This is The DX Mentor podcast. I hope to help those hams trying to move up the DXCC ladder as well as those that at on the DXCC Honor Roll. As fast as technology is moving, no one can keep up on it all. I am here to help. #DX #Hamradio

Van, N4VGE, is the point of contact and organizer for a DXpedition to Vanuatu October 15th to the 30th, for the CQ WW SSB contest.  The Vanuatu call sign will be YJ0VV for the DXpedition. They will be staying at a luxury villa about 15km from Port Vila on Efate Island.

Vanuatu is #83 on Phone (#115 overall) of Clublog's Most wanted DX countries. They will be taking a Flex 6700, Yaesu 891, Icom 7100 and 7300 radios, two amplifiers, a BuddiHex 6-20m antenna, four 40m verticals, DX Commander Expedition vertical (for POTA activations),

10-160 inverted V, and 160m loaded long wire. The QSL Manager is K4NHW, Nathan Wood.

They will be using N1MM+ logging software for the DXpedition and have a goal of 40,000 contacts during the contest using 1500w High Power M2.  Probably not enough for a top three spot but a decent showing.

There are four hams (N4VGE, K4QQG, K1NZ, and K2SAV) and two wives going along.

Along with Joe, W8GEX, my guest today is Van, N4VGE.

Topics:

Intros

How did you get in to Ham Radio?

How did you get interested in DX?

How did you decide to BE the exotic DX?

What other trips have you been on?

Tell us about your team.

How/Why did you choose Vanuatu?

Describe the overall DXpedition (operators, days, equipment)

What are your expectations? (What criteria will you use to consider this a success?)

How can folks provide financial support?

Links:

POTA https://parksontheair.com/index.html

SOTA https://www.sota.org.uk/

Clublog Country List https://clublog.org/mostwanted.php

Southwest Ohio DX Assoc. https://www.swodxa.org

Daily DX https://www.dailydx.com/

DX Engineering https://www.dxengineering.com/

Icom https://www.icomamerica.com/

IC-905 https://www.icomamerica.com/lineup/products/IC-905/

IC-9700 https://www.icomamerica.com/lineup/products/IC-9700/

IC-7610 https://www.icomamerica.com/lineup/products/IC-7610/

IC-7300 https://www.icomamerica.com/lineup/products/IC-7300/