Two Out of Three Ain’t Bad. Who remembers that song by Meatloaf?
Well, IF (a BIG IF) these two planned “expeditions” to KP5/NP3VI Desecheo and 3G0XQ San Ambrosio get on the air in HUMAN MODES in a couple weeks I have a chance at increasing my DXCC totals by TWO from 337 to 339 in January, 2026.
That will leave me with needing only KH7 Kure to have worked them all and put my stamp on #1 Honor Roll. “Two Out of Three Ain’t Bad” me thinks.
Of course if they only get on FT8 I’ll still need 3 because there is ZERO chance I’ll use that lazy, mindless, computer scripted text messaging software. And remember all you Trolls that bootleg my call on FT8, that means for every so-called Q you work with my pirated callsign, that’s one less worthless Q some undeserving FT8er doesn’t get! You’re shooting yourselves in the foot – and that’s fine with me!
If either of these two “expeditions” run better than 50% SSB and CW (combined) I’ll call them a DXpedition. Less than 50%? Just another lazy, mindless, automated computer scripted TXTpedition.
Don’t even get me going with the thought that there won’t be a single operator physically on premise at one (or both) of these stations.
We shall soon see if there’s going to be some good old-fashioned DX pile-ups, or a slew of bad new-fashioned lazy, mindless, automated computer scripted software text messaging tones.
Some interesting news today – 3G0XQ San Ambrosio 2025 by XQ7IR
Looks like a one man DX Operation with a few remote operators is scheduled for October/November, 2025.
From the 3G0XQ Website: “The operation includes one operator on the island focus in SSB/FT8 Modes, and a remote station working 24/7 CW/FT8 Modes.”
Personally, I’d love to see this DX Operation to San Ambrosio and San Félix happen as it would be my DXCC 338. I’m holding hope that it will not be just another TXTpedition at this point, but who knows anymore? Seems most recent expeditioners to rare and semi-rare entities (see ZS8W) chase the easy money with that automated, computer scripted text messaging app these days. I hope this activity is going to be different and put an emphasis on the “human modes”.
More info as we get closer but for now this appears to be really good DX News!
I took a peak at the updated Log Stats from ZS8W a bit ago.
Well before the operation commenced in my April 19 post “ZS8W Marion Island By YL2GM“, I predicted, “My guess they’ll be a little CW, almost no SSB and over 85 to 90% lazy computer scripted text messaging. Anybody that thinks different would you like to place a bet (or two)?”
4 days into the activation here are the numbers:
56 from North America made it into the ZS8W log on CW. 56 of 2,020 NA Q’s is 2.8%. That’s 97.2% on computer TXT FT8 for NA. Overall NA has worked ZS8W on CW one half of 1%. 56 NA CW out of 9,957 Q’s is 00.56%.
Total of 9,957 Q’s so far = 93.5% TXT. 6.5% CW. 0.0% SSB.
Care to guess the percentages of the next 10,000 Q’s? (hint $$$)
I saw a Classifieds Sale ad pop up for a “linear amplifier project” on a local radio club forum, and the best part of the project ad was it said; “FREE“! I like FREE!
I made the call and inquired. Next morning came and I grabbed the Expedition to go pick it up. With a little help from Ed and a two-wheeler, we brought it up out of his basement. HEAVY! Ed clued me in on the RF-101 amplifiers history and how he picked it up as surplus equipment when satellite communications arrived in the Alaskan Bush. Prior to satellites this amplifier was used with a matching transceiver to order supplies and communicate with schools in the Alaskan Bush. While I was there I bought a pair of Eimac 3-500Z’s and a pair of Eimac SK-406 Chimney’s Ed had sitting in boxes.
So far I’ve been able to piece the old RF-101 back together, switch it over to 220VAC, clean it up a bit and get the High Voltage up and stable at 3,300 VDC.
Over the next few months I’ll get the RF input & output sections up to speed and dialed in. There’s several boxes of pieces & parts I still have to sort out that came with this “project”. I have to say the pair of Eimac 3-400Z’s in the window look plain awesome! Getting it powered up with plate voltage is a damn good start to getting it on the air me thinks!
