LA0BY/p DXpedition to JP21/22 in July 2020
Introduction
The DXpedition was planned in early January with a team of four HAMs (DF9PX, DK2BJ, DK5WO
and myself) and their families. We spent much time for identifying good operating sites and
rented a house in a suitable location in their vicinity. Then the Covid-19 pandemic came up
and raised uncertainty about the ability to travel. Luckily, the situation in Norway was
not as bad as in many other countries and so I maintained the reservation of the house.
In early June, when it was clear that the German participants were not able to come, we
decided to go only with family and some non-HAM friends who were resident in Norway. This
generated some constraints wrt HAM radio activity, both in terms of the number of operating
hours and the amount of equipment that could be carried and set up. Therefore I decided to
focus on 2 m with a minimum of equipment (low power and no spares) and leave the other bands
(6 m, 4 m) for the next trip.
So we left home with the new car (bought with off-road capabilities in mind) well loaded,
carrying two full-size 2 m yagis on top as usual. The weather forecast did not look too well,
so we wondered if we were up for a enjoyable vacation or a major desaster. But upon arrival at
the house in JP21MX, we found everything in good shape, and the weather forecast had also
improved much.
144 MHz Meteorscatter
Early morning hours are good for MS, and go along well with the daily family routines, so that
is why I chose to operate from about 04-10 UTC on most days. Moreover, the weather was usually
rainy that early in the day, so that my radio operations did not conflict much with the family.
But I had to set up and dismantle the station every time, because we were in need of the car
for the afternoon family trips.
On the first two days, I operated from JP21MX. Since the take-off from the house was actually
better than feared, it made sense to operate 2 m from there, and not drive up the hillside to
achieve a better horizon. However, from the reflections I realized that it would be difficult
to exceed 1900 km from South to East, due to the obstruction from mountains. Anyway, I made 29
complete contacts via MS, with S51ZO in JN86DR being the ODX.
LA0BY/p in JP21MX wkd via MS on 144 MHz (all in FSK):
2020-07-12 03:56 04:10 SM7EOI JO86FP 37 26 876 km
2020-07-12 04:10 04:18 G4CDN JO02SS 27 26 1045 km
2020-07-12 04:18 05:06 IV3GTH JN65RU 26 26 1872 km
2020-07-12 05:06 05:13 DK5AI JO51GO 27 27 1200 km
2020-07-12 05:13 05:21 DK3XT JN49FE 27 26 1438 km
2020-07-12 05:21 05:35 DF5DE JO40CX 27 26 1238 km
2020-07-12 05:35 05:55 DF9PX JO30MS 26 27 1252 km
2020-07-12 06:30 07:00 SM5KWU JO89IP 27 26 683 km
2020-07-12 07:00 07:12 G8JLY IO82WG 27 26 1161 km
2020-07-12 07:10 07:10 G4RRA IO80BS 28 26 1359 km
2020-07-12 07:19 07:28 G4SWX JO02RF 27 26 1105 km
2020-07-12 07:28 07:34 GW7SMV IO81LN 27 26 1256 km
2020-07-12 07:34 07:46 M0CVX IO93XB 27 26 1036 km
2020-07-12 07:46 08:05 F4EZJ JN05DK 27 26 1865 km
2020-07-12 08:06 08:40 DL8DAU JO40ME 27 26 1334 km
2020-07-12 09:10 09:19 DL4KUG JO64PB 27 26 1004 km
2020-07-12 09:19 09:28 DK5OX JN59MO 26 26 1425 km
2020-07-12 09:28 09:36 DL1VPL JO61UA 27 26 1327 km
2020-07-13 04:00 04:55 IV3NDC JN65RV 26 26 1868 km
2020-07-13 04:55 05:10 PA3PCV JO20VV 27 26 1233 km
2020-07-13 05:14 05:40 RK1AS KP40UE 26 26 1333 km
2020-07-13 05:40 05:49 OH4LA KP20LG 27 37 1082 km
2020-07-13 05:49 06:00 SM2CEW KP15CR 27 27 935 km
2020-07-13 06:00 06:12 OH6KTL KP02OJ 26 26 838 km
2020-07-13 06:50 07:03 DL9LBH JN59ID 27 26 1469 km
2020-07-13 07:06 07:22 DL8FBD JO40KA 26 26 1350 km
2020-07-13 07:22 07:52 OE3NFC JN88EA 26 27 1706 km
2020-07-13 07:54 08:06 DF1JC JO31OG 27 26 1198 km
2020-07-13 08:06 08:36 S51ZO JN86DR 26 26 1840 km
RIG: IC-821H, PA 180W, antenna 2 x 9-ele-yagi at 150 m asl.
