LB3HC's hightech blog

We are back from the Azores Island Hunt expedition. Approx 31000 QSOs were made during 24 hours of operation from the 9 stations when a hardcore team of DX-ers and contesters visited the islands (unofficial ADIF numbers incl. eventual dupes). Nine stations running pileups on 40, 20 and 17m were on the air on CW/SSB simultaneously. The stations total run rate were in average approx 1300 QSOs / hour. Above I have posted some initial selected pictures from the event. We would like to thank OH2BH, OH8NC, CU2CE, CU2DX and all the local Azores hams that made this event possible. What a great memory for life we all got! What characterizes the Azores is great openings on HF. The reason the major contesters in the world choose to win from the Azores is the location almost in the middle between USA and South America. During daytime 10m, 12m, 15m and 20 meter openings are something else than experienced on more northerly latitudes (extremely good). Please check in later at http://azores-islands-hunt.com/ for official information. Below is the information about the teams and operators:

TEAM FINLAND, SANTA MARIA, CU1ARM

• Juha Hulkko, OH8NC
• Kimmo Rautio, OH9MDV
• Sérgio Oliveira, CU1AAD

TEAM NORWAY, SAO MIGUEL, CU2ARA

• Marius Hauki. LB3HC
• Ghis Penny, ON5NT
• Guilherme Frias, CU2IF

TEAM USA (1), TERCEIRA, CU3URA

• George Tranos, N2GA
• Diane Ortiz, K2DO (YL)
• Domingos Cabral, CU3BS

TEAM GERMANY, GRACIOSA, CU4ARG

• Franz Langner, DJ9ZB
• Richard Gottlieb, DF9TF
• Guilherme Bento Frias, CU4AB

TEAM CANADA, ST JORGE, CU5AM

• Yuri Onipko, VE3DZ
• Ed Kulchenko, VE3FWA
• José Silveira, CU5AM

TEAM DENMARK, PICO, CU6GRP

• Alex Hansen,OZ7AM
• Kenneth Hemstedt, OZ1IKY
• Jorge Dutra, CU6AB

TEAM USA (2), FAIAL, CU7CRA

• Michael Corey, KI1U
• Richard Boyd, KE3Q
• Manuel Bettencourt, CU7CA

TEAM BELGIUM, FLORES, CU8AO

• Carine Ramon, ON7LX (YL)
• Claude van Pottelsberghe de la Potterie, ON7TK
• Frederic Fournier, CU8AAE

TEAM UNITED KINGDOM, CORVO, CU9AC

• Nigel Cawthorne, G3TXF
• Michael Wells, G7VJR
• João Camara, CU9AC

Azores 9 Islands Hunt Organizing Commitee

• Fernando Tavares, CU2BV, Chairman
• Francisco Gil, CU2DX, ATA Representative
• Jose Melo, CU2CE, Islands coordination
• Martti Laine, CU2KG, Radio operations