Welcome to my LOFOTEN Arctic Circle  IOTA Adventure Web site!

I've been surveying the DX scene of late and I'm really disapointed. Have you noticed that we've almost run out of countries to send our DX-peditionists? Yes, after we ran through all of garden variety DX spots like, Brazil or Guiana, we all thought out more difficult -to-work spots like Gambia or Solomon.When we used those up we scratched  up addiotional places like, Andorra, Monaco, San Marino, Gibraltar,Melilla, Liechenstein, Corsica, Jersey, Guernsey or Island of Man an the like. Next we turned our view to worrying about working stations in lightly  populated remote cornersdof the globe . Spratley, Niue, Heard island,  RealLy groping for anything we might possibly have missed, we have combed the atlases  and navigational charts for what might be termed "last resort"DX spots Bouvet, Peter I, North Korea, Kingman reef, Futuna and other marginal reefs, rocks, and patches of dirt, which protrude, even slightly , from the water. Don't look now, but we're ready to dig down to the next layer of "new countries" and you might have guessed  that we seem to have hit the bottom of the barrel. There's just so much land area on the planet and we've worked it dry,  Think what this means to the entire future of ham radio. What about those guys running  lot of kilowats  into those lot of element beams--the one who  only grace the band when there is a "new country" floating around to work. Do you realize what this means? With these  guys off the air it may actually be possible to get a contact around the world on 20 meters  with less than a full gallon, and on phone.  And what about  the prospect of having such good comunications  that you may actually have time to give more than your handle QTH, and QSL request - you may actually have to say something to the guy on the other end  of the born. No, it's really too much to ask of today's Hams; it could  herald the final fase of the hobby.  The next layer of DX is in there only now we're going to have to use  a bit of ingenuity  to dig it out in order to save  ham radio. For instance, did you know that right now - this very minute - there is nation around which  has "Never" known  a ham operator  within is borders. Im not kidding! of course North Korea- The DX world is full of controversy thse days, What is a country and what isn't?? -- Are certain DXpeditions on the up and up when they  work some "big guns" but don't seem to hear others?? Fortunately the IOTA Awars  Program isn't quite as affected by some of the antics  as is the case  for other less  fortunate awards

The idea is operating from IOTA EU-076 (Vestvagoy) and IOTA EU-033 (Hinnoya or Langoya ) Vesteralen Islands

We’d like to stay in touchMore than ever, the real feelings of friendship and courtesy matter. Our hobby allows this, is rich in values of friendship.We were without a doubt the creators of the first social network.

How many of us have felt that something is missing when we stop communicating. 

The feeling of friendship is not enough, but sending a simple message makes us feel that we are not alone.

Often, when we venture, we get the impression to have embarked on a ship of foolish sailors in search of atreasure island full of ancestral relics. 

WHY WE TRAVEL ... LOFOTEN ISLANDS IN NORTHERN NORWAY

Is it cold up there? At  that stage , we weren't sure whether or nor could actually sucessfully recreate. We began to look skyward and we asked ourselves why weren't wetaking advange. If it weren't so, freedom would probapbly not be so valuable Is it cold up there?    A common query when the man on Arctic circle receive a phone call from home or receive a e-mail from friends or family. Invariably  the answer is  "It's always cold  and low tremperatures  in summer or winter," comparing to the south.  July or August will be your best chance of good weather, long, endless days, and all tourism related business in full operation.Lofoten has a much milder climate than other parts of the world at similar latitude, such as Alaska and Greenland.know that my help is guaranteed on this most beautiful island of the world.
We changed the idea from Greenland and Iceland option because we could not get permission to install antennas in the cottage. This is the third time we have tried Iceland without success.Traveling is one of life's greatest pleasures, but among so many options it is difficult to choose dream islands, places and landscapes that mark them for the rest of your life, but do not just pick up your backpack and plane ticket, Passionate hobby - the amateur radio. It becomes all simpler when ... We decide to go and that's it!
The idea of setting up amateur radio antennas still causes a lot of headaches for homeowners. A wrong idea, because it is only a simple not complicated structure
It is simply and surely that all radio amateurs are responsible for this installation. Nobody wants to go on vacation with a hobby and have problems,
In fact, many amateurs end up coming back and enjoying a new Adventure in these same places. Myself and wife we love Nordich people that's one of the best point to get a decision.