According to DXNews.com, “Yuris, YL2GM will be active as ZS8W from Marion Island, Prince Edward Islands, IOTA AF – 021, 21 April – 16 May 2025. He will operate on 160 – 6m, CW, SSB, Digital modes.”
Normally I’d be excited at the chance to work ZS8W but there’s a couple items that have tempered my enthusiasm on this specific activation.
First of all Yuris/YL2GM doesn’t work much CW and he barely works SSB, if at all. This DXpedition has all the signs of being just another lazy computer scripted text messaging activation. Secondly he’s a solo DXpeditioner. There’s no “team” here – it’s a one man operation.
Here’s data I pulled from a few of YL2GM’s latest DXpeditions. The percentages:
I seriously doubt much will change with his upcoming Marion Island activation as ZS8W. My guess they’ll be a little CW, almost no SSB and over 85 to 90% lazy computer scripted text messaging. Anybody that thinks different would you like to place a bet (or two)?
For all the real Ham Radio Operators left in the hobby we’ll have to take our chances his computer will lock up and become useless forcing him into actually communicate via the “human modes”. For the lesser non-communicating Text Messengers best hope his computer virus software is up-to-date so you can pretend you (and not your computer) actually worked Marion Island.
On the off-chance there’s a CW or SSB pile-up I hope to see you real Hams in the mix!
I saw on Club Log yesterday evening ZS8W had started working some CW on 40 Meters. 281 Q’s of 7,241. With those 281 CW Q’s his overall CW count went from 0% to 3.9%. Sad to say there were NO CW Q’s with North America on 40 Meters, zero.
From past experiences working ZS8M, ZS8C and ZS8Z in the early morning 20 Meters Long Path from Colorado, before I hit the rack for the evening I pointed my GXP 18-4 Beam to Asia at 298 degrees and tuned up the amplifier in the CW portion of 20 Meters on the chance ZS8W would recognize our North America Long Path window.
And when I woke early this morning guess who was there to greet me with a booming signal?
I have to say that pile-up at OVER 20 kHz wide was absolutely BRUTAL!
But yet, so sooooo satisfying when you finally break through!
Hopefully we get more Human Mode pile-ups! I’ll see you there!
N0UN
–.- … –
Updated, Edited To Add 0400Z 6/May/2025
As of the latest log update a few hours ago ZS8W has worked 0% SSB, 9% CW and 91% FT8 overall.
Quite dismal for North America as only .75% of his Q’s s are NA CW.
Yes, not even 1%! .75 CW, 0% SSB – The 108 that actually earned their Q:
DX Bulletins on the Internet are also reporting ZS8W is off the air for the next 3 days (again). Even more news on the Internet show a couple disgruntled Hams from South Africa and Australia that are reporting the coworkers of ZS8W want Yuris and his Ham Radio’s sent back to the S.A. Agulhas II Supply Ship, and his entire operation disqualified for DXCC.
These are the same self-proclaimed “experts” that tried to derail the 2025 Mount Athos DXpedition (13,500 Q’s) and 2023’s successful Bouvet DXpedition (18,500 Q’s). Both are valid for DXCC. They’re also after the 2026 Peter I Island and 2027 Bouvet DXpeditions. All I can say is good luck with that.
Like I’ve said before, if on the off chance there’s some Human Mode pileups after his 3 day break and before he leaves Marion Island – that’s where you’ll find me. Hope to see you there!
Turned on the radio a couple days ago and heard a big pileup for SV1GA/A on Mount Athos.
Turned my 173BA 3 element 17M beam and listened for probably 20 minutes before jumping into the fray. An excellent pileup! 10, 15 kHz wide on CW. Fun stuff!
Although they never got very strong here and there was quite a bit of up & down fading, I figured out SV1GA/A’s “pattern” (it’s a secret) and bagged them at 1927Z.
Does it count? Who cares? It counts to me, and that’s all that matters. I don’t care if the ARRL approves it or not. I don’t care if they had permission. I don’t care if they didn’t announce their DXpedition plans to the world. I don’t even care if I get a card as I already have a slew from Monk Apollo SV2ASP/A.
