The DX expedition of six members of the Cambridge University Wireless Society to Ascension Island will last until January 9, 2009. Hugo M0HSW, Tom M0TJH, Simon G4EAG, Michael G7VJR, Gordon G3USR and Martin G3ZAY operate as ZD8UW in the KV bands CW and SSB.
The diary will be uploaded after the end of the expedition LoTW. QSL via G7VJR.
Ascension Island and hamradio
Ascension is a small volcanic island in the middle of the Atlantic that belongs to the British Overseas Territories and lies approximately 1,600 km from the coast of Angola and 2,250 km from Brazil. The ham prefix is ZD8, making connections to this island a rare and highly sought after DX contact for hams worldwide. The island is located in ITU zone 45 a CQ zone 38, making it an ideal destination for connections VHF also KV.
Radio amateurs on Ascension operate a wide range of bands, from 160m to 70cm, and use CW, SSB and digital modes. Due to the isolated position of the island, signals often achieve very good legibility even at long distances, making DX links with the ZD8 highly valued.
Expeditions from Ascension are a regular occurrence, often organized by international teams bringing high-powered stations and top-of-the-line antennas, enabling radio amateurs around the world to gain valuable "new one" connections for DXCC. The island thus combines exoticism, technology and a challenge for all enthusiasts of DX operation.