VU4R Andaman Islands

Volacia značka VU4R bude v roku 2026 opäť patriť medzi najočakávanejšie DX expeditions. Aktivácia z indických Andamanských ostrovov (IOTA AS-001) je pripravená ako viacfázový projekt organizovaný nadáciou DX India Foundation pod vedením Saratha VU2RS. Projekt začína letnou prípravnou expedíciou počas RSGB IOTA contest 2026 a pokračuje rozsiahlejšou aktivitou v decembri pri príležitosti 49. konferencie SEANET.

The Andaman Islands are among the long-term attractive DX locations. From the perspective of the IOTA program, they are included in the AS-001 group, which is one of the most desirable Asian island groups. Although they are part of the Republic of India, their geographical location in the Bay of Bengal, more than a thousand kilometers from the Indian mainland, creates unique conditions for amateur radio operations and the propagation of radio waves.

Andaman Islands – strategic DX location

The Andaman and Nicobar Islands are a union territory of India located between the Bay of Bengal and the Andaman Sea. The archipelago consists of more than five hundred islands, of which only a small number are permanently inhabited. The capital is Port Blair in South Andaman.

From the point of view of radio amateurs, the Andamans are interesting mainly due to their geographical location. They provide excellent conditions for connections towards Asia, Oceania, Europe and North America, while activations from this location are not annual events. Therefore, any well-prepared expedition attracts considerable interest from the DX community.

The AS-001 location is among the regularly searched references of the RSGB Islands On The Air (IOTA) program and also appears on the lists of the most desired island groups of many DXpers.

VU4R – first stage of the project in July 2026

Podľa informácií organizátorov je VU4R iba prvou etapou rozsiahlejšieho projektu nazvaného „The Road to SEANET“. Prípravná expedícia sa uskutoční od 22. do 26. júla 2026 a jej hlavným cieľom bude overenie logistiky, technického vybavenia a prevádzkových postupov pred hlavnou decembrovou expedíciou. Súčasťou programu bude aj účasť v RSGB IOTA contest 2026.

The organizers state that during this phase, operations will be focused exclusively on SSB and FT8 modes. The goal is to ensure the largest possible number of connections from the AS-001 reference while maintaining a simple but reliable station configuration.

VU4R v RSGB IOTA contest 2026

Významnou súčasťou júlovej expedície bude účasť v prestížnom RSGB IOTA contest 2026, ktorý patrí medzi najväčšie svetové rádioamatérske súťaže. Stanica VU4R bude počas contestového víkendu reprezentovať referenciu AS-001 a ponúkne účastníkom možnosť získať cenné spojenie do programu IOTA.

Unlike large DX expeditions, VU4R will use a single workstation during the July activation. Organizers emphasize that this is primarily a logistical and technical preparation for the main December expedition, so the emphasis will be on stable operation rather than the maximum number of operators working in parallel.

Technical equipment of the expedition

Although it will be a preparatory activation, the organizers have chosen full-fledged equipment designed for operation in difficult island conditions. The station will be based on the ICOM IC-7300 transceiver, supplemented by a RM Italy 300 W power amplifier. The main antenna will be a DX Commander Multi-band Vertical multi-band vertical antenna. The FT8 digital operation will be provided by a laptop with WSJT-X software, while the set will be completed by bandpass filters and a portable power supply. The organizers also state that backup components and spare parts will be prepared on site in case of technical problems. 

Operating frequencies and operating modes

During the July expedition, the VU4R station will operate exclusively in SSB and FT8 modes. The organizers have published recommended operating frequencies, which are intended to make it easier to find the expedition on the bands and at the same time reduce the likelihood of interference during operation. :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}

In digital operation, the FT8 Fox/Hound mode will be used. VU4R will transmit on the frequencies indicated, with the calling stations operating according to standard Fox/Hound procedures. The connection will be considered terminated upon receipt of the "73" message from the Fox station.

For voice operations, the organizers recommend operating in split mode. VU4R will transmit on the frequency indicated and receive stations approximately UP 5 to 10 kHz. This method significantly reduces mutual interference in large pile-ups and is standard practice during major DX expeditions. For the 40m band, there is also a special note for stations from North America and a warning that Indian regulations restrict transmission above 7.200 MHz.

QSL VU4R

Sarath VU2RS, who is also the expedition leader, is responsible for processing all QSL confirmations. The organizers state that all QSL requests will be handled directly by the operator. The preferred form is direct QSL or the OQRS system, if available. They also point out that the Indian QSL bureau will not be used for this expedition.

For those interested in a paper confirmation of the connection, this means that it will be necessary to follow the instructions published on the expedition website. It is recommended to verify the current information before sending a QSL, as the confirmation method may be supplemented with additional options after the expedition is completed. 

Plan for further expeditions

The July VU4R activation is just the first stage of a larger project. The organizers describe it as a preparatory expedition before the main December activity called The Road to SEANET. The second phase is planned for the period 17-30 December 2026 and will combine the organization of the 49th SEANET conference with a full-fledged international DX expedition.

Two special call signs will be used during the December part of the project. The call sign VU4SEA will be associated with the SEANET conference, while VU4DX will be used during the main DX expedition. The organizers aim to establish as many contacts as possible with radio amateurs around the world and at the same time support the further development of radio amateurism in India.

An interesting part of the project is also a program aimed at young radio amateurs aged 19 to 25. Through the upcoming contests and expeditions, the DX India Foundation wants to engage a new generation of operators and create conditions for their participation in future DX expeditions.

Conclusion

The VU4R project is more than just an island activation. It is a long-term program that aims to successfully activate the IOTA AS-001 reference, prepare the international VU4DX DX expedition, and at the same time create the background for the 49th SEANET conference. The combination of a carefully prepared technical configuration, operation in SSB and FT8 modes, and an attractive location makes VU4R one of the most watched expeditions of 2026. Radio amateurs looking for new IOTA references or DXCC entities should therefore pay increased attention to this activity.