AU2M

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AU2M India (AS-169)
Dear IOTA Chasers/ DXers around the world
We're super stoked to announce that the DX India Foundation is heading back to Arnala IOTA (AS-169) from May 29th to June 1st, 2025! This time, we'll be operating under the callsign AU2M (Proposed Callsign).
This is a rare opportunity for IOTA enthusiasts around the world to log this highly sought-after entity, currently the most wanted IOTA in India! Our team has worked tirelessly to make this activation happen, and we can't wait to share it with you!
Our Website address: https://vu2rs.com/au2m
Meet the Dream Team!
We're proud to have an experienced team on board, including:
Sarath, VU2RS
Aderesh, VU3WEW
Anil, VU3DXA
Renju, VU3TPW
Girish, VU3GDS
Huzefa Merchant, VU2HIT (Local Support)
Jatin Shah, VU2KWJ (Local Support)
As part of our mission to train and mentor other radio hams, we invited Huzefa and Jatin to join us on this adventure.
Here's the Lowdown on QSL and Donations:
To help cover our costs, we've set the OQRS fee at $10 and Express LoTW at $5.
"We want to be transparent – we're not in this to make a profit," says Sarath. "Any support you give us will go directly towards funding future DXpeditions and building a contest station in India."
QSL Manager: Charles, M0OXO (Direct and Bureau QSLs accepted)
To make a donation, please use the PayPal link: sarath@lven.in
Important: After making your PayPal payment, kindly fill out this Google Form, This will help us track our donors and easily share information with our QSL manager.
We've faced some tough challenges in the past, but we're determined to make this activation a success!
"We invite you to join us on this adventure," says Sarath. "Your support means the world to us, and we're grateful for your help in promoting amateur radio in India and Asia."
Get in Touch:
For more info, check out our website (link unavailable) or drop us an email at sara@vu2rs.com.
Thanks for being part of our community!
73, DX India Foundation

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AU2M Arnala Island News
Dear Donor / IOTA Chaser,

Thank you for your donation to AU2V - Sacrifice Rock! We're grateful for your support, which helped make our previous IOTA activation a success.

We're excited to share with you that we're planning another IOTA activation, this time from Arnala Island (proposed call sign AU2M). We believe this will be a rare and exciting opportunity for IOTA enthusiasts around the world.

Our website for this activation is now live: https://vu2rs.com/au2m.. We invite you to visit and learn more about our plans and preparations.

As you may recall, we faced significant challenges during our previous activation, including limited funding. Unfortunately, we were unable to raise additional funds to purchase necessary materials, and we couldn't utilize the generous support offered to us by our supporters at a discounted price.

However, we're still in touch with them, and we're hopeful that they'll be able to support us this time around.

To help us make this activation a success, we're reaching out to ask for your support once again. We're grateful for any contribution you can make, big or small.

As a reminder, the majority of the funds collected through OQRS will go towards covering the costs of QSL postage, QSL printing, and supporting the IOTA activation team.

To give you an idea of the challenges we face in receiving funds in India, here's a breakdown of a $5 donation:

Sent by donor: $5
Received in our account: $1.21 (after PayPal fees) Converted to Indian Rupees: ₹3.79 (after conversion rates) Taxes deducted: ₹0.68 Net amount received: ₹3.11

As you can see, this amount barely covers the cost of printing and sending QSL cards. We still require additional support to cover essential expenses such as:

Amplifiers
Band Pass Filters
Additional Generators

Any support extended to this IOTA activation will not only benefit this project but also contribute to future IOTA activations.

Thank you for considering our request. We look forward to hearing from you soon.

Best regards,

Sarath, VU2RS

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IOTA Expedition Alert: Arnala Island Reactivation!

DXers and IOTA chasers, get ready for an exciting opportunity! A team of talented radio operators is gearing up to reactivate Arnala Island (AS-169), Maharashtra, from May 28th to 31st, 2025.

The Team
Led by experienced operators Sarath (VU2RS), Adersh (VU3WEW), Girish (VU3GDS), Anil (VU3DXA), Renju Gopi (VU3TPW), Jatin Shah (VU2KTW), and Huzefa Merchant (VU2HIT), this team is all set to make some new IOTA contacts.

A Big Thank You for Your Support!

The team is seeking help to procure essential equipment, including amplifiers and band pass filters. Your contribution will not only make this expedition a success but also benefit future endeavors. Donate via PayPal: sarath@lven.in.

