The Ohio/Penn Dx PacketCluster
DX Bulletin No. 1239
BID: $OPDX.1239
November 9, 2015
Editor Tedd Mirgliotta, KB8NW
Provided by BARF80.ORG (Cleveland, Ohio)

Thanks to the Northern Ohio Amateur Radio Society, Northern Ohio DX Association, Ohio/Penn PacketCluster Network, AB5K & the AR TelNet Clusters Network, K1XN & GoList, NJ1Q & W1AW, NG3K & ADXO, W3UR & The Daily DX, KK4OYJ, N4AA & QRZ DX, N4JF, KL7JR, N7SMI, K8GI, K8YSE, W8GEX & 60m News, DL1SBF, DL7UXG & The DX News Letter, DxCoffee.com, DXNews.com, DX-World.Net, ES1CW, F5NQL, F6AJA & Les Nouvelles DX, I1JQJ/IK1ADH & 425 DX News, I2MQP & DX Italia News, IK7JWX, OH1VR, OH2YL, OZ6OM & 50 MHz DX News, PY7RP, RSGB IOTA Web Site, Sixitalia Weekly, VA3QSL, VA3RJ & ICPO, and VHF-DX-Portal (MMMonVHF) for the following DX information.

DXCC COUNTRY/ENTITY REPORT
According to the AR-Cluster Network for the week of Sunday, 1st/November, through Sunday, 8th/November there were 199 countries active. Countries available: 3A, 3B8, 3B9, 3D2, 3DA, 3W, 4J, 4L, 4O, 4S, 4U1I, 4W, 4X, 5B, 5R, 5T, 5Z, 6Y, 7Q, 7X, 8P, 8Q, 9A, 9G, 9H, 9J, 9K, 9M2, 9M6, 9Q, 9V, 9Y, A3, A4, A5, A6, A7, A9, AP, BV, BY, C3, C5, C9, CE, CE9, CM, CN, CP, CT, CT3, CU, CX, D2, DL, DU, E5/s, E6, E7, EA, EA6, EA8, EA9, EI, EK, EL, EP, ER, ES, EU, EX, EZ, F, FG, FK, FM, FP, FR, FS, FW, FY, G, GD, GI, GJ, GM, GU, GW, HA, HB, HB0, HC, HH, HI, HK, HK0/a, HL, HP, HR, HS, HZ, I, IS, J3, J6, JA, JD/o, JT, JY, K, KG4, KH2, KH6, KL, KP2, KP4, LA, LU, LX, LY, LZ, OA, OD, OE, OH, OH0, OK, OM, ON, OX, OY, OZ, P4, PA, PJ4, PJ5, PY, PY0F, S0, S2, S5, SM, SP, SU, SV, SV5, SV9, T7, TA, TF, TG, TI, TK, TR, TT, TU, TY, TZ, UA, UA2, UA9, UK, UN, UR, V3, V4, V5, V6, V7, V8, VE, VK, VP2E, VP2M, VP2V, VP8, VP8/h, VP9, VR, VU, XE, XT, XW, YB, YJ, YL, YN, YO, YU, YV, Z3, ZA, ZB, ZD7, ZD8, ZF, ZL, ZP, ZS

PLEASE NOTE: The report "could" contain "Pirate/SLIM" operations or more likely a "BUSTED CALLSIGN". As always, you never know - "Work First Worry Later".

4K, AZERBAIJAN
Alim, 4K6FO, will be active during the CQWW DX CW Contest (November 28-29th) as a Single-Op/All-BandLow-Power entry. QSL via LoTW eQSl or see QRZ.com.

4L, GEORGIA
Operator Vaho, 4L8A, will be active during the CQWW DX CW Contests (November 28-29th) as a Single-Op/Single-Band (??m) entry. QSL via K1BV or LoTW.

