The Ohio/Penn Dx PacketCluster
DX Bulletin No. 1368
BID: $OPDX.1368
June 18, 2018
Editor Tedd Mirgliotta, KB8NW
Provided by BARF80.ORG (Cleveland, Ohio)
Sent/Written in Strongsville, OH
Thanks to the Northern Ohio Amateur Radio Society, Northern Ohio DX Association, Ohio/Penn PacketCluster Network, AB5K & the AR TelNet Clusters Network, KC1CWF, NJ1Q & W1AW, W2ARP, NG3K & ADXO, W3UR & The Daily DX, KW4XJ, W4DTA, AA5AM, K5GS, AA6RE, WB6RSE, AA7JV, K8GI, K8YSE, KT8D, W8GEX & 60m DX News, W9ILY, DL1SBF, DL7UXG & The DX News Letter, DxCoffee.com, DXNews.com, DX-World.Net, EA5RM, ES1CW, F5NQL, F6AJA & Les Nouvelles DX, HP1AC?, I1JQJ/IK1ADH & 425 DX News, I2MQP & DX Italia News, OZ6OM & 50 MHz DX News, Sixitalia Weekly and VA3RJ & ICPO for the following DX information.
DXCC COUNTRY/ENTITY REPORT
According to the AR-Cluster Network for the
week of Sunday, 10th/June, through Sunday, 17th/June there were 215
countries active. Countries available: 3A, 3B8, 3B9, 3D2, 3V, 3W, 3X, 4J,
4L, 4O, 4S, 4U1I, 4X, 5A, 5B, 5R, 5T, 5V, 5W, 5X, 5Z, 6W, 6Y, 7X, 8P, 8Q,
8R, 9A, 9G, 9H, 9J, 9K, 9M2, 9M6, 9Q, 9V, 9X, 9Y, A3, A4, A6, A7, A9, AP,
BV, BY, C3, C9, CE, CE0Y, CE9, CM, CN, CP, CT, CT3, CU, CX, DL, DU, E4,
E5/s, E7, EA, EA6, EA8, EA9, EI, EK, EL, EP, ER, ES, EU, EX, EY, F, FG,
FK, FM, FO, FP, FR, FS, FY, G, GD, GI, GJ, GM, GU, GW, HA, HB, HB0, HC,
HH, HI, HK, HK0/a, HL, HP, HS, HV, HZ, I, IS, J2, J3, J6, J7, JA, JD/m,
JD/o, JT, JW, JX, JY, K, KG4, KH0, KH2, KH6, KH8, KL, KP2, KP4, LA, LU,
LX, LY, LZ, OA, OD, OE, OH, OH0, OJ0, OK, OM, ON, OX, OY, OZ, P2, P4, PA,
PJ2, PJ4, PJ7, PY, PZ, R1FJ, S0, S5, S7, SM, SP, SU, SV, SV/a, SV5, SV9,
T7, T8, TA, TF, TG, TI, TK, TR, TU, TY, TZ, UA, UA2, UA9, UK, UN, UR, V3,
V5, V6, V7, V8, VE, VK, VK0M, VK9X, VP2E, VP8, VP9, VR, VU, XE, XX9, XZ,
YB, YK, YL, YN, YO, YS, YU, YV, Z3, Z6, 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".
6W, SENEGAL. Dominic, ON4AZP, will be active as 6W/ON4AZP from Senegal
between June 25th and July 5th. Activity will be holiday style on 40/20/
15/10 meters using SSB. QSL via his home callsign, direct, by the Bureau
or eQSL.
9L. SIERRA LEONE (Update to OPDX.1367). Mark, KW4XJ, who is now active
as 9L1YXJ from Freetown (WW Loc. IJ38jk), informs OPDX that his overseas
assignment is for 3 years and he has been there for 9 months now. Mark
operates mainly on CW and the Digital modes on the HF bands (40-10m).