Green Signal from Authorities!

The team has received the green signal from W.P.C, Government of India, and secured all necessary local permits. Local hams Huzefa Merchant (VU2HIT) and Jatin Shah (VU2KTW) have been instrumental in setting up arrangements on the island.

Get Ready to Catch 'Em on the Air!

With the callsign AU2M, the team will be active on various bands. Stay tuned

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Get ready for an exciting opportunity! A team of talented radio operators, led by experienced operators Sarath (VU2RS), Adersh (VU3WEW), Giresh (VU3GDS), Anil (VU3DXA), Renju Gopi (VU3TPW), Jatin Shah (VU2KTW), and Huzeha Merchant (VU2HIT), is gearing up to reactivate Arnala Island (AS-169), Maharashtra, from May 28thto 31st, 2025.

Operation Details:

- Antennas: Two beams (10m/6m and Hex Beam) and one Delta Loop antenna, along with three verticals for three stations.
- 6m and QO-100: Dedicated operations with a beam and Delta Loop for 6m, and a separate QO-100 setup to activate the grid and demonstrate its use in emergency situations.
- Schedule: The team will arrive on May 28th, set up stations, and start operating at 12:00Z. The operation will conclude on May 31st at 23:59Z.

Support and Donations:

- The team is seeking support for amplifiers and band-pass filters. Donations are welcome, and contributors will be acknowledged on the website.
- PayPal: mailto:info@sreetek.com (please send as "Family and Friends" to avoid extra fees).

Important Update: New PayPal Details

We're excited to announce that we've switched from our Indian PayPal to a US-based PayPal account! This change will help us save over 10% + additional Indian taxes.

Donation Details:

- To support our IOTA activation, please send your donations via our website using the PayPal button.
- PayPal: mailto:info@sreetek.com

Your support means a lot to us! Thank you for helping us make this activation a success.

- Donations of $100 or more from individuals, clubs, or foundations will be acknowledged on QSL cards.

Team and Operations:

- The team consists of experienced operators, with dedicated stations for CW, SSB, digital, and QO-100 operations.
- They will use WSJT Fox-Hound mode only, with no automated contacts.

Don't miss this opportunity to make new IOTA contacts! Stay tuned for propagation analysis and updates on the team's website.

QSL Manager: Charles, M0OXO

We're pleased to announce that Charles, M0OXO, will be handling QSL cards for our upcoming Arnala Island (AS-169) IOTA activation. Charles has already demonstrated his expertise in managing QSLs for our team during our previous Sacrifice Rock IOTA operation.

Donations and OQRS:

- All donations will be accepted for OQRS (Online QSL Request System).
- Prior to initiating OQRS, donations sent to the team will be given credit for OQRS, ensuring that contributors receive their QSL cards efficiently.

Thank you, Charles, for your support and expertise in handling our QSLs!

Thanks & Regards
Sara, VU2RS

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Dear valued donors, DX chasers, and IOTA members,

It is with deep regret that we need to inform you that the AU2M IOTA reactivation, scheduled for May 28-31, 2025, has been postponed due to unforeseen weather conditions.

Heavy rains and a red alert for the next 48 hours in Mumbai and other parts of South and Western India have made it impossible for us to proceed with the activation. The early onset of monsoon and depression in the region has forced us to prioritize safety.

Despite having booked flight tickets and dispatched equipment to Mumbai in advance, we now face significant losses due to flight ticket cancellations, logistics, and additional expenses.

The major challenge is the rough sea and high tide, which makes it difficult for our small boat to operate safely. We are not allowed to proceed under these conditions.

*Next Steps:*

We will provide updates when the situation improves, and we will need to restart the planning process from scratch, including obtaining necessary permissions.

We assure you that we will reactivate AU2M as soon as possible, potentially coinciding with other IOTA activations in the Western region.

Thank you for your understanding and support.

Sarath VU2RS

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AU2M News
I am happy to inform you that, through local collaboration in Mumbai, we will be reactivating the Arnala IOTA Activation.

As you may recall, this activation was postponed last year due to heavy rains, which unfortunately resulted in significant financial losses regarding logistics transportation and flight tickets. Following many requests, we have decided to move forward with the reactivation of Arnala IOTA from May 1st, 2026, to May 3rd, 2026.