The Ohio/Penn Dx PacketCluster
DX Bulletin No. 1303
BID: $OPDX.1303
February 6, 2017
Editor Tedd Mirgliotta, KB8NW
Provided by BARF80.ORG (Cleveland, Ohio)
Written/Sent From Strongsville, Oh

Thanks to the Northern Ohio Amateur Radio Society, Northern Ohio DX Association, Ohio/Penn PacketCluster Network, AB5K & the AR TelNet Clusters Network, NJ1Q & W1AW, NG3K & ADXO, W3UR & The Daily DX, N4AA & QRZ DX, K5GS, W5JON, WB6RSE, K8GG, K8GI, K8YSE, W8GEX & 60m DX News, W9ILY, DL1SBF, DL7UXG & The DX News Letter, DxCoffee.com, DXNews.com, DX-World.Net, E21EIC, EA5GL, ES1CW, F6AJA & Les Nouvelles DX, HP1AC?, 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.

DXCC COUNTRY/ENTITY REPORT

According to the AR-Cluster Network for the week of Sunday, 29th/January, through Sunday, 5th/February there were 215 countries active. Countries available: 3A, 3B8, 3B9, 3D2, 3DA, 3V, 3W, 4J, 4L, 4O, 4S, 4U1U, 4W, 4X, 5A, 5B, 5H, 5R, 5T, 5W, 5Z, 6W, 6Y, 7Q, 7X, 8P, 9A, 9G, 9H, 9J, 9K, 9M2, 9M6, 9V, 9Y, A2, A3, A4, A6, A7, A9, AP, BV, BY, C3, C5, C6, CE, CE0Y, CE9, CM, CN, CP, CT, CT3, CU, CX, D2, DL, DU, E5/n, E5/s, E7, EA, EA6, EA8, EA9, EI, EK, EL, EP, ER, ES, EU, EX, EY, EZ, F, FG, FK, FM, FO, FP, FR, FS, FY, G, GD, GI, GM, GU, GW, H4, HA, HB, HB0, HC, HI, HK, HL, HP, HR, HS, HZ, I, IS, J5, J6, J7, JA, JD/o, JT, JW, JY, K, KH2, KH6, KL, KP2, KP4, LA, LU, LX, LY, LZ, OA, OD, OE, OH, OH0, OK, OM, ON, OX, OY, OZ, P2, P4, PA, PJ2, PJ4, PJ7, PY, PY0F, PZ, S0, S2, S5, S7, S9, SM, SP, ST, SU, SV, SV5, SV9, T32, T7, TA, TF, TG, TI, TK, TL, TR, TT, TU, TY, TZ, UA, UA2, UA9, UK, UN, UR, V3, V4, V5, V6, V7, V8, VE, VK, VK9N, VP2E, VP8, VP9, VR, VU, XE, XT, XX9, YA, YB, YI, YJ, YL, YN, YO, YS, YU, YV, Z2, Z3, ZA, ZB, ZC4, ZD7, ZD8, ZF, ZL, ZP, ZS, ZS8

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. Jean-Paul, HB9ARY, will once again be active as 3B8/HB9ARY
from Mauritius until February 15th. Activity will be on all HF bands,
80-10 meters, using mainly SSB, but some CW. QSL via NI5DX, LoTW or eQSL.


5J0/5K0, SAN ANDRES (Update). Will, AA4NC, informs OPDX that he FINALLY
received his callsign from the Colombian authorities after 5 months. He
will be active as 5K0N on San Andres between February 12th and March 8th.
He will be using low power with wire antennas on CW, RTTY and SSB. Will
is one of the LW9EOC team for the upcoming ARRL International DX CW and SSB
Contests, signing 5J0NA ad as a Multi-Single entry (see OPDX.1295/1299/
1302). Will states that Ron, AA4VK, will be joining him for the first
two weeks and operating holiday style as AA4VK/HK0 on SSB. Will may also
be active as 5K0N/HK5 on a trip to visit his friend OZ1AA who now lives
in Cali, Colombia. Look for updated info on the QRZ.com Wen page. QSL
5K0N direct via AA4NC and LoTW.


