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* Bulletin nr.313 (26 October 2026) *
* *
* W.A.P. Worldwide Antarctic Program *
* Antarctic, Sub-Antarctic and Peri-Antarctic News *
* SINCE 1979 *
* *
* Bases, Activities and Informations for *
* Amateur Radio Stations and Antarctic Enthusiasts *
* *
* WAP Antarctic Bulletin is a free of charge information sheet *
* edited by Max IK1GPG, Gianni I1HYW and Betty IK1QFM *
* *
* WEB Page : http://www.waponline.it/ *
* *
* Others Antarctic WEB Pages with our WAP Bulletin *
* http://f5nod.chez-alice.fr/antarctica.html *
* *
* Antarctica Mailing List *
* http://groups.yahoo.com/group/antarctica_list/ *
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* W.A.P. Special Edition *
* 22 issues are available at WAP web site !! *
* We are waiting volounteers to continue the Monthly Issues pubblication *
* Those interested to do this work for free, PSE contact IK1GPG or I1HYW *
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* W.A.P. - W.A.D.A. (Worked Antarctic Directory Award) *
* Antarctic, Sub-Antarctic and Peri-Antarctic Directory *
* (25th Edition - Release 1.48 - 05 July 2026) *
* List of more than 1.038 Bases, Camp, Hut, Refuge and Station used in *
* Antarctica since 1945. *
* *
* W.A.P. - W.A.C.A. (Worked Antarctic Callsigns Award) *
* Antarctic, Sub-Antarctic and Peri-Antarctic Directory *
* (25th Edition - Release 1.48 - 05 July 2026) *
* List of more than 4.448 Callsigns used in Antarctica since 1945. *
* *
* Updated DataBase for Software WAP by IK6CAC #52 (July 2026) *
* Updated Software WAP by IK6CAC Version 2.8 (20 December 2021) *
* http://www.ik6cac.com/en_WAPprg.asp *
* *
* Result of 47 years of Antarctic passion! *
* Information, reports, suggestions and/or comments could be sent to: *
* E-mail: [email protected] or [email protected] *
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* For this number we thank: All of WAP Chasers *
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* Antarctic Net: 23.00z random on Saturdays 7.078MHz by LU4DXU *
* Also check 14.160, 14.188, 14.203, 14.243 MHz from 17:00z and ahead *
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LU4ZS (ARG-21) - Vicecomodoro Gustavo Marambio Base (Air Force)
Two operators Juan, Manuel are active when time permits. Check mostly on
20m around 21z
Manager: LU3IA
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LU-X Various (ARG-23) - Tierra del Fuego Province
Several stations are frequently on the bands.
Latest Stations spotted in the Web Cluster:
LU1XP, LU1XPR, LU1XU, LU1XZ, LU2XG,LU3XQN, LU4XYL, LU5XR, LU6XQB, LU8XW.
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VK0DS (AUS-03) - Davis Station (ANARE)
Dave Scott VK2JDS is active now.
Manager: QRZ.com
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CE8-Various (CHL-13) - Magallanes and Antartica Chilena Province
Several stations are frequently on the bands.
Latest Stations spotted in the Web Cluster:
CE8EIO, CE8MGZ, CE8PVT, CE8RPA, CE8SIW, CE8TDO, CE8WCI.
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DP0GVN (DEU-08) - Neumayer III Station
Lasse DL9LU a will be active as DP0GVN till December 2026.
QSL via Clublog OQRS.
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DP1POL (DEU-08) - Neumayer III Station
Felix DL5XL will be active again from November 2026 through February 2027
signing DP1POL.
QSL via DL1ZBO
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VP8AWU (GBR-25) - Stanley (East Falkland Island)
Operator Neil is always very active all bands.
Manager: K4MZU
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VP8LP (GBR-25) - Stanley (East Falkland Island)
Operator Bob is always very active all bands.
Manager: QRZ.com
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VP8NO
(GBR-25) - Stanley (East Falkland Island)
Operator Michael is always active.
Manager: QRZ.com
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VP8ON
(GBR-25) - Keppel Island
Operator Donald is still active.
Manager: QRZ.com
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VP8VK (GBR-25) - Saunders Island
XYL operator Suzan is active now.
Manager: GM3ITN
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VP8ADR (GBR-25) - Port Stanley (East Falkland Island)
Operator Bobby Short is active now.
