Update February 17, 2026: Lakshadweep, India - The AU7RS DXpedition team provides today's update, highlighting its ongoing operations in the Lakshadweep Islands. The team made several attempts to operate on 6m, utilizing both mono band and hex beam antennas, but unfortunately, no propagation was observed.

The team is trying to capitalize on favorable propagation on other bands, achieving good results on 15m and 30m, particularly during sunrise and sunset times to North America. A new 160m antenna has been set up to attempt propagation on this challenging band.

QO-100 satellite operations will cease today, and equipment is being prepared for shipping. Logs and donor lists will be updated by February 25, 2026, and handled by QSL Manager Charles, M0OXO.

Update February 16, 2026: AU7RS DXpedition Expresses Gratitude and Announces SuperFox Activation

Lakshadweep, India - The AU7RS DXpedition team extends its sincere gratitude to the Northern California DX Foundation (NCDXF) and individuals Glen and Rich for their support in activating the SuperFox mode for AU7RS. This support has enabled the team to provide All Time New Ones (ATNOs) to DXers in need.

The team wishes to inform DXers that during the North America window, one station will be activated in SuperFox mode, calling only North American stations to provide ATNOs. When operating in SuperFox mode, the team will post the frequency and mode on the cluster.

"When not in SuperFox mode, the team will operate in Fox-Hound mode only," said the team leader. DXers are invited to hunt AU7RS/VU7 in both modes.

The AU7RS DXpedition team appreciates the support of NCDXF and looks forward to working with the global DX community.

Update February 15, 2026: Lakshadweep, India - The AU7RS DXpedition team is pleased to announce the extension of its operations in the Lakshadweep Islands until February 18, 2026. This decision was made possible by the generous support of the Northern California DX Foundation and Northern Illinois DX Inc., who have contributed $1000 and $500 respectively to the team's efforts.

The financial support will enable the team to extend its stay and focus on enhancing coverage to North America, particularly on 10m and 12m bands, which are in high demand. The team is also actively operating on 80m, but notes that 160m propagation has been challenging. Enhanced antenna systems will improve coverage on these bands.

"We appreciate the support of these esteemed organizations," said the team leader. "This extension allows us to further our objectives and provide more opportunities for DXers worldwide to contact Lakshadweep Islands (AS-011 IOTA)."

AU7RS/VU7 remains active on HF bands and QO-100 satellite. DXers are invited to contact the team.

Update February 13, 2026: Please find our updated band plan below. Due to current propagation conditions at our location, we are adjusting our operating modes to maximize contact opportunities for as many stations as possible.

We will primarily start with digital modes and transition to SSB and CW as conditions improve. When we are operating SSB and indicate we are "listening 5-10 up," please use your complete call sign and spread across the spectrum to improve efficiency.

Today, we will be switching more frequently to voice on 10m and 12m, as well as 15m CW.

Updated Band Plan

Please use our callsign AU7RS/VU7 in clusters. For any queries, please contact me at sara@vu2rs.com.

Thank you for your cooperation. We look forward to making contact with you.

Best regards,

Sarath VU2RS

Update February 12, 2026:  We are happy to inform you all that we have three antennas up now, and we expect to have five antennas operational by this evening. Our current setup includes a Hexbeam/Multiband Vertical and a Monoband 40M. The 80M and 160M antennas will be ready by the end of the day.

The 40M antenna gave good reports to North America, especially during our sunrise. We will try the sunset and sunrise windows today, as these are good times for North and South American stations. So far, we have completed 4,000 contacts, and we expect this number to improve starting today.

Once the dedicated 10M/6M beam is up, we will be able to continue with three stations. We will be active on SSB and CW when propagation favors and signals are strong. We have also installed one loop antenna and will put up another if required to manage noise. We experienced some sudden noise interference during the early hours today, but conditions have since improved.

Regarding QO-100, we encountered some issues with our current location. We have identified an alternative site where we will place the setup along with the 10M beam pointing toward Europe. Please note that the short path to Europe is currently blocked by coconut trees. We recommend trying the long path during sunset and sunrise. We will also attempt the long path for 160M today.

