Categoria: Antarctic Activity Week

Volker Strecke DL8JDX is a great friend and an Antarctic veteran who did participate  to several Antarctic Expeditions from 1988 through 1994.

He did operate as Y88POL at Georg Forster Station WAP DDR-Ø1 (1988-1989 and 1990-1992) and been also active as DPØGVN from Neumayer II Station WAP DEU-Ø1 on 1992-1994.

He enjoy hunting stations, so,  at the end of the last 15^th Antarctic Activity Week, Volker wrote:

-I would like to thank WAP for your every years organization of the Antarctic Activity Weeks. Due to a lot of QRL I do have not always time, but during the AAW this year I managed to do 16 QSOs with 11 different WAP Stations.

So looking forward to continuously supporting the WAP-.

Thanks, Kind regards and best 73,

Volker Strecke, DL8JDX

Happy and proud to have Volker DL8JDX on the list of the thousands of WAP supporters!

Thanks to F8DVD, always present since the 1^st edition of the Antarctic Activity Week, 15 years ago!

He wrote: -15th AAW is over since few weeks. Propagation wasn’t so good but always nice to work so many friends with special call commemorating Antarctic activities-.

François sent WAP two samples of his brand new QSL cards; both looks great!

Here below a brief description of the subject choice while TM15AAW QSLs are in process of print.

This year, I choose 2 pictures of Port Lockroy base (WAP GBR-Ø1), the British station established in 1944.
Port Lockroy is situated on Goudier Island in the Palmer Archipelago (64°49’S – 63° 30’W) about 700 miles south of Argentina and Chile. The bay was discovered during Jean-Baptiste Charcot’s French Antarctic expedition in 1904 and was named after Edouard Lockroy, a French politician and Vice President of the Chamber of Deputies, who assisted the explorer in obtaining government funding for his expedition.

The station is small and basic, compared to its modern day counterparts such as Rothera and Halley, but the spectacular mountain scenery, abundant wildlife and historical interest make Port Lockroy WAP GBR-Ø1 well worth a visit.

73 de François  F8DVD/TM15AAW

February 22nd, is  a very important day for Argentina. It was the 22 Febr. 1904 when  the Argentine Flag did flutter on Laurie Island of the South Orkney Islands group, when Orcadas Base was inaugurated.

Since then, every year Argentina’s Antarctic Day is commemorated in the whole State.  114 years of uninterrupted presence (1904-2018) of this Country in Antarctica, is a reality.

WAP is joining the event and since 2004 when the 1^st Antarctic Activity Week was launched, we always recall and give tributes to the Explorers who marked the Antarctic epic.

II3BOVE is one of the Special Callsign to be aired, along with several others, within the initiatives of the 15th Antarctic Week 2018 scheduled from 17 to 25 February. In particular II3BOVE (WAP-271) aims to remember the first Italian Scientific Base in Antarctica, set in January 1976 by Cav. Renato Cepparo (I2VZP) and named after Giacomo Bove, the Italian explorer who at the end of 1800 sailed to the South to arrange an expedition on the Antarctic Continent. The Base, was active until 20^th  February 1976 as I1SR/MM.

Following some strange political events of the time, the Base donated by the Italian Government to Argentina,  was destroyed only eight months after its construction and now only a stone path remains to remember its foundations. II3BOVE wish to recall the facts and  remember the memory.

In the 15th edition of the AAW 2018, however, II3BOVE will have an even higher meaning in the spirit of  W.A.P. In fact, it will be the name that on 24 and 25 February will inaugurate the Ham radio station permanently set up at “Malignani 2000”, a Technical Institute in Cervignano del Friuli ITALY (JN65qt). The students of the institute, supported by some local radio amateurs, will be able to immerse themselves and firsthand experience  to the radio world and to share the constant support that, this activity promotes with scientific research.
At the same time, with an even more noble significance, the foundation stone of the construction site will be laid in the garden of the Technical Institute for the “ex situ” reconstruction of the Base which has been left in neglect and abandonment for 42 years in Italy Valley (official name) in the Antarctic Peninsula.

To support the nomination of the Antarctic site as “historical site”, sign the petition at the following link: https://www.change.org/p/bove

Special callsign II3MNA WAP-205 is on the air during the15th Antarctic Week 2018 operating from MNA – “Museo Nazionale dell’Antartide” in Trieste, Italy. QSL via IQ3TS

The Antarctic  museum of Trieste (Italy) is  located in San Giovanni compound, under the aegis of Trieste University, Department of Geology.

Among Its objectives,  the conservation, study and enhancement of Antarctic materials relating to the marine geology and marine geophysics research fields, as well as of the history of the explorations of the continent.

The Documentation Centre currently holds a rich collection of items relating to Antartica’s geology and marine geophysics, approximately one hundred historical texts and the maps used in exploring this continent.
Trieste exposition is organized in a surface of 600 sq. meters, where valuable collections, attractive sceneries and multimedia products, underline current scientific subjects, like climate change, anthropic impact on the environment, biodiversity and space research. This Museum is divided in three sectors: the first one is devoted to Antarctic historical cartography, including valuable ancient maps; the second sector is dedicated to the conquest and exploration of the Antarctic continent, highlighting the three pioneers, protagonists of the most difficult adventures of the world: Scott, Shackleton and Amundsen; the third and last sector is focused exclusively on the Italian expeditions from the 900’s until nowadays organized and realized by “Progetto Nazionale delle Ricerche in Antartide” (PNRA).

The activity of diffusion and divulgation of the Museum targets mostly a scholar public, students on different levels of instruction, and a wide public. Interesting information which awakes public’s interest on extreme environments, conservation and preservation of natural environments are exposed. The visits to the Museum can be chosen between individual visits or visits accompanied by guides and/or by the Museum’s researchers.

