Cocos Island 2008 TI9K(K) probably delayed
I just received the following email from Ramon, XE1KK and I think it is of general interest
FROM CDXA Club member K4MQG:
I had a telephone conversation this morning and also received an E-mail from Margarett Blackwell the XYL of AA4NN who is on the TI9 DXpedition to Cocos Is. It appears that there is a call sign change and possible delay in activating TI9–as you can read in the E-mail Joe sent to Margarett. Joe and Margarett are local and personal friends of mine here in SC, so I can confirm this as indeed accurate info at the time it was sent. Sure things can change in the next few days.
FROM CDXA Club member AA4NN in Costa Rica:We have the license permission from the ministry of telecommunications–the ‘top dog’ has signed off on it. You need to tell the gang our callsign will be TI9KK, not TI9K as previously issued for us. There is a huge gotcha, however, because for a new call sign license there must be at least a 5 day wait in order to publish the permission in some official paper or whatever. So…big delay here. Today a group of us–not me because I will have work assignments here–will take a bus to San Jose for the 5 hour ride. They will stay overnight in order to be at the ministry early Monday to try and convince the officials to waive the wait period. This may work; may not. At best, it could be Wednesday before we can even leave for Cocos. The boat Captain is aware of this and will stand by, of course.
via DXXE
February 5th, 2008 17:32
edit: Please read also this page.
Hi Christian
I used your info earlier today on my pages (crediting you, of course!) but it’s since transpired (through Carlos TI8II) that TI9KK has now been cancelled altogether – some issues occured apparently – they could go to Cocos, but any operation would’ve been illegal..
Shame
Col MM0NDX
February 5th, 2008 17:41
Hi Colin,
Thanks for the update. Sad news indeed!
73
Christian
February 5th, 2008 18:33
Sounds like sour grapes from the TI locals!
February 5th, 2008 18:53
I am sick and tired of special interest local country ham groups that protest when someone goes to one of the “sacred” rarer offshore islands like TI9, YV0 or HK0 when the locals do NOTHING to go themselves! This is putting a black eye on DXing in general. Permissions granted, transportation arranged, money spent, sponsors obtained and many donations from DXer worldwide, THEN those selfish calls start and pressure begins to creep in. Sickening and makes one want to quit DXing all together. To the TI hams, GO TO COCOS on your own and spend your own money and do a lousy job on supplying the worldwide demand for QSOs. Thanks to the radio clubs and “hams” in Costa Rica for being SELFISH. I shall never work another TI after 50 years in ham radio!!
February 5th, 2008 18:58
Guys… Please calm down!
So far nothing has been officially confirmed and I am sure that the real reasons will come up. Obviously Colin got contacted by TI8II about this issue. Maybe he can post some more details.
However, I have to agree that “some issues” does not sound very convincing.
February 5th, 2008 19:01
Hello agn
Actually, i’ve only picked up what TI8II said via the DX cluster – i have no reason to suspect he is bullsh!tting, so i went with it – all info is attributed to Carlos, so i have no problem in correcting it, if it’s proved incorrect – we shall see, i guess, but my updated post still stands.
73s
Col MM0NDX
February 5th, 2008 19:04
I don’t doubt that as well, but imagine if anybody pirated his callsign to make “a joke”. Nowadays you have to expect everything
.
I guess now we have to wait and wait for the final confirmation.
Thanks for the update.
February 5th, 2008 19:36
Harlee, you took the words right out of my mouth. Same with HV, 1A, T7, etc. Selfish locals keep their little castle exclusive. Shud be deleted from DXCC list.
February 5th, 2008 20:49
At least there were tons of activities from those countries that you have listed above: TI9M, 1A0KM, HV0A, T77C, YX0LIX, etc… What about KP1, KP5? I think these two should be deleted first if we are talking about deleting countries. Even P5 was more active than these two.
73 K0AP
February 5th, 2008 21:43
edit: This comment revers to a temporary moderated comment.
Guys! Please stay on track and don’t get personal. If you don’t like his QSLing policy, don’t work him.
If this is getting too wild, I will have to check all comments before they appear on the website.
February 5th, 2008 21:45
Paul K4UJ (of BS7H fame) enlightens more:
http://dx-is.com/news/?p=178
February 5th, 2008 21:47
Thanks!
February 5th, 2008 22:35
Just using some facts and giving an personal opinion as result of the recent TI stations trying to scuttle the long planned TI9 trip by 12 operators. Feel free to just delete my comments if you wish. Other sites have clearly addressed this issue that just arose 2 days ago. Just a shame that things happen the way this “went down”. There are still problems as of noon today.
Harlee
February 5th, 2008 23:10
Maybe in future, when going to places like this, the best policy would be to do everything in advance with strict non-disclosure agreements on all parties, everything behind the scenes and below the radar — then 12 hours before going QRV, the bulletins go out.
I’m sure the major equipment suppliers would go along with this, and if they offer preferred QSL service with donations made between the official announcement of the DXpedition and the end of the trip, they’d still be able to pay down the bills.
This kind of crap ultimately sunk Desecheo in 2005, but thankfully they’d been QRV for a day or so before the stuff hit the fan.
February 6th, 2008 14:09
TI9 team left Playa del Cocos today, license in hand and a member of National Radio Board of Costa Rica along on the trip. Actual operating time cut to about 6 full days now with the recent issues causing unexpected delays for the team. Diplomacy always helps and a LOT went on these past two days for sure.
February 6th, 2008 19:16
http://ham-blog.de/radio-blog/2008/ti9kk-cocos-island-2008-is-on/
February 7th, 2008 03:06
I can tell you I have been close to the TI9K operation for months. TI8II has been very adamant lately about no TI being on the trip. Chris’ web post at 19:16 clearly states the changing position of the Radio Board and obiously some of the TI hams. As I said previously, the new regulations will more closely control the DXpeditions going to Cocos, BUT the regulations in effect at the time of THIS TRIP’S planning did NOT have those stipulations or strict 7 day timeframes. My point is that you play the game by the rules in effect presently and not by rules made up after the team had assembled in Costa Rica. This did NOT go down good and some TI hams interference DID place unfair delays on the expensive effort by 12 ham operators, acting in good faith and using current Telecomm rules. TI2KAC backing out suddenly and for unknown reasons certainly started the problematic license issue. As Carlos said, TI9KK is a “GO” and lets all learn from what happened in the past 10 days of the TI9K trip. The stress to the operators and efforts was entirely unnecessary in my opinion and to many others too.
73 to all and lets be united in making this short 5-6 day DXpedition a fun and productive ham radio event for all to be proud of.. My last comment on this matter.