12 Feb 2013

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5 Feb 2013

15 Jan 2013

We are pleased to designate Gary DF2RG as Chief Pilot. He will coordinate our team of pilots, which now includes VK4FW, DL9RCF, XE2HWJ, MM0NDX, V51B, PY2YP, KH6CG, and NR6M.

With the shipment of equipment from Germany completed, this month has been devoted mostly to designing the campsite, logistics, acquiring materials and equipment, and planning onsite operations. Taking full life support for 29 people is a relatively complex (and expensive) undertaking! Most of the gear is being staged at a warehouse in Richmond, California, and is being checked and pre-packed for landing at Clipperton.

Development of DXA2 continues, with the tuning of the software to enable 1-minute display of radio log data. A relatively complex local communications system is evolving, with a WiFi network connecting the 11 logging computers plus one computer connected to the dsatellite for uplaod to the internet. A second totally independent WiFi network will be used for other tasks, including the scientific and filmmaking activities. We expect to be able to upload radio log data, comments, images, and a small amount of video during the DXpedition.

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25 December 2012

During the weekend of Dec. 10, the European members of the team gathered in Goch, Germany, at the super contest staion DR1A, to assemble and pack most of the equipment for the two HF operating sites on Clipperton. The gear includes ten full HF stations, six 7 kW generators, and 50 large Pelican cases of radios, power supplies, antennas, parts, and tools. The effort was led by co-organizer Chris DL1MGB. Project organizer Robert Schmieder KK6EK made a special trip to Goch to interact with the team.

We have received the landing permit from the French authorities in Tahiti. Please go to the splash page and click on DOCUMENTS. The radio operating permit for TX5K was received last month.

We welcome Markus van Bergerem, DJ7EO, to the team. He has made arrangements for the generators (six 230 VAC 7 kW). The total team is now 25 persons.

We are pleased to report that the scientific work by the team has already begun. The two Ukrainian team members Roman US5WDX and Igor US0VA were able to obtain samples of water from a salt lake in the Ukraine that was known historically to contain a microscopic alga, Ochromonas triangulata, which has a flagellum and an eye spot, unusual structures for a plant! The samples were transferred to a specialist, Dr. Robert Anderson, who reports that they do contain the Ochromonas alga, and that the sample may help to resolve a mystery of genetic relationship of the genus. We expect many additional interesting scientific observations during our stay on Clipperton.

Two French scientists will join us on the island. They are Professor Christian Jost and Jean Morshel from University of French Polynesia. Prof. Jost and a colleague published a recent study of Clipperton: Jost, C.H. and S. Andrefouet, 2006, "Long term natural and human perturbations and current status of Clipperton Atoll, a remote island of the Eastern Pacific," Pacific Conservation Biology 12, 3 pp. 207-218. The scientists will be taken to the island from a French naval vessel.

We have received a request from the French TV series THALASSA to accompany the expedition and make a feature film about the project, and we have accepted their offer.

We are pleased to announce that we have received an ARRL Colvin Award Grant of $5000, a grant from the German DX Foundation of 1400 EUR, a grant of $1000 from INDEXA, and a grant from the Passau DX Club of $250. All these, and various individual contributions, are greatly appreciated.

Addendum: The Project Description document was updated (version 3.7, PDF 3.7 MB) 28 Dec. 2012.

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15 November 2012

The current version (3.5) of the complete Project Description (PDF file 5.6 MB) can be downloaded at www.cordell.org/CI (click "DOCUMENTS").
We are pleased to welcome Roman US5WDX, Walt N6XG, and Lance W7GJ to the team. Roman is the second Ukrainian member of the team.Walt is a member of "Team Vertical" and has been on numerous DXpeditions. Lance will bring equipment and his extensive experience with 6m/EME. We regret the withdrawal of Terry AB5K and Tom VE3CX, due to conflicts.

As planned, the team is now complete at 24 members. However, we have room on the boat and can accommodate on the team up to 4 more participants. If you would like to join us as a radio operator, science project participant, adventurer, or doctor, please contact Bob KK6EK@cordell.org. In particular, we would welcome the participation of a doctor or EMT, whether a radio operator or not.

The scientific work is already underway. Through contacts at the University of California Berkeley, a noted algologist (specialist in Marine algae) learned that we have team members in the Ukraine. The small salt water lakes there is known to harbor flagellated algae. These are microscopic plants that have a flagellum, similar to animal sperm cells. Our Ukranian team members are obtaining samples of the lake water, in hopes that it will contain these algae. If successful, these samples could resolve a major mystery involving genetic relationships.

We are seeking any school groups that might be interested in interacting with the expedition via real-time audio/video. If you are a teacher, please contact Bob KK6EK@cordell.org for more information.

We have received a generous contribution of $3500 from FlexRadio, for which we are most appreciative. We have also been awarded contributions by the European DX Foundation, the LA DX Group, and the Clipperton DX Club. Numerous individuals have made small donations to help us remove plastic debris from Clipperton—. Please see www.cordell.org/CI ("PLASTIC").

Complete information about the project is available on the website www.cordell.org/CI. The project is being organized and will be led by:

Bob KK6EK schmieder (a) cordell.org
Chris DL1MGB Chris (a) DL1MGB.com.

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15 October 2012

The March, 2013 DXpedition to Clipperton Island has received the callsign TX5K to be used during the operation. With the addition of Luis XE1L, Dave WJ20, and Giovanni I5JHW, the team has 23 members. One space remains available for another operator, scientist, or other supporter who wishes to join the DXpedition.

We are proud to announce that the QSL manager will be Bob N2OO. Offsite team member Dean N7XG is developing new software to help automate some of the operations at the QSL manager and his team.

The expedition will use DXA, the system that enables real-time web display of the log data, first used on Kure Atoll K7C 2005, to provide confirmation of valid QSOs in about 1 minute after they are made. We will also make use of ClubLog and LotW.

The DXpedition will be active on all HF bands and modes for about 10 days. In addition to the radio operations, the team will carry out numerous scientific projects of environmental science, especially involving studying invasive and undiscovered species that have potential for catastrophic disruption of the Clipperton ecosystem. The team will study vortex winds produced by the island, and will document foraging by congenitally deformed birds. Advisor Robert Pitman reports that a significant portion of the masked boobies are deformed and apparently are fed by their parents their entire lives.

The DXpedition is very pleased to acknowledge a personal gift from a world-famous ham of $10,000. While preferring to remain anonymous, the donor hopes that his gift will stimulate others to support the project. A particularly interesting activity will be the real-time Internet video connection with students. After the expedition the students will write essays for a compendium to be titled "Saving the World, by We the Students." The publication is designed to be the first of a series of "Saving the World, by…" The team also will collect and remove plastic debris from the island. You can help in these efforts by making a donation through the link on the website.