The Ohio/Penn Dx PacketCluster
DX Bulletin No. 1246
BID: $OPDX.1246
December 28, 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, N4AA & QRZ DX, N6PSE, W6SZN, N7SMI, K8GI, K8YSE, W8GEX & 60m DX 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, OZ6OM & 50 MHz DX News, RSGB IOTA Web Site, Sixitalia Weekly, VA3RJ & ICPO, and VHF-DX-Portal (MMMonVHF)? for the following DX information.

SPECIAL NOTE FROM EDITOR
(Tedd, KB8NW): My family (wife/OPDX's chief proof-reader Linda, son Teddy [TJ] and his wife Jessi, daughter Katie and her husband Kevin and son Lliam & daughter Lilly Grace), and I (KB8NW) would like to wish all DXers, Contesters and OPDX readers a very "Happy New Year". Thanks to the many individuals who have provided DX information over the past year. Without them there would not be an OPDX Bulletin. Also, thanks to the individuals who sent holiday wishes to my family and me.....
73 and Have a Great/Safe/Healthy New Year de Tedd KB8NW

DXCC COUNTRY/ENTITY REPORT
According to the AR-Cluster Network for the week of Sunday, 20th/December, through Sunday, 27th/December there were 210 countries active. Countries available: 3A, 3B8, 3B9, 3D2, 3DA, 3V, 3W, 4J, 4L, 4O, 4S, 4X, 5B, 5R, 5T, 5U, 5W, 5Z, 6W, 6Y, 7X, 8P, 8R, 9A, 9G, 9H, 9J, 9K, 9M2, 9M6, 9N, 9Q, 9V, 9Y, A2, A4, A6, A7, A9, AP, BV, BY, C3, C5, C6, CE, CE9, CM, CN, CP, CT, CT3, CU, CX, CY0, D2, D4, DL, DU, E4, E5/s, E7, EA, EA6, EA8, EA9, EI, EK, EL, EP, ER, ES, ET, EU, EX, EZ, F, FG, FJ, FK, FM, FO, FR, FS, FT/x, FW, FY, G, GD, GI, GJ, GM, GU, GW, H4, HA, HB, HB0, HC, HH, HI, HK, HL, HP, HR, HS, HV, HZ, I, IS, J6, J7, J8, JA, JD/m, JT, JY, K, KH0, KH2, KH6, KL, KP2, KP4, LA, LU, LX, LY, LZ, OA, OD, OE, OH, OH0, OK, OM, ON, OX, OY, OZ, P2, P4, P5, PA, PJ2, PJ4, PJ7, PY, PZ, S0, S5, S9, SM, SP, ST, SU, SV, SV5, SV9, T7, T8, TA, TF, TG, TI, TK, TR, TT, TY, TZ, UA, UA2, UA9, UK, UN, UR, V2, V3, V4, V5, V7, V8, VE, VK, VP2E, VP2M, VP8, VP9, VR, VU, XE, XW, YA, YB, YI, YL, YN, YO, YS, YU, YV, Z2, Z3, ZA, ZB, ZD7, ZD8, 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".

3B8, MAURITIUS
Paul, G8AFC, is once again active as 3B8/G8AFC from Pereybere until April 6th (2016). Activity will be on 20/10/6 meters on SSB. Suggested time (per Daily DX) is between 0900-1200z. QSL via his home callsign, direct or by the Bureau.

4S, SRI LANKA
Look for special event station 4S0GS to be active between December 27-31st. Activity is to celebrate the 2015 Galle Season. QSL via 4S7DF.

4S, SRI LANKA (Update)
Operators Josep/EA3BT and Núria/EA3WL will be active as 4S7JTG (not 4S7JTO) and 4S7NTG (not) 4S7NTS, respectively, from Beruwala, Sri Lanka (AS-003), between January 3-8th (2016). Activity will be on 40-10 meters using mainly SSB, CW and RTTY. Equipment is an Icom IC-7000 and a Ameritron AL-600S (600w) amp. QSL both callsigns via EA3BT (by the Bureau, ClubLog's OQRS or direct).
ADDED NOTE: They are also expected to activate Berberyn Island (AS-171) "as much time as possible".

