Thursday, March 1, 2012

A35YZ - Tonga - March 2012

A35YZ - Tonga - March 2012


DateOur next DXpedition goes to Tonga, A35. We will be on the air between March 7 and 24, 2012.


OperationOur callsign is A35YZ. We will be active with several stations on 160m through 6m on CWSSB. One station will be exclusively dedicated to RTTY, PSK31 and SSTV. Please check our News Page


EquipmentOur equipment consists of 5 transceivers (4 x K2, 1 x FT875D), 2 x 18 m Lowband Vertical, a 2 elem vertical for 40, a 2 elem vertical for 302 Spiderbeam for 20/17/15/12/10, a 5 elem. Yagi for 6m, some Beverage antennas as well as some laptop computers.


OperatorsOur experienced crew includes:
DK1BT, Manfred
DL4WK, Wolf
DL5CW, Andy
DL7KL, Reiner
DL7DF, Sigi
DL7UFN, Juergen
DL7UFR, Frank
SP3CYY, Jan
SP3DOI, Leszek


PilotPilot for this DXpedition is Bernd, DF3CB


QSLThe QSL-Route is via DL7DF either direct to:
Sigi Presch
DL7DF
Wilhelmsmuehlenweg 123
D-12621 Berlin
Germany
or via the German QSL bureau DARC to DL7DF.
If you prefer a direct QSL please send a SASE or SAE with 1 new IRC or 2 US$ for a international letter. When sending IRC's please check the expiration date, the new ones are valid until the end of 2013. Any donations are very welcome and needed for the high shipping costs.
If you do not provide the right return postage or a self addressed envelope, we reply via the buro. Please only one call sign per letter! If more than one, all additional cards go via the buro.
Postage needed for 1 envelope with 20 Gramm (FYI):
A letter within DL = 55 Euro Cent, a international letter costs 75 Euro Cent. 1 US$ is equal to 69 Euro Cent. So please keep in mind that 1 US$ - due to the bad exchange rate between the US$ and the Euro - does not cover the postage needed for an international airmail letter!



About

Tonga
Country name:Kingdom of Tonga
National capital:Nuku'alofay
Location:Oceania, archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean, about two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand
Area:total: 747 sq km
land: 717 sq km
water: 30 sq km
Land boundaries:total: 0 km
Coastline:419 km
Climate:tropical; modified by trade winds; warm season (December to May), cool season (May to December)
Terrain:most islands have limestone base formed from uplifted coral formation; others have limestone overlying volcanic base
Natural resources:fish, fertile soil
Population:105,916 (July 2011 est.)
Ethnic groups:Polynesian, Europeans
Religions:Christian (Free Wesleyan Church claims over 30,000 adherents)
Languages:Tongan (official), English (official)
Independence:4 June 1970 (from UK protectorate)
Economy:Tonga has a small, open, South Pacific island economy. It has a narrow export base in agricultural goods. Squash, vanilla beans, and yams are the main crops. Agricultural exports, including fish, make up two-thirds of total exports. The country must import a high proportion of its food, mainly from New Zealand. The country remains dependent on external aid and remittances from Tongan communities overseas to offset its trade deficit. Tourism is the second-largest source of hard currency earnings following remittances. Tonga had 39,000 visitors in 2006. The government is emphasizing the development of the private sector, especially the encouragement of investment, and is committing increased funds for health and education. Tonga has a reasonably sound basic infrastructure and well developed social services. High unemployment among the young, a continuing upturn in inflation, pressures for democratic reform, and rising civil service expenditures are major issues facing the government.
Reference:CIA - The World Factbook -- Tonga



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