Update July 3, 2023: Video available by F2DX

In this 21 minute 4k video you will discover not only CROZET (place of FT8WW amateur radio expedition from December 2022 to April 2023) but also the TROMELIN, KERGUELEN, SAINT-PAUL and AMSTERDAM islands which are part of the Terres Australes et Antarctiques Françaises (French Southern and Antarctic Lands).

00:43 Reunion Island
01:38 Tromelin Island
03:44 Crozet Archipelago
14:26 Kerguelen Archipelago
16:43 Amsterdam Island
19:53 Saint-Paul Island

Update April 4, 2023: Thierry is visiting Kerguelen base today (relax, he will not be on the air !). 73 FT8WW F6EXV.

Update March 22, 2023: Equipment is now ready to be put on the Marion Dufresne ship. During these 3 months I made a little more than 50,000 QSOs on HF and QO-100. Everyone can find the details on Club Log. This represents 528 hours of traffic, a little over 22 days on average, and therefore more than 92 QSO per hour. Paul F6EXV sends direct QSLs as agreed. The logs are online and will be on LoTW for everyone when I return to France.

Except for a balun that was too tight for the power and a broken jack plug in the TS-590, there was no hardware breakage. A film will be made when I return. The boat leaves on March 29 for Kerguelen then Amsterdam Island and finally arrives in Reunion on April 17. I would spend a few days exploring Reunion Island before returning to France in early May.

Thank you to TAAF, IPEV, REF, sponsors, manufacturers and all the OM who made this expedition possible.

Update March 16, 2023: FT8WW IS NOW HISTORY... Thank you all for sharing the fun. 
Please pass the word around that I would appreciate if people who want to make an OQR (whether direct or bureau) would please do it quickly, so I can figure out how many more QSL I must order from the printer. More details to come shortly on the operation. Thank you all from sharing the fun, best 73 from Thierry and the FT8WW team.See you next from.... ????!!!! 73 and good luck
Paul F6EXV - Crozet 2022 co-organizer and QSL manager

Update March 15, 2023: Today is the last day of activity of FT8WW. He is close to 50,000 QSO in the log.

Update March 13, 2023: FT8WW is QRV again, until the 15th when he will become QRT definitively.

Update March 11, 2023: EOST, in strict application of technical constrains defined by the agreement, has refused any early resumption of FT8WW operation for the weekend of March 11/12. Thierry FT8WW’s activity will therefore only resume from Monday, March 13 to Wednesday, March 15, 2023 then he will QRT.

Update March 7, 2023: FT8WW now QRT... untill ??
73 FT8WW/F6EXV.

Update March 6, 2023: Changes, changes...

Thierry, FT8WW will remain active throughout this week. No precise band/mode schedule, just keep an ear (and sometimes an eye) on his traditional frequencies...
73 and good luck. Paul F6EXV

Update March 6, 2023: Thierry, FT8WW will be active until 18 or 19 UTC of March 6, 2023. He will start activity again March 13, 2023.

Update March 3, 2023: Due to licensing requirements FT8WW will cease operations on the evening of March 5 for one week. Then resume the activity for some more days after March 12, becoming finally QRT on March 16.

Update March 1, 2023: Poor propagation continues. Bad news, QO-100 equipment broken, no more satellite activity.

Update February 28, 2023: Tierry is reporting bad propagation in the past days.

Update February 14, 2023: Log uploaded, including the first 12m QSO.

Update February 10, 2023: Tierry has got the HF license extended but only for 20m and up. He can transmit for one week, then stop for another week, and then again transmit for two weeks. This morning he has already been on 20m FT8.

He says: "I have received the new convention from the TAAF Prefet which allows me to resume my activities on the HF bands, under the conditions imposed by the IPEV. Therefore, I will be again on the air for 3 weeks starting today on 20 and 15m to begin with, in FT8 and CW, and I will try SSB soon. Thank you to the TAAF people for writing this convention so quickly and allowing me to resume my activity, thank you also to the IPEV for the log analysis they have done, which allows them to agree with me being active again."

