DXpedition to Lesotho

July 28th to August 17th, 2004

We have now extended our stay in Lesotho by 13 days. We have decided to cancel the Swaziland and Mozambique stops in favor of more time in Lesotho. See DXpedition News Below for details!

Dave K4SV and Neil VA7DX decided to revisit this wonderful DX location again for 2004. We had so much fun the last time in 2003 that we decided to go back again since there were still more QSO's to be made. Our towers, antennas, logistical support, licensing and all in country transportation is provided by African DX Safaris - Andre ZS6WPX.

Our goal is to operate around the clock on all bands on CW, SSB and RTTY will be our primary modes. Other special modes like SSTV and PSK upon request. We will try to operate in the General band segments as much as we can. We intend to spend every evening on the low bands from 30 to 160 meters. We have receive antennas and power AMPs available where permitted. Watch this WEB site daily for updates on our next evenings operation

DXpedition Logs can be checked from QTH (Home) on this site. Enter your call and all 7P8 logs for 2003 and 2004 DXpeditions will be checked for a match. The logs will be updated daily as Internet access permits. Each operator will be using their own call signs as follows. If you have problems with the log contact Mike K4YL

Dave Anderson, K4SV is 7P8DA

Neil King, VA7DX is 7P8NK

Our Pilot station is Stephen Grose, K4YL. He will be in contact with the DXpedition daily. If you have suggestions or would like a special mode please send an email to Stephen at Stephen Grose, K4YL.

QSLing Hint! If you worked a station multiple times please send only One QSL card and a list in Date-Time order for the remainder of QSO's. If you have additional QSO's with Dave K4SV or Neil VA7DX please included those QSL cards as well.

USA - Send Self Addressed Stamped Envelope (SASE)

DX - Send Self Addressed Envelope (SAE) and one of the following 1- Green Stamp, 1- Large IRC.

Donations Throw in an extra buck or two if you worked that new Band or Mode! Anything and Everything will be accepted to help cover some of our equipment shipping, QSL printing, and other supplies costs, it helps! Thanks in advance.

Send direct and bureau QSL requests and Donations to:
Stephen Grose, K4YL
PO Box 183
Flat Rock, NC 28731-0183

Our team is supported through donations from many great individuals and companies. We wish to thank all our sponsors and encourage you to do business with them the next time you need something. Icom has supplied new IC 756ProII radios and power supplies for this trip, Thanks Ray!

17th August, 2004

The DXpedition to Lesotho is over and after spending the entire time we allocated for three African locations just in Lesotho. Our initial plan was to spend 8 days in Lesotho and move onto Swaziland for 5 days and then onto Mozambique. Once we got set up in Lesotho the band conditions and size of the pileups were fantastic. Every time we got on we worked worldwide until the band faded or we had to eat. Just excellent.

Between Neil 7P8NK and Dave 7P8DA some ~20000 QSO were made in all modes. CW was awesome and very needed by all worldwide. Neil did the very first EME QSO's on 6 and 2 meters ever from Lesotho. He did Meteor Scatter as well. Once we get settled back home, look for pictures from this wonderful location, Lesotho.

80 Meters was excellent at 989 QSO's worldwide!

SK

13th August, 2004

We have made a decision to stay in Lesotho for the entire trip and bypass the 3DA and C9 stops. We have made this decision because the conditions of our travel have changed such that it would delay our setup and operation times. So as a result we decided to stay here in this most needed country and continue to work everyone. Our last day will be the morning of Monday the 16th.

Starting today we will make a big push to work everyone on all possible modes. Our change in schedule has resulted in another full weekend here in Lesotho for maximum QSO's just before we pack up to leave.

We have been very successful in working the low bands. We have over 900 Q's on 80 alone. 160 meters has been not as productive but hope with this and other announcements we can stir up activity in our last days here. We benefit from a full size 80 meter vertical and it appears to be working very well. Due to our slow email radio connection we can not attach any pictures but as soon as we get Internet connectivity we will post a bunch of pictures.

