3X4U Guinea - Rockall DX Group is back on the air

Rockall DX Group, a Belgian group of experienced DX operators, announces a DX expedition with the call sign 3X4U to Guinea (Guinea-Conakry). Guinea has long been one of the most sought-after entities on the bands - for many stations it will be an ATNO (All Time New One) or at least a new band point. The team in the final stage of preparations after successfully obtaining a license from the Guinean authorities.

Preparation of the 3X4U expedition

Behind DXpedition 3X4U it takes months of planning and coordination. The license from the Guinean authorities was approved in September 2026 after a long wait; obtaining eVIZs for all team members and booking Brussels Airlines tickets took place simultaneously. The final preparation went according to schedule: Patrick ON4HIL tested and packaged the antenna systems, Filip ON4FF configured six identical laptops for the network workplace. A total of 25 suitcases and transport cases containing transmitting and receiving antennas, coaxial cables, filters and complete radio workstations were packed. A final test of the complete engagement of all stations was planned immediately before the departure of the team.

The team

Expedíciu tvorí desať licencovaných operátorov so skúsenosťami v CW, SSB and digital modes, with each member bringing a combination of operator experience, technical knowledge and the dedication required for a large-scale DXpedition. He is the organizer ON7RU Franky, licencovaný od roku 1994, s rozsiahlym portfóliom aktivácií vrátane C56RU, EP6T, 9U4U, T32C, J38R alebo VU4AX. Anténne práce zastrešujú ON4AMX Marc a ON4IA Luc, obaja licencovaní od roku 1982 s DXpedičnými skúsenosťami z Afriky a Ázie. Počítačové a sieťové pracovisko má na starosti ON4FF Filip, automatizáciu a ďalšie anténne systémy ON4HIL Patrick. Cargo logistiku koordinuje ON5TN Karel, webové stránky spravuje ON6CC Marc. Tím dopĺňajú ON5RA Pascal, ON6DX Wim a PA3EWP Ronald – manažér staníc s jednou z najdlhších DXpedičných histórii v tíme, čítajúcou desiatky aktivácií na celom svete. Jedenástym členom je Cendy, partnerka ON6DX, so zdravotníckym vzdelaním – nenahraditeľný člen pri prevádzke v odľahlom prostredí ďaleko od domova. Komunikáciu medzi tímom a DX komunitou zabezpečuje pilot ON9CFG Bjorn, editor of the DX World newsletter and an experienced pilot from expeditions such as FT4TA, EP6T, 3B7A, 3Y0Z or VU4AX. Bjorn consolidates community issues and discusses them with the team on an ongoing basis, allowing for a flexible response to operational requirements and recommendations in real time.

QTH: Auberge du Lac de Koba

The operating site is located by the Lac de Koba lake, in a quiet environment away from the busy Conakry. The lake was created artificially during the reign of Sékou Touré to irrigate agricultural land; the original sugarcane plantations gave way to rice fields. The surroundings are made up of tropical vegetation with palm trees and mangroves in the coastal areas.

This environment offers sufficient space for extensive antenna systems, including a 40m 4-square and a 26-meter vertical for 160m, but at the same time it places demands on logistics, electricity supply and the reliability of the Internet connection – factors that the team is actively considering.

Guinea belongs to CQ zone 35 and ITU zone 46, which means interesting propagation conditions for European stations, especially on higher bands during daytime hours and on low bands at night.

Antenna system

The 3X4U antenna assembly is designed for simultaneous multi-station operation on all major KV bands, including 6 meters. The basis for the higher bands are two 6-band HEXbeams installed up to a height of 9 meters, supplemented by a five-element light 10m beam and a six-element 6m beam. Vertical antennas are prepared for bands 40m, 30m, 80m, 60m and 160m:

For reception on low bands, the K9AY receiving loop with band filters for 160m, 80m and 40m is used, enabling simultaneous reception on three radios. Two aluminum telescopic masts are used for installation - 10-meter and 13-meter. The total length of the Aircel 5 coaxial cable is 640 meters.

Radio technology and network workplace

The team operates five transceiver stations built on the base Elecraft K3, každá doplnená zosilňovačom SPE Expert 1K3 a rozhraním MicroHAM MicroKeyer II. A pentaplexer and triplexer konštrukcie RA6LBS, doplnené sadou vysokovýkonných BPF filtrov 4O3A for each band (10m to 80m) and three NQN filters. Filtering is crucial when operating multiple stations at close range simultaneously – mutual interference on low bands can negate the effectiveness of the entire setup if isolation is insufficient.

Šesť identických laptopov nakonfiguroval ON4FF Filip. All stations are networked and work in an environment DXLog.net. If the Internet connection in Guinea allows it, it will be activated Club Log Live – funkcia umožňujúca operátorom na celom svete sledovať log v reálnom čase a overovať si úspešnosť spojenia bez čakania na uploadnutie celého logu.

Operational challenges

Práca v odľahlej lokalite prináša niekoľko technických výziev. Súčasná prevádzka of five stations in close proximity requires a thorough solution to mutual interference - this is done by a combination of bandpass filters, debuggers and other devices. The actual placement of the antennas at Lac de Koba is planned in such a way as to minimize the mutual influence of the directional and vertical antennas. The team is aware of the possible occurrence of local QRM a iných prevádzkových prekážok, s ktorými sa na mieste vysporiada operatívne.

QSL and tracking of the 3X4U expedition

QSL manažérom expedície 3X4U je Tim Beaumont M0URX. Preferovaná metóda potvrdenia je OQRS cez portál m0urx.com. Direkt QSL lístok vrátane uloadu do LoTW stojí 5 EUR (poštovné kdekoľvek na svete). Pre záujemcov iba o digitálne potvrdenie je k dispozícii Express LoTW za 3 EUR; upload do LoTW prebehne do 48 hodín od žiadosti. Celý log bude do LoTW nahraný po šiestich mesiacoch od skončenia expedície. Buro žiadosti sú akceptované s upozornením, že bez dostatočného krytia nákladov budú vrátené cez bureau, bez výnimky.

Vyhľadávanie v logu bude dostupné na rockall.be/log/. Chýbajúce alebo chybne zalogované spojenie je možné nahlásiť tlačidlom NOT IN LOG priamo na stránke; e-mailové žiadosti o kontrolu logu tím neprijíma. Odporúčaním je počkať na skončenie celej expedície a podať jednu súhrnnú OQRS žiadosť za všetky pásma naraz, čo minimalizuje administratívne náklady a zjednodušuje spracovanie na strane QSL manažéra.

Follow the current state of preparations, news and photos from the station at rockall.be. Station pilot ON9CFG Bjorn coordinates community inquiries and discusses them continuously with the team directly in the field.