Best regards,

Sarath VU2RS

Update February 11, 2026:  The AU7RS DXpedition has began from Agatti Island, Lakshadweep Island, and should be active (possibly) until February 25, 2026. Activity has been
on 20/12/10m using SSB and FT8. Operations are planned for 160-6m.

Update February 4, 2026: Further to our update yesterday regarding the AU7RS DXpedition, we are happy to inform you that we have received our permit through February 15th. We plan to extend this and make additional payments for our stay to provide as many operating days as possible.

Additionally, our permission from the WPC has been extended until February 25, 2026.. We intend to stay for as long as possible; we have kept our return tickets open and will continue to extend the expedition based on the support we receive.

For those who wish to contribute, our PayPal is info@sreetek.com. You can find more details on our website at www.vu2rs.com/vu7r (https://www.vu2rs.com/vu7r). Our QSL manager is Charles, M0OXO.

Thank you for your continued support.

Best regards,

Sarath VU2RS

Update February 3, 2026: Due to weight restrictions on the current vessel, a portion of our equipment has been delayed and is now scheduled for the next voyage from Kochi to Agatti on February 7, 2026. Consequently, our arrival at the resort is now expected on the evening of February 8, 2026.

While we originally intended to begin operations on the morning of February 8, we will now commence on February 10, 2026. We plan to have two stations on the air by 12:00 UTC and will gradually increase the number of active stations. To compensate for this delay, we intend to extend our stay on the island, subject to accommodation and logistics support.

We remain committed to maximizing contact opportunities for the global amateur radio community throughout this expedition.

I would like to personally thank Drew, K3PA, for his invaluable assistance in preparing the North America propagation forecasts. You can find the band-specific propagation maps here: 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1hf_weHWVuKk6mJM7rYqhTT5LSIecFYOh/view?usp=sharing

These models assume antennas at a 35-foot height on the beach, 300 W transmission power, and a typical DXer receiving station.

Our updated flight tickets have been secured. For those who wish to support the expedition, our PayPal is info@sreetek.com and further updates can be found on our website: http://www.vu2rs.com/vu7r (http://www.vu2rs.com/vu7r).

Thank you for your understanding and continued support.

Best regards,

Sarath Babu Rayaprolu
Team Leader, AU7RS DXpedition

Update February 2, 2026: I am happy to inform you that all material that reached Kochi has been transported to Agatti Resorts for the AU7RS operation. The total weight is nearly 400kg, which includes generators, the DX Commander, Spiderbeam poles, 10M and Hexbeam antennas, coax, power cables, and all necessary accessories.

Regarding our permits, the application was submitted some time ago, and we expect them to arrive approximately three days before our departure to the island.

Any support for this project is welcome. Our PayPal ID is info@sreetek.com, and you can find more information on our website at http://www.vu2rs.com/vu7r).

Best regards,

Sarath VU2RS

Update January 21, 2026: Hey everyone! 🙋 We've got some bittersweet news to share. As you know, we've been gearing up for our Lakshadweep Islands DXpedition, and we're super stoked to finally get going! 🎉 However, due to delays in customs clearance and international shipping, we've had to postpone our trip a bit.

The Wait is (Almost) Over!
Good news is, all our equipment has finally arrived in Cochin! 🎉 Our antennas, generators, and other gear are all accounted for, and we're just waiting for the final checks before we head to Agatti Island.

New Dates:
Our revised schedule has us operating from February 8-14, 2026. We'll be live on all bands (160m-6m) with QO-100 activity, focusing on:

    40m, 80m, and 160m for North America (fingers crossed for some great propagation! 😊)
    10M SSB - we're optimistic about making some SSB magic happen 💪

Meet the Team:

    Sarath, VU2RS
    Anil, VU3DXA
    Adersh, VU24DX
    Renju, VU29AR
    Girish, VU3GDS

We're a seasoned team with a passion for amateur radio, and we're excited to share our adventure with you all! 🌟

Support Us:
Your contributions will help us make this DXpedition a huge success! 💖 If you'd like to support us, our PayPal is info@sreetek.com. Every bit counts, and we'll make sure it's put to good use 🙏.