Manager: M0OXO
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ZS7ANT (MNB-12) - Wolf's Fang Runway
Oleg Sakharov ZS7ANF did fly to Antarctica yesterday, October 25 2026. He
will start with "Wolf's Fang" and there might be a new one WAP. Let's keep
our fingers crossed.
QSL: RK1PWA
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HF0PAS (POL-01) - Henryk Arctowski Station
Rafal Mazur (callsign SQ4O) is active no
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RI1ANY (RUS-09) - Novolazarevskaya Station (née Lazarev)
Yuri Kovalenko UA1CCI is currently at Novolazarevskaya Station (WAP RUS-09).
Yuri, RI1ANY is also QRV via QO-100 satellite.After some test SSB contacts,
he operates FT8/FT4 modes. He does not speak fluent English or he has pileup
experience, so please be patient.
He is assigned to this base for a full 2 years, so there will be plenty of
opportunities to QSO.
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RI1ANC (RUS-13) - Vostok Station
Dmitry, UA3MNH is active now.
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KC4/W1WCN (USA-22) - McMurdo Station
Joe, W1WCN, lets DX-World know that he is currently deployed to McMurdo
Station. When time permits, he will QRV as KC4/W1WCN on 20-15-10m; SSB, CW
& FT8. He is stationed there until March 2027, and explains the next several
weeks will be committed to getting the station comms up and running before
the scientific research teams arrive. Therefore, no specific operating times
as yet. Bob K4MZU has been able to get in touch with Joe and is trying to
set skeds as soon as the Radio Station at McMurdo will be available.
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WAP QSL Gallery
WAP Antarctic QSL gallery has gone!
It was hosted on a server that have quit its archive system so we have
practically lost the whole job! I1HYW have all the cards in his computer,
but really he doesn't know how and where load all of them in a safe and
cheap site.
Bob, K4MZU suggetes us to go through Greg Cogar VK2GJC, the owner of a
company in Australia. Greg, said that there are many free plugins we could
use for an image library: https://en-au.wordpress.org/plugins/.
We would need to install and configure the plugin and learn how to use it
to achieve.
This is a job that probably we will carry on in the winter time, but for
now we thanks immensely Bob K4MZU and Greg Cogar VK2GJK for their friendship
and help.
In the mean time, thanks very much to all those Hams who are sending scan
copies of their cards, or scan copies of old cards from their friends.
K4MZU Antarcic QSL Gallery & web site at: http://www.k4mzu.net
K6EID Antarctic QSL Gallery & web site at : http://www.k6eid.com
http://www.qsl.net/k6eid/DXCC-Antarctica.htm
RRC Antarctic QSL Gallery: http://www.rdxc.org/RRC/QSL/list_e.asp?ID=1
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VP8SG 2027 DX-pedition
Amateur Radio DXpeditions (ARD) is pleased to announce a major milestone in
the preparation of the VP0SG South Georgia 2027 DXpedition. They have
successfully signed the vessel contract and first deposit is being paid,
officially securing the expedition vessel M/V MEREDIAN.
VP8SG will be on air by March 2027, QSL manager for VP8SG will be Charles,
M0OXO.
Info at: https://www.ardxpeditions.com/dxpeditions/vp0sg
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David F4FKT-FT4YM; his 2026-2027 Antarctic Season is going to start!
David Brunet F4FKT is going to be active again during the 2025-2026. Mehdi
F5PFP has relayed the following information on David's next possible
activity:
FT4YM/P Base Concordia (WAP MNB-03): QRV from mid November 2026 to late
January 2027.
FT4YM/P Camp Little Dome C (WAP MNB-15): During this period (mid November
to late January), occasionally QRV from Little Dome C Camp which is situated
about 30km from Concordia.
VK0/FT4YM/P Camp North Patch (WAP AUS-NEW): During this period (mid November
to late January), occasionally QRV from North Patch Camp which is situated
about 8km from Concordia.
FT4YM Base Robert Guillard-Cape Prud'homme (WAP MNB-18): Late January -
early February; QSY from Concordia by DC3 aircraft to Cape Prud'homme for
a short stay of unspecified duration (1 to 5 days, so not sure to be QRV).
