9X – Kigali, Rwanda

Dates: 24 to 31 January 2019

Callsign: 9X2AW

9X – Kigali, Rwanda 2024-04-02T18:29:03-05:00

Africa DXpedition

About 1800 meters above sea level, north of the Capital City of Kigali, Rwanda is the Kanyinya Hills Hotel and was the site of the DXpedition.
I was joined by Harald DF2WO, an experienced African DXer, who visited for a week of his 40 day stay.

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Sign for Kanyinya Hills Hotel. You can see the main road back to the city.

 

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Harald DF2WO, at his operating station in his hut. Licensing–Heading–Getting a License.

The Antennas

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Hexbeam for 10 through 20m.

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The verticals for 80 and 160m .

 

The Hotel

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The Reception Desk at the hotel.

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Like all the other staff, the hotel guard was very friendly.

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The local utility had a low voltage problem. When they were running this generator things were better.

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This was my hut.

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My station.

 

Food, Food, Food . . .

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Let’s start with a big salad.

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I don’t remember what this was but I remember it was good.

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Another night, another salad.

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Peppered Steak

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Fish stew over rice.

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This local beer was very good.

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Harald, DF2WO, enjoyed the beer as well.

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Harald’s family joined us on my last day.

 

Gentry/Dauer

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Rwandian Gentry

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Rwandian Dauer

 

Back at the Airport

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Which way do we go?

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This picture might have been nice if that tree had not grown up so fast.

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Airport security was very strict.

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Inside the terminal doing the waiting game.

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Our first flight was a hop to Entebee, Uganda to pick up some additional passengers.
Because I never left the airplane and put my feet on the ground I cannot count Uganda for my DXFC count (see dxfc.org).

9X2AW QSL Card

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QSL Via

Charles Wilmott, MØOXO

Operating from Kigali Rwanda Using Callsign 9K2AW

Here’s the deal with getting a license. Give yourself plenty of time (3 months). E-mail in the application with all the requirements. If you don’t hear back from them in about 2 to 3 weeks. Something went wrong, try again.

Where I went wrong is I didn’t hear back but assumed no problem, I’ll visit the office when I get there. Well, they said they never got my request and it takes them a week to process a new application. They were very kind when they said I could operate using Harald’s callsign.

 

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A nice corner building in Kigali is where the licensing happens.

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Harald, DF2WO, waiting at the door for me to stop taking pictures.

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Upstairs is where the action is.

Dave’s Equipment

Elecraft K3
Dell Inspiron Mini Laptop
Heil Headset
Little Tarheel II Screwdriver Antenna
Ameritron SDC-102 Antenna Controller
MFJ 1979 Telescoping Whip

 

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Dave operating 9X2AW.

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Harald operating 9X2AW.

Traveling to Kigali, Rwanda

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Brussels Airlines was used for the two main flights. Jet Blue got me to JFK.