The Ohio/Penn Dx PacketCluster
DX Bulletin No. 1141
BID: $OPDX.1141
December 16, 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, N2IEN, NG3K & ADXO, W3UR & The Daily DX, KR4OJ, N4AA & QRZ DX, WC6DX, N7OU, K8GI, K8YSE, W8GEX & 60m News, AT International, BA4DW, DJ7PR, DK8JB & The DX News Letter, DL1SBF, DxCoffee.com, DX-World.Net, ES1CW, F5NQL, F6AJA & Les Nouvelles DX, HK3W, I1JQJ/IK1ADH & 425 DX News, I2MQP & DX Italia News, JJ2QXI, OZ6OM & 50 MHz DX News, PA0RRS, Pete's DX-Newsdesk, PJ4DX, PT7WA, RSGB IOTA Web Site, Sixitalia Weekly, VA3RJ & ICPO, the VHF-DX-Portal (MMMonVHF), VK2HV, ZS4BS and ZS5J for the following DX information.

DXCC COUNTRY/ENTITY REPORT
According to the AR-Cluster Network for the week of Sunday, 8th-December, through Sunday, 15th-December there were 217 countries active. Countries available: 3A, 3B8, 3B9, 3V, 3W, 3X, 4J, 4L, 4O, 4S, 4U1I, 4X, 5A, 5B, 5R, 5T, 5W, 5Z, 6W, 6Y, 7X, 8P, 8R, 9A, 9H, 9J, 9K, 9L, 9M2, 9M6, 9V, 9X, 9Y, A4, A6, A7, A9, AP, BV, BY, C3, C5, C6, C9, CE, CE9, CM, CN, CP, CT, CT3, CU, CX, D2, D4, DL, DU, E5/s, E6, E7, EA, EA6, EA8, EA9, EI, EK, EP, ER, ES, EU, EX, EZ, F, FG, FH, FJ, FK, FM, FO, FR, FW, FY, G, GD, GI, GJ, GM, GU, GW, HA, HB, HB0, HC, HH, HI, HK, HL, HP, HR, HS, HZ, I, IS, J2, J3, J6, J7, J8, JA, JD/o, JT, JW, JY, K, KG4, KH0, 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, PZ, S2, S5, S7, S9, SM, SP, ST, SU, SV, SV5, SV9, T2, T32, T7, T8, TA, TF, TG, TI, TJ, TK, TR, TT, TU, UA, UA2, UA9, UK, UN, UR, V3, V4, V5, V6, V7, V8, VE, VK, VP2E, VP2V, VP5, VP8, VP8/h, VP9, VQ9, VR, VU, VU7, 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 (Update)
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). QSL via IK0FTA. Log will be uploaded to LoTW. Look for more details to be forthcoming.

3B9, RODRIGUES ISLAND
Eric, OE4AAC, will once again be active as 3B9/OE4AAC from Rodrigues Island (AF-017) between February 10-18th. Activity will be holiday style on 40-10 meters CW. QSL via OE4AAC.

C9, MOZAMBIQUE
Operators John/ZS5J and YL Beth/2W0VOW are now in Ponta de Ouro and are active as C91J and C91B, respectively. John informs OPDX that they will be there until December 20th. They will be operating from an Indian Ocean beachfront house (see pictures from Beth on QRZ.com under C91B) on 20/15/10 meters using CW and SSB. John also mentioned on Thursday,
"We put up a 43 ft vertical earlier yesterday, but were having problems with that antenna. We will try to rectify this antenna to allow us to operate 40/30/17 and 12 on SSB/CW also. QSL only direct to PO Box 102303, Meerensee, 3901 SOUTH AFRICA (with 3 USDs and your QSL card, and you will get a QSL card back direct via air mail)."
CARIBBEAN TOUR
Operators Mek/SP7VC, Ted/SP3IPB and YL Kate/SQ7OYL plan to activate a few islands in the Caribbean between January 11-30th. The tentative schedule and callsigns are as follows:
January 11-12th - Martinique; callsigns are FM/SP7VC, FM/SP3IPB and FM/SQ7OYL.
Janaury 13-14th - St. Lucia (J6); No activity planned.
January 15-16th - Dominica; callsigns J79VC and J79PB.
January 17-18th - Guadeloupe; callsigns FG/SP7VC, FG/SP3IPB and FG/SQ7OYL.
January 18-22nd - Montserrat; callsigns VP2MPG and VP2MTK.
January 21st - Antigua; callsigns V26/SP7VC and V26/SP3IPB
No details on what bands and modes they will use. QSL via their home callsigns. Watch for updates on Mek's Blog page at: http://www.sp7vc.dxing.pl/