Picture 1: 2 m setup in JP21MX beaming G
July 14 and 16 the operation was from the hilltop side in JP22MA at 370 m asl.The
horizon was clearly much better than from the house, but I still had some elevation
from South to East due to nearby mountains. The number of stations worked via MS
from there was 36, again with S51ZO in JN86DR being the ODX. However, the longest
burst of the activity (25s) I received from F6DRO in JN03TJ, and also IZ4AIK in
JN63HV was heard, both well beyond 2000 km distance. S54T, I2FAK and I3MEK were well
received and called, but it was not possible to complete. I spent some time working
to East (OH/SM) and South East (LY/SP), even though the horizon was not good in those
directions.
LA0BY/p in JP22MA wkd via MS on 144 MHz (all in FSK):
2020-07-14 03:58 04:08 IV3GTH JN65RU 27 26 1876 km
2020-07-14 04:54 05:12 S51ZO JN86DR 27 26 1844 km
2020-07-14 05:25 05:47 SP2HHX JO94HI 28 26 1162 km
2020-07-14 05:47 05:53 OH4LA KP20LG 27 27 1082 km
2020-07-14 05:53 06:00 OH6KTL KP02OJ 26 26 837 km
2020-07-14 06:40 06:46 SM5DIC JO89JT 27 26 680 km
2020-07-14 06:46 06:59 SM5KWU JO89IP 27 26 684 km
2020-07-14 07:00 07:29 IV3NDC JN65RV 27 26 1872 km
2020-07-14 07:29 07:32 G4CDN JO02SS 28 26 1049 km
2020-07-14 07:32 07:34 G4SWX JO02RF 28 26 1110 km
2020-07-14 07:34 07:39 G4AEP IO91MB 29 26 1272 km
2020-07-14 07:39 07:42 G4TRA IO81WN 27 26 1240 km
2020-07-14 07:42 07:50 GW6TEO IO71LP 37 47 1303 km
2020-07-14 07:50 07:58 DG6JF/P JO33QN 27 26 950 km
2020-07-14 07:58 08:07 M0CVX IO93XB 27 27 1041 km
2020-07-14 08:07 08:11 F4EZJ JN05DK 37 36 1869 km
2020-07-14 08:23 08:30 G3WZT IO90UX 27 26 1270 km
2020-07-14 08:58 09:00 DL8DAU JO40ME 26 26 1338 km
2020-07-14 09:26 09:30 DF1JC JO31OG 27 26 1202 km
2020-07-14 09:42 09:46 SM5CUI JO89WW 26 26 729 km
2020-07-14 09:59 10:07 SK5AA JO89JT 28 26 680 km
2020-07-16 03:54 04:06 OE3NFC JN88EA 27 27 1710 km
2020-07-16 04:08 04:26 DK5OX JN59MO 26 26 1429 km
2020-07-16 04:52 04:56 DL1VPL JO61UA 37 27 1331 km
2020-07-16 04:56 05:10 OE3FVU JN78VE 26 26 1678 km
2020-07-16 05:30 05:35 DJ9EV JN49SC 27 26 1463 km
2020-07-16 05:41 05:55 OK2WO JN89IH 26 37 1586 km
2020-07-16 05:55 05:59 OK1TEH JO70FD 26 26 1440 km
2020-07-16 06:00 06:20 F4VPC IN87VV 26 26 1635 km
2020-07-16 06:21 06:34 PA3PCV JO20VV 26 26 1238 km
2020-07-16 06:34 06:38 DF9PX JO30MS 27 26 1257 km
2020-07-16 07:40 07:50 OH6MAZ KP21IG 26 26 1038 km
2020-07-16 07:54 07:58 DL4DWA JO61QH 27 27 1293 km
2020-07-16 08:21 08:34 DK5EW JN48MB 26 26 1572 km
2020-07-16 08:50 08:55 F6EAS IN98LV 28 26 1507 km
2020-07-16 09:05 09:20 DH9OK JO51AQ 27 26 1188 km
2020-07-16 09:20 09:35 DF5DE JO40CX 27 27 1243 km
RIG: IC-821H, PA 180W, antenna 2 x 9-ele-yagi at 370 m asl.
Picture 2: 2 m setup in JP22MA beaming DL
Picture 3: Digimode station for working MS
On the last morning the weather turned really bad, with strong gales and much rain,
and so I refrained from putting JP21MX on air again.
144 MHz Sporadic-E
When we returned from an 8 h family trip on the second day, July 13, I was alerted
by OK1TEH by SMS to look for potential Sporadic-E. I swiftly set up my station, just
with a single yagi to save some minutes, and started calling CQ in SSB on 144.300 MHz.
After a short while the Es condx indeed showed up and the log was filling quickly.
