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Mar 12, 20249 min read

N5J - Jarvis Isl. (IOTA OC-081)


N5J Update (Aug 20)


N5J QRT


At 17:00 UTC the team is headed to the Island to begin the teardown. The first thing to go is the link to the Island so full QRT at once.


Thank you all for the QSOs.   It was a blast. Full recap after we get the Island clean and some sleep.


Don, George and the N5J team



N5J Update (Aug 16)


EU on 160 m


The last two nights we have been able to work CT and EA stations, both on FT8 and CW, between 0500 and 0530 UTC.


We will be on 1828.5 every night from 0445 to 0530. (Listening up.)


GL and 73,


George



N5J Update (Aug 15)



N5J to now run both SuperFox and Fox Hound


In response to the requests to run normal Fox Hound mode because some stations are having difficulty with the SuperFox mode, effective 00:00 UTC 16 August we will convert one of the two WSJT-X stations to the old Fox Hound method.


We ask all stations who already worked us in the digi band mode to let those people still needed a digital QSO to work us.  Check clublog if you are unsure.


We will still have another station in Superfox mode.


We hope this allows more stations to make it into the log on digi or even an ATNO.


Thanks for all the QSOs.


The N5J team.



N5J Update (Aug 14)


160 m Update


We have been improving our 160 m set up every day. We have added more ground wires that connect the TX antenna base to the water and have built a very effective RX antenna. Now we can comfortable hear most callers.


Last night we got on 160 first around 0530. There were a few NA, callers. Most had 100% QSB: going from 5 CPY to nothing in seconds. Got back on TB around 0830. Signals were much steadier with a slow but continuous stream of NA callers. TS noise started up around 0900 and got steadily stronger all night. (This noise comes from T storms in the Solomons, Papua and Indonesia, reaching us after their SS. It gets progressively worse as the night progresses.


We are at the 1000 TB QSO mark. Given the fact the Aug is about the worst time of the year for 160, this is OK. There would be many more in the log if callers used better tactics:


1. Send your call twice. We need narrow filter settings because of the noise (we are on the Equator). Unless you are "tail-gating" it takes time for us to tune the RX to the caller's frequency. Often we only get the last few letters of the call ... and then wait. If we CQ again, another caller will jump in and the first caller will lose the Q. This happens a lot. If you are tail-gating -- calling on the last Q-s frequency -- once is enough!


2. There are callers who are not hearing us. We keep on replying with no result. Probably most people listening on our TX frq can hear this taking place. Sure, QSB and QRM will often make two or three attempts necessary. But there have been some to whom I have replied to dozens of times over many hours. They are just causing QRM and wasting their time as they will not make into the log by accident.


3. Insurance QSO-s are perfectly justified. But they make no sense the third, fourth -- and sometimes the sixth time. If we are not busy, a dupe call is welcome as it reassures us that the band is still open. But when there is a pile up, a third insurance Q just takes someone else's Q.


4. JA-s tend to have this habit (not all, TKS). It springs from good intentions, but... When calling they send their call only once. We often catch only part of it, just like in point 1. But once we reply with the correct call. they then come back sending their call three times. This gets us to the next point:


5. The ideal sequence is: CQ N5J UP -- N4xx N4xx  --- N4xx 5NN -- 5NN TU -- TU. Sending the call ahead of the 5NN can create doubt under difficult RX conditions. Sending 5NN is really a confirmation that tells the operator that the callsign is correct. The TU further confirms that the QSO is good and can go into the log. Less is more!


6. For NA callers: JA callers have an all-water path to us and are often louder. They start coming in after 1000 Z, some with astonishingly strong signals. Plan you time accordingly: waiting for your SR-bump may not be worth it if it puts you in competition with stronger (and numerous) signals.


7. Actual signal reports are very welcome. (Even the 339 ones.) They help us adjust to the conditions.


We will keep coming on around 0500 for a short time -- there is a tiny chance of working EU. And then come on again around 0830 ahead of NA SR. During the next few nights we will also work FT8 F/H. It seems that SuperFox, which has been very effective on other bands, it not as good under poor conditions on TB. Hence F/H.


TKS for all the calls and GL,


George,


N5J



N5J Update (Aug 13)


N5J has completed 6 days of operating.


The log shows over 63,000 QSOs despite some really terrible conditions.



Are you still having trouble working the Superfox?


Many Hounds are still chasing us on Superfox using RC5.   Psk reporter shows versions.  We looked today at the spots.  Of 7500 reports 1500 were still using RC5.They are NOT in the log.  Please update your software.  Poor conditions also chop up the Fox signal.  We will operate some F/H on one of the 2 FT8 stations this coming weekend.


The N5J team.



N5J Update (Aug 09)


The N5J DXpedition is now underway on all bands and mode.


We expect to be QRV until the 20th of August weather permitting.


GL in the pileups.


The N5J team




N5J Update (Aug 03)


Don N1DG - "Anchor up at 01:30 UTC. The voyage to Jarvis begins."




N5J Update (Aug 02)


Don N1DG - "Science at work. Our USFWS dxpedition members build their songbird monitors for deployment on Jarvis"




N5J Update (Aug 01)


Don N1DG - "More prep for Jarvis. Today I built a 6 mtr beam and setup the Superfox on 7 PCs. 1 week to go, we leave for Jarvis Friday early"




N5J Update (May 09)


Joe, W8GEX and Bill AJ8B have been working with Don, N1DG, to get the league to recognize Jarvis Island as a new and separate DXCC Entity. There is ample justification for it. Don has presented to the DX committee and so far the reception has been lukewarm at best. We felt that a "grass roots" approach could be effective.


