Wallis Island (FW, IOTA OC-054) patrí k entitám DXCC, s ktorými sa na pásmach stretnete len výnimočne. Tentokrát je za rádiom poľský operátor Janusz SP9FIH, ktorý je aktívny pod značkou FW1P. Behind him is a long series of solo DXpeditions to distant and hard-to-reach destinations – from Bhutan to the Marshall Islands. Wallis Island in CQ zóne 32, ITU zóne 62, IOTA OC-054, lokátor AH16vq, je ďalší článok v tomto reťazci. Stanica je QRV od konca septembra 2026 a online log je prístupný v reálnom čase na fw.dxpeditions.org.
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SP9FIH: portfolio of previous DXpeditions
The list of activities of SP9FIH speaks for itself. Only in the years 2024–2026 he completed the following expeditions:
| Call sign | Location | Year |
|---|---|---|
| A52P | Bhutan | 2024 |
| 5R8WE | Madagascar | 2024 |
| V73WE | Marshall Islands | 2024 |
| S7SPG | Sri Lanka | 2025 |
| TO1P / FJ/SP9FIH | St. Barthelemy | 2025 |
| VK2/SP9FIH | Lord Howe Island | 2025 |
| VK9/SP9FIH | Christmas Island | 2025 |
| VP2EWE | Anguilla Island | 2026 |
| V4/SP9FIH | St. Kitts Island | 2026 |
| FW1P | Wallis Island | 2026 |
Each of these activities was solo – SP9FIH travels, installs antennas, operates the radio, and logs alone. The pages of previous expeditions are available at dxpeditions.org.
Wallis Island
Wallis Island is the main island of the French overseas territory of Wallis and Futuna in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It lies between Fiji and Samoa, at coordinates approximately 13° S and 176° W. The territory consists of three main islands: Uvea (Wallis), Futuna, and Alofi. The total land area is about 142 km², and the population is under 10,000.
The main seat is Mata-Utu on the island of Uvea. Infrastructure is limited - direct air connections only exist with Nouméa (New Caledonia) and Fiji, making Wallis Island a logistically demanding destination with no regular connections to Europe. From a radio amateur point of view, it is an attractive DXCC entity with primary prefix FW, CQ zone 32, ITU zone 62 and IOTA group OC-054. Maidenhead locator for FW1P site is AH16vq. FW activations are historically rare and each run from this QTH attracts the interest of hundreds of stations from around the world.
Journey and experiences with Qatar Airlines
The road to Wallis Island led through Doha. SP9FIH noted a specific problem on his site (September 26, 2026): Qatar Airlines security in Doha rejected the transceivers as carry-on baggage, citing that they were walkie-talkies, which are prohibited on board. After two hours of negotiations and requests, it was finally allowed to repack the devices into checked baggage. The operator openly stated that he was afraid of the return trip - there was a risk of confiscation in hand luggage, and a risk of mechanical damage to the transceivers in checked luggage.
This experience is not unique. For radio amateurs traveling with the station through transit airports in the Persian Gulf countries, it is important to carry equipment documentation - catalog sheets, technical specifications and license - to demonstrate that it is not a communication device intended for use on board an aircraft. It's worth checking the policies of the specific airport and airline before you travel.
QTH FW1P
SP9FIH's base on the island of Wallis is Lausikula Chambres d'Hôtes. Owner Manuel gave SP9FIH permission to install antennas in the garden around the house. According to a report dated September 28, 2026, some mechanical parts of the support structure broke during the installation of the antenna system; nevertheless, the antennas were put into operation and the station is QRV.
Propagation conditions from CQ zone 32 towards Europe are favorable on the higher bands during the morning UTC hours of the long haul; the short route (SP) and the long route (LP) from Wallis to Central Europe represent an aerial distance of the order of 15,000 and 25,000 km.
How to operate with FW1P
SP9FIH operates the station alone without a pilot, which means that information about current frequencies and modes is available directly through DX clusters. Recommended procedure: monitor DX Spider or Reverse Beacon Network, search for spot FW1P, verify frequency and mode, and call split according to the operator's instructions. The site fw.dxpeditions.org explicitly warns: no duplicate contacts – duplications are not desired and the operator does not accept them in the log. Before calling again on the same band and in the same mode, always check the online log first.
Online log, news, and photos from the station are available at fw.dxpeditions.org. SP9FIH explicitly requests: no duplicate contacts.