Update October 19, 2025: After several weeks on strike, Canada Post announced that they will return to work, but… will also continue the strike… on a rotational basis. I’m not sure how this will be conducted, for how long, and what delay will involve. The QSL cards for 3G1P and AT2AH have been printed in Italy by Alfio, IT9EJW, and I arranged for them to be shipped to me by courier service. I am currently working on preparing the QSO labels and the envelopes to reply to the direct QSL requests received once the cards arrive.

 Note that I plan to mail all the direct requests in one batch by driving with them across the border and send them from the United States. I urge those who postponed requesting their cards via ClubLog’s OQRS to do it sooner rather than later. I will only take one trip to the States, most likely in early November. Any future mailing will be made through Canada Post.

 73, Cezar, VE3LYC 

Update September 29, 2025: Yesterday we noticed a large number of people arriving from Kakinada to the island village. We knew of the large Hindu holiday taking place all over India these days. However, we didn't anticipate that the village will more than triple its people due to the return of those originally from here, along with their kids, to celebrate this holiday together with their families, friends, and neighbors. A lot of preparations took place over the last more than 24 hours, and there will be a very large event taking place tomorrow. Traditional music is transmitted using large loudspeakers, and wide arrays of colored LED lights were installed on a rope supported by wood poles along the beach for hundreds of meters.

The villagers will erect tomorrow some tents, very close to our operating place. In anticipation we had to move one of the verticals, initially on the beach, and then on the opposite side, to be as far away from the beach as possible. We managed to accommodate ourselves to the audio noise, but we couldn't do anything to protect ourselves from a huge increase in the noise level once the LEDs were switched on. Some of our antennas are placed relatively far from the beach, but insufficiently far to avoid this interference. We were just informed that the LEDs will be switched off no later than 18 UTC tonight. However, they will be again on tomorrow.

The power supply of one of the amplifiers brought by Sarath died yesterday, but he managed to get a replacement urgently shipped. It arrived this evening, and was installed right away, but after only a few minutes in operation it died too. It was a reconditioned amplifier, and the person who fixed it installed a condenser inside which should not have been there.

The team logged about 4000 QSOs, half of which in CW/SSB. We reduced band jumping, which had the effect of keeping the overall number of contacts someone low, but the total number of unique stations high.

Update September 28, 2025: Things are getting tough! One of our power supply amps has given up the ghost (QRT), but we're making do with one amp and two barefoot stations. Local QRM is getting worse with the festive season in full swing - everyone's back on the island and it's getting noisy! We're having to shift our antennas around a lot to avoid interference from local events.

On a positive note, we've tweaked our FT8 setup - moved the TX to 600Hz from 300Hz and it's really paying off! We're getting more confirmations of RR73, which is awesome. Fingers crossed we can keep the operations going smoothly!

Best regards,
Sarath VU2RS

Update September 26, 2025: Weather not favourable, but we’re pushing ahead! Team departed as scheduled, and equipment has safely reached Hope Island. Let’s hope for a window of opportunity to activate and make some QSOs!

Update September 15, 2025: This is to inform you that WPC, the licensing authority of India has rejected all our three requests for special callsign for the upcoming operation from Hope Island, AS-178 New. Instead, they issued us for this activity the special callsign AT2AH. Consequently, we renamed the expedition website, which is now available.

 Cheers, Cezar, VE3LYC

Update September 5, 2025:  Among the components lost at sea following the recent Pajaros (SA-100) expedition were two 10 m telescopic fiberglass poles. Spiderbeam generously offered to replace them, but without any in stock at Vibroplex, their representation in the US, and a very long delivery time to Canada, it didn't seem that they will arrive in Cezar's possession in time for the upcoming AU2H project. It was in the nick of time that Elmar DF4GV stepped in. He contacted Spiderbeam and spoke directly with Raffaello and Andreas (DL9USA), who understood the urgency and organized things accordingly. Thus, two 10 m fiberglass masts were shipped today by UPS to Bucharest, Romania. Cezar's wife Lucia is currently there, scheduled to fly back to Canada the weekend after. Due to the prompt action of the above three, the masts are expected to be delivered to Bucharest by next Wed or Thu at the latest, so that Lucia can bring them over.

I wish to thank Elmar, along with Raffaello and Andreas at Spiderbeam, for their amazing support. The masts were offered at no charge by Spider- beam, while the shipping charges were covered by Elmar DF4GV.

Update September 3, 2025: We are happy to report that Cezar (VE3LYC) will be able to bring two radios, one amplifier, band pass filters, and two multi-band verticals, as originally planned. This will be possible due to the generosity of several friends who pledged their support by landing him various components: Adrian KO8SCA will provide a K3 radio and an Acom 500S amplifier; Pat VE7QCR will provide band pass filters from 10 to 40 m; and George VE3GHK will build another multi-band vertical antenna. We are highly indebted to them.

Members of Team Kanika-2024 plan to be QRV from Hope Island (AS-178 New) for five full days, from September 27 to October 2, 2025.

Cezar VE3LYC/VU3LPL, Sarath VU2RS, Adersh VU24DX, and Anil VU3DXA will attempt to operate three stations on all bands from 10 to 40m, aiming for a balanced number of contacts in CW, SSB, and FT8. They will also be prepared to operate on 6 m FT8, if the band will offer any openings. For this activity, the team applied to the licensing authority for the special callsign AU2H.

QSL Information
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(1) All those who support this project by a donation of $10 or more and make the log will automatically receive their cards via direct, and their contacts will be uploaded to LoTW.

(2) Double-folded QSL cards are available Via Direct by using one of the following two options:

(a) OQRS from ClubLog for each callsign, no need to mail cards and/or SAE; or

(b) Mail QSO data with SAE and $5, to:
     Cezar Trifu
     4986 Bath Rd.
     Bath, Ontario K0H 1G0
     Canada

Direct requests that comply with this policy will be also be confirmed via LoTW. However, those that do not will be replied via the bureau.

(3) Simple QSL cards are available Via Bureau by using only the bureau option at ClubLog. Please do not mail your cards to the VE QSL Bureau, since they will not reach VE3LYC.