Update March 20, 2026: All of the team have returned home well, and so did all material. After some badly needed Jägerschnitzel :-) last night, today we have worked on all "Busted Calls" and "Missing Data" E-Mails and Guestbook entries. We evaluated all inquires and were able to approve most of them. However, we had to refuse a few requests where we couldn't find any similar call-
signs in a "+/- 10 minutes window" from the given timestamp – or some FT8 contacts for which we checked our "full text files", but couldn't find a valid sequence of reports and RR73 messages.

Before that, we merged all the DXLog files from our five station computers as well as our dedicated DXLog / ClubLog Livestream Update Server. Based on a final, overall total of 255,002 QSOs in the DXLog TCP network, only 13 contacts had NOT been received on our local server (= 0,005% !!!). That means that the DXLog TCP network was running almost 100% perfect!!!

On the next step (from our DXLog Server over Starlink satellites down to ClubLog) about 500 QSOs were lost (only 0,2% !!!), which have been added to the ClubLog database during the latest synchronization. We are grateful to Starlink for their reliable service which helped a lot to keep the DX community informed about our progress.

On top of those numbers are the "QO-100 satellite" contacts: They were logged on a separated DXLog computer, which was not part of our regular DXLog network. That other computer had a special intermediate software installed (created by DG8MG, with thanks to DK6SP), which added the additional ADIF fields for satellite operation to the QSOs before sending them over ClubLog Livestream.

Therefore, we would now call the J51A log "final". The numbers visible on the ClubLog Statistics should be regarded "final", too. J51A finally claims 256,183 QSOs with 49,878 different callsigns!

THANKS AGAIN to everybody who worked J51A and helped making our activity a great success. If you want quick LoTW confirmation and a Paper QSL card by regular mail, please use the "ClubLog OQRS system" on our J51A QRZ.com page.

Update March 15, 2026: J51A is now QRT.

In just under 20 days of operation, we have logged 255,640 QSOs and 49,700 different callsigns. We want to say THANK YOU to everybody who helped making our trip such a great experience. First of all, the team around Jean and his wife Isabel from Bij Club - our location on Bubaque Island, Bijagos Archipelago, Guinea-Bissau. They perfectly understood our needs and were always willing to help and support us. The pile-ups were still going strong on the last day, so you may consider coming to this wonderful place for another DXpedition or maybe a Contest participation? On their website you'll find all the details and a lot of nice pictures around other activities like ornithology or fishing.

QSL cards and LoTW confirmations:
You are invited to use the "ClubLog OQRS system", as shown on the J51A QRZ.com page. Our QSL Manager Sven, DJ4MX, has been very quick uploading OQRS requests to LoTW recently. Please note that Sven is now on DXpedition, too, operating from S21WD. Upcoming LoTW uploads may take a few days longer than before. Please be patient! Paper QSL cards will be sent out in June/July 2026.

Many Thanks for all the contacts. We hope that you enjoyed the J51A activity as much as we did.

Update March 14, 2026: 247,000 QSOs and 48,300 different callsigns after 18.9 days of operation. Still 1 day to go. The last 24 hours of the J51A DXpedition have started! We had QO-100 sessions in SSB/CW earlier today at 1000z and 1200z with some FT8 in between. Tomorrow  morning (Sunday) at 1000z we will be on QO-100 for the last session. Tonight (Saturday) after 1800z we will be on 40/SSB, and after 1900z on 80/SSB and 60/CW. Earlier this afternoon we'll do some 20/CW, however, when 6m is open, 6m will have precedence over 20/CW. During daylight, we'll populate the higher bands. And in the night on 160/CW we will give out our grid "IK21" to Stew Perry contest participants. Please note that E-Mails regarding busted calls or missing data will be worked on only after we have returned home to Germany.

Update March 13, 2026: 235,500 QSOs and 46,100 different callsigns after 17.9 days of operation. Still 2 days to go. After 16 consecutive days with more than 10,000 QSOs per day, yesterday was the first day with less than 10,000 QSOs. We are spending more time on "difficult" band slots like 160/CW, 60/CW, 80/SSB, 40/SSB and 6 meters. The rates are lower, but many ATNOs and fresh callsigns in the log make up for it. We'll continue to fill in empty spots as good as we can.

