Next DXpedition

Yes, there will certainly be other DXpeditions for us. We learned a few new things and we will make it even better. I am sure Ed will talk about it. But while I have your attention, I would like your feedback on the other communication element of this DXpedition: the web, the survey, the blog etc... What was good? What needs improvement? Please let me know... Leave a comment.
And... if you are yourself planning a DXpedition, here is a little plug for my web services. I will be happy to create for you something similar than what we had here, with a blog for you to update (as easy as a kindergarden game) during your expedition and giving you valuable feedback from DXers - instantaneously!
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Update from Spratly

Well, we have been trying hard here at Layang Layang to get people from all over the World in the log on as many bands as possible. Here is a band by band breakdown of the activity:

10M – This has been very spotty and all in the JA – VK – BY South East Asia area. We will try again today and tomorrow. Mostly SSB on 28495 around 07 – 09Z alternating with 12M to see what is open.

12M – We had a nice opening to JA and even worked a couple of EU on Tuesday. We will also be on 24945 around 07 – 09Z today and tomorrow.

15M – No NA. No EU other than a little OH/SM. We will be likely on 21005 and 21295 +/- around 08 – 011Z. Nice JA/BY/VK runs though.

17M – We have had excellent runs on 17M including some EU and West Coast NA. 08 – 13Z and again around 23 – 01Z.

20M – Nice NA openings from 23 – 01Z and 13 – 15Z. EU has been excellent from 13 – 20Z although last night it shut down and then re-opened.

30M – A very fun band and surprisingly quiet using the vertical. Starting around 10Z on and off until 01Z. Often 20 and 30 are open at the same time. We have been hampered by interstation interference and have not been able to be active on both as much as we had hoped. I will be looking for NA at 23Z tonight.

40M – Its all about the dragon…sometimes its on and sometimes its off. When it is on…it literally shuts down the band. So when it is off, I tend to favor 40 because it will be back at other times. I have been going to EU around 15Z – 22Z however there have been times, like last night, when the dragon prevented it. Look for me again tonight around that time. For NA, the west coast is around 09 – 13Z. The East Coast has really only been one fantastic LP opening on Wednesday at around 2230Z. Boy that was fun.

80M – Nope. Noise actually isn’t terrible but my 100W to vertical a little too far from the water just isn’t making the cut. I have CQ’d on 3505 almost every day from 1030 – 1100Z and also at EU sunrise times.

160M – We didn’t put up the antenna based on the poor 80M performance.

We will be participating in WPX. When we are on the non-WARC bands on SSB we will be giving out contest exchanges.

48 hours to go.

73

Ed (N1UR) and Christine (KB1PQN)

Update... or not?

Two days that Ed did not post an update. I told you yesterday he would do it after lunch... oh well, it did not happen. He was too eager to get back to the radio. He says you'd like him more on the radio than blogging anyway!
But I cannot substitute for his knowledge here. Afterall, I am just a little helper. He is sleeping now (8AM Malaysia and China time - 8PM Eastern US time... don't ask for Greenwich time... I am not sure). At 3AM this morning, he was stopped in his tracks by the dragon and went to bed.
I will try to interview him a little later and post for him.
One thing I know though: he is not going to put up a 160M antenna. 80M is not open enough.
Finally, I know you guys care about contacts, however from my end, one thing really fun is when the rate picks up. I had my best rate 2 days ago at 144, and that same afternoon Ed peaked to 200+.
Fun! Keep it coming!

Chasing a shark

If you want to read about how Ed was literally chasing a shark, you are going to need to go read my posting at My Adventure in China.
For radio news, stay tuned, we should post an update in a couple of hours!

So much for the romantic walk!

At 11AM this morning, the bands were closed. Ed asked me if I wanted to go for a walk and then take a dive in the pool. Naively, I thought we were going for a romantic walk around the island. But next thing I know, Ed is treasure hunting for long bamboo poles! How naïve could I be!! The good thing for you guys searching for us on the air, is that we actually found a few 34-35 feet long poles out there. They seem to all be constructed the same way, with a square hole at the larger end, and fishing ropes attached to it. They must have some type of use for fishing, may be holding nets or something. In any case, we could get 40 feet by attaching 2 together. So, if you need 160m, don’t lose all your hopes yet! Ed will try to work 80m tonight before trying this major construction!
On another subject: I am sensitive to the “JA wall” issue. I am asking Ed when there is a chance for EU or NA to be open, and I have put the JA on standby a few times. So, let me know if you heard me while I was working JA. I’d love to know and to “serve” you better!
Talk to you on the air, hopefully!

