160 m, 80 m, 60 m, 40 m, 30 m, 20 m, 17 m, 15 m, 12 m, 10 m
Source
DX-World & OPDX
Tags: Expedition, DXCC
Log search M0OXO OQRS
Information
Update March 11, 2026: Tomorrow 3Y0K plans to be active on 60 meters using a vertical and on RTTY on 15 meters using a Yagi.
In addition 3Y7GIA and 3Y/LB5SH will be active.
Due to the weather and for safety reasons, they plan to tear down a large part of the camp this weekend, included all Yagis and most tents. Only a small team with facilities for up to 4 radios will remain after this. This will be done during the first weather window this weekend
Update March 10, 2026: While the previous days have been good, the current weather in Bouvetøya is characterized by strong winds of 25 m/s and rain, making it difficult to walk or stand outdoors. The 160 m antenna broke today, and the 20m Yagi antenna is also damaged and out of service. We have replacement antennas ready, but it is currently considered dangerous to raise the
Yagi in these strong winds. We will install it as soon as the weather permits.
One of the smaller tents was also damaged due to the bad weather. For radio and sleeping, we have large, sturdy tents from Arctic Lavvo, Norway. These tents proved their worth in strong winds during the previous 3Y0J trip and have performed flawlessly so far. The damage so far will not affect operations; we have spares on hand that will be installed should we sustain further damage.
The current forecast indicates we'll have this weather until the weekend, so additional measures may be necessary. We had food delivered from the ship this morning. It's not every day you get pizza delivered by helicopter to Bouvetøya! This was well-received by the operators, who have been eating fast food since their arrival on Saturday the 28th, to accommodate this new time slot. We receive three fast food deliveries daily from a Norwegian manufacturer. We have a social tent where we gather to eat and chat about not only radio but other topics as well. The daily routine consists of rotating 6-hour shifts to allow us to work in different time slots and experiment with various propagation patterns and bands. There was a good opening on 160 meters last night, so setting up
this antenna is a priority as soon as the weather permits.
We currently have between six and seven stations operating and will keep them running until the weekend. We will likely see a partial dismantling if there is a weather window this weekend or early next week. We are still planning to stay as long as possible next week, but the weather window will determine when we need to return to the ship. We have recorded over 70,000 contacts and thank everyone for participating.
73, 3Y0K
Update March 7, 2026: The team is doing well on Bouvetøya, we are all in good spirit as we see the camp build up take place and operation is now going well.
We have all tents and antennas installed at this point. We have 4 yagis installed, WIMO monobanders on 15 and 20 + two dual banders on 17/12 and today a 5 element monobander on 10m. We have 18m toploaded spiderpole on 160m, fullsize on 40m using Spiderbeam poles. We run in band operation on 40,20,17,15,12 and 10 using our ICOM radio and ACOM amplifiers also supported by DX Engineering hardware. We also have a FLEX Aurora 500W radio setup. We have 6 stations and amplifiers with 500W to 1 kW + power output, and we have enough fuel to run high power throughout the operation. On topband you should look for us as we are QRV every night through our sunrise. Propagation on some bands are challenging, and they close earlier than expected. All yagis have excellent take off towards EU/Asia and also NA. Our camp is located at the upper area where we planned to setup a NA camp. There is no camp in the lower area due to the wildlife.
Since we visited Bouvetøya last time the global warming has made the glacier recede, so the seals and penguins now occupy a large area of Cape Fie even as much as 3-400 meter uphill. In some ten years from now, this area might be out of reach for any expedition?
The weather at Bouvet is windy and cold and it is challenging to keep the antenna farm up. While we have reached our max setup, we see increased maintenance, things that must be fixed and repaired.
We had several days with 25 m/s wind, snow and rather cold days. Setting up antennas in this weather has been challenging, but fun! Today is an exceptional day with no wind and blue sky, a truly very nice day at the island that also allowed us to take a hike and do some sightseeing.
Our logs will be uploaded once a day and you can check the log at M0OXO website. We expect to run another 7-9 days at full setup before we start planning how to gradually extract from the island.
73, 3YØK
Update March 5, 2026: While many may have seen a notice about a SuperFox key being issued by the NCDXF, the team has decided Not to use SuperFox FT8 and will continue using F/H.
The main points are to call above 1,000 and set the software to hound mode. Not really complicated, but many are calling below 1,000 and even on the 3Y0K TX frequency. They will never get a QSO and are clogging up the system.
Update March 5, 2026: Today I received a request from the 3Y0K Bouvet team for a SuperFox key. I have issued that key and communicated it to the team on the island. It
should be activated on the authentication server by 0000Z March 5.
Please be aware that 3Y0K FT8 operation MAY be using SuperFox mode going forward, or they may choose not to use it, depending on conditions and their discretion. Check their website for frequency information.
Good luck, and see you in the pileups!