There’s some very distinguished DXpeditioners that operated SV1GA/A – who are you or I to judge their operation? These guys have been on more DXpeditions than 99.9% of the Ham Radio Community – they know the book, they wrote the book – we’re reading their book. I read Internet posts from a clown down under, another in Serbia, even a couple in Greece – they all have their panties in a bunch because THEY don’t think this seasoned group of DXpeditioners have the proper paperwork and/or permissions to operate on Mount Athos. Too bad, they’re there. Misery loves company – grow up. Don’t be the rats you are calling around the Monasteries trying to run them off and ruin it for everybody. Geez…
Speaking of their panties in a bunch – how do you separate the men from the boys in Greece? With a crowbar, bwahahahahahaha! It’s a joke – relax, will ya’?
Anyway, good old CW and SSB pileups, it was good to hear. Even if it was just for a day or two!
I’m a Ham Radio operator that stays on top of current DXpeditions (like 9L5A) in this hobby. Note I said DXpeditions. I am NOT a lazy automated, computer scripted Text Messenger. I couldn’t care less about TXTpeditions like VU4A, TL8ES, etc. that exclusively run lazy, automated computer scripted FThate.
Which is why when I read the news this morning on the 9L5A Website it brought a smile to my face:
“As there are many complaints about our log from live streaming (« DATA » vs. « FT8 » mode among others), it looks necessary to remind that we regularly update manually our log by overwriting the one coming from the live streaming. Some QSOs do not appear live but will be there after the next manual update which is now daily. So no need to send a multitude of messages that we don’t have time to process while we’re on an expedition.
Apart from that, the days follow one another with more than 10,000 QSOs per day with an almost perfect balance between CW, SSB and FT8. It looks so surprising compared to other expeditions that some criticize us for doing too much CW and SSB; this is a shame! We had announced for a long time that we would prioritize “human” modes, otherwise we would not have planned 15 operators. It would for sure be much easier to leave 6 stations running in FT8 and enjoy long nights of sleep, the beach and 31° water, we would already have exceeded 100,000 QSOs. But this is not the vision we have of radio in general and especially an expedition. Given the size of the pileups, there is obviously (and fortunately) a large majority who must think like us.”
I also see on the DX Clusters many so-called Hams cannot contain themselves and are complaining there’s not enough FThate for their liking. It’s embarrassing to see so much begging, especially when 9L5A is everywhere on the bands. Ohhh, poor TXTers!
Look at this snapshot (click to open in a new tab):
What a great way to wake up and start the day, don’t you think? Human Modes on Ham Radio!
I think I may have to donate a little extra to this 9L5A Group of Real Amateur Radio Operators.
Keep on keeping on Gentlemen, you’re carrying the torch for real Ham Radio just as true “communicators” do. It’s an honor to have chased your pileups and have you in my log!
From FT4GL’s log he’s operated automated FT8 24/7 for days on end. A quick look at any day of his TXTpedition shows his computer scripts rarely stop racking up the Q’s. Eat? Sleep? Build antenna’s? Work? All overrated.
From Club Log Expedition Charts you can “hover” over any hour of any day and see his log entry totals. A few hours for SSB and non-stop 24/7 FT8.
Go to FT4GL’s expedition charts (link), click Statistics, scroll down to Daily QSO’s and click over the Total QSO’s number for any day of operation. You can then hover your mouse over any hour and see the QSO run for SSB or FT8 Q’s for that hour.
The only problem with automated Q’s? The ARRL’s DXCC rule on automation:
“A resolution at the July ARRL Board of Directors meeting pointed to “growing concern over fully automated contacts being made and claimed” for contest and DXCC credit. The rules now require that each claimed contact include contemporaneous direct initiation by the operator on both sides of the contact. Initiation of a contact may be either local or remote”
From FT4GL’s Blog & Facebook Group, he’s a one-man operation with no CW. There’s no Internet remote operators, no rotating operator shift changes. Heck, from their well documented pilot communication problems they haven’t been able to make reliable eMail and messaging via the Internet but for an hour or two a day, if that.
And since radio is secondary to his work, how is this 24/7 one man operation possible?
