https://www.ncdxf.org/newsletters/2026-Winter-25.26.pdf
The newsletter also contains other DX-peditions and the behind the scenes, it is well worth a read!
The Winter 2025–26 edition of the Northern California DX Foundation (NCDXF) Newsletter features a detailed write-up of the PJ6Y Youth DXpedition to Saba Island in the Caribbean Netherlands, which took place over 14 action-packed days in October 2025.
Organized by the Pacific Island DX Group in partnership with Youth on the Air (YOTA), PJ6Y was built around a simple but ambitious goal: give young operators a fully immersive DXpedition experience while equipping them with the skills and confidence to plan and lead one of their own someday. The on-island crew included nine first-time DXpeditioners alongside four experienced operators, and all five stations were built from the ground up by the young hams themselves.
The team logged an impressive 56,635 QSOs across 160 through 6 meters on CW, SSB, and FTx. In addition to the main operation, PJ6Y participated in the CQWW SSB Contest and put up a strong showing, claiming a score of over 13.1 million points, good for 16th worldwide and 6th in North America. The team also completed a first-ever POTA activation of Mount Scenery National Park on Saba.
Beyond the on-island crew, 26 operators from around the world joined as remote operators using NexGenRiB2 stations based on Elecraft K4Ds, built with funding from NCDXF. I was one of those off-island operators, remotely controlling the station on Saba from here in Pennsylvania via AnyDesk for radio control, Sonobus for TX/RX audio, and N1MM Logger+ for logging.
The remote setup allowed us to operate the station in real time over the internet, working pileups and racking up QSOs just as if we were sitting at the rig on the island. I'm listed by callsign (Caleb, KC3VPB) in the newsletter article as part of the off-island team, which was pretty cool to see in print
YOTA Summer Camp 2025
The same newsletter also features a write-up on the 2025 Youth On The Air (YOTA) Summer Camp for Region 2, which was held just outside Denver, Colorado in June. The camp hosted nearly 35 campers ages 15–25 and packed the week with activities including CW, contesting, satellite operations, digital modes, kit building, a high-altitude balloon launch, POTA and SOTA activations, and even a visit to WWV in Fort Collins. Campers also made an ARISS contact with an astronaut aboard the International Space Station.
The camp wrapped up with a VE session so attendees could upgrade their licenses. It's great to see YOTA continuing to invest in the next generation of operators, and it's worth checking out the full recap in the newsletter if you're interested in youth ham radio activities.
You can read the full PJ6Y article by Gregg Marco, W6IZT, the YOTA Summer Camp recap by Katie Campbell, KE8LQR, and the rest of the newsletter here: NCDXF Winter 2025–26 Newsletter (PDF)
For more on the PJ6Y DXpedition, visit pj6y2025.com.