Rich KE1B
NCDXF SuperFox Key Administrator
Update March 4, 2026: The first QSOs/Log from 3Y0K DXpedition have been uploaded to M0OXO.com/oqrs/logsearch.php?dxcallsign=3y0k" target="_blank">M0OXO's Web site
Update March 3, 2026: Finally, a nice sunny day here on the island. Both camps are safe and secure with 8 tents in total. One camp is located at the NA focus location.
Equipment is - 10 ICOM 7610 radios and 10 amps in the camps - ACOM 2020s,1400s & 500s. We have antennas for all bands in the air except 10m. We are operating 4 stations now from 500W to
1 kW+. Two yagis for 20m + one for 17/12, 1 18m top-loaded 160m, 1 full size 80m verticals.
Tomorrow the 10m antennas will go up, with an another for 17/12.
Expect 160m every night as long as the antenna holds up. We do have spares! Tonight we plan 160,80,40 & 30m.
Expected operation till March 18 or 20, weather dependent.
See you in the pileups, James, KB2FMH
Update March 2, 2026 @1545z: The NA camp is within 50 meters of the planned location on the mountain with very strong signals coming in last night, FT8 and CW.
The team is presently building antennas for 20, 30, 40 and 160 meters in the remaining 4 +/- hours of daylight.
Tomorrow more Yagis will go up and the KW amps will be utilized.
Remember, the logistical conditions here change in an instant, and the team is doing their best to push ahead for the DX community. The nasty comments will do nothing to change what is. .
QRV will be posted when ready.
Update March 2, 2026: Livestream:
The team leaders chose to Not use livestreaming due to unreliable internet connections corrupting uploads. When the connection fails, logs get Stuck and can suddenly send false data when connections are restored.
Pirates:
Pirating expeditions is a problem all face therefore the Work first Worry later method has become an accepted fact in chasing any expedition, particularly rare ones such as Bouvet.
QRV verification:
Lease understand the team is doing their best to operate the few small stations while continuing to build the camps in extremely difficult condition of weather. They are doing this to provide some opportunities through digital and CW modes and will, as soon as possible begin SSB with bigger antennas and higher power.
Communication to Pilots:
Having not yet deployed any Starlink devices, focusing on getting the camps built, the passing of information relies on one Iridium device which by virtue of using satellites has been obstructed by the heavy cloud cover and constant rain.
Note:
We, the off-island piloting group are as frustrated by this as you are and cannot simply make up news to satisfy every question asked.
The Most Current information follows:
From the Island as of 12:00 UTC March 2nd -
"We have 16 people on the island now building the camps. Five tents are up, food, fuel, radios, Yagis and amplifiers are being assembled.
Today, March 2nd and tomorrow March 3 antennas are being erected. please be patient - weather is extremely challenging but the team is working well together to make sure that they can provide You all with solid signals around the globe.
We hope to have 4 or 5 stations up, QRO, by sunset here.
Negativity on social media and cluster comments do Nothing to help the DX community and we will continue to ignore those who only wish to complain. As conditions improve more information will flow.
Thanks, the 3Y0K team.
Update March 1, 2026: The helicopter resumed operations and continued transporting supplies to the island just after 06:00 in the morning. However, due to the short weather window, we were unable to bring additional personnel ashore today. Tomorrow morning is still expected to be good, so flying operations will continue.
Update March 1, 2026 @1418: Now live on 24911 FT8. Not a Pirate so work them if you can.
Half the team is on the island at this time and will work on getting one radio / antenna running to start TXing.
The band / mode will be announced shortly - awaiting this information.
WX is tough so be patient please. Remember, the island is Not at all hospitable to human occupation.
Stay Tuned.
Update February 28, 2026: Video of the equipment beginning being transferred to Bouvet Island....
Update February 27, 2026: We arrived at Bouvetøya this morning, but the weather and sea conditions are still preventing us from disembarking today. During our daily briefing today with the captain, pilots, and expedition crew, we discussed the weather forecast. For the past few days, we've been in an area with rough weather and waves up to 8-10 meters high, so we've been reducing our speed. The boat is handling very well at sea, and we're all satisfied. We're currently considering a weather window for Saturday and Sunday, and if conditions don't change, we'll likely attempt to disembark this weekend. The pilots and crew are ready and confident in the boat, and we'll now begin the final preparations.
At this time, we cannot predict when we will be airborne. Our top priority is to focus on the upcoming weather windows, transport equipment and personnel to the island, and secure the camp with tents and supplies before we begin installing the radios and antennas. Our pilot, James KB2FMH, will provide an update when we are operational.
Update February 25, 2026: The boat is in an area with adverse weather and current ETA is Friday the 27th at or about 06:00 local time. We have slow downed our speed significantly as there is no need to rush to get there; we are not missing any weather window for now.
We are still doing our preparations to be ready when weather allows.
As of this post, they're about 140 miles from the island so we're looking good..
Update February 25, 2026: The vessel is in an area with adverse weather and ETA is now Friday morning 06:00 local time. We have slow downed our speed significantly and there is no need to rush to get there as we are not missing any weather window for now. We are still doing our preparations and will be ready when weather allows.
