Between October 1 and 15, 2025, a pair of radio amateurs from Scotland - Graham, 2M0IJU and Eric, GM5RDX - will travel to the Caribbean island of Grenada. During their stay, they will broadcast under the brands J38LD (Graham) a J38DX (Eric). Cieľom expedície je priniesť rádioamatérskej komunite nové spojenia z tohto atraktívneho DXCC a zároveň si vyskúšať prácu z unikátnej lokality.
The journey will lead from London via the island of Saint Lucia to Grenada, with the expected start of the broadcast on October 8 at 23:00 UTC. The operation will last until October 15 at approximately 16:00 UTC. Operators will QRV throughout the period with two separate stations.
Operation of J38LD and J38DX SSB / FT4 / FT8
Hlavný dôraz bude kladený na prevádzku SSB, no k dispozícii bude aj digitálny mód FT4/FT8, ktorý zabezpečí Eric – J38DX. Expedičná výbava pozostáva z transceiverov Yaesu with 100 W power. The antenna park will be made up of various wire verticals and dipoles, which will allow to cover bands from 80 do 6 metrov. Lokalita na južnom cípe ostrova, na úbočí pri mori, poskytuje výborné podmienky – otvorený výhľad na sever a západ, a z vyvýšeného bodu dokonca takmer 360° voľný skok pre signál.
The station promises to update the logs daily on M0OXO.com, kde budú dostupné aj potvrdenia spojení cez LoTW a systém OQRS. Rádioamatéri, ktorí sa dovolajú na J38DX alebo J38LD, sa teda môžu tešiť na spoľahlivé a rýchle potvrdenie.
Grenada
Grenada, also nicknamed the "Spice Island", is a small Caribbean paradise with an area of approximately 344 km², located south of St. Vincent and north of Trinidad and Tobago. The island is known for its tropical beaches, lush vegetation and numerous waterfalls that attract tourists and adventurers alike. The capital of St. George's is a picturesque port town with colorful colonial buildings, historic forts and a lively market with exotic fruits and spices.
Grenada is a major producer of nutmeg and cloves, giving it the nickname "The Spice Island". In addition to agriculture, the island is popular among lovers of diving and water sports - coral reefs and shipwrecks provide unique underwater experiences. The interior of the island consists of a mountainous landscape with rainforests, rivers and lakes. The tropical climate with temperatures around 25-30°C all year round makes Grenada an ideal destination for both vacations and short stays such as radio amateur expeditions and other adventure trips.
Summary
Expedícia na Grenadu tak prinesie atraktívnu príležitosť nielen pre lovcov DX, ale aj pre všetkých, ktorí radi skúšajú spojenia cez Atlantik. All that remains is to set up the antennas, tune in the bands and look for the call signs J38DX and J38LD.