Somalia DX World News Story

[WW3QB]

I'm going to guess that they need at least 25,000 unique calls worked to get enough donations/QSL requests to afford the DXpedition. Looking at the Italian plans, they will have two station, a K3 and a FT-857, and only one amp. Not to mention a Spiderbeam for 30m - 10m. I am also going to guess that the Italians will concentrate on EU. It should be a safe bet that there will still be plenty of demand for Somalia after the Italians do their thing. Even if the Italians work 10,000 unique calls, there will still be  at least another 30,000 that will work a second DXpedition if the signals are good to NA (which is the key).

[W2IRT]

There's probably only marginal demand for 6O to begin with; it's not all that rare to anybody who's been QRV for more than 3 or 4 years. I worked 6O/T5 stations in 2005, 2006, 2011 and 2012 and have them everywhere except 10, 12 and 160. I'm sure there were operations before that that I missed, too. I doubt any 6O operation from there would generate 40,000 uniques. Maybe 15,000-20,000 if condx are prime.

I can think of a few times in recent years that this kind of thing has happened, and I can say I'd have been angrier than a bag of hornets if I'd paid thousands of dollars and spent weeks of my time planning logistics and setting up for a major operation only to be scooped by another team who'd go in first and pick the bands clean.

Who wants to travel halfway around the world and call CQ endlessly for 2 weeks? I can do that in my own shack. I'm firmly with Paul on this one. I'm not saying the Italian folks shouldn't go on their trip to help out Somalis, but leave the radio gear behind or do a low-key operation from the hotel.

IIRC, wasn't it Hrane's group that had planned to do a big T30 (or was it T31) operation last year and announced it in 2010, only to get scooped by another team? Hrane cancelled his plans for the reasons stated above (and ended up doing 3D2R, IIRC), but then weather caused the other team to cancel.

[K9NW]

Coming up next on A&E:  "DXpedition Wars"

[W6DXO]

The Intrepid-DxGroup has spent considerable time and some money to prepare for our November DXpedition to Somalia. A member of our team travelled to Somalia to get the 6O3A license.    If the other team goes forward with their just announced plans, then it is not likely to be worth-while for us to continue with our plans. It is very costly to move a team and equipment from the USA to Eastern Africa.   While we encourage all humanitarian efforts in Somalia, we feel that it is wrong and unfair for another group to suddenly insert their DXpedition plans ahead of ours.

Paul N6PSE

Paul,

There's no comparison in the scale of the Intrepid DX Team's effort and that of the Italian Team.

Intrepid is becoming the reference standard for a well run DXPedition with a mulit-band foot-print,
and great Ops. 

That's why Intrepid needs to go regardless of what the Italian's do this month.


73 de harry, W6DXO

[WW3QB]

The Italian web site says that they are bringing a K3 and a FT-857, just one amp, and a Spiderbeam for 30m-10m. I doubt they will work that many, especially not NA.

[N5UD]

The Intrepid-DxGroup has spent considerable time and some money to prepare for our November DXpedition to Somalia. A member of our team travelled to Somalia to get the 6O3A license.    If the other team goes forward with their just announced plans, then it is not likely to be worth-while for us to continue with our plans. It is very costly to move a team and equipment from the USA to Eastern Africa.   While we encourage all humanitarian efforts in Somalia, we feel that it is wrong and unfair for another group to suddenly insert their DXpedition plans ahead of ours.

Paul N6PSE

Darko didn't make that many QSO's as I know you are aware. Hence your November plans.

This next group with few ops, and equipment will likely concentrate on the LOUD stations.

I think you still could make many tens of thousands of QSO's.

I heard Darko on 3-4 bands even with his limited setup. I could not break through the QRO Dxers calling him.
I am sure many are in this same boat. At least from N.A.

73 and GL Tony N5UD /M

[KH6DC]

As I commented in the DX World news for both groups, both DXpeditions can coexist and be of great benefit to the ham comunity worldwide.  Understood that considerable time, effort and funds have been spent preparing for this trip.  What happends if an individual travels to Somalia and operates between now the the Interpid DXpedition?

Sorry Paul, not trying to be a thorn in your side and the Intrepid DX Group have a right to be upset about all this.

73 de Del KH6DC

[AB3CX]

It's honestly bad manners to criticize another group for doing what they want to do, it's unreasonable to carry the attitude that no one else can go because we or I am going. Then again, when did you ever see DXers exhibit good manners and sportsmanship...if it's not worth going, then maybe they shouldn't this time.

[K6UJ]

Paul issued this message on DX-World.net.
Touchy issue and I admire Paul for this...........
Looks like everyone can shake hands now and put this difficult situation behind us.
Bob
K6UJ


Dear Silvano I2YSB

Please accept my apology for calling into question your team’s humanitarian efforts in Somalia. I am a strong believer in doing humanitarian work and helping those who cannot help themselves.

I wish you and your team safe travels to Somalia.

Sincerely,

Paul N6PSE
The Intrepid DX Group

[M0TTB]

The Italian web site says that they are bringing a K3 and a FT-857, just one amp, and a Spiderbeam for 30m-10m. I doubt they will work that many, especially not NA.

I read it as 3x Elecraft K3, 3x Elecraft KPA 500, 2x Spiderbeam, 1x 5 band Yagi and various other antennas. 1x FT-857  and 3 ele quad for 6m station.

[EI2GLB]

As do I

The Italian web site says that they are bringing a K3 and a FT-857, just one amp, and a Spiderbeam for 30m-10m. I doubt they will work that many, especially not NA.

I read it as 3x Elecraft K3, 3x Elecraft KPA 500, 2x Spiderbeam, 1x 5 band Yagi and various other antennas. 1x FT-857  and 3 ele quad for 6m station.

[EI2GLB]

Personally I feel the demand will still be there in November.

no matter what the DX station is these days the pile ups are crazy.

run of the mill stuff can often take hours to get a QSO with.

I'm sure the major factor in possibly cancelling is that donations might be down.

which is fair enough no one wants to loose thousands of dollars

Trevor
EI2GLB