Mese: Marzo 2025

DP1POL is the callsign used by Felix DL5XL, an electronics engineer who is involved in the Antarctic campaigns since 2008. This year, Felix was again in Antarctica from 13-Jan-2025 to 22-Feb-2025, operating from the German Research Station “Neumayer III (WAP DEU-Ø8) at 70°40’South, 8°17’West, about 1,300 miles North of the South Pole.
Knowing the propagation openings, Felix DP1POL is on air (when works duties allow him to be at his shack),  at the right time, when conditions offer the best chance to the Hams who look for Antarctic QSOs.

After having worked DP1POL with the always pleasure to say “Hallo” to him, I was happy and pleasantly surprised to get in the mail after a little time, his QSL into a wonderful envelope cancelled at Rothera Station (WAP GBR-12). The envelope with such a nice special cachet and postmarks, will enter in a large collection of rare and similar ones, from every corner of Antarctica.
TNX Felix, DP1POL (DL5XL) for such a gift.

The complete log has been uploaded to Clublog and LotW, and printed cards are readily available through Felix’s QSL manager DL1ZBO.

Lawrence “Flo” Howell, now KL7L (Original licensee VP8ADE, aka VP8SB, VP0SB, VP0GB, GM4DMA), wrote some interesting notes that represent “a time gone by”, when Radio, especially in Antarctica represented much more than a simple pastime; not just a hobby, but a necessity, the only way to be in touch with the rest of the world.
The pride of having among the good memories of Ham Radio contacts, a 42 years old  QSO with VP8SB followed by a QSL  signed by Lawrence is not only a reason for pride, but something much more important, a world without barriers, a world of peace.

 

Lawrence shared this kind of touching memory with us at WAP, along with a significant photo… the end of a myth …!  We publish it in full:

«Sad news that after 46 years of operation VP8ADE fell silent key at 1230Z 21st Feb 2025»
In 1978, and just prior to my first deployment as Radio Operator to Antarctica, I was contacted by the RSGBs beacon coordinator – I was asked whether it would be possible to set up a 10m beacon in Antarctica, as at that time there was no other 28MHz beacon on the Continent and would add valuable data on 28MHz F2 propagation.
Subsequently with support of the British Antarctic Survey and the Falklands radio licensing section and radio hams in Surrey – the beacon was built and sent to the base by ice breaker – and installed it in a small wood hut shared by the old RCA NDB and I coded the diode matrix keyer as “VP8ADE ANTARC” on 28,2845MHz or so.

The antenna started off as a dipole at around 8m or so firing up the Atlantic and global coverage proved to be excellent.  The original aim was for the beacon to return with me at the end of my deployment in 1981, but with the support of the technical and operational staff it managed to stay on for a whole lot longer!  It was moved to “Bransfield House” loft and the antenna there was a ¼ wave vertical on the control tower walkway. With help from Tris Thorne MM0TJR, who replaced the keyer, and countless others over the next 40 plus years – the beacon was kept viable and provided great Fof2 data.
The future is a little unclear at the moment – the building that was new in 1979, is now being removed, but perhaps alternate technology and location may become available. In any case the end of new VP8 licenses for the British Antarctic Territory (BAT) is in sight, and its likely, but not yet certain, will be moved to a VP0 (Zero) format, similar to South Georgia/South Sandwich, with VP8 only being issued for the Falkland Islands.
Again, thanks to all those many “Rothera-ites” over the years who have helped to keep the beacon on air and on frequency.
73 Laurence “Flo Howell, (VP8SB, VP0SB, VP0GB), KL7L, GM4DMA, Original licensee VP8ADE
British Antarctic Survey 1978-1983, Transglobe Expedition 1979-82. Picture on the right,  shows Lawrence Flo Howell_Radio Officer at Rothera 1978-81

TNX Laurence “Flo Howell

Just a bit of clarification to answer some questions arose recently by WAP readers:
After the German reunification on Oct. 3, 1990 Georg Forster Station became WAP-DEU-Ø3 for a while.
For this reason, Y88POL and Y9ØANT after Oct. 3, 1990 are WAP DEU-Ø3, while before Oct. 3, 1990 these callsign were WAP DDR-Ø1 as Georg Forster Station did belong to the German Democratic Republic.
In addition, after the German reunification at Oct. 3, 1990 it was decided later that the further German Antarctic research activities would have been focused at Neumayer II Base (WAP DEU-Ø2) and its surroundings. So, in the years 1994, 1995 and 1996 the entire Georg Forster Station had been dismantled and disposed of.

