I operated out of Bangui for almost one week. Lowband conditions were outstanding during the first night on 160m. It was easy to work many W6 and W7 stations and in the following nights rows of JA stations. The good conditions had a close relation to the Aurora activity those days. I remember a similar effect twenty years ago when I was in Congo Brazzaville (TN0CW).

After the second night, Topband conditions changed to normal. Signals on all other bands were good and coming through the EU wall was always a real challenge. I found a way and on one day I used the long path instead. Some observers in Europe might have noticed a very different signal strength during that day. During the first nights I was in a complete lack of sleep. Coming down from Germany, building the station and the antennas was a real job. I stayed in the 12th floor of a hotel that has seen better days. Elevators were not working and carrying 75kilos luggage up there was an experience. So no wonder I repeatedly fell asleep during the QSOs. That is a disadvantage of going on a DXpedition all by yourself.

Water in the Hotel was available only in the evening and in the morning. It's colour was light brown and when you started it, it carried lots of sand. Air-condition was not working, but it was very hot. Window had to be closed, because there is real Malaria danger. So I better left it this way. Internet was very poor and I had it for max an hour a day. I was not able to monitor DXSUMMIT and cluster spots. Electricity was another issue: I had power outages of less than a second in every! Minute. Some lasted more than an hour. So please understand, in case I suddenly disappeared during a QSO.

It looks like Radio and PS survived this without any problem.

Pirates: There were some pirates on 160m. Thanks to Bernd, DF3CB, we installed an online log what helped to avoid doubles. Please check your contact there. On November 2nd I closed the station after over 6100 contacts.

73s Rudi DK7PE

For the last twenty years DXpeditioning I never asked for any financial support. But due to the increasing costs, this time I asked some major DX-Foundations / DX-Associations for a possible support of my operation.

Many thanks to GDXF, NCDXF, TOKYO 610 DX Group and QSL SHOP who will support my operation!

What made me very happy was the amount of supporting e-mails I received.

Some individuals even sent me a PayPal donation.

Donations to support TLØCW are welcome!