SB DX @ WW < KB8NW $OPDX.1143

Ohio/Penn DX Bulletin No. 1143

The Ohio/Penn DX PacketCluster

DX Bulletin No. 1143

BID: $OPDX.1143

December 30, 2013

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, AD8J, K8GI, K8YSE, W8GEX & 60m News, ND9M, W9ILY,

AT International, DK8JB & The DX News Letter, DK8ZZ, DL1SBF, DxCoffee.com,

DX-World.Net, F5NQL, F6AJA & Les Nouvelles DX, G3SWH, I1JQJ/IK1ADH & 425

DX News, I2MQP & DX Italia News, JA8BMK, OH2BH, OZ6OM & 50 MHz DX News,

Pete's DX-Newsdesk, PT7WA, RSGB IOTA Web Site, Sixitalia Weekly, SM7AED,

VA3RJ & ICPO, the VHF-DX-Portal (MMMonVHF), ZS5J and ZS6KHN (C91KHN/C91C)

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), 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, 22nd-December, through Sunday, 29th-December there were

220 countries active. Countries available: 3A, 3B8, 3B9, 3DA, 3V, 3W, 4J,

4L, 4O, 4S, 4X, 5A, 5B, 5R, 5W, 5Z, 6W, 6Y, 7P, 7X, 8P, 8R, 9A, 9H, 9J,

9K, 9M2, 9M6, 9Q, 9V, 9X, 9Y, A2, A3, A4, A5, A6, A7, A9, AP, BS7, BV,

BY, C3, C6, C9, CE, CE9, CM, CN, CP, CT, CT3, CU, CX, D2, D6, DL, DU,

E5/s, E6, E7, EA, EA6, EA8, EA9, EI, EK, EL, ER, ES, ET, EU, EX, EY, F,

FG, FH, FJ, FK, FM, FO, FP, FR, FW, FY, G, GD, GI, GJ, GM, GU, GW, H4,

H40, HA, HB, HB0, HC, HC8, HI, HK, HL, HP, HR, HS, HV, HZ, I, IS, J2,

J5, J6, J8, JA, JD/o, JT, JW, JY, K, KG4, KH0, KH2, KH6, KL, KP2, KP4,

LA, LU, LX, LY, LZ, OA, OD, OE, OH, OK, OM, ON, OX, OY, OZ, P2, P4, PA,

PJ2, PJ4, PJ5, PJ7, PY, PZ, S2, S5, S7, S9, SM, SP, ST, SU, SV, SV5,

SV9, T7, T8, TA, TF, TG, TI, TJ, TK, TL, TR, TT, UA, UA2, UA9, UK, UN,

UR, V3, V4, V5, V6, V8, VE, VK, VK9N, VP2V, VP5, VP8, VP8/h, VP9, VQ9,

VR, VU, XE, XU, XW, XX9, YA, YB, YI, YL, YN, YO, YS, YU, YV, Z2, Z3, ZA,

ZB, ZC4, ZD7, 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" (WFWL).

1A, SOVEREIGN MILITARY ORDER OF MALTA (Reminder). An "international team"

of operators led by Francesco, IK0FVC, will be active as 1A0KM from the

Sovereign Military Order of Malta (SMOM) between January 2-7th (2014).

At present time, operators will be Francesco/IK0FVC, Luciano/I0JBL,

Sergio/IK0FTA, Roberto/IK0PRG, Michele/IW0BYL, Gianfranco/I0ZY, Antonio/

I0GOJ, Fabrizio/I0HCJ, Marco/IK0DWN, Giordano/IK0XFD, Gianluca/IK5HHA,

Cristiano/IZ0IEN, Andrea/IZ0NRG, Rudi/DK7PE, Franz/DJ9ZB, Seppo/OH1VR,

Robert/S53R and Sandro/VE7NY. QSL via Sergio, IK0FTA, and also LoTW.

1A0KM operation supports the DX-Code of conduct. Online log facility

will be also available. Look for more details to be forthcoming. Also,

a Web page is now up and running, but with limited info at:

http://www.1a0km.org

5C, MOROCCO. Ruggero, IK2PZC, will once again be active as 5C2P between

February 6-9th. Activity will will be on HF bands using SSB and RTTY.

He will also be in the CQ WPX RTTY Contest (February 8-9th). QSL via

IK2PZC.

5Z, KENYA. "DX-World.net" reports that Scott, WA5A,will be active as

5Z4/WA5A from Ruaka starting around the first week of January 2014,

until about January 28th. Activity will be holiday style on the HF

bands. QSL via his home callsign.

