We’ve still got a few months until the much-anticipated February 2026 3Y0K Bouvet Island DXpedition, but in the meantime, there’s plenty to be excited about in the endlessly fascinating world of DXing. Here are just a few of the November activations to put on your calendar, along with QSL cards from the seasoned operators at DX Engineering.
Madagascar
The 5R8TT/5R8XX multi-operator activation by the Italian DXpedition Team is scheduled for Oct. 29-Nov. 12 from Nosy Be Island (IOTA AF-057). You can attempt to add Madagascar to your list of DXCC conquests by contacting 5R8TT on 160-6M in CW, SSB, and RTTY, or 5R8XX in FT8.
At 228,900 square miles (about the size of France), Madagascar is the fourth largest island in the world behind Greenland, New Guinea, and Borneo. The African nation is home to about 32 million people and by far the world’s largest population of the most endangered mammal on the planet—the lemur.
More than 100 species of lemurs (see QSL cards below) live on this island country in the Indian Ocean off the southeastern coast of Africa, although many are classified as “critically endangered,” “endangered,” “vulnerable,” or “near threatened,” while a growing number of species have become extinct. A staggering 96% face extinction, according to the World Wildlife Fund.
Among the diverse variety of lemurs on the island are the familiar ring-tailed type and the lesser-known, critically endangered Madame Berthe’s mouse lemur, the world’s smallest primate, which tips the scales at 1.1 ounces (about the weight of a pencil or slice of whole-grain bread) and measures 3.6 inches long. As of 2020, the Madame Berthe’s mouse lemur was rated critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened Species.
Those trying to save lemur species cite human-made habitat loss as a primary factor in declining populations. Some estimates place the amount of lost forest cover on the island at 90%.
Falkland Islands
The VP8THW DXpedition by DL7HW is scheduled to run from Nov. 1-22, 2025 on 20/17/15/12/10M in SSB and FT8.
Slightly smaller than Connecticut, this 4,700-square-mile British overseas territory in the South Atlantic Ocean comprises East Falkland (population 2,800) and West Falkland (population 160), and more than 770 smaller uninhabited islands that lie 300 miles northeast of the southern tip of South America. The archipelago rests on the Patagonian Shelf, part of the South American Continental Shelf that adjoins the coasts of Argentina, Uruguay, and the Falkland Islands.
Bob McLeod, VP8LP, is by far the Falkland Islands’ most famous amateur radio operator. Back in early April 1982, it was VP8LP who scooped the world by first broadcasting news of the outbreak of the Falklands War from his ham radio station in the Green Goose settlement on East Falkland. Read this OnAllBands article about VP8LP’s historic transmissions. Mark, W8BBQ, DX Engineering customer/technical support specialist, earned this card from VP8LP for contacts between 2010-11 on 20/12/10M SSB.
Chatham Islands
LZ1GC as ZL7/LZ1GC is scheduled to be active from the Chatham Islands (IOTA OC-038) Nov. 3-20 on 160-6M in CW, SSB, and FT4/FT8. This South Pacific archipelago about 430 miles east of New Zealand’s South Island includes ten islands, only two of which are populated: Chatham (about 720 people) and Pitt Island (40 or so residents).
Visit DXEngineering.com for everything you need to upgrade your station to make sure you’re ready when entities like Madagascar, Chatham Islands, and the Falkland Islands are on the air.
You’ll find transceivers, antennas, amplifiers, CW keys and paddles, headsets and speakers, reference books like “Ham Radio DX: A Complete Guide,” and much more.
Editor’s Note: Every month, DX Engineering features QSL cards from our team members’ personal collections. To highlight upcoming DXpeditions, we’ll be displaying a few of our favorite cards along with details about what it took to make these contacts. We’re excited to share some of the special cards pulled from the thousands we’ve received over the years. We look forward to seeing your cards as well!
