VP6D - Ducie Island - News - Announcements - Video

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For Immediate Release
Press Release: Special
September 27 , 2018
VP6D Ducie Island 2018 DX-pedition
(OC-182)

Today while doing final technology testing before packing several pieces of VP6D equipment in checked luggage we discovered a problem. if you follow us on Twitter you saw two test tweets. We had planned to, and previously tested, automatically transferring Twitter tweets to our VP6D Facebook page using a Twitter / Facebook Application Programming Interface (API) provided by Facebook. Our tweets will originate from the Braveheart or the island using the Garmin in Reach.
Today we learned Facebook discontinued their API (the bridge) that connected Twitter to Facebook. Specifically, the issue has to do with Facebook’s lockdown of its API platform — an overhaul that’s been underway following the Cambridge Analytica scandal, where as many as 87 million Facebook users had their data improperly harvested and shared.
We have arranged for tweets to be transferred to VP6D’s Facebook page. However, due to time zone differences there may be a time delay between Twitter and Facebook updates. If you follow us on Twitter you’ll receive our tweets without delay.
We were disappointed to discover this change, but we have a workable solution.
Braveheart is ready to sail, and the VP6D team is ready to soon begin their journey.
73,
Team Ducie – 2018

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For Immediate Release
Press Release #11
Oct. 10, 2018
VP6D Ducie Island 2018 DX-pedition
(OC-182)
After 18 months of intensive planning we will soon begin our long journey to Ducie Island. This is a team effort and you are part of the team. Please help us to work you by reviewing this important information.
1. You can follow our progress as we sail to and from Ducie Island.
https://share.garmin.com/VP6D Tracking will be available on Oct. 16th as we depart Mangareva.
2. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook - updated from the ship and island.
3. As time permits, we’ll send Press Releases to the DX-bulletins and upload photos to VP6D.com from the island.
4. Your only email route to VP6D is through the pilot team.
5. The pilots do not have the logs. Please don’t ask them about NiL, busted calls, skeds, etc.
Do send them helpful suggestions.
6. There is no access to personal email while on the ship or on the island.
7. The log will be uploaded daily, OQRS will be available at VP6D.com shortly after we leave the island.
8. The process for reporting busted / missing QSOs will be available when OQRS opens.
9. We are uploading the log only to VP6D.com - there is no Leaderboard.
10. We plan to use WSJT-X Version 1.9.1 as a Fox on all bands except 160 where we will not use DX-pedition mode. VP6D FT8 operating guidelines posted at VP6D.com
11. DXA at DXA3.org/VP6D will update about 3 minutes after your contact. Check here to see if you are in our log.
12. The log may show FT8 dupes even if you didn’t dupe us, we will resolve dupes after the DX-pedition.
13. Thanks to Lance W7GJ our plan to activate 6m EME is a first for Ducie Island.
There will be at least 3 DX-peditions operating from the Pacific during Oct/Nov. Ensure you are in the correct pileup for the DX you are trying to work. If you see your contact on VP6D’s DXA that contact is in our log.
Please consider a donation at VP6D.com to help offset the team’s significant investment to put Ducie Island on the air. Those who process a donation on VP6D.com before we sail on 16 October will receive their LoTW confirmation while we’re on the island.
We wish everyone the best of luck in getting in the log, we’ll do our best to get you the Qs you want.
73,
Team Ducie – 2018

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VP6D Team is active now as VP6D/MM on the way to Ducie Island.

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VP6D Ducie Island DX Pedition QRV.
WX0V recording

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VP6D Ducie Island in Japan JA7 20m SSB

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VP6D Ducie Island DX Pedition News 20 October 2018
2018-10-20 17:40:31Z:

We are sorry but we are having problems with the sattelite link from Ducie Island. We are working on it and hope to have it fixed soon.

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Good morning from Ducie Island.

We are progressing well.

- The main camp and kitchen are fully established and supplied with food / water.

- The generator sites are built and supplied with fuel.

- The SSB camp, located at the main camp, is setup with 4 stations. It is this camp which has been making all the SSB /CW QSOs using VDAs. SteppIR beams go up today.

- Today the CW Camp and antennas are the priority. This camp is about
3/4 mile from the main camp. Equipment for this camp was landed at a different location. About a 30 minute walk through the bush between camps.

There is very little beach at high tide.

- Over the next 2-3 days we'll complete the antenna work, including 30, 80 and 160. Because of the undergrowth stringing radials is a challenge. SSB 40m 4 Square is complete, CW 40m 4 Square almost completed.

- It's been very hot and humid. We've been told to expect some rain possibly later today, heavy at times.

- Large 8 person sleeping tents house 3 men per tent, plenty of room.

- Signals on this end are loud. The team is in good spirits and eager to get into a routine.

- We will upload the log this morning. When we put the/MM log online there may be some errors with the times, we'll correct them, no need to send e-mails.

- We know DXA dropped out a few times, this was due to power at the network switch. The plan is to install a UPS on the network switch.

- 2 Braveheart crew members will remain on the island to support the operation and generators.

Stand by for another update.

Team Ducie 2018

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OCT 21, 2315z - Notes from the VP6D Team:
We are feverishly working on the low band antennas. This is a heavily treed island with few open areas. The guys are installing the low band antennas as quickly as possible.
The 30 meter 4-square is now a work in progress.
The full compliment of CW station antennas are nearly complete. Unfortunately, the priority was to shelters for operating, sleeping, cooking, and eating with the weather outlook indicating rain.
Incrementally getting stations on the air proved to be a wise choice, we are 6,700 QSOs ahead from where we would be if we waited till most chores were done. It just takes time...
Thanks for your patience!

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VP6D News 22 October 2018
- Rain last night, expecting occasional rough WX over the next few days.

- No EME today, expect to be up in 48 hours.

- Antenna work coming along nicely.

- Pileups have been deep, energetic and generally well behaved THANK YOU

- Full set of VDAs for high bands, 4-sq for 40 m and a SteppIR installed at SSB camp. Low bands antennas installed at the CW camp.

- A few people are calling with the incorrect version of FT8. Please use WSJT-X 1.9.1 in DX mode. You are configured as a Hound. Please see VP6D.com for FT8 Guidance.

- Last night we observed a serious backlog with the BGAN systems, the queue was cleared early this morning, but the network is slow. We have 2 BGANs running, both showing the same delay. We have 2 spare BGANs, but we don't believe it's a hardware issue.

- We had a report that some FT8 contacts are not in DXA, we will investigate.

- We had a report of an audio problem with 40m SSB, we will investigate.

- The log was uploaded this morning. DXA is a copy of the log. If your contacts are in DXA they are in the log.

Team Ducie 2018

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A slight glitch with software speaking to each other.

There is an issue with FT-8 & DXA meshing the QSOs as they are logged. There are no lost FT-8 QSO's that we can determine. We are successfully uploading ALL QSO's. Check for your QSO via our logsearch, be mindful of the last upload time that is clearly visible: www.vp6d.com/index.php/logsearch-oqrs