BOUVET Island
DXpedition
The Most Isolated Island on Earth
#2 DXCC Most-wanted

Nodir Tursun-Zade, EY8MM
Top Band Dinner. Dayton 2017

Mountains cover more than 93% of the country.
Area of 143,100 km2 (55,300 sq mi) SV-EY-9N #95
More than 50% of the country is over 3,000 m
(9,800 ft) above sea level.
Low 300 m (900 ft) and high is 7495 m (25,590 ft)
Climate is continental, subtropical, and semiarid,
with some desert areas. The climate changes
drastically according to elevation.
Low -63 C (-81.4 F) and High 49 C (120 F)
Tajikistan has a population of 8 million.
Tajik ethnic group speak Tajik (a dialect of
Persian).
34 Licensed HAMs

Tajikistan

Tajikistan

Tajikistan

Tajikistan

Tajikistan

Tajikistan

Tajikistan

Tajikistan

Tajikistan

Amateur Radio Peak 5879 m (19288 ft)

Tajikistan

EY1ARP

EY8MM

Family

EY8BB

EY8CC

EY8AA

EY8DD

EY8AJ and EY8BJ were travelling that day

EY8WW

EY8MM

EY8MM

UJ8JMM. 1989

• Since 1984 UJ8JMM
• Since 1994 EY8MM
• 1984-2000: 1,300 TB QSO
• 2001-2017: 16,000 TB QSO
• DXCC 160 – 301 countries
• WAS and WAZ 160
• YA5MM
• D4B, D44TT
• VP8ORK
• FT5ZM

EY8MM

160 m Station

EY8MM

160 m Station
• Quad with Reflector NA/EU
• Half Square East-West
• Sloper AF
• 2 el phased East-West
• 8 Directions Beverage RX
• Hi-Z RX 4 Square
• Remote and Local
• Elecraft K3 and OM2500A

EY QTH and Propagation
• 5,000 km to West EU
• 6,000 km to JA
• 10,000 km to USA
• Polar pass to NA
• Low Top Band activity
• WW QSO R<1500 km 3%
• WW QSO R>4000 km 57%
• CQWW 160 Mult

VP8ORK
DXpedition
Top Band Experience

VP8ORK Top Band Experience

VP8ORK PLANNED SETUP
Elecraft K3
Acom 1000 PA
Battle Creek Special
500 ft Beverage
DX Engineering RX 4 Sqr

VP8ORK Top Band Experience

BCS
Trusted design
3 Band 160-80-40
Compact

VP8ORK Top Band Experience

VP8ORK Top Band Experience

VP8ORK Top Band Experience

VP8ORK Top Band Experience

VP8ORK Top Band Experience

VP8ORK Top Band Experience

CONCLUSIONS
and
Lessons Learned

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Need for full legal power
Right time for operator shift change
RX antenna options
Maintenance free TX antenna
Dedicated antenna for each band.

FT5ZM
DXpedition
Top Band Experience

FT5ZM Top Band Experience

FT5ZM PLANNED SETUP
Elecraft K3
OM 2000 PA
18 m Top Loaded Vertical
1000 ft Beverages
DX Engineering RX 4 Sqr

FT5ZM Top Band Experience

FT5ZM Top Band Experience

FT5ZM Top Band Experience

First night on 160
Only
About 100 QSO

FT5ZM Top Band Experience

New 160 Antenna Project
“FT5ZM Special”

FT5ZM Top Band Experience

New 160 Antenna Project

18 meters tower sections

FT5ZM Top Band Experience

New 160 Antenna Project

10 meters plastic
Spiderpole mast

FT5ZM Top Band Experience
New 160 Antenna Project

FT5ZM Top Band Experience

New 160 Antenna Project

Total vertical height
about 28 meters (92 ft)

FT5ZM Top Band Experience

New 160 Antenna Project

Four top loading wires

FT5ZM Top Band Experience

New 160 Antenna Project

Quality Control?

FT5ZM Top Band Experience

New 160 Antenna Project

PASSED!

FT5ZM Top Band Experience

New 160 Antenna Project

Over 500 QSO next night

FT5ZM Top Band Experience

New 160 Antenna Project

FT5ZM Top Band Experience
RX Antenna Switch

FT5ZM Top Band Experience

1000 ft. reversible BV antenna

FT5ZM Top Band Experience

DX Engineering RX 4 SQR

Operator RX antenna Switch

FT5ZM Top Band Experience

Great Low Band Operators

FT5ZM Top Band Experience

FT5ZM Top Band Experience

CONCLUSIONS
and
Lessons Learned

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•
•
•

Need for more efficient TX antenna.
RX antenna options
Dedicated shift slot for 160
Learn your Magnetic Declination (38° FT5Z)

3Y0Z
DXpedition
Top Band Planning

Bouvet Island

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2700 mile sail from Chile
15 days in the Ocean… one way
7 weeks away from home
21 days on the island
300 storms a year
309 known QSO on 160 m