A91, BAHRAIN
Special event station A91MCAT is now active until December 31st. Activity is to celebrate that Manama city was chosen to be the ‘Capital of Arab Tourism 2013’ by the Arab Tourism ministers who met in Aqaba, Jordan, in 2011. Operators mentioned are Fawaz/A92AA, Maher/A92DX, Ely/A93LT, Salvatore/IZ8CLM and Samir/OD5SK. The first 100 QSOs will receive an award certificate (PDF format) signed by the minister of Culture H.E Shaikha May bint Mohammad Al Kkhalifa. QSL via IZ8CLM. Also, see QRZ.com for more details.

AFRICAN TOUR (Update/Reminder)
Operators Mathias/DJ2HD and Ulmar/DK1CE, will once again be active as V5/DJ2HD and V5/DK1CE from Namibia between now and January 18th (2014). This is just one part of their 4x4 trip through different African countries. Activity will be holiday style on CW, SSB and RTTY, but will also include a SSB entry in the DARC 10m Contest (January 14th). During this time frame, Mathias and Ulmar will also travel to and be active as 7P8DJ and 7P8CE, respectively, from Lesotho between December 22-24th. Their plans also include to be active from South Africa (as ZS/DJ2HD and ZS/DK1CE). Mathias/DJ2HD and Ulmar/DK1CE will be joined by Wolfgang/DH3WO and will be active from Botswana between December 24-30th, signing A25DJ, A25CE and A25WO, respectively. QSL all callsigns via their home callsigns, direct or by the Bureau.

DXCC NEWS
Bill Moore, NC1L, ARRL Awards Branch Manager, reports that the following operations are approved for DXCC credit:
9X0XA - Rwanda; 2013 Operation
T6TM - Afghanistan; Current operation
VU7AG – Lakshadweep Isllands; November 20th-December 10th, 2013
DXCC NEWS (Deadline Reminder!)
Bill Moore, NC1L, ARRL Awards Branch Manager, reports:
"This is a reminder to all DXCC program participants that the deadline for the 2013 calendar year ends on Tuesday December 31, 2013. In order to appear in the Annual Listing, published in the elec- tronic version of the DXCC Yearbook, you must have your submission post- marked no later than December 31, 2013. Since the DXCC workload usually peaks around this time each year I recommend that applicants not wait until the last minute to get their submissions in. Besides being the heavy period for DXCC, keep in mind that it is also around the holidays so the post office can contribute to any delays in getting mail to DXCC."
For more and complete details, see the DXCC Blog at: http://www.arrl.org/dxcc-blog

E5, SOUTH COOK ISLANDS
David, BA4DW, is expected to be active as E51CDW during a holiday style operation from Rarotonga Island (OC-013) between January 21-27th (2014). He informs OPDX that his activity will be on the major HF bands using CW and SSB. QSL via BA4DW.

FG, GUADELOUPE
Jean-Pierre, F6ITD, will once again be active as FG/F6ITD from Guadeloupe and two of its islands between January 28th and March 25th (2014). Activity will be on all HF bands using SSB and the Digital modes. He plans to visit the following two islands in the IOTA NA-102 group:
January 29th-February 9th - Basse Terre Island (main island); his callsign FG/F6ITD.
February 9th-March 25th - La Desirade Island; his callsign FG/F6ITD and TO6D during contest.
QSL via his home callsign, by the Bureau, direct or LoTW (preferred). Logs will be uploaded to ClubLog and LoTW. For more details, see: http://www.qrz.com/db/FGF6ITD

FO/A, AUSTRAL ISLANDS (Update to OPDX.1140 - Callsign)
A group of six operators from the UK will operate as TX6G from the Island of Raivavae in the Australs (OC-114) between March 20th and April 1st (2014). A Web site will be launched with further details once the other details are confirmed.

