Update March 11, 2025:  VK9CU is now QRT. Last QSO was with ZL3TX on 21.074 mHz at 05:31z in FT8.
We logged next to 35k QSOs from Cocos (Keeling) Islands. We are now all waiting for our flights back home. Upon return, we will also provide a few pictures for the gallery - during the DXpedition, we simply had no time to do this. Thanks to all supporters, to all those who worked us, and to all that kept dispipline on the bands on highest level. 73!

Update March 10, 2025: All bands are very busy and QSO count increases rapidly. We will approach 30K by end of our activity. No major failures or storms anymore. Relocation of the antennas improved the low band situation significantly and we have been very active on the low bands since.

Update March 7, 2025: A tropical storm went by. Even though its core was some 800km awyay, it was still good enough to drive our adrenalin levels up and our 30m J-pole antenna down. This had to be repaired. The storm also caused temporary loss of internet connection and ClubLog livestream. The current 80/160m antenna setup does not work. We will re-locate that antenna tomorrow (March 8) and hope for improvement.

Update March 4, 2025: They are already active from Cocos Keeling. 

Update January 25, 2025:  our DXpedition team has only three weeks to departure and a lot of preparation work is still ongoing. Always surprising how much preparation work such a DXpedition needs…

Equipment update: FlexRadios 6600 and 8600, Yaesu FTDX10, Icom IC7300; amplifiers: 4x FlexRadio PGXL, roWaves PA1000+, SPE Expert 1.3K; antennas: Hexbeam 20-6m; DX-Commander 40-10m; Rhombic 17/12m; vertical 160/80m; J-Pole 30m

73, Elmar DF4GV

Update January 18, 2025:

Operating Plan:
They will operate three stations 24/7 with 400w on 160-6 meters (no 60m allowed), using CW, SSB, FT8/FT4 ( F/H mode, or Super Fox) and RTTY. QSL both operations to DL2AWG.

Operating Frequencies
Please always listen to the instructions of the operator!

Band     CW         SSB         RTTY     FT8
160m   1826.4      -               -         1836
80m     3533      3670           -         3570
40m     7002  7092/7192  7043   7056
30m     10102     -             10143   10133
20m     14033   14210     14095   14095
17m     18085   18130     18106   18095
15m     21033   21275     21095   21095
12m     24905   24955     24925   24911
10m     28033   28465     28110   28095
6m       50105    50125         -        50313

These planned frequencies are subject to change, depending on QRM and condx.

Please do not call us on our transmit frequency. We will always work split. Please avoid dupes.

We will only operate one station per band.

For FT8, we will use WSJTX on the announced frequencies. We may possibly test SuperFox-WSJT-X.

All hunters can call us in normal mode with locator/grid and stay on their frequency even for answering.

All FT8 stations are manned. We will strive to give weak stations a fair chance. Digital QSOs will only be logged after having sent RR73 or 73.

If internet availability allows, we will upload our log daily. Only if in doubt, work us again. No log corrections during the expedition.

Remark: Australia does not allow use of 60m.

Logsearch & OQRS
Please avoid dupes on the same band and mode.
Check our online log, available on ClubLog. Our log will be uploaded at least daily (provided internet connectivity is available).

Should internet connectivity be good enough, then we might possibly use LiveStream on ClubLog.

Please wait with OQRS until the end of the (VK9CU) DXpedition.

As announced in September, members of the German and Australian DXpedition Group will be active from Cocos Keeling and Christmas Island in 2025.

Operators Guenter/DL2AWG (Leader), Steve/VK6SJ, Elmar/DF4GV, Heye/DJ9RR and Rainer/DL2AMD, will be active as VK9XU from Christmas Island between February 18th and March 4th, 2025.

They will also be active as VK9CU from West Island, Cocos Keeling Island between March 4-12th.

They will operate three stations 24/7 with 400w on 160-6 meters (no 60m allowed), using CW, SSB, FT8/FT4 ( F/H mode, or Super Fox) and RTTY.

Equipment mentioned: FlexRadios 6600 and 8600, Yaesu FTDX10, Icom IC7300; amplifiers: 4x FlexRadio PGXL, roWaves PA1000+, SPE Expert 1.3K; antennas: Hexbeam 20-6m; DX-Commander 40-10m; Rhombic 17/12m; vertical 160/80m; J-Pole 30m

QSL both operations to DL2AWG.