Update February 23, 2026: The team is excitedly preparing for arrival at Bouvet - which depending on some factors (mostly weather) will either be Wednesday evening or Thursday morning.
Everything is going well on the vessel; it handles the sea very well and has no problem running at 14 knots+. The weather has been fantastic for the past 2 days, but tomorrow we expect the sea to be a bit rough.
All team members are in good spirits and only a few persons are seasick; meanwhile, our preparations continue. We've fine-tuned our logistical approach and have established a flight plan with all equipment going onshore, and we have had meetings with pilots, vessel, and expedition crew. All merge very well into the team, and we are on this mission together.
We are evaluating various scenarios that may unfold and discuss / mitigate what we see as obvious risks. We’re confident that the preparations we've made based on our experience will take us one step closer to getting onshore and will adjust as we see necessary.
The Helicopter, being a workhorse and a solid aircraft, the pilots are very confident in this machine and express that this helicopter is the right choice for such an operation.
We have published a band plan on our website (link below), where our team will have a strong focus on the human modes, but digital modes are also being strategized.
We will release more information soon; the next update can be expected once we are onshore the island.
We have devised an ideal method to get around the usual DQRM - we think it will work well. As always, LISTEN to the Operators stating Where they are listening and How they want you to call!
Update February 21, 2026: The 3Y0K team departed Cape Town this morning aboard the Danish registered vessel Argus from Ice tugs, beginning the 1,500‑nautical‑mile transit to Bouvet Island.
Argus completed scheduled maintenance and survey work prior to her arrival in Cape Town, ensuring full readiness for the voyage. Earlier this week, the expedition helicopter was loaded, inspected, and secured on deck. Both the vessel and the aircraft have successfully passed all required inspections. We appreciate the strong commitment demonstrated by the pilots, mechanic, expedition guides and vessel crew as we move forward together as one team to make this a successful expedition.
The captain and crew are performing excellently, and the team is enjoying good meals prepared by the ship’s chef. Despite encountering rough seas during the first day at sea, preparations continue onboard as we expect to arrive at Bouvet on February 26th at approximately 08:00 local time.
Further updates regarding our band plans and DQRM strategy will be shared as we approach the island.
We extend our sincere thanks to all contributors for your continued Support!
Update December 26, 2025: The journey begins!
So far three of the 3Y0K operator team have converged in Cape Town in anticipation of the journey to Bouvet Island.
After settling in at their respective hotels, Donato Cardarelli /IK2EGL, Guðmundur Sveinsson/TF3SG and Vlad (William Xaver)/OK2WX connected at the ZS1CT Cape Town Amateur Radio Centre (https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1SQyehzhEd/) at the invitation of Paul, ZS1S.
Per Donato:
We were invited by Paul, ZS1S, to visit the Cape Town ZS1CT club meeting.
It was an outstanding opportunity to meet many local Radio Amateurs, all excited to support us while there. Lots of nice people, very friendly and welcoming.
There is a flag that 3Y0Z donated to the club, which all operators signed leaving a piece of dx history is there.
Perhaps we will do the same?
We look forward more of our operators making their way in the coming weeks as they await the arrival of the ship after the needed maintenance.
Update December 25, 2025: Well folks, the cat is out of the bag.
Due to unforeseen circumstances, the 3Y0K DXpedition to Bouvet Island will be delayed by approximately two weeks. Our vessel requires additional maintenance to ensure it is fully prepared for the demanding voyage to one of the most remote and challenging locations on Earth.
While this delay is disappointing, the safety of our team remains our highest priority. The adjustment does not change the overall strategy of the DXpedition, which has been carefully planned over the past three years.
We will continue to keep you informed as our schedule is updated.
73, 3YØK leadership
Update December 21, 2025: Are you ready for the Pileups?
Learn about SPLIT operating Before you tune in...
In just a couple of weeks our team will be setting sail from Cape Town headed towards the most anticipated expedition of a lifetime and they hope to be on the air by the second week of February.
In All modes they will be operating in a way that is known as "Split" where they transmit on one frequency and listen on another.
The most confusion seems to be with SSB over CW or the FT modes.
Let's talk about this:
Usually, the split is 5 kHz up for the Receive, or in Ham-Speak - QSX, but it can be 5 to 10 up and can go as high as 50 up, depending on the "Weight" of the pileup, openings and the band itself. For instance, 12 or 17 meters has less room than say 10 or 15 so the spread of the split will naturally be less. Sometimes they'll transmit on 80 and listen on 75 (for US Generals).
Why Split you ask??
Good question for newer Hams and sometimes forgotten by some of our more seasoned operators.
When a DXpedition is calling from a very rare location, there Will Be thousands of people calling them from all parts of the planet. In an effort to be heard by the callers they listen Away from where they are calling. If they didn't do this, callers would not be able to hear who they are responding to as they keep calling over the DX operators. Following the main tenet of the DX Code of Conduct: Listen - Listen - Listen, learn where they are receiving calls as the Op says Listening Up, Up 5 to 10 or 5 to 20 etc... They are NEVER listening on the frequency they are calling on, whether SSB, CW or Digital - NEVER! Listen to what the op says when calling.
