AU2V - Sacrifice Rock

[4L5A]

AU2V Sacrifice Rock.
After the resounding successes of our previous activations at Nachugunta, Kanika, and Sagar, our team is thrilled to announce our most ambitious project yet: activating the highly coveted Sacrifice Rock, AS-161, part of the Kerala IOTA group in India. This rare entity has long been a "holy grail" for IOTA enthusiasts, and we're eager to bring it to life.

The challenges of activating Sacrifice Rock are well-known: treacherous terrain, inhospitable environment, and substantial costs. However, our team is committed to overcoming these obstacles and delivering this unique opportunity to the amateur radio community.

The estimated cost of this project is approximately $10,000, which will cover essential expenses such as:

- Additional generators and equipment
- Lightweight, portable tents and tables
- A holding boat and 24/7 safety team
- Band-pass filters, amplifiers, and reception antennas to combat high noise levels
- Fuel for the boat and generators
- Ensuring continuous power supply and refueling

We've received informal approval from local authorities and officials, and we're awaiting formal confirmation. Once we receive the green light, we'll announce the callsign and other details.

Our team of experienced operators is ready to take on the challenge. We have two CW operators and four SSB/digital operators, ensuring that we can run three stations simultaneously, if permitted, or two stations round the clock. Our team members are:

- Sara, VU2RS
- Adersh, VU3WEW
- Sangeeth, VU2TT
- Anil, VU3DXA
- Renju, VU3TPW
- Girish, VU3GDS

We'll be using a range of antennas, including a 40-6m beam, 6 and 10m beam, and verticals, to ensure maximum coverage and efficiency.

We urge all IOTA chasers and DXers to support this expedition, which promises to be an unforgettable experience.

PayPal: sarath@lven.in <mailto:sarath@lven.in>

Tentative dates are set for the second week of February, and Charles, M0OXO, will be our QSL manager.

Stay tuned for updates, and get ready to join us on this thrilling adventure!

Regards
Sarath, vu2rs

[4L5A]

Dear Fellow IOTA Chasers,

I hope this message finds you well. As you may know, our team has been working tirelessly to activate Sacrifice Rock, AS-161, a rare and highly sought-after IOTA. However, we're facing a critical challenge that threatens the success of our project.

Despite our efforts, we've been unable to secure significant funding from major DX foundations. This has left us with a substantial shortfall, and we're now relying on the support of the IOTA community to make this activation a reality.

That's where you come in. We urgently need your help to cover the costs of equipment, logistics, and contingency planning. Every contribution, no matter how small, counts. We're offering free OQRS to anyone who donates $10 or more.

Our team still needs to purchase essential items, such as high-power generators, amplifiers, band-pass filters, and more. Additionally, we're facing uncertainty with our boat transportation due to the fishing season, and we may need to opt for helicopter services as a contingency.

I know that many of you share our passion for IOTA activations and understand the significance of Sacrifice Rock. That's why I'm appealing to you directly. Please consider supporting our project with a donation. You can find more details on our website: http://au2v.vu2rs.com , and you can donate via PayPal: sarath@lven.in.

I want to thank you in advance for your support. Together, we can make this activation a success and bring AS-161 to the airwaves.

Best regards,

Sarath, VU2RS
Team Leader, Sacrifice Rock AS-161 IOTA Activation

[4L5A]

Dear Fellow IOTA Chasers,

I hope this message finds you well. As you may know, our team has been working tirelessly to activate Sacrifice Rock, AS-161, a rare and highly sought-after IOTA. However, we're facing a critical challenge that threatens the success of our project.

Despite our efforts, we've been unable to secure significant funding from major DX foundations. This has left us with a substantial shortfall, and we're now relying on the support of the IOTA community to make this activation a reality.

That's where you come in. We urgently need your help to cover the costs of equipment, logistics, and contingency planning. Every contribution, no matter how small, counts. We're offering free OQRS to anyone who donates $10 or more.

Our team still needs to purchase essential items, such as high-power generators, amplifiers, band-pass filters, and more. Additionally, we're facing uncertainty with our boat transportation due to the fishing season, and we may need to opt for helicopter services as a contingency.

I know that many of you share our passion for IOTA activations and understand the significance of Sacrifice Rock. That's why I'm appealing to you directly. Please consider supporting our project with a donation. I want to thank you in advance for your support. Together, we can make this activation a success and bring AS-161 to the airwaves.

Best regards,

Sarath, VU2RS
Team Leader, Sacrifice Rock AS-161 IOTA Activation

[4L5A]

Dear fellow hams,

I just wanted to take a moment to express my sincerest gratitude to the Clipperton Dx Club, CDXC Foundation, and Danish Club for their generous support of our upcoming Sacrifice Rock AS-161 IOTA activation.

Although we won't be receiving the funds until after the expedition, knowing that we have the backing of these esteemed organizations gives us a huge boost of confidence and motivation. We're honored to have their trust and support, and we're committed to making this activation a success.

