News

Update 7 Nov 2023 22.00z: Mikio san JA3GEP and his team arrived safely in Perth.

The tentative number of QSOs (including duplicates) via QO-100 is SSB: 722, CW: 248, FT8: 120.

In total VK9QO made 1090 QSO via QO-100 thanks to the excellent teamwork.

TNX Matthias DD1US for the info.

Update 5 Nov 2023 11.00z: The VK9QO team has now achieved more than 500 SSB QSOs. They are still operating until tomorrow Monday.

As they are busy also operating on HF and 6m bands as well as the LEO/MEO satellites they are not always QRV on QO-100.

Unfortunately they have problems with the connection between the PC and the radios and unless they find time to fix it there might be no FT8 operation on QO-100.

They will focus on SSB operation as the signals are very good and possibly then also on CW but again, FT8 and CW are not yet sure.

So take the opportunity to work them in SSB.

Many thanks to Mikio san, Yutaka san and the whole team.

TNX Matthias DD1US for the info

Update 4 Nov 2023 07.30z:  "Last night here, J1COU Murata-san tried CW with 75cm, but only few QRZ? reply. So he gave up.

This morning, we set up 120cm Dish at the corner of the balcony. We can hear CW beacon and PSK beacon very well.

But 3W Uplink CW appears on IC-9700 waterfall, voice is not heard. WebSDR seems to have no signal.

Pointing must be good. Small change of elavation and azimuth degrade signal strength.

Next step, after lunch! We will try to adjust radiator position to maximize the downlink signal. That may help.

This is the curent situation. Thank you for your patience.

Best regards, JA3GEP Mikio"

Update 3 Nov 2023 17.00z:  The team have been busy setting up the rest of their equipment, including the 1.2m dish for QO-100.

As it is getting late now they will have a rest and resume tomorrow (Saturday) morning their time.

We can expect that they will start operating on QO-100 sometime around 01.00 UTC.

They want to use the 1.2m dish for SSB and will start SSB operation first.

Then they will also do CW and FT8 (normal FT8 mode, no DXpedition mode).

TNX Matthias, DD1US for the info.

Update 3 Nov 2023 13.00z: The team arrived today morning and have successfully setup the equipment for QO-100.

Presently they are using a 70cm dish but their signal is good.

The team there will now go for dinner and come back later on QO-100 in SSB and CW.

They also brought a second station with a bigger dish and so there should be plenty of opportunity in the next days to work them.

TNX Matthias, DD1US for the info.

Update from Mikio, JA3GEP:

A team of JAMSAT Members will operate VK9QO this November.

• Schedule: 3 -7 Nov 2023
• DXCC: Cocos (Keeling) Island 
• Grid: NH87jt
• Operators: JA3GEP, JH6RTO, JA1COU, JI1LET
• Mode: CW/SSB/FT8
• Supported by: JAMSAT(Japan Amateur Satellite Association), ICOM Inc.
• QSL Manager: JA3GEP
• For satellite QRV and QSL information, please see JAMSAT Homepage

Beside QO-100 they will also operate MEO/LEO sats and HF/6m

Mikio, JA3GEP (QO-100 Dx Club #573)  sent us very exciting news:

"This November, VK9QO team will be QRV from Cocos (Keeling) Island(VK9C).

Dates: 3 -7 November 2023

Locator: NH87jt

Besides QO-100 SSB/CW/FT-8/FT-4, they will also operate via IO-117 GreenCube and HF/6m.

Details will follow. Please see JAMSAT Homepage  https://www.jamsat.or.jp"