6W, SENEGAL. Just a reminder that Francis, F6BLP, will once again be

active as 6W7SK from Saly Portudal, 80 kms south of Dakar on the coast,

between January 3-31st, 2014. Activity will be holiday style using the

same station as last time (IC-7000 into G5RV antenna) operating mainly

CW on 80-10 meters. If possible, he also hopes to be active on 160m with

an Inverted L. QSL via F6BLP, direct or by the Bureau. Logs will be

uploaded to LoTW and eQSL. For more details, logs and pictures of his

last operation, visit: http://www.f6blp.org

7Q, MALAWI. Ken, LA7GIA, is expected to be active as 7Q7GIA for one week

in May/June of 2014. QSL via his home callsign.

8Q, MALDIVES. By the time you read this, Mike, OE1SSS, will be in the

Maldives and plans to be active as 8Q7SM. On his QRZ.com page, Mike states

from December 28th to January 4th, he and his XYL will stay on the boat

"SCUBASPA" for diving. After this trip, they will go to the Kandooma

Resort and stay on the island until January 11th. Activity will be on

40/30/20/10 meters (depending on the conditions and his XYL). QSL via

his home callsign.

C5, THE GAMBIA. Pedro, ON7WP/C5WP, announced on QRZ.com that he and

Andre, ON7YK/C5YK, are or will be the only two permanent licensed hams

in The Gambia for 2014 (as of now). Pedro will be active between January

11-15th, from the village Buntu (where he does charity care), and has

set up his permanent base station (Kenwood TRC-80 Bush Radio and a brand

new 5 band Spiderbeam). He also states [edited], "Additionally, I will

put up some traveling wave V-beam antennas to USA and EU. We will also

try some low band activity, but due to poor soil conductivity I expect

not too much apart from extremely low noise levels (closest electricity

wall outlet is 80 km away). Between January 16-22nd, we will move to the

Kololi area where we will try some serious Low Band stuff based on a sea

mounted vertical, together with dipoles and the V-beam for the high bands."

See QRZ.com for QSL info.

C6, BAHAMAS. John, 9H5G, will once again be active as 9H5G/C6A from

Stocking Island, Great Bahama Bank (NA-001), between January 1-31st,

2014. Activity is usually on 160-10 meters, using SSB and the Digital

modes (PSK/RTTY/JT65/JT9). He announced on QRZ.com, "I intend to travel

throughout the Bahamas during the winter and spring of 2014 activating

the following groups: NA-001 Great Bahama Bank group, NA-113 36.6% South

Bahamas group, NA-054 Berry Islands and NA-048 Bimini Islands. Some of

these are rarer than others, but since I will be traveling by boat, I am

required to validate NA-054 and NA-048 through the IOTA Committee. I

also hope to activate some islands that are not on the list, even although

they seem to qualify (Hogsty Reef, Melita Cay). I hope to have more infor-

mation on this soon." Watch QRZ.com for updates. QSL via LoTW, eQSL or

direct to Buzz, NI5DX.

C9, MOZAMBIQUE (Update). Karel, ZS6ALB, informs OPDX that he is now per-

manently based in Mozambique and is active as C91KHN (C91C during contest)

from Matola, Mozambiue (Grid locater KG64fa). He has been busy upgrading

his station, changing the current Hygain tri-bander for a Mosley 67B

6-bander. However, Karel informed OPDX on Christmas Eve that he "will be

away for the festive season and will be back in C9 country on 13 January

2014." After the upgrades, he states that he will be active on the following

bands and modes:

Band Operations: 6m - 5 element Yagi

40/20/17/15/12/10m - Mosley 67B

Modes: SSB and Digitals modes PSK31, RTTY and JT65A (using Rigblaster

Advantage)

QSL via his home callsign direct (preferred). Log will be uploaded to

LoTW and ClubLog.

C9, MOZAMBIQUE (Update). By the time you read this, operators John/ZS5J

and YL Beth/2W0VOW will once again be in Ponta de Ouro and be active as

C91J and C91B, respectively. John informs OPDX that their "ten day C91J

and C91B DXpedition (earlier this month) was such a success (and really

enjoyable) that we have negotiated with the owner of the sea-view cabin

we stayed in, to go back for another ten days. We will be in Mozambique

tomorrow 28th December through 6th January. We will be taking more antennas

this time, specifically...resonant antennas on 40/17/12, so we will be able

to use the amplifier on these bands, which we were not able to do on our

last trip. So, 40 - 6 meters, SSB, CW and we will attempt the digital modes

and RTTY also." Remember, you can see pictures from Beth on QRZ.com under

C91B. QSL only direct to PO Box 102303, Meerensee, 3901 SOUTH AFRICA (with

3 USDs and your QSL card, and you willvget a QSL card back direct via air

mail).

