By Hadrian - YO2BTW 
The Bouvet 2026 DXpedition – 3Y0K has concluded successfully!
A well-deserved congratulations to everyone who contributed to this achievement.
I am honored to know that I have been useful to the YO amateur radio community as well as the international one, through my voluntary involvement throughout the entire period—before (when I could see the disbelief, skepticism, and even mockery of many), during, and after the DXpedition.
I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Adrian – KO8SCA for his trust, openness, and outstanding collaboration in supporting YO radio amateurs so they could make contacts with 3Y0K. I kept in touch with him daily, often several times a day and night; we even tried to joke a bit and keep his morale up as best as I could (and sincerely), during those days of major technical, logistical, and human challenges.
I was very happy when the first message arrived via satellite through the Garmin GPS system. Later, the Starlink system was activated and everything went much more smoothly. I received numerous messages of support and gratitude from radio amateurs in YO and around the world, messages that can be read on my blog, yo2btw.ro. Those from the international community were also translated into Romanian.
We tried, as much as possible, to help as many radio amateurs as we could achieve the much-desired QSO, sought by millions of enthusiasts worldwide. I am glad that, thanks to consistent support and the information shared about the DXpedition, I managed to attract 20 additional donors from YO; there are now 26 in total. I thank them for this wonderful gesture—not the value of the donation matters, but the gesture itself, the direct support.
Since the beginning of the DXpedition promotion, the information and messages received were delivered in a timely manner, and some of them were read in several editions of the National QTC, broadcast by FRR (YO3KAA) through Marian – YO3DIU, and also relayed on ROLink.
As a result of my collaboration with Adrian – KO8SCA, many YO radio amateurs managed to achieve the much-coveted QSO. Afterwards, I received numerous messages of joy and gratitude, confirming that our efforts were useful. I tried to “guide” fellow radio amateurs, and following Adrian’s recommendations and advice, along with my guidance, they succeeded.
A small example: I was contacted by a fellow radio amateur who had reached the end of his patience—desperate after more than two hours of operating with no result. Then the useful tip came: “go up, above 3000,” and just a few minutes later he managed to complete the contact. RR73!
For me personally, it was very impressive to hear, following the QSOs with them: in SSB – 59, in CW – 5NN, and in FT8 – RR73; emotions and joy that are hard to put into words—I was almost in tears.
As I mentioned before, I received many messages of gratitude. I am posting a few here:
“Since I followed everything that could be followed about Bouvet—and I thank Hadrian YO2BTW, especially because through yo2btw.ro and the podcasts by YO2BTW and Felis YO2MGI I received the story of the expedition in real time and in its entirety—I was motivated to try to make a contact with these brave individuals who formed the DX 3Y0K team.
Someone asked in an insinuating tone something like ‘why are only Romanians publicly presented?’ Well, such questions have no place among radio amateurs.
And so, I tried to make contact with anyone operating that callsign, except the pirates 🙂
CW reception: pileup, sometimes QRM, or simply too difficult for me to handle in telegraphy.
SSB: I could barely hear them, if at all.
Digital modes remained.
So in FT8, on a beautiful afternoon, on the 17m band, I saw the callsign present with 4 or 5 streams, available to me as well. It took less than 5 minutes to ‘get him’ (hi). The long-awaited ‘RR73’ came, then I clicked OK in the logging window. It was the first and only time I worked Bouvet. I also donated to the expedition. They managed to make the whole world happy—one world, one language, one friendship—and that answers the one with the insinuation. 73 from Tony – YO2ABO”
“To the team in Bouvet:
Gratitude and love for your sacrifice and dedication for us!
73&72 from Iancu Mircea YO5IM”
“Best wishes and a safe return home!
Congratulations for the initiative, organization, and immense effort to reach the Arctic area, Bouvet Island, and activate this entity – 3Y0K!
You have my respect.
73’s, Lari YO9CSM”
“Thank you to the 3Y0K expedition members for your effort, courage, and passion!
You brought joy into amateur radio shacks worldwide and demonstrated the true spirit of DXing.
73 from YO6FPW // LX6LS – Lucilius”
“Congratulations for the effort in organizing and carrying out one of the most interesting DX expeditions of recent years. It was a great pleasure to exchange reports in CW and FT8 with a new country for me. Outstanding operators. 73, wishing you a safe return home and to hear you again in other expeditions. 73 Marcel, W1ARY”
You can read more messages by accessing the link below:
I wish you all good health and a wonderful Spring… knowing that there is a place under the Sun for everyone!
73 de Hadrian – YO2BTW
Once again, we thank Adrian – KO8SCA and Cezar – VE3LYC for making many YO radio amateurs happy. Below you will find two TOP tables featuring YO radio amateurs who successfully made QSOs with 3Y0K:
