Banaba DX-Pedition 2004

The 22 members of theT33C team, including 19 operators, are now safely back from Banaba Island. Our DXpedition to this "most wanted" entity in the Central Pacific made 75,000 QSOs between April 4 and April 15 with amateurs throughout the world. This was the first operation from Banaba since 1999.

Banaba lies some 420 km SW of the Kiribati capital of Tarawa and about 80 km south of the Equator. Eighty years of phosphate mining have eliminated more than 90% of the arable land on Banaba. Today, the 300 residents of the island support themselves by fishing, small gardens, and some money from a trust fund established by Great Britain in acknowledgment of the damage done to their environment. Despite the hardships they have faced, the people of Banaba were gracious hosts who helped make our stay as comfortable as possible.

The T33C team thanks all the radio clubs, DX foundations, and individual amateurs for their financial support and encouragment. We also thank our corporate sponsors for their loans and gifts of radio equipment. All the logs from our operation, QSL information, and photographs from the expedition can be seen on the team Web site: http://www.dx-pedition.de/banaba2004/. Articles describing the expedition
will be appearing in many amateur radio periodicals during the coming months. An expedition video will also be available later this year.

Published: Friday, April 09, 2004

Up to now (09/04 00.00 local time) 36.000 have been logged. Propagation have been quit good on the high bands the 1st days, yesterday it was must less. The percentage of QSO's is about 50/50% CW/SSB. The RTTY station has problems with the 20 meter antenna which will be fixed today. The 40 meter SSB antenna was not functioning and has been repaired, first QSO's have been made. We have average 6 stations in the air all time.

Uploading the logs goes very slow, we already heard QSO's are showing up double on the web, but better double than not at all.

The preparation phase is now almost completed, we have seen the MV Te
Taobe which was discharging today in the harbor. It will not be a
luxary travel to Banaba that is for sure. We have to sleep on deck
and will have to share a small fridge and kitchen with about 40
people! The container is in good state, last purchases have been done
so we are almost ready. The departure time will be as announced.

This will be the last update from Tarawa Kiribati, we have setup some
stations overhere so some T30xx calls can be heard today and tomorrow.

Published: Monday, March 29, 2004

Almost whole the team is now on Fiji. Tomorrow we will travel to
Tarawa and join the rest of the team whole is already on Kiribati.
Everything still goes via plan, we have been playing the radio and
activated several 3D calls. We have uploaded some pictures of the
traveling and arrival on Fiji. More updates to follow soon.

Most of the team members arrived now on Fiji and some already arrived at Tarawa (Kiribati). You probably already have noticed some activity on the band from Fiji and Kiribati, we all have our individual callsigns. The next days on Fiji will be used to prepare equipment and computers and discuss strategy. We have heard quit some activity on 10 meters but are sceptic if we also will have them from Banaba since that is located on the equator. Some pictures will be uploaded to the web-site in the coming hours.

During the next two weeks, members of the T33C team will be heading for rendezvous on Tarawa (T30), and from there on to Banaba (T33). T33C should be on-the-air by April 4 or 5.

All of the equipment that was shipped from Europe has now cleared Kiribati customs and is ready for transfer to Te Taobe, the boat that will take the team from Tarawa to Banaba.

T33C’s likely operating frequencies are now posted on the expedition Web site: http://www.dx-pedition.de/banaba2004/. The T33C operators understand that there will be other DXpeditions on the air at the same time. For that reason, our frequencies may change from time to time. To prevent overlap and confusion with other operations, we will try to maintain splits and spreads that do not conflict.

We encourage all hams to be sure that any packet spots of T33C are, in fact, our station. It would be a shame to work another station thinking you were working T33C and not be in our log. This has happened before on other expeditions. If there is any doubt whether or not you are our log, please work us again.

Hams throughout the world may communicate problems or suggestions through our pilot stations:

Europe Martino, IK3RIY (ik3riy@libero.it)
West Coast NA Larry, N7DF (n7df@yahoo.com)
East Coast NA Woody, KQ4NW (kq4nw@rbnet.com)
Asia Toshi, JA1ELY (ja1ely@bb.mbn.or.jp)
Oceania Gary, KH6GMP (kh6gmp@hawaii.rr.com)
South America: Daniel, PT7BI (MiltomMoutinho@aol.com)
Freddy, PY3YD (py3yd@radioamador.com)

When we establish a reliable PACTOR link, we will send daily logs and bulletins to our Web site. All logs will be refreshed upon our return to Tarawa on April 18.

The T33C team again thanks all those organizations and individuals who have contributed to the effort.

Since more DX-peditions will we on the air during the T33C operation we thought we should announce our planned working frequencies as well to avoid confusion on the band who is who. The following frequencies are just preferred frequencies but if the range is in use we will use another frequency range.

