V55LA Namibia DXpedition: A Successful Journey Comes to an End

The V55LA team has officially wrapped up their DXpedition in Namibia, marking an impressive achievement with around 35,000 QSOs logged despite various challenges. The team disassembled all antennas just before heavy rain hit, allowing them to safely secure their setup and start the journey back home. Here’s a summary of this eventful expedition.

Highlights and Challenges

The V55LA DXpedition was filled with unique challenges and memorable moments:

• October 31: The team arrived in Namibia and navigated customs before a long drive north to their QTH. Assembling the gear was a bit of a “Tetris” puzzle, but they began setting up antennas on November 1 to take advantage of the cool morning hours.
• Initial Operations: On November 2, V55LA hit the airwaves, initially active on 17m FT8 and 20CW. The team rapidly approached 2,000 QSOs within days.
• Weather Impact: Thunderstorms damaged the camp’s WiFi on November 3, but repairs allowed them to resume operations and upload QSOs to Club Log. The team faced ongoing interference and static on 80m and 160m, but with three beverage antennas covering various directions, they managed to maintain strong signals on the higher bands.
• Band Focus: As the DXpedition progressed, the team found excellent propagation on higher bands and maintained a particular focus on 160m.

Equipment and Software Performance

The team praised the SunSDR2Dx setup from Expert Electronics, describing it as versatile and reliable in diverse operating conditions. Despite some initial network disruptions, the Club Log livestream resumed, and the team uploaded daily logs with the help of their QSL Manager, Charles Wilmott (M0OXO).

Final Days and QRV Closure

On November 10, the team began dismantling antennas, with the last signals on 160m and 80m before heavy rains forced them to complete takedown efforts. Reflecting on the expedition, they expressed gratitude for the immense support and engagement from the HAM community. They look forward to sharing more statistics and photos soon, capturing the spirit and hard work of the V55LA team.

For more information on this and upcoming expeditions, you can visit the team’s dedicated page on ARDXpeditions.com. Thank you to everyone who followed, supported, and connected with the V55LA team!