Update March 11, 2026: The 2011 T32C DXpedition QSO record of 213,022 has been broken by the German five man team at J51A. As of 1320Z today, March 11, the J51A team had 217,671 
contacts in just 16 days. T32C was back in the day before the current digital modes of FT4 and FT8. During their DXpedition the 41 man team operated for 30  days and had 48,966 unique contacts, a record that still stands. Congrats to the new QSO record team at J51A. They still have four more days on the air.

Update March 10, 2026: 206,700 QSOs and 40,700 different callsigns after 14.9 days of operation. Still 5 days to go. A first heads-up regarding the end of our operation: Sunday, 15-March-2026, around 1200z. We will dismantle Lowband and RX antennas first, keeping the Spiderbeams up a little longer.

Update March 9, 2026: 196,400 QSOs and 38,500 different callsigns after 14 days of operation. Still 6 days to go. During ARRL DX SSB Contest we started operating SIMPLEX which has worked well. From now on we will decide on the fly if we operate SSB in "split mode"  (listening up) or "simplex mode" (listening on our own frequency).
Please listen carefully for the instructions from our operators! For CW, we will continue "listening up"! Everything else is working fine. Please keep the QSOs coming!

Update March 8, 2026: 185,200 QSOs and 36,000 different callsigns after 12.9 days of operation. Still 7 days to go. Operation is progressing well and we are all in a good mood. Not many other things to tell. In this case, no news is good news... :-)

Update March 7, 2026: 174,500 QSOs and 33,600 different callsigns after 11.9 days of operation. Still 8 days to go.

Operating is getting more complicated for us. On small bands like 12m SSB the wide 3Y0K pileups leave no space for other DXpeditions or regular QSOs.

Other bands like 15m SSB are full with ARRL DX Contest. Here we tried to evade below 21200 kHz, but not many callers down there...

On 6 meters we identified the root issue why we felt that we hear 10 dB less than we transmit.

Now we are waiting for a good 6m opening. BTW, we didn't find a 6m opening to W/VE yet, but we have reached a few stations from the Caribbean.

Tonight and tomorrow we will be on 40/SSB and 80/SSB around European sunset and then, later in the night, for W/VE.

Update March 6, 2026: 164,500 QSOs and 31,600 different callsigns after 10.9 days of operation. Still 9 days to go. Yesterday around 1700z there was a generator outage (30 minutes). Apart from that, operation is going on smoothly.
About missing QSOs / busted callsigns: We will work on those messages on or after Monday. 
ARRL SSB Contest this weekend: J51A will not actively take part in the contest. W/VE stations giving their state will receive a "59 500" report in return.
Many thanks for all contacts so far! Keep the QSOs coming!

Update March 4, 2026: 142,200 QSOs and 26,600 different callsigns after 8.91 days of operation.
Still 11 days to go. Yesterday we repaired the neighbor's water pump which was fulf of sand and the motor was stuck. As a bad coincidence that problem had only started after the neighbor was kind enough to let us stop their solar power system... Unfortunately that construction is a big mess and we told them that the problem can come back at any time, because the water level in the dwell is simply too low and the pump is sitting too close to the bottom. There was not any 6 meters opening yesterday. Today it may look better again. All bands are progressing well and we will put more
time on 60/CW, 40/CW, 40/SSB for example. We will also start 80/SSB some time. However, we will not offer 160/SSB and 60/SSB.

Update March 2, 2026: 124,600 QSOs and 23,800 different callsigns after 7.24 days of operation.
Still 13 days to go. Today was kind of a maintenance day. Some lowband RX antennas were improved. And we solved an annoying noise problem which had only started on Saturday. We found out that the neighbor had installed a new solar system. He was kind enough to understand our problem and let us check his new system. We found a cheap inverter and two 12V battery packs
as a buffer. By just switching the inverter off, all the noise was gone...
We could have started playing ferrites or other things, but it was easier to convince the neighbor to keep his system switched off for the next two weeks and receive his electricity over a temporary 3x2.5 cable from our generator instead...
On 6 meters we caught two more openings to Europe, but still not reaching deep into Central, Northern or Eastern Europe.