5W, SAMOA (Update)
Lars, ZL1IF, will be active as 5W0IF in Apia, Upolu Island (OC-097) between November 20th and December 3rd. Activity will be on 80-10 meters using mainly CW with a focus on the CQWW DX CW Contest (November 28-29th) as a Single-Op/All-Band/High-Power entry. QSL via ZL1IF and LoTW.

5Z, KENYA
Tevfik, TA1HZ, will be active as 5Z4/TA1HZ from the Amateur Radio Society of Kenya club station (5Z4RS) in Nairobi between March 26-28th. Activity will be on the HF bands and primarily during the CQWW WPX SSB Contest (March 26-27th). Log will be uploaded to LoTW. QSL via LoTW (preferred) or direct to his QSL Manager LZ3HI.

C6, BAHAMAS
John, KK4OYJ, will once again be active as C6ATS from mid- November until the beginning of March, probably bypassing Bimini Islands (NA-048) initially, but checking in at Great Harbour Cay in the Berry Islands group (NA-054). He states, "... won't be QRV every day, but I hope to be active as often as possible." John also mentions, "I'm hoping to add a few more islands to the groups in the Bahamas this year. So stand-by for some names that may not be on the official IOTA list (yet)... ... I'm aiming to activate as many of the IOTA groups as I can ­ NA-001, NA-054, NA-048, NA-113 and maybe NA-080."

Activity will be on 80-6 meters using SSB, QRS CW, RTTY, PSK and JT-65. He has posted a "C6 Bands and Modes Desired" survey at:

DXCC NEWS
Sharon Taratula, ARRL Awards Branch Manager, reports that the following operations are approved for DXCC credit:

3W3MD -- Vietnam; 2015 Operation
3W3MD/p -- Vietnam (Cham Island, IOTA AS-162); 2015 Operation

EF8, CANARY ISLANDS
Juan, EA8RM, will be active as EF8U from the Las Palmas Contest station during the CQWW DX CW Contests (November 28-29th) as a Single-Op/All-Band/Low-Power entry. QSL via LoTW.

FR, REUNION ISLAND
Stephane, F5UOW, will once again be active as FR/F5UOW from Reunion Island (AF-016) between December 16th and January 8th. Activity will be on 40-6 meters using mostly CW with some SSB and RTTY. QSL via LoTW or by F5UOW, via the Bureau or direct. Please NO IRCs!

FR, REUNION ISLAND (Update)
Anne, OH2YL, will be active as FR/OH2YL from Reunion Island between November 22nd and December 1st. Activity will be on 160-10 meters using CW. She will also be active during the CQWW DX CW Contest (November 28-29th). QSL via her home callsign.

FT5X, KERGUELEN ISLAND
Gildas, TU5KG, will once again be active as FT5XT/mm around the Kerguelen area. However, he is expected to be on the island sometime in early 2016 signing as FT5XT. Gildas is captain of a fishing vessel and is expected/usually sails around the Kerguelen area for about 3 months, but his activity is sporadic (sign FT5XT/MM). QSL via F4DXW.

HK0, SAN ANDRES AND PROVIDENCIA (Update)
Martin, LU9EFO, will be active as HK0/LU9EFO from San Andres Island (NA-033) between November 11-17th. It was announced this past week that Faber, HK6F, will now be joining Martin, and will be signing as HK0/HK6F. Activity will be on 40-10 meters using SSB. Remember to look for activity before and after Martin's HK0 operation from Bogota as HK3/LU9EFO. QSL HK0/LU9EFO and HK3/LU9EFO via SP5QAZ direct only. QSL via the Bureau to LU9EFO only. QSL HK0/HK6F via his home callsign.

HS, THAILAND
Operators Bob/HS0ZIA, Peter/HS0ZKX and Nida/HS1NIV will be active as HS0ZIA during the CQWW DX CW Contest (November 28-29th) as a Multi-Single/Low-Power entry. Reportedly, Bob has a multi element yagi at 200 ft. for 80 meters. Thailand radio rules continue to limit hams to the bottom 25 kHz of 80m. This will be a good chance to get HS on 80m, but you have to look for ZIA all hours in the contest, not just the last hour. QSL via LoTW only.