5X, UGANDA. Jonathan, KK7PW, will be active as 5X1O from Uganda February
21st and March 7th. He states, "I may not be on the air everyday, but
will aim for early mornings/late evenings (EA times) on 40, 20, 15, or
10m. I will use an FT-857d (with MDSR) at 100w, to either an AT-25 or
dipole. Modes = CW and SSB (usually "up 1"), WSPR, and possibly JT65.
QSL Manager is Pedro, EA5GL.


7P8, LESOTHO. Pista, HA5AO, will once again return to Lesotho for humani-
tarian purposes between February 10-26th. He will be signing 7P8EUDXF and
be active during his free time on 40-10 meters operating mostly CW. Pista
is there overseeing the project at a local orphanage that he started during
his October 2016 visit and will deliver donations received since then.
Logsearch and OQRS is available on . Please use OQRS for all
confirmation requests, do not send cards via the Bureau. For the October,
2016 operation - all OQRS direct and mail direct QSL requests were posted
from Budapest on January 23rd, 2017, bureau cards were forwarded to the
HA Bureau. LoTW was uploaded on December 28th, 2016. Money donated to
7P8EUDXF will be used only for humanitarian purposes. The results of
Pista's 2010 activity can be seen at:
http://ha5ao.com/index.php/dx-peditions/lesotho/lesotho-2010/103-news-from-lesotho-again
At the completion of this next visit the photo gallery on 
will be updated.


A5, BHUTAN. Look for A5A to be activated again between February 10-17th.
Zorro, JH1AJT, will travel to Bhutan with JC, E20NKB, and Champ, E21EIC. The
main purpose of this trip is to support the launch of Paralympic Committee
in Bhutan with Bhutan Olympic Committee (BOC). Activity will be on 160-10
meters using CW, SSB and RTTY. QSL via JH1AJT: PO Box 8, Oiso, Naka-gun,
KANAGAWA 259-0111, Japan. The OQRS will be available at ClubLog after
his return to Japan.


AH0, ALASKA. Nobuaki, JA0JHQ, will be active as AH0CO/KL7 from Alaska
between June 7-19th. Activity will be on various HF bands as well as
an entry in the All Asian DX CW Contest. QSL via JA0JHQ, by the Bureau
(recommended), LoTW or direct (see QRZ.com).


CLUBLOG'S DXCC MOST WANTED LIST. ClubLog has updated their latest "DXCC
Most Wanted List" as of January 31st. ClubLog states, "The information
generated in this report is derived from QSOs uploaded to ClubLog. To
improve quality, only QSOs that have QSLs confirmed are considered to
be worked. The most wanted charts are rebuilt once per month, on average."
Currently there are 339 entities listed. It is now available at:
              https://secure.clublog.org/mostwanted.php


D4, CAPE VERDE. Operator Girts, YL2KL, will once again active as D4C from
Sao Vicente Island (AF-086) between February 13-20th. Activity will be
during the ARRL DX CW Contest (February 18-19th) as a Single-Op/All-Band/
High-Power entry. QSL D4C direct to HB9DUR or by the Bureau to IK2NCJ.
For the latest information, check the D4C Web page at: http://www.d4c.cc
Also their FaceBook page at:  https://www.facebook.com/D4C.STATION
ADDED NOTE: Look for Girts to sign D4Z before the contest on 30/17/12
meter bands. QSL via is the same as above.


