Perseverance DX Group has announced  the intention to activate South Orkney Islands, and is planning an expedition to take places in February/March 2020. A team of experienced DX and Contest operators will operate from Signy Island (WAP GBR-Ø9) for up to 15 days. The process of obtaining landing permission is underway. The call sign will be announced at a later date. The team will sail from Punta Arenas, Chile aboard R/V Braveheart. Seven operating positions are planned for 160-10 meters, SSB/CW/Digital.

The Team includes: Dave K3EL, Les W2LK, Steve W1SRD, Ricardo PY2PT, Gene K5GS, Arliss W7XU, Heye DJ9RR, Laci HAØNAR, Mike WA6O, Vadym UT6UD, Walt N6XG and Rob N7QT.

Additional details will be released as they develop. Website: https://sorkney.com/

WAP archive has pics of field Huts still in place at the following un-referencended sites of Signy Islands in the South Orkneys:

Foca Cove, Gourlay Peninsula, Cummings Cove. Let’s have a look of them.

Cummings Hut (WAP GBR-NEW) –Pic aside-

The U.K. Cummings Scientific Hut is located at Cummings Cove at 60°43’45” South, 45°39’50” West. It is visited regularly by British Antarctic Survey personnel from Signy Island (WAP GBR-Ø9). It has accommodations for 2 people, with food and fuel for 2 person-months. Cummmings  Cove feels very remote and the hut is lovely on the outside,  but very basic on its inside.

Foca Hut (WAP GBR-NEW) -Pic aside-

Foca Hut located at 60°41′ 50″ South, 45°38’40” West  is a BAS refuge hut, established in the years 1959-60 near the head of the Foca cove; it  is known as

Gourlay Huts (WAP GBR-NEW)  -Pic below-

Gourlay Hut 60°43’50” South, 45°35’05” West, is worth a visit during the summer, as penguins and fur seals congregate there.

Gourlay itself also has some amazing views, just from the hut across Rock Haven,  a popular spot for seals as well as penguins .The Gourlay peninsula 60°44’ South, 45°36’ West, is an ice-free site that  guests 2 Huts; the hut on the left is a standard hut with a couple of  bunks and on the right is the work hut.

Owned by the Masaryk University, the Johann Gregor Mendel Polar Station (63°48’ 02” South, 57°52’56” West) WAP CZE-NEW  is the Czech Research Station in Antarctica and bears the name of Johann Gregor Mendel, the abbot of Augustinian Monastry in Brno.

In 2004, a small group of scientists and technicians set the preparation works on the northern  part of James Ross Island,  a land mass of approx. 2 500 km²,  80% of which  are ice covered;  only its northern part (Ulu Peninsula) is partially ice free.

The transport of construction’s  material and technological units from Europe to the Chilean Punta Arenas begun by the end of 2004 and was done by the Czechoslovak Ocean Shipping company. The Chilean military icebreaker Almirante Viel did  transfer everything from Punta Arenas the James Ross Island in 2005. A deep geometric survey was performed as well as the foundations of the main station building and technical containers area. The official opening ceremony took place in February 2007 and made the Czech Republic the 26th Country  to have its own Scientific Base on the Icy Continent.
Johann Gregor Mendel Station is located 100 meters  from the sea, on free-ice land on Prince Gustav’s Channel coast. It consists of the main building for boarding and accommodation of 15-20 researchers, relaxation and laboratory activities,  and of nine technical containers in the vicinity of the building, which hold storehouses, garages and the power supply generator.
Currently, the Station is used in summer months, but it is open to various external projects as well.

So far, no one did perform any Ham Radio operation from Gregor Mendel Station !

To manage the Antarctic WAP Awards and its subsequent updates, the best solution is to use the WAP Software, set by IK6CAC.

Several Hams are now coming up with a request to include FT8 mode into the WAP Software, as now a days many Antarctic  Stations are  QRV using this new mode & band.

Following the requests, IK6CAC’s WAP management software has been updated and now the version 2.7 is online HERE and contains the opportunity to add contacts made in  FT8 and 60 mts band.

Enjoy Antarctica, apply for your WAP Awards, they are a hallmark of your passion for the Icy Continent!

TNX IK6CAC and IK1GPG

Oleg Sakharov RI1ANX (aka ZS1ANF, UA1PBA)  is actually on board of M/V Agulhas-II  heading to Cape Town after  yesterday’s visit of South Georgia Island; Oleg will reach Cape Town next March 15^th.

WAP is in contact with Oleg who has sent us pictures and details of the activity from the  “Traverse Stop Point –Temporary Field Camp”  from where  Oleg RI1ANX did operate from 1 through 7 January 20019.

Oleg wrote: –There is nothing on 78° degree stop point. We were sitting there for some days,  made a skiway, waiting some resupply by BT-67 which came 7^th January-.

