P29XZ – Papua New Guinea

Operator: Xu, BG5DON
Active: Intermittently from January to May 2025

Xu (BG5DON) is currently operating as P29XZ from Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, where he works as a project manager at a photovoltaic power plant construction site. This semi-permanent, low-power operation is active mainly on weekends, with a focus on 20m, 17m, 15m, 10m, and occasionally 6m using FT8 mode.

Timeline Highlights:

• January 16 – Xu arrives in PNG, receives callsign P29XZ, begins setting up gear (Xiegu X6100, portable V-dipole).

• January 18–23 – Antenna optimization experiments take place; early FT8 contacts made using 7–10W. Rooftop installation improves results.

• January 29 – V-shaped antenna tuned for 17m (18.074 MHz), achieving ideal SWR with the X6100 tuner.

• February – Xu departs for China; returns to PNG in mid-March with new 4-band antenna and potentially an FT-897 rig.

• May 1 Update – Now back on the air in PNG, actively working 20–10m FT8. Plans to test 6m soon.

While not a full-scale DXpedition, P29XZ is a great chance to log Papua New Guinea on FT8 with low power. Keep an eye on standard FT8 watering holes during weekends or early PNG evening hours.

QSL via EA5GL.