PJ6Y Saba

Už čoskoro sa svet rádioamatérov obráti k jednému z najočakávanejších projektov roku 2025 — PJ6Y DX expedície na ostrove Saba. A verte či nie – slovenský operátor OM8ATE will be part of this exceptional event! If your curiosity pulls you deeper behind the scenes, the following article will take you on a wave of adventure and reveal what awaits this ambitious team.

🎯 What is PJ6Y?

PJ6Y je oficiálna volacia značka projektu DX expedície, ktorý sa vo októbri 2025 rozbehne z karibského ostrova Saba (IOTA NA-145). The ambition is to activate the island with a full range of bands - from 160 m to 6 m, including satellite connections.

Doposiaľ sa za projekt zúčastní medzinárodný tím 12-14 operátorov, z ktorých až deväť bude debutantov (mladých operátorov). Okrem nich bude možné zapojiť sa vzdialene – pomocou dvoch NexGenRiB2 of remote stations that will enable young radio enthusiasts to connect and work from home.

The goal of the project is not only DX "hunting", but above all to strengthen the generation of young radio amateurs, to give them the chance to participate in a large DXpedition without financial obstacles.

🧭 PJ6Y operation and technology

PJ6Y will use two sites on the north side of Saba (about half a mile apart) to achieve optimal "radiation" angles to Europe, North America and Asia. these sites will be set:

• 3 local stations: každá s Elecraft K3 + KPA500 amplifiers
• 2 remote stanice (NexGenRiB2), which will be controlled by remote operators
• Antenna equipment:
  • Inverted-L + RX antennas for bands 160/80/60 m
  • Verticals at 40 and 30 m
  • Triband yagi + 5-bannd hexbeam na 20–10 m
  • 5-element Yagi for 6 m
  • Also VHF/UHF satellite stations
• Filters and multiplexers will be used to reduce mutual interference between stations.
• The operation will cover fashions CW, SSB a FT8
• Entry into a prestigious competition CQWW DX SSB ako Multi-Two tím
• Real-time logging of connections across the platform Club Log, s leaderboardom, a následné uploady do LoTW v priebehu až 6 mesiacov
• QSL will manage M0OXO - requests via OQRS (direct, bureau) alebo priamo s platbou US$ 5.

📡 PJ6Y Band Plan

💡 Note:
They can also be used during periods of low activity štandardné FT8 frekvencie.

🌟 OM8ATE enters the game

One of the strongest motivations for the Slovak amateur radio community is the fact that he was selected for the PJ6Y team Matúš Nemec, OM8ATE.

Matúš, only a 22-year-old student from Košice, started his radio amateur journey in 2022. He believes in the potential of remote operation and gradually profiled himself as a remote operator - he worked with two remote stations through the RHR system. Along with this, he was involved in youth programs such as YOTA (Youth on the Air), which opened the door to the world of DX expeditions.

Zaujímavosťou je, že Matúš sa už podieľal na DX expedícii 3D2Y (Rotuma Island) as a remote operator, and during the VC3YOTA activity he was part of the connection projects with the ISS stations and POTA. Do PJ6Y vstupuje s odhodlaním, že toto bude jeho vysnívaná šanca – čo sám označuje za splnený sen, ktorý by bez podpory nadácií a sponzorov nebol možný.

💰 Sponsors, funding and support

The budget for such a project is considerable, and PJ6Y realizes that every dollar counts. The goal is to cover travel, operating costs and other expenses for young operators so that financial obstacles do not prevent them from participating.

Notable supporters include:

• Northern California DX Foundation (NCDXF) – provided a grant for the construction of NexGenRiB2 remote stations
• DX Engineering, The Daily DX, CDXC, Southeastern DX Club, GM DX Group, Middlesex AR Association and other organizations around the world
• European support from EUDXF, ktorá jasne deklaruje svoju podporu ako „youngster DXpedition“.

Every donor, even with a small amount, will definitely gain osobný certifikát podpory – tak, aby sa jeho pomoc nezabudla.

Saba Island – a Caribbean jewel of volcanic origin

Saba is a small but charming island in the Caribbean, belonging to the Kingdom of the Netherlands as a part Karibského Holandska. Nachádza sa juhovýchodne od ostrova Svätý Martin a má rozlohu len približne 13 km², čo z nej robí najmenší obývaný ostrov regiónu. Napriek skromnej veľkosti je Saba známa ako „Nezdobený klenot Karibiku“.

Dominantou ostrova je Mount Scenery – vyhasnutý vulkán a zároveň najvyšší bod Holandska (877 m above sea level). Its slopes are covered in lush rainforest with trails that lead up to the top with breathtaking views of the surrounding ocean. Headquarters, The Bottom, spolu s malebnou dedinkou Windwardside, dýchajú koloniálnou atmosférou.

Saba does not have sandy beaches, but its coastline and coral reefs are a diver's paradise. Morský park Saba Marine Park patrí medzi najlepšie zachované v celom Karibiku. Ostrov žije pokojne, bez masového turizmu, s približne 2000 obyvateľmi, ktorí si zakladajú na pohostinnosti a ekologickom prístupe. Saba tak predstavuje unikátnu kombináciu dobrodružstva, prírody a pokoja – skrytý poklad Karibiku.

🔔 And what next?

Projekt PJ6Y je zatiaľ vo fáze intenzívnej prípravy. Technické testy, logistika, školenia (v spolupráci s ostro skúsenými DXmanmi ako Gene K5GS, Glenn W0GJ či Paul N6PSE) sú v plnom prúde.

The output is clear: October 17 to 29, 2025 will be the days when it will be QSO s PJ6Y pokladom v denníku každého DX-lovca na svete. Viac na https://pj6y2025.com/