Today we received the confirmation the T33C container arrived in Tarawa, Kiribati. We are happy no delays have occured during it's long journey from Germany-Holland-Singapore-Fiji-Kiribati. The next step in the logistical chain is to get all equipment custom cleared in Tarawa and load the container on the M.S. Te Taobe where it will be available for the team to arrive early April. Again we can't stress enough this operation will not be a 5 star operation, we need your help to make this all happen. Nothing is available on the island and everything has to be bought including the most basic things like water for toilets, shower, drink and cook.

The T33C Banaba Dxpedition remains on schedule for starting operations on April 4th or 5th and continuing for at least eleven days. This is a major DXpedition, covering all modes and all bands from 160 through 6 meters . Our container of equipment has arrived in Fiji and will shortly be on its way to Tarawa where we will load it aboard the vessel Te Taobe that will take us to Banaba.

The expeditioners extend their thanks to all the sponsors, organizations and individuals who have contributed to the expedition. Banaba is not a tourist destination: everything we need, including food and clean drinking water needs to be shipped to the island. Shipping costs have been very high. We still welcome any and all contributions. You can find details of the trip, including the on-line logbook and QSL information at our Web site http://www.dx-pedition.de/banaba2004/

There is still room for another one or two operators to join the team, though arranging air transport to Tarawa at this late date may be difficult.

The logistical part of the T33C operation is going as planned. The T33C Container arrived today in Suva, Fiji and is waiting to be shipped to Tarawa next week. The team has received a Pactor PTC-IIpro modem from SCS and have been testing the log upload scenario using Pactor III which is working as planned provided the PMBO of ZL1MA can be reached.

This is the current operations schedule, when T33C will be in the air is depending of the local situation. We expect to have a couple of stations in the air before sunset.

The T33C Container left Singapore today and started its next leg to Fiji. The team is still looking for 1 or 2 additional operators.

The T33C Container arrived January 4th in Singapore and will leave in the coming days to Fiji.

The Pilots team is now complete for Europe Martino IK3RIY, North America Larry N7DF, Asia Toshi JA1ELY, Oceania Gary KH6GMP and South America Daniel PT7BI.

Last week we have finalized the loading of the 20 foot container with approx. 4500 Kg of materials which is now on it's way to Kiribati. We hope it will arrive the end of February 2004. We still have 2 operator spots available provided travel arrangements to Kiribati can still be arranged, flights are getting full. The first photo's have been published on the Pictures section of the web-site so you can get an impression of what is going to be transported to the island. We have put many weeks of effort to prepare as much as possible so we don't loose any extra time on the setup of the station if that could have been prepared, all masts are ready to go, the SteppIR's are pre-mounted, the 6 & 30 Meter beam is pre mounted, all low band antenna's are pre-cut, generators have had their first hours ran and oil is replaced ready to play, coax and control cables are all cut on right length with plugs etc. Apart of possible problems with transportation delays not much can go wrong now, we are all confident that the Banaba 2004 operation will be a successful one.

We are still looking for addition funds, the transportation costs are much higher than expected, we had to buy a container because it was impossible to load it in 2 days which was expected from us in the first instance.

Well known dxpeditioner Rob Snieder, PA2R (ex-PA5ET), will lead an international team of 21 operators to activate Banaba (T33) for two weeks during April 2004. Banaba (formerly Ocean Island) currently ranks 26 on the European most-wanted list. The small, sparsely populated island is accessible only by sea.

The Banaba operation has been issued callsign T33C. The expedition will be a major effort, featuring 24 hour a day operation. CW, SSB, RTTY, PSK, and SSTV will be used as appropriate on all bands 160 through 6 meters and AO-40 . There will be seven separate HF stations featuring Elecraft K2/100 transceivers and ACOM1000 amplifiers, including a dedicated station for the digital modes and another for 6meters. Operations on 20 meters and above will use StepIR yagis, while low band stations will use a variety of transmitting and receiving antennas, including loops and beverages. Logs will be transmitted daily to Australia and published daily on the World Wide Web.

Members of the group will also activate Tarawa (T30) during WPX SSB. There may also be limited operation from Nauru, Fiji, and other island nations after the Banaba expedition.

The history of Banaba during the past century has not been a happy one. Phosphate mining has destroyed most of the arable land on the island. During WWII, the Japanese military occupied the island and enslaved much of the population. Following WWII, many Banabans were relocated to Rabi Island in Fiji. Banaba is governed by the nation of Kiribati and by a Council of Elders that resides on Rabi.

The expeditioners plan to bring school supplies for the islanders and to hold a medical clinic. The expedition includes a physician, nurse, and pharmacist, all of whom are also hams.

The expeditioners will travel by air to Fiji, and then to Tarawa, Kiribati. From Tarawa, the expedition will go to Banaba by chartered vessel. Because of severe weight restrictions on flights to Tarawa, most of the equipment is being shipped ahead by container from Rotterdam. Shipping expenses alone are estimated at $9000.

The T33C group is seeking volunteers to operate pilot stations in Asia, Oceania, and South America.

