Bob Allphin K4UEE Adventures in Ham Radio

The 2006 DXpedition to Peter I Island - 3YØX

Peter I Island, 275 miles off the west coast of Antarctica and south of most of the Antarctic bases, was one of the most wanted DXCC entities -- until twenty-one international ham operators plus a non-ham world traveler took on the daunting task of mounting the most costly DXpedition in history.

Considered by some to be the DXpedition of the Decade, this 3YØX DVD brings the danger and excitement right into your living room.  See the helicopter flights, hear the howling storms and incessant wind, and struggle along with the team as they erect shelters and antennas.

Hear the huge pileups as heard from the bottom of the world at the bottom of the sunspot cycle.

Watch the daring rescue of a team member and three ship's crew members as they remove the last gear from the island.

All this in an hour-long drama.

Seven DXpeditions of the Year -
AH1A, XRØY, VKØIR, FOØAAA, A52A, 3YØX and 3X5A

(including footage and edited sequences contributed by James Brooks, 9V1YC)

AH1A, Howland Island -- where Amelia Earhart disappeared

XRØY, Easter Island -- and its massive and unusual statues

VKØIR, Heard Island -- with its ominous and active volcano rising to 8,000ft

FOØAAA, Clipperton Island -- populated with curious, very busy orange crabs

A52A, Bhutan -- the mysterious and exciting Kingdom nestled in the Himalayas

3YØX, Peter One -- Nearly 90,000 Qs from the bottom of the world

VU7RG, Lakshadweep -- From the #2 most wanted DXCC entity

These seven DXpedition video excerpts tell compelling stories of fear, frustration and sheer joy as DX traveler Bob Allphin, K4UEE recounts the highlights (and lowlights) of his most heralded trips, all named "DXpeditions of the Year".  Is is personal, emotional, humorous and sometimes frightening.  It is about ham radio… but as you will see -- "it ain't all about radio".

The 2002 DXpedition to South Sandwich and
South Georgia Islands - VP8THU/VP8GEO

The "unofficial" video of the first Penguins Microlite Dxpedition to S. Sandwich Islands and S. Georgia. Filmed, written and produced by Bob Allphin, K4UEE, edited by Ed Boutwell, W4ZSB

The concept of Microlite is "back to basics" i.e.: small radios, low power, small generators, vertical antennas, little advance notice, no pilots, website or on-line logs.

This lightly-equipped, twelve-man, international team operated first from Thule Island, S. Sandwich Islands, the location of a battle between the British and Argentine forces during the Falklands war.  The Island is populated only with millions of Chinstrap penguins and the remains of the Argentine base.

After making 26,698 contacts during their three-day, commando-like strike on Thule, they sailed on to S. Georgia Island.  This is where Sir Ernest Shackleton and two of his crew sailed seeking rescue for the crew of the Endeavor stranded on Elephant Island.  Shackleton's final resting place overlooks the old whaling station on Grytviken.

The team added another 40,000 radio contacts to their totals and knocked both S. Sandwich and S. Georgia out of the DXCC's top ten "most wanted" list.

The 2002 DXpedition to Kingman Reef - K5K

Kingman reef may be the DXCC's smallest DXCC entity.  It is a living reef, very small and very isolated -- about 1,000 miles SW of Hawaii.  This 450ft long, 40ft wide pile of shells and coral was home for this international team for ten days. Despite a "heck of a storm", it was a most successful DXpedition.  80,839 radio contacts were made on 160 through 6 meters -- making this the third most productive effort in DXpedition history.

The 2002 DXpedition to Burkina Faso - XT2DX

Ten top CW/DXers/contesters gather for the 2002 CQWW CW Contest in Burkina Faso, West Africa.  Their mission is to seek "balance" -- the unique combination of good fun, exotic locations, great experiences, interesting people and significant contest results ! With antennas mounted high above Ouagadougou on the roof of the Splendide Hotel, the team competes all out -- the pileups are unbelievable!