VK9XY Christmas Island DXpedition Calls for Australian Young Operators

One of the most exciting amateur radio projects of 2026 is heading for Christmas Island this November, and Australian young operators still have an opportunity to become part of it. The VK9XY DXpedition, running from 16 November to 4 December 2026, will activate Christmas Island, IOTA OC-002, with a youth-led international team supported by experienced DXpedition mentors. The WIA previously highlighted the operation as a major opportunity to develop the next generation of DXers, with young amateurs taking the lead in planning and operating rather than simply watching from the sidelines.

The expedition will establish four local stations and two remote stations, plus a portable QO-100 satellite station, with activity planned on CW, SSB, FT8 and QO-100. The on-island youth team includes operators from the United States, Lithuania, Hungary and Malawi, while experienced DXpeditioners Gregg W6IZT and Glenn W0GJ will serve as mentors and advisors. A further 30 to 40 young amateurs around the world are expected to participate remotely using the NexGenRiB2 remote station system. The project is also seeking financial support so that travel and operating costs do not become a barrier to young operators taking part.

The team is now particularly interested in hearing from Australian young amateur radio operators who would like to participate in this international event. For a young operator interested in DXing, contesting, station building, remote operation or simply learning how a major expedition works, this is a rare opportunity to gain experience at a level that would normally take years to acquire. Interested operators should contact VK9XY Team Leader Max Freedman N4ML at max@n4ml.net.

WIA: Young Operators to Lead Christmas Island DXpedition Link

VK9XY 2026 DXpedition website Link

Pacific Islands DXpedition Group Link

Page Last Updated: Wednesday, 09 Sep 2026 at 08:55 hours by Justin Giles-clark

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