All of the group members have committed substantial amounts of money toward making the expedition a success and several radio clubs and DX foundations have contributed money, but the expedition still needs contributions to cover costs. Contributions may be sent to either:

Flo Moudar, F5CWU, 25 Rue du Castel Salis, 37100 Tours, FRANCE
IBAN: FR 76 1370 5000 0104 0070 3301 890
BAK Identification Code(BIC): CEPAFRPP370 (also named SWIFT CODE)
BANK ADRESS:
Caisse d'epargne Centre Val de Loire, Agence Europe, 19 Avenue de l'Europe, 37100 TOURS, FRANCE

More information, updates, and profiles of the expedition team can be found at the Banaba Dxpedition Web
site http://www.dx-pedition.de/banaba2004

Banaba DX-pedition 2004 - News Update

Published: Monday, July 29, 2003

An international team of 20 well-known operators, will be active from Banaba Island, (T33) during the first two weeks of April, 2004. Six HF stations, three on CW and three on SSB, plus a separate 6m station and
separate HF digital mode station are planned, with at least six high power amplifiers.

The main emphasis of this DX-pedition will two-fold:

We are currently planning at least 3 operating positions that may allow multiple stations per band to operate.

We will be active from 6-160m on CW, SSB , RTTY, PSK and some SSTV . If sufficient interest in satellite contacts is generated, this may be added.

We have arranged a suitable vessel to bring us and the equipment safely to and from Banaba Island, a 2 day trip from Tarawa, Kiribati. It will be a completely self-supporting DX-pedition because little of the
infrastructure of Banaba is left. All food, water, fuel, medical support, radios, antennas and electrical power equipment must be brought in by boat. Nearly all the radio equipment, amplifiers, antennas, masts, coax, filters, must either be shipped by very expensive air freight or shipped by container months ahead of time.

A T33 license and the required landing permission have been granted exclusively to our team between now and the time the DX-pedition will take place.

A web-site has been opened at http://www.dx-pedition.de/banaba2004 which will be updated as frequently as things progress. The current roster of operators, information on the ship, island, and latest plans can be found there. We would appreciate if your sign the Guestbook.

Some of the team members will arrive early and enter the CQ WPX SSB contest from T30 in March 2004.

The On-Line QSL Request System will be used. We are hoping to have on-line logs updated on daily basis depending of availability of Pactor MBO's in VK/ZL/JA, if you can help us in that area please contact us.

"Pilot" stations will be used when needed to assist when appropriate, and relay information to/from the DXpedition personnel. We are still looking for pilot stations in Asia, Oceania and South America. If you are interested please contact us.

This will be an expensive undertaking due to the remoteness of the island, the lack of any infrastructure, the high transportation cost of both operators and especially equipment and supplies. Each DXpedition member will personally be paying in excess of $3000 US for participation in the activation of Banaba Island.

We greatly appreciate the donations and commitments of those DX organizations which have agreed already to help, and seek sponsorship from others to help defray expenses. Our goal is to take Banaba Island down
to well under the top 100 on the Most Wanted Country List.

Contributions may be made to the "Island DXpedition" fund via:

Flo Moudar, F5CWU
25 Rue du Castel Salis
37100 Tours
FRANCE

IBAN: FR 76 1370 5000 0104 0070 3301 890

BAK Identification Code(BIC): CEPAFRPP370 (also named SWIFT CODE)

BANK ADRESS:
Caisse d'epargne Centre Val de Loire
Agence Europe
19 Avenue de l'Europe
37100 TOURS
FRANCE

Individual contribution can be done using Paypal Account: pa2r@muurkrant.com

In March or April 2004 an International team of about 15 well known operators, including most of the award winning Cocos Island, TI9M, group, will be active from Banaba (T33) for a period of about 12 days.

The main emphasis of this DX-pedition will be to work Europe on all bands; especially on the low-bands. The team will use 5 stations around the clock. When the DX window to Europe is not open, the team will focus on all other areas of the world.

Antennas systems with extreme low radiation angles have been specially designed by some of the world’s foremost antenna experts to ensure optimum signals into Europe.

We will be active from 6-160m in the modes CW, SSB , RTTY, PSK and some SSTV with linear amplifiers available, when needed.

We have arranged a suitable vessel to bring us and the equipment safely to and from Banaba, a 2 day trip from Tarawa, Kiribati.

It will be a completely self supporting DX-pedition since little of the infrastructure of Banaba is left.

All food, water, medical support, radios, antennas and electrical power equipment must be brought in by boat.

A T33C license has been issued for the team and the required landing permission on this private owned island has been granted by the responsible Council of Leaders which includes an exclusively permit to stay for the purpose of radio operation to our team between now and the time the DX-pedition will take place

In the company of the other islands of Kiribati, Banaba has its own complex history, as well as a unique and beautiful culture that has evolved over many generations. Where it stands apart results from its geographical location and the discovery of phosphate on the Island in the late 19th century.