French Polynesian DXpedition July 2003

G4MFW

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Islands to be Visited

Tubuai Island
Mangareva Island
Tahiti Island
Great Barrier Island

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QSL Addresses

FO/G4MFW
Barry Fletcher ZS1FJ
18 Valley Road
Kenilworth
7700
South Africa

FO/G35WH
Phil Whitchurch G3SWH
21 Dickensons Grove
Congresbury
Bristol
BS49 5HQ
United Kingdom

Mixed mode or mixed location QSL cards will not be answered.
In other words, SSB contacts with FO/G4MFW go to ZSIFJ.
CW contacts with FO/G35WH go to G3SWH.
SSB contacts with FO/G4MFW/P go to ZS1FJ.
CW contacts with FO/G35WH/P go to G3SWH.

French Polynesian
DXpedition July 2003

Arranged by

Barry Fletcher ZS1FJ, Phil Whitchurch G3SWH and Deon Erwin ZS1ZL

CONFUSION REGARDING THE G3SWH CALLSIGN!
The advertised G3SWH, as it should have been, was issued on paper as G35WH and is being copied as such on CW.
The website has been updated to reflect the actual callsign being used.

The expedition was conceived by Barry ZS1FJ and he approached Phil G3SWH and Deon ZS1ZL to join the expedition and the arrangements were completed in a very short time.

The following islands are active during a DXpedition to French Polynesia (FO) in July 2003:

· Tubuai Island OC-152 in the Austral Islands on 11 - 14 July

· Mangareva Island OC-063 in the Gambier Islands on 15 - 22 July

· Tahiti Island OC-046 in the Society Islands on 23 - 24 July

· Great Barrier Island OC-201 in the New Zealand Island Group around 25 - 26 July

A short operation may also take place on Rurutu Island OC-050 in the Austral Islands.

Operators

Barry ZS1FJ/G4MFW/ZL1MFW
Phil G3SWH (erroneously issued as G35WH)
Deon ZS1ZL

Expedition Callsigns

Two callsigns are used:

FO/G4MFW on SSB and RTTY
FO/G35WH on CW

Operating Frequencies and Modes

All bands are worked, including the WARC bands during the IARU contest weekend while on Tubuai Island. The low bands 160, 80 and 40m are also on the air. Modes are SSB, CW and RTTY. Operators should note that RTTY enjoys secondary status.

Preliminary frequencies:

SSB - 28495, 24945, 21295, 18145, 14195, 7095, 3795 kHz
CW - 28025, 24895, 21025, 18075, 14025, 10105, 7005. 3505, 1830 kHz
RTTY - 28075, 24922, 21085, 18102, 14075 kHz

Note that small deviations might be needed if the announced frequency is busy, not busy enough or filled with QRM. Operation is always split, listening up 5kHz on SSB and up 1kHz to 2kHz on CW and RTTY.

Operating Times

Listen for the pilot stations on the quoted frequencies, where operating times and details are announced. Operating times and details are also published in the daily DIARY on this website.

Equipment

· Icom IC-706 HF/VHF transceiver

· Icom IC-706 Mk2G HF/VHF/UHF transceiver

· Kenwood TS-50S HF transceiver

· Icom IC-2KL HF linear amplifier

· SCS PTC2e multimode controller

· MFJ-945E manual antenna tuner

· SGC-237 Smartuner automatic antenna tuner

· Three switched mode power supply units for the transceivers

· Linear power supply unit for the linear amplifier

Antennas

· Cushcraft A3S three element beam for 20, 15 and 10m

· G5RV multiband dipole antenna

· Multiband dipole antenna

· Delta loops for 160, 80 and 40m with the SGC-237 antenna tuner

· Long wire antennas for 160, 80 and 40m with the SGC-237 antenna tuner

Delta loop and long wire antennas are erected according to local conditions and available supports at the different operating sites.

Electrical Supply

The installed electrical supply on the islands is 220VAC at 60Hz and is generated by diesoline generators. All the operating locations have 24 hour electrical supply.

Pilot Stations

Strategically located pilot stations are appointed to assist the expedition members in the efficient flow of traffic and information. The pilot stations will announce the expedition email address.

European Pilot - Don G3XTT
US Pilot - Don W0DM
Pacific Pilot - Harry KH6FKG
African Pilot - Dennis ZS1AU

QSL Routes

FO/G4MFW via ZS1FJ
FO/G35WH via G3SWH

Note the QSL address information in the sidebar.

Mixed mode or mixed location QSL cards will not be answered.
In other words, SSB contacts with FO/G4MFW go to ZSIFJ. CW contacts with FO/G35WH go to G3SWH.
And, SSB contacts with FO/G4MFW/P go to ZS1FJ. CW contacts with FO/G35WH/P go to G3SWH.

Webmaster

The expedition diary is updated on this website by Peter ZR1PH with information provided by the pilot stations.