I'd also like to extend my personal thanks to each and every individual who has come forward to support us. Your contributions, whether big or small, are what will make this expedition possible. We're grateful for your kindness and generosity.

However, we still need help to make this venture a success. We're counting on the support of the amateur radio community to help us cover the costs of equipment, transportation, and logistics. If you're able to contribute, please visit our website to learn more about how you can help.

Once again, thank you to our supporters and to everyone who has contributed to our expedition so far. We couldn't do it without you!

Best regards,

Sarath, VU2RS
Team Leader, Sacrifice Rock AS-161 IOTA Activation

[4L5A]

Dear DXers/ IOTA Chasers

Breaking News for DX/IOTA Chasers!

We're thrilled to announce that our recent boot camp near Sacrifice Rock, Kozhikode, has yielded promising results for 80m and 160m propagation!

Inspired by these findings, we've decided to set up a dedicated station for 80m and 160m, complete with receive and transmit antennas. This will provide a unique opportunity for those seeking VU on 160/80m!

We Need Your Support!

To make this endeavor a success, we rely on your individual contributions. Please visit our website and make a payment via PayPal. All donations will be acknowledged and updated on our website.

Express LOTW Available!

For a nominal fee of $5, we'll provide Quick LOTW. To facilitate this, please:

1. Make the payment
2. Fill out the Google Form: https://forms.gle/fHszs9XKu5nuP5xP8


This will enable us to keep track of your request and ensure a smooth process.

Logistical Update

We're excited to announce that the first batch of essential materials has been dispatched from Hyderabad to Kozhikode! This shipment includes:

- Band-pass filters
- Amplifiers
- Power cables
- Generators
- Various other critical items

Our team is working tirelessly to ensure that everything is in place for a successful activation.

Current Donations Update

We're grateful to have received confirmation of $420 from foundations, which we'll receive post-expedition. Additionally, individual donors have generously contributed $1200, with $1100 received in INR. Please note that we incur an 8% loss on every payment, which is deducted from the total amount credited to our Indian account.

Your Support Matters!

We urge you to support our efforts and help make this expedition a success. Every contribution counts, and we're grateful for your kindness.

Stay tuned for further updates, and let's work together to make this IOTA activation unforgettable!

Thanks & Regards
Sarath, VU2RS & Team

[4L5A]

AU2V News 23 January 2025
Sacrifice Rock IOTA Thanks Wimo, Spiderbeam, RFDxing & RSGB and Partners for Generous Support in Reactivation Efforts

Date: January 23, 2024

Sacrifice Rock IOTA is excited to announce the reactivation of our operations, made possible by the generous support of our prime sponsor, Wimo. We are grateful for their contribution of amplifiers and essential tools, which will not only aid in this IOTA activation but also in future expeditions undertaken by our group.

We would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to the Radio Society of Great Britain (RSGB) for their unwavering support, which is crucial to our mission of enhancing communication and connectivity. Your generosity has played a significant role in making this reactivation possible.

Additionally, we appreciate the contributions from RF DXing, a respected Indian antenna manufacturer, for providing us with state-of-the-art 6m-10m beam antennas and 40-6m cobweb antennas. We also thank Spiderbeam for supplying fiberglass poles, which are essential for our setup.

As we gear up for this exciting expedition, we recognize that we still need some critical items to ensure our success. Currently, we are seeking high-quality band pass filters, and a large generator to enhance our operational capabilities. Time is of the essence, and we are committed to making the most of this opportunity.

For those interested in supporting our efforts, we would like to clarify our donation process:

1. Donations made for Logbook of the World (LOTW) will be tracked through a Google form, with a link provided for transparency.
2. For advance Online QSL Requests (OQRS), we will also utilize a Google form to streamline the process and avoid any additional payments.

We understand that many foundations have requested the revival of OQRS, and while support may be received after the expeditions, your advance contributions to OQRS and LOTW are invaluable. Your generous support will directly assist us in procuring the necessary items for our expedition preparations.

[4L5A]

AU2V Sacrifice Rock News
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Hyderabad, 28th January 2025 – The Sacrifice Rock IOTA AS-161 expedition team is thrilled to announce that they have received the official callsign AU2V from the Wireless Planning and Coordination (WPC) authority,Government of India.

The team consists of experienced amateur radio operators, including Sara (VU2RS), Adersh (VU3WEW), Anil (VU3DXA), Sangeeth (VU2TT), Grisih (VU3GDS), and Renju (VU3TPW). The expedition's QSL Manager is Charles, M0OXO.

The team has set up a website http://au2v.vu2rs.com to provide updates and information on the expedition. Donations to support the expedition can be made by Paypal at sarath@lven.in.

Despite receiving some generous donations and assurances of support from foundations, the team is still short of funds to purchase necessary equipment and accessories for the expedition. The team expresses its gratitude to the individuals and organizations that have contributed so far and looks forward to receiving the promised support after the expedition.