EP2C IRAN NEWS (Press Release). The following was received from QSL Manager
Pedro, EA5GL, via Mohammad, EP2LMA, President of the EP2C Radio Club...
 [edited] "Activation from EP2C -- We will try to start before noon of 8th
 Feb and end very late of 10th Feb. We have 2 transceivers one for phone
 and one of them for CW. We have a dipole for 40m and another dipole for
 15m and a 2 element yagi for 20m. (All home made) We are on 20m and 40
 meters normally, but we will try also 15m from 1200-1500. I will be
 online on Twiter and let everybody know about the bands and frequencies.
   We are the only radio club in IRAN, and we really need the help and
 donation of small clubs and big places and DX foundation or anywhere
 else they want to help. With your help we can be on the air every day
 and every week. We know many ham operators need to have QSO with Iran
 and we can make it for them. All questions about the donations, please
 contact directly with EP2LMA, President of EP2C:  ep2lma@yahoo.com  "
 For more details, see:            http://www.irandx.ir


FG, GUADELOUPE. Jose, KB1TCD, is now active as FG/KB1TCD from Guadeloupe
(NA-102) until February 8th. He states that he will be "operating with an
Elecraft KX3 at 15 watts max and a home-made End Fed antenna tuned for
20, 17, and 15m. Also taking my mobile Falcon Outback 1899 antenna that
resonates on 40, 20, 15, and 10 meters." QSL via his home callsign.


IOTA NEWS..............
  AF-004.  Tom, DL7UZO, will be active as EA8/DL7UZO from Fuerteventura
           Island between February 25th and March 11th. He plans to be
           portable from 6 locations and activate 3 EAWFF Areas and 4-5
           Lighthouses!! QSL via DL7UZO, direct or by the Bureau. For
           more information, see:    http://www.funkstation.info


  AS-200.  Take, JI3DST, will once again be active as JI3DST/5 from Shodo
           Island (Shikoku's Coastal Islands) between February 11-14th
           and March 17-21st (along with Fusao/JA5DUR as JA5DUR/5).
           Activity will probably be on 40/30/20/17/15/12/10 meters
           using CW and SSB. QSL JI3DST/5 and JA5DUR/5 via the Bureau
           (preferred) or see QRZ.com. For updates, see:
                             http://blog.goo.ne.jp/ji3dst
           PLEASE NOTE: Take will also sign JS6RRR/5 between March 17-21st,
           but only on RTTY and FM. QSL JS6RRR/5 via the Bureau.


  EU-124.  Members of the Virtual Amateur Radio Club (VARC) of Kent,
           U.K., will be active as MC0VRC/P from the Island of Ynys Gybi
           (Holy Island) between April 30th and May 6th. Operators mentioned
           are Mark/G0GDA, Keith/M0KJA and Nigel/G0GDA. Activity will
           be on 80-10 meters using CW, SSB and the Digital modes. QSL
           via eQSL.


  SA-061.  Look for an IOTA DXpedition to take place and be active as
           XR5M from Mocha Island between March 8-13th. QSL via IK2DUW.
           Look for more information to be forthcoming.


IS0, SARDINIA. Tibor, OM3RM, will once again be active as IS0/OM8A from
Sardinia (EU-024) during the ARRL International DX CW Contest (February
18-19th) as a Single-Op/All-Band/High-Power entry. QSL via OM2VL.


J6, ST. LUCIA. Darren, VA3EGG, is now active as J68DH from Saint Lucia
Island (NA-108) until February 28th. Activity will be on 40-10 meters
using SSB only with Yaesu FT-897D w/100 watts and wire antennas. QSL
via his home callsign.


JD1, OGASAWARA. Makoto, JI5RPT, will once again be active as JD1BLY from
Chichijima Island (AS-031) between March 7-10th. Activity will be on
160-10 meters using CW, SSB and the Digital modes (NO 6m EME). QSL
via his home callsign JI5RPT. His log search will be available on his
Web site at:             http://www.ji5rpt.com/jd1
He will also use Twitter to inform his real-time activities at:
                         http://twitter.com/jd1bly


KC4, ANTARCTICA. Station KC4AAA from the the U.S. Amundsen-Scott South
Pole Station (AN-016) was heard on 40 meters (7134 kHz) around 0650z
on January 29th. QSL Manager K1IED reports, "for the recent activity Dec.
2016--Jan. 2017, the logs will not get to me until the end of JAN. I
will be away all of Feb. Cards will be mailed out in March. KC4AAA is
now or will be on LoTW - LOGS FROM 2013 until present.