IOTA NEWS
AS-015. Richard, PA0RRS, will once again be active as 9M2MRS from Penang Island between December 31st and February 3rd (2014). Activity will be on 40-10 meters using CW, RTTY and PSK. He states that he will do special requests on SSB (but not preferred). His equipment is a Yaesu FT450d (100w) with a YT450 antenna tuner into a G5RV junior (40-10 meter) antenna which he will put up on the balcony of his hotel [with a lot of bents, but it had worked 'OK' last year]. QSL via his home callsign, by the Bureau, the OQRS on ClubLog (preferred) or direct to: Rich Smeets, C. Gerlingsstraat 60, 5121 ZR Rijen, The Netherlands (due to new postal rates there is a need for return postagem of 2.00 USDs or 1 NEW IRC -- in all cases via Clublog (OQRS) is much cheaper!). Log will also be uploaded to LoTW later.

AS-124. Members of the Emirates Amateur Radio Society (EARS) will be active as A63RI from Dibba Rock Island between December 19-23rd. Activity will be on all HF bands using CW and SSB. QSL via IZ8CLM.

AS-153. Operators Ariff/VU3ARF and Asish/VU2GMT will be active as VU3ARF/p from Jambudwip Island (WWFF VUFF-091), an island that has never been activated in the West Bengal State IOTA Group, between July 23-31st. Activity will be on 40-10 meters using CW and SSB. They will be an entry in the RSGB IOTA Contest (July 26-27th). QSL via VU3ARF, by the Bureau or direct to: Ariff Mohammad, 72/A Elliot Road, Calcutta 700016, India. For updates, watch: http://vu3arf.org/

EU-045. Luigi, IK8HCG, will be active as IB0R from Ventotene Island (IIA LT-011, MIA MI-118, WWFF IFF-110) during the RSGB IOTA Contest (July 26-27th, 2014) as a Single-Op entry. QSL via his home callsign direct ONLY.

OC-272. (Postponed) Operators Budi/YF1AR, Imam/YF4IR and Joppy/YB8XM were expected to be active from Kisar Island between December 21-25th, but had to "postpone due to a new assignment". Visit their Web site at:
http://www.yf1ar.com/2013/12/kisar-island-oc-272-new-iota.html

SA-025. Operators Raimundo/PT7CG and Renner/PY7RP will be active as ZX8DX from Pedra do Sal Beach on Grande de Santa Isabel Island between December 26-30th. Activity will be on all the HF bands using SSB. QSL via PT7CG.

K9W WAKE ATOLL PRESS RELEASE #7 (Dated December 9th)
"The Wake Atoll Commemorative Team wants to thank the DX community for the outstanding response to 'The Forgotten 98 Commemorative DXpedition'. Also, we need to express our gratitude to our hosts on Wake, the United States Air Force. Our DXpedition was warmly welcomed and their support was invaluable.

The final QSO percentage per continent are Asia 32.3%, Europe 26.9%, NA 35.3%, OC 3.1%, SA 1.8% and AF 0.6%. The Team is extremely pleased to have distributed the QSOs to much needed parts of the world, especially EU which has the most difficult path to Wake Island. There were 53,765 CW, 38700 SSB and 7562 Digital QSOs.

The Team has uploaded all 100,000 plus QSOs into ClubLog and the printed QSLs are in transit to the QSL Manager, Joe, AA4NN. Most, if not all, corrections have been made to the Clublog upload. Please use info@wake2013.org for possible problems with the ClubLog upload.

As mentioned on our website, the use of OQRS is highly recommended. It is an efficient and faster method for returning your QSL.
http://wake2013.org/pages/qsl.html
Please support our Sponsors and the various worldwide DX Foundations and local clubs. Those contributions, as well as, your individual donations provided the necessary funding for this extremely expensive DXpedition. Without this unwavering assistance, Wake Island would still be high on the 'Most Wanted List'. All of us in the DX community owe them (and you) a hearty round of applause!

Happy Holidays to all! -- 73, Lou N2TU and the Wake 2013 Commemorative Team"
OOPPPSSS DEPARTMENT
Last week under the "RI20, SOUTH SHETLAND ISLANDS", we forgot to mention that the details and the Russian translation was provided by Will, WC6DX.