Update March 1, 2026: 100,000 QSOs after 5.33 days of operation (129 hours), averaging 18,760 contacts per day.
Best days were the second day (25,000+ contacts) and the third day (20,000+ contacts).
Today we worked the first 137 CW contacts over QO100 satellite, plus some 100 more FT8.
As a nice surprise, 6 meters opened into Europe this afternoon. Some 600+ contacts were made, bringing the 6 meters totals up to 751 (FT8), 460 (CW) and 207 (SSB).
The opening covered the southern half of France and most of Italy, Spain and Portugal.
A couple of G, EI, HB9, DL, OE, 9A, S5 made it in the log, too. Don't worry, if you feel that one or more "band/mode slots" are still "under-represented". Remember that we are still here for another 15 full days! 

Update February 27, 2026: 73,900 QSOs after 3.79 days of operation.
The QO100 satellite station is working! 500 QSOs in the log so far.
As a nice surprise, a few JAs made it on 160m FT8 (in the 2100z hour). We keep on trying.
Last evening the generator had a small hiccup. The technician came and replaced a part in the fuel system. As announced earlier, today around 1100z he'll come again and give a checkup and oil service to the generator. We'll use this scheduled downtime (about an hour) for a walk to the nearby beach and a swim (we haven't been there yet... ;-) )

Update February 26, 2026: 61.300 QSOs after 69 hours of operation.
Today we are relocating the BOG RX antenna and the DXCommander vertical (used for 40m). They are picking up too much of the 50 Hz noise from the neighbor's property. When the signals get weaker in the coming days, that noise will be too annoying. We are also working on the QO-100 satellite installation. 

Update February 25, 2026: 47.000 QSOs after 47 hours of operation.
We are all in good mood. So far, we have uninterrupted electricity from the generator since the beginning. Let's keep fingers crossed... On Friday, the owner will perform a scheduled maintenance and oil service on the generator which shall last about an hour. We are very happy with the QTH and all people on site. There is no air condition in the small houses. We keep all doors and windows open all the time, even at night. We are very fortunate that there are hardly any insects around. Temperature in the shack (with all five radio setups in full swing) is 33-34 °C over the day and 27-28 °C in the night. 

Update February 24, 2026: 25.000 QSOs after the first 24 hours of operation (plus about 50 QSOs on 50 MHz FT8 which were logged two hours earlier while still setting up the other operating positions).

We already logged more that 5.000 QSOs in CW. Only some 100+ SSB QSOs yet. Many more CW and SSB to come in the coming days, don't worry... Antenna-wise, today the combined 160m/80m antenna went up as well as the Aziloop RX antenna and a BOG (Beverage-on-ground). We also found and replaced a defective PL259 "barrel" in the coax to the 60m Inverted Vee. On 40m we detected some man-made noise (50 Hz) from the neighboring property. We will go there shortly and discuss with the owner. Later on we shall clean up the place, stow away all the things
we don't need and finally be ready for a smooth 24/7 operation. 

Update February 23, 2026: Today, the second Spiderbeam (30/17/12m) went up, the 4-ele 50 MHz Yagi went up and we did some minor improvements on our yesterday's work. At 1507z today I just pressed the CQ button on 50 MHz FT8 once and was instantly answered by an EA and IK0. Although the other radio setups were not fully tested yet, I kept 50 MHz FT8 running. You never
know, if the magic band will ever come back again... ;-) The other four radio setups started running CW after 1708z. We hope that you will like our operation over the coming three weeks. 

Update February 22, 2026: We have safely arrived in our QTH after an exciting two-hour speedboat ride.

This update was already sent over our Starlink connection which seems to work fine. We have started unpacking and sorting our luggage. Other things on the agenda for today are: connecting our own power subdistribution unit to the property's generator and solar power system; defining the exact locations for our antennas; preparing the shack:setting up the five HF stations, filters/triplexers and internal cabling.

If things are going well, we may be able to get some antennas up before dark. Depending on our antenna work, you can expect first signals tonight, Sunday, 22-Feb-2026 after dark or some time on Monday, 23-Feb-2026.