Update February 7, 2023: Video of yesterday's QO-100 DATV connection with the Saint Vincent school, in Brissac-Loire-Aubance in the Maine-et-Loire department. Next connection will take place on Friday, February 10, 2023 from 1:30 p.m. to 2 p.m. with the Albert Camus college in the town of La Norville in the Essonne department.

Update February 2, 2023: The IPEV answered us. It does not object to the TAAF making an amendment so that I can resume traffic under the following conditions:

• Over 4 rolling weeks only the first 3 are authorized for traffic, the 4th is forbidden to me for "analysis of logs".
• I must provide the logs each week in a format "understandable" by their services
• Traffic below 14 MHz is prohibited; it seems that 10 MHz disturbs the measurements so exit 10 and 7.
• The conditions that were in force remain valid, namely:
• 5 hours per day prohibited to carry out the absolute measurement.
• Stopping of all broadcasts 10 days before the departure of the boat for the Réunion Island.

So there is very little left. Currently, I am awaiting the endorsement that the TAAF must make. There is no HF emission for the moment.

As for the QSLs, Paul can say that the double QSLs to answer direct requests are printed, they should arrived this week. There are currently few requests for French...

With our 73. Thierry FT8WW and Paul F6EXV

Update January 30, 2023: Things are slower that what we would have hoped, for the extension of Thierry's permission to come back to HF.
French bureaucracy at its best (or is it at its worst ?). We will keep you posted next when extension is granted. 73 FT8WW.

Update January 28, 2023: FT8 no match problems probably due to time difference. Please log the QSO at the time you RECEIVE Thierry's RR73, not when you send it. 73 F6EXV/ FT8WW.

Update January 27, 2023: Maaaaany OQRS received. Some issues with missing QSOs on LoTW, hopefully now solved. If you are missing QSOs, please send email to qsl.crozet(at)orange.fr Sorry for inconveniencen and please be patient...FT8WW.

Update January 23, 2023: Video available

Update January 21, 2023: Latest QO-100 log uploaded to Log.

Update January 19, 2023: Log updated with the latest QO-100 QSO. Still no news about the HF permit extension.

Update January 16, 2023 - By Thierry, FT8WW: So I started the night of December 25th. My authorization for HF traffic was valid for 3 weeks between my arrival at the base and January 21st. So it actually was from December 25 to January 14. About 21,000 QSOs were made. I took a few decisions on purpose:

• Traffic on few bands. Only 10, 14 and 21 MHz were used with an afternoon on 18 MHz for testing. This is to concentrate my traffic and give as much contact as possible to OM.
• Traffic in CW and FT8, only. The remoteness of Crozet from the large ham radio populations and the inefficient propagation guided this choice. Despite what some say, FT8 is currently the most effective way to make QSOs in difficult conditions. Even in CW when the bands were empty, I was able, in FT8, to make contacts. I was also able to eat on a corner of the table while watching the traffic go by. I’ve been active in CW whenever propagation allowed, taking into account the time restrictions that the scientists imposed on me (one measure per day giving at least 5 hours of downtime for me and by being informed of the hours in the mornings, therefore without any real planning). If I had done SSB, I would undoubtedly have contacted the best equipped stations, but left out those with more limited means.

I slept little to make QSOs at nights on 10 MHz and rested during the famous measurement. I faced very difficult weather conditions. 3 times I had to go down the Lévy with gusty winds exceeding 100 km/h. It was often necessary to repair in the rain, in short, alone, it was not always easy to stay as long as possible on the radio. Finally, community life has its imperatives and obligations. I do not live on a desert island, but with a group of people and some tasks have to be performed.  The difficulty of the pile-up must also be taken into account. Certainly you had trouble making yourself heard, but here, it is not simpler, be convinced.

For those who remember, at first I was only allowed to install a V-dipole against the facade of a building. You could see from the photos that in fact I have an 8m Spiderbeam mast with 2x 10m Levy and a vertical dipole currently on 21 MHz.