“Traverse Stop Point-Temporary Field Camp” has been the site where,  a Multinational Team did stay for 8 days , sleeping inside the  CAT and in the tents on the sledge. The Camp was set up to allow  (after building a provisional Skyway) the receiving of  supplies for people and vehicles. The Communication site was performed to keep connection with BT-67 aircraft and on the free time,  to make contacts on the Ham bands.

At the light of the evidence provided by Oleg Sakharov RI1ANX (aka ZS1ANF-UA1PBA) and to the  77 QSOs made from there.
Traverse Stop Point-Temporary  Field Camp  located at  78°01’45” South, 12°52’35” East on  Queen Maud Land  (aka. Dronning Maud Land) has been referenced as WAP MNB-13

Thanks Oleg RI1ANX for the efforts made, and thanks  to have given the Ham’s Antarctic Chasers another brand “NEW ONE”.

Nick RK1PWA has just informed Maxi, DL-SWL, that Oleg Sakharov RI1ANX  has made a total of 922 QSOs while working on 5 different  Antarctic locations which are now shown of QRZ.com as shown on the table below:

QSLs of RI1ANX will be printed in April-May and can be requested through RK1PWA  or   ZS1ANF.

Pictures  and additional information will be available as soon as Oleg will be back to South Africa.
Now, it will be necessary to define if the “Traverse stop point” was a base Camp or what,  but we have to wait the information from Oleg;  and in this case a new WAP reference will be given to this one, while Whichaway Camp  and Wolf’s Fang Runway will be WAP MNB-11 and WAP MNB-12 respectively, See below:

Whichaway Camp – WAP MNB-11

At 85° 51”South, 11° 37′ 01”East  within the Schirmacher Oasis,  Whichaway Camp is located within the wider study area comprise the Indian  Maitri Research station (WAP IND-Ø3), and Russian  Novolazarevskaya Research station (WAP RUS-Ø9) from where Oleg RI1ANX did also operate on last 16 & 17 Jan.2019.

Whichaway Camp is on Shirmacher Oasis in Queen Maud Land, located between the edge of the Antarctic Ice Shelf, and the Novolazarevskaya Nivlisen (Nivi) Ice Shelf. Behind the camp is a frozen lake, then a giant ice fall, and then glaciers and ice as far as one could see, with Nunatak in the distance.  Arrival at Whichaway Camp is impressive and fascinating , a luxury hotel site in Antarctica; three centralized pods held the kitchen, lounge, and dining room and … more.
Following the operation of Oleg Sakharov RI1ANX of 30 jan. 2019 a New WAP reference WAP MNB-11 has been issued.

Wolf’s Fang Runway – WAP MNB-12

Wolfs Fang Runway (aka Wolf’s Fang Runway), 71°31’ South, 08°48’ East, is a private runway established by White Desert Ltd, a luxury travel company, at Antarctica to provide access for tourist to the company’s Whichaway Camp (WAP MNB-11) by transiting to Novo Runway. It is a re-establishment of a previous blue ice “Novo runway”  that was also known as Blue One Runway, WAP MNB-Ø6 ( which is located at 70° 49’ 31”South, 11° 31’ 41” Eas).

Following the operation of Oleg Sakharov RI1ANX of 27 jan. and 10 through 22 Febr. 2019 a New WAP reference WAP MNB-12 has been issued.

TNX Maxi DL-SWL, Nick RK1PWA & Oleg RI1ANX/ZS1ANF

After 40 years, Polish Antarctic Research Station A. B. Dobrowolski at Bunger Hills will be reactivated.

The Polish Academy of Sciences (PAN) has signed an agreement with Geoscience Australia establishing joint research in the Antarctic. The cooperation between the two countries includes the exchange of scientific thought and technology as well as the exchange of scientific data for the development of maritime and land research on the Antarctic continent. As a part of that agreement, the Polish Antoni Dobrowolski Station is set to be reactivated. Poland has two research stations in the Antarctic: the H. Arctowski Station in the Southern Shetlands, in constant use since 1977, and the Antoni Dobrowolski Station in the Bunger Oasis in eastern Antarctica, which has been unused since 1979.

Once reactivated, the facility is to act as a bridgehead to site an autonomous geophysics station on the exposed rocks of the Antarctic continent. The first Polish expedition to the Bunger Oasis in forty years is planned to leave in three to four years with the use of a modern Australian ice-breaker, the Nuyina.

Read more at: https://polandin.com/40616447/unused-antarctic-research-station-to-be-reactivated

Sebastian Gleich SQ1SGB remembers that Dobrowolski was only active in a short time’s  expeditions when Poland “cooperate” with Soviet Union. The reason is that it’s quite hard to get there without icebreaker and helicopters.(Pic here aside shows the old Gravimetric pavillon)

-I don’t know anyone who was there, but a good friend of mine–  Seba says  -collects lots of info about Dobrowolski station. I will ask him but now he is on Arctowski station till the month of May-.

