_edited_edited.jpg)
S21WD - Bangladesh
- Jan 25
- 11 min read
Updated: Mar 30
S21WD Update (Mar 29)
We just passed 50,000 QSOs — a big milestone for the team — and spirits are high as we press on. RTTY operation is coming up as soon as possible to give yet another mode to chase S21WD.
Sun activity is still causing problems for daytime operation — recent solar flares haven’t helped — but we continue to enjoy very good North America openings during our sunrise and sunset runs across all high bands, and we’ve received lots of positive reports from stations worked. Good openings to Japan and Europe are rarer but do occur; the high bands are on fire and producing awesome rates for the team — we hope this continues so we can add even more QSOs to the log.
One amplifier has been brought back to life and is now producing full output — we’re very grateful for the support of everyone involved in getting it running. We are entering WPX SSB as a Multi/Single; QSO rates are lower than we’d hoped, but we are staying active throughout the contest period. The WPX contest log will be published after the log‑deadline has passed — both on Clublog and via LoTW.
Low bands are proving challenging. Heavy QSB on all low bands often makes two‑way copy difficult; we are making efforts to improve our reception every day, putting up receive antennas and tweaking stations to pull out weak signals. Over the past days we hunted down several local noise sources — helpful, but only a drop in the ocean: turn off seven things and more seem to appear overnight.
Daytime power outages have been frequent and are keeping the team busy, but yesterday we acquired a new generator and it’s now running flawlessly, powering all stations at full capacity. A heavy storm brought down the WARC beam yesterday; it was damaged but repaired the next morning, and we quickly erected a temporary 30 m dipole to maintain low‑band activity during the night hours.
We were delighted to be invited to the “Weekend Special” hosted live by Tim K3LR at DXEngineering, where we answered questions live from Bangladesh in the early morning local time on Saturday — thanks for having us and for being a valued sponsor once again. The interview can be watched on YouTube.
QO‑100 satellite operations remain very successful with over 1,200 QSOs to date. A full and free LoTW upload for all QSOs made by S21WD will be performed once the team reaches their hotel in Dhaka next week.
The team is fully operational and in good spirits. Low‑band verticals (160, 80 and 60 m) will be dismantled after sunrise on Tuesday, 31.03. — that leaves two more night shifts and chances to work S21WD. High‑band antennas will be partly taken down on 01.04.; we will remain on selected bands until the morning of 02.04. with a reduced number of stations.
A full on‑site report and after‑action summary will follow once the team is back at base.
If you still need S21WD, take your chance in the coming days. If you like what we do, please consider supporting the project: www.next-generation-dx.com/donate. The team is very grateful for the fantastic local and worldwide support and feedback.
73 de S21WD team
S21WD Update (Mar 22)
S21WD DXpedition – Arrival and First Signals from AS-140
The S21WD team has successfully arrived in Bangladesh and is now active from IOTA AS-140, marking the transition from logistics to on-air operations.
On March 17, Jamie M0SDV arrived in Munich, where the team completed final preparations. The evening was dedicated to last packing activities, coordination with local supporters, and a joint dinner before departure.
On March 18, the team departed from Munich via Istanbul to Dhaka with Turkish Airlines. Despite the significant amount of heavy and oversized baggage, check-in procedures were handled efficiently with excellent support from airline staff. All flight segments and the transit in Istanbul were uneventful. Crucially, all equipment arrived in Dhaka complete and without damage.
Customs clearance had been pre-coordinated with local amateur radio contacts, allowing for a smooth and efficient entry process. Upon arrival, the team received a warm welcome from local operators. After regrouping, equipment was repacked and expedition supplies were collected, as the team operates fully self-sufficient. A short breakfast in Dhaka was followed by final supermarket purchases. Special thanks go to S21ABO for preparing essential items in advance, which significantly eased logistics during the Eid Mubarak period.
The onward journey to the QTH required a multi-stage transport operation. After navigating through Dhaka’s busy old town, approximately 600 kg of equipment and supplies were loaded onto a ferry for an overnight crossing of around 12 hours. During the crossing, the team had an interesting exchange about amateur radio with the owner of the ferry company. After arrival, the journey continued by minibus for about one hour, including a stop for a local breakfast, before transferring to a final boat. At this stage, additional cargo was loaded, including around 500 kg of drinking water and a 10 kVA generator. Following arrival on the island (AS-140), a final 20-minute tuk-tuk ride brought the team to the QTH.
Immediately after arrival, work began in parallel on site exploration, shack setup, and antenna construction. The first signal as S21WD was transmitted on March 20 at approximately 17:00 UTC.
Initial operations revealed a much higher than expected level of local man-made noise, which had not been present during earlier site visits. In parallel, frequent grid power outages made it necessary to bring the expedition’s generator online early. The generator has been operating reliably since commissioning. However, one grid failure resulted in the loss of an amplifier and a power supply. Repair attempts have so far been unsuccessful.
