The Verona Section of A.R.I. (Italian Radioamateurs Association) is organizing, by means a
group of its members, called Verona DX Team, a DX Expedition, with humanitarian and ham-
radio purposes, in J5 Guinea-Bissau, one of the poorest countries in the world. The Call J5 is a
"most wanted", especially in RTTY, CW and digital modes, and has never been activated in
EME.
The expedition will be on air from March 24 to April 6, 2012.
This date was chosen given the good conditions for VHF EME activity and the possibility to
operate on all HF bands in all modes. The location will be in the Cumura Mission, where a
Franciscan Friar, who is an OM member of A.R.I. Verona, offers his work. Father Gianfranco
Gottardi has worked for nearly 20 years in several Missions in Guinea-Bissau where his
presence was requested by the Bishop of Bissau. He was active in HF from these Missions with
the calls J54OFM, J52OFM, J59OFM. The OFM suffix standing for Order Friars Minor, which
refers to St. Francis. Our goal is also to help Father Gianfranco with our work. We'll be active on
all bands including VHF EME. Probable call J52EME - locator IK21DT.
All the money received with QSL cards and donations will be devolved to the mission.
During our stay we'll do some work such as the creation of a LAN in the Hospital of Cumura and
the connection to the Leper Hospital. We'll fix and improve the mains power system, which now
works only for a few hours a day for the Hospital. We'll fix the generators so that in the periods
of power outage the 24V batteries will be charged and ready for emergency services, such as
incubators and medical equipment. We'll form small groups of operators that will shift so as to be
present in radio and at maintenance work.
We ask you to help, if possible, our expedition with a financial contribution or ham-radio
equipment. For each QSO we'll send a QSL card via the bureau, except those requested
direct. We'll send articles about the expedition to ham-radio magazines (Italian and international)
with a list of sponsors that have helped our expedition.
73 ES FB DX,
I3LDP Lucio Bresciani - Verona DX Team
IW3HXO Athos Arzenton - President ARI Verona
online from 21 DEC 2011
JUST MADE THE FIRST EME QSO !
IK3VVD, I3VJW,IK3RBE,I3LDP,IZ3BUR,IK3ESB
2014
J52HF was again on air from march 25 to april 10, 2014.
Some members of Verona DX Team returned to Cumura
to help the Mission with their work and install new devices.
In the spare time they were on air on HF, only SSB, PSK31 and JT65hf.
Operators: IZ3BUR Livio - IZ3STA Ilario
The log is online
2015
Again on air ! from november 18 to december 10, 2015 !
J52HF was again on air from april 11 to april 30, 2015.
Some members of Verona DX Team returned to Cumura
to help the Mission with their work and install new devices.
In the spare time they were on air on 20-15-10 meters, SSB.
Operator: IZ3BUR Livio
Were there to work for the Mission also IK3RBE Libero e IK3VZJ Milena
Any donation to the Mission will be greatly appreciated !
2018
J52EC
New call assigned to the Cumura Mission’s School !
On air from January 24 to February 21, 2018 !
Father Gianfranco J52OFM requested to the Authority,
and obtained, the call J52EC (Escola Cumura),
for the project: “Books for the High School of Cumura”.
Some members of the Verona DX Team (IZ3BUR, IK3RBE, IK3VZJ)
will return to Cumura to help the Mission’s School
with the distribution of school books to the students.
In the spare time they will be on air as J52EC on 20-15-10 metri, SSB.
Any donation to the Mission will be very welcome !
QSL info: see J52EC on qrz.com