C5T & C5I: The Gambia DXpedition (Nov 2024)

A much-anticipated DXpedition to The Gambia is underway, with the team departing for the country via Barcelona. Their operations are set to begin late evening local time on Monday, November 25, 2024. This short but exciting expedition, spanning November 25-29, will feature both mainland and island operations, with the team utilizing two different callsigns:

• C5T for operations from the mainland.
• C5I for operations from the Bijol Islands (AF-060), a rare IOTA location, which has never been activated on 6 meters.

Team Members and Goals

The team, consisting of EA3NT, EI5GM, EI9FBB, MM0NDX, and MM0OKG, plans a focused activity with a few key goals:

• Band Focus: They will be active on 60m to 6m, emphasizing the higher bands (no 80m or 160m).
• IOTA Activity: They will activate AF-060 (Bijol Islands) with the C5I callsign. This island has never been activated on 6m before.
• Mode of Operation: The team will operate primarily in CW and SSB modes, but will switch to FT8 if propagation conditions warrant it.
• Equipment:
  • Antennas will include 1/4 wave verticals, a 15-6m portable Hexbeam, and a 60m dipole.
  • They will use amps from JUMA and RM Italy.
• Logistics: The team will be uploading logs to LoTW during the expedition, ensuring minimal delay for confirmations. They aim for real-time log access, including the possibility of using Club Log livestream during the activity.

Plans and Expectations

The team is mindful of the crowded band plans in the region, considering previous expeditions like 3D2Y, TL8ES, and 9L5A. Their operation will therefore aim to minimize interference with existing activities, but they are excited to activate The Gambia after nearly 18 months of inactivity from this DXCC.

Additional Details

• QSL Info: All QSLs will be managed via EA5GL. They are offering free QSL cards, with LoTW uploads done promptly. There are no plans to solicit donations or sponsors for the expedition.
• Facebook Group: The team has set up a Facebook group where you can follow their journey, track updates, and engage with the team. They've also run a survey to see which bands operators still need C5 on.

Summary

The C5T & C5I DXpedition to The Gambia promises to be an exciting event for DXers, especially those needing rare bands and IOTA islands. The team's focused activity on the higher bands and their commitment to real-time log uploads make this a DXpedition to watch for late November.