Banner - 22-Sept-2200z....All operators have safely arrived back at their home QTHs.....Co-Leader Craig (K9CT) has joined the 3D2C team in Fiji for the trip to Conway Reef.....Juergen (DJ2VO), Barry (9V1FJ), Hawk (SM5AQD) and Dietmar (DL3DXX) are enjoying a few extra days in Pago Pago before returning home.....More Photos will be added to the website soon, so check back again.....The team says "thanks to all of our friends worldwide for your tremendous support.  Best DX.".....73 from K6MM

17-Sept-1300z: The Swains Refrigerator

30 lbs Bacon
30 dozen eggs
40 lbs breakfast sausages
25 loaves bread
80 lbs chicken
80 lbs rice
60 lbs ribs
Ten fish....really big fish!!
Ran out of sugar first week and use brown sugar and honey now.
Lots of coffee!!

Team has plenty of water, Gatorade and beer.....but no ice !

Banner - 15-Sept-2200z.....Operation will stop in 9 Hours, at 0700 UTC Sunday, 16-Sept.....If you need Swains for a new one, get on the air NOW.....Ops will ask pileup to standby for first-timers.....After a good night's sleep, will start tearing down tomorrow.....At a constant 103-105° temp, some suffering from sun exposure and mosquito bites.....Should still be on 160m tonight -- but 60m operation doubtful because of high noise level.....Also trying to work up the band for General Class......Salt water now effecting connections to radios and antennas - repairs are continuous.....6M Beacon still active today - QSOs With E51, KH6 but no JA, VK, ZL, or USA yet.....questions or comments to K6MM

15-Sept-1300z....If you have not worked NH8S yet and it's a new one for you, get on the air as soon as possible over the next 48 Hours.

Banner: 14-Sept-0030z.....Major rain and windstorm last night knocked out the 75m and 20m SSB antennas - 20m OK, 75m being repaired today - all CW antennas OK.....Stayed on 80m CW last night throughout the whold storm - so noisy, they could not hear the pileups and had to hold off for awhile as tent almost blew down....Team still asking EU ops to spread out when asked and abide DX Code of Conduct.....Will continue on 160m tonight.....RTTY operation expanded to 5 bands: 30m, 20m, 17m, 12m and 10m - other bands soon..... Online log updated at 14-Sep, 0030z - last QSO in database: 2012-09-13 @ 13:08z - 77K QSOs now.....Big push toward Europe = 27% of all QSOs now.....6M Beacon (power not sure yet) in CW tent being monitored 24/7 @ 50.107 - keep calling.....WB9Z fell asleep in his hammock and is till drying out from storm.....questions or comments to K6MM

Banner: 13-Sept-0100z.....Online Log Updated - see note on LOG Page.....3 QSOs so far on 6M - Beacon running 24/7.....Careful: there is a pirate that seems to be JA stn with a distinctive TX sound.....NH8S has 6 TX running, not 7.....Please avoid dupes by checking ClubLog.....Don't sleep - they'll work 80m & 160m hard tonight - if it's dark at your QTH and dark in Swains, look for them.....See rule #1 under PLANS -- don't call 'em if you can't hear 'em.....Also need to spread out more - NA/EU/SA/AF/OC stns getting covered up by JA.....new PHOTOS received today.....Jurgen (DJ2VO), hurt on boat, is fine now - will stay in Pago Pago to return with the team later.....WX HOT - showers don't help, just boost humidity.....Dinner last night: fish + coconut milk = excellent local food.....Stations are 1/2 mile apart = some exercise.....Everyone is healthy, tired, and HAPPY.....questions or comments to K6MM

Banner: 12-Sept-0400z.....6M antenna is now assembled and the beacon is up on 50.107 MHz -- de NH8S NH8S BCN (5 sec pause).....160M bad relay fixed w/swr now 1:1 -- operation continuing tonight.....RTTY operation expanded to 4 bands: 30m, 20m, 17m and 10m.....If Swains is a new one for you, let the Ops know - they'll feel good.....Ops were on 160m and 80m all night - but if there is no activity, they will QSY to open bands.....Antennas are working great and they can hear extremely well.....Significant phase noise partially solved so 15M operation started again.....Great openings to EU last night on 15m on both SSB and CW but at about 4:20 am local bands went silent due to flare.....Food is outstanding - no one losing weight, but the 105-108 deg heat is challenging.....questions or comments to K6MM

Banner: 11-Sept-2200z.....160M operation started at 0500 UTC -- Vertical still needs some tuning but initial reports are good.....RTTY operation expanded to 3 bands: 30m, 17m and 20m.....6M antenna is being assembled but difficult in 100+ degree weather during the day; hopefully operational soon.....many European contacts over the last 24 hrs - please continue to cooperate if ops ask for "EU only".....significant phase noise has limited 15M operation but problem being addressed.....General class operators: keep listening for the 20m & 40m receive frequency.....Frequency police are BORED - don't have anyone to scold because "Split" compliance is very high.....questions or comments to K6MM

September 6, 2012 @ 0800 UTC
We have arrived and everything is going well.  SVDAs are up for both cw and ssb camps.  The stations are getting setup and will continue in the morning.  Lobster for dinner!  Fantastic crew from the Jennings that have setup all of the infrastructure for our dxpedition.  Unfortunately one of our crew was injured on the way to Swains.  He has returned to Pago Pago for medical treatment.  We feel very badly that he had to leave the group.  We should be on the air tomorrow sometime.  Several big antennas remain to be put up.  They will be done first before we start to operate.  The weather is quite hot and humid.  We have to be cautious about resting and dehydration.  We are having a good time and are looking forward to getting on the air sometime today. (Craig, K9CT and Joe, W8GEX).

