Today the diary is started, all has been going very well with the planning and organisation so far. Oliver and I await the dxpedition callsign which we hope to get by the end of the month.
I have been trying to adjust the email QSL request form over the last few weeks, although Tim G4VXE has now helped me and this is now completed.
Oliver and I have found someone to upload our logs and photos whilst in Cambodia. This will be done by DK9TN, who is also a member of the WWYC.
We have been very succesful with gaining sponsors for the expedition, these groups and individuals can be found listed on the webpage.
In a few weeks I will attend the ham radio event in Freidrichshafen, Germany. I will meet my expedition partner Oliver there for the first time, this is something I am looking forward to very much.
I have just returned from the ham radio convention in Friedrichshafen. This event was really good, it also gave the oportunity to meet my fellow team member Oliver. We both met with DK9TN, Christoph. He is our webpage manager whilst we are in XU, he will also be uploading our logs for viewing online.
Also at the convention we met with many dxpeditioners, some who have actually been to the QTH we will be using. They were a great help, and also very interesting to talk with.
I am lookibng forward to next years Friedrichshafen event already!
Yesterday I collected the bandpass filters needed for our operation's from G3NUG at the CDXC meeting. Also I have collected the DXpedition tee-shirts from the print shop, a preview of one can be seen on my biography page. Oliver has now bought the needed coax cable and rope, and I have bought the wire needed for making our antenna's in XU.
I have also arranged with the guest house owner in XU, a taxi to collect us at Phnom Phenh airport and take us directly on our 4 hour drive to the guest house. This will save any wasted time.
Oliver and I are very keen on spending a few days for sight seeing, and possibly visiting the famous temples of Angkor. We may therefore go QRT a couple of days earlier than planned, and travel to the capital to stay for our last days in XU. This will also make sure that we do not have any problem if the road to Phnom Phenh is unusable before our flight. All is going well, and we seem now to have everything ready for our trip in just under two weeks. I think that we are both a bit nervous already, as it is the first time we are doing something like this!
It has finally come, tommorow will be the first day of our Cambodian adventure and expedition. The time since the original idea, and the on going planning has passed very fast.
Although the last 2 weeks have not been easy, we had a big problem with actually getting our callsigns and licenses confirmed by the Cambodia telecomunications department. Finally we have actually got them confirmed, and also have recieved copies of our licenses.
I have been packing my luggage yesterday and today, and although we are not taking everything that would normally be needed; there is still alot to take! It is suprising just how much a drum of wire, tools, ATU, laptop, headphones, morse key, paperwork, cables, plug adapters, PL 259's etc... actually weigh.
All I can say is watch the DX clusters and tune around for us, we plan to be very active. So I hope everyone will be able to work us. Also it is worth remembering that it is the first time that Oliver and I have ever done something like this.
73 to all, see you on the bands.