9T0MD is the DX expedition of the Mediterraneo DX Club to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, scheduled from September 30 to October 11, 2026. The organizers have prepared it as an extensive multi-operator activity from 160 to 6 meters in CW, SSB, RTTY, and FT8. The prefix 9T itself is interesting, as it has reportedly not been used in the ether before. Plans also include EME and operation via the geostationary satellite QO-100, modes that expand the expedition beyond traditional HF DX. An important goal is to pay attention to the low bands of 160 and 80 meters, where the DRC is located.according to DX Engineering material, ranked 23rd and 32nd respectively in the worldwide list of sought-after DXCC.
In this article, you will learn about
Team and organization of the 9T0MD DX expedition
Za expedíciou stojí medzinárodný tím MDXC. Oficiálny zoznam uvádza IZ2GNQ Marco ako equipment managera pre digitálnu prevádzku, IU3PMA Paco ako IT & digital managera a SSB operátora, IZ4UEZ Daria ako spoluorganizátora a SSB operátora a I8KHC Anta ako organizátora pre SSB a digitálne módy. Ďalšími členmi sú IU4HRJ Simone a DL6LZM Peter pre SSB, HB9TOC Daniel, UA4CC-4O7CC Arkadiy a G4PVM Paul pre CW, GI4DOH Richard pre QO-100 a CW, DL8JJ Emil pre EME a CW, 9Q1KS Cyprian pre lokálnu podporu a SSB a IZ2DPX Giovanni pre SSB. Takéto rozdelenie úloh ukazuje, že expedícia nie je iba skupina operátorov pri rádiách: osobitné úlohy sú pridelené technike, IT, digitálnej prevádzke, satelitu, EME aj lokálnej podpore.
Technical equipment
The official setup list includes three Kenwood TS-590, two Elad receivers, Icom IC-7000 and a Flex 8600M. The power section consists of three Acom 1011, one Acom 600S, and two Juma amplifiers. The antenna system is divided by bands: one spiderbeam pre 10–20 m, dve Spiderbeam pre 10–40 m a dve ďalšie pre 10–30 m. Pre nízke pásma sú pripravené plnorozmerový vertikál na 80 m a vertikál na 160 m, doplnené o dve beverage receiving antennas for 80/160 m – one directed to NA-EU and the other to JA. Additionally, there is a vertical for 30/60 m from IK4MTK, DX Commander and a five-element monoband antenna for 50 MHz.
From a practical perspective, the separation of transmitting and receiving antennas in the lower bands is particularly interesting. Beverage antennas are designed for reception and, during a strong pile-up, can help separate a weak expedition signal from local interference or directionally incoming signals. Organizers also modified the DX Commander Signature 12.4 before the expedition so that individual wire elements could be removed through modified holes in the insulation boards without dismantling other elements. In the field, this shortens maintenance and reduces the risk of tangling or damaging neighboringelements.
Power is another critical part. DX Engineering stated that the expedition received two RigExpert Shackmaster Power 600 power supplies. The supply provides 13.8 V and 40 A according to data from DX Engineering. However, reliable power showed its limits right after the team's arrival: on September 30, 9T0MD started operations on 40m FT8 at 19:45 UTC, and DX-World subsequently reported a power issue. The team expected a solution the next day using a new generator. In an expedition with multiple stations, the power of the radios is not the onlyproblem; the energy infrastructure is also crucial.
Frequencies and Operating Modes 9T0MD
The official frequency plan is divided from 160 to 10 m. For CW, frequencies such as 1.828 MHz, 3.515 MHz, 7.005 MHz, 10.115 MHz, 14.016 MHz, 18.076 MHz, 21.009 MHz, 24.898 MHz, and 28.019 MHz are specified. SSB is planned for 80, 40, 20, 17, 15, 12, and 10 m, RTTY on the same main bands except for 160 m, and FT8 on 1.843, 3.567, 7.059, 10.131, 14.095, 18.090, 21.095, 24.922, and 28.095 MHz. On 6 m, one station is to be permanently ready for FT8 on 50.313 MHz, with possible activity in CW and SSB as well. The plan also includes 60 m: FT8 on 5.357 MHz and CW on 5.352 MHz, whileactivity is to be adapted to DXCC rules.
Pri FT8 a FT4 the team uses MSHV in multistream mode. For hunters, this means that the expedition can handle multiple callers simultaneously, but it's also important to monitor the current frequency and set the transmission according to the expedition's instructions. At FT8, the organizers explicitly warn that the station should repeat the call if it doesn't receive 73.
QSL and online log for 9T0MD
The official website has a separate section for LOG&OQRS and QSL Policy, while the QSL Policy page itself did not provide details at the time of review. IK2VUC is listed as the log manager on the official site. Current DX calendars indicate QSL via IK2VUC directly or through the bureau and LoTW. The online log is intended for verifying completed contacts; in case of discrepancies, the official site recommends contacting the QSL manager. Therefore, for DX chasers, it is wise to first check the log and only then address QSL.
VOACAP and DX planning
9T0MD has a dedicated page with VOACAP prediction. operátor enters their Maidenhead locator, selects the band and their own antenna, and can compare the expected 24-hour windows for Short Path and Long Path. The model allows setting power to 5, 100, 500, or 1000 W, which is interesting for QRP stanice: predikciu možno skúsiť s 5 W a zistiť, kedy má konkrétne pásmo najvyššiu pravdepodobnosť úspechu. Organizátori upozorňujú, že VOACAP it provides a probabilistic forecast, not a guarantee of contact, as real conditions are influenced by solar activity and the state of the ionosphere. For directional antennas, an azimuthal map with courses for Short Path and Long Path is also useful.
9T0MD Trophy
The expedition also prepared a competition section in the form of the 9T0MD Trophy. The results are directly linked to the log, and the aim is to reward stations that achieve the highest number of contacts in designated categories. The world categories include the highest overall number of QSOs, the highest number of CW QSOs, and the highest number of YL station QSOs. For Europe, the highest number of SSB QSOs is monitored, with separate categories prepared for the Czech Republic, Italy, Northern Ireland, and Switzerland. Duplicate QSOs are not counted, and in the event of a tie, the station that achieved the contacts first will be the deciding factor.The award ceremony is scheduled for the fair in Friedrichshafen from June 25 to 27, 2027.