The continuation of the project. I am in contact with the Paul Emile Victor Institute which manages the scientific work on the base. An analysis of the magnetism measurements is in progress. It is following this analysis that I will, I hope, have an extension for the transmission authorization. So I’m waiting for the decision. My departure is scheduled for the return of the boat around March 20th. I know everyone is impatient for me to continue, but I can’t do anything more at the moment on HF bands, but the QO-100 activity will continue (no restrictions).

These are the outlines of the current situation. Thank you to all off you which, through my manager, have shown their confidence in me. Thank you to everyone who spent hours looking for me and trying to reach me. Thank you all, I will try to continue to satisfy as many ham radios as possible.

Update January 15, 2023: Log update. Untill HF permission extension is received, there will be only activity on QO-100. 

Update January 13, 2023: Log uploaded. Thierry, FT8WW is on 21095 FT8 and will be in CW a little later... 
It is not sure if he will be allowed to transmit on HF bands after January 15th. Over 20K QSO in the log.

Update January 12, 2023: Geomagnetic measure could not be taken this morning, so Thierry, FT8WW may not transmit for next 5 hours or so. Will be back at 0200z on 30m FT8, then 20m CW for West Coast.

Update January 12, 2023: FT8WW is approaching 20K QSO in the log. Winds appear to be abating too. 

Update January 11, 2023: G5RV ant taken down, as strong winds expoected during the night. There will be no activity tonight on 20/30. QRV on 15m untill band dies... GL + 73 FT8WW.

Update January 11, 2023: Latest log has been uploaded to Clublog, with more than 18,000 QSO. Thierry ask you check your QSO before calling him and so try to avoid dupes. 

Update January 10, 2023: He had a loud signal on 21 MHz CW yesteday. He had to use 21.045 due to the pileup of TN8K.
FT8WW has been validated for DXCC credit. OQRS will be open soon, when cards are received from printer (they should be printed this week), give extra days for shipping.

Log update done with QSO up to Jan 10th at 0414z. Geomagnetic measure late today, so he will not transmit between 1030z till 1500z approx.

Update January 9, 2023: Thierry continues his activity on 15, 20 and 30m.  He might use 14.088 for FT8 if 14.085 is being used by TN8K.

Update January 8, 2023: Off the air period today from 0300z till 0900z. Antennas are up again and at 0915z he is QRV again on 14085 FT8.

Update January 7, 2023: at 1630 z FT8WW went QRT on 20m FT8 as winds were very stong again. Antennas taken down. Will be up again when winds calm down. 

Update January 7, 2023: Any activity on January 4th after 1820z until January 6th at 0130z was a pirate. 

Update January 6, 2023: Thierry is back on the air, 30m FT8. LoTW certificate applied for. More news later when available. QSL design finished, cards to be printed soon. Stay tuned!

Update January 5, 2023: Vertical dipole just broke, because of winds. No precise details yet. FT8WW on 18095 right now (Jan 5th, 1230z and up) is a pirate. Don't bother

Update January 4, 2023: FT8WW after 1502z on 18095 FT8 is real. Earlier than expected on this band.
Over 14,000 QSO in the log. FT8WW on the 4th of January on 30m was again a pirate.

Update January 4, 2023: Because of strong winds tomorrow on Crozet, G5RV antenna will be taken down, therefore no 20/30 activity for 1 and a half day. MAYBE, MAYBE uper band tomorrow after 10 or 11 GMT. Stay tuned. 73

Update January 3, 2023: Thierry cannot transmit today before 1500 GMT. Stay tuned. Log update, now including QO-100 contacts. Someone from Europe is pirating using FT8WW call sign on 3531.Thierry not active on 80m yet.

Update January 2, 2023: FT8WW on 40m is a pirate. No activity on this band yet.

Update January 2, 2023: New log update. 11088 QSO in log. Log does not include the QO-100 QSOs yet. These will be added soon.