Update January 15, 2026: I am writing to provide an update on our progress and the current status of our equipment shipments.

We are pleased to inform you that the shipment from Germany, including the additional taxes, has finally reached Kochi. However, the Dx Commander shipment is still held by customs. They have requested numerous documents, which we are providing promptly, and we hope to have this cleared within the week.

Due to these delays in receiving materials and the subsequent need to ship everything to Agatti, it is unlikely we will be able to proceed as originally planned this week. Consequently, we have sent an email to the WPC to request an extension of our license until February 13, 2025. This extension will provide us with the necessary time to include foreign reciprocal operators in the team, finalize the island selection, and complete the transfer of all materials. This buffer ensures that, even with further complications, we will have enough time to be on the island for a minimum of 8 to 10 days of operation.

Regarding costs, we are paying approximately 50% in customs duties for these items, in addition to what has already been paid for the antennas we have received. Our setup currently includes two 1 kW amplifiers (VK-Amps) with filters pending, and we anticipate having two ICOM IC-7300 MkII units available for use.

Any support is welcome as we work through these logistics. We hope to announce a definitive schedule soon to clear up any ambiguity regarding our timeline.

Best regards, Sarath VU2RS

Update January 9, 2026: Bummer news, but we've got to postpone the Lakshadweep Island DXpedition 😔. Our Spiderbeam and DX Commander antennas, crucial for 160m/80m ops, got stuck due to shipment delays 🙁. Material arrived end Dec, but UPS/Fedex put it on hold for holidays + customs issues 😐.

BUT - we've got some good stuff too! 🎉 Loop antennas are in, and we've added 2 x 1KW Amplifiers & 500Watt Power Amplifier to beef up our power 💪. Customs dept friends are helping us clear the mess, and remaining gear arrived in Kochi Jan 2026 👍.

We're waiting on WPC updates on foreign reciprocal licenses. If needed, we'll explore shifting to another island where foreign nationals are allowed 🐵. Police verifications are done, we're ready to roll!

We'll share new dates ASAP once customs clears our gear. Stay tuned, thanks for your patience and support 🙏!

Cheers,
Sarath (VU2RS)
Expedition Leader, AU7RS

Update December 29, 2025: The AU7RS team regrets to inform that our international members have withdrawn from the VU7 DXpedition due to Indian license issues and personal health grounds. 🙏

Despite submitting applications in October and continuous follow-ups, the department has not issued licenses for VU Calls, making it impossible for international team members to participate. With time running out, they've had to cancel flight tickets, incurring significant losses.

Additionally, our agent's application for Agatti permit for foreign hams was rejected by Lakshadweep authorities, impacting our plans.

The Indian team has applied for the Agatti permit and is moving forward with the DXpedition. We hope Indian licenses for foreign hams will arrive soon, allowing participation in future expeditions.

Cheers,
Sarath (VU2RS)
Expedition Leader, AU7RS

Update December 17, 2025: We're just a few days away from our highly anticipated AU7RS - Agatti, Lakshadweep Islands DX-pedition, scheduled to take place from 10th to 22nd January 2026! 📆

We're thrilled to announce that we've received support from the European Dx Foundation,  which is a huge boost to our efforts! 🙌 We would also like to extend our gratitude to  Jinofer Kavasji "Jino" Bhujwala, VU2JJJ, for his invaluable support to this expedition. Your contribution has not gone unnoticed, and we're honored to have you on board! 🙏

However, we still need your help to make this expedition a success. 🤝

The Challenge:

We're facing a significant funding shortfall, and the recent Indigo Flights cancellations have added to our woes. 🚫 But we're not giving up! We've got a solid backup plan in  place to ensure the expedition goes ahead as scheduled. 💪

Your Support Matters:

We're counting on your support to help us cover the costs of hospitality and shipping.  Every little bit counts, and we're grateful for any contribution you can make! 🙏

How to Support:

You can support us through PayPal by sending your donation to info@sreetek.com. Your generosity will help us make this expedition a reality and bring the magic of amateur radio to the beautiful Lakshadweep Islands! 🌴