We recommend to email your Director, Section Manager, ARRL Chair Rick Roderick (K5UR) and DXAC Chair (K2CS).


If you feel so compelled, please send this off right away.



N5J Update (Apr 23)


Since the Dateline DX Association announced plans for activating Jarvis Island this summer many have asked if we could arrange with IOTA and POTA program organizers to secure approval of our DXpedition.


 Jarvis is one of the rarest of the IOTA counters, having been off the air for 34 years.  It is needed by 82% of IOTA program participants. 


Because of the requirements set by the permit of the USFWS, while the stations and antennas and power are all set up on Jarvis Island, the local operators must conduct the DXpedition from the MV Magnet which will still be in the Jarvis Island National Wildlife Refuge just offshore.


Both the IOTA and POTA programs have agreed to recognize QSOs made by the local operators but will not allow QSOs made by internet remote operators to count. Therefore QSOs made by AA7JV, HA7RY, N1DG, KO8SCA and KN4EEI will count for the awards.   Daily uploads by the N5J team to clublog will identify the operators. Additionally at the beginning of each operator shift the team will endeavor to post on the cluster the callsign of the operator so chasers have some real time notice. At this time all phone operations are expected to be by the at Island team as well giving that mode 100% IOTA/POTA certaintly.


In addition to the five operators mentioned above, there is an experienced team of 24 operators from 8 countries operating up to 6 stations around the clock ensuring DXers around the globe have ample opportunity to add an ATNO or band fill to their DXCC totals.


This is an expensive DXpedition to one of the rarest entities that DXers will see in 2024.  Please visit our website, www.jarvisisland2024.com and make a donation to help us put this one on the air.


Don, N1DG and George AA7JV for the N5J team.



N5J Update (Apr 18)


We welcome KO8SCA, Adrian Ciuperca, to our at-island team. A well known and experienced


DXpeditioner, Adrian works as an IT consultant, a much needed component to any remote operation. He is a newly inducted member of the CQ DX Hall of Fame and a YASME award of Excellence winner. Adrian is a keen DXer with DXCC 318, 9BDXCC, IOTA, as well as being a passionate contester. He competed in WRTC 2018 in Wittenberg, Germany as well as at the 2023 edition of WRTC in Bologna, Italy.


Adrian has taken part in over 30 DXpeditions to destinations including W8S Swains Island, 3Y0J Bouvet Island, J2, Z6, OJ0, VP2V, PJ2, PJ4, A5, ZK3, V8, TX0M/TX0A, 6O, 9M0, FJ, FM, J3, J8, VK9C, VK9X, VP5, VP9, and Z2. Recently he has been a guest operator at 4U1UN and HV0A. His preferred operating mode is CW, but he is also active in SSB and digital modes. Adrian is a member of several amateur radio DX and contesting clubs, namely, NCDXF, INDEXA (board director), YCCC, FOC, CWOPS, LIDXA, Order of Boiled Owls of New York, LICWC, NYCDXA, WECA, Araucária DX Group, RRC.


This is an expensive DXpedition to one of the rarest entities that DXers will see in 2024. Please make a donation to help us put this one on the air.


George, AA7JV, and Don, N1DG, for the N5J team.



N5J Update (Apr 07)


It is 84 days to our departure for Jarvis Island from Americna Samoa. We are busy building and testing equipment. In addition to the RIB-s, a lot of our gear is built by us, specifically designed for remote operation where reliability is key.


We have finalized the station configuration. We will have six stations on the island. Four of the station are set up to be remotely operated and two will be locally operated, although we do have the flexibility to operated any station locally (from the boat) or remotely via Starlnk and the Internet.




N5J Update (Mar 22)



Call Sign Issued -- N5J -- Javis Island -- Coming in August 2024!!

by George AA7JV


We have received permisison from the US Fish and Wildlife Service to land on Jarvis Island for a 13 day DXpedition, starting around August 1, 2024 (the date may change due to WX).


We will have 6 RIB stations on the island, including a 160 meter station. While August is not idea for the low bands, we are greatful for the permit to operate. The time of the year was not our choice. 160m will be very challanging for EU (near impossible) as there is no common darkness but we will install a good RX antenna. The TX antenna will be a 45 ft tall vertical without top loading (wires can hurt birds). While this is a compromise antenna, it will be standing in salt water at most tides and should put out a decent signal. EU stations on 80m will have better chance, albeit still small.


No matter, we will put in the time and effort at both our SS and SR. You never know with TB. We will also have a 6m station with a 6 element Yagi. Updates and callsign info to follow later.




AA7JV: We have received permisison from the US Fish and Wildlife Service to land on Jarvis Island for a 13 day DXpedition, starting around August 1, 2024 (the date may change due to WX). We will have  6 RIB stations on the island, including a 160 meter station. While August is not idea for the low bands, we are greatful for the permit to operate. The time of the year was not our choice. 160 m will be very challanging for EU (near impossible) as there is no common darkness but we will install a good RX antenna. The TX antenna will be a 45 foot tall vertical without top loading (wires can hurt birds). While this is a compromise antenna, it will be standing in salt water at most tides and should put out a decent signal. EU stations on 80 m will have better chance, albeit still small. No matter, we will put in the time and effort at both at our SS and SR. You never know with TB. We will also have a 6 m station with a 6 element vertically polarized Yagi. Updates and callsign info to follow later.


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