Update July 29, 2026: I am SO EXCITED - I just had to share this news tonight!  I have been very worried about where there might be enough space on Lola Island to set up my 9 element yagi
and whether I would be blocked by structures on my moonrise...

I just finished a video chat with Zipolo Habu Resort on Lola Island, and Joe walked around during our connection and showed me the place where I may be able to set up the antenna (on the beach on the northeast corner of the island) and the equipment (in a corner of their main lodge/restuarant). Oh and by the way, that chat proves there is good WiFi where I would be setting up the station, so it looks very promising for real time internet access while I am on the air!

Of course it is difficult to get an accurate reading of distances from a cell phone video, but when combined with the Google Earth view, I am very encouraged. At least encouraged enough to put connectors on another long length of LMR600 feedline to transport in an additional suitcase of excess baggage so I can reach the beach from my operating station in a separate building!

IF I AM able to make this work, I will be able to beam directly out over the lagoon on moonrise for super ground gain to western EU and all of NA. And I should be able to elevate over the lagoon to catch all of NA on their moonsets and all of eastern EU and AF on their moonrises. Of course, there may be some trees that could limit certain azimuths, and some guy anchors may be under water at high tide, but that is always an unknown that will not be certain until I get there and spend some time carefully locating the mast. Regardless, as always, I will do my best to set up SOMEWHERE over there!

At this point, I am planning to operate EME on 50.175 using Q65-60A with the Q65 Pileup option. All the details about the DXpedition are on my web page: https://www.bigskyspaces.com/w7gj/H44%202026.htm

So PLEASE cross your fingers for the antenna location on the beach and that I make the weekly Solomon Airlines flight from Brisbane on Friday August 28! In the meantime, use the next few weeks to get those 6m stations fine tuned for a new DXCC on 6m! And good luck with KJ9I in KH0!

VY 73, Lance   

Update January 22, 2026: I have put a tentative plan for the H44GJ operating schedule up as a link on my H44GJ website. Please let me know if you have any questions or comments.

Hopefully, I can try to make this schedule happen, although Solomon Airlines is involved again this year, so we may have to be flexible again...

GL and VY 73, Lance 

By popular request, I have made plans to activate the main Solomon Islands as H44GJ.

I have purchased the plane tickets to stay in QI81nq for 2 weeks, from August 28 to September 11. The actual operating time will be somewhat less than that, since I have to set everything up and pack it up again to leave. The link to the detailed timetable spreadsheet with and planned operating times will be posted on my website soon. In the meantime, an initial draft of the main DXpedition web page is up and running at W7GJ 2026 6m EME DXpedition to the Solomon Islands (bigskyspaces.com)  As usual, my intent is to provide as much advance notice as possible so anyone  interested in working a new DXCC can make whatever advance arrangements are necessary.

I don't expect to have much ground gain during my moonrises or moonsets during the first part of the trip (due to buildings on the ground in front of the antenna in those directions) and I may have to limit my operation during those times if the nearer buildings are occupied. However, as the moon moves further north, it looks like I should have some excellent ground gain out over the sea on both my moonrise and moonset :-) For horizon-only stations, I see many great opportunities to elevate and work you when YOUR moon is near the horizon!

We all found out during the H40GJ DXpedition that daytime regions of high TEC down in the TEP Zone can play a significant role in upsetting 6m signals - especially when they are in front of an antenna aimed on the horizon. I am hoping things will be a bit different now that the sunspot cycle is further declining. However - provided the planes fly on schedule this time - there should be plenty of common moon windows when these high TEC "blobs" will not be in the way!

Let's work some real DX!! GL and VY 73, Lance, W7GJ