A commemorative plaque was left at this place. The former Georg Forster Base was included into the ATS list of historic sites in Antarctica with No. 87.

List of all Antarctic historic sites: https://documents.ats.aq/recatt/att596_e.pdf

In the summer season 1987-1988 at Georg Forster Station of the German Democratic Republic in Antarctica, a completely new radio station was built. Georg Forster did get the marine Call Y3ZA and the land-based Call Y3G. The radio system was a very powerful and reliable: KSS-1300 with 1 KW, able to operate in CW, SSB and SITOR Telex, several EKD-500 receivers, an extremely good working 2x85m V-Beam, a corner reflector antenna, a diversity antenna, a vertical antenna and several wire antennas».

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HAM Radio activities from Georg Forster were:
1988-1989  Y88POL   (op: DL8JDX picture below)
1989-1991  Y90ANT  (op: DK1BT)
1990-1992  Y88POL   (op: DL8JDX)

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The Georg Forster Base had 5 overwintering teams:
Antarctic Expedition (AE) 1987-1989 with 8 members (including Volker, DL8JDX, as electronic engineer)
AE 1988-1990 with 8 members
AE 1989-1991 with 8 members
AE 1990-1992 with 4 members (including Volker, DL8JDX, as electronic engineer, radio officer and post officer)
AE 1991-1993 with 1 member

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TNX Volker, DL8JDX

François Bergez F8DVD has never missed a single Antarctic Activity Week since the very first editions more than 20 years ago, each time using a brand new callsign and a related new WAP reference!  

On last AAW (February 2025) François did sign TM22AAW, reference WAP-354.
François has just informed that the QSL for this year’s WAP special event will be posted soon to those who applied QSL direct.

Picture on the card, shows the Chilean Gonzales Videla Base (WAP CHL-Ø6), a rare Antarctic summer Research Station on the Antarctic mainland at Waterboat Point in Paradise Bay at 64°49′ South, 62°51′ West. The station was active from 1951-58, and was reopened briefly in the early 1980s.
TNX François, F8DVD

Chile’s Gabriel Gonzales Videla Base on the Antarctic Peninsula, has been last activated on febr. 2009 by F5PFP signing CE9XX

WAP‘s good friend Prof. Lyubomir Ivanov has sent an abstract of his last experience on the South Shetlands Islands where he has been involved among the Bulgarian Scientific Expedition of last Jan-Febr.2025.
In connection with the interest of Bulgarian geologists and other scientists in the possibilities of field work on Smith Island in the South Shetland Islands, during the 33rd Bulgarian Antarctic Expedition on January 10 and February 12, 2025, preliminary surveys were carried out by the naval Research/Survey Vessel RSV 421 under the command of Navy Commander Radko Muevski on the southeastern side of the island (mostly remotely) and more thoroughly in the area of Cape Smith at the northeastern end of the island. Of particular interest is the identification of accessible ice-free areas with disembarkation from the ship by Zodiac boats. After analyzing the collected data about the vicinity, including the results of a detailed photographic recording, a convenient route from a landing site on the shore to an ice-free locality of elevation 90 m could be successfully identified. The relevant locality is situated on the isthmus connecting Cape Smith with the rest of the island, a place suitable for a Bulgarian refuge and a starting point for the main ridge of the island’s Imeon Range towards the peaks of Matochina and Mount Christi, as well as for the possible deployment of Bulgarian scientific equipment.

Due to the notorious inaccessibility of the island, the opportunities for field work and scientific research are extremely limited. During the first geological survey of the island in Glozhene Cove area, 15 kg of rock samples were taken for geochemical analysis in laboratories, and a metal plaque for the Bulgarian geological studies of the island’s rocks was placed by Prof. Christo Pimpirev, doyen of the Bulgarian Antarctic science.

Thanks and credit Prof. Lyubomir Ivanov

 

The wok the Bulgarian Team did on Smith Island sounds great with a good perspective in the near future!
Smith Island is 20 miles (32 km) long and 5 miles (8 kilometers) wide, lying 49 miles (79 km) west of Deception Island in the South Shetland Islands of the British Antarctic Territory.

Bulgaria seems to be going to set a Refuge on Cape Smith at 62°52’44” South, 62°19’13” West.
WAP hopes that, next year they can carry on a Radioamateur among the scientific Team!

Smith Island and of course the New Bulgarian Refuge on it, will be a brand “New One” for the entire Ham Radio world, as well as a Ham radio operation from onboard of the Research/Survey Vessel RSV 421!