FT4YM Base Dumont d'Urville (WAP FRA-01): Late January - early February;
QSY from Cape Prud'homme by helicopter flight to Dumont d'Urville, QRV for
an unspecified duration (3 to 15 days).
FT4YM Lion island Depot (WAP FRA-NEW): which is situated just beside Dumont
d'Urville.
FT4YM/MM Icebreaker L'Astrolabe-P800 : From mid February, on the way back
to Tasmania.
The above timetable may change anytime due to the work duties, so nothing
is promised.
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Antarctic Cruise by Mehdi F5PFP
Mehdi F5PFP has informed Antarctic chasers that sailing authorization,
landing authorizations and radio amateur license have been granted;
departure in early January 2027 for a 4 weeks Antarctic cruise aboard a
durable and accredited sailing boat, with an experienced skipper and mate.
Mehdi will travel along his girlfriend who’s a doctor plus eventual
passengers and 2 crew members.
This is not a DXpedition, it is an Antarctic cruise including radio amateur
activities during various stopovers», said Mehdi. The itinerary will start
from Puerto Williams, Navarino island, Chile, then stopover on the South
Shetland islands if sailing conditions permit to activate some bases. Then,
navigation along the West Graham Land and neighbouring Antarctic archipelagos
according to passengers wishes with radio amateur activities when we stop on
various islands, Bases and Refuges. Except during the crossings of the Drake
and Bransfield straits, we go ashore almost every day.A possible new stopover
on the South Shetland islands, on the way back from Antarctica, if sailing
conditions permit, before reaching Puerto Williams, Navarino island, Chile.
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"Overland Glaciological Temporary Camp Dome B", WAP RUS-NEW
The region of Dome B (or Ridge B) in central East Antarctica is one of the
last unexplored parts of the continent and, at the same time, ranks among
the most promising places to search for Earth's oldest ice. In January 2020,
a first scientific traverse from Russia's Vostok Station to the topographical
Dome B (or Ridge B) at 71° 07' 04,80" South, 84° 19' 15,6" East.
The glaciological program included continuous snow-radar profiling and
geodetic positioning along the traverse's route, installation of snow stakes,
measurements of snow density, collection of samples for stable water isotope
and chemical analyses. A 20.5 meters deep borehole was drilled on the Dome
itself, followed by a study of the raised firn core. As a result, it was
possible to obtain the first field glacio-climatic data on Dome B.
The first results of the traverse show that the surface mass balance at Dome
B (2.28 g cm−2 year−1) is among the lowest in Antarctica.
The firn temperature below the layer of annual variations is −58.1 ± 0.2°C.
A very low value of heavy water stable isotope content (-58.2‰ for oxygen-18)
was discovered at a distance of 170 km from Vostok Station (WAP RUS-13). This
work is the first step towards a comprehensive reconnaissance study of the
Ridge B area aimed at locating the best site for future deep drilling for the
oldest Antarcticice.
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First traverse and Temporary Dome B Camp
To reach Dome B, the first traverse started from Vostok at 2 p.m. local
time on 24 January 2020. The caravan consisted of two PistenBully 300 Polar
tractors, one balok (a crew box mounted on a sledge) and one fuel tank.
Throughout the entire journey the Team performed kinematic Global Navigation
Satellite System (GNSS) measurements as well as GPR profiling. Every 5km the
traverse made a short stop for glaciological observations, (installation of
a snow stake, measurements of upper snow density and collecting snow samples
for water stable isotope and chemical analyses.
The scientific traverse to Dome B, was equipped with scientific equipment
including a sledge with the snow radar towed behind the traverse, GNSS
(Global Navigation Satellite System). The average speed of the traverse on
the move was 9.7 km h-1, meaning that 5km intervals were passed approximately
every 31 minutes. Aside from the short stops, the Team also made four longer
stops a day for refueling, meals and rest. At such a speed, the traverse
arrived at Dome B at 6 p.m. on 26 January.
On arrival at Dome B, firstly the Team set the camp and installed the
drilling equipment and organize static GNSS measurements. The next day they
completed the drilling of a 20.5m firn core and installed geodetic markers
for the precise determination of local flow directions and velocities. The
firn temperature was measured after 12h equilibration of the platinum
thermometer at the hole's bottom at 20.5m depth. A snow stratigraphy
investigation and snow sampling were carried out in a 2m pit. Finally, a
seven-snow-stake farm was set up in the vicinity of the camp. The traverse
left Dome B at ~ 5 p.m. on 28 January 2020 and arrived back at Vostok
Station in the early morning of 30 January 2020.