QSN: 160 meters: UA6LV last night at S7 in the clear with low local noise but had trouble hearing us. Heard a DL something but only for 3 seconds with no QSO. 80 meters: worked several EU stations but still many who have made QSO's are still calling as DUPs. Please check the WEB site for updates before working us again, sorry for the delay in posting the logs. If you do find it on the WEB site please call again if you want. Be sensitive for others FIRST QSO's however. Everyone is piling on ONE QRG and we can not select calls quickly, Spread out over 2 to 3 KHz please.

We have been working more SSB and digital modes by request.

LOW BAND SCHEDULE CHANGE

We will be QRV as follows

1900Z to 1930Z 160 Meters

1930Z to 0000Z will be 80 meters 3505 KHz listen UP ( we may work 40 or 30 meters if no activity on the band)

Listening for VK and ZL only at 2030Z!! Listen 1833 KHz

0000Z to 0030Z will be 160 meters 1831 KHz listen UP

0030Z to 0400Z will be 80 meters 3505 KHz listen UP ( we may work 40 or 30 meters if no activity on the band)

SK

11th August, 2004

For the next day until we leave for South Africa we will be QRV as follows

1900Z to 1930Z 160 Meters

1930Z to 0000z will be 80 meters

0000Z to 0030Z will be 160 meters 1831

0030Z to 0400Z will be 80 meters 3505

During this time we will be working some 30 and 40 meters

During the day we work as high of band as possible and check every hour or so for Beacons and will QSY to work the higher bands while the band conditions are there.

Log updates have been slow due to no Internet connection here. We have passed the files via Floppy to people who will be at a Internet computer for forwarding to K4YL.

At this time we have about 10000 QSo in both together and strive for more. Now is the chance to work us before we pack and leave this great place. Please be advised that since this extra effort Dave and Neil will be tired and go easy on them if they can not get your call right off.

SOME operators find it necessary to send their calls before the current QSO is complete, this is rude and causes delays in working everyone. PLEASE, wait until you hear the TU and then send your call ONCE. If you hear a letter or two that is in YOUR call then resend it. As we tune up and down we catch usually the last part of a call and then to speed things up we send a bit of the call heard. This has worked great so let's keep it up.

9th August, 2004

In a late breaking decision today Neil and Dave have decided to stay in Lesotho and make the DXpedition called the African Triple Hop to be Lesotho Only Dxpedition. After evaluating our demands of the hams around the world it was determined that 7P was needed more. So it was decided to stay the entire time in Lesotho and work all the needed band and modes. We QRT on the morning of August 14th after working low bands all night.

Over the week we plan more CW, SSB, RTTY and PSK.

Our time on the low bands, especially 80 meters, has bore fruit in 700 QSO's in the log from all over the word. Our 80 meter antenna has preformed just great. We have verticals for 40 and 30 meters working all the time.

Right now, and subject to change, we will operate 160 and 80 meters around 19z and again at 0z. Depending on conditions we will decide what is best. Unfortunately we do not have an Internet connection and can not spot ourselves, so watch the DX cluster and if you hear us please spot us so the others can come and make a QSO.

2nd August, 2004

So far Lesotho has been great. We had run into some setup problems but all have been resolved now. We have our 4 element tri-band beam, WARC 2 element beam and a verticals for 80, 40 and 30 meters all full size. These antennas are very good. It appears that the signals are good from the reports we are receiving. We have antennas for all bands but 160 meters but as soon as we get some materials to make an inductor we will be on 160 meters, so hold on.

We have made a bunch of QSO's (1800) on most of the bands the first two days. Neil has been very busy on 2 meter and 6 meter EME and Tropo. We look for higher band openings daily but so far have only been able to work 15 meters. Plan CW, SSB and RTTY/PSK this trip with some special SSTV on request. The logs have been updated by the time you read this via Airmail radio.

The low bands have been great. Last night the band was a bit noisy and static crashes on it but tonight might be better. We ask that you spread out when calling because the flutter and multipath make copy very hard. If you can call in the clear we can QSO faster.

27th July, 2004

The DXpedition team arrives in South Africa on July 27th and will travel to Lesotho. Once all antennas are up we will become QRV and operate 24 hours a day around the clock.

See you in the pileups.

Watch for us!!! 73's

Watch here for daily updates!