We have learnt something we didn’t know before, and the various point of view have been transformed into certainty. Just to sum up, a revision of Macquarie paragraph on the WAP-WADA Directory will be as follow:

All the calls for which we don’t have details of the operation’s site will be consider as WAP AUS-Ø8, thus:

WAP AUS-Ø8 –Macquarie Station will incorporate “HUT HILL” (aka-Ham Shack) & Transmitter Hut (both are 500 mts from the Macquarie’s Station buildings)

WAP AUS-Ø9 – New reference
Brothers Point Hut,  Brauer Bay, Macquarie Island,  54°56’ 00” South, 158°52’56” East.

WAP AUS-1Ø – New reference
Waterfall Bay Hut, Waterfall Bay, Macquarie Island,  54°40’29” South, 158°23’37” East

While will not be an easy task to identify who did  operate from the several Huts & Refuges scattered around the coasts of Macquarie Island  and the dates of each one, te mail of Trevor VKØTH, forwarded on the Antarctic reflector by Mehdi F5PFP was a good surprise. Trevor says: -I operated from the Ham Shack on the hill at the Station, also operated from the Refuges at Brothers Point and Waterfall Bay-.

TNX F5PFP & VKØTH

Now we suggest the Antarctic chasers to check their cards to see  if there are some details that will allow WAP to allocate a correct reference to the so many Hamcalls operating from Macquarie in the past and recently.

We kindly ask the operators who have been active at Macquarie to inform WAP  by e-mail through wap_info@virgilio.it of the exact location they have been active from.

We suggests  the next operators at Macquarie, to mark the location of the operation site on their QSLcards .

Now a brief information on the two new References just issued:

Brothers Point Hut (WAP AUS-Ø9) is located on the east coast, 8 km south of Macquarie Station. The fiberglass hut, known as a “googie”, provides comfortable accommodation for three people but may fit five in an emergency. It is a popular destination for short duration field trips and is also used as a lunchtime or overnight stopping point as part of longer trips heading down the island.

The hut is accessed from the station via the overland Sandy Bay track, or along the picturesque east coast, when tide and swell conditions allow. The hut is also accessible via inflatable rubber boat, however opportunities to travel on water are typically limited by the weather and availability of suitably qualified boating personnel.

Waterfall Bay Hut  (WAP AUS-1Ø) is another “googie” style fiberglass hut similar to the one at Brother Point. It was installed in 1993-94 as a replacement for the original Lusitania Bay Hut located to the south.
The hut comfortably sleeps three people. As the crow flies, Waterfall Bay Hut is approximately 18 km south of Macquarie Station.

The hut is conveniently located for personnel travelling down island, and is well placed as a research base for the large king penguin colony at Lusitania Bay.
It is easily accessed via the Jessie Nichol track from the north, or the Mt. Martin track from the south. These tracks are subsidiaries of the main north-south overland track.

On the  weekend from 15^th through 17^th  Febr. 2019, Hams will get a chance to  work a couple of lighthouses located in the Chilean Tierra del Fuego Province, Magallanes Region. They are listed on the WAP-LH Directory and so far brand new-ones .

Pontón Muñoz Gamero Lighthouse  ARLHS CHI-NEW  WAP CHL-LH New

Faro Pontón Muñoz Gamerois a light house located at Punta del Rio, at the Punta Arenas Bay  at 53° 10′  33”  South, 70° 55′ 6” West .

The “Muñoz Gamero” (former “County of Peebles”)  was a large four-masted boat launched in Scotland in 1875. It was acquired by Chile in 1898 along with two other sailboats. After his active life, he started operating in 1966 as a pontoon reservoir in Bahía Muñoz Gamero and finally ended his days as a breakwater in Punta Arenas in 1975. It is the boat that made a hall for public relations of the Navy.

A full-day walk around the center of Punta Arenas includes 26 locations that connect the city’s rich heritage with memories of expeditions to Antarctica since the end of the 19^th century. One of this place to visit, is the one on  which, a lighthouse seems to be mounted  is the shipwreck of the “Muñoz Gamero” Unfortunately, we have not been able to find any other more detailed information, sorry about that!
The site will be activated by CE8RPA

FARO BAHIA PORVENIR,  ARLHS CHI-034 , WAP CHL-LH New

Built in 1928 at 53° 18′ 56” South, 70° 27′ 26” West  the lighthouse Bahía Porvenir is a lighthouse located in Tierra del Fuego on Porvenir Bay on the Chilean Tierra del Fuego

Positioned at the entrance to the bay of the same name, it mainly guides the ferries that make the connection between Porvenir and Punta Arenas as well as fishing boats.