60 METERS NEWS
Spanish (EA) stations are now authorized until December 31st, 2016, to conduct emissions in the frequency section 5351.5 to 5366.5 kHz with a maximum radiated power of 15 watts, maximum width of 3 kHz CW and SSB. For more details, see:

7P, LESOTHO
Members of F6KOP Amateur Radio Club announced a DXpedition to here in February 2016. More details will be forthcoming a well as a Web page.

E51, SOUTH COOK ISLANDS (Correction)
Hardy, DL7LL, will be active as E51LLA (not E51TLA) from Raratonga Island (OC-013) between December 20-28th. Bands and modes were not provided. QSL via DL7LL.

EX, KYRGYZATAN
Andrea, HB9DUR, is once again active as EX/HB9DUR from Bishkek until January 8th (2016). Activity will be holiday style on all HF bands, but with a focus on higher bands. QSL via his home callsign, direct or via ClubLog's OQRS.

H4, SOLOMON ISLANDS
Bernhard, DL2GAC, will once again be active as H44MS on a DX vacation to Honiara, Guadalcanal (WLOTA 0086), Solomon Islands (OC-047), between January 19th and April 14th (2016). Activity will be on 80-6 meters (possibly 160m) SSB only. QSL via his home callsign, by the Bureau or direct.

H40 & H44, TEMOTU PROVINCE AND SOLOMON ISLANDS
Stan, LZ1GC, is planning a 25 day operation in 2016 from the Temotu Province (callsign H40GC, for 15 days) and Solomon Islands (callsign H44GC, for 10 days) between Sep- tember 25th and October 25th (2016). Activity will be on 160-10 meters, with a focus on low bands, using CW, SSB and RTTY. More details are forth- coming as well as Web page in mid-January.

HG5, HUNGARY
Hungarian amateurs are now active as HG5XMAS to celebrate the Christmas/New Years holidays until January 2nd. Activity will be on 160-10 meters using CW, SSB, RTTY, and PSK, as well as the DARC Xmas Contest and the Happy New Year Contest. Please do NOT send them a paper QSL! Their QSL will be downloadable from e-QSL.cc. QSL cards can be downloaded after uploading the logs, thus the certified e-QSL cards will only be available after January 3rd, 2016.

IOTA NEWS
EU-047. Volker, DL1WH, is now active as DL1WH/p from Norderney Island (DID/GIA N-05) until January 2nd. Activity will be holiday style on 80-10 meters and mainly on CW. QSL via his home callsign, direct or by the Bureau.

EU-128. Stefan, DF8HS, is now active as DF8HS/p from Fehmarn Island until January 11th. Activity will be on 80-10 meters, SSB, RTTY and PSK. QSL via his home callsign, by the Bureau or direct.

EU-146. Members of the UBA SECTION RSX Radio Club (ON4RSX) will be active as homecall/p from Schouwen Duiveland Island on December 27th. Operators mentioned are Jean-Paul/ON2KMJ, YL Cécile/ON5TC, Ron/ON5TQ, Michel/ON6QO, Gert-Jan/ON7GLF, and Peter/ON8VP. Activity will be on 80-10 meters using CW and SSB. QSL via operators' instructions.

P5, NORTH KOREA
Reports indicate that Dom, 3Z9DX, has left North Korea sometime on December 22nd. He had agreed before operating to leave his equipment behind in Pyongyang. During his few days of operating Dom made 785 QSOs (742 Unique callsigns) all on SSB between 0009z, December 20th, and 0847z, December 21st. Band used: 127/20m, 566/15m and 91/10m. Continents worked are: 1/AF, 0/AN, 591/AS, 75/EU, 26/NA, 83/OC and 8/SA. The log and breakdown can be viewed on ClubLog at:

PROPAGATION FORECAST/REPORT (December 28th-January 3rd)

 Dec/28th HN      Dec/31st  AN     Jan/02nd  LN
 Dec/29th AN      Jan/01st  LN     Jan/03rd  AN
 Dec/30th 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