CE, CHILE. Bob, YV5IAL, will be active as CE2/homecall from Valparaiso

between January 2-30th, 2014. Activity will be on 40-10 meters using

PSK-31 with some SSB. QSL via his home callsign, by the Bureau or direct.

DL60, GERMANY (Special Event). OV Mainz, DL0MZ, will be celebrating 60

years of activity and will be active between January 1st and December 31st,

2014, as DL60JMZ from the special DOK 60K07. QSL via the Bureau.

EA, SPAIN (via 60m News). Javier, EA7OP, is reporting that SETSI is

allowing EA stations to operate on 60m band between January-July 2014

on a channel basis. Allowed channels [kHz]: 5268, 5295, 5313, 5382,

5430 and 5439. The bandwidth to be used is 3 kHz. Power output 100W.

Modes CW/SSB.

FR/T, TROMELIN (Press Release)[edited]: "Hi friends -- Most of the DXers

consider entities as check boxes to tick once the country is worked and

confirmed. That's the game! However, we hope to bring you a lot more than

just a simple check mark as you discover our next destination... Let's

talk about the 9th most wanted DXCC entity according to the Clublog statis-

tics, an empty box for 75% of the amateur radio community.

Tromelin, as well as Glorioso, Juan de Nova, Europa, belongs to the

‘Eparses’, a French word to name these small islands scattered around

Madagascar. These French territories are administered by the TAAF (Terres

Australes et Antarctiques Françaises). Their access is strictly controlled

and regulated in particular for ecological reasons. Tromelin is the smallest

one (1 square km) and the human impact is all the more sensitive. That's

the only island where there are no French military troops and only 2 agents

of the TAAF are posted there continuously.

The last operation took place in 2000. A 4 men team made 50,000 contacts

with the callsign FR/F6KDF/T. No authorization has been given ever since.

2014 will be the 60th anniversary of the 1st hamradio activity from

Tromelin. The operator was Marc, FB8BK/T.

Today, after some successful collaborative work with the TAAF authorities,

we are proud to announce that we received our landing permission and got

the green light to conduct an amateur radio operation on this remote island.

We'll be active on Tromelin from October 30th to November 10th, 2014.

6 operators have been allowed to stay of the island. They have been selected

for their experience and all six are ready to face the challenge. The team

is made up of Seb/F5UFX, Michel/FM5CD, Flo/F5CWU, Eric/F5SIH, Franck/F4AJQ,

and Fred/F5ROP.

The request is huge and we are conscious of this. For this reason, we are

working hard in order to prepare our operation in depth. Some places in the

world will have short openings and we’ll do our best to exploit these short

moments with proper planning adjusted with the help of pilots.

The coming months will be devoted to the search of sponsors. We already

have part of the equipment but partnership with equipment suppliers will

be essential. On the other hand, we will contact foundations, clubs, organi-

zations to request assistance to help us balance our budget, estimated at

90,000 USDs, most of which is devoted to logistic costs.

Our website is online. All details regarding the progress, plans of

the DXpedition and sponsorship opportunities will be accessible through

dedicated pages.... http://www.tromelin2014.com

We will regularly keep updating you until our departure.

Team Tromelin 2014

Seb F5ufx, leader@tromelin2014.com "

HI, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC. Look for a Russian team to be active as HI8/homecall

from the Dominican Republic between December 30th and January 7th. Operators

mentioned are Andrey/RU4LG, Dmitry/RA4LB, Serge/UA4LGS and Pavel/UA4LL.

Activity will be on the HF bands using CW, SSB, PSK and RTTY. The group

may participate in the ARRL RTTY Roundup Contest (January 4-5th). QSL

via their home callsigns.

IOTA NEWS..............

AF-032. Vittorio, I2GPT, will be active as 5H1VC from Zanzibar Island

(WLOTA 1080, WWFF 5HFF-003) between January 4-12th, 2014.

Activity will be on 40-10 meters using CW and RTTY (20m only)

for the first time (Please have patience). QSL via RW6HS,

direct (see QRZ.com) or by the Bureau.

OC-042. Mike, W6QT, will be active as DU3/W6QT from Luzon Island

until March 2014. Activity has been 40/20/15/10 meters, but

he actually likes working the lower bands. QSL via his home

callsign.

OC-139. Andy, VK5MAV, will once again be active as VK5MAV/p from

Kangaroo Island (WLOTA 0869) between February 3-10th, 2014.

Activity will be holiday style on 40-10 meters using mostly

CW. For direct QSLs, read details on QRZ.com. If you are not

in a rush, all QSLs will be sent via the QSL Bureau 6-7 months

later. Free of charge! Logsearch and QSL requests are also

via the ClubLog OQRS system.

