8R7X- THE DX OPERATOR’S TALE
12 DAYS IN GUYANA 8R7X AS TOLD BY JAMIE M0SDV AT WYTHALL RADIO CLUB LAST TUESDAY.
73,500 QSO’s .. poisonous snakes and machetes.. 30 degrees of sweltering heat and high humidity…. welcome to Jamie’s world (M0SDV) last February 2024 as he and three other like-minded young operators visited this rarely activated country on the northern tip of South America for an operation that proved to be enormously popular.
Include , whilst there, successful forays into the ARRL 160m SSB competition and the ARRL CW contest then it is surprising that there was any time for sleep but there was time for a great day at the Mashramani Festivities (known locally as ‘Mash’) where they experienced the true hospitality and friendliness of the Guyanese.
In a highly entertaining talk on the activation Jamie took us through the logistical challenges of such an expedition (but emphasised the independence of the four young operators involved in choosing their own antennas etc.), the radios used (Icom 7610’s and K3S) , the challenges to get the necessary visas and permits, and even handed out some valuable tips on where to call amongst those mighty pile-ups . (V73WW coming up!)
It was great to welcome Jamie back to the Club where it all started for him some 11 years ago and a well attended gathering in person and on Zoom thoroughly enjoyed hearing the talk.
We welcomed Philip DK6SP to our Zoom call on the night. Philip was one of the other operators on the Expedition which included Tomi HA8RT, SvenDJ4MX.
The team on Guyana..Jamie 2nd from the left?
Many questions afterwards and more in the bar.
Postscript: On Saturday 8th February Jamie is off again to the Marshall Islands( look it up!) for another DXpedition V73WW.
WE WISH JAMIE ALL THE BEST IN THIS NEW VENTURE AND HE LEAVES US WITH A MUCH CLEARER IDEA OF THE CHALLENGES: WHO WILL BE THE FIRST TO WORK HIM AS V73WW??
COMING SOON..
FRIDAY 21ST FEBRUARY ; 9.45-11.45 a.m. OPEN PRACTICAL SESSION IN THE DARTS ROOM
TUESDAY 4TH MARCH ‘ASK THE EXPERTS’ 8.15 PM. GET YOUR QUESTIONS READY NOW – TECHNICAL OR OPERATIONAL
Ask the experts-Last year’s team in full flow.