First FT5ZM Operating Site Photos

FT5ZM Operating Locations

Here are the first photos of the FT5ZM Operating Sites.  The photo above shows the relative locations of both operating sites.  Mataf is near the landing site but Antonelli is over a MILE away!  Click on the photos to see a larger image.

Antonelli Site

The photo on the left showing the antennas is of the Antonelli Site.  Check out all those beams!  How much effort went into transporting those antennas and towers to the site plus erecting them and installing the coax.  The second photo on the left is from the Mataf site. 

Mataf Site

Jerry, WB9Z, one of the FT5ZM Team made the following comment 4 days ago just at the end of their first day on the island:

"The terrain is very rough for walking and putting up antennas. We’re talking up to 2 feet of dead grass on top of lava rock. This is one of the (if not the) roughest Dxpeditions ever been on. The entire team is exhausted after a very long day. All generators are in place, but there is still so much to be done."

How hard was it to tote all the towers, antennas, coax, rope, anchors, radios, amplifiers, generators, fuel, food, personal effects, and dozens of other things to the Antonelli site?  Then, everything had to be assembled, beams and towers put up, and all the equipment interconnected.  I am in awe of what these guys have done in so short a time.

Doesn't this make you want to leave the comfort of your shack and run out on one of these major DX'peditions!