SA-025. (Delayed) Operators Raimundo/PT7CG and Renner/PY7RP were

expected to be active as ZX8DX from Pedra do Sal Beach on

Grande de Santa Isabel Island between December 26-30th. How-

ever, the ZX8DX operation was delayed. PT7CG intends to

activate the island in the first two weeks of January.

ISWL CALLSIGNS (For January). The following ISWL club callsigns will be

used throughout the month of January 2014:

GX4BJC/A - Operated from Great Sutton, in Cheshire, by Geof/M0BAU.

(WAB Square SJ37 - England, IOTA EU-005 and WLOTA LH-1841).

MX1SWL/A - Operated from Skegby, in Nottinghamshire, by Merv/G0UJD.

(/A WAB Square SK56 - England, IOTA EU-005 and WLOTA LH-1841).

ALL QSLs will be handled by Herbie, G6XOU, and NOT the individual

operator. The I.S.W.L. is a member of the European PSK Club. All QSL

info is on <www.iswl.org.uk> or <www.qrz.com> or via <www.eQSL.cc>.

NO LoTW. I.S.W.L. Awards are available to all Hams and SWLs, see

<www.iswl.org.uk> for full details. The eQSL.cc cards ARE welcomed for

their awards.

J7, DOMINICA. John, AD8J, will be active as J79JG between January 29th

and February 7th. Operation will be mostly CW, holiday style when not

scuba diving. QSL to his home callsign or LoTW.

PJ4, BONAIRE (Update). Bill, K9HZ, is now active as PJ4HZ (not PJ4/K9HZ

as first reported) from Bonaire (SA-006) until January 4th, 2014. Activity

will be on 80-6 meters using QSL via his home callsign direct, LoTW and

eQSL. NO Bureau QSLs.

PROPAGATION FORECAST/REPORT (December 30th-January 5th)....

Dec/30th AN Jan/02nd AN Jan/04th BN

Dec/31st AN Jan/03rd AN Jan/05th AN

Jan/01st 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

OF9, FINLAND (SANTA QRT). From the Offices of Santa Claus, Lapland, Finland

-- OF9X SANTA WENT QRT WEDNESDAY, DEC.25 AT 07 UTC -- This year, Santa

Claus of Amateur Radio fame was somewhat different than in the past. A

total of fifteen (15) radio operating elves and their support personnel

brought Santa and Christmas cheer to ham families in a very special way,

with several added elements to highlight the Festive Season. Not only

were some 21.000 QSOs uploaded to ClubLog but associated with these QSOs

were many interesting occasions when Santa was in personal contact with

children all across the world. Those are moments to be treasured!

Of those 21.000 QSOs, a sizable proportion were made on CW as well as

on low bands, utilizing state-of-the-art remote technology of Radio Arcala,

OH8X. Moreover, extensive special hardware elsewhere was employed to add

to highly dedicated operators in the Far North. Everyone was determined

to push their personal Christmas envelope to its limit.

Santa would like to summarize your eligibility for the Santa Claus

(CW) Award which you can order by E-mail at <of9x@sral.fi>. You can

check your QSOs at <http://qrz.com/db/OF9X>.

1: You have a QSO with OF9X on SSB & CW - also 2012 Santa QSOs count.

2: You have only one 2013 QSO with OF9X - here correct passwords from

the Christmas Puzzle at qrz.com would compensate.

Additionally, you can A:) order a Bureau card, B:) direct airmail QSL

cards, and C:) a direct Award and QSL cards through ClubLog's OQRS facility.

See again the QRZ.com re: OF9X....

Thank you for contacting Santa on many modes and bands during Christmas

2013. Hopefully we will meet again next year.

OF9X Santa Claus and his elves - OH0XX, OH1JD, OH1TX, OH2BCI, OH2BEE,

OH2BH, OH2BR, OH2FPK (YL) , OH2FPX (YL),

OH2KM, OH2PM, OH2TA, OH6CT, OH6KN and OH6KZP

QSL INFO AND NEWS.....................