He adds that he [edited] uses an "ICOM IC-7300 running 100 watts, Chame-
leon EMCOMM II end-fed wire antenna in an inverted L configuration, with
a telescopic mast up about 25’, then the rest of the wire out horizontally
to a convenient supporting anchor. I had to switch to the wire antenna
as we have progressed into the rainy season, and we do get some rather
strong wind gusts and monsoon rains here in the tropics. Before that I
was using a Chameleon mil-whip w/extension. That worked very well but
is a portable antenna. No way it could hold up to the storms this time
of year. The wire antenna seems to be holding up well so far. I am going
to be ordering an Elecraft 500 watt amplifier and electronic antenna
tuner here shortly. I hope to have that delivered and installed in about
a month or so. Right now I’m using a MFJ manual antenna tuner — it works
fine but after awhile it gets tiring and the lazy side of me wants to
just hit a button to tune. :) With the sunspot cycle where it is I’ve
only been able to make FT8 and CW contacts with just 100 watts. Sometimes
PSK31 will work from here. I’ve made a handful of RTTY contacts. Usually
CW and FT8 most of the time. SSB seems pointless after many attempted
QSOs to Europe that were very marginal at best if we could get through
at all. That is why I was thinking the amplifier would help. My CW skills
are still pretty basic, I can reliably manage about 13 WPM on the air.
I did do my first ever CW contest here recently for the CQMM DX. I made
over 300 contacts which I thought was a decent showing given my relatively
low power, rookie operator, and slow speed. I need to find another CW
contest to try. I’m still relatively new at operating on HF. I’ve got a
lot of unexpected, excellent advice from hams around the world — the US,
but also lots of help from the UK, Germany, Brazil, and Japanese operators.
This is an amazing hobby. I’ve had FT8/JT65 QSOs from here in Freetown
to the Falkland Islands, Iceland, Japan (lots of Japan on the long path),
Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and the West coast of Canada, all
with my modest setup." QSL via his home callsign.
CP, BOLIVIA. Antonio, EA5RM, will be active as CP1XRM from Bolivia between
June 18th and July 10th, and working as Solidaridad Medica and Radioamateurs
Without Frontiers NGO volunteer. He plans to be on the air during his spare
time on 40-10 meters using SSB and the Digital modes. He may also be on 60
meters. QSL via EA5RM.
HS50, THAILAND (Special Event). Members of the Radio Society of Thailand
(RAST) are now active as HS50IARU until October 31st. Activity is to
celebrate the 50th anniversary of IARU Region 3. QSL via the Bureau, by
ClubLog's OQRS or LoTW. ADDED NOTE: The IARU Region 3 (Asia-Pacific Region)
will grant the 50th Anniversary Award to radio amateurs who certify having
contacted at least five contacts (QSOs) on different modes or bands with
Special Event Stations for commemorating the 50th Anniversary of IARU
Region 3 from eligible countries that are in Region III whose amateur
societies are members of IARU Region 3. Special event callsigns will have
the number "50" as the prefix number and IARU as their special event
callsign suffix. (ie. BV50IARU, HL50IARU, HS50IARU, V850IARU, VI50IARU3,
YB50IARU, etc..) The anniversary award rules can be found at:
http://awards-iaru-r3.org
IOTA NEWS..............
EU-064. Thomas, DL1ASA, will be active as F/DL1ASA/p from Noirmountier
for one day between June 18-24th. He will be activating several
WWFF references. QSL via his home callsign.
EU-090. (Update) Members of the Radio Club Croatian Flora Fauna are
now active as 9A90P from Vela Palagruza Island (CI-084, LH
0057) until June 23rd. Operators [Members of the Radio Club
Croatian Flora Fauna] mentioned are Marijan/9A1MB, Radovan/
9A2SC, Zeljko/9A3DF, Branko/9A3ST, Kiko/9A4WY, Vito/9A5VS,
Neven/9A5YY and Emir/9A6AA. Activity will be on 80-6 meters
near the IOTA frequencies using CW, SSB, the Digital modes
and the satellites. QSL 9A90P via 9A2MF. For more details and
updates, see: https://9aff.wordpress.com
ADDED NOTE. Look for some operators to possibly operate (using
their own callsign) from neighboring islands: Mala Palagruza
(EU-090, CI-461) and Galijula Island (EU-090, CI-462).