September 6, 2012 @ 0030 UTC
The team is on the island now and starting to put together the antennas and stations. Unfortunately, Juergen Borsdorf (DJ2VO) sustained a leg injury on board the ship, and was forced to return to American Samoa the receive addtional medical treatment. The weather is very hot and humid, but everyone's is in good spirits. Operation is expected to begin Thursday, September 6 around 2000 UTC.

September 5, 2012
The boat from American Samoa will arrive on Swains Island today at approximately 2000 UTC. The team will be putting together the antennas and setting up stations on the beach. They are hoping to start operating within the next 24 hours.

September 1, 2012
Press Release - Pre-Expedition Crew Sets Up Tents, Supplies, etc.

August, 25, 2012
Press Release

August 22, 2012
Press Release

The leaders are happy to report that the DXpedition cargo has arrived in American Samoa.  The international team of 20 operators are excited about this tent and generator operation.  The island ranks number 31 in the DX Magazine most wanted list.  Swains is about one mile in circumference has only five permanent residents and no infrastructure.

The team will be running seven stations from 6 to 160 including 60m.  They will be on CW, SSB and RTTY around the clock for 14 days. Great emphasis will be in working European stations. Plans are to update logs on a daily basis by satellite phone.  Because there is no regular internet service, the team will have two pilot stations. Valerie, NV9L will be the North American pilot while Col, MM0NDX will do the honors for Europe.  They and John, K6MM, our webmaster, will be the only contact to the team for their 14 day stay.

Due to changes in airline flights, they are now scheduled to depart American Samoa on Sept 4, for the 23 hour boat ride to Swains.  Everything will then be off loaded and taken ashore by a small boat.  Along with the radio equipment, antennas, food, and tents, are 19 drums of gasoline for the seven generators.

The team of highly experienced DXers, contesters and Dxpeditioners are 9V1FJ, AA4NN, DJ2VO, DL3DXX, K5AB, K9CS, K9CT, K9NW, N2TU, N4HH, N6HC, N6HD, NA6M, ND2T, SM5AQD, W6KK, W8GEX, W8HC, W8TN and WB9Z.  There have been several requests to listen into the general band, so please listen to the operator's instructions.

We are most grateful to NCDXF, INDEXA, and all clubs and individuals who have supported us.  Like all major DXpeditions today, this is a very expensive trip.  Total costs are estimated to be $200,000.  Each member has paid $8000, plus his cost to get to American Samoa. Anyone who wants to help, can go to our website, www.nh8s.org and click on the donations link.  We are most appreciative to any and all DXers that contribute to help defray the cost of the trip.

OQSL will be available on the website for your convenience.  QSL manager for cards is Joe Blackwell AA4NN, and requests should be sent to him at:

Swains Island DXpedition
P.O. Box 5005
Lake Wylie, SC 29710
USA

LoTW will be posted six months following the DXpedition.

We would like to give special thanks to our support crew who has worked very hard for us. They include DL9RCF, I8NHJ, K6MM, MM0NDX, N1DG, N4XP, N7CQQ, NV9L, W6XA, W8AEF, W8CAA and Margarett Blackwell XYL of AA4NN.

The website www.nh8s.org provides more details.

CU in the pileups!

And don't forget to sign our Guestbook -- just click on the Coconuts!

Craig K9CT
Joe W8GEX
Co Leaders

July 17, 2012
Press Release

Craig (K9CT) and Joe (W8GEX) are happy to report that preparations for the NH8S Swains Island DXpedition are on schedule.  The 20 man international team should be on the island and on the air from September 6 thru September 18.  Swains is # 31 most wanted worldwide. They will operate all bands with SSB, CW and RTTY.

A big thank you goes to John (N7CQQ) and Paul (W8AEF) for their time in building and testing the SVDA's that will be used.  Thanks also to Paul (W6XA) and Tom (N4XP) for testing the radios, amps and laptops. All of the equipment has been shipped to Arnie (N6HC) in California for the upcoming departure via cargo ship later this week.  The QSLing will be handled by Joe (AA4NN) with help from his XYL Margarett.  Plans are to upload logs daily by satellite phone from the island to Clublog.

We are very grateful to our equipment sponsors, including: ICOM, Elecraft, VIbroplex, Innovantennas, DX Engineering, Heil Sound, Primus, Hi-Z Antennas, and The RF Connection.  Also to Kimo (KH7U) for the 160m vertical, and George (W8UVZ) for the Battle Creek Special.

We have updated our website with pictures, operating information and links.  Thanks to John (K6MM) for doing the webmaster duties and being our Pilot Relay.  Other pilots are:Col (MMØNDX) (Europe) and Valerie (NV9L) (North America).

There will be a great emphasis placed in working Europe where Swains is most needed.  We will have several receiving antennas aimed that direction.

It will be very hot and humid, and mosquitoes should be plentiful, so please have patience with the operators.  We ask that you listen to the operator instructions to ensure we are able to work as many stations as possible.  Please refer to our operating guidelines on the Band Plan page:
http://nh8s.org/pages/bandplan.html

This tent and generator operation is a very expensive endeavor, and the group is most grateful for the foundations, clubs and individuals who have already contributed.  For those that would like to donate, you may do so from our website: www.nh8s.org.

The skilled international crew that is looking forward to working you includes: 9V1FJ, AA4NN, DJ2VO, DL3DXX, K5AB, K9CS, K9CT, K9NW, N2TU, N4HH, N6HC, N6HD, NA6M, ND2T, SM5AQD, W6KK, W8GEX, W8HC, W8TN, and WB9Z.

The team is grateful for the opportunity to activate a rare DXCC entity and, hopefully, work thousands of other DXers worldwide.  We look forward to having fun and making life-long friends.

CU in the pileups!

And don't forget to sign our Guestbook -- just click on the Coconuts!

73,
Your NH8S Team