QSL-INFO from DB0SDX (December 29th)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

4L5O via N3SL HC8VWT/HC1 via K8FC SE2I via SA2BRN

4L8A via K1BV HK1N via EA5KB SH0G via SM0SHG

7X4AN via EA3GSS (d) I6/K1FM via K1FM SN0KDD via SP3POW

9A/S53V via S53V II3CW via IQ3GA (d) SO110RAEM via SP2FAP

9Q0AR via ON4CFC JW/PY2SEX via DL1NX T8CW via JA0FOX

9X0ZM via JO1CRA LU7YS via EA7HBC TM400M via F1EOY

A25CE via DK1CE LZ867MWB via LZ1KCP V44KAI via W5TFW

A25DJ via DJ2HD N4AF via RN3RQ (d/B/L) V5/DL3DXX via V5/DL3DXX

A25WO via DH3WO OA2/AL4Q via DJ8QP VK4EI via NR6M

A61DD via EA7HBC (d) OR1Z via ON6IX (d/e) WH0AU via JP3WAU

EA8/DJ9BN via DJ9BN OT6V via ON6VI XE1/DJ4EL via DJ4EL

EH1NAV via EA1OK OX3XR via PA3249 (d) YF1AR/8 via N2OO

EI0YOTA via ON9CFG PJ4/K9HZ via K9HZ YP20ARER via YO6CUF

EX8BS via RW6HS (d) PT5T via K3IRV YP9L via YO9GJY

FW5JJ via F5RXL R2014CC via R6CC YW0A via EB7DX

H40TA via DK9FN (d*) R7378TM via RM8W ZT1T via ZS1AFS (d)

HC2IMP via IK2DUW S506SLG via S59DCD ZW5W via PP5BZ

(e) eQSL only (d) direct only (B) Bureau only (L) LoTW only

(*) With Donation for social service.

IRC REDEMPTION ETC... QSL Manager Phil, G3SWH, reports: "Hi gang -- Just

a cautionary note for those of you who still use IRCs. With effect from

1st January 2014 and in common with most other UK based QSL managers, I

will *NOT* be accepting IRCs for payment for return postage. They are

just too much hassle. OQRS and US dollars are much preferred and easier

to handle. Please take a look at <http://www.g3swh.org.uk/postage.html>

which has been in place for about six months. In that time, I have

received probably less than 10 of the new, 2017 expiry IRCs.....

73 and Happy New Year to you all"

QSL RECEIVED VIA LoTW: 9H3TX, BG2AUE, F1RHS, F5MMB, G3YNN, HA1AD,

JH7MQD, JW/PY2SEX, JW7XM, K4W, K9W, LA7HJA, M7X, OE6MDF, OK1WCF, OL7M,

ON5GQ, PA0O, PJ4A, R7MA, RK9UAH, S21ZBB, S21ZBC, SP6GF, VE9DX, VU3WIJ,

YT5EPP, YQ6A, XZ1J and Z81X

QSLS RECEIVED VIA MAIL: 3D2GC, 5A1AL, 5J0R, CR5CW, EF3EGB, HP0INT/2,

HP0INT/3, HP0INT/9, J87GU and Z81X

QSLS RECEIVED VIA THE BUREAU: 7Z1HL, 9Q6AL, AA5AT, DJ3FS, DK2CH, DL2HWH,

DL4FCH, DL8GP, DO5MCL/LH, DP1POL, EA1HNW, F-10828, HZ1EA, I0NUM, IK0RCY,

IW3SGT, IZ5HNI, JA1NUX, JA3CG/1, JA3EGY, JF3SUL, KA1ERL, LX2LA, NI0B,

NJ1H, OK1NZJ, OM5MF, OZ1GEJ, OZ8SW, PE1GUR, RA0FD, RV9DD, S53F, SP1DMD,

SP3RBG, SQ3LLJ, SQ6MIP, SQ8KEZ, SV1GYG, SV2FLQ, T5TC, V21ZG, V31YN,

VE3KI, VK1WJ, VU-0020, W5FK, W9II, YW5F and YZ1V

SOUTHEAST ASIAN TOUR. Toshi, JA8BMK, will activate two DXCC entities

during the first two months of the new year. Activity will be holiday

style using a HEX beam/wire antennas/Inv.Vee. Operations will be on 160-10

meters. Toshi informs OPDX that the modes will be CW and SSB, not sure

about the Digital (says may be not). He will use a K2 with a 500w amp.

QSL via JA8BMK, by the Bureau or direct (see QRZ.com). His tentative

schedule (Starting/Ending dates are flexible) and callsigns are as follows:

January 15-30th - Callsign is XW8BM; from Vientiane, Laos.

February 15th-March 2nd (possibly 25th) - Callsign is XV2BM; from

Nha Trang (eastcost of South China Sea), Vietnam.

MORE INFO FROM JA8BMK (Just before going to print!)[edited]: "I will

leave Japan for Vientiane via China on Jan. 11, 2014, and I am scheduled

to receive the license at PTT office. The thing is the location to operate.