Update December 31, 2022: First QO-100 QSOs made. The station is operational ! He will do SSB only on satellite. 73 and Happy Christmas Eve + 73 FT8WW.

Update December 30, 2022: Too many stations calling Thierry in FT8 on the wrong period... Read your FT8 program manual....

Clarification about clusters and social networks.
Out of respect for Thierry, his courage and tenacity, the derogatory or even odious comments that have been published are unacceptable, the authors will recognize each other. On the other hand, he is very grateful for the thanks and encouragement from the many OMs who will also recognize themselves. He also needs to rest, eat and must devote time, weather permitting, to complete and perfect his installation.
The installation on the base is done in a sustained way, a big thank you to the logistics team of the base for their precious help, and according to a capricious weather which often upsets the provisional schedule.
At the equipment level:
The Levy gives very satisfactory results, but with sustained attention, violent winds having a tendency to loosen the shrouds.
Still thanks to the wind, the installation of the QO-100 dish was laborious and the adjustments are in progress despite the intense cold. The weather forecast announces winds of more than 100 km/h for several days and Thierry is crossing his fingers that the dish will stay on the island!
The vertical will be installed soon depending on the weather conditions.

FT8WW.

Update December 29, 2022: Traffic advice.
In order to close some controversies, radio traffic is only, for the moment, on 20 and 30 meters (14 and 10 MHz) depending on the propagation, which for the moment only allows traffic in FT8 with MSHV and CW. Any further apparitions of FT8WW on other modes or bands, at this time, are the product of pirate “ham radios” and should be ignored.
The only way to check if you have contacted Thierry is there. https://clublog.org/logsearch/ft8ww
Not in the log? Search on the right frequencies and modes, say thanks to the "pirate" or intentional jamming.
Also, please take into consideration that the pile-ups are gigantic with their lots of indiscipline and that the following basic rules of traffic, which characterize our seriousness and our reputation must be respected:
Be patient.
Listen, listen, listen or watch, watch, watch (for FT8)!
When the DX is in QSO with another OM, never transmit.
When called by the DX, be extremely brief.
Never repeat the call sign of the DX station, he knows very well that he is the one you are calling!
Read carefully the manual of WSJT-X or other FT8 traffic software!
FT8WW.

Update December 28, 2022: Now over 5000 QSOs in the log. 93% of QSOs so far on FT8. AS, EU & NA roughly same percentage worked, ie ~30%.

Thierry is currently working on QO-100 antenna, as WX has improved. 

For the time being, any FT8WW on 17/15/12/10 is FAKE. Any spot by F6EXV on DXsummit is a fake spot too. sorry about too many pirates, both FT8WW and F6EXV, but nothing I can do about it

Log has been update again.

Update December 27, 2022: Thierry was made aware of the issue of his TXing period on FT8. From now on, he will transmit 1st (00 and 30). Good luck

Please no more money for commemorative enveloppes, too late now. You should have done that before Thierry left... Good luck

Update December 26, 2022: Very strong gusts on Crozet island, hard to stay standing up in the wind ! Next log update tomorrow.

Beware of the pirate station pretending to be FT8WW today on 30m starting about 0900z. CW is expected after 12:00z also today by the genuine FT8WW. 

Please do not contact Thierry on his personal email address. He does not even read them and he is not connected to any DX cluster. He neither reads the messages sent to the FT8WW DXpedition email address crozet2022@orange.fr. 

Update December 25, 2022: "FT8WW’s first QSO on 30m, in FT8 of course! It wasn’t on CW. The resulting tsunami with over 500 QSOs in 4 hours!

So I started, I only have one antenna, the wind forbidding me for the moment to erect the second for frequencies above 18 MHz.

But as I don’t want to change bands too much, I’m going to stay on 10 MHz and maybe 14 MHz depending on the openings. I’d rather do CW or SSB, but the spread decided otherwise (you saw yourself tonight). FT8 is in MSHV, I have 250W and 3 queues.