Bahía Porvenir LH will be activated by CE8RJN

Being located on the Chilean Antarctic territories, both lighthouses will also qualify for WAP-WADA CHL-13

Among the long list of Lighthouses that will be activated during the weekend from 15^th through 17^th  Febr. 2019, three of them will be particularly interesting from the Antarctic chasers as they are located in the Peri-Antarctic areas included on the WAP-WACA and on the WAP-LH Directory.

1) Old LH at Cabo San Pablo, ARLHS ARG 031, WAP ARG-LH-NEW. Callisign L2ØX

Hams from Tierra del Fuego will be on the air activating the two Lighthouses at Cabo San Pablo,  115.8 km from the city of Ushuaia, in the department of Rio Grande, second city of Tierra del Fuego, Antarctica and the South Atlantic Islands (Argentina). The lighthouse are located on the Cape of the same name, on an isolated mountain, very characteristic for its rounded shape that protrudes from the coastline. Its construction began on March 15, 1945, and during the month of December 1949 there was a seismic movement that caused a dangerous inclination of the tower, a situation that forced the removal of the luminous equipment and deactivated the signal. The building, still remains onsite and it will be activated for the first time in its history.

QSL direct to LU1XP

2) New LH at Cabo San Pablo, ARLHS ARG 074, WAP ARG-LH-NEW

Callsign LU2XWL/XP

In 1966 the reconstruction of the Lighthouse has been ordered and currently, the lighthouse is on a yellow pyramidal trunk tower 6 meters high, with a black triangle with its vertex down.

It also has a platform in the upper part to house the luminous lantern powered by photovoltaic solar energy, which gives it an optical range of 12.5 nautical miles.

Operators  will be LU2XWL & LU5XTS. QSL only direct to LU2XWL

Both Lighthouses (Grid Locator: FD65OQ) will be on the air the same day and in different bands and schedule in FT8 and SSB.

3) Les Eclaireurs LH, ARLHS ARG 016, WAP ARG-LH-ØØ5
Callisign LU8XW/XP 

Located in the Beagle Channel marking the approach to Ushuaia, the lighthouse guarding the sea entrance to Ushuaia,  is still in operation, since it was put into service on December 23, 1920.

It is remote-controlled, automated, uninhabited and is not open to the public. Electricity is supplied by solar-panels. The lighthouse is a popular tourist attraction, reached on short boat tours from Ushuaia. It is known to the Argentines as the Lighthouse at the End of the World (Faro del fin del mundo), although that name is misleading. Les Eclaireurs  lighthouse is often confused with the San Juan de Salvamento lighthouse on the east coast of the remote Isla de los Estados, that earned that nickname made famous by Jules Verne in the novel The Lighthouse at the end of the World, which is really  much further east.

QSL direct to: Radio Club Ushuaia, P. O. BOX 58, Ushuaia – Tierra Del Fuego,  V9410WAB, Argentina

Macca Station Communications Tech, Norbert Trupp VK5MQ, is the Ham radio operator actually at Macquarie (WAP AUS-Ø8). He spends some of his spare time working other Hams worldwide operating as VKØAI from the shack set on Hut Hill, facing the East coast’s sea just in opposite site of the main building’s station of Macquarie.

Let’s not forget that Macquarie Island is rated in the top 10 of  “Most wanted” locations in the Ham world.

Using “Squid pole antenna” set outside the Ham Shack on Hut Hill it is reported that, so far, he logged nearly 1500 contacts worldwide.

Hut Hill, 54°29’57” South, 158°56’24” East is still a non WAP referenced site on the “Section 2 of the Sub-Antarctic Territories list” of WAP-WADA Directory.

Following the activity of Norbert as VKØAI, at the light of the evidence posted by himself on  http://www.antarctica.gov.au/living-and-working/stations/macquarie-island/this-week-at-macquarie-island/2019/this-week-at-macquarie-island-25-january-2019

A brand new WAP reference AUS-Ø9 has been issued.

Norbert, will remain in site till the end of March 2019

BaseBelgrano II  was founded on February 5, 1979, to replace the Belgrano I (WAP ARG-Ø5). Subsequently, a third base, Belgrano III (WAP ARG-Ø7), was added, which was in operation from 1980 to 1984 when it was deactivated and evacuated on January 14, 1984,  due to the glaciological composition endangering personnel and equipment.

The only one of the three Bases that is still in operation is the Belgrano II (AP ARG-Ø6).

At present, after the shut down of Base Belgrano I on Jan.1980, after the deactivation of Base Belgrano III on Jan.1984, Belgrano II remains the Southernmost of the permanent bases of the Argentine Republic.