Vientiane is not a exceptional, noisy city and it seems very difficult to

put up a vertical antennas for low bands. I will spend a few days to find

a good location for antenna installation. Also, I must explain to the hotel

people about what amateur radio is. Sometime, they do not give the per-

mission to visitors as they have no knowledge on amateur radio. However,

I succeeded in 3D (Fiji) land by explaining about BBC which I like to

listen to.

Regarding my antennas, I left them in Nepal. They are KIO Hex beam and

wire/vertical and coax cable for the next operation. This time I bought

another Hex beam from DX Engineering. This is a very good antenna and

seems strong. But the problem is that it takes a long time and I modified

it so that Airline company (China Eastern) will accept the size which

is only 158cm total dimension X+Y+Z as maximum. They will accept two of

23kg per person, I got 92kg for the luggage with two persons, my wife and

I. The 158cm as a total dimension is now popular. The longest length

is 96cm after modifying and I made a wooden box for them(28x30x100cm O.D.).

KIO Hex beam seems cheaper and lighter, and simpler to assemble compared

with DX Eng. Hex beam. For DXpedition, I like to recommend KIO.

The license fee is not cheap in XW (may be, in XV, too) as well as 9N.

The fee should be calculated according to how many bands, how much power,

what frequency, what mode and how many days. These factors can be multi-

plied. I heard in XW PTT office that one Russian guy payed over 2,500

US dollar before!

My schedule is not sure after XW operation. But I will be in Indo-China

until Mar. 28th, 2014, and will try to visit some other entity if I have time.

Anyway, I am traveling with my wife, I will not be so free as I must take

care of her."

T6, AFGHANISTAN. T6EUPOL is the official ham radio station of the "European

Union Police" (EUPOL) Mission in Afghanistan. The station is operated by

Janusz, home callsign: AK4JK (aka T6/ZS5ADU). No QSNs have been listed yet

on the DXCluster networks. QSL only direct to the AK4JK postal address

together with the SAE plus 2 USDs for postage.

T8, PALAU. Masa, JN3MXT, will be active as T88MX from "VIP Guest Hotel"

(Free Radio Room) on Koro Island (OC-009) between January 25-30th.

Activity will be on the HF bands using mainly SSB and RTTY. QSL via his

home callsign.

TM11, FRANCE (Special Event). Look for special event station TM11AAW to

be on air February 1-2nd, 7-10th and 14-23rd. Activity is to celebrate

the 11th Antarctic Activity Week. Operation will be made by François,

F8DVD, from his QTH of Mâcon in the east part of France, 60 km, North

of Lyon. The new reference for WAP program is 245. Activity will be on

40-10 meters, mostly SSB. QSL via F8DVD, by the Bureau or direct (SAE +

1 new IRC or 2 USDs) to: François Bergez 6, rue de la Liberté F- 71000

MACON FRANCE. E-mail: a.pole@laposte.net <mailto:a.pole%40laposte.net>

For more details, visit: http://tm11aaw.monsite-orange.fr

--or--

http://www.qrz.com/db/TM11AAW

TY, BENIN (Update). Wim, ON6DX (ex-ON4CIT), who was active as 5V7TH

recently from Togo, announced this past week he finally received his

Benin callsign TY1TT from the telecom authorities. He states, "Was not

easy, took me the longest time and most expensive ever to get a callsign.

Now I can plan flights and lodging beginning 2014 in Benin." No specific

dates were mentioned yet. Activity will be from Grand PoPo and operations

will be on 20/17/15/12/10/6 meters using CW, SSB and RTTY. Wim did mention,

"Clublog is a fine tool, but this year: OQRS QSL: Yes, but... But no more

clublog leaderboards." Read his reason and look for updates at:

