VKØEK Heard Island 2016: DXing, exploring,
and communicating in the extremes.
Bob Schmieder, KK6EK
January 20th, 2017 - 6:00PM

Bob Schmieder, KK6EK

QST Cover, October 2016

During March/April, 2016, a team of 14 men sailed from Cape Town, South Africa, to Heard Island, in the middle of the Indian Ocean and nearly to Antarctica.

It was the first scientific expedition in more than 15 years, and the first activation for amateur radio in 19 years. During their 3-week stay on the island, the team logged more than 75,000 QSOs, including more than 3200 on 160 m; implemented numerous IT innovations such as real-time online logs (DXA), live internet connection and Skype interviews, help desk, GPS tracking, two websites, and Facebook and Twitter; and were the first to enter and explore a new (10-year-old) lagoon, and collect samples of the rocks, soil, sediment, and water.

The project was much more than a pure radio DXpedition; it was a multidisciplinary exploration into advancing the technology and techniques of 21st Century expeditions to remote and environmentally sensitive sites, sure to be a topic of concern and discussion for future DXpeditions.

Bob on Heard Island

Taking down the Antennas

Speaker Bio

Robert Schmieder, KK6EK, has been organizing and leading scientific expeditions for 35 years. He is the founder of the nonprofit oceanic research organization Cordell Expeditions, which has to its credit more than 1000 discoveries, including new species, range and depth extensions, and first observations. https://vk0ek.org/

Among his notable DXpeditions are 3Y0PI, XR0X/Y, VK0IR, XR0Z, K7C, TX5K, and VK0EK. He is the author of seven expedition books, is honored by four names species, and is listed in the CQ Amateur Radio Hall of Fame.