If this FT4GL automated operation is allowed to stand not only does it encourage, it PROMOTES future TXTpeditions (who are already doing it) to use automation against the ARRL’s own rules and it turns their DXCC program into – a complete farce.
I suspect future TXTpeditions will NOT be using Club Log’s expedition charts to “out” themselves. Because of those expedition charts I can see today there’s 246 deserving North America Hams that have made a human mode SSB contact with FT4GL. Out of 40,947 Q’s.
What has happened to our hobby? What a shame.
N0UN
EDIT June 8, 2024 1600Z
From his own log book data something sure changed from him operating 140 out of 142 hours over 7 days STRAIGHT THRU on FT8 to immediately taking 7, 9 & 12 hours off every day since this June 5th post?
Hmmmm, I wonder what organization reached out and asked those hard questions?
I wonder if they’ll accept the answers they were given? I don’t think the “super conditioned athlete that needs no sleep” is gonna’ work, not over 7 days…
That’s funny. I just pulled the Club Log stats. Don’t even need to explain (.07%). Those that know, know.
hahahahaha!
I’m thankful for a REAL Ham Radio Operation back in 2009 – FT5GA!
N0UN
UPDATE! 0515Z – 25/May/2024
.025% now, lol!
UPDATE! 1245Z – 27/May/2024
Seems one of the N0UN Fan Club clowns couldn’t help themselves bootlegging my call on that lazy, brainless computer scripted text messaging thingy:
“Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery that mediocrity can pay to greatness” – Oscar Wilde
Ya’ know 3 Hams from North America got through on 20 Meters SSB a couple days ago and I’m in good company as one of 8 from North America that worked FT4GL on 15 Meters SSB yesterday:
11 North American Hams have worked FT4GL on SSB so far out of 16,202 Q’s (.07%) with NO CW at all.
THIS is where FT8 has taken our hobby. What a shame.
UPDATE! 1512Z – 31/May/2024
96 North American Hams have worked FT4GL on SSB so far out of 25,638 Q’s (.37%) with NO CW at all.
And I see a second Ham didn’t get his text message Q because a N0UN Fan Club member bootlegged my call, again.
I found a simple cure for stray RF on my signal. At $10 the fix is cheap!
Occasionally with different frequencies, weather and beam headings I’ll get RF in my shack and onto my signal. If my microphone line gets near my Palstar AT5K tuner, or if I’m beaming 8 elements over the house on 10 Meters, or RF is being introduced into my W2IHY cabling and/or gear, there’s nothing more frustrating than hearing RF on my signal – no matter where it’s coming from.
I’ve installed dozens of choke beads on cables & leads and although they do work, they’re “fussy”. I’m always changing positions, wraps, adding/subtracting and moving things around to try and diminish stray RF it seems.
This little Besign isolator/decoupler COMPLETELY removed any and all stray RF from getting onto my signal!
I simply plug my Heil headset into the Besign and plug the Besign into my radio mic input. It couldn’t be easier. This isolator decouples whatever stray RF is on the mic line. No stray RF in, no stray RF out.
It also works on decoupling hum from a pole pig transformer in a linear amplifier I occasionally use around here. If my headset mic is within 2′ or so of the amplifier, my mic picks up the magnetic flux “hum” from the amp transformer. This Besign isolator removes 100% of that hum too.
And to add to this post, I just heard from a Ham friend in Florida who was getting RF into his Heil amplified speaker on certain frequencies. He installed the Besign isolator and reported back the RF is completely gone!
“Thanks for the tip Lumpy. I Was getting some RF into my Heil amplified speaker. Inserting toroids helped, but the gadget you recommended completely removed it. Two thumbs up!”
“Harry” is churning it out on CW & Phone. Does anybody remember what real Ham Radio was like before all this fake, lazy, mindless automated computer scripted text messaging the last few years? You know back when Ham Radio Operators weren’t so lazy and humans actually “communicated”? Before TXTpeditions and the Big FT8 Money Grab?
My trusty Yaesu SP-8 speaker bit the dust. The annoying crackling & popping told me it was time for a new speaker. Turning up the volume to listen across the room finally took its toll.
