In 2023, DXers got their shot at a host of rarely activated locales, including Swains Island W8S, Bouvet Island 3Y0J, and Crozet Islands, which dropped from #3 to its current position of #31 thanks to the one-man FT8WW DXpedition by Thierry Mazel, F6CUK.
This year is already shaping up to be a worthy predecessor in the “expect-big-pileups” department, as many amateurs hoping to work the world have already reached Clipperton Island TX5S and are chomping at the bit to check off DXCC entities like Jarvis/Palmyra Islands—scheduled for activation during the N5J Rig in a Box operation in August 2024.
A “Glorious” Opportunity for an ATNO
This month offers up another one of the ultra-rare ones: Glorioso Islands, a 1.9-square-mile French overseas territory about 120 miles northwest of Madagascar. It is currently ranked #7 globally, #3 in South America, #6 in Asia, #15 in Europe, #17 in Africa, #4 in Oceania, and #2 on North America’s West Coast per Clublog. Glorioso Islands was last officially on the air in September/October 2009 during the six-operator FT5GA DXpedition, which netted 50,000-plus CW, SSB, and digital QSOs.
Glorioso Islands (IOTA AF-011)—part of the Scattered Islands in the Indian Ocean in the French Southern and Antarctic Lands—is scheduled to be put on the air by Marek, FH4VVK, using the call sign FT4GL. An operation to Glorioso by FH4VVK was postponed in December 2023 and delayed again in March 2024. While he’ll be setting foot on the island alone, he is receiving assistance from a team of supporters along with pilots who will help him secure as many QSOs as possible during his time on the island, May 24 to June 19. FH4VVK plans to operate on 160-6M in SSB, RTTY, and FT4/FT8 from Grande Glorioso, the largest of the Glorioso Islands.
The DXpedition was made possible through an agreement of the French Southern and Antarctic Lands. In 2012, France designated a 17,000-square-mile area around the islands as the Glorioso Islands Marine Natural Park. This maritime protected area was established to preserve the biodiverse flora and fauna of the islands, including humpback whales, green sea turtles, and nearly 350 species of coral reef fish.
Keeping the Bands in Line
DX Engineering has provided FT4GL with VA6AM 150W PEP HF Band Pass Filters for 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, and 10M to help make more QSOs possible. These high-quality, multi-stage inline passive band pass filters are specifically designed to limit the transmitting and receiving RF passband to a single amateur band. Find VA6AM band pass filters, diplexers, and triplexers at DXEngineering.com.