KH6, HAWAII. Nobuaki, JA0JHQ, will be active as AH0CO/KH6 from Hawaii
between April 7-9th. Activity will be on various HF bands as well as
an entry in the Japan international CW Contest. QSL via JA0JHQ,
by the Bureau (recommended), LoTW or direct (see QRZ.com).


NP3, PUERTO RICO. Jaime, WP3A, will be active as NP3X from the Coamo
Contest Club station during the ARRL International DX CW Contest (February
18-19th) as a Single-Op/All-Band/Low-Power entry. QSL via EB7DX.


PROPAGATION FORECAST/REPORT (February 6-12th).......
 Feb/06th AN      Feb/09th  AN     Feb/11th  AN
 Feb/07th AN      Feb/10th  AN     Feb/12th  AN
 Feb/08th 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


  REALTIME BAND CONDITIONS WEB SITE :
  The purpose of this experimental Web site is to provide 24-7-365 actual
  (REALTIME) band condition information to CW QRPp, QRPe and CW/SSB for
  Contesters interested in increasing their scores. It can also be of
  benefit to other Radio Amateurs to determine band conditions for Nets
  and casual QSO's. This information is NOT based on any software pre-
  dictions or any kind of satellite based readings. It is based on a
  new Ionospheric sounding method called "HF Ionospheric Interferometry"
  which operates very similarly to the PolSAR system used by NASA.


  Also, check out the VOACAP predication Web page at:
                 http://www.voacap.com/prediction.html


QSL INFO AND NEWS...................
  QSL-INFO from DB0SDX by Lothar, DL1SBF.. (February 5th) 
  -------------------------------------------------------------------------
  4L2M via EA7FTR; UT7QF (Ukraine) H44LG via JE1LGY     SQ9S via SQ9JKS
  CT7/EI8KJ via EI8KJ (e)    IT9/UA4WHX via UA4WHX      SV9/DL4KM/P via DL4KM
  CT7/F6IRA via F6IRA        IX1/IW1CAB via IW1CAB & (L) TC4LOVE via TA3X
  CT9/G3TXF via G3TXF (O)    OF2LHE via OH2LHE          TM2F via F4GTT
  DC500LS via DM2AJK         OK/SP9MA/P via SP9MA       UT/SP2BPD via SP2BPD
  EA8/PA0PMD via PA0PMD      OV90EDR via OZ1ACB         W5S via W5BAK
  EA8OM via DJ1OJ            OZ/DJ1AA/M via DJ1AA       ZC4A via M0URX & (L)
  H2017PFO via 5B4AIE        PB44FF via PH0NO
   (e) eQSL only  (d) direct only   (B) Bureau only  (*-B) DX's- Bureau
   (O) OQRS only  (C) ClubLog only  (L) LoTW only    (*) No QSL Needed


  QSLS RECEIVED VIA LoTW: 7Z1SJ, A45XR, BD5BAJ, CN2AA, CU2CE, DL1BBR,
  DL7AU, FY5KE, GU4YOX, HK1R, JH2AMN, KP2M, PJ2T, RZ6BR, VE2ZT, VK1MA,
  XE2X, YT1AA, ZC4A and ZC4ZM


  QSLS RECEIVED VIA MAIL: 3W2R, 4O/KC0W, 5T5TI, 5U7RK, 7P8EUDXF, 8Q7SP,
  9G5AM, A45WH, A70X, FJ/KO8SCA, H40GC, JY9FC, OX/OZ1LXJ, TX8F, V63AVO,
  VU7MS, ZF2WE and ZB2FK