Unless you have a very old tube transceiver, your radio has a Split button (or you may have separate TX / RX sets) so learn how to use it Now, before you call on the DX and incur the wrath of the famous Up Police who will yell at you while Also talking over the DX operators.
Here is a short video by one of our sponsors that may be helpful:
Good luck getting in the log!
James, KB2FMH
Update November 21, 2025: The 3YØK team is pleased to announce the addition of a strong medical and support team for our Bouvet expedition in 2026.
We are pleased to inform you that we have added 6 people to the team, all with excellent experience in medicine, security, evacuation and emergency situations.
They will function as a medical and support team during the setting up of the camp and will assist in its construction and maintenance, as well as being responsible for ensuring the safety of everyone on this expedition.
This includes analyzing weather forecasts and preparing the team for storms and shelters.
Shawn, is our team doctor, an emergency medicine specialist from the United States. He is supported by Julia, the current doctor in charge of the Neymar III base in Antarctica, and we are also joined by another doctor from Switzerland, Tom HB9FKF. Shawn is also supported by his brother Neil, a scientist with the National Park Service in Alaska.
Peter, who accompanied us on the previous expedition to Bouvet, is in charge of search and rescue operations. He has extensive experience supporting expeditions in remote areas such as the Arctic and Antarctic.
Birgir, is an experienced expedition guide with over 15 years of experience in extreme environments, specializing in glacial terrain and harsh winter conditions.
The team is ramping up preparations to depart from Cape Town in February. In two weeks, we plan to make the next payments, totaling 650,000 USDs. By then, we will have invested approximately 1,650,000 USDs in the expedition.
We are still seeking donations to complete our budget. We also need two more operators. If you want this expedition to be a success, please consider supporting us. Our goal is to raise 60,000 USDs before departure, and you can help by donating to donate@3y0k.com
We thank all our sponsors for their help!
Team 3YØK, 73
Update October 24, 2025: The 3Y0K team remains committed to activate Bouvet Island in 2026. Our project continues and it is on schedule, as planned, with a departure date of February 1, 2026 from Cape Town.
The team has a written contract that dictates how a shortfall of money shall be covered. Multiple members defaulted on that agreement as they for several months were refusing to pay their share of contractual obligations, exposing the team to a large financial risk, shortfall of money and cancellation of this and future DXpeditions. With a total budget of 1.7M USDs, where the team has already spent 1.1M USDs, the team has faced severe financial and contractual consequences due to their actions. Almost all of our equipment, like radio and amplifiers, are generously loaned
by our sponsors, and while the antenna scope is important, it’s a small cost in the total budget.
To protect the interest of everyone involved, the current team members contributed an additional amount of 150,000 USDs of our personal funds to ensure the financial success of the DXpedition. The current teams commitment is exemplified through this additional contribution as we have focused on avoiding a financial loss for everyone involved due to the breach of contract by former members.
Our focus is now solely on Cape Town logistics and operations to support the February 1st departure date. We are booking flights and working with local stakeholders to ensure a successful start. The team has a good spirit and work well towards a common goal while we want to enjoy this DXpedition. Team spirit is everything when you want to go to the most remote island on the planet. We continue our plan to set up and operate two separate camps on Bouvet, with one camp focused on North America. Camp locations will be dictated by local conditions upon arrival, keeping in mind that safety must always come first.
The leadership group interviewed 4 medical doctors interested to support the DXpedition, and the Team Doctor will be announced in due course.
Our priority remains to ensure the success of the project. The team continues to focus on the complex logistics necessary for a successful DXpedition and we thank the DX community for their continued support.
73, 3Y0K leadership group
Ken, Adrian, Cezar and Dennis
Update October 17, 2025 by Ken LA7GIA: "The 3Y0K container is currently en route to Cape Town, with an expected arrival in late November. Our team is now fully focused on preparations
for departure on February 1, 2026. This includes a series of planning meetings to finalize logistics and camp setup, our top priority at this time.
Next month, we'll place the final deposit on the boat for approximately 500,000 USDs. By then, our total investment in this DX expedition will exceed 1.5 million USDs. Every contribution helps us manage the significant costs involved, and we welcome donations via PayPal at (donate@3y0k.com) to help cover part of the equipment cost.
We're also looking for additional operators to join the team. If you're interested in being part of this extraordinary adventure, please contact us at (admin@3y0.no).
Thank you for your support and enthusiasm; this trip wouldn't be possible without them!
Update August 27, 2025: "3Y0K have paid the 400,000 USDs vessel deposit today! This weekend the team meet in Oslo for packing the container, and it will be shipped in 1 month. Our plans are firm, and we have lined up the equipment in a staged approach, where equipment will be taken onshore with helicopter."
Update August 20, 2025: James, KB2FMH, posted the following: "We are pleased to announce our newest 3Y0K team member, Max Freedman, N4ML!