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Let us not forget that last 2 activity on Ham radio bands by Bulgarian Ham radio operators were on 1995 (by LZØA) and on 2006 (by VP8/LZ1UQ) WAP BUL-Ø1 from St. Kliment Ohridski Base!

WAP Bulletin nr.307 of march 9th, 2025 has been issued.
Readers and hunters can check last information about HF activities from Antarctica and sub Antarctic areas .
Bulletin #307 is available to download at “News and Information” from the homepage: https://www.waponline.it/articles/news-information/
 or by clicking at: https://www.waponline.it/wap-antarctic-bulletins/

or directly at: https://www.waponline.it/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/WAP-Bull_307.pdf 

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TNX Max IK1GPG & Betty IK1QFM  

The Australian 2024-2025 Team, with the support of a tractor-traverse convoy, have set up their drilling camp at Dome C North, about 1200 km from Casey Station (WAP AUS-Ø2).
Australia’s Million Year Ice Core project at Dome C North in Antarctica (WAP AUS-NEW) is a recent set Aussie drilling site.

In December 2024, a 642-tonne convoy set out from Casey Station to make the overland traverse. They arrived at Dome C North, the new drilling site, 18 days later on Christmas Eve, and were subsequently treated to a Christmas party hosted by the French and Italians at nearby Concordia station (WAP MNB-Ø3).
MYIC stands for Million Year Ice Core Antarctica.

The scientific and drilling team flew into Concordia on New Year’s Eve. In the fortnight following, they erected a permanent drill shelter, a 27-metre-long structure that will stand for the next five years, housing a drill more than 8 meters long and withstanding temperatures as low as -80C.
Dome C North (DCN) at 75°02’32” South, 123°37’52” East, is located nearly 50 km to the Multinational Concordia Station (WAP MNB-Ø3)  and only  9 kilometers away the Little Dome C-Beyond Epica (LDC) WAP MNB-15. 

Over the next 4-5 drilling seasons, they’ll strive to reach ice 3000 meter’s down, containing the most detailed continuous record of how the Earth’s atmospheric composition and climate have changed over centuries.

Danilo IAØ/IZ1KHY had the chance to visit the Australia’s “Dome C North Camp”, 50 Km from Concordia … but no radio…. just a courtesy visit after the invitation of the DCN manager who had in turn been invited by Danilo to LDC for a pizza!
4-5 drilling seasons, will mean 4-5 years, the hope is that one Radio operator could be active from there one year or another!

Read more about MYIC-DCN, Dome C North at: https://www.antarctica.gov.au/news/2025/australias-search-for-antarcticas-oldest-ice/ 
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At the light of the evidence shown, MYIC-DCN, Dome C North, at 75°02’32” South, 123°37’52” East, on the East Antarctic Plateau, will enter on WAP WADA Directory as WAP AUS-NEW.
TNX Danilo IZ1KHY & Credit to Australia Antarctica gov.

Our friend Paolo Corsetti, IK3GER, issues a free Antarctic Certificate called WAB to Hams who prove evidence of having worked the required number of Bases in the Icy Continent, starting Jan. 1^st 1985. (Check https://www.ik3ger.it/) 
The Award is issued in two Classes: Basic and First Class.   The “WORKED ANTARCTIC BASES“ award,  is issued to OM/SWL for contacts (verified by QSL, eQsl, LOTW) with the required number of Antarctic bases as indicated below.

BASIC AWARD
One QSO with a station operating any band/any mode from a Base located on the main Antarctic territory only. 
NB: stations located on Antarctica’s surrounding islands like the Falklands, King George Island, South Georgia, South Orkneys, South Shetlands etc., do not count for this award.

FIRST CLASS AWARD (shown above)
QSO with minimum three stations (or even more) operating any band/any mode from different Bases located on the main Antarctic territory only. 
NB: stations located on Antarctica’s surrounding islands like the Falklands, King George Island, South Georgia, South Orkneys, South Shetlands etc., do not count towards this award. 
QSL cards must be in the hand of the applicant. LOTW and eQsl are accepted.
QSO/HRD validity: 1.1.1985. Endorsements available for band and mode.

The award is free and will be sent via email as a PDF file (JPG on request).

Just list the Stations you have worked (minimum 3 or even more) on an Ex-cell table (see example aside) and forward your application by mail, to the award manager IK3GER Paolo, at corsetti.paolo@libero.it

TNX Paolo IK3GER
Check for other Cerificates: https://www.waponline.it/worldwide-antarctic-awards/
and   https://www.waponline.it/worldwide-antarctic-awards/italy/