RI1F - DX news and calendar

Added/updated

January 13, 2018

Callsign(s)

RI1F

Start-end dates

October 4, 2017 - October 10, 2017

Utilities

Tracking & stats

Recent spots

DX Atlas

Propagation calculator

DXCC

R1FJ - Franz Josef Land

IOTA

EU-190 credited by 23,0% or participants

EU-190 - Viktoriya Island

CQ zone

Grid square

KR80ID

WEB page

http://www.qrz.com/db/RI1F

Planned modes

CW, SSB, Digital, EME, MS, Satellite

Planned bands

80 m, 40 m, 30 m, 20 m, 17 m, 15 m, 12 m, 10 m, 2 m, 70 cm

Source

OPDX & DXnews & 425DXN &DX-World

Information

Update Jan,13: Video available

Update Oct,17: Short news report (in Russian) on recent RI1F expedition to EU-190 by Murmansk TV. Footage includes radio operations and polar bears.

Update Oct,11: Polar bears showed a very strong interest in HF and VHF! On the last day at camp they had 8 bears visit. They loaded the yacht in about two days and are now sailing to Murmansk. As they’ve collected all the stuff in a hurry all the equipment is in one pile and the tracker couldn’t be turned on. By the same reason logs couldn’t be transferred. The team plans to reach Murmansk in 3 days and the log will be uploaded. All are OK.

Update Oct,8 1100z: The RI1F team is closing down. Polar bears are becoming problematic. Logs will be available later.

Update Oct,7 2300z: Info from Serge, VE1KG about EME operation: If you are looking for infos on R1IF here is the latest. I just spoke with my FSB contact in Moscow. They got in touch with the boys on Victoria Island part of Franz Joseph Land. They are looking for another spot to set up antennas for EME. Polo Bears are the problem. They are worried about their safety. It is not over yet will know more tomorrow morning.

Update Oct,7: EME operation: They have been reported to need 10 deg of elevation, at least at their moonrise. No reports on them being QRV in the past moonpass.

Update Oct,4 1500z: Team members managed to land. The old bulks in which they planned to stay are covered with thick ice inside so they now plan to set up something temporary today and to find (or build) another shelter tomorrow. This is the current situation.

Update Oct,3 1900z: The team passed 80° north and are now offshore Viktoriya Island. They will attempt a landing tomorrow morning (local). All team members are well. Temperature is 0C and cloudy.

Update Oct,2: Team continue to sail north. Track their voyage

Update Sep,30: RI1F guys are OK. They move at 5 knots. WX is OK. About 500 miles left. They expect to arrive in 2-3 days.

Update Sep,28: The RI1F team is almost finished loading all equipment onto their yacht Aurora. They will leave port for Viktoriya Island before midnight local tonight.

Update Sep,28: The RI1F team is now assembled in Murmansk. Their yacht has been delayed due to bad weather in the area. They plan to set sail for Viktoriya Island by end of week.

Update Sep,24: Today, some team members departed for Murmansk. Other team members already there. The journey to Viktoriya Island is now underway.

Update Sep,11: VQLog is sponsoring RI1F

Update Aug,25: The VHF&up operation will be carried at two sites;
1-st site - EME operation for 3 days - Oct, 4-7-th 2017
Antannas: 2 x 8 el H/V I0JXX - 8*8JXX2, homemade combiners + H/V-2 relays.
Rotator: G-5500 + R-QUAD interface
Transceiver: IC-910 + UNICOMMDUAL-V4+LHA-SHF-Elektronik (HP-MVV-144 & MVV 144-VOX)
Spare transceiver: FT-897 & MB-1 by ExpertElectronics (https://eesdr.com) at HF operation site
Ampliier: I0JXX - 1кВт, spare PA - TOKYO - 400 W. Power supplies - MEANWELLSE-450 и SE-1000
Software: WSJT +MHSV (SWL)

2-nd site: SAT, tropo, MS, AU?- from the beginning till the end of the expedition.
Antennas: MASPRO-WH- 144 мГц 12 el, 432 мГц - 20 el
Rotator: G-5500 + R-QUAD inteface + AsusEee laptop
Transceiver: IC-910 + UNICOMMDUAL-V4
Software: ORBITRON
Power supply: MEAN WELL SE-350
GPS time synchronization. Offers and advises to: R9LR@mail.ru
Donations are required and can be sent to https://www.paypal.me/RT9K

Update Aug,21: One of the member Franz Josef Land EME team RI1F Vladimir R9LR (ex RA9LR) send info that 144 MHz EME setup just tested (2 * 8 EL I0JXX HV + PA + LNA), all is ok.
RI1F Team (R9LR, UA9KB, UA9KDF) recommend to follow Lance Procedure.
EME will be between October 3 - 7.

Tnx Alex, RA4SD, for QSP

Update Aug,11: Today the second batch of equipment for the RI1F expedition went to Murmansk, weighing 842kg.

Update June,13: The team will set sail for Viktoriya Island, EU-190NEW on September 27th. It’s a 1300km voyage. More information.

Update May,19: “Three days ago the yacht AURORA left dock, prepared for our campaign, and is in Helsinki currently as part of another cruise. The updated photos of the AURORA are avaliable in the photo folder”.

Update May,6: Vladimir, R9LR, confirms to dxmaps.com that for EME he will use 2x8*8JXX2 I0JXX or 1x32JXX2 antennas. PA will be I0JXX 1kW or OM Power 1002+, LNA home made or SHF-Elektronik. IC-910H + GPS

Full confirmation of the activity won't be know until after August, 10

Update May,5: The RI1F DXpedition team is now expected to leave Murmansk on 27 September, and to reach Victoriya Island [425DXN 1351] after three or four days, depending on sea conditions. R9LR plans to take VHF EME equipment with him for tropo and moon operation, as the 4-6 October timeframe "should be good for it". Logsearch on ClubLog has been activated (search for RI1F/EU-190). This island is a "new one" for IOTA (EU-190), but DXCC wise is part of Franz Josef Land. (Note from redactor: exact end time of the operation is still not confirmed)

Update Apr,17: Team:Igor Znamensky, UA9KDF, Team leader Daniel Gavrilov, Captain, RUSARC AURORA Yury Zaruba, UA9OBA, RRC president Vladimir Kostin, Chief mate, RUSARC AURORA Andrey Korobejnikov, UA9LDD, CW operator Yelena Sil'nitskaya, Cook, RUSARC AURORA Valery Makarov, UA0ZC, CW operator Dmitriy Trefilov, Helmsman, RUSARC AURORA Vladimir Vasil'yev, R9LR, SSB/CW operator Kirill Maslennikov, Sailor, RUSARC AURORA Sergey Nadtochiy, UA9KB, CW operator Artemy Rusin, UA9KAM, Photo, video, SSB op.
Andrey Semeshko, RT9K, Mechanic, cook, SSB op.
Victor Kuzyakin, RW0BG, CW/SSB operator Mikhail Kutyumov, UA1QV, CW/SSB operator Valery Nesterov, RA9J, CW/SSB operator Vladimir Korobeinikov, Son of UA9LDD, CW/SSB operator.
Support Group:
Pilot - RA3CQ.
APRS support - DL8RCB.
Web support - W7/UA6JD.

Members of the Russian Robinson Club (RRC) are planning their next Arctic operation. Look for RI1F to be active from Victoria Island (EU-190) sometime late September (26th or 27th was mentioned). This island group has never been activated before. Activity will be on various HF bands. They plan to have up to 12 operators. QSL via ClubLog's OQRS or by the Bureau. Their Web page is still under construction.

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