Be careful Belgrano I, II or III have not to be confused with the “Puerto Belgrano Naval Base” (BNPB)  (see the QSL hereby shown) which is the main base of the Armada Argentina; “Puerto Belgrano” is located to the South of the Province of Buenos Aires, in the city of Punta Alta,  24 km to the city of Bahía Blanca.

Alexey  Turkeev, RD1AV is the  Season team leader  at Vostok  Station (WAP RUS-13). He is active in his spare time since last December 2018 and will be there until the end of February 2019 as RI1ANV , sometimes in tandem with Alex (Alexander Solodov, RX3ABI) signing  RI1ANM. They operate SSB, CW and FT8

RI1ANV QSL via  RN1ON (log is online at RI1ANV page on QRZ.com)

RI1ANM QSL via RX3ABI. QSLs should be available after Alex will be back home at June 2019

Redonda Island 54° 51′ 49″South,  68° 28′ 54″ West,  is a small island territory at the mouth of Lapataia Bay, belonging to the Ushuaia Department of the Province of Tierra del Fuego, Antarctica and the South Atlantic Islands in the southern tip of Argentina.

It is surrounded by the waters of the inter-oceanic pass called the Beagle Channel, in the Pacific Ocean. It has an area of about 50 hectares. Its maximum length is 1022 mts and its maximum width is 840 mts.

On the island, more than 100 years old, the prisoners built  a large structure used as Hut residence of which, ruins still remain in site. Actually,  a small detachment of the Naval Prefecture hosts 3 person and the site is equipped  with a kitchen, dining room, two rooms and a radio room that serves to communicate with all ships and boats that navigate the area.

As per WAP Directory, Redonda Island is incorporate on the Sub Antarctic Territory, reference  WAP ARG-23

Wolfs Fang Runway (aka Wolf’s Fang Runway), 71°31’ South, 08°48’ East, is a private runway established by White Desert Ltd, a luxury travel company, at Antarctica to provide access for tourist to the company’s Whichaway Camp (WAP MNB-NEW) by transiting to Novo Runway.

It is a re-establishment of a previous blue ice “Novo Runway”  that was also known as Blue One Runway, WAP MNB-Ø6 (which is located at 70° 49’ 31”South, 11° 31’ 41” Eas).

As soon as some Hams will operate from there, a New WAP reference will be issued.

Vernadsky Research Base (WAP UKR-Ø1), the only Ukrainian station in Antarctica, is located on Galindez Island in the Bellingshausen Sea, close to the Antarctic Peninsula, some 2,700 kilometers away from the South Pole.

Ukraine is one of the 30 countries in the world, which has its permanent station in Antarctica, which operates all year round. A team of 26 Ukrainian biologists, geologists, and engineers is to spend more than two months conducting important scientific research, according to the National Antarctic Scientific Center , the Ukrainian public body formed in 1993, responsible for coordination, managing and executing Ukrainian activities in Antarctica..

The 24th Ukrainian Antarctic Expedition  set sail for the icy continent last Jan. 18^th.  Roman Bratchyk, UT7UA (ex UA1OT & UB5KBE, UX1KA, pic aside), is among the Team actually  travelling to reach Vernadsky Base, Galindez Island; Ronan will operate on HF Bands on his spare time, signing EM1UA and EM1U .

QSL via UT7UA:
Roman Bratchyk , Post office Box-19, Kyiv, 01001 Ukraine.

According to Pavlo UT1KY (a Ukrainian Antarctic veteran), it will take 2-3 weeks to reach the site, so we do not expect to hear Ronan before the beginning of February. The license issued, will expire 1st February 2020.

TNX UT1KY

In 1996 the British Faraday Station (WAP GBR-Ø6) was transferred to the members of the 1st Ukrainian Antarctic Expedition and then renamed to the Akademik Vernadsky Station which is capable of supporting complex and systematic scientific research in Antarctica.

A revision has been made on Argentina Sub Antarctic Tierra del Fuego (WAP ARG-23).  At the light of new evidence showing Huts and Navy outposts, 2 New Ref. (WAP ARG-29 & WAP ARG-3Ø) has been issued; today we’ll see WAP ARG-29.

The  Isla de los Estados (Staten Island) is located in the South Atlantic Ocean to the east of Miter peninsula of the Big Island of Tierra del Fuego, from which it is separated by the 24 km of the Le Maire Strait. It belongs to the Department Ushuaia of the Tierra del Fuego, Antarctica and South Atlantic Islands province .

The entire archipelago is administered by the Government of the Province of Tierra del Fuego, Antarctica and the South Atlantic Islands with the participation of the National Administration of National Parks and the Argentine Navy, which together make up the mixed Commission of Isla de los Estados.

