News

9L Sierra Leone **Update #8**

2023-08-28

Update 05 Dec 20223 @ 09.00z: 9L5M is now QRT. TNX Shabu for his effort to be QRV via QO-100.

 

Update 04 Dec 2023: Tomorrow is the last day of 9L5M Dxpedition. Shabu will be QRV between 06.00-0700z.

 

Update 02 Dec 2023 @ 06.00z: Shabu will be QRV today on QO-100 between 06.45 and 08.30z.

 

Update 01 Dec 2023: 9L5M is QRV since 12.50z. Shabu did a just few test QSO near the beach, to make sure everything is working fine. Now is going to relocate the full system near his cabin and return later. 

 

Update 29 Nov 2023: Yesterday afternoon Shabu tried to setup his QO-100 station but found it very difficult to aim to the satellite due the dense vegetation (see photo).

Today he moved the station to other location (with a clear path to the sat), but the persistent rain did not help. He will try again tomorrow.

Please note: the 9L5M station active today on FT8 mode was a pirate!

 

Update 24 Nov 2023: Shabu's luggage was lost in transit and it's due to arrive only on the 27th.

 

Update 23 Nov 2023: According 9L5M QRZ.com page, the QO-100 operation schedule is the following:

 

Draft  CW - SSB Band Plan (Not rigid, may change as per my convenience, band opening  & local circumstances)
Band Mode Frequency (Mhz) Date Time (in UTC) Comments
13cm SSB 10489.880 TX 25th Nov to 3rd Dec Daily 10am till 12 mid split up 5 to 10kc RX. 25th Nov to 2nd December

 

FT8  - as and when time permits

 

Update 13 Nov 2023: Today Shabu provided additional information about his upcoming Dxpedition: 

  • Location: Freetown, Sierra Leone, Southwest coast of Africa
  • Single operator, not large scale and not multi station type operation - with limited resources, but will be operating many hours a day!
  • Date: 24 November to 5 December 2023 confirmed
  • Satellite : QO100 Permission confirmed! (also Low Earth Orbit Satellites and HF/6m
  • Rig: IC7300 /IC705/AnyTone - ATD868UV 2m/70cm (LEO SAT)
  • Mode : FT8/CW/SSB
  • Power: 100w
  • Antennas: DXCommander, Vertical Array, Aerial-51 Model 404-UL antenna Dipole /ARROW II 146/437-10WBP HANDHELD PORTABLE SATELLITE ANTENNA
  • Club Log: Yes
  • LoTW: Yes

 

Shabu, M0KRI (QO-100 Dx Club #933) is going to travel to Sierra Leone for a solo Dxpedition, where he plans to operate as 9L5M between 23 Nov - 6 Dec 2023.

He is looking for donations to help support the cost.

Beside QO-100 he will operate 80m to 6m CW/Phone/Data.

QSL via Club Log and LoTW.

More info on his QRZ page.