EU-103/ (Cancelled/Update) Members of the EJ0DXG operation from Little
EU-121. Saltee Island (EU-103) scheduled for June 15-18th, had to post-
poned their activity due to rough seas (could not land safe on
the island). Look for new dates to be announced. The EIDX Group
instead activated Bere Island (EU-121) this past weekend. If
you missed them this past week, they will be active again
between August 24-26th. QSL via M0OXO's OQRS. For more details
and updates on the EIDX Group's "Irish Island IOTA Tour 2018",
see their QRZ.com or FaceBook pages.
EU-132. Adam, DJ0IF, will once again be active as SN0RX from Wolin
Island during the RSGB IOTA Contest (July 28-29th) as a Single-
Op/CW-Mode entry. QSL via SP8BXL.
NA-055. Mike, W2IY, will once again be active from Mount Desert Island
(USI ME-021S, WLOTA 1129, Hancock County, Maine) during the
RSGB IOTA Contest (July 28-29th) as a Single-Op entry. Outside
of the contest, activity will be holiday style. QSL via his
home callsign, by the Bureau or direct.
NA-143. Joe, K5KUA, will once again be active as K5KUA/5 from Galveston
Island (USI TX-001S, Galveston County, Texas) during the RSGB
IOTA Contest (July 28-29th) as a Single-Op/24-Hrs entry. QSL
via his home callsign, direct, by the Bureau or LoTW.
PLEASE NOTE: Since the Webmasters of the new have
decided NOT to post or dedicate a Web page to announce upcoming IOTA
operations, PLEASE send your IOTA operations information to the OPDX,
and we will post it here in an upcoming bulletin......
KH1/KH7Z BAKER ISLAND DXPEDITION NEWS.......
* TOPBAND ADVICE BY GEORGE, AA7JV [edited]: Hello TopBanders -- The
KH1/KH7Z will be active on 160m from Baker Island from June 27 to
July 6 (note that dates are tentative and may change -- please visit
). Given the time of the year,
KH1 is likely to be challenging for most. In addition to the less
then perfect time of the year, we are limited to a maximum antenna
height of 43 feet. But we do have a new antenna for 160 meters; we
will stand it in the salt-water to maximize its performance. We will
also have a couple of DHDL receiving antennas with high performance
pre-amplifiers. In other words, we will do our absolute best to over-
come the handicaps that we were dealt. Our TX frequency will be 1822.5
to begin with, and we will be listening up. NA stations should call
above 1825.0 to avoid the stronger JA callers who are limited to
below 1825.0. Our sunset will be at 07:45 UTC. We will be on the band
at sunset to fully take advantage of the 1 1/2 hours of common dark-
ness with the NA East Coast. During that time the sun will be still
up in Japan, so we will be able to focus on NA and SA. West Coast
stations will have more than 4 hours of common darkness with us, so
they should have a decent chance of putting KH1 in the log. After
the West Coast sunrise, from about 12:45 UTC onward, JA, UA0 and
SE Asia, as well as ZL/VK, will have an exclusive shot at us. During
this time we may move down to give the JA-s more room. EU will be,,,
well ...difficult. We will stay on the air throughout each sunrise,
working as far west as possible.... GL and CU, George, AA7JV
* Don, N1DG, posted a photo on the KH1/KH7Z - Baker Island DXpedition
2018 FaceBook page on June 12th, stating: Our advance team has arrived
in Fiji and today visited the Nai'a support warehouse in anticipation
of loading the vessel in 3 days. Here is Tomi, HA7RY, George, AA7JV
and Mike, KN4EEI with the Nai'a warehouse crew.
