Category - J38W

All antennas here at J38W are up. This includes a Hexbeam which sits around 7m high, an elevated radial vertical for 40m, and a combined 80/160m vertical/Inverted L.  I have also put a BOG out for RX on the low bands. Up to now, I have tested all antennas and bands haead of the contest making 3200 QSO’s so far.

There has not been much on air time for me today. I have taken the day ahead of the contest to be a “normal” tourist where I drove to Grande Anse to spend some time at one of the beautiful resorts for soem much  needed Rest and relaxation. I then drove 15 minutes North to the Capital, St George’s where I enjoyed lunch as a small local cafe and took in soem of the scenary.

Friday will be a day of mostly resting, with some short and sporadic operating throughout. CVQWW CW started at 20:00 local time here In Grenada, so that first night shift is a long one and I need to be well rested and prepared to operate.

73 Jamie J38W

See updates at WWW.M0SDV.COM

Since my arrival on Sunday I have been non stop. First, having left the airport was a 2 hour drive to my accommodation in Sauteurs in the dark. The journey should only take 1 hour and 30 minutes but it was worth the extra time to drive slower and arrive safely. When I arrived at the QTH, I immediately unpacked the shack, moved the furniture so my table faces the window (for the ocean view), and then got the shack wired up and ready to go.

The following morning, I woke up at 5am to be sure I could be outside as soon as the sun came up, and when it did, I had the hex beam up and ready to go within around 2 hours. I made some test QSO’s and went to a nearby hotel and restaurant for some breakfast. After breakfast, I made the drive down to St George’s to do some grocery shopping to get the supplies for a week. Once I got back to my QTH, I put the 40m vertical, and put out a beverage on ground system from HamParts.shop. 

This morning, I started work on the 160/80m vertical antenna. This was not without challenges, but with the help of the gardener who did some pruning of nearby tree’s, the pole is now vertical. I still have more work to do with this such as radials and tuning which I will work on this afternoon.

Band conditions are good. I have had reports that I am loud pretty much everywhere which is a good result. The QTH is around 200m from the ocean, so not close enough to have any real effect, but the ground slopes down for the entire 200m until you get to the sea. This means I have a clear take off across the ocean towards Europe and North America. I’m also pleased to have worked some far east, JA’s and VK’s.

More updates to come.

www.m0sdv.com/j38w

Whilst I was already the holder of J38W from previous intentions to visit Grenada, I have now been granted the renewal of J38W for my trip in November 2025. My QSL manager Charles M0OXO is already in the process of obtaining the LOTW certificate.

J38W License

For this trip I will be a single opeator with plans to use SSB, CW, FT8 and FT4 during my stay. Preparations are well underway which has been made easier with the help of DX Engineering who have provided some important items for my trip such as coax, antennas and various other equipment items I will need during my trip.

Over the coming months, I will work on my low band antenna which will be a battle creek special for 40/80/160m constructed from wire and coaxial traps. I have chosen this antenna for it’s ability to be built from wire and fiberglass poles by 1 person and standing at a maximum height of 15m tall.

More updates to come…

I am thrilled to share some fantastic news that I received today! DX Engineering has graciously agreed to support my upcoming DXpedition to Grenada by providing a range of essential equipment. Their generous contribution will play a crucial role in ensuring the success of this exciting venture.

With their high-quality gear, I will be well-equipped to tackle the challenges of operating in the unique environment of Grenada. This support not only enhances my operational capabilities but also reflects the strong partnership and commitment to advancing amateur radio activities. I am incredibly grateful for DX Engineering’s support and look forward to making this DXpedition a memorable and successful experience. Stay tuned for more updates as we prepare for this adventure!

I will be on air from Grenada as J38W from 23rd November 2025 to 2nd December 2025.

Grenada flag

My goal is to make as many QSO´s as possible during the time that I am there and also participate in the CQWW CW contest on 29/30th November. I will operate Single Op – All band – High Power. Using an Icom-IC7300, SPE amplifier. Antennas will be a Hexbeam 20-6m and a vertical of some kind for the lower bands.

As I am a single operator, I am still developing ideas for the low band antennas to help make it easier for my to build. 

M0SDV at 3D2Y – Image credit Lukas Bartkus LY7J

QSL will be Via M0OXO using his OQRS system.

More updates will follow.