QSL INFO AND NEWS

  QSL-INFO from DB0SDX (December 27th) 
  -------------------------------------------------------------------------
  3Z15XMS via SP6IEQ       HF2016HNY via SQ2JK     SJ90IARU via (*SM-B)
  3Z35RTTY via SP1DOZ      HG5XMAS via HA7AX (*)   SN0WFF via SP5X
  CQ890IARU via CT1REP     II90IARU via IW3RUA     TO90R via FR4QT
  E44QX via DF8DX          J6/W2LNX via KC3EYZ     V5/DK1CE via DK1CE
  ES90IARU via ES1QD       OZ/DC1LTK via DC1LTK    XM7100AS via VA7DP
  HA/DO1HOF via DO1HOF (e) S508PMC via S50X        ZZ90IARU via PY2DV
    (e) eQSL only  (d) direct only   (B) Bureau only  (*-B) DX's- Bureau
    (O) OQRS only  (C) ClubLog only  (L) LoTW only  (*) eQSL only/no Paper QSL

QSLS RECEIVED VIA MAIL: 3B8/DJ7RJ, D8A, FM/DL7VOG, FS/VE2BWL, E51MQI, J3/DH5FS, N5M (NA-120), OJ0DX, PJ7ELY, PJ7K, S79OWZ, VP2ELY, YB4IR/3, ZF2YL and ZS6CW

QSLS RECEIVED VIA THE BUREAU: 4O/G3SXW, 5B/G3RWF, 5X1XA, 5Z4/M0LEP, 8P9LJ, 8P9PW, 9H3C, 9H3DD, 9L5VT, 9M2CNC, 9X0NH, 9X0XA, GJ6YB (EU-013), GJ0KYZ, GG100FOX, GM5XW (EU-009), GR100MGY, GS3PYE/P (EU-008), GU3UOQ, GU4RUK (EU-114), GU8FBO, GX5MW (EU-120), H44KW, M0GDX/HI3, IS0/G3RTE, MD3YLX, MJ0CTR (EU-013), MJ0LEL, MQ0ASP, MQ5BFL, MU0GSY (EU-114), MV5BFL, PJ4/G4IUF, SV9/GM3YOR, VK9C/G6AX, VP8YLB, W6/KP3YL, ZA/G3SXW, ZD8N (AF-003), ZD8RAF and ZD8KR

TS4, TUNISIA
Members of the Association Tunisienne des Radio Amateurs [ASTRA] (3V8HQ) are now active with the special callsign TS4NP until January 9th. Activity is to celebrate/honor the Tunisian group, the National Dialogue Quartet, who were awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2015. QSL via the Bureau.

V6, MICRONESIA
Kouchi, JR2GAG, will once agin be active as V63GG from Kolonia, Pohnpei Island (OC-010), between January 1-8th. Activity will be mostly on 20-6 meters, but he will be able to go to 160-40 meters. QSL via his home callsign, by the Bureau or direct. No LoTW or eQSL.

VK9C, COCOS (KEELING) ISLANDS
Operators Lars/LB2TB, Morten/LB8DC, Bjorn/ LB1GB and John/LA7GNA plan to be active as VK9CK (granted) from West Island (OC-003), Cocos (Keeling) Island between March 14-26th (2016). The team is calling themselves the "Dipper DX". Activity will be on 160-10 meters using CW, SSB and RTTY. The focus will be 160/80 meters. They state, "Plans are for beams for the high bands and verticals/Inv. L for the lower bands. We will bring amplifiers!" QSL via their OQRS on ClubLog (preferred) or via their QSL Manager LA6OP, direct or by the Bureau. Log will be uploaded to the LoTW as soon as possible after the DXpedition. For more details and updates, see:

VK9WA INSIDERS NEWSLETTER #5
The VK9WA team wishes you Happy Holidays and thanks those who supported their DXpedition. The 5th and final edition of the VK9WA Insiders Newsletter is available at:

Thanks again for all you've done to support this DXpedition. We'll catch you on the air from another location in 2016.
Happy Holidays and 73,
The VK9WA Team

VP8SGI/VP8STI DXPEDITION NEWS
(Press Release from the Intrepid-DX Group VP8STI/VP8SGI Team)
Paul, N6PSE, sent out the following on December 21st [edited]: In just two short weeks, members of the VP8STI/VP8SGI team will be meeting the Braveheart in Stanley, the Falkland Islands. All of our plans are going very well. We have raised 73% of the funds needed to complete our Dxpedition. We are very grateful for all Foundation, Club and Individual support.