http://www.dxpedition.be/Benin.html

VQ9, CHAGOS (Update). Last week we reported that Jim, ND9M, is once again

active as VQ9JC from Diego Garcia. Jim informed OPDX that he arrived on the

island a month ago, but he had to get his license renewed; it expired a

couple days before he landed. Jim states, "Normally, I get it renewed

within one business day, but this time there was an administrative hiccup

that led to a month-long delay. The British military officer in charge

of the island ­ called the 'Brit Rep' ­ was new to his post here. He read

all the can's and cannot's of the job, and the legal info about issuing

ham licenses says that tickets are signed by the Territorial Commissioner

who's back in the U.K. The Brit Rep finally got the official word last

week that issuing authority was delegated to the local office, and my

license was signed the next day. This was the first time in the 15 years

I've been coming here that anything like that had happened. In fact,

licensing had been so smooth here that in 2008, I walked in to the Brit

Rep's office without an appointment and left 45 minutes later with not

only a signed renewal for my regular VQ9JC license but also a special

temporary license for my VQ98JC operation. I wonder if anyone else can

claim receiving two licenses fully authorized without previous notice

that fast! Anyway, I'm still operating Field Day style from the covered

picnic table at the park which has AC power and dozens of gecko lizards

chasing the bugs. The table is about 30 feet from the wall of the jungle,

and this weekend I'll try to thread a 135-foot OCF dipole through all the

trees in the jungle so that I can not only leave the antenna up but also

have multi-band capability. If I hoist the antenna where it can be seen,

I would stand a very good chance of it being quickly removed as the 150

pound fishing line that I use to secure the antenna and the copper wire

are both precious commodities here. The OCF dipole doesn't work on 15m,

30m, or 60m, even with a matchbox, so I'll put up separate dipoles for

15 and 30 and feed those two and the OCF to a switch. I don't know yet

if I'll put up a 60m dipole. The 80m OCF is going to be a big enough

project just to get it hoisted to only 25 feet; the jungle's pretty

thick! I'll also be putting up a 20m dipole and maybe a 30m dipole as

well on the ship. Obviously, I sign /MM during any contacts made from

the ship as I did earlier this year. Contacts with me as /MM aren't

valid for DXCC of course, but SKCC ops can count them if my ship's QTH

is near the island. The rig is an FT-857D. I'll be running 100 watts

most of the time, but I'm expecting to do some QRP work from here too.

Most of my operating will be CW as usual (with a cootie most times),

but I'll be on SSB occasionally. Also, I'm a rookie when it comes to

digital comms, but I'm hoping to get my Rigblaster and FLDigi software

configured to do some PSK and RTTY work. While on board the ship, I use

an Icom IC-760 that I have set up in my service shop. I feed the coax

through a helicopter control center that's directly above my shop. My

shipboard antennas are about 115 feet above the water line. I don't have

internet connectivity when I'm at my operating QTH on the island, so I

obviously can't help with real-time QSY requests or the ever present

'EU PSE' when I'm calling for NA & SA stations." OPDX asked Jim about

the status of the club station, possibly using a special VQ prefix for

2014, activity on the satellites and if he would attend the 2014 Dayton

HamVention, and he replied, "Yeah, the ham club station is gone forever

unfortunately. The log periodic has been grounded and dismantled, and

everything in the shack has been turned back over to the Navy. I'm here

six months out of the year of course, but once Larry, VQ9LA left three

years ago, there was no one reliably present during my off times. When

the Navy's MWR office personnel made a routine visit, they found nobody

there since I was Stateside, so they decided that the club was no longer

in use and took what they thought were appropriate steps. By the time I

got back to the island and worked my way up the chain of command, the

deal had been sealed. And yes, I'm working the satellites out here although

there aren't many ops to work. I'll be on the birds when I get home again

next year. I don't know yet if my XYL Cori (KK4CGA) and I will be at Dayton

this coming May or not. We're hoping to go to New England for the ARRL

Centennial in July, and we'll likely do only one trip. My assignment

schedule has me returning to the ship a few days days before the national

convention, and I'm trying to work things out with the guy that's here

when I'm off ship for him to stay a little longer so that I can attend.

He hasn't given me a firm answer yet though..... My plan for 2014 is to

get VQ94JC issued for sometime during the second half of the year. The

local licensing office has no requirements toward my getting a ticket

other than having one already issued by the FCC. My US license expires

in April, and the FCC won't enable the renewing process until 90 days

before the expiration date, so I have to wait until early January to do

that. If I can get the renewed license here - actually just a scanned

copy will do and my XYL will send that - I can turn that over to the

local office, and they should issue me the short-term ticket. Emphasis

on special. It's all legal of course, but the folks in that office are

all British military who typically do one-year tours here before being

re-assigned, so I can never assume that the next person will cooperate.

I'm optimistic though as I've already had 7 VQ9xJC licenses plus the

VQ975FOC ticket earlier this year, so the precedent's pretty well estab-

lished. When I started doing the VQ9xJC bit in 2007, I did it just for

fun and I thought the WPX chasers would like it. I really didn't expect

to still be doing it after so many years. Now I'm looking ahead at rounding

out the decade of annual special callsigns and thinking about what special

prefix variation to initiate after the 10th one!" QSL via ND9M.

