In late March we highlighted a few DXCC entities that will be activated in April 2025. Turns out we only scratched the surface of opportunities to fill bands or record ATNOs this month in your pursuit of operating awards. OnAllBands is pleased to present an encore post of April DXpeditions along with QSL cards from the DXing enthusiasts at DX Engineering.
Bonaire
The PJ4CB holiday-style DXpedition by WA7RAR is scheduled to run from April 17-27 on 20-10M in CW and SSB.
Bonaire (IOTA SA-006), a Dutch island in the Leeward Antilles in the Caribbean Sea situated 50 miles off the coast of Venezuela, is one of three islands in the ABC Islands group—so named because of the first letters of their names (the other two are Aruba and Curacao). This 111-square-mile island has a population of around 21,000. Bonaire’s capital city, Kralendijk, has a population of roughly 10,600. Residents speak Dutch, English, and Papiamentu, a Portuguese-based creole language that is the most widely spoken language of the ABC Islands. Bonaire is the 231st most-wanted DXCC entity per Clublog.
Wayne, K8FF, DX Engineering customer/technical support specialist, worked PJ4D (20M SSB) and PJ4I (30M CW) both on October 10, 2010—the day the Netherland Antilles was dissolved as a nation. Both DXpeditions highlighted the birth of Bonaire as a new DXCC entity.
Galapagos Islands
The 25-operator HD8G activation of IOTA SA-004 is scheduled to run from April 18-26. Chasers can reach the HD8G team on 160-6M (including 60M) in SSB/CW/FT4-FT8/RTTY.
Among other equipment sponsors, ACOM, DIEX Antennas, and Hamplus (all available at DXEngineering.com) have lent their support to this huge undertaking.
Mention the Galapagos Islands to the average individual and the first images that likely come to mind are the giant tortoises that are native to seven main volcanic islands (out of 18) in this archipelago found in the eastern Pacific Ocean, part of the Republic of Ecuador. The islands, forever linked to Charles Darwin’s observations made during his second voyage on the HMS Beagle, lie about 600 miles off the west coast of South America. The Galapagos Islands are the 138th most-wanted DXCC entity per Clublog.
Mark, W8BBQ, DX Engineering customer/technical support specialist, earned this QSL card from the Isabela Island HC8ART DXpedition by making contact on 30 and 12M RTTY. At 1,771 square miles, Isabela is by far the largest of the Galapagos Islands.
The Gambia
F5RAV as C5LT and YU5R as C5R will be operating from Kololi—a resort town on the shore of the Atlantic Ocean—on HF in CW/SSB/FT8 from April 19-May 2. The West African Republic of The Gambi (population 2.7 million) is the 156th most-wanted DXCC entity per Clublog.
Why is The Gambia referred to as “The Gambia”?
The article “The” was added to the country’s name on the request of prime minister Sir Dawda K. Jawara, who in March 1963 asked the United Nations to add “The” to distinguish the country from the newly named Zambia (formerly Northern Rhodesia). While “The” is often used in front of many countries (Congo, Sudan, Philippines, et. al.), The Gambia and The Bahamas are the only two countries that should officially be referred to in this way.
George, K3GP, DX Engineering customer/technical support specialist, collected a number of QSL cards from The Gambia DXpeditions, including C56TA in 2003 (30M CW) and C56W in 2006 (17M SSB).
Åland Islands
The OH0KA HF activation of the Åland Islands from Kokar by OH3KAV is scheduled for April 18-22 in CW and FT8. This autonomous archipelago belonging to Finland at the entrance to the Gulf of Bothnia in the Baltic Sea (610 square miles, population of 30,100) ranks as the 234th Most-Wanted DXCC Entity per Clublog. Kokar is an island municipality in the southeastern part of the Åland archipelago, which is made up of 6,700 islands and reefs, only 60 of which are inhabited.
Mark, W8BBQ, DX Engineering customer/technical support specialist, contacted OH0V in November 2014 on 20M CW.
For all your DXing, contesting, or rag-chewing needs—whether you’re a Big Gun, Little Pistol, or somewhere in between, visit DXEngineering.com for transceivers, amplifiers, antennas,
headsets, and so much more.
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Editor’s Note: Every month, DX Engineering features QSL cards from our team members’ personal collections. To highlight upcoming DXpeditions, we’ll be displaying a few of our favorite cards along with details about what it took to make these contacts. We’re excited to share some of the special cards pulled from the thousands we’ve received over the years. We look forward to seeing your cards as well!
The post It’s All in the Cards! More QSL Cards from DXCC Entities on the Air in April 2025 appeared first on OnAllBands.