We have updated our QSL page and OQRS will be live as soon as we complete each activation. We will make every effort to upload our logs to Clublog each day. We expect to have challenges in doing so as at 59 degrees South, Southern Thule Island is outside of the Inmarsat BGAN coverage footprint. The team is very focused and committed to satisfying the need for contacts with South Sandwich and South Georgia. We ask that everyone follow the DX Code of Conduct. We will not work stations that are calling out of turn. We will be in communications with our Chief Pilot each day and we ask you to work with our team of Regional Pilot stations to help us meet the demand for contacts.

We are very excited to be activating the #3 and #8 most wanted DXCC entities on a combined trip. Adding South Georgia on to our itinerary cost us an extra $120,000. If you have not already donated, won’t you please consider a donation? For our US donors, your end of year donations are tax deductible to the Intrepid-DX Group as we are a 501.C.3.

You can view all details of our Dxpedition at: http://www.intrepid-dx.com/vp8 Please watch for updates and announcements in The Daily DX, DX-World, DX Coffee and DX News. [ed. as well as the OPDX]

Thank you, and Merry Christmas!
Paul N6PSE - Co-Leader, VP8 Team

THE YASME FOUNDATION (Two Press Releases)[edited]
1#) THE YASME FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT OF DIRECTOR CHARLES “MAC” McHENRY, JR., W6BSY (dated December 21st, St. Charles, MO) --
The Board of Directors of the Yasme Foundation recognizes Director Charles “Mac” McHenry, Jr., W6BSY, as he retires from the organi- zation after many years of service. Mac’s association with Yasme spans decades, during which DXing, operating and amateur radio have witnessed many changes. We are honored to have had the benefit of his leadership and wisdom.

Mac’s association with Yasme dates back to the time when Lloyd and Iris Colvin were on their around-the-world DXpedition, visiting 221 DXCC countries and operating in about two-thirds of them. Yasme volunteers answered over 750,000 QSL requests. If you are lucky enough to have a handwritten Yasme QSL card, chances are very good that Mac was the one who filled out the card, stuffed it in an envelope and sent it off to you.

On behalf of Yasme and of the many amateurs Yasme has assisted or recognized over the years of your directorship, the Board of Directors conveys upon Mac the title of Director Emeritus, a first for our organization. We wish him smooth sailing in the future — thank you, Mac!

2#) THE YASME FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES SUPPORTING GRANTS (dated December 21st, St. Charles, MO) --
The Board of Directors of the Yasme Foundation is pleased to announce a number of supporting grants in furtherance of its goal of supporting the development of amateur radio.

Our grants fall into several areas as shown below. The Yasme Foun- dation encourages amateurs to support activities that promote amateur radio and result in new licensees around the world.

Scholarships and Youth Programs * A grant to the ARRL Foundation to fund the Yasme Foundation scholarship

* A grant to the Foundation for Amateur Radio in support of its 2016 scholarship program

* A grant to the Youngsters on the Air (YOTA) program to support pro- grams aimed at promoting amateur radio among those under age 26 throughout IARU Region 1

* A grant to the ARRL Teacher's Institute to fund one teacher's attendance at the 2016 Teacher's Institute on Wireless Technology

Scientific and Technical Programs
* A grant to the Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) program in support of its effort to place higher power amateur radio equipment on the Columbia Module and standardize the equipment configuration

* A grant to the Northern California DX Foundation Beacon Project to update the beacon station in Sri Lanka

* A grant to the Reverse Beacon Network to build and install a node that will provide coverage in an area identified as both underserved and of particular interest to propagation studies

