Rare Activations of Bouvet Island & Desecheo Island Both Reach 100,000 QSOs!

Gear provided by DX Engineering plays important role in both highly successful DXpeditions. Experienced operators from the DX Engineering team join in the pileups.

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For avid DXers, DXpeditions from infrequently activated DXCC entities are monumental events on the ham radio calendar. But for those who are razor-close to “working the world,” the pursuit of checking off a handful of final locations can become an Ahab-like obsession. Already in 2026, two “white whales” surfaced long enough for thousands of operators to log ATNOs and fill bands—Bouvet Island and Desecheo Island.

Desecheo Island, KP5/NP3VI

The KP5/NP3VI DXpedition took advantage of two self-sustained, fully solar-powered Remote Deployable Units (RDUs) set up on uninhabited Desecheo to make this 14th ranked DXCC entity (as of the start of the activation) available to the DX world for the first time since February 2009. The DXpedition was accomplished in collaboration with the Vieques Island Amateur Radio Club (NP3VI) and the Manyana DX Foundation.

(Image/KP5/NP3VI)

The RDUs, provided by the Manyana DX Foundation and Remote Ham Radio, allowed for uninterrupted activity from the island starting on January 12 and ending March 3. This resulted in more than 100,000 QSOs (20,000 unique call signs) and a number of achievements, per Steve, N2AJ, media officer and pilot for KP5/NP3VI:

The first fully solar-powered major DXpedition to achieve 100,000 QSOs
The first major DXpedition to reach 100,000 QSOs operating exclusively low power
Continuous operation of an RDU powered entirely by solar power and battery storage
A focused operating strategy emphasizing All-Time New Ones

Further, the DXpedition demonstrated the kind of environmental stewardship necessary to activate wildlife protected refuges. To receive permission, this activation required strict adherence to environmental constraints including limited antenna size and configuration, no permanent installations, and no use of fuel-powered generators.

As an equipment sponsor, DX Engineering provided a range of equipment to put KP5/NP3VI on the air, including:

a group of men holding a banner — The KP5/NP3VI team on Desecheo Island during deployment of the Remote Deployable Units. (Image KP5/NP3VI)

Dr. Jose “Otis” Vicens, NP4G (far right in photo above), one of the operation’s main planners and president of INDEXA, is the recipient of the Dayton Hamvention® 2026 Amateur of the Year Award. Watch this Q5 Worldwide Ham Radio video featuring NP4G:

Bouvet Island 3Y0K

a remote campsite on a rocky rain-soaked shore — (Image/3Y0K)

It took a Herculean effort from the highly skilled 3Y0K team, who battled the island’s wind-swept climate to install stations and keep this rare entity available to DX chasers hoping to log an ATNO. Three years of planning and preparation, along with support from the worldwide ham radio community, helped to make this possible.

men operating ham radios in a tent — (Image/3Y0K)

“The whole 3YØK team is safely back on the vessel after a successful expedition to Bouvetøya,” the team wrote. “We made more than 100,000 contacts and achieved our goals. It was an extraordinary undertaking, involving years of planning, complex logistics and determination needed to succeed. The team worked well together under harsh conditions, cold, snow and windy. Bouvetøya is known for its remoteness and unpredictable weather, and while it is a beautiful island, any attempt going onshore involves a risk. Despite all the challenges we encountered the team has stayed focused on our goals, determined, and the result is due to real teamwork!

“We have been working with professional expedition guides, pilots, crew and vessel who all contributed to the success.

“We wish to thank everyone who believed in us, supported us and made this a great expedition. Thanks to all our individual sponsors, clubs, organizations and corporate sponsors for their contribution!”