  QSLS RECEIVED VIA THE BUREAU: AG4W, CA7CAQ, CF3A, CJ3A, CK3AT, DS4DRE,
  DS4GKF, DS4GQR, DS4OVT, EA8AF, EA8CH, EA8CNR/M, EA8CSB, EA8CSD, EA8CSG,
  EA8CYQ, EA8CWU, EA8FA, EA8GP, EA8HE, EA8JT/P, EA8NE, EA8PT, EA8QP,
  EA8TJ, EA8URL, EA8/EA4SV, EM20UCRF, G7RAU, HL1A, HL1ECF, HL1GRI, HL1OXB,
  HL2DNU, HL2WA, HL2SU, HL3EQG, HL4CCM, HL4CHH, HL4CYH, HL5FAM, HL5OC,
  HL5YGX, PY0FM, PZ5T, TF3VS, XL3A and ZL9A (OC-286)


RI1/A, ANTARCTICA. Oleg, UA3HK/ZS1OIN, will be active as RI1ANA/A from
Progress Station in the Antarctica until February 22nd. Activity will
be on various HF bands. QSL via ZS1OIN.


T8, PALAU. Operators Shinichi/JI6IHG, Kazuhiro/JA7WFT and Toshio/JM1LRA
will be active as T88IH, T88FT and T88TA, respectively, from the VIP Guest
Hotel (Free Radio Room) on Koror Island (OC-009), between April 13-20th.
Activity will be on 160-6 meters using CW, SSB, JT65 and JT9. QSL T88IH
via JI6IHG. QSL T88FT via JA7WFT. QSL T88TA via JM1LRA. For more details
about the VIP Guest Hotel (Free Radio Room), see:
           http://www.palau-radio.com/index.php?page=rr2014


TU, CÔTE D’IVOIRE (Update/It's Now Official). Members of the Radio Club
of Provins (F6KOP) will be active as TU7C from the Ivory Coast between
March 9-19th. Activity will be on 160-10 meters and 6 meters using CW,
SSB and RTTY. The international team consists of experienced operators.
Some of them were part of various important DXpeditions during the past
years, like FT5TA, FT5JA, J5C, 3G0ZC, 7P8C and so on. Operators mentioned
are Frank/F4AJQ (Team Leader), Patrick/F2DX (Co-Leader) Jean-Luc/F1ULQ (Co-
Leader), Andreas/DL3GA, Henri/F1HRE, Damien/F4AZF, Jimi/F4DLM, Philippe/
F4DSE, Raymond/F5MFV, Frank/F5TVG, John/F5VHQ, John/OE5TGL, Herman/ON4QX,
Kurt/ON8KW and Kenneth/OZ1IKY. The pilot for English speaking people is
Col/MM0NDX, and Jean-Paul/F8BJI for the French stations. QSL via F1ULQ,
direct (sorry no IRC), the French REF Bureau (only this one), LoTW, and
ClubLog's OQRS. For more information, see their DXpedition Web page at:
                      https://tu2017dx.wordpress.com


V3, BELIZE. Iain, G4SGX, will be active as V31GX near San Pedro between
March 9-14th. Activity will be holiday style on 80-10 meters using mainly
CW, possibly some Digital modes. Iain will also participate in the Common-
wealth Contest (Beru) [March 11-12th]. He will run 100 watts into 1/4
verticals over seawater and inverted-L over seawater for 80m. QSL via
his home callsign or LoTW.


V4, ST. KITTS. John, W5JON/V47JA, informs OPDX that he will once again
be active as V47JA from his vacation home in Calypso Bay, St. Kitts
(NA-104, WW Loc. FK87SG), located 200 feet from the Caribbean Sea, between
March 16th and April 5th. Activity will be on 160-6 meters (incl.60m)
using SSB. He will also be active during the CQWW WPX SSB Contest (March
25-26th) as a Single-Op/All-Band entry. Equipment is a Kenwood TS-590S
and Elecraft KPA500 Amplifier. Antennas include: 31', 10-40m Vertical,
and 35', 40/80m Top Loaded Vertical; shortened 160m dipole and 3 element
Yagi for 6m. Also, XYL Cathy, W5HAM, will occasionally operate as V47HAM.
ALL QSLs go to W5JON direct or via LoTW. NO Bureau QSLs.