INDIAN OCEAN TOUR
Operators Peter/DL1RPL and Soren/DL3RKS will activate two islands in the Indian Ocean. Their tentative schedule and callsigns are as follows:

November 19-25th -- Mayotte Island (AF-027); they will be active as FH/DL1RPL and FH/DL3RKS.

November 27th-December 3rd -- Reunion Island (AF-016); they will be active FR/DL1RPL and FR/DL3RKS .

IOTA NEWS
AF-045. Members of Amateur Radio of Association of Senegal (ARAS) will once again be active as 6V1A from Goree Island between November 27-29th. Activity will be on HF bands mainly on SSB with some CW. QSL via 6W7JX.

EU-012. Operator Ian, G3WVG, will be active from the Scottish Shetland Island as MZ5A during the CQWW DX CW Contest (November 28-29th) as Single-OP/Single-Band (possibly 160m) entry. QSL via LoTW or ClubLog.

NA-034. Andy, DF4WC, will be active as N6NNA from Treasure Island between November 8-20th. QSL via DF4WC (Bureau is preferred) or LoTW.

NA-062. Jeff, VA3QSL, will be active as VA3QSL/W4 on Key West between November 11-15th. Activity will be holiday style using 100 watts and a Buddipole. Operations will be on CW, SSB and the Digital modes, on the 40-6 meters. QSL via LoTW, direct (2 USDs) or by the Bureau to his home callsign.

NA-143. Joe, K5KUA, will once again be active as K5KUA/5 from Galveston Island (USI TX-001S, Galveston County, Texas) between November 13-16th. Activity will be on 40-12 meters, CW only, as time permits. QSL via his home callsign, direct or by the Bureau.

OC-142. Peter, VK4LLE, will be active from Lady Elliot between December 4-7th. Details of bands and modes were not provided. QSL via: Peter Ross Allen, 18 Rowan Lane, Mount Mellum, Queensland 4550, Australia.

SA-058. Operators Juan/YV4ET, Juan/YV4KW, Manuel/YV4MP and Francisco/ YY4CFS will be active as homecall/1 from Alcatraz Island soon. Look for more details to be forthcoming.

OH0, ALAND ISLAND
Kim, OH6KZP, will be active as OH0X from Aland Island during the CQWW DX CW Contest (November 28-29th) as a Single-Op/All-Band entry. QSL via OH2TA.

OH0, ALAND ISLAND
Tomi, OH6EI, will be active as OH0Z during the CQWW DX CW Contest (November 28-29th) as a Single-Op/All-Band/High-Power entry. QSL via W0MM.

PJ6, SABA AND ST. EUSTATIUS ISLANDS (Update)
Operators Seppo/OH1VR and Henri/OH3JR will be active as PJ6/OH1VR and PJ6/OH3JR from a cottage on Saba Island (NA-145, WFF PAFF-027, WLOTA 2043) between November 23rd and December 3rd. Activity will be the HF bands, 80-10 meters, as well as both stations will be an entry in CQWW DX CW Contest (November 28-29th). QSL PJ6/OH1VR and PJ6/OH3JR only direct to their home callsign.

PROPAGATION FORECAST/REPORT (November 9-15th)

 Nov/09th LN      Nov/12th  AN     Nov/14th  LN
 Nov/10th LN      Nov/13th  HN     Nov/15th  AN
 Nov/11th AN


   SOLAR REFERENCE KEYS/INDEXES AND GEOMAGNETIC REFERENCE
   ======================================================
    NORMALITY               GEOMAG       K Values    Alpha
   -----------------        ------       --------    ------
   AN  - Above Normal       Quiet        K=0-1       0-7
   HN  - High Normal        Unsettled    K=2         8-15
   LN  - Low Normal         Active       K=3         16-29
   BN  - Below Normal       Minor Storm  K=4         30-49
   DIS - Disturbed          Major Storm  K=5         50-99
   VRY DIS - Very Disturbed Severe Storm K=6-9       100-400

PU0R/PY0R, FERNANDO DE NORONHA ISLANDS
Operators Renner/PY7RP and Marenga/ PU0FDN will be active as PY0R/PY7RP and PU0R/PU0FDN from Atol das Rocas (SA-038) between November 15-21st. This is a rare IOTA DXpedition, and also valid for DXCC for ARRL awards as PY0F. The last operation was in 1992, and it is now in 3rd place in the most wanted IOTA groups in SA.

