Medhi, F5PFP of the French Polar Team.

After 4 years finally those cards did get to the chasers.  5 different full coloured QSL cards for D88S plus  2 different ones of HL8KSJ showing several scenes of King Sejong Base (WAP KOR-Ø1), forming a beautiful collection and a nice Christmas present.
These cards can be obtained without any problem via DS4NMJ for those interested.
Thanks immensely to Lee Sanghoon (DT8A-DS4NMJ)!!!!
Lee wrote that he could take part to the new South Korean station building in Antarctica.TNX DS4NMJ & F5PFP

The cards are shown on the WAP Antarctic QSL Gallery (TNX Medhi F5PFP)

3Y/ZS6GCM BOUVETØYA  WAP NOR-Ø2

Newly licensed operator from South Africa is currently on Bouvet Island operating as 3Y/ZS6GCM,  probably for the next three months. Having only recently arrived on Bouvet, he could just have quickly set up a radio equipment and worked already few stations to check conditions. The operator does have a vertical antenna for 10, 15, 20 and 40m, but no amplifier.
Being newly licensed he has no experience of pile-ups. Activity will be during spare time only.

TNX MMØNDX & LW9DX
Just remind the WAP chasers that Bouvet is WAP referenced as WAP NOR-Ø2. On the Norwegian Sub Antarctic island of Bouvet, there is an automatic weather station established by the Norwegians sited on the Nyrøysa in 1977. A temporary five-man station was established the following year, superseded by another automatic weather station which continues to operate. Bouvetøya became a Nature Reserve in 1971.

ABOA STATION (WAP FIN-Ø1)

Last news from Mika (on the pic below) OJ1ABOA,  via Jukka OH2BR

Kindly  forwarded by F5PFP Medhi, on F5NOD’s Antarctic Reflector
After the operation on 40 mts (7058), of last 14^th Dec., Mika OJ1ABOA has today gone with his Team for a 7-8 days field trek, carrying only a small 50W transceiver and a wire antenna. He will be back at the main station with 1 kW and 40/20 m dipoles @17m just before the Xmas holidays during which he will be very QRV on mostly around 7053 and 14120 kHz. I (OH2BR) will be making a list for him if I am home at that time, otherwise I try to arrange another Finnish DXer with good signal to help him with the pileups. Mika will be in the Antarctic till February 15th and he will learn how to handle the pileups. I have advised him to make it split and listen 5up.
73, Jukka OH2BR
TNX, F5PFP, F5NOD, OH2BR, OM5MF

On http://www.itameriportaali.fi/en/galleria/galleriakuvat/en_GB/17/  and
http://www.itameriportaali.fi/en/galleria/galleriakuvat/en_GB/finnarp_2004/

you can see several nice pictures taken by Mika Kalakoski OH2FFP the operator at OJ1ABOA (Thanks & credit Mika Kalakoski)

Expressions of Intent for IPY 2007-2008 Activities 
Several stations signing IPY are still active on HF and they will be on the air during the 2008 as well.
Readers can joy about Hams & IPY by visiting the following links:
http://classic.ipy.org/development/eoi/details.php?id=1229 
http://classic.ipy.org/development/eoi/details.php?id=1230 
http://classic.ipy.org/development/eoi/details.php?id=1233
http://classic.ipy.org/development/eoi/details.php?id=1235
http://classic.ipy.org/development/eoi/details.php?id=1236 
WAP Staff, takes the oportunity to remind the Ham IPY’s operators to fill the IPY official form available at:
http://classic.ipy.org/development/eoi/index.htm and forward it to the IPY's HQ, in order to let the organization known and informed  about our activities.
WAP Staff.

AURORAS & PHILATELY
“Aurora” is the Latin name of the ancient Roman goddess of the dawn. The Aurora borealis are the northern lights, and the Aurora australis are the southern lights. The polar lights are a luminous glow seen in the night sky at high latitudes surrounding the north and south magnetic poles. These auroras are the result of a magnetic storm — when Earth’ magnetic field is unusually active due to a dynamic interaction with the Sun. During magnetic storms, energetic electrons descend from space and collide with molecules in the upper atmosphere, leading to the emission of green and sometimes red light. Auroras come in different visual forms, including arcs, curtains and rays, and are a relatively common sight in Alaska, Canada and northern Europe. Today, the aurora is the subject of scientific investigation, with researchers from many countries collaborating during International Polar Year 2007–2008.
WASHINGTON, DC — The U.S. Postal Service Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice President H. Glen Walker will be on hand at the Smithsonian National Postal Museum on Oct. 1 to dedicate a series of stamps meant to draw attention to the global role of polar scientific research.
http://www.usps.com/communications/newsroom/2007/sr07_040.htm 
Thanks James Model K9PPY for sending us such a wonderful stamps!