John, 9M6XRO, and Steve, 9M6DXX, will be operating as 9M4SLL from Pulau Layang Layang, Spratly Islands (IOTA AS-051) from 7 to 13 August inclusive. Activity will be on all bands from 80 to 10m, CW, SSB and RTTY, using two stations with linear amplifiers to vertical antennas on the edge of the ocean.
Spratly stands at number 29 in the current The DX Magazine ‘100 Most Needed Countries’ survey (world-wide, mixed modes), up from number 32 last year.
The QSL manager for 9M4SLL is Tim Beaumont, M0URX. QSL direct with SAE + $2 or 1 new IRC, OQRS (http://m0urx.com/oqrs) or via the RSGB bureau (all bureau cards MUST be marked “via M0URX”). Logs will be uploaded to LoTW as soon as possible after the end of the operation (within a few days), but there will be NO online log during the DXpedition itself. If you are not certain of any QSO you are welcome to work us again for an ‘insurance’ contact.
9M6XRO and 9M6DXX would like to thank the Malaysian Prime Minister’s Department National Security Council for granting the operating permission from Layang-Layang Island. They would also like to thank Amid Drajak, 9W6ABD, of the MCMC licensing office in Kota Kinabalu for issuing the 9M4SLL licence, as well as the President of the Borneo Amateur Radio Club, Hamid, 9W6MID, and Rahim, 9M6RHM, for their help in obtaining the licence. Pekka, OH2YY, was of great help with the initial planning of the trip. Finally, thanks go to Vicky Lee of the Layang Layang Island Resort for her help in making this operation possible.
(Note for users of computer logging programs: The 9M4 prefix is issued to special event stations that may be anywhere on Malaysian territory; this includes the DXCC entities of West Malaysia, East Malaysia or, as in this case, Malaysian islands in the Spratly group.)