The actual dates are only estimated since the operation depends on sea conditions. Operations will *NOT* be full-time due to other activities during their stay. As the demand is pretty high, their efforts will be to provide the 1st QSO to as many stations as they can. To achieve that, they will focus on 40m, 20m and 15m, and only one QSO with each station will be confirmed by a QSL card. Clublog.org will manage the OQRS as soon as the DXpedition finishes, and the "Leadership score board" feature will not be available for the same reason above.

Due to electrical power limit- ations, they will run low power (100w) from an IC7000 and mono-band verticals over the salt-water. Due to high costs involved, donations are much appreciated. QSL via direct or OQRS/Clublog (No Bureau cards). For more details and press releases, watch:

QSL INFO AND NEWS

  QSL-INFO from DB0SDX (November 8th)
  -------------------------------------------------------------------------
  3W4VE via JA8VE         HB90IARU via HB9JOE      P40MA via OH1MA
  4U1WRC via 4U1ITU       HG1G via HA1YI           P40MH via OH2BAD
  5Z4HW via DL7DF         HG3M via HA3MY           PT8CW via PY4KL
  C6ASL via K5SL          HG3M via HA3MY           R2015BA via RZ3LC
  CN40AM via EB7DX        LZ259PA via LZ1KCP       R25MDC via RQ7L
  CN40AMA via EB7DX       OM/HA6PJ via HA6PJ       R9/UN7JHC via UN7JHC
  CN40CZM via EB7DX       OM/HA7JJS via HA7JJS     YU45CW via YU1MM
  EM90KPI via UX0UN       OP0PPY via ON7LX         Z38CE via F5LGF
  EO6F via UX0FF          OP5LS via ON5LS
    (e) eQSL only  (d) direct only   (B) Bureau only  (*-B) DX's- Bureau
    (O) OQRS only  (C) ClubLog only  (L) LoTW only

2009 - 5C2J (Essaouira, Morocco) - IY7NGM/p - IC8/IK7JWX (Capri Island IOTA EU-031) - IK7JWX/p - IR7DLI/p - IC8/IK7JWX (Procida Island IOTA EU-031).
2010 - TS7TI (Plane Island IOTA AF-91, Kuriat Island AF-092).
2011 - IO7DAI - 5C2J (Marrakech + Essaouira, Morocco) - IR7ITA/p - IQ7AF - IQ7AF/p -IP7W/p - 5C2J/p (Herne Island IOTA AF-068).
2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 - IQ7AF - IQ7AF/P.
2013 - TS8TI (Island of Djerba [AF-083], Tunisia) ­ IE9/IQ7AF (Island of Ustica, IOTA EU-051) - IQ7AF - IQ7AF/p.
2014 - 5I0DX (Island of Zanzibar [IOTA AF-068], Tanzania)
2014 - IE9/IQ7AF - Island of USTICA, IOTA EU-051
2014 - IQ7AF (contests), IQ7AF/p Capezzone Island (IOTA EU-091 I.I.A. P-27)
2015 - 5H1JRI, IY7LE and IY7LE/P.