Jean Pierre Hubert ON7ZM, was in Antarctica in Feb 2009 with F5PFP; a great expedition still on the memory of many DXers and Antarctic hunters. Together they did activate several remote sites and Research Bases, some of them very rare!

Now, the IBPT ( Institut Belge des services postaux et des telecommunications) responsible of the Ham radio licenses, after lenghty negotiation, awarded OR15ANT callsign to the Station Club UBA, section NMR, operator Jean-Pierre, ON7ZM, one of the last Polar Missions operators in Belgium who will operate the 15^th AAW  in tandem with ON6YH, Didier.

The information came from ON4LS, Jean-Luc, the NMR (Namur) Team Manager, Training and Formations, UBA, saying that  transmissions are authorized and valid as from 15th Feb, though 14th Mar. 2018.

Congratulations to Jean-Pierre ON7ZM, ON6YH, Didier and  to ON4LS, Jean-Luc, Manager at  Station Club UBA, section NMR.

OR15ANT is actually very active on air, as WAP-287, QSL via ON7ZM.

Two more days then the 15^th AAW will officially start.

Some stations, who have received the license to operate their Special Callsigns, have already begun to be on the air, so from now and ahead the game is on.
30 are the stations worldwide with a Special Callsign  credited so far for the 2018’s edition and we are happy to see some new QSLs already printed for the yearly international event.

Thanks to Tony  F8ATS who will be on as TM18ATS WAP-282; his card spread a great message: Antarctic to Save … let us share it worldwide too.

Have fun to enjoy Antarctica as much as we do!

From a message sent (right now) by High Seas Satellite Phone, John Landrigan (K4RXP) said  that KA4RXP/MM  WILL NOT be operational from February 9 to March 8, 2018 due to failure of two relays in auto tune unit.

Attempts to use an alternate tuning means, have been unsuccessful and have introduced radio interference to one of the ship’s radios. John Landrigan sincerely regret that this has happened.
OK John, things like that can happen in an Antarctica cruise, so never mind and don’t worry too much.  Recent canceled 3Y0Z expedition, teaches that there is never certainty in trips to those latitudes! Enjoy the trip and thanks for trying.

TNX John K4RXP

Paolo Corsetti, IK3GER is an Italian Ham who lives in Mestre which is part of the town of Venice. Paolo has just released the 2018 “Calling Antarctica Award” to be issued at the end of the Antarctic Activity Week.

Paolo wrote: Every year, in the month of February, a special activity called “Antarctic Activity Week” takes place. This year, the 15^th AAW will be held from February 17 to 25.

All WAP (Worldwide Antarctic Program) stations have a special WAP reference number that will be given during the QSO.

The diploma is issued in 2 classes to OM/SWL:

a) “Basic” for at least 5 QSO/HRD with different calls,
b) “First Class” for 10 or more QSO/HRD with different calls.

Only QSO/HRD made between February 17^th and 25^th, 2018 are valid for this diploma. QSL cards are not needed. Endorsement is available for mode only (CW, SSB, Mixed, various digimodes) The Award is free, and will be sent to the applicants via email as a PDF (JPG on request). WAP reference of the station worked  is mandatory in your application

Send your application via email or ask for more information to  the Award Manager IK3GER  at: corsetti.paolo@libero.it

TNX Paolo, IK3GER (https://www.ik3ger.it)

It’s now time to book the 15^th AAW, getting your special call, your  WAP reference number and jump into the unique International Ham event to promote Antarctica … join in and enjoy it!

For over 15 years the annual Antarctic Activity Week is running with the unique purpose of fostering interest in the Antarctic region and its related facts.

The  15^th Antarctic Activity Week (AAW) will begin Saturday  February 17^th, and runs till 24:00 UTC Sunday February 25^nd. Someone may ask the reason of why this edition is two days longer than the past years; well, several participants did ask the possibility to have 2 weekends instead of 1 … so this year will be a test, if 2 more days are felt too long, next edition will return back to 7 days activity.

Look for the several  special event stations world-wide that will animate the 15^th  AAW; each one has its own super special QSL card available. Check  for the list of SES station at: http://www.waponline.it/antarctic-activity-week/aaw-2018/, QSL routes and attractive Awards.
François F8DVD (TM15AAW)  wrote:

I’m happy to send WAP an article  to announce 15^th AAW activity next February. It’s published in the January issue of REF bulletin.

A l’occasion de la quinzième semaine d’animation radio sur l’Antarctique organisée par les OM italiens du programme WAP (Worldwide Antarctic Program ; www.waponline.it), François F8DVD activera depuis son QTH de Mâcon (71) l’indicatif spécial TM15AAW au cours du mois de février 2018 (du 2 au 5, le 7, du 10 au 12, le 14, du 17 au 19, le 21, les 24 et 25) en phonie principalement. Une nouvelle référence WAP a été attribuée à cet indicatif : WAP 285. QSL via F8DVD, bureau ou directe. Pour plus d’infos:  http://www.qrz.com/db/TM15AAW 

Good receiving and see you all  on the air with my TM15AAW call.

Wonderful job François, you’re always doing great, TNX

John Landrigan KA4RXP will be active as KA4RXP/MM from on board of M/V Spirit of Enderby from Febr. 8 through March 8 sailing Antarctica. The operation time falls in between the 15th Antarctic Activity Week.

Considering that John is going to operate from Antarctica, on board of a Polar ship listed on the WAP-WACA directory (therefore equated to an Antarctic base) a new reference WAP-283 has been issued to KA4RXP/MM.

Just wish to remind the Chasers to book now, and get your WAP special Callsign. Join the very atractive yearly event, the unique WW since 2004!