Max is 21 years old and has been licensed since 2015 and became an Amateur Extra in 2023.
He is active on HF chasing DX and contesting and can be heard from the ARRL HQ station W1HQ as Max works for the ARRL as a support specialist / education and learning.
We and Max thank the Northern California DX Foundation (NCDXF) for their commitment to the support of youth joining the DXpedition community by covering his team fee for Bouvet 2026. This is a milestone opportunity for Max - likely the youngest person ever to be part of an expedition such as this one."
Update August 15, 2025: All equipment bound for Oslo this and next week. The logistics involved in getting all the equipment selected, designed, tested, packed and shipped to Norway has involved many persons, manufacturers, helpers and hard work for a long time. We started developing the 3Y0K DX-pedition in April 2023, and it has taken us more than 2 years to get to this stage where soon all the equipment will be loaded into a container located in Nittedal, just outside Oslo, Norway. This container will not only be loaded with equipment, but other essentials like tents, provisions, safety and emergency equipment, evacuation gear, QRO generators and a lot more.
Our goal is to conduct a safe and sound DX-pedition where our ability to adapt to the changing conditions is important. Four team members have experience from Bouvet Island 2023, and know what to expect - I can guarantee we will get onshore!
We hope to be loud with the Icom America Inc radios and ACOM amplifiers supported by DX Engineering hardware.
In 2 weeks we pay the 400,000 USDs vessel deposit and at the time we ship the container in mid-September, we have spent 1,000,000 USDs in total on this DX-pedition and thousands of hours hard work.
73 Ken, LA7GIA
Update August 10, 2025: The operator fee has increased by an average of 40%. If you want to support the Bouvet Island effort please donate via donate@3y0k.com. In a few weeks time the team pay $400,000 vessel deposit and by that time they will have paid in total appr0x $1,000,000, reports Ken LA7GIA.
Update August 7, 2025: Due to legal issues brought to the team’s attention, it has been decided in the best interest of the team, sponsors, and supporters that the 3Y0K lottery be cancelled.
Everyone who purchased tickets, will be fully refunded via PayPal. We apologize for any inconvenience or misunderstandings. Thank you for your support!
Team 3Y0K
Update August 2, 2025: 3Y0K has started an online lottery to raise funds for their 2026 DXpedition to Bouvet Island. The tickets are $10, visit the lottery webpage for details.
Update July 27, 2025: Press Release
Earlier this year we signed a vessel contract with Icetugs and a helicopter contract with Ultimate Aviation departing for Bouvet Island in February 2026.
In August we will start packing our container, and complete packing in mid-September for all the equipment going onshore to Bouvet Island.The team will meet in Oslo for two workshops to make this happen. Currently, shipments are on their way to Norway from the USA, Italy and Bulgaria. Our equipment sponsors such as DX Engineering, ACOM, ICOM, RF Power, Spiderpole and RigExpert all make a difference in executing one of the most challenging DX-peditions ever.
We will depart from Cape Town February 1st 2026, and the DX-pedition is scheduled for 36 days. We intend to stay around the island for more than 21 days, which will provide us with enough time to wait for good conditions to land the team and all the equipment. Our plans are sound and adaptable to the conditions we expect to meet. Four team members have previous experience from the 2023 3Y0J DX-pedition to Bouvet. In addition, we have hired two external expedition support companies to assist us in landing and camp setup. These companies have demonstrated skill in expedition support in remote areas, emergency evacuations and safety preparedness in both the Arctic and Antarctica climates.
In a few weeks we are paying our second vessel deposit in the order of 360,000 USDs. This deposit, coupled with other expenses have resulted in nearly 1,000,000 USDs in payments to make this DX-pedition happen. With a budget of around 1,700,000 USDs, we continue to seek donations to assist us in this activation.
Our team wishes to use this opportunity to thank all the clubs, associations, and foundations, as well as individuals who have already provided us with their generous support. Going to such remote places would not be possible without everyone’s contributions. Meanwhile, we invite people to visit our website at (www.3y0k.com) and consider making a donation using the respective button or directly via PayPal; (donate@3y0k.com) to help us offset some of our costs. Every donation helps offset the cost of the DX-pedition, and is greatly appreciated by the team, and helps ensure the success of this DX-pedition.
You can follow our plans at (www.3y0k.com) or through our trusted media news sites: The Daily DX, EA1CS DX info and DX-World.
We are still seeking more operators. Those interested should contact us at (admin@3y0.no).
Thank you,
73, Team 3Y0K
Update July 9, 2025: "We are still seeking two more operators for Bouvet Island 2026. Please get in touch if you are interested! Email: admin@3y0.no "
Update June 19, 2025: The 3Y0K team has received a major $20,000 grant from INDEXA which is their largest grant ever. This grant is important for the team as we prepare for the next few month’s activities.
We are preparing for packing the container that will be shipped from Oslo in early October. Our next vessel deposit in the order of $400,000 is also due in two months’ time.
With the container shipment and the second vessel deposit in near future the team is having full focus on these two major milestones.