QSLS RECEIVED VIA MAIL: 3XY5M, 7X4AN, B7/BA4TB (AS-094), DX0P, ER4A, H76W (NA-212), R7AL/0, RD1A, T30RG (OC-017), T41C, TI9/TI2HMJ, UA0FAM (AS-062), VE3KTB/VY0 (NA-008), VE7DP/7 (NA-181), VE7KDU/7 (NA-181), VK2SSI (OC-194), VY0/VE3LYC (NA-009) and VY0M (NA-248)

QSLS RECEIVED VIA THE BUREAU: 8J2VE, 8N1HQ, BD4UJ, BD6IF, BD7LMD, BG6AHD, BG6JNB, BG6KAE, BH4LOS, BH4UTT, C31CT, CG3AT, CJ3A, EF3A, EF4HQ, F6REF, FW5JJ, JL1SAM, LZ883PI, NE9U/KP2, OA4/PA3GFE, OM150JM, PA175RR, TM36CDXC, TM55BM and ZA/LZ2HM

SV9, CRETE (IOTA Op)
Daniel, DL5YWM, will be active as SV9/DL5YWM from Crete Island (EU-015) between November 8-25th. Activity will be holiday style and on SSB only. He also plans an IOTA trip to Gavdos Island (EU-187) between November 16-17th. QSL via his home callsign, by the Bureau or direct.

T8, PALAU
Operators Kenji/JH1BGH and Jiro/7K1HLJ will once again be active as T88WI and T88WH, respectively, from VIP Guest Hotel (Free Radio Room) on Koror Island (OC-009) between November 10-15th. Specific bands and modes were not provided. QSL T88WI via JH1BGH and T88WH via 7K1HLJ.

TI9, COCOS ISLAND
Jorge, TI2HMJ, will once again be active as TI9/TI2HMJ from Cocos Island between November 11-15th. Activity will be on the HF bands using SSB (as time permits) with an Icom-746 HF transceiver and a dipole antenna. QSL direct to his home callsign.

TK0, CORSIC
Operators Boris/S53CC, Slavko/S53XX, Ivo/S57VW, Simon/S53ZO, Gordon/S55OO, Marko/S50P and Branko/S57C will be active as TK0C during the CQWW DX CW Contest (November 28-29th) as a Multi-Single/High-Power entry. QSL via the Bureau, LoTW or eQSL via S50C.

TX8, NEW CALEDONIA
Operators Sam/FK8DD, Dom/FK8CE and Mic/FK8IK will use the special contest callsign TX8D from Noumea Club Station (FK8KA), New Caledonia (not Clipperton Island) [OC-032], during the CQWW DX CW Contest (November 28-29th) as a Multi-Single/All-Band entry. QSL via NI5DX or direct.

UA2, KALININGRAD
Members of the "UA2F Contest Club" will be active during the CQWW DX CW Contest (November 28-29th) as a Multi-Single entry. QSL via UA2F.

V2, ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA
Brian, GW4DVB/J88PI, will be active as V25GB from the Galley Bay Spa Resort in St. John's, Antigua (NA-100), between January 6-14th (2016). Activity will be on 40/20/17/15/10/6 meters SSB only using an Elecraft KX3 and KXPA100 Power Amp (100w) into a 10m vertical antenna and a M0CVO HW-40HP off center fed dipole. QSL via GW4DVB, by the Bureau or direct to: PO Box 20:20, Llanharan, Pontyclun, Wales - UK CF72 9ZA. For more details and updates, check:

V2, ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA
Ismo, OH2IS, will be active as V26IS from St. John, Antigua Island (NA-100), sometime in February of 2016. Activity will be on the HF bands using a Kenwood TS-480HX with 200w into DX Sr portable vertical antenna, Full-Wave Loop for 30m and up + ladder line, fishing poles and a 40m dipole. QSL via his home callsign, direct, by the Bureau or LoTW. Look for more details to be forthcoming.

VK9WA WILLIS ISLAND DXPEDITION NEWS (Update/Reminder)
Next weekend an international team will activate an amateur radio DXpedition station VK9WA from Willis Islets between November 14-23rd. The on-air operations will last 10 days with high power CW, SSB, and RTTY on 160-10 meters (possibly 6 meters). Their primary focus will be providing all time new contacts with this highly demanded, rarely activated entity with an emphasis on difficult paths - primarily US East Coast, Europe, and Africa.

