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FT4YM - Antarctica

Jul 2, 20245 min read

VK0/FT4YM/P Update (Feb 12)


Hi! I'm currently at Casey Station in Australia (OC53GR), waiting for a flight to Tasmania. It was initially planned for the 5th, then moved to the 8th, 10th, 12th, and now the 15th.


In the meantime, I've been very active on seven bands and various modes, including RTTY. Check the clusters—I'm at around 1,900 QSOs as VK0/FT4YM/P.


Thanks to everyone who stopped by to say hello. See you soon!



FT4YM Update (Jan 28)


And here it is! Tonight is my last night here. I am currently QRV on 14241 SSB. My plane leaves in 1 or 2 days; I’ll be at Casey Station before taking off on the 8th (or possibly later) for Hobart, Tasmania. Thanks for visiting—it’s been a fun experience!



FT4YM Update (Jan 07)


The season is progressing, and Logistical Raid 2 has just departed from the Prud'homme base. It should arrive in about 12 days. After that, the base will close, marking the beginning of the 9-month wintering period for the 12 crew members.

The station is functioning well. This evening, Danillo IAO/IZ1KHY will be active from the Little Dome C camp. We established contact on 20M, as well as with other neighboring stations. On some evenings, there are no contacts—neither in SSB nor digital modes—but on others, reports from Europe come in at 58/59 with 200W.

I expect to be active in /M mode by the end of January. Stay tuned!



FT4YM Update (Dec 31)


The arrival of the new year will be celebrated with the Australians from the raid, the team from Little Dome C, and Canadians in transit! For your information, the log has been updated on LOTW and Club Log, and the update on QRZ.com is in progress. Wishing you a smooth transition into the new year and all the best for you and your loved ones!



FT4YM Update (Dec 29)


Hello!Photos have been added to the web gallery. I now have almost 900 QSOs in SSB, 4 in FT8, one in CW, and several contacts with my neighbors in Antarctica, including Alex from the Vostok Station! The season is advancing, and the end of the year is approaching...



FT4YM Update (Dec 22)


And there you have it: the antenna is well adjusted, with numerous contacts, including those with the neighbors of Vostok, Neumayeur 3, Little Dome C, and Base Progress. There have been 600 QSOs so far.



FT4YM Update (Nov 29)


Hello! Last night, after making another move, adding ferrites, and creating an air balun with the coax, I was able to reduce the QRM! The first test was at 2 a.m. for me, which was 5 p.m. in France. I made around 200 contacts (180 on SSB and the rest on FT4 and FT8). Thank you to everyone who participated during the weekend activation from a POTA location. The reference for Concordia Base is AQ-0060, a first!



FT4YM Update (Nov 22)


Unfortunately, the QRM ranging from S2 to S8 is preventing a proper QSO. However, I was able to contact Igor at the Russian PROGRESS Base and a French operator from Lyon. Despite making several trips around the station to different corners of the base, nothing has improved so far. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that it works better soon. I'm working through the task this weekend!



FT4YM Update (Nov 12)


Good evening/good morning, lots of change and work, tomorrow the plane of the outgoing winterers leaves, I will have space in the shak to be able to finally start the radio, some contacts in FT8.


Moreover no more mobile phone, therefore no more whathsapp, I try to find a solution quickly, have a good week.



FT4YM Update (Nov 10)


THIS SUNDAY, rest and more snow removal around the antenna, many people on bases, and therefore a lot of movement for DDu and little dome c, which means people in my shak, and not easy to do radio with people 5 m away.


Test in ft8 and ssb with michel _fK8ik AT THE END OF PROPAGATION.


Most of them leave on Wednesday, so there will be news!


Have a good Sunday,


I THANK JEAN CHARRON FROM ST JEROME IN CANADA FOR HIS DONATION



FT4YM Update (Nov 01)


November 2, 5:11 a.m. here, 10:11 p.m. in France, arriving at the Concordia base, an emotional welcome from the 12 winterers, which marks our arrival, the end of their mission, it is minus 57.9°C and feels like 3555 mtrs, we are acclimatizing for 2 days, I will see where I can put my station, watch for clusters....



FT4YM Update (Oct 30)


And hello, arrived at the Zucchelli base, quiet afternoon, -7°c, we are fine, on the other hand -57 at Concordia, we are waiting for the decision this morning to validate or not the flight in basler dc3 to Concordia....



FT4YM Update (Oct 29)


3:00 a.m..we are ready to board the American C 17. Yesterday flight cancelled due to weather...direction to the Italian base of Mario Zucchelli towards Terra Nova Bay.



FT4YM Update (Oct 23)


And there you have it—takeoff on Friday! Adventure number 5 begins!

We should be in New Zealand on Saturday at the Ibis Central Hotel. Then we'll pick up the bags in the cold and leave for the White Continent again!



FT4YM Update (Oct 06)


Latest news from David, F4FKT, who will travel to Antarctica on October 25:

He expects to be operational from early November 2024 to the end of January 2025 at the following locations:


  • FT4YM/P at Concordia Base

  • FT4YM/P at Little Dome Base C

  • FT4YM/Mobile during IPEV-PNRA Raid #1 Convoy

  • FT4YM/Mobile during IPEV-PNRA Raid #2 Convoy



David Brunet (F4FKT) - I should be at the Concordia site - little dome C, from mid-October 2024 to the end of February 2025.


It's a chance that I'm aware of having, I'm leaving as a summer camper, as a versatile technician, a little Swiss army knife from the Belledonnes, a mountain near Grenoble where I come from.


I would take advantage during my stay, after my working hours, to put an amateur radio station into service, under the qrz FT4YM / P, I bring all my equipment with me, it takes up space and especially weight, it must fit in the backpack. And to play with the conditions linked to the place!


I should be active on 14MHz, 21MHz 24MHz 28MHz 27MHz bands and maybe QO-100.


Currently the station is not complete, and if you are interested in helping this small amateur DX expedition from the end of the world, there is the possibility of making a donation.


For some also sending qsl FT4YM with postmark from the most western French post office of dumont durville.


I am currently in the process of making quotes for badges, which Vincent F4CVQ kindly created and provided for me in computer mode.


In short, I'm counting on you to rediscover these simple, human sensations, which leave an indelible memory of a QSO between two continents, of two OMs and that with a piece of wire, a battery.


 
 

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