Antenna deployment has progressed steadily. The 5-band Spiderbeam installed on the roof is performing well. The 3-band WARC Spiderbeam could not be deployed at the planned location and therefore had to be relocated to a green area in front of the house.
Further progress was achieved on March 22 with the installation of two large lowband verticals for 80m and 160m. Initial tests are very promising, particularly towards Europe. In combination with a receive flag antenna, which has shown clear improvements in signal-to-noise ratio, the first encouraging results on 80 meters have already been observed. Long beverage antennas are currently under preparation, and additional systems, including a 60m vertical and a QO-100 station, are planned for deployment shortly.
We have already been present during openings towards North America; however, current conditions combined with the local noise limitations have so far resulted in limited success.
Operational capacity is currently slightly reduced, as three operators are temporarily affected by health issues, limiting both antenna construction and operating activity. At the same time, strong support from local amateur radio operators has been instrumental in maintaining progress, and the team is very grateful for this assistance. The hospitality and catering provided by local hosts have been excellent throughout.
With the main antenna systems now largely in place and stable power ensured via the generator, the setup phase is nearing completion. The focus will now shift towards full operating mode, with top priority on locating and eliminating the noise source, followed by attention to openings towards high-demand regions such as North America and further optimization of lowband performance.
Further updates will follow as operations continue from AS-140.
You can see more pictures in the link of the source.
S21WD Update (Mar 19)
Team S21WD - Bangladesh 2026, together with all their luggage, arrived safely at the airport in Dhaka, Bangladesh. All gear was then succesfully cleared with the local customs. Afterwards, they were warmly welcomed by their local ham radio friends.
The team will proceed the journey to their QTH, which will take them approximately another day, shortly.
Source: https://www.facebook.com/S21WD
S21WD Update (Mar 06)
During the past two weekends, the S21WD team carried out our final hardware and systems test at our logistics headquarters hosted by DG8MG. The objective was to assemble the complete station as planned for Bangladesh, operate all components in parallel, and validate stability under realistic multi-operator conditions.
Both Spiderbeam Yagi antennas, covering 12/17/30 meters and 10/12/15/17/20 meters, were fully assembled, mechanically aligned, and tuned. SWR and overall performance were verified across all bands. The antennas performed as expected and confirmed our operational concept.
For the low bands, we installed and verified functionality of our RX loop, BOG (Beverage on Ground), and Beverage antennas. Noise characteristics, directionality, and switching behavior were evaluated in detail to finalize our receive strategy. The internal RX distribution system was assembled and tested to ensure stable multi-receiver operation without interference or noise ingress.
Our QO-100 satellite station, provided by DXPatrol, was fully assembled and commissioned. Uplink and downlink performance, frequency stability, and integration into our logging and network infrastructure were successfully verified. The satellite system is ready for deployment.
A key milestone was the full high-power “smoke test” of the RF chain. Three stations were operated simultaneously using our sponsored ACOM amplifiers, including two ACOM 1200S and one ACOM 500S. We tested all low-power and high-power bandpass filters as well as our triplexer configurations for 12/17/30 meters and 10/15/20 meters. The three stations were intentionally run in parallel using all triplexer ports at the same time. The system remained fully stable, with no inter-station interference or unexpected behavior. This confirms the robustness of our filtering and isolation design.
On the IT side, six laptops were configured according to our operational requirements. Operating systems were updated, required software installed, and all configurations tested in advance. In addition, we performed a network load test simulating more than 300,000 QSOs through our logging system. The network handled the load without performance degradation, and synchronization between stations remained stable.
Throughout this phase, we are in daily contact with our local team members in Bangladesh to ensure a smooth arrival and coordinated setup on site. Logistical details, infrastructure preparations, and operational planning are closely aligned. We are very pleased to have them on board. Their support and local coordination play a major role in the success of this project and are an essential part of the overall execution strategy. We are very much looking forward to finally meeting them in person very soon.
As part of the integration process, several smaller improvements were identified and implemented, including cabling optimizations, clearer labeling, and refinements to transport preparation. While none of these adjustments were critical, they contribute to higher reliability during field deployment.
Many local helpers supported us during both test weekends, contributing significant time and effort to setup, testing, and dismantling. Over the past months, a substantial number of man-hours have gone into engineering, logistics planning, and preparation. A DXpedition of this scale is only possible through coordinated teamwork behind the scenes.
We are now in the final phase of packing all equipment for transport. Our departure is scheduled for 18 March, now less than three weeks away. With the successful completion of this final integration test, we move into the execution phase with confidence in our technical setup.
The S21WD DXpedition is organized under the umbrella of the Next Generation DX Club e.V., a registered German non-profit association (gemeinnützig). Donations directly support youth engagement in amateur radio and help finance infrastructure, transportation, and operational costs. As stated on our website, we are authorized to issue official donation receipts (Zuwendungsbestätigungen) in accordance with German non-profit regulations.