AHA! You thought i was going on a long trip to South America, or Africa? The idea of an activity like in this case the Lofoten Island forces me to devote a lot of time to planning.I have to keep in mind that there will be three (3) flights by plane, the first Lisbon to Oslo and then from Oslo to BODØ, finally from BODØ to Leknes in Lofoten.
This time I will not take neither amplifier nor "GREAT" antennas, I will do an activity as simple as possible.I've always enjoyed using unusual antennas  and surprising my friends their effectiveness - at times. This time I will take Home brew VDA 30M, 20M, 17M,15M and 12M and a portable Sigma antenna.                                                                                                                       As i wrote before there is a story behind any Adventure .The main purpose of this  web page is to describe a simple way to explain to the visitors an impression about this Fantastic Hobby  on this ADVENTURE ( amateur radio, trekking,  bird watching and nature). Lofoten Island Adventure web page, like any webpage is only as interest as its visitors. I recognize this fact and i wish to thanking in advance to the many hams who spend a bit time to visit.  I've added others information a specific application to amateur radio.  Each year i celebrate another Adventure like the last, It's been may years since my first IOTA DXpedition.  I hope one day that this Artcic Circle Adventure DXpedition will be remembered as my trip to Spitzbergen (SVALBARD Achipelago) on 2004. I hope that and maybe remembering for the next twenty years. I still have the opinion that one of the real thrills offered to the licensed amateur radio operator is the opportunity to work DX . That thrill is trebled when the DXing is done from some exotic out-of-the-way  place. Unfortunately, most of us have neither the time nor the money to travel extensively... crossing oceans to far-flung islands or dense jungles. We may never visit some remote pacific islands. However, there is nothing to prevent any ham from sharing  in the thrill of a DXpedition within reach of simple transportation, in short vacation periods, and best of all, within the range of the billfold.  Year after year we continuing look for new adventures in places outside the common tourism route. The XYL permitting, the rig usually accompanies on every trip vacation. Installing the antenna and rig is as important as preparing the first meal or planning places for visiting .The working of DX is fairly simple if the equipment includes A1A Mode on your working planning.Several locations were considered when i started my plans. However due the actual prediction SFI in Europe Froes seemed to be in greatest demand so it was chosen. When we decided on this project, it was initially to think of Greenland and of Iceland, even though it was a few years ago to keep in mind the going to the Faroes Islands.of course that we are scout we can have a good perspective on these feelings.
Greenland is an ambitious project and has to be in a field where propagation helps corresponder to a SUPER ADVENTURE.

It is perfectly natural for special interest groups to stick to and work with other people of their own interests. This is an age of specialization , But specialization tens toward narrowness and narrowness toward  limited vision and limited horizons.

For example, take the amateur who operates strictly by. CW. Nothing wrong at all about that; if he prefers CW exclusively. It is his attitude that may go wrong. He works mostly with other  operators who, like himself , use CW almost exclusively, and they start making phone operators  the butt of jokes and first thing they know they are not only CW specialists but phone haters ; and they not only won't be but don't want to be persuaded that they could be wrong about phone as a mode of emission.

The same goes for the  other side of the fence, of course - the phone operator who sees absolutely no sense in didling a key when it is so much easier, faster ans pleasant er to talk, and who looks on the CW hound a queer, kind of social misfit. Then there are the VHF ers, the DX specialists, the RTTY group, the PSK Group, and many others, each of which attain a considerable time to the group.

Spend a moment listening LA/CT1BWW in order to pick up our pattern of operation. I prefer working "free" listening COMPLETE CALLSIGNS , don't give me SUFFIXES or PART OF THE CALLSIGN . GIVE ME THE COMPLETE CALLSIGN PLEASE! 

I don't believe that wil be pileup.     Do not call until your are certain who you are calling and make sure you log LA/CT1BWW  correctly.  You would not want all this hard work to go to waste, would you?! I will send our own call frequently, usually during every QSO but at least once every few minutes.  If you are still not certain when we contact you, just ask. The idea is very somple : IF YOU LISTEN TO ME! GET TO WORK!