Thanks to INDEXA for the major grant, it is these kinds of donations that make DX happen! Anyone who want to support our attempt to activate Bouvetøya in February 2026 are welcomed to that by donating via paypal to (donate@3y0k.com).
73, 3Y0K team
Update May 22, 2025: "All 3Y0K antennas are generously provided by Krassy, K1LZ. The team has chosen to use monobander antennas for 20, 15 and 10m. These will be 3 elements on 20m, 4 elements on 15m and 5 elements on 10m. All antennas manufactured in Bulgaria and custom made for Bouvetøya with low weight, but high strength. High gain monobanders and Acom amplifiers will give us a good signal all over the world. With two radio tents and 8 stations as a realistic setup, the plans for building the camp are materializing. The team is putting in a lot of hours into making this DXpedition a success.You can make this DXpedition a success by donating via paypal to donate@3y0k.com)."
Update May 2, 2025: The 3Y0K team met in Oslo, Norway for the first team development workshop and equipment shakedown today and will be there through the 4th of May.
They are in great spirits and are having fun setting up some of the tents they will use for stations and quarters.
The larger tents, as used during the 3Y0J adventure, are supplied by Arctiv Lavvo and the smaller ones for sleeping are provided by Barent's Outdoor.
We'd like to especially thank the GDXF (German DX Foundation) for their very generous donation of 10,000 Euros - they are just one of the major sponsors for Bouvet '26.
Another supporter, DX-World, supplied the proper tool to open the shipping container, shown with Adrian, Cezar and John as the happily try it for the first time.
They also tried some of the MREs that will feed them on the island for lunch and then sat for a nice dinner after a productive day's work.
Antennas will be built and tested for proper tuning before being packaged for shipping. This saves a lot of time once they land with all antennas marked before packing along with the required tools needed to assemble them quickly as the stations are built at Cape Fie next February.
To learn more and make Your donation, please visit 3y0k.com and click that donate button - every contribution helps offset the tremendous cost for this great adventure.
Thanks for looking,
James, KB2FMH
Pilot, Media and Marketing
Update March 25, 2025: The upcoming 3Y0K DXpedition is now in its final planning stages and additionaldetails are available on their website at https://3y0k.com/
Duringa discussion with KO8SCA today, it was noted that the team has achieved about 90% of its planned operating budget and is now within reach of its finalfunding goal.
Aprimary objective of the team is to operate from two locations where mirroring of operations will allow simultaneous operation from both sites on all bands at the same time. For example, onelocation might operate on CW or SSB and the other site on FT8 with sufficient physical and RF separation between the two locations to facilitate the maximumrate possible per hour to be achieved.
While this DXpedition has been meticulously planned by a management team led by Ken Opskar, LA7GIA, any operation from Bouvet requires not only operator skill,sound planning, and a prayer for fair weather to land safely on the island – it also requires good luck because man does not make the rules on Bouvet – “Mother Nature” will play a major role in this operation’s destiny. And despite the best of planning, it is just not possible to predict how they team will fare. It is possible though to review the planning to date and then make an assessment as to the likelihood of this team’s success.
At this juncture, here is a “thumbnail sketch” of some 3Y0K strengths:
a) This is an excellent,well-balanced team in a strong position to have a positive outcome.
b) The team will have a helicopter,two pilots a mechanic and a clearly defined ruleset under law governing the decision to fly to the island when weather permits.
c) Low band antennas designed by K1LZ have been ruggedized for the conditions on Bouvet with backup, spare,heavy-duty fiberglass masts available if needed.
d) Monoband yagis will be used for the higher HF bands
e) The DXpedition schedule is very flexible with time planned around or on the island of three weeks
f) A very strong implementation team of K1LZ, K3JO, LU9ESD and RN5M exists. The K1LZ team is well-known around the worldf or its primary station operations in Maine, and from its sister station operations at LZ5R, ED8X and 6Y1LZ.
So What’s the Bottom Line?
Thisg roup is probably the strongest operator and installation team ever assembled to mount a successful operation on Bouvet. They have developed a logical, well-thought-out plan and have attempted to manage specifics down to the smallest detail. They are now asking for additional support so they can execute the operating plan. They especially aim to have a very strongpresence on the lowbands.
Membersof the team will be attending Visalia and Dayton and will be available to answer questions from Dxers at the ICOM and DX Engineering booths both of whomare major sponsors of 3Y0K.
Please consider supporting this operation via the links available on the homepage atthe https://3y0k.com/ website. Thank you for your consideration.
73 JEFF K1ZM/VY2ZM
Update March 17, 2025: In February 2026 or in less than a year an international team of 24 amateur radio operators will land on Bouvet Island. Bouvet is a Norwegian overseas territory and lies in the South Atlantic Ocean, with 93% of its surface covered by ice and snow. It sets the record as the Most Remote Uninhabited Island on Earth, and ranks #10 on the Most Wanted DXCC listing at ClubLog.
