[WVDXA] BS7H Contributions

Sat May 5 14:43:32 PDT 2007

Guys,

      I just did a brief look at the BS7H Contributors page:

<http://www.scarboroughreef.com/srhelp.html>

      and I see that the WVDXA members really stepped up to the plate to 
help this DX'pedition by digging deep in their pockets to contribute cash 
to the operation before they even came on the air.  This is important 
because if the operation had to be cancelled for any reason (weather, 
political unrest, etc.) the operators would have still had to pay for the 
transportation, food, materials, and all the costs of a DX'pedition without 
the support of donations appearing in the QSL request envelopes.

      I'm sure many people will put in some bucks when they send for their 
QSL cards but this "giving in advance" by our group puts us in a different 
category.  We recognized the effort these DX'peditioners were making and 
stood behind them to support their effort.  Those WVDXA members listed on 
the above page include:

W8TN
W8UV
W8GG
WA8VPN
W8XF
W8OI
W8QHG
WA8WV
W8WEJ (2 times)

      And, of course, some of our club members also put their own money 
into a contribution in the name of the WVDXA which got our club logo on the 
Club and Organization Sponsor page:

<http://www.scarboroughreef.com/srclub.html>

      For such a small club, we really made a serious commitment to this 
operation in the advance contribution category.  All these contributions 
were made before they even came on the air.  I'm really proud of the WVDXA.

      And, I'm proud to personally know two of the DX'pedition members and 
I stand in awe of the effort they put forth to bring us this rare 
entity.  The gory details will, I'm sure, become available in due time but 
one of the Press Releases and a posting on the DX-List reflector today 
hints at some of what the operators faced:
PRESS RELEASE #11

An update from James Brooks was received at 0300 local our time this 
morning where he attempted to provide us insight on the overall situation 
and ended it with: "It's just that hard"

It is now day 3 on Scarborough with operations going for 48 hours.

All 4 operating positions are built and the team has gone from survival in 
route, to survival while building, to survival while in QSO mode.

Everyone on the team has cuts from the coral. The closest access to any of 
the rocks is over coral and no one has been spared coral scrapes and cuts. 
Add to that over 100 degree heat and sunburn and you have a dangerous 
environment for all.

During the day each shift is 6 hours in heat and a dry wind under a small 
umbrella. If you are lucky enough you get to operate at night. You are left 
on a rock for 13 hours barely 4 feet above the water in pitch black sitting 
in a folding chair, no where to walk and stretch and getting a constant 
salt spray. You can't see the other rocks nor the ship and if something 
goes wrong there is no chance of rescue.

The steppIR verticals and one Yagi are up. Two stations will stay on 20 
mtrs while the other two will search 15, 17, 30 and 40 for openings.

So as you sit there in your comfy shack complaining on the cluster and 
sending us emails about your lack of a QSO and the do's and don'ts, think 
what our team is going through to bring you "the chance of a QSO".

Here is just a sampling of our fan mail received today:

"fIVE YEARS PLAnning you did a shitty job we cant hear you on the east 
coast you shoud have gotton info from n8s they did a great job at least you 
heard them you guys keep working ja's and w6's thats all your going to get 
the east coast i guess is off limmits you wount get any donation from me or 
any one else on the east coast you guys are the worst go to 11 meters you 
might have better lush"

GL and we wish you the best in the upcoming days.

N4XP and N1DG for the team on Scarborough Reef

      And, a posting from the DX-List Reflector:
I think this DXpedition has really taken its toll on the
operators. You can tell from the comments by the operators they are
physically and mentally exhausted. Martti on 17 is working a long
time on each call area, and he sounds exhausted. He took a 10-minute
break a little while ago because, and he put it, he couldn't
concentrate or think straight anymore. He's still clipping them off
at a fairly good rate, but I've never heard him sound so tired. He
just said he was "fading out, not in his full capacity."

The other day 9V1YC sounded the same on 20. These fellows have
gone far beyond what, in my opinion, any other DXpedition has
endured. Having never done anything remotely close, I can't say for
sure (I'm willing to bet 3Y0PI was no picnic, either, and I've seen
the video of that.) Either way, I really wish the DX Cluster
Announcements and negative spots in the comment field would cease.

These guys are what make us get up every
day. DXpeditioners. All of them, be it BS7H or someone camped out
in the Caribbean. And yet it seems many continue to criticize. I
didn't work anything "new" from the current BS7H crew, but you can
bet I will send a little something beyond a stamp on my SAE. They
made DXing exciting for over a week, and they did it under the worst
possible conditions. Anyone who says anything negative about them is
dead wrong.

If people have to criticize, it is the jammers and DX cops who
are 100% responsible for anything we missed. The operators are
golden! Realise that, for they make our aspect of the hobby so great.

73/DX Paul VE1DX

      So, when you reflect on this DX'pedition (or any DX'pedition for that 
matter), remember that those people who you were trying to work are not 
sitting in an air-conditioned shack, sipping a cold beverage, watching CNN 
or ESPN while working some DX.  They are far from their home, in a hostile 
environment, enduring untold assaults on their person, dignity and health, 
all to enable you to add one more "counter" to your DXCC totals.

      If you have not watched the BS7H video on YouTube, it is worth a few 
minutes to see just what an unbelievable location this DX'pedition had to 
operate from!  Here is the link to that video:

<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y50WgagQIxM>

      My heartfelt congratulations to all the WVDXA members who made a QSO 
with this rarest of the rare entities.  We done gud boys!

Clark, W8TN
Now, who's heading out to P5?
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