HF Operating Around the World
* A grant to a representative of the Haiti Amateur Radio Club for the purchase of amateur radio training materials to be used for training sessions of future licensees in Haiti and the donation of a Kenwood TS-440S transceiver for use by the new licensees

* A grant to the International Amateur Radio Club at ITU-Geneva (4U1ITU) for station maintenance and the acquisition of needed equipment

* A grant to WRTC-2018 in support of ongoing expenses and to encourage organizations and individuals to support this important event

* A grant to the Ethiopian Amateur Radio Society club station ET3AA to acquire a new computer, interfaces and programs to be used for logging and operating digital modes and to purchase new headsets

Organizations Supporting Amateur Radio
* A grant to the World Wide Radio Operators Foundation (WWROF) in support of their ongoing activities

* A grant to Dokufunk, the Research and Documentation Center for the History of Radio Communications and the Electronic Media in Vienna, Austria, in support of its activities to preserve the history of radio communications

The Yasme Foundation is a not-for-profit corporation organized to support scientific and educational projects related to amateur radio, including DXing (long distance communication) and the introduction and promotion of amateur radio in developing countries. For additional information about The Yasme Foundation, visit our website at www.yasme.org.

Ward Silver, NØAX, President
The Yasme Foundation

Board of Directors:
Ward Silver, NØAX, President and Director
Fred Laun, K3ZO, Director and Vice-President
Rusty Epps, W6OAT, Director and Treasurer
Kip Edwards, W6SZN, Director and Secretary
Hans Blondeel Timmerman, PB2T, Director
Ken Claerbout, K4ZW, Director
Martti Laine, OH2BH, Director
Bob Vallio, W6RGG, Director

Z2, ZIMBABWE
Herbert, DE1ZHB/7Z1HB, is once again active as Z21LS from Harare until January 7th. Activity will be on 40-10 meters using SSB, RTTY and PSK. QSL via DE1ZHB.

ZL9, NEW ZEALAND SUBANTARCTIC ISLANDS (Update/Rare IOTA)
From the ZL9A Web page [edited]:

Team Antipodes is scheduled to set sail less than two weeks from now. Cezar is already in New Zealand, and confirms that two full sets of equipment (rigs and antennas) are already with the Department of Conservation office in Invercargill, where the quarantine is scheduled for January 3. All team members will meet in Invercargill on January 2, and in preparation for the quarantine need to treat all clothing and footwear in a trigene solution, a powerful antibacterial. We of us are a little apprehensive that the trigene will affect long term at least some of the materials and metal bits, but there is no way around it. Most of all, we are concerned of all electronic components, including photo/video cameras and laptops, as they will have to be wiped with a cloth soaked in trigene solution too…

If everything goes according to plan and weather cooperates, the team will board Evohe by noon local time on January 4, and attempt landing by mid-afternoon on January 7. It will likely take a few hours before they will be QRV, since landing will require some serious hiking back and forth between the shore and camp. One of their stations will be located inside the Castaway Depot, while the other a few tens of meters away, in a small tent. While the landing and operating permit is very strict in terms of where the radio equipment should be located, the tent allows for some mobility to reduce interference between stations. To reduce it even further, the team will have at their disposal a full set of Dunestar filters.

The list of group and individual donors continues to be updated on a daily basis, and we wish to express our gratitude to everyone who is able to contribute financially to reduce our personal costs. The original budget had to be increased by almost 7%, due to unforeseen costs, to which we had to add another 8% due to the strengthening of the NZD versus the USD during the last few months. Please keep support coming, we do need it dearly!

Wishing everyone a very Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and a wonderful, Happy and Prosperous New Year 2016!

ADDED NOTE: This operation will count under the new DXCC entity name "New Zealand Subantarctic Islands" (the old name - Auckland and Campbell Islands [ZL9]) for DXCC purposes. A Web page has been activated to provide more details and help collect funds for this operation at:

TO BE ADDED TO THE OPDX MAILING LIST -- Click or send requests to:
Help: opdx-request@barf80.org Subject:help
Subscribe: opdx-request@barf80.org Subject:subscribe
Unsubscribe: opdx-request@barf80.org Subject:unsubscribe

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