LA0BY/p in JP21MX wkd via Es on 144 MHz (all in SSB):
2020-07-13 17:56 DL3JIN JO60LX 59 59 1314 km
2020-07-13 18:03 DF9RJ JN68GS 59 59 1541 km
2020-07-13 18:04 DL1GBM JO60DT 57 57 1317 km
2020-07-13 18:05 OK1TEH JO70FD 59 59 1436 km
2020-07-13 18:09 OK1IN JO70XE 59 59 1471 km
2020-07-13 18:11 DL4DWA JO61QH 55 55 1288 km
2020-07-13 18:13 OE3FVU JN78VE 59 55 1674 km
2020-07-13 18:14 OK1PGS JN69RS 56 59 1453 km
2020-07-13 18:15 DL9NDA JO50WH 59 59 1363 km
2020-07-13 18:16 DL5MY JN57NS 57 55 1625 km
2020-07-13 18:16 DK4KW JO60EM 59 59 1350 km
2020-07-13 18:17 OK2KKW JO70FD 59 59 1436 km
2020-07-13 18:17 DL7ULM JO62MS 59 59 1129 km
2020-07-13 18:18 DL7AOM JO50WE 59 59 1376 km
2020-07-13 18:18 DF1CF JN57FP 55 55 1630 km
2020-07-13 18:19 DF1NP JN58OV 55 55 1504 km
2020-07-13 18:19 DL8MAI JN57GV 59 52 1604 km
2020-07-13 18:19 DL8AAV JO52DH 59 59 1120 km
2020-07-13 18:20 DL5MAE JN58VF 55 55 1586 km
2020-07-13 18:21 DK9RL JN69BA 59 59 1506 km
2020-07-13 18:21 DH2OAA JO42TU 59 59 1050 km
2020-07-13 18:22 DL8LAQ JO43XU 59 59 948 km
2020-07-13 18:22 DK5YA JN49NX 59 59 1358 km
2020-07-13 18:24 OE5UAL JN68NE 59 59 1615 km
2020-07-13 18:25 DK6NJ JN59WL 59 59 1452 km
2020-07-13 18:26 DL9LBH JN59ID 59 59 1469 km
2020-07-13 18:26 DJ8RZ JN58RQ 59 59 1531 km
2020-07-13 18:29 DL1YAW JO41DX 59 59 1129 km
2020-07-13 18:30 DK5EW JN48MB 59 59 1568 km
2020-07-13 18:31 DL5GAC JN47UT 55 59 1602 km
2020-07-13 18:31 DL2AU JN58AO 59 59 1519 km
2020-07-13 18:32 DM7RM JN49PM 59 59 1410 km
2020-07-13 18:32 DL8FBD JO40KA 59 59 1350 km
2020-07-13 18:33 DF5DE JO40CX 59 59 1238 km
2020-07-13 18:33 DF1CF JN57FP 59 59 1630 km
2020-07-13 18:33 DA0Y JN48MB 59 59 1568 km
2020-07-13 18:33 DF2AJ JN48MW 57 55 1471 km
2020-07-13 18:33 DJ5RE JN59WK 56 53 1457 km
2020-07-13 18:38 DR0V JN47UT 59 59 1602 km
RIG: IC-821H, PA 180W, antenna single 9-ele-yagi at 150 m asl.
Picture 4: Map of Es-contacts on 13.7.2020 from MMMonVHF
I made 40 contacts in about 40 minutes the opening lasted. Perhaps I missed 15 minutes
of the opening in the beginning, but this is not sure. I was happy to have worked many
stations via Es, so that I felt like winning a major prize in a lottery. Catching such
good Es event while on DXpedition in Norway is a very rare treat! Some of the stations
reported having heard me calling CQ for many minutes without anybody responding, due to
low activity. 20 years ago I could have done more than 100 contacts in such event.
Epilog
My operation was much fun, allthough it limited the amount of sleep I could get quite
a bit. I was really missing the support and company of co-operators and with those many
more stations could have been worked on 2 m. The MUF was high enough on several days to
allow 6 m and 4 m Es, if I had brought the equipment. But then the family would not have
seen me much. And something has to be left for future activities after all. My activity
this time was mainly intended as pathfinder for a second trip, which may happen in some
other year, hopefully with more operators and bands.
Picture 5: Car with antennas on roof, view of Geiranger fjord (JP32)
While in the area I also did some field survey for the activation of other squares, among
them JP31 and JP32. In Norway it is hard to run out of attractive squares...
The family was also quite happy with the non-radio activities we managed to do. Among them
were walks up to the edge of glaciers, riding on the new Skylift in Loen, visits to the
glacier centre in Fjærland and the Selja monastery at Vestkapp hiking up the 418 stairs to
Aksla and enjoying the magnificent view over Ålesund, and seeing the large variety of marine
fauna in the phantastic aquarium in Ålesund. On our way home we travelled through Geiranger
and did a short hike in Jotunheimen. We found the areas up to 4 h drive from Oslo were rather
packed with tourists, almost entirely from Norway (due to the Corona travel restrictions).
It seems we made a good choice with spending most time further away in north-western Norway.
Picture 6: A happy OP at the Innvikfjord
Looking forward to more travelling and VHF activities at other occasions.