Dxpedition to Southern Sudan in July

The Intrepid-DX Group and the DX Friends have combined efforts to announce our next DXpedition, to the newly created country of Southern Sudan, to take place after July 9th 2011.

The Intrepid-DX Group is the group which brought you the 2010 YI9PSE, IRAQ DXpedition. The DX Friends have brought you the 2006 SØ1R DXpedition to Western Sahara, the 2008 DXpedition to Rwanda as 9XØR, the 2009 DXpedition to Western Sahara as SØ4R, the 2010 DXpedition to Palestine as E4X and the 2010 DXpedition to San Marino as T7ØA.
Once again, ICOM America has agreed to be Global Radio Sponsor, while ACOM-K1LZ has agreed to provide the venerable ACOM amplifiers for this operation.

It is hoped that the callsign STØDX will be issued this next week following our meeting with the Government of Southern Sudan Mission in America.

As with previous DXpeditions, this will be a major effort, with a target of more than 150,000 QSOs. There will be up to ten stations on the air, using amplifiers along with high performance beams and vertical dipole arrays, 24 hours a day, for almost three weeks.
Our primary objective is to activate Southern Sudan with a view to giving as many DXers as possible a first contact with this new DXCC entity and, as a secondary objective, to give as many band-slots as possible.

Thank you,The Intrepid-DX Group and The DX Friends.

More info http://www.dxfriends.com/SouthernSudan2011/news.php

50 MHz information and operating tips

* The 6 metre band will be included in this operation. Although the dates are not at the very peak of the Sporadic E season we think it is worthwhile making the effort, in spite of the long distance to Europe, Asia and North America.
* We will use a 7 element Yagi plus a kW. A second beam may be used for monitoring purposes.
* We plan to use the frequency 50.103 for both CW and SSB, although it may be changed, depending on local noise/birdies. Split operation will be used when needed.
* The main mode will be CW. If band conditions permit, SSB will be used to gain a higher QSO rate. Please do not ask for mode changing.
* Please avoid QSO duplication, give others a chance. Logs will be uploaded twice a day to our website.
* Whenever it's possible, and while the band appears closed, the station will be beaconing on the same frequency. If you hear it, feel free to send a text (SMS) saying your grid locator and report only. Our phone number will be announced.
* Our Grid Locator is KJ54TU. Please, DO NOT send your locator, it is not needed and we won't log it anyway, it wastes precious time