MARCH 13 – Team reached 30K QSOs.

MARCH 11 – Team reaches 25K QSOs. Focus on SSB tomorrow (12th). Live log at https://clublog.org/livestream/9j2la

Today we are qrv for 5,5 days from Zambia. As we announced an increased lowband activity for our DXPedition we will have 4 more nights on 160m / 80m available. The last night will be from Saturday to Sunday. We already achieved 1700 QSOs on 80m as well as 800 QSOs on 160m. The only things we are still struggling on are static crashes and big QRN which makes it difficult to work the tremendous pileups during the nightshifts. We tried a lot to increase our RX situation though. We erected a LIRA, a beverage 1m above ground, a BOG and lastly a K9AY array. Unfortunately, the antennas are just to close to the property, and we get a lot of man-made noise except from the K9AY loop. It seems like
the best RX is still on the vertical itself.

Another achievement is the availability of a station on the QO-100 geostationary satellite providing over 300 QSOs on SSB and CW until now. We will be QRV there each evening to hand out this DXCC there as well. Until now we achieved a good amount of over 16.000 QSOs from 160m through 13cm.

As our DXPedition focuses on the lowbands we try to not miss any openings there. Our goal is to be listening on JA at their sunrise as well as on NA on our sunrise. In between there is a focus on EU. Overall the QTH in Chisamba is okay and we deal with friendly people and an awesome host who allows us to put up any antenna we like on the property. Foods and beverages are good as well and we enjoy staying here. Though we are still facing power shedding each day at around 1500z so we have to start our purchased generator until +/- 2100z when the power is finally coming back.

Anyway, we experienced a lot of patience on all bands – please keep up with this awesome spirit! Also a huge thanks to our donors. We try to keep the list on the website updated on a regular basis.

73 de Rune, LA7THA
9J2LA team leader

P.S.: At last something we had to deal with yesterday. We lost the LIRA RX antenna due to a cyclist who passed luckily 4 supporting poles but rode straight into the last one. Though, the antenna is already up again.

#9J2LA team arrived in Zambia 🇿🇲 Immigration and customs went smoothly within 90 minutes. All luggage made it with us to Lusaka.
First test antennas are already up and operation will start very soon.
See you later in the pileups 🤪#travels #DXPedition #hamradio #hamr pic.twitter.com/MXgKLKsl9n

— Team 9J2LA (@9J2LA) March 5, 2020

MARCH 4, 2020

Today we start our journey to 9J, Zambia. Many of the team members are already in Oslo and we will be gathering @Gardermoen airport for the final “re-packing party” early afternoon.

I feel confident with the team, equipment, the lodge, bus transportation as well as a 5 KW backup generator is prepared at the QTH. Zambia is still experiencing power shedding so let us hope this will not be too
much of a headache for the team.

My only concern is the custom process @KKIA in Lusaka. We have done what we where told to do regarding custom clearing down there. Customs at the airport are aware that we are coming. A refundable deposit of $6000 is payed to a custom clearance agency so by theory all should be “swift”, let’s see how that will work out.

Furthermore we will have limited access to internet for a couple of days until we have a proper 4G network ready. Due to that fact further updates on our website are limited. A huge thank you for all the support from individuals, clubs etc. Wish us all good luck and hopefully we “see you” in the pileups soon.

DECEMBER 10, 2019 – Carl, SM6CPY joins the 9J2LA Team as a very skilled top band operator.

OCTOBER 30, 2019 – Chris, LA8OM & Philipp, DK6SP join the 9J2LA team.

JUNE 25, 2019 — Dates: March 5-15, 2020. Website

MAY 14, 2019 — Z2LA and 7P8LB team members are planning a trip to Zambia during early March 2020.

The license application form has been received and will shortly be forwarded with request of call sign 9J2LA. A web page is under construction and will be released during the summer. Facebook will be used for “Breaking news” the weeks before departure and during the Expedition.

The team have two new members: Morten (LB8DC) and Morten (LA3MHA). They will focus on CW and FT8 for the low bands and CW, SSB, FT8 for higher bands. QSO director and direct upload to Club Log will be used if internet access is available. QSL via M0OXO.