Operating as 3Y0K, our team will attempt to give as many ATNOs as possible and be active in all amateur radio bands from 10 to 160m. We will direct our attention to human modes but will be active in CW, SSB, FT8, RTTY and QO-100 satellite using up to 12 stations.
We have the necessary permit to land on Bouvet Island by helicopter, issued by the Norwegian Polar Institute. Our plan is to start the sea journey in Cape Town, South Africa, from where an icebreaker under Icelandic flag we’ll take us to the island in 7 days. Since landing depends on the weather conditions, we are scheduled to be on and around the island for up to 21 days. A helicopter will assist us in bringing ashore a significant amount of equipment to setup a camp with two radio tents. One radio tent on the lower area of Cape Fie, and one radio tent on the upper area with better take off to NA. Upper camp will focus on working NA.
The logistics behind this project is complex and requires a budget of $1.65M. Most of the money is used to pay for the services offered by the icebreaker and its crew, the helicopter with its two pilots and one mechanic, as well as the fuel. Each team member is contributing a significant amount to the budget, and they will also incur additional costs for commercial airfare, two side trips to Norway required by various tasks, winter sleeping bags and clothing, etc.
Passionate amateur operators and clubs around the world as well as multiple companies are supporting this project. As prime example, Northern California DX Foundation (NCDXF) have pledged up to $200K, of which half matched against donations received from outside of North America. Companies such as DX Engineering, Icom, RF Power and ACOM are supporting the team with a multitude of radio equipment components. We also teamed up with a small private group to share the large costs of the DXpedition.
Please visit our website to read more about this project, the team, the latest news, and learn about the complex preparations the team is engaged in to ensure that its mission will be executed safely and successfully. At this time, we are looking to raise an additional $200K to avoid putting further financial strain on the team.
Your financial support is critical, so please consider donating either directly and/or through the clubs, associations, and foundations that you are members of. We will be only happy to make a Zoom presentation about this project to the membership of your organization at a time of your convenience. Meanwhile, we intend to continuously track the level of fundraising on our expedition website to inform everyone as to where we are in this endeavor.
Thank you in advance for your support, and look forward to contacting you from the Most Remote Uninhabited Island on Earth!
Update March 14, 2025: "We purchased an open sided container for Bouvet and Peter I that arrived at our staging area in Oslo, Norway today."
Ken, LA7GIA,
Update February 1, 2025: "In one year, on February 1, 2026, we will be leaving Cape Town for Bouvet Island. Follow our adventure on (3y0k.com) with Icetugs and Ultimate Aviation. Preparations are moving forward at full speed."
Ken, LA7GIA,
Update January 20, 2025: Today we have paid our first deposits for the helicopter and vessel contracts in total around $450,000. Paying the deposit as part of the contract signing shows a major commitment from the team, and we will now start the detailed planning.
During the course of the next few weeks we will study and determine the station and antenna setup to be used at Bouvet Island. With our previous experience from the island and the local conditions we will make sure to adapt the setup and QTH to maximize the team effort. We will also look for synergies with the upcoming Peter I expedition as the intention is that the equipment we select for Bouvet to the extent possible also will be used at Peter I. Looking at synergies between the two expeditions will make it more efficient for both teams.
Please help us offset some of our cost by donating either through our website (www.3y0k.com) or directly via PayPal (donate@3y0k.com).
Thank you! 73, 3Y0K
Update January 10, 2025: 3Y0K DXpedition to Bouvet Island, 1st February 2026
- Where we will stay for about 3 weeks on the island
- Team of 18-24 operators
- Budget $1,675,000
We are pleased to announce the completion of a major milestone having signed a contract with ICETUGS (https://icetugs.com/) which will take us to Bouvet Island in February 2026. ICETUGS, an Iceland based company, has an excellent track record in providing services for expeditions, cargo and fuel supply, towing as well as rescue and camp setting up in the Arctic and Antarctic regions. We also report the signing of the helicopter contract with Ultimate Aviation based in Cape Town. This group will provide us with a helicopter, two pilots and a mechanic for this project. Their crew has extensive experience in offshore operations in Antarctica, Marion, Gough and da Cunha Islands, including ship to shore, sling and hoist operations associated with police force, military and private projects. This year they celebrate 10 years of operations in Antarctica 2015-2205. We are confident that the helicopter and boat crew will make a big difference to us in activating Bouvet Island.
We will be leaving Cape Town on 1st February, 2026, and the DX expedition is scheduled for 36 days. We intend to stay on the island for 21+ days which will give us enough time to wait for good conditions to disembark the team and all equipment. The leaders have previous experience landing on Bouvet Island in 2023 and together with the entire team are prepared and committed to the revival of Bouvet. We obtained the helicopter permit 6 months ago and with the 3Y0K license in hand we have all the necessary approvals to go ashore.
Our first deposit of $450,000 will be paid on January 20th, 2025. Given the overall budget of $1,675,000, we are partnering with a small private group to share the costs. Our team would like to take this opportunity to thank all the clubs, associations and foundations, as well as individuals who have already given us their support. Going to such remote places would not be possible without these generous contributions. In the meantime, we invite those who have not yet done so to visit our website (www.3y0k.com) and consider making a donation using the appro-riate button or directly through PayPal (donate@3y0k.com) to help us offset some of our costs.