It’s windy, foggy and very humid."

Later at about 1830z he made the firsts QSO in CW on 30m.  First logs uploaded to Clublog.

Update December 25, 2022: Thierry start today his activity as FT8WW. So far he has been heard on 30m FT8.

Update December 22, 2022: Antenna assembly begins on Crozet. Currently, activity not expected before the weekend. 

Update December 20, 2022: I’ve been on the base since this morning (its 11:18 here) and the trip on the Marduf went well and just a little woozy twice. I got acquainted with the future shack which is fine, just 2 or 3 things to check for interference with equipment in the room but hey, that should do it. I should sleep in the same building, I just have to go outside and walk 10m to go to my room, which should do it there too. On the antenna side, if we can do it as I think, that will be very good.

It’s very crowded here because there are a lot of people on the base, but INFRA will take care of me on Thursday. A base is on a small mound which puts the foot of the mast 2 or 3m from the roof of the building where I am and there is everything to guy and pull the Levy.

The shack is in the basement facing the mast so 10 to 15 m of coax at most to pull, the clearance is great at 360° and the dish should pass without worry above the roof of the building located at 330° towards OQ-100. All the staff is very friendly and the amateur radio attracts a lot of questions. But already I can say that everyone knows who I am and is ready to help me. So, no traffic will start before the weekend.

I also had contact with the IPEV, it should be fine and the measurement fields are opposite the base. The famous Absolute Measure lasts about 20 minutes so it’s about 4.5 hours total, but I think there is a way to see it in detail. Anyway, I have to see the manager (who was with me on the boat) and the 2 technicians who will take the measurements to define an action plan.

Update December 20, 2022: Thierry is already on the island. It will take some days to complete the setup.

Update December 18, 2022: The ship is expected to reach Crozet tomorrow and landing on December, 20th.

Update December 10, 2022: Thierry is at Bordeaux airport earlier this morning (local) getting ready to board his flight to Paris, then onto Reunion. First steps in his journey to Crozet.

Update November 21, 2022: by F6CUK: 

Here is the latest information to date, following the signing of the agreement with the TAAF

December  12: loading of freight, boarding of passengers (early afternoon) on the Marion Dufresne and departure for Tromelin at the end of the day.
December 16: return to near Reunion, helicopter transport of agents returning from Tromelin and departure for Crozet. I will not descend on Tromelin.
December 20: Expected arrival in Crozet. Start of the emission window.
January 26: End of the emission window. I am authorized to broadcast HF for 3 weeks only between December 20 and January 26. In addition, every day at least 5 hours will be neutralized (no emission) to allow the Poles Institute (IPEV) to make a measurement.
No constraint for QO-100 traffic, possibility of traffic during the whole stay on the base.
Departure from Crozet around March 25th.
Passage to Kerguelen then Amsterdam for supplying the bases. I will not be allowed to get off the boat so no emissions.
Return to France in May.
As you can read above, these are unfortunately significant modifications in particular for the HF part and far from the initial authorization given.

Callsign and frequencies

Only the information given on the Crozet2022 site, by F6EXV, F8TRT and of course Les Nouvelles DX is reliable. The others (FT1W, etc.) are fanciful. Don’t waste your time or your money. Given the very short duration of my broadcasts, I intend to favor traffic on 2 or 3 bands maximum for ATNOs. Depending on the best band for the W6 I will choose 14 or 18 MHz and 10 MHz at night. I did not choose frequencies either, it will be seen with the scientists on site, except for the 10 Mhz FT8 where with the Bouvet team, we agreed that I would use 10.131 Mhz but I noted the subs bands of US (novice) stations on 14 MHz. The whole team is working to have the largest possible transmission window, which would allow more traffic and perhaps more bandwidth. I am in contact with the IPEV, but to date I have no information going in the direction of an extension.

I am sorry for all those, and I know there are many, who are looking for Crozet. For me too it is a great frustration to stay 3 months on site for only 3 weeks of HF traffic.

