From 3C2MD to 9L8MD: the Mediterraneo DX Club adventure continues

The radio amateur community learned the sad news at the beginning of September 2025 – the long-awaited 3C2MD expedition to Equatorial Guinea was unexpectedly cancelled. The Mediterraneo DX Club (MDXC) team had to deal with the local government's decision to suspend all amateur licenses just as the expedition was on the verge of being carried out. According to the official statement, the reason was "problems with the license granted to two foreign nationals" who tried to broadcast from a "sensitive part of the country" without all the necessary permits. The situation escalated to such an extent that these two radio amateurs had to immediately stop the operation and return home early.

Cancellation of 3C2MD

The 3C2MD expedition was supposed to be one of the most important MDXC activities in 2025. Equatorial Guinea is a country that is among the highly sought-after entities for DXCC collection, and its presence on rare bands was to attract hundreds, if not thousands, of radio amateurs around the world. The cancellation of the expedition was therefore a big disappointment not only for the team itself, but also for the DX community, which was already expecting a lot of new connections.

From 3C2MD to 9L8MD

Napriek nečakanej prekážke sa tím MDXC nevzdal. Ako informoval tím na svojich stránkach, v priebehu iba desiatich dní po zrušení 3C2MD sa podarilo zrealizovať prácu, ktorá by inak trvala niekoľko mesiacov. V tomto krátkom časovom úseku tím dokázal nájsť novú DXCC entitu, získať licenciu, pripraviť logistiku a potvrdiť pôvodne plánované termíny expedície. Tak vznikla nová expedícia, ktorá nesie volací znak 9L8MD and will be broadcast from Sierra Leone from October 30 to November 10, 2025.

The choice of Sierra Leone as a replacement for Equatorial Guinea was not accidental. Land is among the attractive entities for DXCC collections, while there are still a number of slots that remain unfinished. According to the MDXC team, the French colleagues of F6KOP have already brought many connections (9L5A), ale stále existujú amatéri, ktorí hľadajú túto entitu vo svojich logoch. Expedícia 9L8MD tak poskytuje jedinečnú príležitosť doplniť DXCC stoly a získať spojenia na vzácnych pásmach.

Technical equipment of the expedition

The technical side of the expedition will traditionally be thorough. The team plans to operate on multiple bands, including HF bands, in order to maximize the number of connections for the DX community. As usual, MDXC is careful to operate efficiently and comply with local license regulations, a lesson learned directly from the unpleasant experience with 3C2MD. Every one QSO bude zaznamenané do logov a následne validované pre DXCC, čím sa zabezpečí jeho uznanie pre rádioamatérov na celom svete.

RADIO

– 3× Kenwood TS-590
– 2× Elad
– 2× Icom 7000

ANTENNAS

– 1× spiderbeam, 5-band (10, 12, 15, 17, 20 m)
– 2× Spiderbeam, 6-band (10, 12, 15, 17, 20, 40 m)
– 2× Spiderbeam, 6-band (10, 12, 15, 17, 20, 30 m)
– 1× vertical full-size antenna for 80 m
– 1x vertical antenna for 160 m
– 2× Beverage (RX) for bands 80 and 160 m:
• one directed to NA-EU
• the second directed to ME
– 1x vertical antenna for 30/60 m from IK4MTK
– 1× DX Commander
– 1× 3-element monoband antenna for 50 MHz

AMPLIFIERS

– 3× Acom 1011
– 1× Acom 600S
– 2× Juma

The 9L8MD expedition is not only a technical project, but also an adventure. The organization of the trip, transport, installation of antennas and coordination of operations require a high level of professionalism and teamwork. For radio amateurs who follow DX reports, this expedition is an opportunity to watch live radio amateur action and participate in obtaining valuable connections from an exotic destination.

Expedition frequencies 9L8MD

Additional information

• 6 meters (50 MHz):
  24-hour operation on 50.313 MHz (FT8) with one station.
  Possible activity also in modes CW a SSB.

• For US General licenses:
  We will listen to 14.280 MHz and above.

• FT8 operation:
  If when connected in mode FT8 you will not receive "73", please call again. Thank you!

• Digital Modes:
  FT8 a FT4 we operate using software MSHV v multistream mode.

• Notice for 60 m band:
  The operation will be on the frequency 5.357 MHz.
  The activity will start only after prioritizing the bands recognized for DXCC, while the information will be published in advance on the official website of the expedition.

QSL 9L8MD

QSL manager:
IK2VUC
P.O. BOX 10
21052 BUSTO ARSIZIO (VA)
ITALY

Email (also for PayPal): IK2VUC@aribusto.it

Fees

• Only LoTW (without paper QSL card):
  €2 via PayPal (OQRS).
  QSO budú nahraté do LoTW in December 2025.

How to save time and money

Order papierovú QSL kartu + LoTW through the system OQRS.
Send the payment via PayPal as a gift according to the following table:

• €3 – Europe

• €4 – outside Europe, except VK, ZL and the Pacific

• €5 – VK, ZL, Pacific area

Note: QSL cards will begin to be sent from February 2026.

Expedition support

To all radio amateurs who will support the expedition with an amount at least €20, will be their QSO nahraté do LoTW do 48 hodín since the connection was made.

Summary 9L8MD

MDXC's history shows that the team is capable of quick adaptation. The cancellation of 3C2MD may have been a big blow to the community, but thanks to flexibility and determination, the team was able to find a suitable replacement and continue their DX mission. The 9L8MD expedition is proof that even after unexpected complications, the radio amateur community can experience an exciting new adventure.

So a unique opportunity is ready for all DX enthusiasts: from October 30 to November 10, 2025, watch the activity of 9L8MD from Sierra Leone. This project is not only a chance to add to the DXCC collection, but also a demonstration of the professionalism and determination of the Mediterraneo DX Club team, who did not hesitate to face unexpected obstacles and turn them into new possibilities.

More information about the expedition and the current activities of the team can be found directly on the website of the MDXC club - 9L8MD, kde budú priebežne aktualizované logy, správy o prevádzke a fotografie z expedície.