Latest News

Overcoming Last-Minute Challenges: Support from NIAR Leadership 📡

As we approach our departure, we encountered an unexpected logistical challenge. The Amateur Radio Society of India (ARSI) requested their bandpass filters be returned at the very last minute, after our team had already reached Mumbai. This necessitated pulling out the Bandpass filters box, repacking them, and dispatching them back to Bangalore immediately.

This request reportedly stemmed from a misunderstanding regarding acknowledgements in our previous VU7 (Lakshadweep) and AU2V expeditions. We wish to clarify that we have always clearly acknowledged ARSI's contributions on our official QSL cards and will continue to maintain transparency and gratitude toward all our partners.

Final Movement Schedule (April 30, 2026):

• Kerala Team: Leaving in the early hours of April 30th.
• Hyderabad Team: Staying overnight at the Airport, reaching Arnala to join the Kerala and Mumbai squads.
• Mumbai Team: Leaving on the 30th to oversee final arrangements and ship all materials to the island.

Despite these last-minute changes, the team is in high spirits and ready to go live from Arnala Island as scheduled. We'll see you on the air!

Final Preparations Underway: Team Mumbai Leads the Charge! 🚢

We are in the final countdown! Team Mumbai, led by Suyog, VU2THF, has completed preliminary site visits and final arrangements on Arnala Island to ensure everything is ready for the activation.

Arrival & Setup Schedule:

• April 30, 2026 (Afternoon): The first batch of the team will arrive on the island to begin site preparation.
• May 1, 2026 (Early Hours): The second team from Hyderabad and Mumbai will reach the island to finalize antenna setups and station installations.

All flight tickets are booked, and we are happy to report that all materials and equipment have reached Mumbai this evening. The equipment will be transferred to Arnala Island on the afternoon of April 30th.

Station Strategy:

Our focus remains on maximizing coverage irrespective of conditions. We will maintain three dedicated stations:

• Station 1: SSB
• Station 2: CW
• Station 3: FT8

Thank you for your support and patience. We'll see you on the airwaves!

AS-169 Arnala Island IOTA Activation – AU2M 🌟

May 1 to May 3, 2026 | Mumbai Coast

Hi everyone,

Team DX India Foundation will be activating AS-169 Arnala Island, AU2M from May 1 to May 3, 2026.

Details:

• Location: Arnala Island, off the coast of Virar, near Mumbai.
• IOTA Ref: AS-169
• WW Loc: MK69ud
• Modes: QRV on HF bands (CW, SSB, FT8)

This is a new activation for many chasers in VU and worldwide. Our team has been highly active in the last 3 years with several new activations and major DXpeditions including AS-179P Kanika Island, AS-199 Hope Island, and the major VU7 Lakshadweep DXpedition.

Press Release: Crucial Support from IOTA Ltd & Synergy Telecom 🤝

We are incredibly grateful to announce significant contributions that have come at a critical time for the AU2M Arnala Island Reactivation project. Following a major setback—the loss of a large shipment containing vital coaxial cables, patch cables, receive antennas, and other essential equipment during transit from Lakshadweep to Hyderabad—our project faced a challenging recovery path.

Today, we extend our heartfelt thanks to RSGB, CDXC, and IOTA Ltd for their generous financial support toward the AU2M Activity. Their contributions ensure that our mission to bring Arnala Island back to the airwaves remains on track.

A special thanks goes to Synergy Telecom for providing a special discount rate for 5 Co-axial Cables and 10 Patch Cables to assist us after the loss of our materials. Furthermore, we are deeply thankful to Sasi, VU2XZ, for the timely loan of a Radio and Amplifier, which will be a tremendous boost to our station setups and ensure high-quality operations during the event.

Currently, all equipment and materials are being prepared for shipment to Mumbai. We are entering the final stages of readiness for the long-awaited Arnala IOTA Reactivation, which was unfortunately postponed last year due to heavy rains. While we have seen some summer rains recently, we are confident they will not interrupt our plans this time. We are ready and eager to go!

Thank you to all our sponsors and supporters for standing by us through these challenges. Your help is what makes these expeditions possible.

Arnala Island (AS-169): AU2M Propagation Tools Now Live! 📡

We are delighted to announce that the AU2M Propagation Tool is now officially enabled on our website. This powerful tool will allow the global amateur radio community to track the best propagation conditions for contacting Arnala Island during our activation.

Our sincere thanks go to Jari Perkiömäki, OH6BG, and the entire VOACAP team for their exceptional support in providing these predictions and technical integration. Their expertise ensures that operators worldwide can better plan their schedules for this highly anticipated reactivation.