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

** IMPORTANT NOTICE/REMINDER ** The Ohio/Penn DX Bulletin now has a new

FAX number. Contributors can now send/fax their DX information to the

following number: 1-419-828-7791 ( F A X only! )

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

SPECIAL NOTE BY EDITOR (Updated 09/15/2013): If you are having a problem

receiving bounced mail by sending mail to me via <kb8nw@barf80.nshore.org>,

please send mail to me via <kb8nw@hotmail.com> ...... TNX de Tedd KB8NW

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

PLEASE NOTICE (as of February 12th), NEW ADDRESS CHANGES FOR THE

OPDX INTERNET HELP/SUBSCRIBE/UNSUBSCRIBE REQUESTS:

Help: <mailto:opdx-request@barf80.org?subject=help>

Subscribe: <mailto:opdx-request@barf80.org?subject=subscribe>

Unsubscribe: <mailto:opdx-request@barf80.org?subject=unsubscribe>

OPDX WORLD-WIDE WEB HOME PAGE (provided by John, K8YSE):

http://www.papays.com/opdx.html

ALSO VISIT THE NORTHERN OHIO DX ASSOCIATION'S WEB PAGES AT:

http://www.nodxa.org/

http://www.facebook.com/NorthernOhioDxAssociation

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Excerpts and distribution of The OPDX Bulletin are granted as long as

KB8NW/OPDX/BARF80 receive credit. To contribute DX info, please send

via InterNet Mail to: kb8nw@barf80.nshore.org - OR - kb8nw@arrl.net

Information can now be faxed to the following "NEW" phone line at:

1-419-828-7791 (F A X only!)

/EXIT

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Additional Bulletin for OPDX InterNet Subscribers.

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

NEWS RELEASE

December 23, 2013

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:

Richard A. Ross

President and Publisher

(516) 681-2922

k2mga@cq-amateur-radio.com

CQ to Realign Publications, Launch New CQ Plus Digital Supplement

Hicksville, NY (December 23, 2013) -- CQ Communications, Inc. today

announced plans to realign its roster of publications and to launch an

exciting new online supplement to its flagship magazine, CQ Amateur Radio.

"The hobby radio market is changing," said CQ Communications President

and Publisher Dick Ross, K2MGA, "and we are changing what we do and how

we do it in order to continue providing leadership to all segments of

the radio hobby." CQ Communications is currently the only publisher in

the United States serving the broad radio hobby, from broadcast band

DXing to amateur radio moonbounce and satellite communications. CQ itself

has been amateur radio's leading independent voice for seven decades.

Effective with the February 2014 issue of CQ, said Ross, content from

the magazine's three sister publications, Popular Communications, CQ VHF

and WorldRadio Online, will be incorporated into CQ's digital edition as

a supplement to be called "CQ Plus." With this change, hobby radio enthus-

iasts of all types will be able to go to a single source - CQ - for articles

on the broader aspects of hobby radio, from shortwave listening and scanner

monitoring to personal two-way services and Internet radio, as well as

amateur radio. Richard Fisher, KI6SN, currently Editor of both Popular

Communications and WorldRadio Online, will be Editor of CQ Plus.

"Our primary audience is ham radio operators," explained Ross, "but

very few hams began their radio involvement as amateurs. Most of us

started out as shortwave listeners, broadcast band DXers, CBers or

scanning enthusiasts. Many continue to be involved in many different

aspects of the radio hobby in addition to amateur radio."

"By consolidating four specialized publications into one," Ross continued,

"we will be better able to keep these multidimensional readers informed on

all aspects of the radio hobby while simultaneously exposing those who are

not hams to all the excitement and opportunities that amateur radio has to

offer. We see this as a win-win for all of our readers and our advertisers,

who will now be able to reach a wider and more diverse audience."

The expanded material will be an integral part of the digital edition of

CQ, and will be included as part of a standard digital subscription. Each

month's digital edition will simply continue beyond where the print edition

ends, offering supplemental material on all aspects of hobby radio communi-

cation and will include selected columns carried over from the other

magazines. The added digital content will make full use of the multimedia

opportunities presented by digital publications.

Current subscriptions to Popular Communications, CQ VHF and WorldRadio

Online will be converted to CQ subscriptions - and receive CQ Plus at no

additional charge! Details will be posted on each magazine website.

There's no need to wait to see the great variety of articles that will

be featured each month in the new CQ and CQ Plus. A preview of the February

issue's Table of Contents is available right now on the CQ website at

<http://bit.ly/19mzbOK>.

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Tedd Mirgliotta, KB8NW - E-mail addresses:

<kb8nw@barf80.nshore.org> <kb8nw@hotmail.com> <kb8nw@arrl.net>

Editor of the Ohio/Penn DX Bulletin (OPDX - DXer's Tool of Excellence)

President of the "Northern Ohio DX Association" (NODXA)

DX Chairman for the "Northern Ohio Amateur Radio Society

ARRL Assistant Director of the Great Lakes Division

Sysop of the "Basic Amateur Radio Frequency BBS" (BARF80.ORG)

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