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You can
write your own review of the BS7H Scarborough Reef DXpedition DVD.
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N3ZC
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Rating: 5/5
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Mar 28, 2008 06:14
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Excellent!
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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Just got mine yesterday.Nicely boxed & covered...Slipped it into my Blu-Ray/DVD player..& watched it on my 52" Sony LCD..Excellent picture quality & narration, and it never get's boring (all 58 min of it)....You almost feel like you are there...It's interesting to hear OH2BH Martti Laine discuss some of the various aspects of BS7H's present and past visits by dxpeds. .I will now buy the other videos that are available in James Brooks's collection. A "gotta have" for every DXer..(even a casual one, like myself).
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N6YE
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Rating: 5/5
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Jan 4, 2008 11:43
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FANTASTIC
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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James Brooks, 9V1YC, must have put his heart and soul into this beautiful production. The great video, sound, and attention to detail made me feel like I was there on Scarborough Reef.
The DVD was WORTH EVERY PENNY AND A LOT MORE!!!
Thanks James.
Ken, N6YE
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AB7E
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Rating: 5/5
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Jan 1, 2008 20:07
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Amazingly well produced
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I've seen several DXpedition videos, but this one is in a class by itself. It's extremely well organized and informative, and its sixty minutes of non-repetitive content is so professionally produced it beats (I'm not exaggerating here) many of the documentaries you might find on the Discovery Channel or History Channel. Outstanding work from 9V1YC.
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AA9RN
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Rating: 5/5
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Jan 1, 2008 13:46
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Fantastic
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I thought it was a great dvd.Put together very well.I can see why its a hard place to work from.Thanks to the team for a job well done.
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WC3O
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Rating: 5/5
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Dec 26, 2007 12:26
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Best yet
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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Just came in the mail. I have seen a number of DXpedition videos so far, this is by far the best yet. Not that the other videos were bad, just that Hams need to learn how long each shot should be. You can't spend 10 minutes looking at a bird... I'm all for learning about the history, wide life and political aspects of the entity, just don't spend too much time on it. It's a DXpedition video, after all! hi hi James did a really great job balancing all aspects. My wife still wants to know what those nut-cases were doing out on those rocks??? hi hi Highly recommended.
73 DE WC3O
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W2GW
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Rating: 5/5
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Dec 26, 2007 08:59
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Awesome DXpedition video
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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Wow! James Brooks, 9V1YC, has outdone himself with this, his latest work. The previous posts said it well. His photography is superb as usual, and he tells us the story of BS7H, beginning, middle, and end. I came away with a great appreciation of what the guys had to go through to bring us this rare entity. This video is a must-see for any DX club. Thanks James.
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ZL2AL
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Rating: 5/5
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Dec 21, 2007 19:36
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Fantastic
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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Scarborough Reef - BS7H is James Brook’s video story of one of the most amazing and difficult DXpeditions ever undertaken to the rarest DXCC entity on earth. This is DXpeditioning at its best overcoming and coping with an operating environment that you won’t believe. The story of BS7H is the story of the political wrangling and arguing that took place within the DX community before Scarborough Reef was ever granted “entity” status and the subsequent political maneuvering that eventuated when the team of 15 actually wanted to operate from there. Agreement with China and Philippines governments were the main obstacles to overcome. With plenty of good will and behind the scenes maneuvering by some very influential amateur radio operators the team set sail for Scarborough Reef in April 2007.
As with all his filming, James lovingly picks up the little things that draw your attention to what is happening in any scene and James always allows his camera to tell the story. We have all seen photos of Scarborough Reef but the video takes you to the individual ridiculously small rocks and you watch the guys actually building the tiny platforms. You are taken up onto the platforms and sit beside the operator working the pileups. It’s not just the operator you hear. James does a wonderful job of getting the both sides of the audio perfectly balanced. The team of five BA’s, six W’s, one 9V, one OH, 1 JA and one DL are the best of the best and get down to the business of working 45K+ QSOs. The logistics of BS7H are horrendous. There are four rocks which must change operators at least twice a day. The mother ship is anchored 2 Km away from the reef and the only way the ops can get to the rocks is at high tide and sometimes have to get out of their boats and drag the boat over the coral reef, half walking and half stumbling into the sharp edges. How dangerous is that?
The reef environment is mostly dead due to over fishing, cyanide fishing and naval ships blasting away at the rocks for target practice. James goes underwater and you are taken for a look at the tonnes of deadly unexploded ordinance just under the surface. We see a great shot of Martti Lane - OH2BH and others returning to the ship after a trip out with toxic skin cuts from their feet to their knees being sprayed with antiseptic solutions. The oppressive heat from the sun and the long hours in the middle of the night on a small rock alone took their toll on the operators.
There are many cuts to Don Greenbaum N1DG, the BS7H webmaster and one of the 10 support team from five countries around the world. Don explains the very difficult behind the scenes political negotiations to make it happen and the subsequent interesting international panic that took place when a lot of hams realized that they may not get BS7H in their logs. The BS7H team couldn’t have done anything more than they did. There were KW amps on every rock and the best of gear with backup gear from the ship available. BS7H is still among the top 3 most wanted and will probably remain there as long at DXCC exists because of the sheer difficulty of operating from the reef.
I give this latest DVD video of James a five star rating. It has a great “Feel good” factor that a group of ham radio operators can come together and overcome political, environmental and logistical problems to pull off one of the best DXpeditions that James Brooks has ever filmed.
You can purchase on line at www.dxvideos.com . It is a great story.
73, Lee ZL2AL
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CT1DRB
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Rating: 5/5
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Dec 19, 2007 14:44
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Explendid DVD.
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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After an email from James, I have ordered BS7H DVD, received it today morning.
Despite I had any cw qso with this dxexpedition, was a plaser to watch it for the first time.
At same time it shows us how dificult could be negotiations between hams and authorities has happened before this dxexpedition.
Unlike other dxexpeditions, operators were alone on the rocks, several hours, giving new-ones for hams (not for me unfortunatly) what was indeed hard phisicly speaking.
DVD has excelent quality in audio and video, because of it, my congratulations to James.
Thanks to ham operators who were in BS7H to give us such nich new one.
Best 73s
CT1DRB/OK8RB
David Quental
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K5YY
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Rating: 5/5
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Dec 19, 2007 07:06
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Excellent video
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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The long awaited BS7H video by James Brooks is out and the best I have seen documenting any DXpedition. Not too long, great color and commentary, good trip insights with the accurate DXCC history of this Scarborough Reef entity.
All clubs should have this in their libraries for sure, and individual hams can use this to show their non-ham friends how crazy we DXers can be at times. The trip was not fun and games like in the Caribbean! hi
Good job James in putting out a very professional piece of documentary work.
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WA6RZ
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Rating: 5/5
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Dec 18, 2007 22:54
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Amazing story of a very difficult DXpedition
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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Great video editing and photography. The BS7H DVD has a professional feel.
Amazing story about the political and logistical aspects of the trip. I knew it was tough, but I did not realize the level of hardship actually encountered until I watched this DVD! Narration was well done and covered key aspects of the trip, including the DXCC listing controversy, regional politics, operational hardships, and the panic of hams trying to work this entity.
This tells the incredible story of a very difficult Dxpedition. It will make a great addition to your library.
Michal WA6RZ
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