We are grateful to NCDXF for supporting our expedition. There will be two grants of up to $200,000 in total. The first will be a down payment of $100,000. The second will be a dollar-for-dollar donation up to $100,000. The donation will be a challenge for clubs and amateurs to donate prior to the DXpedition. Please help us reach this goal.
You can follow our plans at (www.3y0k.com) or through our trusted media outlets The Daily DX and EA1CS DX info. You can contact us at (admin@3y0.no) or through our press officer James, KB2FMH. We are also looking for more operators. Interested parties should contact us at (admin@3y0.no).
Our DX Peter I expedition (https://3y0l.com/)is on track as we have received entry permission from NPI and will sign a contract with ICETUGS to take us there in 2027. We will provide more information at a later stage.
Thank you, 73, Team 3Y0K
Update October 26, 2024: From Ken, LA7GIA:
The Bouvet 2026 3Y0K team is still working on the contracts for the boats and helicopters and we are in the final stages before signing the contracts. We are sorting out the last minute agreements and we are still looking for more operators for the Bouvet team......Funding for these two DX expeditions is also highly dependent on us getting a full team of operators on board who will contribute their participation fee. If you would like to join our team, please contact (admin@3y0.no) or Cezar, VE3LYC directly.
We estimate that we will stay on the island for three weeks and the total duration should be about 38 days for Bouvet. We have all helicopter and landing permits issued by NPI to go ashore on Bouvet with a large scale operation. DX planning is time consuming as logistics need to be coordinated with other expeditions and that is why it takes time to sign contracts. Our plans are to use the same ship for both DX expeditions. First, the ship and crew will take us to Bouvet where we will land with a helicopter, then our equipment and materials will be shipped to South America and stored there before returning a year later to go to Peter I Island.
Thank you, 73, Bouvet team and Peter I
Update September 18, 2024: By LA7GIA - "This is a logistically challenging project, where ships and helicopters have to be coordinated, contracts have to be made well in advance. We have studied several offers for ship and helicopter services, in line with the scope of this project. Due to the postponement from 2025 to 2026, we also had to renegotiate the terms. We are now in the final stage of negotiating the ship and helicopter contracts for the 3Y0K DX expedition to Bouvet Island planned for 2026 (www.3y0k.com). We have agreed on the important price elements in these contracts and will publish more information once we have all the full details.
For now, our goal is to fully fund this trip in advance. This is a major DX expedition where we are also partnering with a small private group to share the cost and risk of this expedition. In addition, funding for this trip is highly dependent on us building a team of 20 operators to fund the budget. We are 14 operators and are actively looking for another 6 operators to complete the team . As we approach the final stage of negotiations, we are again asking for anyone who would like to join our team to take part in this once in a lifetime adventure. We estimate that we will stay on the island for 21 days and the total duration should be around 40 days. If you would like to join our team, please contact (admin@3y0.no) or Cezar, VE3LYC, directly. For Peter I, we are still looking for another 3 operators before the team is complete."
Update August 18, 2024: By LA7GIA - "We are still looking for operators for our Bouvet 2026 and Peter I Island 2027 DXpeditions. We’ll have a team of more than 20 operators, using a large vessel and helicopters to get ashore. If interested, please contact us at admin@3y0.no"
Update July 17, 2024:We are still negotiating contracts for the DXpedition to Bouvet Island. This DXpedition will be a large scale operation with 20-24 operators and we are looking for 4-6 more CW/SSB operators to complete the team.
We are looking at various options on how to run the expedition, where the focus now is on helicopter logistics. Previously, at the end of June, we received the helicopter permit from the Norwegian Polar Institute and therefore have all the permits we need to activate Bouvetøya. The helicopter permit allows us to set up camp on the SE or SW side of the island.
In 1927, the first expedition from Norway landed on Bouvetøya and claimed it for Norway. They also landed on “Larsøya”, a small rocky island in the SW part of Bouvetøya. Our entry permit extends from the plateau above this SW corner to the SE part at Cape Fie. 99 years after the expedition to Norway we plan to land on Bouvetøya with helicopters.
Our permit is valid for a helicopter operation in the period November 2025 to March 2026 .
Update June 26, 2024, by LA7GIA:Today 3Y0K received the helicopter permit from Norwegian Polar Institute to make landing in the period November 2025 to March 2026. Permit allow us to setup camp at the plateau above Larsya (South West) with clear take-off to North America to Cape Fie (South East).
Update June 17, 2024:The landing and operations plan is being revised. We are developing a team of seasoned expeditioners and will post when set. Dates: January 2026
Update June 4, 2024:We have temporarily suspended Donations. Existing sailboat contract have been cancelled and there will be no January 2025 operation.
We are currently negotiating the contract for a large expedition vessel + helicopter operation to take place 2026.
DX news and calendar: 3Y0K
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