Thanks to Oleg UA6GG @ DX Trophy, WAP received the following information by
Alexey RN1ON info about RI1ANI:
In the 2025-26 season, Alexey Turkeev, UG1A-RI1ANI, was not at Dome B. They
had planned it, but they didn’t meet the deadlines. RI1ANI worked from
Novolazarevskaya (WAP RUS-09) and from the Progress–Vostok expedition. This
season, they are planning another expedition to Dome B.
On October 21, Alexey Turkeev is flying from St. Petersburg to Cape Town.
Then a flight to Novolazarevskaya (WAP RUS-09) and Progress (WAP RUS-11).
The campaign to the East and then to Dome B. RI1ANI will work the beam
trailer vehicle. There are no exact deadlines yet, but Oleg and Alexey will
keep us informed. RI1ANI license will be active again from November 21 of
this year. At he lightof the information collected about the "Overland
Glaciological Temporary Camp Dome B" which identify the site, the news
recently received of a planned activity, the QSL already prepared, WAP is
going to add "Overland Glaciological Temporary Camp Dome B" on WAP WADA
Directory as WAP RUS-NEW.
As soon as RI1ANI operation will take place a new WAP number will be issued.
TNX Oleg UA6GG and Alexey RN1ON/RI1ANI
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French Polar Team 2027 Expedition by Mehdi F5PFP
For a 4 weeks Antarctic cruise in early 2027 aboard a durable and accredited
sailing boat, with a very experienced skipper and mate; my girlfriend who’s
a doctor and myself, that means in total 4 to 5 passengers and 2 crew members.
This is not a DX-pedition, it is an Antarctic cruise including radio amateur
activities during various stopovers.
ITINERARY:
1) Departure from Puerto Williams, Navarino island, Chile.
2) A stopover on the South Shetland islands if sailing conditions permit to
activate some bases.
3) A navigation along the West Graham Land and neighbouring Antarctic
archipelagos according to passengers wishes with radio amateur activities
when we stop on various islands, bases and refuges. Except during the
crossings of the Drake and Bransfield straits we go ashore almost every day.
4) A possible new stopover on the South Shetland islands, on the way back
from Antarctica, if sailing conditions permit.
5) Back to Puerto Williams, Navarino island, Chile.
CONDITIONS: No need to be an amateur radio operator to join us; being in
good physical shape; completely approve the project and its price. E-mail
[email protected]
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AMATEUR RADIO ACTIVITY:
Mainly QRV after daily navigation and landing from +/- 2200 utc to +/- 0300
utc on 20 and 40m. This will be an old-school style and freelance radio
amateur activity, so no FT8/digital modes, no sponsor to be free, no score
to achieve because I have nothing to prove, just an adventure to live. If
this is not what you want for any reason, please don’t contact me.
Mehdi hopes to be QRV from Admiralty Bay, King George i., S.Shetlands in
early 2027, where the following base entities are situated:
Base Machu Picchu (Peru)
Base Comandante Ferraz (Brazil) & the ruins of the Base G-Admiralty Bay
(United Kingdom) on the same site.
The ruins of the Base Giacomo Bove (Italy)
Refuge Brazil (Brazil)
Base Pieter J Lenie Field-Copacabana (USA)
Refuge Republica del Ecuador (Ecuador)
Base Arctowski (Poland)
Admiralty Bay is a large, open and windy area with bad soils for anchorage,
so not a good place for sail boat stopovers. That means, I won't be able to
be QRV from all these entities, but from 1 at least I hope, maybe 2 or 3 in
case of very good weather.
As a French expedition, we must submit soon the exact sites to get landing
permissions from TAAF administration (Terres Australes et Antarctiques
Françaises) which is the French representative of the Antarctic Treaty.
Mehdi requests Hams to feel free to report their TOP 3 most wanted base
entities on the list above, and he will do his best without any guarantee
of success. E-mail [email protected]
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Don't forget to check daily information on Antarctic News at both W.A.P.
website at: www.waponline.it
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73s de John I1HYW, Max IK1GPG and Betty IK1QFM
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