Nov 04

Stations setup

Stations Organigram

Attached is an overview of our station setup, exactly as we tested it.

Station 6 is dedicated to monitoring the 6-meter band, using PSK Reporter to detect potential band openings and monitor propagation conditions.

During suitable moon windows, we will also be operating EME (Earth-Moon-Earth), making EME QSOs exclusively.

Oct 31

The Final Packing Day!

Final packing day!

Today was the final day of packing all our equipment for the 3X4U DXpedition. Every suitcase was weighed and prepared for shipment.

All PCs were reset to ensure that no QSOs remained in DXlog, and the MSHV logs were also cleared.

Afterwards, the complete setup of our five stations was dismantled and carefully packed away.

On Thursday, Marc (ON4AMX) will collect all the suitcases so that everything can be transported to the airport on Tuesday, November 10.

We're almost ready to go!

Oct 26

Home made 7 element LFA yagi by Marc, ON4AMX

6 meter EME Yagi

Marc, ON4AMX, took the time to build a homemade 6-meter Yagi antenna for our upcoming DXpedition. This monster has a boom length of no less than 9.85 meters!

We even had to extend the supporting mast just to get the Yagi reasonably high off the ground...

We’re all eager to see how this beast performs on air!

Oct 26

Hamset sponsors headsets and T-shirts for the team

HamSet headsets sponsored for the Rockall Dxpedition group!

Today, we received several Bose headsets for our operators, kindly provided by HamSet Italy.

We have used these headsets on previous Rockall DXpeditions and have always been very satisfied with their performance. The audio quality is excellent!

A big thank you to Alessandro, IU2IBU, from HamSet, one of our valued corporate sponsors, for his generous support.

Alessandro also provided us with our official 3X4U team T-shirts!

For more information about these headsets, visit: https://www.hamset.com/

Oct 18

Another productive day of preparations!

Another productive day!

Yesterday was another productive day of preparations for 3X4U – Guinea 2026!

We reorganized our luggage to significantly reduce transportation costs. Oversized baggage measuring between 158 and 200 cm is manageable, but anything exceeding 200 cm becomes considerably more expensive.

We also started configuring communication between DXlog and our Elecraft K3 transceivers. The K3S models connect directly to DXlog, while the standard K3 models use microKEYER interfaces.

Next time, we'll perform our final RF checks before completing the packing process.

Yesterday’s preparation session brought together ON4FF, ON4IA, ON5TN, ON6CC, ON6DX, PA3EWP and PA7DX.

Casper (PA7DX) will be one of the operators on the upcoming DX-Adventure DXpedition to Somalia (6O6X) in February 2027.

And yes, we're already up to 43 cases! More pictures can be found at this link

Oct 14

Monitoring 6 meters constantly with SDR

SDR monitoring 6 meters constantly!

Thanks to Filip, ON4FF, we'll have an SDR running throughout our DXpedition, continuously monitoring the 6-meter band for possible openings. Our 7th PC is dedicated for this job.

As you know, an opening on 6 meters can sometimes last as little as 30 minutes, so being able to spot activity on the band and react quickly can make all the difference!

With our smart FT8 monitoring setup, we'll know almost immediately when the band starts to open and it's time to get on the air.

This way, we hope to make the most of every opportunity on the Magic Band!

Oct 05

Invited at the 68th independece day celebrations

Invited at the 68th independece day celebrations

Together with Malal, Franky’s colleague and the 3X4U liaison officer, Franky listened to the speech by the President of Guinea, Mr. Mamadi Doumbouya. Afterwards, they enjoyed the buffet and the celebrations.
It was a great opportunity for Franky to experience the warm Guinean atmosphere, hospitality and vibrant spirit firsthand.
Franky also had the pleasure of meeting the Guinean Ambassador, to whom he presented a small box of Belgian chocolates. She showed great interest in our DXpedition and told Franky that she would be following the progress of the 3X4U project.

Another positive step forward as we continue our preparations for 3X4U – Guinea 2026!

Oct 02

Happy Independence Day!

Happy 68th Independence Day!

The Rockall team wishes everyone in Guinea a very happy 68th Independence Day! 🇬🇳

Oct 01

Working on the RX system

Working on the RX system

Over the past few days, Patrick, ON4HIL, has made some further adjustments to the RX system. Band-pass filters are being used for the 160, 80 and 60 meter band.

The test reports we receive via PSK Reporter give us a good indication of how the antenna performs during the night.

Sep 25

Software and network in progress

Software and network in progress

Yesterday, our main focus was on the computer systems, network infrastructure and the configuration of the Elecraft K3 transceivers.

The following items were completed or updated:

* CAT control and communication with the Elecraft K3 radios
* Configuration and testing of the Bose headsets with the K3 transceivers
* Review and update of the DXLog configuration
* Firmware updates of the SPE linear amplifiers
* Network driver updates on the station computers
* Integration and communication between MSHV, the radios and the logging environment

The next step will be a complete RF test of the entire station setup. All stations will be operated simultaneously to check for possible mutual interference, RF feedback, networking issues and interaction between the different operating positions.

Once these final tests have been completed successfully, the complete station equipment can be packed and prepared for transport to Guinea.

Step by step, the 3X4U station is getting ready!