For more information, please visit the expedition's website or contact Sarath at sara@vu2rs.com alternative email: vu2rs.in@gmail.com

Thanks & Regards
Sara, VU2RS

[4L5A]

News from VU2RS about the upcoming February IOTA DXpedition.


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

30th January 2025 – In response to requests from several foundations and the IOTA Committee, the Sacrifice Rock IOTA AS-161 expedition team is pleased to announce that the Online QSL Request System (OQRS) fee has been revised from $10 to $5.

This revision is effective immediately, and the team would like to thank all the foundations and individuals who have supported this decision. The reduced OQRS fee will help make it more accessible for amateur radio operators to request QSL cards.

Please note that all payments received so far will be acknowledged, and the list will be shared with our QSL Manager, Charles, M0OXO. Those who have already made payments do not need to make another payment for OQRS.

The team is grateful for the support received so far, which is helping us move forward with the expedition.

Additionally, we have uploaded exclusive videos from Sacrifice Rock, taken by Adersh (VU3WEW) during his reconnaissance trip on January 29, 2025. These videos provide a glimpse into the challenges and beauty of the island.

For more information, please visit our website: http://au2v.vu2rs.com ; Our paypal: sarath@lven.in

Contact:
Sarath, VU2RS
e-mail: sara@vu2rs.com

[4L5A]

Dear IOTA chasers and Dxers

Greetings from the Sacrifice Rock Team!

We are thrilled to announce that our team of six operators from India - Sarath (VU2RS), Adersh (VU3WEW), Girish (VU3GDS), Sangeet (VU2TT), Anil (VU3DXA), and Renju (VU3TPW) - will re-activate Sacrifice Rock IOTA AS-161 after a 24-year hiatus.

We are grateful to have received the necessary permissions from the Wireless Planning and Coordination (WPC) wing of the Government of India, the Port Authority of Kozhikode, and other concerned authorities.

Our operation schedule is from February 7th to 10th, 2025. To ensure our safety, we will keep a boat with us at all times, allowing for emergency evacuation if needed.

Due to limited network connectivity on the island, we will try to update our progress via email and clusters whenever possible.

For FT8 operations, we will use WSJT Fox/Hound mode. Our website will have the latest information on frequencies and other updates.

Please note that our primary website is http://au2v.vu2rs.com In case of any technical issues, please visit our alternative website at https://vu2rs.com/au2v.

We plan to operate two stations around the clock: one dedicated to Digital modes and the other to CW/SSB. Depending on conditions, we may set up a third station, but this will be limited by our power and generator capacity on the island.

Our antenna setup will include monoband VDAs for 20, 15, and 10 meters, as well as verticals for 40-6 meters. If local conditions permit, we will also attempt to set up antennas for 80 and 160 meters to take advantage of the currently favorable propagation.

We expect to have good conditions for the activation and will share propagation updates.

Our QSL Manager, Charles M0OXO, will handle all QSL requests. We will share the list of supporters with him in advance, and those who contributed will not need to send additional QSL requests.

OQRS & Express LOTW will be available from February 12th, and free LoTW will be available after three to six months.

We would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to the following individuals, DX groups, and organizations for their generous support:

- IOTA
- RSGB
- Chiltern DX Club
- Clipperton DX Club
- GDXF
- Danish DX Group
- WIMO (Prime Sponsor)
- Spiderbeam (Fiberglass poles)
- Antennas RF Dxing
- International Print Organizations:
- Daily DX
- DX World
- 425 DX News

We also thank the Amateur Radio Society of India and the National Institute of Amateur Radio for loaning us temporary band-pass filters.

A special thank you to the TX5S Clipperton Island team for their generous support.

Our PayPal: sarath@lven.in ; We acknowledge each $ and if we miss any one pls write to us at sara@vu2rs.com

Thank you for your support, and we look forward to working you from Sacrifice Rock!

73, The Sacrifice Rock Team

[4L5A]

Dear IOTA Chasers / Dxers

We're just a few days away from our operation at Sacrifice Rock, and we're excited to share the final details with you.

Schedule: February 7-10, 2025

Grid Locator: MK71sl

Location: 11.49390° N, 75.52950° E

Frequencies and Propagation: All the details you need are now live on our website. Thank you to everyone who contributed to making this happen!

Equipment Update: We're grateful for the support we've received so far, and we've updated our equipment list accordingly. However, we're still short of high-power bandpass filters and amplifiers. Time is running out, but we're pushing forward with the resources we have.

A huge thank you to all the individuals, foundations, and sponsors who have backed us. Your support means the world!

If you'd like to contribute, our PayPal address is sarath@lven.in. Our Website: https://vu2rs.com/au2v or http://au2v.vu2rs.com

Looking forward to catching you all on air!

Thanks & Regards
Sara, VU2RS