If you would like to support our efforts, please visit:
We appreciate everyone contributing to this project — whether through technical expertise, hands-on support, sponsorship, or financial backing. We are utmost grateful to all clubs, foundations, associations, commercial sponsors, and individuals for their trust in our project. Thank you for your involvement and continued support. Final preparations are ongoing, and Bangladesh is getting closer every day.
Source: https://nxt-gn-dx.com/s2/
S21WD Update (Jan 20)
The Next Generation DX Club e.V. is pleased to announce a major milestone for its upcoming Bangladesh DXpedition: the callsign S21WD has been officially issued for the project. The team would like to express its sincere gratitude to the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) for issuing the callsign specifically for the purpose of this DXpedition. We also thank our friends at the Amateur Radio Association of Bangladesh (ARAB) for their continued support and assistance during the licensing process. The assignment of S21WD marks an important milestone and allows the project to move fully into its final preparation phase.
With around two months remaining before departure to Bangladesh, preparations for the S21WD – Bangladesh 2026 DXpedition are now well advanced. The team plans to operate from IOTA AS-140 (Khulna / Barisal Region group) at the end of March 2026.
During the past months, many evenings and weekends were spent at DG8MG’s QTH, which serves as the main preparation and logistics location. All major antenna systems were assembled and carefully tested there. These tests helped confirm correct assembly procedures, transport concepts, and overall system reliability well before departure.
We would like to thank our local radio friends who supported the team during these preparation sessions once again. They spent many hours assisting with equipment tests and sharing their experience and knowledge. Their contribution was essential and made the current level of readiness possible.
As departure is getting closer, the focus has moved from antennas to station infrastructure. Work is ongoing on power distribution, station layouts, cabling, networking, and backup concepts. Full system tests of the complete stations – including radios, amplifiers, filters, and software – are planned for the coming weeks.
The DXpedition will be active for 12 days and operate on 160 through 10 meters, including 5 MHz (60 m), using CW, SSB, RTTY, and FT8. In addition, activity via the QO-100 satellite is planned using CW, SSB, and FT4.
The Team
The project is organized by the Next Generation DX Club e.V. and carried out by an international team:
— Philipp Springer (DK6SP, 28) – Team Lead
— Sven Lovrić (DJ4MX, 23) – Co-Lead and QSL Manager
Team Members:
— Jamie Williams (M0SDV, 25)
— Leon Hellmich (DL3ON, 21)
— Rudranil Sarker Apon (S21ABO, 23)
— Anup Kumar Bhowmick (S21TV, 46)
The average age of the team is approximately 27 years, combining youth-driven DXpeditioning with experienced local participation.
Around 400 kg of equipment are currently being prepared and packed. Most of the equipment will be transported by the team as additional checked luggage on the flights. This requires careful weight planning and standardized packing, while allowing direct control over all critical equipment.
Following the successful DXpeditions 8R7X – Guyana 2024 (more than 73,000 QSOs) and V73WW – Marshall Islands 2025 (more than 103,000 QSOs), the team is highly motivated to continue this success with S21WD – Bangladesh 2026.
QSL, LoTW, and Live Log Information
In line with previous Next Generation DX Club DXpeditions, all QSOs are planned to be uploaded to LoTW daily and free of charge, subject to local internet availability. To provide transparency and reduce duplicate contacts during the operation, a Club Log Live Stream will be used to display QSOs in near real time, depending on the availability and stability of the on-site internet connection.
Paper QSL cards will be available via Club Log OQRS and will be handled by Sven Lovrić (DJ4MX) as QSL Manager, supported by his team within the Next Generation DX Club e.V.
Sponsorship and Donations
DXpeditions of this scale require significant financial and logistical effort. The Next Generation DX Club e.V. is a non-profit organization recognized under German law and is authorized to issue official donation receipts (Zuwendungsbestätigungen).
These receipts are tax-deductible in Germany. Recognition in other countries depends on national tax regulations. Donors outside Germany should consult their tax advisor or local tax authority.
Donations and sponsorships support transport costs, equipment operation, permits, and local logistics. Information on how to support the project is available here:
To stay up to date and never miss any announcements, please follow the team on Facebook:
Further information, updates, and background details about the project are available on the official website:
Feel free to check it out and follow our upcoming adventure to Asia.
Let us make this project a great success together – the team is ready. We look forward to getting you down the log very soon.
73, Team S21WD
S21WD
Ops: DK6SP, DJ4MX, M0SDV, DL3ON, S21TV & S21ABO
Bands: QO-100 SAT + 10M - 160M
Modes: CW, SSB, FT8 & RTTY
Qsl Info: QSL via DJ4MX (direct or buro) or ClubLog OQRS
Start Date - End Date: Mar. 18 - Mar. 31
Webpage: https://next-generation-dx.com/s2/
Comments