Let’s have a quick view of this New WAP reference for Argentina Sub Antarctic Territories:

WAP ARG-29 – Isla de los Estados (Staten island)  54°47′00″South, 64°15′00″West, hosts a scientific station (pic aside) of the CADIC (Centro Austral de Investigaciones Científicas). In other sites of the Island,  there are Scientific Stations that study different aspects of flora, fauna, etc. which, forced us to decide to inserted Isla de los Estados  as a “New entry” into the WAP Directory.

WAP ARG-29 will also include: San Juan de Salvamento LH (WAP ARG-LH-Ø7), Puerto Parry  &  Com. Luis Piedrabuena Naval oupost-

Puerto Parry where the Navy post is the only refuge (See last pic below). The guard of the post changes every 45 days and the young soldiers remain there in the middle of that paradise of solitude. Only a radio and a radar link them with the base of Ushuaia.

Com. Luis Piedrabuena Naval oupost (Apostadero Naval Piedrabuena) of the Argentine Navy.

(Historical Note: Piedrabuena was the sole owner of the island, after the National Congress granted him the ownership of the island, along with an island at the mouth of the Santa Cruz River, which he named Pavón. He believed that in order to defend the sovereignty of this still-gestating state, it was necessary to give life to these places by populating them).

In the last issue of Radio Ref. January 2019, the French radio magazine there an article about the  16th AAW  (Antarctic Activity Week) , written by François  F8DVD – TM16AAW  .

This unique event, promoted by WAP (Worldwide Antarctic Program) has been  launched  16 years ago by WW Ham Radio community and lasting continuously  every year. Purposes of the event is  to draw attention to the Antarctic Continent,  to share what  Nations and Organizations are doing to protect this still non contaminated corner of the world, to share a WW message of peace.

TNX François  F8DVD – TM16AAW.

One of the last entry in this year’s edition of the AAW is KØANT, WAP-198, a special Club callsign (Kansas Antenna Club)

TNX Jim, KBØMZF, Secretary and Trustee for KØANT

2019 Edition  of the WAP-WACA & WAP-WADA directories (release 1.33 of Jan 16^th 2019) have been uploaded on WAP website together with the IK6CAC software (release 032 to manage your WAP Awards). The 2019’s edition contains the new entries such as new Antarctic sites come to light  or identified last year.
WAP-Antarctic and Sub-Antarctic Lighthouse 2019’s edition is online as well, with the issued references and a list of callsigns that qualify each of the references assigned.

Chasers can download and print  the Directories that for convenience, have been uploaded in pdf  format.

Don’t forget that WAP Directories are a unique WW tool to follow Antarctica since the epic era.

The oceanographic research vessel  R/V Hespérides  of the Spanish Navy,  is sailing to the frozen Continent to participate in the XXXII Spanish Antarctic Campaign. About two hundred scientists and technicians will be in charge of the research projects, which will be carried out in the transits of the ship which will serve as a platform for carrying out 24 research projects. The deglaciation of the Antarctic, the activity of submarine volcanoes and the impact of parasites and contaminants on the penguin’s immune system, are some of the most outstanding projects in the XXXII Spanish Antarctic Campaign.
One of the interesting things of this Antarctic campaign,  is that R/V Hespérides hoists in its forward mast, the commemorative emblem of the V Centenary of the first round the world made by Fernando de Magallanes and Juan Sebastián de Elcano. The frigate’s captain José Emilio Regodón, commander of the ship, explained that during the voyage they will stop at the ports of Montevideo (Uruguay) and Ushuaia (Argentina) to later go to the South Shetland Islands to support the Antarctic Spanish Bses down there.

Spain has two bases in Antarctica: Juan Carlos I (WAP ESP-Ø1) and Gabriel de Castilla (WAP ESP-Ø2). R/V Hespérides will also support international research in Colombia, the United Kingdom, Chile, Norway, Brazil and Portugal.

At 70° 45’ 51”South, 11° 37′ 01”East  within the Schirmacher Oasis,  Whichaway Camp  (WAP MNB-NEW) is located within the wider study area comprise the Indian  Maitri Research station (WAP IND-Ø3), and Russian  Novolazarevskaya Research station (WAP RUS-Ø9).

Whichaway Camp is on Shirmacher Oasis in Queen Maud Land, located between the edge of of the Antarctic Ice Shelf, and the Novolazarevskaya Nivi Ice Shelf; behind camp there is  a frozen lake, then a giant ice fall, and then glaciers and ice as far as one could see, with Nunatak in the distance.  Arrival at Whichaway Camp is impressive and fascinating , a luxury hotel site in Antarctica; three centralized pods held the kitchen, lounge, and dining room and … more; just watch and enjoy the video!

As soon as some Hams will operate from there, a New WAP reference will be given.

