The MDXC operator team announced a new expedition to Lesotho 7P8WR, which will take place on time from April 23 to May 1, 2026.
You will read in the article
Lesotho - The mountainous heart of Africa
Lesotho, officially the Kingdom of Lesotho, is a fascinating landlocked country that has earned the nickname "Kingdom in the Clouds". It is unique in the world – it is one of the three states in the world that are completely surrounded by the territory of only one other state (the Republic of South Africa). Lesotho holds an exceptional geographical advantage: it is the only independent country in the world whose entire territory lies at an altitude above 1000 meters. The lowest point of the country is located at an altitude of 1400 meters, which makes it the highest "lowest point" on our planet.
Most of the landscape consists of majestic mountains and plateaus of the Dragon Mountains (Drakensberg), which offer breathtaking scenery, but also harsh climatic conditions. For radio amateurs, this high-altitude location is extremely attractive, as the clean air and high altitude provide a natural advantage in shortwave signal propagation with minimal local interference. The locals, proud Basotho, are known for their hospitality and traditional woolen blankets, which are a must in this high-altitude environment, as Lesotho is one of the few places in Africa where snow is common during the winter.
Operation and technical equipment
The expedition will focus on KV bands using SSB modes, FT8 a FT4. CW mode is not mentioned. In order to ensure a strong and stable signal even in difficult conditions, the team will bring the following setup with them:
Transceivers and amplifiers
3x Icom IC-7300 * 1x Icom IC-706MKIIG (backup)
Power amplifier: Acom 600
Antenna system
1x 5-band spiderbeam (10-12-15-17-20m)
1x 3-element Skyper for the 10m band
Loop antennas for 20-10m and 40-15m
Vertical for band 40m
Bandplan 7P8WR
| BAND | 40 m | 30 m | 20 m | 17 m | 15 m | 12m | 10 m |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PHONE | 7125 | – | 14215 | 18140 | 21290 | 24940 | 28450 |
| FT8 | 7056 | 10131 | 14090 | 18095 | 21090 | 24911 | 28090 |
| FT4 | 7047 | 10140 | 14080 | 18104 | 21140 | 24919 | 28180 |
Connection confirmation and QSL tickets 7P8WR
The manager of the expedition is Diego Berardi, IZ0EWJ. The team emphasizes modern and fast confirmation methods, while the classic paper QSL ticket remains a matter of course for those interested.
Online databases: All connections (QSO) will be uploaded to the systems LoTW, ClubLog and QRZ.COM.
Electronic confirmations: Please note that the team does not use the e-QSL system.
Paper QSL ticket: You can request to be sent through the system OQRS. The ticket fee is sent via PayPal as a donation.
Direct QSL Fees (via OQRS)
€3 – Europe
€4 – Rest of the world (except selected areas)
€5 – Australia (UK), New Zealand (ZL) and the Pacific region
Direct address
Diego Berardi – Via Perilli, 7/b – 03026 POFI (FR) – Italy