Follow Our Journey:

Stay tuned for updates, photos, and videos from our expedition by following us on social media using the hashtag #AU7RS. We'll be sharing our experiences and adventures with you every step of the way! 📱

Thank You:

A huge thank you to everyone who has supported us so far, including Jinofer Kavasji "Jino" Bhujwala, VU2JJJ, and the European Dx Foundation! Your kindness and generosity mean the world to us. Let's make this expedition an unforgettable one! 🙏

Update December 9, 2025: Meet the Team:

1. Sarath VU2RS (India) - Team Leader
2. Adersh VU24DX (India)
3. Anil VU3DXA (India)
4. Girish VU3GDS (India)
5. Renju VU29AR (India)
6. Nodir EY8MM (Tajikistan)
7. Axel DL6KVA (Germany)
8. Hrane YT1AD (Serbia)
9. Serge R7KW (Russia)
10. Gerhard DJ5IW (Germany)
11. Keith VE7KW (Canada)

We Need Your Support!

We are facing a significant funds shortfall and urgently need support to procure necessary items for the expedition. We request everyone’s support to help us cover these costs. There are significant expenses, including accommodation, equipment transport, and import costs. Additionally, we will need to keep the station’s generators running for 13 days. Every dollar you contribute will greatly help the team during the preparation phase.

How to Support:

You can support the VU7 DXpedition by making a donation via PayPal to info@sreetek.com. Your contribution will help the team cover costs and make this expedition a success.

Benefits of Donating:

- We will mention you on our website and social media
- You will receive a special QSL card
- You will be acknowledged in our expedition report, which will feature photos and videos

QSL Information:

Our QSL Manager is Charles, M0OXO. Online request for OQRS will be uploaded after the expedition.

Thank you for your support! ¹ ²

Sarath, VU2RS

Update December 7, 2025:  QSL via M0OXO's OQRS.

Update November 29, 2025:  We are delighted to announce that the VU7 expedition has been assigned the callsign AU7RS by the Wireless Planning and Coordination Wing (WPC), Ministry of Communications, Government of India. This marks a significant milestone in the history of amateur radio in India, as it is the first time a VU7 callsign has been issued with the AU series.

The VU7 expedition, a multinational project, aims to activate the Lakshadweep Islands, a remote archipelago located off the coast of Kerala, India. The team, comprising experienced amateur radio operators from around the world, will operate from the islands, making contacts with fellow hams globally and promoting the spirit of amateur radio.

"We are thrilled to receive the AU7RS callsign, which is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our team," said Sarath VU2RS, leader of the VU7 expedition. "We are grateful to the WPC for their support and look forward to making history with this activation."

The VU7 expedition is still seeking significant support to cover the costs associated with the activation, including transportation, equipment, and logistics. The team is appealing to the amateur radio community, individuals, and organizations to contribute to this historic project.

In addition to the AU7RS callsign, the team is pleased to announce that two renowned 160m DXers will be joining the expedition. Their participation will not only enhance the activation but also provide a unique opportunity for amateur radio operators worldwide to make contacts on the 160m band.

The VU7 expedition is committed to promoting amateur radio and fostering international friendship and cooperation. The team will share regular updates, photos, and stories from the activation on their website and social media channels.

Our Website: http://www.vu2rs.com/vu7r
Paypal: info@sreetek.com
e-mail: sara@vu2rs.com

Contact:

Sarath VU2RS
Leader, VU7 Expedition

Update November 19, 2025: I am writing to share the latest updates regarding the VU7 Dxpedition.

We are pleased to welcome Gerhard DJ5IW and Keith VE7KW to the team. All landing permit applications have been submitted and we are currently awaiting the final permits and licenses. We would also like to extend our sincere thanks to the CDXC Foundation for their generous support of this Dxpedition.

We are excited to inform you that we will be including young operators from India (ages 12 to 18) as part of our commitment to training and educating the next generation in Dxpeditions. This is an empowering opportunity, but it requires us to take care of their associated expenses.