https://scontent-ort2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/35331219_10156427747323210_7549337305501138944_o.jpg?_nc_cat=0&oh=b2cf436c9b49d3a635c61c4bd05cdeee&oe=5BB73048
* This album chronicles the Dateline DX Association's (KH1/KH7Z)
adventure to, and activation of Baker Island:
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=oa.2154334738179158&type=3
* June 15th, Update -- All DXpedition gear has been loaded into the
NAI'A has been loaded in preparation of her journey from Lautoka,
Fiji, to Pago Pago, American Samoa, where the team will embark to
begin their voyage to Baker Island. See 25 pictures at:
http://kh7z.net/2018/06/16/team-equipment-loaded-onto-the-naia/
* June 16th, Press Release -- The first of our team arrived in Fiji this
week to load the Nai’a. The Nai’a is now underway from Fiji to Pago
Pago for its pre-departure inspection by US authorities. This is the
last hurdle before departing with the team on 20 June for Baker.
We have activated our daily blog and in-reach GPS so you can follow
us. You can see both new features at .
When we arrive on the 26th at Baker we will immediately begin setup
and expect to be QRV by our afternoon on the 27th (00:00 UTC 28 June).
We will have 8 radios on all open bands 24/7 for the next 10 days.
Our band plan is here: .
But any plan is only good until you meet the enemy in the field of
battle. We plan on listening to our pilots. Please tell them if we
are missing an opening or opportunity. We can and will adjust to the
propagation.
We still could still use your donation at this time.
http://www.baker2018.net/pages/donate.html
Thank you in advance for your support.
The Baker Island 2018 Team
See photos of Nai'a departing from Fiji:
http://kh7z.net/2018/06/16/6-16-2018-0200z-update/
PROPAGATION FORECAST/REPORT June 18-24th).......
Jun/18th AN Jun/21st AN Jun/23rd AN
Jun/19th AN Jun/22nd AN Jun/24th AN
Jun/20th 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
A daily HF radio wave propagation forecast can be found at:
https://www.facebook.com/thomasfranklingiellaw4hm
Also on Twitter: https://twitter.com/@GiellaW4hm
QSL INFO AND NEWS...................
QSL-INFO from DB0SDX by Lothar, DL1SBF [June 17th]
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
3W9XG via DF2XG EA8/DF4WC via DF4WC PA18FIFA via PA0RSM
4U18FIFA via UA3DX EA8/DL2EAA via DL2EAA RC18SO via RZ6A
5K18FWC via 5K18FWC (L/e) EJ0DXG via M0OXO (O) S510SOTA via S58R
9A/IV3APH via IV3APH EJ2HMB via DG5SDQ SN0UNESCO via SP9KDU
9A11VEDA via 9A3AG & (L) G6XX via M0OXO (O) SN600L via SP4SAF
AO5AGA via EA5RCZ GB18FIFA via MI0SAI SX18FIFA via (SV-B)
CN18FWC via CN8MC GI6XX via M0OXO (O) T88DT via JH1OLB & (L)
CR2018FWC via (L/e) IR0UN via (I-B) TA2/DL2JRM via DL2JRM
CS20EXPO via CT1REP KH8/WJ2O via N2ZN TI2/KM4HI via KM4HI & (L)
CS2CEM via (CT-B) KP4/K6DTT via K6DTT TM390SR via F4DTO
CS7/DO3HK via DO3HK LA/SP7IDX via SP7IDX VB18FIFA via VB18FIFA (L)
CW18FWC via (CX-B) LZ/DJ8QP via DJ8QP WH2JA via JR3RIU (d/L)
DL160EMMA via DG5YHE MM/DL9FBF via DL9FBF & (L) YW18FIFA via (YV-B & L)
DM18ARDF via DK2FW (B) OE/DL1KMN/P via DL1KMN Z30FIFA via Z30A
E7/YU1CA/P via YU1CA OH0/PA0VHA via PA0VHA
EA/DL8NCG via DL8NCG OO9A via ON8YB
(e) eQSL only (d) direct only (B) Bureau only (*-B) DX's- Bureau
(O) OQRS only (C) ClubLog only (L) LoTW only (N) No QSL needed
(I) No IRC (P) PayPal
LOGS ONLINE AT CLUBLOG.ORG THIS WEEK......