Day 2

We are having fun. Conditions are still very spotty. There are times where signals are loud and rates are high and other times the bands are totally dead. Good openings to Europe on 20m and 30m yesterday. NA has been primarily 20. I tried 40 last night but the dragon was S9+ and I will try again tonight. 80m antenna is having problems. We'll try to fix it today. Still unlikely for 160. Good luck to all getting in the log.

Update Sunday

Conditions spotty. Tried 80m at sunset with no success. Will be on again at sunset. We're glad to have both radios operating!!! We blew a fuse yesterday trying to make 110 working on 220V. Ough!! We need more antenna flexibility, so we'll be putting up additional antennas on 15m and 17m today. 160m is doubtful at this time. I will try for success on 80. Hope to see you in the log and keep up the comments!

On the air!

We are on the air... Tonight we will be on 80 – 20M CW and SSB. Please let us know how the signals are as we will be checking our blog's comments several times a day.
Good Luck to all.
Ed and Christine 9M6/N1UR Team

Setting up in Layang, Layang

We arrived in Layang, Layang after the one-hour flight from KK, around 9h00AM this morning. The island is as small as we expected but I did not know that it was the extremity of a circular reef. Really cool. No wonder we are surrounded by divers! We are really the “odd couple” this way here.
With a room at the end of the resort, just beside the entry of the navy base, we have already set up the multi-band vertical, now set to 10m, the 20m vertical and the 80m vertical. It is now 2PM, and Ed is testing the radios.
I investigated with the resort about the 40 feet poles previously left on the island, but unfortunately they have been “thrown out”, which means “sent back to KK”. But Ed had no problem setting up the 80m in the trees which are right there between our room and the airstrip/ocean. The 160m might be a different story.
OK, back to work! We will keep you posted on our progress a little later.
PS: No photos unfortunately until we leave the island. It is actually forbidden to upload or download images at the resort.

On our way!

We have left China and are on our way to Kota Kinabalu (KK). We stopover in Hong Kong and arrive at approximately 7:30pm at the hotel in KK. The plan is to catch a quick dinner and then work on preparing the bags for the following morning's flight to Spratly. We are looking forward to seeing our good friends, Alfons and Doris who have been so helpful in the preparations for the trip.
Preparation for the trip has been exciting. Now the energy turns towards execution of our plans… having fun while making Spratly a reality for many, as a new country or on a new band. Please join us in this experience.
Ed (9M6/N1UR) and Christine (KB1PQN) Sawyer

Band Plans

I have been studying the propagation to different parts of the world from Spratly to make the best use of our 2 station set-up. I will summarize by Region:
EU - From EU sunrise until Spratly sunrise (2238Z) plus about 90 mins (0000Z) there is a band open to Spratly. We will be looking for the 10 – 17M openings right after EU sunrise each day then sliding up 15 – 17 and 20M as our sunset approaches. Look for Christine, specifically looking for EU on 17 and 20M SSB from about 09Z each day. For darkness paths – it is going to be a primarily CW routine (possibly some 40M SSB if the noise and dragon cooperate). As we get closer to sunrise Spratly, I will be heading lower and lower in frequency hoping for 160M just before sunrise (2238Z). Look for 40M around 16 – 18Z to EU.
W/VE – Right before sunset (~1020Z) I will be camped out on 80/160 (with the very possible exception of the first night) looking for W/VE. I will be sliding up frequency on a number of days to give 160 – 30M a chance at various times. Christine will specifically be looking for W/VE on 20 – 17M SSB from about 12Z each day, maybe later depending on openings and should be camped out on the best open band until they close around 16Z. If we get a really good opening on 20 and 17 at the same time, I may move to 20 to maximize long haul Qs.
JA – This is just about a 24 hour opening on some band. We will be asking JAs to stand by for the most critical openings but will work JA frequently after asking for standbys. If possible, the operator will run 10 mins of JA on a once or twice an hour basis to balance the standby cooperation. It is much appreciated.
VK – Also open just about 24 hours a day. Feel free to jump in whenever JAs are running or if the operator is not specifically asking for EU or W/VE.
Only 2 days to go!!

