Update July 13, 2026:  We are pleasantly surprised that, in early July, propagation conditions briefly reached an SFI of 200 again — as they did at the peak of the 25th solar cycle—though with an increased risk of interference and dropouts.

A VOACAP propagation forecast by OH6BG is integrated into our website. We are eager to see what propagation conditions await us on the low and high bands. The major ham radio regions of Japan and the U.S. are at least 8,000 km away, and Europe is as far as 15,000 km away.

Unfortunately, Alaska Airlines changed its flight schedule for October on June 30th. The flights had already been booked in March/April. We’ll fly from Germany via Canada or the U.S. to Hawaii and then continue on from there. We’ll now be spending two fewer days in American Samoa, so we’ll be QRV from October 30 to November 12, 2026. This also means that we will spend two extra days in Honolulu.

The organization of the KH8A DXpedition continues according to plan, and we are sticking to our commitments. Four stations equipped with small Juma power amplifiers will be on the air around the clock from 160 to 6 meters in the main modes. Some equipment has already been shipped to the individual team members, who live in various locations throughout Germany. As a well-organized lightweight expedition, each operator will carry approximately 30 kg, including personal luggage, on the flight. Two long ski bags containing the antenna equipment will be transported separately for an additional fee. The team would like to thank sponsors, foundations, and individual stations for the support they have provided or pledged so far. These are listed on our website.

Update May 8, 2026: Web site available

Operating frequencies

Please listen always to the instructions of the operators ! 

These are our new planned frequencies according to different regions' band plans and they are subject to change depending on the current band situation.

We will only operate one station per band at same time.

The MSHV program (up to 6 slots) is used for FT8 on the announced frequencies. We as DXP (fox) will not use the F/H mode and may also use the normal FT8 frequencies later.

All hunters can call us in normal mode with locator/grid and stay on their frequency even for answering. Please do not call us on our transmission frequencies!

All FT8 stations are manned. This enables an optimal selection of callers, e. G. for weak stations. The QSO will be logged on our side once we send RR73 or 73.

We try to upload our log daily. If in doubt, please work us again. No log corrections during the expedition.

We will work always split! Please avoid dupes!

QSL-Manager DL4SVA

* Please use the OQRS on ClubLog for KH8A for direct and bureau requests, we don't need your QSL-card.

For those who don't want to use the OQRS also can send their QSL card either directly to our QSL-Manager DL4SVA or via the German DARC bureau to DL4SVA.

* LoTW: The full log will be uploaded six months after the DXpedition
* Direct: via DL4SVA with 3 USD and return address label
  cash only - USD or EUR - PLEASE NOTE: We do NOT accept IRCs
* DONATIONS ARE GRATEFULLY ACCEPTED!
* Please do NOT ask for QSL on several ways!

Manager:

Georg Tretow - DL4SVA
Rehnaer Str. 8
D-23936 Grevesmuehlen
GERMANY

QSL policy

QSL cards will be printed within 6 weeks after our return.
Please don't forget to clear up mistakes in the log after DXP to dl4sva @ darc.de

Priority 1
All early donors with a minimum of 10 USD/EUR will be published on our homepage and will get a LoTW confirmation within four weeks after the end of the DXP. A paper QSL will automatically follow later.

All direct OQRS requests (5 EURO PayPal via ClubLog or to dl4sva @ darc.de) will be answered by fast LoTW confirmation and a paper QSL card sent directly to you.

A fast LoTW only request within four weeks is possible for 2 EUR via PayPal too.

Priority 2
When requesting paper cards with a letter, please enclose three USD and an address label. Please no return envelope (SAE), as we are using matching envelopes for our QSLs. No IRCs or coins.

Priority 3
6 months after the end of our DXpedition we start with the free QSL traffic via bureau and OQRS and upload the complete log to LoTW.

No eQSL

QSL requests with insufficient return postage will be answered via the bureau.

From Rolf, DL7VEE, via OPDX:  After T2C, C21MM, V6D and other DXpeditions our team is ready for the next adventure.

This time we’re heading to American Samoa (KH8) in the South Pacific. KH8 main island is mountainous, which makes things challenging. That’s the same QTH from which KH8T was already on the air two years ago. Our call is KH8A.

Making all the arrangements, including the various visas, wasn’t easy. Now all the flights and accommodations are booked. The trip will take place from October 29 to November 13, 2026. Of course, we’re aware that conditions on the high shortwave bands are deteriorating and that the focus is shifting more toward the mid and low bands.

The team includes nine operators DJ9KH, DK5WL, DL1KWK, DL2RNS, DL4SVA, DL6KAC, DL6KVA, DL7JOM and DL7VEE. We are planning to operate 4 stations 24/7 from 160 m to 6m in CW, SSB, FT8 and RTTY.

Our group uses carefully inspected, high-quality equipment, based on the experience gained from our previous expeditions. On the high bands, we will use our reliable full-size 5-band 2-element wire antenna from LZ-Antenna in combination with a pentaplexer, allowing us to operate on multiple high bands simultaneously with this antenna. On the other bands, we use well-tuned single-band wire antennas. The flexible fiberglass poles and the HD aluminum telescopic mast for the beam are manufactured by Spiderbeam company. The transceivers are high-end K4 models from
Elecraft. All equipment, most of which is privately owned, including small amplifiers from various manufacturers, will remain with us during the flights to prevent damage during transport.

A homepage will follow soon.