The Arnala IOTA (AS-169) reactivation marks a significant event for the amateur radio community, as it is one of the "most wanted" IOTA locations from India and has not been activated for many years. Our team is working around the clock to ensure a smooth operation across SSB, CW, and FT8 modes.

We invite you to schedule your dates and check the propagation tool regularly as we count down to the activation from May 1st to May 3rd, 2026. We look forward to working with each and every one of you on the airwaves!

Visit our website for more information: www.vu2rs.com/au2m

To support this expedition, you can contribute via PayPal to: info@sreetek.com. Your support is vital as we bring one of India's most sought-after islands back to the air.

Arnala Island (AS-169) IOTA Reactivation: AU2M Takes to the Airwaves! 🌟

The AU2M team is super excited to announce that we're finally going live from the stunning Arnala Island (AS-169) for the IOTA Reactivation, happening from May 1, 2026, 06:00 hrs UTC to May 3, 2026, 23:59 hrs UTC!

Last year's plans were unfortunately scrapped due to heavy rains and some unavoidable circumstances, but we're back and ready to make this one count! Our crack team of operators, led by Sarath (VU2RS), Adersh (VU24DX), Anil (VU3DXA), Pramod (VU3OPD), and the Mumbai squad - Suyog (VU2THF), Anand (VU3YAY), and Suyog (VU3OHF) - are geared up to give you an unforgettable experience.

But that's not all! We'll also be conducting some cool demos and awareness sessions on the island to spark interest in amateur radio among the locals. We're passionate about sharing our hobby with others and inspiring the next generation of hams.

"We're thrilled to be reactivating Arnala Island and can't wait to share the magic of ham radio with everyone," said Sarath, VU2RS, team leader.

Huge thanks to the Radio Society of Great Britain and Chilton DX Club (CDXC) for their generous support, and shoutout to VOACAP for helping us with propagation links (more on that soon!).

We're still on the lookout for amplifiers and band-pass filters, so if you can help, that'd be amazing! Any donation above $25 will be acknowledged on our website, and you can contribute via PayPal to info@sreetek.com.

Event Details:

• Callsign: AU2M
• Location: Arnala Island (AS-169)
• Dates: May 1, 2026, 06:00 hrs UTC to May 3, 2026, 23:59 hrs UTC
• Frequencies: Watch this space!
• Operators: Sarath (VU2RS), Adersh (VU24DX), Anil (VU3DXA), Pramod (VU3OPD), Suyog (VU2THF), Anand (VU3YAY), Suyog (VU3OHF)

Stay tuned for updates, and let's make this IOTA reactivation one to remember!

Dear Fellow Amateurs and Friends,

I am pleased to provide an update regarding the upcoming AU2M IOTA Arnala (AS-169) activation with the Mumbai, Maharashtra IOTA Group, scheduled for May 1, 2026, through May 3, 2026. All necessary permits have been secured and final arrangements are now in place.

The team is fully prepared for the operation. The equipment was shipped today from Calicut to Hyderabad, where it will be repacked and forwarded to Mumbai within the coming week. A primary goal of this activation is to raise awareness among the local community about amateur radio and the technologies involved, with the hope of inspiring a new generation of radio enthusiasts.

Regarding our technical requirements, we are still seeking Band Pass Filters and Amplifiers for this activation. If you have any leads or are able to provide assistance with this equipment, please let us know as it would be greatly appreciated.

Additionally, I would like to provide an update on the AU7RS QSL cards. The cards have been dispatched to Charles, M0OXO, who expects to receive them within the next day or two. He will begin processing requests shortly after their arrival. For QSL confirmations, please contact Charles via OQRS or Express LoTW. Please note that free LoTW confirmations will be available after one year.

Thank you for your continued support.

Dear Fellow Radio Enthusiasts,

The DX India Foundation is pleased to announce the upcoming Arnala IOTA Activation (AS-169), scheduled for May 1–3, 2026. This location currently holds a 17% "most wanted" status, and after last year’s unfortunate cancellation due to weather, our team is eager to return to the air.

We are preparing a robust three-station setup operating SSB, FT8, and CW modes across the 40M–10M bands. To ensure a successful activation, we are seeking support to help fund essential equipment, specifically band pass filters and additional radios. Your contributions will not only support the Arnala activation but will also aid our future efforts for upcoming IOTA projects and the VU4 DXpedition.

If you are able to assist, donations can be made via PayPal to info@sreetek.com. For more information regarding the activation and our technical setup, please visit our website at www.vu2rs.com/au2m.

We would like to extend our sincere thanks to last year’s donors, as well as Spiderbeam and DX Commander, for their ongoing encouragement. Your support is vital to the success of these operations and to the amateur radio community at large.

Thank you for your consideration and support.