Good to be know 40 Years on-the-air This Year i celebrate 40 years on this Fantastic Hobby, I started on the hobby during year 1978 as SWL Station CTØ783, at that time i was studying Radio Technician in Industrial School Fonseca Benevides in Lisbon. In late 1976 (two years before) i was member active at Radio Scouting Department from CNE Catholic Portuguese Scouts. After to get CT1BWW callsgin i've never stop the activity. Actually i'm devoted more time on QRP Homebrew and Antenas development, this is perfectly natural for special interest groups to stick to and work with other people of their own interests. This is an age of specialization , But specialization tens toward narrowness and narrowness toward  limited vision and limited horizons.

For example, take the amateur who operates strictly by. CW. Nothing wrong at all about that; if he prefers CW exclusively. It is his attitude that may be going wrong, but myself i prefer this way. Perhaps he works mostly with other  operators who, like himself , use CW almost exclusively, and they start making phone operators  the butt of jokes and first thing they know they are not only CW specialists but phone haters ; and they not only won't be but don't want to be persuaded that they could be wrong about phone as a mode of emission.

The same goes for the  other side of the fence, of course - the phone operator who sees absolutely no sense in didling a key when it is so much easier, faster ans pleasant er to talk, and who looks on the CW hound a queer, kind of social misfit. Then there are the VHF ers, the DX specialists, the RTTY group, the PSK Group, and many others, each of which attain a considerable  degree .

The Daily DX Is a text DX bulletin sent via e-mail to your home or office Monday through Friday and includes DX news, IOTA news, QSN reports, QSL information, a DX Calendar, propagation forecast etc- Many years before the WEB, there were a number of DX Newspapers and Bulletins and some publications that were sent weekly or monthly via mail.
The DX community had to be aware of DX information, Expeditions about stations in rare locations, countries or islands and even about the QSL Managers service-
I remember well the information in hand given by DX Bulletin
Still, this is an important tool in our DX activity.
I am grateful to Bernie W3UR for the work he has done over many years.The Daily DX, before the internet comunity apears, during many years some DX infor were available like this excelent work. THank you very much!

WIDEROE Air. The flight to Lofoten is granted by small planes like theb Bombardier  Dash 8 Q400                             Travelling to Norway and the Lofoten Islands Our base for most of our trips in northern Norway is BodØ. As with all our destinations, this area of Norway still remains unspoilt and off the beaten tourist track. From Bodø and Tromsø you may continue with Widerøe to Svolvær(SVJ) and  Leknes (LKN).  You may also fly from Bodø to Røst (RET)

GARDERMOEN HOTEL Just tell us what you like, you went well, and you want to go back!
It was this feeling that took me back to this Hotel after 14 years -
On 2004 on my trip to Spitzbergen (Svalbard) it was here that I stayed one night.
That night I dined with Unni JW6RIA to find out about the JW5E-based promenades. This is without a doubt a cozy Hotel, I strongly advise anyone who comes to visit Oslo or make stopover. Have a great stay!n Also with a very Good Taxi Service.

DX World Guide by Franz Langner This fabulous book sells everywhere . To obtain this DX World Guide is new as 384 pages as been published for use by all DXers to keep an organized  information , as complete details.This is the third edition of the famous DX World Guide by my good friend Franz Langner and is the first edition using color throughout and the first to be entirely in English. The book includes entries for well over 300 DX "entities." Information includes geographical information about each country, WAZ and ITU zones, ITU callsign allocations and amateur prefixes. Each listing also includes a map and flag, plus information on the country's licensing agency and national amateur radio society. In addition, as appropriate, listings include call areas, IOTA (Islands on the Air) information and representative QSL cards.

The Viking territories.       I am very interesting and so curious about Vikings and the history of ScandinaviaI know very little about Viking history despite in my travels on Aland Islands in 2009 and Faroes island last year, we visit Vikings museums in those locatins. The museum is super informative, interactive, and truly a can’t-miss when i will be in the Lofoten Islands.
The Lofotr Borg Viking Museum is located 55 km from the town of Svolvaer, in the Lofoten Islands. It was in 1982 that a farmer found some interesting "potsherds"; anthropologists and archeologists who excavated the land found evidences of the Viking.