PJ4, BONAIRE
Steve (ex-9M6DXX and 9M8Z. Also G4JVG and KH0UN) informed OPDX this past week:
"After moving to Bonaire just over 3 weeks ago, I finally received my licence today [December 9th]. My new call is PJ4DX. I'm QRV using an FT-950 and a low Spiderbeam, plus a 40m quarter-wave vertical with elevated radials. All equipment is kindly loaned by Peter, PJ4NX, until my own equipment arrives from Malaysia early in 2014. Future plans are for higher power, a higher beam and an 80m antenna. QSL infor- mation is via Tim, M0URX, OQRS (preferred), direct, or via the RSGB Bureau. Logs will also be uploaded to LoTW and ClubLog on a regular basis."
PJ5, ST. EUSTATIUS
Nao, JN1RVS, will be active as PJ5/K6NAO between December 22-29th. Activity will be on 40-10 meters using CW, RTTy and PSK. QSL via the OQRS (ClubLog) or JA1HGY.

PROPAGATION FORECAST/REPORT (December 16-22nd)
Dec/16th AN Dec/19th AN Dec/21st AN
Dec/17th AN Dec/20th AN Dec/22nd AN
Dec/18th 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 15th)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
3Z20SOT via SP1PEA EG3SBD via EA3URS PH9HB/AM via PH9HB (d)
3Z3ZIMA via SP3SBY EH5RE via EB5AQB RT110RAEM via UA6YW
4X/OG1G via R3AR IQ9UI via IT9CHU S51ZZ via S54G (d/B)
6W/AA1AC via AA1AC IV3/YO8CNA via YO8CNA SN110RAEM via SP9HTY
8P9IU via KI1U IY0CXII via IQ0RM SN20SOT via SP1RKT
A6/PH9HB via PH9HB (d) ON4YOTA via ON9CFG TT8ES via IK3GES
C91B via ZS5J (d) OO7R via ON6OM UP110RAEM via RW6HS (d)
C91J via ZS5J (d) OP2A via ON5CD XW0YJY via E21EIC
CE1/AL4Q via DJ8QP OQ4B via ON4BHQ YN5Z via K7ZO
CT8/DF9WB via DF9WB P40GH via WA2TTI YO0YOTA via ON9CFG
E6RQ via VK4FI PA14HNY via PA1AW ZS9MADIBA via (ZS-B/L)
E720IARU via E71A PB14HNY via PA1AW
(e) eQSL only (d) direct only (B) Bureau only (L) LoTW only
IRCS ABOUT TO EXPIRE (Reminder/ADVICE). Jess, KR4OJ, informs OPDX readers: "As most everyone knows, IRCs purchased after Jan 2009, are due to expire on Dec 31, 2013. I had several & went to my local post office to cash them in. Of course, they had no idea what an IRC was, and had never heard of them. After some phone calls, they finally acknowledged them, but DID NOT want to redeem them for full value. To save yourself some time & to get the full current value of your IRCs, in the USA, ($1.10) go to the following USPS bulletin, print and carry it with you. You can get $$$, however I just swapped mine for the new 'Universal' Forever Stamp." http://pe.usps.com/text/imm/immc3_020.htm#ep392074

K2QXI/KH0 via JJ2QXI. Mack, JJ2QXI, states he will accept SASE/SAE + sufficient postage/IRC/GSs, and Bureau request via E-mail. For details, please see K2QXI on the QRZ.com.

ZS2DL QSL CHANGE. As of January 1, 2014, QSL Manager Buzz, NI5DX, will no longer be assisting ZS2DL as his manager. Donovan has decided that he will handle his own QSLing. Buzz will continue to answer any QSL requests for contacts prior to January 1, 2014, until March 1st. At that time, ALL requests for a ZS2DL card must go direct to ZS2DL. All Bureau cards must go to ZS2DL as NI5DX will no longer reply to Bureau cards after January 1st.

QSL RECEIVED VIA LoTW: 3DA0ET, 5J0R, 8P5A, 9A4WY, 9J3A, CE7FKG, CN8KD, CR3E, CT1IUK, D3AA, DH7LF, DL6KVA, DM5TI, DR1D, EA7ST, EA7TG, EA8/RW3DO, EB2AM, ES9C, FY5KE, H44IND, HC2IOH, HK4SAN, J73A, JA2BDR, JA5IU, JH5RXS, JJ0NCC, JJ1KZZ, KL7KY, KL7RA, LA7HJA, LX7I, LZ1520YYD, OC4CW, OE2XEL, OK1JMJ, OX3XR, PA0LOU, PJ2/K2PLF, PJ6/N7QT, PJ7W, PP1CZ, PY6KW, R7NK, S51YI, UU2JQ, VA7AM, VE2EBK, VK2GWK, VP9I, VU7AG, VY2SS, XE2S, XR0ZR, ZC4LI, ZD8O, ZF1A, ZM90DX, ZS6RJ and ZS8C

QSLS RECEIVED VIA MAIL: 5A1AL, 5H3EE, GN4FOC, GT4FOC, JA7SGV/6V, KG4HF, TO2TT, TU5XV and VK0GB

QSLS RECEIVED VIA THE BUREAU: NONE REPORTED THIS WEEK!