The 16^th edition of the Antarctic Activity Week (AAW) will be on air next February  16^th and will last till the 24^th.

Some station will start  earlier  and will continue to operate their special callsigns  till the end of the month. If you are Ham, if you enjoy  Antarctica and its fashinating world , It’s time so sign in. Just apply for your special that may recall the Icy Continent,  or use one of the old callsigns already classified with a WAP reference, and join the event, the unique one worldwide of this greatness.

Last  Hams to have sign their participation are:  F8DHE Pierre who will operate 80 to 10mts,  CW and SSB  as TM16WAP (WAP-299) from his QTH located in center France, Department 42 in FFF-026. QSL via Home call, all info on QRZ.com, full color QSL  card for collection … of course !
II5ANT (WAP-Ø25), Massimo IZ5BTC will operate from the historical city of Lucca, in Tuscany Region. Info for both, available at QRZ.com, as well aa all the others that have already signed up.

We are just warming up … and you?

Danilo IZ1KHY is actually at Concordia Station (WAP MNB-Ø3) following a group of researchers. He will stay at Concordia till Jan 15th.

Danilo is operating as IAØ/IZ1KHY/p using the base equipment (100W), when available.

He is experiencing a real negative propagation condition; only few openings with Australia-New Zealand. Not to forget that, when there is air traffic, the HF radio is room is busy for the air traffic controllers.
He said to copy some signals from North America and Europe, but even if he is calling, nobody answer!  Actually he has few VKs in the Log.

We suggested him 14280 from 16:00 UTC and ahead and 7180 from 23:00 UTC.

TNX IZ1KHY

The Atka Bay Skiway site  (70°36’45” S, 8°07’25” W) is the location of the Emperor Penguin colony. The Camp, managed by White Desert Company lies not too far away to the structure of German Research Station Neumayer III (70°40´S, 8°16´W),  and stands right between Neumayer III (WAP DEU-Ø8) and Neumayer Emergency Base (WAP ZAF-11).

Picture of Atka Bay Skiway Camp, was taken last Jan.8^th  by Matthias DH5CW, on the way to Neumayer Emergency Base, aka South Africa Summer support Base  (WAP ZAF-11), together with Felix DL5XL.  Apart from the tents, there is a marked skiway for airplanes. Looking very closely, Neumayer Station III in the background (just over the left yellow tent) can be seen.

TNX Matthias DH5CW & Felix DL5XL

As soon as some Hams will operate from Atka Bay Skiway Camp, a New WAP reference will be issued.

Located at 75°53’ South, 162°45’East,  Starr Nunatak marking the North site of the mouth of Harbord glacier  on the coast of Victoria Land, Antarctica.

What is a Nunatak?
Nunatak is an exposed, often rocky element of a ridge, mountain, or peak not covered with ice or snow within (or at the edge of) an ice field or glacier.

Last week, Danilo IZ1KHY Expert Scout of the Italian Army, technical support of the scientific missions of the 2018-2019 Antarctic campaign,  has been at  Starr Nunatak field Camp with a group of geologist and researcher.  (See pics on this page)

This  Multinational field camp has been set for a  German-Italian Team who did conduct mapping and geological studies.

Danilo Collino, did operate HF SSB from this remote site, signing IAØ/IZ1KHY/P , using a dipole and 100W. He just worked few VKs and ZLs, unfortunately, even if he did try hard, there was no openings to any other  direction. To this remote site a new WAP reference MNB-1Ø has just been given .

Pics hereby show the site and Danilo IZ1KHY. Notice the mast and dipole antenna behind the blue tent.
Congrats to those who did work this brand new one!

TNX IZ1KHY

Every year, in the month of February, a special event  called  ANTARCTIC ACTIVITY  WEEK is set up. This year, the 16^th AAW will be held from February 16^th to 24^th.

All WAP (Worldwide Antarctic Program) special stations  has been issued a WAP reference number to be given during the QSO. Hams from all over the world are invited to join the unique worldwide event launched by radio amateurs to rise awareness and sensitize the world on the problems of both environment and peace, study and research.

To celebrate this event, as  already done last year as well, Paolo IK3GER has set a fully free diploma for OM/SWL, available at Paolo’s web site https://www.ik3ger.it  starting  Febr.1^st 2019.

Our appreciation to Paolo IK3GER for is great initiative!

The purpose of the Antarctic Activity Week (A.A.W.) launched by WAP (Worldwide Antarctic Program) www.waponline.it , is to improve the Worldwide interest around Antarctic Continent and its related  matters, with the aim of stay close to the researchers and personnel  who are spending their time away from home and families,  studying the Antarctic life and its secrets.

Antarctic Activity Week,  is celebrated every year on last week of February, in concomitance with the 22^nd of February, when Argentina celebrates the Argentine’s Antarctica Day (Dia De La Antartida Argentina).