V5, NAMIBIA (Update). Operators Georg/DD8ZX and Klaus/DJ9KM will once
again be active as V5/DD8ZX and V5/DJ9KM from Omaruru, Otjikoko Guest
farm, between February 6-18th. Activity will be holiday style with a
focus on 160-10 meters and if possible on 6m. Operating modes are SSB,
RTTY and PSK. They will participate in the CQWW WPX RTTY Contest (February
13-14th) as V55V (QSL via DJ8VC). QSL via V5/DD8ZX via DD8ZX, direct or
by the Bureau. QSL V5/DJ9KM via DJ9KM, direct, by the Bureau or LoTW.


VISALIA INTERNATIONAL DX CONVENTION NEWS (Top Band Dinner). Steve, WB6RSE,
reports: The 2017 Top Band Dinner at the Visalia International DX Convention
will be held on Friday, April 21, 2017, at the Marriott Hotel immediately
adjacent to the Visalia Convention Center. Registration, program, menu
and cost information can be found on the dinner’s Web site at:
                          https://topbanddinner.jimdo.com
Early registration is strongly recommended....


VK9X & VK9C, CHRISTMAS AND COCOS (KEELING) ISLANDS. Operators Chris/VK3FY,
Lee/VK3GK, Tony/VK3TZ and possibly others will activate both Christmas 
Island (OC-002) and Cocos (Keeling) Island (OC-003) in the month of October
2017. The team will start on Christmas Island as VK9XI between October
3-10th. During this time, they will be active during the Oceania DX SSB 
Contest (October 7-8th). The team will then move to Cocos (Keeling) Island
and be active as VK9CI between October 10-17th. During this time, they
will be active during the Oceania DX CW Contest (October 14-15th). For
activity outside of the contest, operators will be active on 160-10 meters
using CW, SSB and RTTY, plus they will be running a 6m beacon. QSL via
M0OXO - Bureau requests ONLY via M0OXO's OQRS. Look for more details to
be forthcoming.


VK9X, CHRISTMAS ISLAND. Cliff, VK9VKL, announces the following on QRZ.com
[edited]: Christmas Ham - A new Ham on Christmas Island -- I'm Cliff and
newly licensed, and as soon as my gear gets to the Island, I will be de-
veloping my non existent DX skills.
  Unfortunately, I couldn't meet up with any Amateurs for courses or to
learn the ropes (none on the island), so I just did the study thing. I
decided that the Foundation license would be too limiting for a remote
area, so I went straight to the Standard license (100W). I have purchased
a FT DX1200 which is still 6,000klms away.
  Still working out the QSL thing, international mail from here is $2.90
AUD and mail can take a while.
  Updates on my progress to get online can be found at: 
                             http://vk9vkl.island.cx


VP6EU PITCAIRN ISLAND DXPEDITION NEWS (Update/Press Release). On January
29th, the following was posted on : Everything
is okay. The team is very grateful for the great sponsoring from the ham
community. The antenna material stored in Auckland is loaded into a ship
container. The cargo ship "Claymore II" departs New Zealand on January 31,
2017. We will board in Mangareva, French Polynesia, on February 14, 2017,
to continue to Pitcairn. All our equipment is successfully checked and the
suitcases are packed. Altogether we have 250 kg Radio equipment! The team
members are in a good spirits and looking optimistically forward to a
successful DXpedition.


WP3, PUERTO RICO (Cancelled). Operators Al/WP3C, Hector/NP4R and Jaime/
WP3A who were expected to be active as WP3C during the ARRL International
DX CW Contest (February 18-19th), have cancelled their activity.


ZC4, UK SOV. BASE AREAS ON CYPRUS. Bob, 5B4AGN, started off signing ZC4ZM
on Thursday, but is now active as ZC4A from the UK Sovereign Base Areas
on Cyprus until February 8th. He is there with Steve, G3VMW. Activity will
be on 80-10 meters using CW and SSB. QSL requests strictly via M0URX OQRS.
Logs will be uploaded LoTW and ClubLog as soon as possible.

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