Update November 18, 2022: The callsign is not issued yet, and I have requested a special call to commemorate the 60 years of the first transmissions made by Mr. Baudelot, first ham operator on the island in the years 61/62. The callsign will be released only hours before the start of the activity by Paul F6EXV and Jean-Michel F6AJA, i.e. after my arrival on the island. Paul will inform via internet and Twitter, Jean-Michel on his DX bulletin. This will be so to avoid pirate activities. Anything not coming from Paul or Jean-Michel will be mere speculation. Be cautious of  the FT4Wxxx that might show up !

Update November 14, 2022: Arrival at Saint-Denis de La Réunion airport is scheduled for Tuesday, November 29. A quarantine for COVID will follow from December 1 to 9 in a hotel in St Denis. Boarding the Marion Dufresne (Le Marduf) is scheduled for December 9, 2022.

Update October 18, 2022: His operations  on the HF bands might have  to cease on January 26, and  it seems that  he will only  be allowed on  QO-100 after that date.

Update September 19, 2022: "Arrival at St. Denis de la Réunion airport on Tuesday, November 29, quarantine for COVID from December 1 to 9 in a hotel in St Denis. Departure aboard the Marion Dufresne on the 9th"

Update September 15, 2022: It could happen that the operation has to be shortened and he has to leave in February. This is due to the interference fears that Thierry could cause to  the terrestrial magnetism measurement laboratory located on Crozet.

Update August 8, 2022: Thierry, F6CUK, reports (on the Crozet 2022 Web page) the following at the end of July: "Preparation of the 3 canteens in which the radio equipment will be shipped. Painting of the green stripes required by the TAAF to indicate the destination of the canteens. The departure for Reunion is scheduled for mid-August by boat."

Update February 14, 2022: New press release is available

Update January 23, 2022: Paul, F6EXV, informs via OPDX that the PayPal account is now active for those who would like to help fund the "Crozet 2022" operation. Thierry, F6CUK, is expected to operate from Crozet starting sometime mid-December-March 2023.
The CROZET 2022 Web page with the PayPal link is available at http://www.crozet2022.fr

Update December 6: Website is available

Update November 5: Thierry, F6CUK, informs of the restictions for this operation as Crozet island was declared protected area by the UNESCO World Heritage, what means that no operation is possible outside the Alfred Faure base and even there there are severe restrictions on the antennas that could be installed. They are working on determining the best wire antennas that could be set up. CW and SSB will be the priority. FT8 will be mostly for low bands if he can install an 80m dipole, and for far away areas (US West coast mainly). Operation on the QO-100 is also likely.

He also reminds that it will be a two month operation, so it will be time to give a new one to everybody.

Update November 2: From F6EXV (Tnx DX-World): "Crozet 2022 DXpedition is now on twitter ( @crozet2022 ). People who already want to support the DXpedition can send their donations either through Paypal (crozet2022@orange.fr) or by wire transfer. In that case, they should ask for bank details by email (crozet2022@orange.fr). Donors should indicate their callsign, and tell us if they mind us publishing it (not the amount).

A website is under construction, and will be put on the web soon. Details will be there, hopefully in French, English, Spanish, German, Japanese, and maybe Russian ! We will set the benefits of early donors, and they will be published there. Patience !"

Information from Paul, F6EXV, published at DX-World: "After many months of efforts and negotiations, the TAAF (the body in charge of the FTs administration) has granted permission for a one-man nearly 3-month operation from Crozet Island to Thierry F6CUK, from mid-December 2022 to mid-March 2023 (be patient!) Exact dates will come just prior to the operation. The last activity from Crozet was in 2009 by Florentin F4DYW as FT5WQ.

Details will be forthcoming in the next few days, weeks and months, when they become available and publishable.

Thierry F6CUK will be the operator, Paul F6EXV will be the finance/QSL manager.

Please do not try to contact either Thierry F6CUK or Paul F6EXV for the time being, there will be no reply to any messages related to this operation until further notice.

Stay tuned !"