Even though I have the correct power supply/speaker for my FTDX101MP (the FPS-101), I use the SP-8 instead. Here’s a few reasons why:
I don’t like plugging/unplugging my headset into the radio. I’d rather plug/unplug into a much less costly speaker. I’ve seen $4,000 radios with worn out phono plugs, no thank you to that repair! The FPS-101/SP-101 doesn’t have a single phono jack, the SP-8 has two.
Secondly I like the seven audio filters on the Yaesu SP-8. The FPS-101/SP-101 doesn’t have any.
Not that I use it anymore but I have the LL-7 Phone Patch option in my SP-8. Nothing of the sort even available in the FPS-101/SP-101.
The case color matches the FTDX-101, and the height is very close.
Lastly I like I can run either of two audio signal inputs into the SP-8. The FPS-101/SP-101? No chance, only one.
Now I got why I use my Yaesu SP-8 instead of the FPS-101 out of the way, here’s the fix for a crackling & popping blown speaker.
8 screws and 20 minutes later, the installation was complete. Here’s a few pictures:
The new speaker sounds great, full bodied, no distortion even at high volume, and best of all no cracking & popping! An easy, low cost fix for your Yaesu SP-8 speaker. The ultra low profile Visaton R10S 4 inch 8 Ohm speaker will also fit the FPS-101 and SP-101 (no power supply) speakers.
I took a peek at the VU7A (Lakshadweep Islands) statistics today on Club Log (right). So far 25,000 Q’s – ZERO on CW, ZERO on SSB.
Then I took a look at my old friend’s T32TT (Eastern Kiribati) statistics. Well, I tried to but Dom doesn’t publish statistics anymore [somebody figured a way to count dupes on Dom’s last TXTpedition. Duplicate Q’s were running 50%!] But I know from T32TT spots for the last 30 hours he has 11,000 Q’s with ZERO on CW and ZERO on SSB. That’s a TXTpedition! The TXTpedition posted they’d have two CW and one SSB station, but we all know how that goes…
Ain’t this a bitch? Better yet, ain’t this a “lazy, mindless, automated computer scripted text messaging” bitch?
I’m trying to come up with a number that separates a traditional human mode DXpedition from a TXTpedition. Perhaps 20, 25% FT8? Or maybe 50%? Or heck, like these two TXTpeditions, they’re running 100% FT8. What percentage of FT8 makes a traditional human mode DXpedition a TXTpedition to you?
And just another friendly reminder for all you Dumbed Down, Lazy, Mindless, Automated Computer Scripted Text Messengers out there – you want to RR73 the virtues of FT8 from the rooftops – do it on your own blog, not mine. Beat it. Go play over at TXTpeditions.com. Only real Ham Radio COMMUNICATORS and OPERATORS allowed around this watering hole can comment here.
When I saw the spot from W3LPL’s DX Cluster “skimmer” for XV9Q, I thought there’s absolutely ZERO chance I’d hear Viet Nam on 30 Meters CW at 9:00 AM our local time. Not only did I think there’s no way I’d hear him, but with only a couple hundred watt limit on 30 Meters and just my ground mounted vertical, there’s no way he’d ever hear me either!
But what do I know?
I went to listen and sure enough there’s a station calling CQ signing XV9Q. I would’ve bet a $100 bill it had to be a pirate, but it turns out not only was XV9Q REAL – he was running Club Log’s “Livestream” logging program where I saw my call pop up seconds later!
What’s even more perplexing there was only a couple North American stations that worked him – even after my re-spot. “Spotlight propagation” I call it.
Here’s the recording working XV9Q 30M CW in broad daylight, simplex, 2 hours after sunrise (9 AM local):
And the cherry on top? An unsolicited LoTW confirmation hours later!