Leaving China

After 7 months in Xiamen, we are leaving tomorrow morning to Spratly. We are leaving here some nice friends... and our high-speed Internet and Internet phone. So, we hope we are going to be able to continue our daily blogs from Spratly, with the dial-up connection we'll have there.
We will blog here about our DXpedition but I will continue to blog on my other blog My Adventure in China about the "non-radio stuff". So, stay in touch!

Goals

Every DXpedition should have goals. Obviously, we are 2 people, with air shipped antennas, and it is the bottom of the sunspot cycle, so we have to be realistic. Still, the reason to be here is DXing and the antennas we have will be right on the waters edge. We should do well for periods of time.
6M – Probably not going to happen
10M – A couple of JA runs would be nice.
12M – The same.
15M – This has some chance for EU and certainly could produce excellent JA runs. We will go to it mid day and afternoon.
17M – Many people need 9M0 on 17 and the propagation has a much better chance for long haul, even to W/VE so this will be a primary band for us, especially for Christine on SSB.
20M – Old faithful. We will concentrate on giving “the deserving” a new one on this band especially Sunset to the East Coast of the USA where there is the greatest need for an all time new one.
30M – This is a great band for a few hours after and before sunset especially long haul. Also, we will camp out on 30M during periods of darkness when many other bands are closed.
40M – This is also an excellent long haul band an hour or so before and after sunset/sunrise. We will be dodging “the dragon”.
80M – I am very hopeful that many people will get a new zone and country on 80M. The openings to some areas are very short. We will focus on them each day.
160M – This band is a crap shoot quite honestly. The grey line is perfect to the US East Coast and there is plenty of darkness to EU and JA. US West and Central have more darkness than the East Coast than the East which is measured in minutes.
QSO Goals: 15,000 total would make it a success. 20,000 would be outstanding. 10,000 can’t be unexpected. We’ll all know when it's done.

Where to look for us?

Obviously, we are at the literal bottom of the sunspot cycle. Not the best time to go to Spratly from that standpoint but we are taking advantage of being “nearby”.
We don’t expect SFI over 71. The K/A looks good for the Saturday through Tuesday period. Wednesday through Friday may be more disturbed and then Saturday may again be good.
Therefore we will be heavily concentrating on the polar paths for the first half of the DXpedition and turning more towards and EU focus in the second half. EU has much longer windows to Spratly anyway, so during the whole time there will be plenty of open paths to EU. Obviously, JA, Pacific, Africa and South America as well.
Please use this as a planner for when to spend time to look for us from North America. We cannot guarantee that we will have 160 or 80 up in time for the first evening. We will concentrate on having 10 – 40 up first. If we have enough time before the first sunset openings, we will put up 80. If not, both 80 and 160 will go up on Sunday.

Practice, Practice, Practice

We have begun practicing using the software and pile-up techniques so that we are fresh and ready to go when we get on the air. We will actually be using the TR4W version of TR Log since it runs better in the Windows XP environment which is on our laptops.
Each station will have a laptop and radio. Antennas will be configured depending on operating band.
Meanwhile boxing up of our stuff in China is going on as we are not only heading for Spratly at the end of the week but also moving back to the US from China. Busy, busy, busy.

Not much time left

8 days until we leave China and head for Kota Kinabalu (affectionately called KK by anyone who has been there or lives there). We will be arriving KK in the early evening on Friday the 21st and be met at the airport by our local hosts and invaluable logistics partners Doris, 9M6DU and Alfons, 9M6MU. They will be bringing all of our advanced shipped goods from their local storage, as well as the original copies of the Navy permission and 9M6 licenses. From there, we will break the boxes down into the lightest and smallest containers for airplane transport the next morning.
We expect this will take us a few hours Friday evening and again a few hours Saturday morning. The plane should arrive on Layang Layang, Spratly at around noon local time 0400Z.
Ed N1UR/BY