Update May 22, 2025: I’m pleased to inform you that today I received the printed QSL cards for PZ5IP – Papegaaiën Island, IOTA SA-092 from the printer. The cards were produced based on the official design and include all necessary references.

All QSL requests received via OQRS have been prepared and will be mailed today via the Brazilian postal service.

Thank you for your patience and support.

Best 73, Renato Araujo – PY8WW / PZ5IP

Update April 10, 2025: By Renato PY8WW: I’m planning to return to IOTA SA-092 for a solo operation on April 11th, 12th and 13th, depending on conditions. This will be a low-profile activation, as I’ll be travelling light and operating with a simple setup: a quick-deploy vertical antenna and a 45Ah battery.

The plan is to operate during low tide and leave the island once the tide starts to rise. I’ll be in the region on work duty in Skeldon, Guyana, a location close to the island, which gives me a good opportunity to activate it again.

Update April 3, 2025:  By Renato PY8WW

Our expedition team, consisting of Renato/PY8WW, Rico/PZ5JW, and Klaus/DL8TG, gathered at Rico/PZ5JW's house on March 31st. At 11 PM, we departed with two pickup trucks loaded with all necessary equipment, including antennas, tables, a generator, batteries, tents, food, and potable water.

We arrived at 4:30 AM at the Clarapolder port in western Suriname, near the Corantyne River estuary, where our boatman was already waiting. High tide was expected at 6 AM, so we set sail exactly at that time. After a 30-minute boat ride, we landed at our chosen operating site—a small sandy strip where we could clear a space and set up our station. Papegaaien
Island is covered with dense, impenetrable vegetation, and much of it becomes flooded during high tide.

By 10 AM, all antennas were set up, but our first major challenge emerged: the boat could not dock due to the receding tide. The second trip was supposed to bring our generator, battery, and fuel drums, but we had to wait until 5 PM for the tide to rise again, allowing our boatman to deliver the equipment.

Operations commenced with PY8WW handling a massive pile-up on 21 MHz SSB, Rico operating on 18 MHz SSB, and Klaus running FT8 on 28 MHz. However, at 10 PM, a powerful storm hit us with strong winds and heavy waves. We had to scramble to protect our equipment and laptops while also securing our tents from being blown away. For safety reasons, we decided to pause operations. The night continued with relentless rain and strong winds.

By the morning of April 2nd, the rain had eased, and the sun appeared, allowing us to rebuild our station. The day proceeded with good weather and favorable openings toward Europe and North America. During the grey-line period, we logged many stations from Asia and the South Pacific. However, our relief was short-lived. The weather suddenly deteriorated
again, bringing strong winds, torrential rain, and high waves due to the coinciding high tide. Another dreadful night followed as we struggled against the harsh conditions.

On the morning of April 3rd, we woke up to heavy rain. Given the forecast predicting two more days of severe weather, our team convened and decided to end the expedition for our safety. We logged a total of 2,000 QSOs—a lower number than we had hoped for, considering that many IOTA chasers needed SA-092. However, we left knowing we had done our best. The expedition provided us with valuable experience for future operations. Unfortunately, the weather forecast had deceived us, initially predicting good conditions throughout our stay. The rapid and unexpected weather changes proved to be our greatest challenge.

Update April 1, 2025: I would like to update you on the expedition to IOTA SA-092. We arrived on the island in the morning, set up the antennas, and waited for a new window with the high tide. The island has a significant tidal range—at low tide, we have almost 700 meters of beach, while at high tide, just under 5 meters remain.

Everything was going smoothly until around 23:30 UTC, when we were caught off guard by a strong storm with intense winds. We had to rush to protect our equipment by wrapping it in plastic. Tomorrow, we will reassess operations.

PY8WW 

Update March 31, 2025: Tomorrow  April 1st , the team consisting of Rico (PZ5JW), Renato (PY8WW), and Klaus (DL8TG) will depart from Paramaribo at 00:30, heading toward the border with Guyana. Their goal is to reach IOTA SA-092 before dawn, taking advantage of the high tide to facilitate landing on the island.

SA-092 is completely uninhabited, meaning the team will need to clear an area and set up a camp upon arrival. They will remain on the island full-time for four days, operating non-stop. More updates will be shared throughout the expedition.

Stay tuned! 
73, PY8WW

Update March 25, 2025: Dates are April 1-4, 2025. The Telecommunicatie Autoriteit Suriname (TAS) confirmed the activation.

Renato/PY8WW, Rico/PZ5JW, and Klaus/DL8TG will be active as PZ5IP from Papegaaien Island (SA-092) during the first week of April. The island is located at the mouth of the Corantine River, on the border between Suriname and Guyana (8R). The team plans to operate on 40-10 meters using CW, SSB and the Digital modes.

Papegaaien Island is difficult to access and is heavily influenced by tidal conditions, making this a challenging activation.

QSL via PY8WW OQRS.