Solar activity continued at low levels with isolated C-classflaring. Regions 4381 and 4384 remained the primary drivers ofactivity. The largest event of the period was a C2.9 flare fromRegion 4381 on March 3. Region 4384 continues to rotate further ontothe disk, but foreshortening still hinders a definitivecharacterization of its magnetic complexity. Region 4378 showed somenew […]
Spaceweather.com for February 27 reports about a minor CME hurlingtowards Earth.Solar activity remains at low levels due primarily to C-class flaresjust beyond the SE limb near S21. The largest was a C5.3 flare onFebruary 25. On the visible disk, an approximate 5-degree filamenteruption was observed centered near S08W27 with an associated C2.6flare.The eruption was accompanied […]
A historic blizzard paralyzed much of the Northeast in late February, and amateur radio operators were on the air to help forecasters keep track of the storm’s impact. Southeastern New England was one of the hardest-hit areas. ARRL Eastern Massachusetts Section Emergency Coordinator and Boston-area SKYWARN Coordinator Rob Macedo, KD1CY, provided this summary for ARRL […]
Due to a severe winter storm, ARRL Headquarters and the Maxim Memorial Station, W1AW, will be closed on Monday, February 23, for the safety of our staff. Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont has declared a state of emergency ahead of a blizzard that is moving into the state Sunday and continuing into Monday.There will be no W1AW bulletin or […]
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is looking for qualified applicants for Field Agents in seven Enforcement Bureau (EB) offices across the United States: Atlanta, GA; Boston, MA; Chicago, IL; Dallas, TX; New Orleans, LA; New York, NY, and Portland, OR. Incumbents will resolve Radio Frequency (RF) interference, educate users, and enforce regulations. The GS levels […]
Solar activity returned to low levels this past week. The strongestevent of the period was a C1.8 flare on February 17 from region4374. This region was also responsible for a C1.4 flare on February18. The only other flare of note was a C1.1 flare on February 17from an unnumbered plage region near S05E85. (A plage […]
3Y0K 20M Longpath Signal. What a signal from 3Y0K on Bouvet via the Longpath this morning! After this SSB recording he only got stronger! N0UN working 3Y0K 20M SSB
I started another recording now 30 minutes after their sunrise (0540Z) and 3Y0K is much, MUCH stronger. IF I knew they would get this loud I would've waited to call.
I read news 3Y0K Bouvet may (or may not) be on the air so I figured what the heck, I'll point my antenna over Asia and call CQ DX. 9N1CA and XV9R called in!
In the afternoon, when the weather improved, we began flying supplies and personnel onshore. The first test flight took off at 17:02, and we continued with two more passengers and three more cargo round trips...
3Y0K Vessel Docked In South Africa. Looks the the vessel "Argus" has docked in Cape Town South Africa according to the Marine Traffic Website. I suspect they're
Bouvet 3Y0K. A friendly reminder for the upcoming Bouvet DXpedition in about a month from now. For North America the "Longpath" on the higher bands is probably
N0UN FT-Hater Fan Club. Judging by numerous N0UN CW & FT8 duplicate Q's over the last 10 days in the KP5/NP3VI log, I'd say the N0UN FT-Hater Club is hard at it
KP3/NP3VI Desecheo Stats. Club Log stats for KP5/NP3VI. Of 18,934 Q's (so far) since they've been "on the air" - 53% are FT8 contacts, 7% are SSB and 40% are CW
KP5/NP3VI 20M SSB. And this is why I record most of my QSO's. So I can go back and make sure I got it right. In this case I did not. Clear as day you can hear
KP5/NP3VI Desecheo Confirmed. Well that was fast! I heard KP5/NP3VI on 15M CW this afternoon. I needed them for number 338 active entities worked in my quest
3G0XQ San Ambrosio Canceled. Felipe XQ7IR says he's still working on getting permissions for next fishing season, but for January & February 2026 there's no
Are You Ready? Have you done anything to increase your chances of working Bouvet 3Y0K, San Ambrosio 3G0XQ and Desecheo KP5/NP3VI over the next couple months?
Well, IF (a BIG IF) these two planned “expeditions” to KP5/NP3VI Desecheo and 3G0XQ San Ambrosio get on the air in HUMAN MODES in a couple weeks I have a chance at increasing my DXCC totals by TWO from 337 to 339 in January, 2026.
If either of these two “expeditions” run better than 50% SSB and CW (combined) I’ll call them a DXpedition. Less than 50%? Just another lazy, mindless, automated computer scripted TXTpedition.
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