Update December 19, 2023: Felix, DL5XL will be back in Neumayer III Station, Antarctica, at the end of January 2024 and be active as DP1POL when time permits until early March. He operates mainly CW on HF bands, with some digimode and SSB activity too.

QSL via DL1ZBO.

Update January 12, 2022: On December 29, 2021, the new QO-100 SatCom ground station antenna for DP0GVN arrived intact in Antarctica at Neumayer Station III, and as of January 9, 2022, DP0GVN is again reachable via QO-100. This should continue to ensure future radio operations for the upcoming 2022/2023 wintering crew after the old antenna was rendered unusable by an exceptionally strong storm in August 2021.

Update January 9, 2022: DX-World publishes that Felix DL5XL is QRV since end of December from Neumayer Station III. So far mainly active on 15 and 30m in CW and FT8. Jürgen, DL9SBT is also there as a Technician. 

Update August 23, 2021: AMSAT-DL reports the antenna used by DP0GVN in Antarctica for the QO-100 geostationary satellite amateur radio transponder is completely destroyed

According to the Alfred-Wegener-Institute (AWI), a severe winter storm hit Atka Bay (Antarctica) at the end of last week. At Neumayer Station III, about 20 kilometres away, wind speeds of max. 94.9 knots (175.7 km/h) were recorded as a minute average during the night from 13 to 14 August. The strongest gust was 112 knots (207 km/h). This is by far the highest wind speed in recent years.

Unfortunately, the satellite antenna for the geostationary QO-100 amateur radio satellite was also completely destroyed during the storm, despite the weatherproof radome, so no school contacts with DP0GVN can take place until further notice.

AMSAT-DL and AWI hope to erect a new antenna early next year, in particular to continue the very successful contacts with schools.

Organizing an Antarctic expedition in the times of COVID19 is quite a challenge, so the German polar institute (AWI) had to find a different approach to the logistics for the upcoming Antarctic summer season. All transports will be carried out by ship directly from Germany. There is only a small team of about 20 technicians and scientists travelling to Neumayer Station, Antarctica, this year. YL Theresa (DC1TH) and Felix (DL5XL) will be part of that group.

During the voyage, from December 20 for about one month, Felix will operate as DP0POL/MM from the research ice breaker “Polarstern”, mainly in CW and digital modes. From mid-January to mid-March 2021, DL5XL expects to be active from the research station “Neumayer III” signing DP1POL.

The ham station in Antarctica is equipped for HF and QO-100 satellite. Club call DP0GVN may also be used at times by other operators.

QSL manager for DP0POL/mm and DP0GVN is DL5EBE, QSL cards for DP1POL will be handled by DL1ZBO (direct, bureau or LotW for all call signs).

CU from Antarctica. Felix, DL5XL