QSL card designed

Alfio IT9EJW, who is a sponsor of my expedition, has done an amazing job designing such a beautiful folded 3D2JK's QSL card.

As soon as the cards are printed by Alfio's company Tipografia Bonanno, I will start to send out all direct QSLs ordered via Clublog OQRS. As it was mentioned before all donors will receive the direct cards without any additional requests too.

Alfio was also kind enough to design and print a small number of separate 3D2JK QSLs which will be used to confirm 6m contacts from Viti Levu Island (OC-016).

I want to thank him warm for all his kind support!

LoTW

All donors' QSOs and all direct OQRS should be already uploaded to the LoTW. Please let me know if someone's QSO is not confirmed there.

The remaining QSOs will be confirmed on LoTW within six months after operation.

OQRS enabled

Club OQRS is enabled. It includes QSOs from Lakeba Island (OC-095, grid: AH01OS) as well as from Viti Levu Island (OC-016, grid: RH81VR).

QRT

The Lakeba adventure is over. During almost six full days of activity I managed to log 3,300 QSOs with 86 DXCC. Bands conditions were challenging. While the number of QSOs increased quite rapidly over the first two days, the last two were a struggle for every new station in the log. Last night, during four hours of SSB "operation" on 20m, I logged only eight callsigns 😞. Well, there's no effective cure for propagation, or rather the lack thereof. Many thanks to everyone who confirmed the validity of this trip with their QSOs.

Most of the equipment, including the BuddiHEX, is already packed and ready for tomorrow's flight. Currently, I'm using the last few hours of my stay on OC-095 by logging JA hams calling me on 50Mhz.

3K QSOs in the log

Last night brought a 20m band opening to the EU. I used it for SSB. 
This doesn't change the fact that conditions are still challenging, especially for Western Europe.
Yesterday, I also observed an opening on the 6m band, although it was unidirectional. My signal was received by many Japanese stations, but I received almost none of them. I only managed to log three callsigns. Unfortunately, simultaneous operation on 6m and HF is not possible. The transceivers interfere with each other, and RFI causes the computers to freeze. However, I don't want to waste time dealing with this problem. I'd rather use the time for more QSOs.

Halfway summary

After three and a half days of activity from Lakeba Island, the log contains over 2,600 contacts. Unique calls account for 71% of these QSOs. Contacts with Europe and North America account for 35% and 16%, respectively. QSOs with JA predominate (41%). Propagation conditions have deteriorated significantly since yesterday. SSB contacts with Europe and North America have been a real challenge since then. I hope propagation improves soon. I'm planning QRT for 1:00 pm local time, which is 1:00 UTC (April 22nd).

BTW - the 6m band is dead. It opened widely to JA in the evening of 18 April. It allowed me to log over 150 QSOs.

2K QSOs exceeded

Yesterday, I exceeded 2,000 QSOs in my log. Propagation isn't ideal, especially towards Western Europe. Very few F and G worked. The relatively low local noise level is a consolation, making SSB work quite well. After two days of a completely dead 50 MHz band, the long-awaited opening of the band to Japan arrived. I made over 150 QSOs in one evening. Unfortunately, problems with the software installed on my FT-857 prevented simultaneous use of two transceivers. So, an evening spent on 6m meant I was away from HF. Today is Sunday and the halfway point of my mini-expedition; we'll see what the day brings.

JA pile-up on 50 MHz

QRV from OC-095

First night on air is over. I managed to setup both antennas (HF and 6m) and make around 800 QSO. Propagation to west EU and NA wasn’t good however I experienced nice SSB pile up on 17m.
The place where we are staying is very comfortable - 2 bedrooms and large living room where I have arranged my shack. People here are very friendly. Our hosts make sure that we don't lack anything. We are supplied with delicious meals. I have a power generator working at night. They also brought a Starlink terminal for my disposal to give me a reliable internet connection. It looks like I found a remote paradise. 
There is a sevusevu ceremony planned for today. So, I dressed in sulu and a local shirt to look at the part 😉.

 On air - 21090 FT8.

After check-in. The last time, I was weighed at check-in, was 11 years ago, before the flight to Coetivy Island.

QRV expected around 0900z (16 April)

Last leg of the journey commences in three hours. I hope to be QRV starting around 09:00 UTC on April 16. 

3D2JK on air from Viti Levu

Last night I was QRV on 6 m FT8 from Viti Levu (OC-016), grid RH81VR. All QSOs uploaded to ClubLog. Operation from OC-095 starts on April 17.

Already in Fiji

The one-and-a-half-day journey was smooth, although it was tiring - 24 hours in planes gives a hard time. An interesting fact about the flight from LA to Nadi is the five-fold crossing of the date change line! 'Today' becomes 'tomorrow', and after a while this 'tomorrow', which is now 'today' turns into 'yesterday'. Very confusing, hihi. 

The cyclone, passing by Fiji recently, has gone further and the weather has improved significantly.
Today I am trying 6m band doing some QSOs with JAs and BAs.

Tomorrow I am going to drive to Suva to have an eye-ball QSO with Antoine 3D2AG.