https://clublog.org/logsearch/TE6DX (Updated)
https://clublog.org/logsearch/XZ2A (Updated)
YV5EED NOW ON CLUBLOG. Steve, W4DTA, states, "I have uploaded the YV5EED
logs into ClubLog, that will make it easier and faster to get YV confirmed
hi hi... the link to the log is:
https://secure.clublog.org/logsearch/yv5eed
ZS9FOC QSL ROUTE. The South Africa Radio Club's (ZS9FOC) QSL Manager
is Robert Pantazes, W2ARP, 314 SE 20th Place, Cape Coral, FL 33990.
QSLS RECEIVED VIA LoTW: 3B7A, 4L1MA, 9A9K, A91HI, AH2R, DM80FOC, DS5USH,
EA5XA, EA9/EA5DCL, FY5KE, G6XX, HK3W, HK6JCF, HQ9X, JA1NCZ, JA1PCM,
JG3FEA, JJ1DWT, LX5IGRY, OA4DOS, R0AX, R5CA, SC80FOC, TC179JAN, VK5NG,
XR0YD and Z35Y
QSLS RECEIVED VIA MAIL: TJ2TT, Z66D and ZK3SB
QSLS RECEIVED VIA THE BUREAU: 8J1ITU, 8J3A, 8J2016Y, A5A, AC2AI/KH2,
AH0BT, E31A, JA0FOX, KH0XG, PY0F/PP1CZ and XV9NPS
TM2, FRANCE (Special Event). Members of the Radio Club Vendeen RCV (F6KUF)
will be active with the special callsign TM2GGR for the 50th Golden Globe
Race (a second race will start on the July 1st, from Les Sables d'Olonne)
between June 21st and July 5th. QSL via F6KUF (by the Bureau) or via F5OEV
(for direct QSLs). NO eQSL or LoTW.
TM8, FRANCE (Special Event). Members of the Radio Club Vendeen RCV (F6KUF)
will be active with the special callsign TM85TF for the 105th "Tour de
France" bicycle race starting from Vendée between July 6-20th. QSL via
F6KUF (by the Bureau) or via F5OEV (for direct QSLs). NO eQSL or LoTW.
VP5, TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS (Reminder/6m Op). Dave, W9DR, a well-known
6m op, is now active as VP5/W9DR from VP5-land (Grid Sq. FL41AW) until
June 25th. Activity will be on 6 meters (50.115 MHz) only using CW and
SSB. Dave states that he will be using a SDR Transceiver, 1 KW, 5 element
Yagi, Beacon during slow periods, all salt water launch over North Atlantic
to NA and EU/Mid-East." QSL via W9DR direct.
VP6D DUCIE ISLAND DXPEDITION NEWS (Press Release #5, dates June 14th)
[edited] -- The VP6D Ducie Island (OC-182) 2018 project is on schedule.
At Visalia and Dayton we had the pleasure of meeting many of our supporters
and equipment sponsors, including: DX Engineering, Elecraft, SteppIR and
Arlan Communications (RadioSport headsets). Several of team attended
Europe’s Ham Radio event conducted at Friedrichshafen, Germany, where we
met with corporate, EU club and foundation sponsors, many EU DXers and
other DX-pedition operators.
Joining the Pilot Team is Mason, KM4SII, from Clemmons, South Carolina.
Mason, an avid DXer, is 15 years old. In 2017 he operated from Iceland as
TF/KM4SII, in July 2018 he will operate from Curacao as PJ2/KM4SII. Mason
will work with NA and Chief Pilot Glenn KE4KY.
Joining our list of corporate sponsors is Rig Expert Ukraine Ltd
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