We are currently facing a significant funds shortfall and urgently need support to procure necessary items for the expedition. We request everyone's support to help us cover these costs. We will share our official license and other details soon.

We are also happy to inform you that QSL card requests can be sent to us by filling out the Google form. The minimum contribution for ClubLog confirmation is 5 USDs, and QSL Card confirmation (double-sided) is 8 USDs. Every dollar of support is welcome, and we look forward to working with you on the air.

Our website:- https://www.vu2rs.com/vu7r/

Our Paypal: info@sreetek.com

Schedule of the event: January 10, 2026 - January 22, 2026

We acknowledge all above 25$ onwards in our website.

Best regards, Sarath VU2RS

Update November 2, 2025: We expect to receive the permits next week, and preparations are already well underway.

To make this activation a success, we kindly request your support. There are significant expenses, including accommodation, equipment transport, and import costs. Additionally, we will need to keep the station’s generators running for 13 days. Every dollar you contribute will greatly help the team during the preparation phase. Thank you in advance for your generosity and support.

See below how to donate / support.

Update October 16, 2025: VU7 DXpedition team has confirmed its schedule to operate from Agatti Island, Lakshadweep Islands, from January 10 to January 22, 2026.

Update October 5, 2025: The DX India Foundation is set to undertake an ambitious DXpedition to the Laccadweep Islands, a remote and rare entity in the Arabian Sea, in January 2026. The team, led by Sarath, VU2RS, will focus on the lower bands – 160m, 80m, and 40m – with a particular emphasis on providing contacts highly sought after by North American operators.

Key Highlights:

- Team: The team consists of seasoned operators, including Sarath (VU2RS), Adersh (VU2ADX), Anil (VU3DXA), Girish (VU3GDS), Renju (VU2AR), Nodir (EY8MM), Axel (DL6KVA), YT1AD Hrane, and Serge (R7KW).
- Objective: The main intention is to provide contacts on the low bands, particularly 160m and 80m, which are highly sought after by North American operators due to the challenging propagation path.
- Equipment: The team will operate with an impressive antenna setup, including DX Commander 4-Square for 40m and 2 DX Commander Multi-Band Verticals.
- Dates: The expedition is scheduled to take place from January 10-18, 2026 (pending cruise schedule confirmation).

Supporting the Expedition:

Donations can be made via PayPal to info@sreetek.com to support this project. More details about the expedition will be shared on our official website, coming soon.

We've got some super exciting news to share! The DX India Foundation is embarking on an epic international DXpedition to VU7 at the end of 2025!

Our team of seasoned operators will be focusing on the lower bands – 160m, 80m, and 40m. We'll have 5 stations covering all bands from 6m to 160m, and our goal is to make a whopping 1,00,000 QSOs during our operation!

To ensure we've got the best possible operating conditions, we'll be setting up shop in a beautiful beachside location, far from resorts and noise-prone areas. Our team will be cozy in separate tents to minimize noise and distractions.

We'll be operating for 10 days, with tentative dates planned – our actual operation schedule will be announced soon! If you're interested in joining us, please get in touch so we can sort out the necessary paperwork.

This DXpedition is part of our bigger plan to create a top-notch setup for future expeditions, IOTA activations, and contest stations.

We Need Your Help!

We're reaching out to all DXers, IOTA Chasers, and everyone in the amateur radio community to support this massive project. Your contribution will help us achieve our dream of becoming one of the top 20 most wanted entities on 160m, 80m, and 40m bands!

As a thank you, we'll give you:

– QSL cards with a special sponsor logo
– A shoutout on our website and social media channels
– A comprehensive expedition report, packed with photos and videos

We believe this project will be a game-changer for DXers worldwide and will help promote amateur radio in India and Asia.

Support Us!

Donations to support our DXpedition can be sent via PayPal to sarath@lven.in. Your contribution will help us cover the costs of this massive project!

QSL Information:
Our QSL Manager is Charles, M0OXO. He'll be handling all QSL requests.

Thanks for considering our request! Let's make this DXpedition one for the books!

Sarath, VU2RS
73, DX India Foundation
E-MAIL: sara@vu2rs.com