Again our intention is to draw your attention to the Antarctic Continent, to understand what the Nations are doing to protect this still non contaminated corner of the planet, to share a message of peace among the World. This year the AAW is at the 16^th edition.

Once again, WAP wish to remind WW Hams to join  the event; apply for your special call sign, get your own WAP reference at be on air!

The “New collection TAAF 2019”  marks the tribute to Mario Zucchelli, director of the Italian Antarctic Program, who deceased on 24/10/2003,

The TAAF (Terres Australes et Antarctiques Françaises)  will shortly issue a stamp  dedicated to the Italian scientist Mario Zucchelli (1944 – 2003), for years a reference figure for the Italian Antarctic Program. In particular, the TAAF celebrate its important contribution to the realization of the French-Italian Concordia Station (WAP MNB-Ø3), depicted in the stamp along with the portrait of Zucchelli on a tricolor background.

In 2004 Mario Zucchelli was also dedicated to the Italian Antarctic Station in Baia Terra Nova (WAP ITA-Ø1).

The stamp, soft size with report 1,35 €, author Yves Beaujard, will be issued by 25 stamps per sheet for a total of 30.000 stamps

Other TAAF issues planned for 2019 at: http://philatelie.polaire.free.fr/spip.php?article1055

TNX Maurizio IZ1GJK

Matthias, DH5CW (Pic to the Left), and Felix, DL5XL (Pic to the Right), will be active from Neumayer Emergency Base (also known as SANAP Summer Base, WAP ZAF-11), Grid Locator IB59uj, from January 8 to 9, 2019 (weather permitting). The call sign used will be DP0GVN/p.
QSL via DL5EBE.

Main modes of operation are expected to be CW and FT8. They will be running 100 watts to a multi-band dipole antenna. To make it a little easier to find this rare base on the bands, the following CW skeds have been arranged:
08-Jan at 22:00 UTC on 10,122 kHz, 08-Jan at 23:30 UTC on 7,033 kHz,

09-Jan at 00:30 UTC on 14,042 kHz.

SANAP Summer Station/Neumayer Emergency Base 70º38´59´´South, 08º14´59´´West, WAP ZAF-11

In December 2009, the German Station “Neumayer II” (WAP DEU-02) has been handed over to South Africa. SANAP (South Africa National Antarctic Program) did continue to use this facility as a replacement for the old South African “E-Base” (WAP ZAF-01). “E-Base” is short for “Emergency Base” and it is used as a logistical facility in order to support supply operations to SANAE IV Base (WAP ZAF-Ø3) in Antarctic summer. In 2009, a team of 16 people arrived onboard SA AGULHAS in order to take down Neumayer II and install the new E-Base right on top of it above the snow. The remains of Neumayer II Base, large hollow metal tubes which once hosted living shelters and laboratories, are buried under thick ice. Today, just the garage is used as a storage facility by SANAP.

As far as we know, the only HAM radio activity from this remote Antarctic site, was done by Lars Lehnert DL1LLL who did operate as ZS7/DL1LLL on last 26 Oct. 2012 so, this new operation by Matthias DH5CW & Felix DL5XL  (that will sign DPØGVN/P) will be a great opportunity for the Antarctic Chasers … stay tuned and do not miss the chance!
TNX DL5XL (DP1POL) and DH5CW (DPØGVN)

Hams of Radio Club Ushuaia plan to activate the six protected areas of the Tierra del Fuego Province, doing radio activity in each and every one of them. Date will be announced gradually as long as each  the small expedition is fully organized. The tentative calendar includes January, February and March 2019.
These protected areas are under the supervision of the Government of the Province.  TNX Miguel Angel Lavalle LU1XU (ex LU1XPK)

To WAP ARG-23 belongs Puerto Almanza (54°52’12″South   67°33’51″West),  a town in the Ushuaia department,  of the province of Tierra del Fuego. In this site, there is a monitoring and control post for maritime traffic of the Argentine Navy.  Same reference is for  Base Naval Buen Suceso (LU1XY/X) and Isla Redonda on the Beagle chanel.

Buen Suceso is a small bay located on Peninsula Miter on Le Maire Strait,  in front of  Isla de los Estados (Staten Island) in the department of Ushuaia, on the east coast of the Great Island of Tierra del Fuego.  In the place, since the mid-88 there is a Navy Base with heliport;  it’s an excellent support since it has powerful radio equipment which provide maritime traffic control, thus ensuring efficient communication with Ushuaia. The Buen Suceso surveillance post, is covered by an officer and five non-commissioned officers who are periodically renewed. They have the mission to control  of maritime traffic in the area of influence and provide assistance to vessels sailing through the Strait of Le Maire.