It was reported on November 4th: "Rob, N7QT, and some of the other Pacific Northwest group will be departing for Australia on Friday after- noon. All of the group is excited about the trip. They have corrected problems on the 160m antenna that Rob used while on E51."

QSL via N7SMI, direct or by the Bureau. ClubLog OQRS direct or bureau is STRONGLY RECOMMENDED. QSL cards are beautiful full-color photographic quality. QSLing priority is listed on their Web page. Club Log OQRS will be available shortly after the conclusion of the DXpedition. All QSOs will be uploaded to LoTW and eQSL shortly after the operation.

Complete details can be found on their Web page . A fourth VK9WA Insiders Newsletter was released on November 6th. This edition of the newsletter also contains the VK9WA story of how this trip came to be, operation updates, tips on how to get in their log, and their anticipated operating frequencies (exclusive to VK9WA Insiders - they will not be publishing frequencies publicly). As a VK9WA Insider/Donor, you also get priority QSL status. They will upload your QSOs to LoTW as soon as possible after the operation. You will also receive a complimentary QSL card as soon as they are received from the printer. There is no need for you to send them your card or request one via OQRS.

Here are the URL addresses for all of their VK9WA newsletters:

VU3BPZ/P, ANTARCTICA
Bhagwati, VU3BPZ, will once again be active from the Antarctica, and plans to activate both Maitri and Bharati Indian Polar Research Base stations. His departure date will be on November 20th and he is expected to stay until December 15th, 2016. Activity will be on 20/15 meters using SSB. Bhagwati states, "I should receive a special event callsign for the Indian Antarctic Bases in the coming months." QSL via I1HYW.

VY0, CANADA (Nunavut Territory On HF)
Look for Mike, VY0CF, as VY0RST from Rankin Inlet, and Alex/VE1RUS and Pierre/VE3KTB as VE8RST/VY0 near Eureka (Ellesmere Island) in February and March for North Country DX Association (NCDXA) 2016 "RST" special event! Also, look for KL7RST, VY1RST and VE8RST to be on-the-air then!

ADDED NOTES: Members of the NCDXA will be active in February and March 2016 from several different locations in Alaska, Yukon and Northwest Territories to further promote Amateur Radio up north. (This may just be a first for the north-a joint-venture of KL7, VY1 and VE8 special event.) Activity will be all modes, 160-6 meters and WARC bands are permissible. SWLs are welcome to participate.

The object is to work or log (SWL) as many NCDXA “RST” stations as you can from their different locations. Work/log each “RST” station only once per their QTH/band and mode. Watch the DX spots as they plan to have stations on from Whitehorse, Yellowknife, Anchorage, Fairbanks, and many other cities (maybe an Alaskan glacier or two!). QSL Manager for KL7RST, VY1RST, VE8RST and VY0RST is K7ICE. Optional full color certificates are also available (E-mail JohnKL7JR@gmail.com for details) for working/hearing any of the “RST” stations.
SPECIAL EVENT DATES: February 15th (0000z) through March 27th (2359z).

XT, BURKINA FASO
Harald, DF2WO, will once again be active as XT2AW from Ouagadougou between November 7-27th. Activity will be holiday style on CW and SSB. QSL via M0OXO.

Z2, ZIMBABWE
"The Daily DX" reports that Massimo, IZ0EGB (ex-Z81B), is now working in Harare and has been issued the callsign Z21MH. Currently he is not active, but plans to have a station on the air within the next few months. Activity will be on 40-6 meters using SSB. QSL via IZ0EGA.

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OPDX WORLD-WIDE WEB HOME (provided by John, K8YSE (k8yse@papays.com):
http://www.papays.com/opdx.html

ALSO VISIT THE NORTHERN OHIO DX ASSOCIATION'S WEB HOME PAGE:
http://www.nodxa.org
http://www.facebook.com/NorthernOhioDxAssociation