We will activate HA8TKS's frequency tool and ClubLog Livestream right from the beginning. Check back to our QRZ.com page regularly.

Update February 16, 2026: J51A on QO-100: We were asked to be active on QO-100 satellite, too.
We learnt that J5 has NEVER been active on QO-100 before. So, we decided to give it a try for a lot of ATNO contacts on SSB, CW and FT8. However, none of us has operated over satellite before. Please bear with us if we do something stupid or unexpected. Just let us know by E-Mail (j51a@gmx.de) and we’ll fix any misbehavior a.s.a.p. Technically, we will use 50 MHz as the IF band. It means that we cannot do 50 MHz when on QO-100, and vice versa. QO-100 operation will start a couple of days after the other bands. Please watch the "News" section on www.qrz.com/db/J51A for more info.

Update January 30, 2026: ARRL has approved the J51A license for DXCC. We have already received the LoTW certificate. The original license document which we received from “ARN” (telecommunications authority), was not 100% clear about frequencies and modes.

So, in a second step, we offered the official IARU Region 1 Band Plans (HF and VHF) and asked for a written reconfirmation that all the typical frequencies and modes can be used by J51A. We are happy to announce that we have received that confirmation. It means that all contacts, including 160m, 60m, the WARC bands and 50 MHz will be valid for DXCC, IOTA and other awards.

More information on: https://www.qrz.com/db/J51A

Please note that this DXpedition is 100% privately financed.

RF-POWER (https://www.rf-power.eu) is lending us five (5) RF2K-S amplifiers. All other material is privately owned.

If you are happy with our performance, you are welcome to make a donation through ClubLog OQRS. Upfront, or when applying for your QSL cards.

Ben, DA1DX

Ben/DA1DX (ex-DL6FBL), Win/DK9IP, Andree/DL8LAS, Uli/DM5EE and Lutz/DM6EE (all active members of Bavarian Contest Club), will be operating from Bijagos Archipelago, Guinea-Bissau (IOTA AF-020) in February/March 2026.

Radio and Antenna Setup:

Five (5) Radio Setups each consisting of:
  * Yaesu FT-DX10
  * RF-POWER RF2K-S amplifier

Antennas:
 * 5-band Spiderbeam (10/12/15/17/20m) @10mH
 * 3-band WARC Spiderbeam (12/17/30m) @10mH
 * DXCommander Vertical 12.4 from 10-40m
 * Inverted-V for 60m
 * Vertical for 80m / Inverted-L for 160m
 * Aziloop DF-72 Multi-Directional Receive Antenna System
 * 4-ele 50 MHz Yagi for terrestrial operation
 * VA6AM Triplexers + VA6AM/4O3A High Power Bandpass Filters

Logging with DXLog in a wired Gigabit-Network (no WiFi!) - using TCP and a dedicated log server
FT8 by MSHV software => stay above 1000Hz when calling/working us!

The total weight of our equipment is ~500 kg.
Everything is transported as (paid) excess baggage on the aircraft.

Our goals:
On ClubLog, Guinea-Bissau is ranking as #85 Most Wanted country worldwide; #53 from Asia; #100 from North America and #104 from Europe.

According to ClubLog the demand is highest on Data, then CW and then Phone.
All of us can manage pile-ups in any mode, however we will only use SSB,CW and FT8 (MSHV).

 * The highest demand is in Asia. Direction-wise, Asia lies "behind Europe".
   We will try to pull out Asian stations whenever there is some propagation    on a specific band.
 * Contacts with Europe, North America and South America will be easy on all bands.
 * We will not forget about our friends in Africa and the VK/ZL area.

For news, updates, pictures etc. please remember to come back to our J51A QRZ.com page. We will use our own Starlink satellite equipment and hope to achieve good Internet connectivity for:
   ClubLog's Livestream
   ClubLog's Expedition Statistics
 
Donations via ClubLog are welcome at: ClubLog.org/make_donation.php?call=J51A" target="_blank">https://ClubLog.org/make_donation.php?call=J51A

QSL cards / LoTW  =>  Please use the ClubLog's OQRS system

See QRZ.com for more details.....