From October 31 to November 11, 2026, Al, F8FUA (also EI2KM), will be broadcasting from Rwanda under the brand 9X5KM. This is a "holiday style" solo expedition. Therefore, it should be expected that the operation will not be continuous and the bands will alternate according to time and conditions, not according to the plan of a large team.
Rwanda is a landlocked country in the eastern part of Central Africa. Neighboring Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo, it is one of the smaller African countries with an area of 26,338 km². The nickname "land of a thousand hills" fits: the lowest point is about 950 m above sea level. m., the western highlands reach 1,500 to 2,500 m and the Karisimbi volcano 4,507 m. Due to the altitude, the climate is mild, with daily temperatures in Kigali ranging between 12 and 27 °C. The date of the expedition falls within the short rainy season, which begins in October.
It is approximately 5,700 km from Bratislava to Kigali by a long road with an azimuth of around 163°. For compass owners, this means slightly east of south.
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Technology and fashion
Al is running a 100W Elecraft K3s transceiver, no amp. Hexbeam, dipoles and verticals are available. The operation will be on CW, SSB and digital modes and also promises activity on the lower bands.
It is there that 100 W on the dipole or vertical will be at the limit of audibility. At 160, 80 and 40m it makes sense to look for 9X5KM when it is dark at both ends of the route. Who has a separate receiving antenna, for example beverage or K9AY, has a distinct advantage. On the upper bands with the hexbeam, the signal will be stronger and pile-up hustejší, takže rozhodovať bude najmä disciplína pri volaní.
QSL 9X5KM and log
The log will be on the Club Log continuously as long as Al has internet access. The expedition has no sponsor or QSL manager, so simple rules apply:
| Method | Conditions |
|---|---|
| Direct | to F8FUA home brand, and self-addressed (SAE) envelope, IRC not accepted |
| Buro | free, via F8FUA |
| LoTW | free, after returning home |
| eQSL and other digital QSLs | no |
The expedition does not have a website, the author, according to his own words, does not have time for it. He considers three dollars to be the minimum, do not put less in the envelope.
DX Code of Conduct
Al specifically requests adherence to the DX Code of Conduct. In solo operation with 100W, this is more important than in a large expedition: one operator does not have the capacity to filter the chaos, and every unnecessary call means less connections in the log.
A clean pile-up means more QSOs in the log.
In practice, this means listening before you start calling and verifying where the 9X5KM is listening when doing split work. Do not call when he is calling another area or a specific station, and do not tune to his frequency. Give your mark in full, once or twice, and then listen. For CW, it is worth setting the speed to the level that the DX station is broadcasting.
Twelve days and one "holiday" operator is not much. If you want Rwanda in your diary, don't postpone the connection until the last weekend.