SOUTHEAST & ASIAN TOUR
Vincent, F4BKV, will be visiting some Southeast Asian countries until December 22nd. Activity will be very limited on this trip. His tentative scheduled is as follows:
December 14th - Singapore (AS-109); callsign probably 9V/F4BKV
December 17-18th - Brunei (OC-088); callsign probably V8/F4BKV
December 20-22nd - Labuan Island (OC-133), East Malaysia; callsign probably 9M6/F4BKV
QSL via his home callsign, direct or by the Bureau. He does have a log search and OQRS at: http://www.f4bkv.net/

SV/A, MT. ATHOS
"The Daily DX" is reporting that Monk Apollo, SV2ASP/A, the only active station from Mount Athos, has lost all of his antennas during a big wind storm last week. Apollo does not know when he will have the time to get something back up in the air. The SteppIR crashed into the garden. SV2ASP is currently in Corinth, Greece, for the olive harvest.

TM70, FRANCE (Special Event)
Look for special event station TM70BBC to be active between June 3-13th. The special callsign is to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the landing of allies forces in Normandy. See QRZ.com for more details and QSL info. QSL Manager is F5UOW.

TO22, GUADELOUPE
Gildas, F6HMQ, will once again be active as TO22C from Guadeloupe between February 20th and March 6th. Activity will be on all bands, plus an entry in the ARRL International DX SSB Contest (March 1-2nd). QSL via F6HMQ.

XU, CAMBODIA
Pat, N2IEN, informs OPDX that he will be active as XU7AEV between now and December 21st. Activity will be holiday style and should be mostly CW on 40-10 meters. He is using an IC-7000 and a Buddipole in a vertical configuration. Pat mentioned on Friday that he tried calling CQ on 10.105 MHz, but the band seems completely dead. QSL via his home callsign; SASE preferred. He will also attempt to upload log to LoTW.

XU7, CAMBODIA
Alex, M6CFW, will once again be active as XU7AEU from Phnom Penh between January 9-14th. He states, "I'll be taking some antennas for different bands and will try for some phone contacts as well as my normal PSK working - sorry I still haven't learnt CW to a good enough standard. This time I'll be taking a Yaesu FT-897D with me as my trusty Icom probably won't survive another flight (thanks Emirates). I'll try to operate for several hours each evening (UTC+7), and maybe a few hours to suit North & South America." If like last time, Alex will post his log to eQSL immediately, Clublog at the end of the trip and LoTW. QSL cards are available direct via his home callsign of M6CFW in England, along with a self addressed envelope and 2 euro or 2 USDs or a valid IRC. If you are in the UK you can just send an SASE. CARDS WILL NOT BE SENT VIA THE BUREAU.

YJ, VANUATU
Operators Bill/N7OU and Rocky/NE7D will be active from Port Vila, Vanuatu, between February 11-25th (2014). Callsigns to be announced. Activity will be on 160-10 meters using CW. They will be using verticals on a north-facing shore and 500w amps. They will also be a Multi-Single entry in the ARRL International DX CW Contest (February 15-16th). QSL via their home callsigns. Logs will be uploaded to LoTW as soon as they return to the USA.

ZS9, SOUTH AFRICA (Special callsign to celebrate President Nelson Mandala's legacy)
The SARL will be operating special event stations from around South Africa using the callsign ZS9MADIBA. Members of the SARL are invited to apply for time slots to operate ZS9MIDIBA from their own shacks. QSLing is via the Bureau or by sending your QSL to: SARL, P.O. Box 1721, Strubens- vallei 1735, South Africa. You may also use Logbook of the World (LoTW). To receive the special QSL card by mail, include 1 USDs for postage.

ZS9MADIBA is the South African Radio League Special Event Station commemorating the life and recent passing of Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela, elder statesman and first democratically-elected President of the Republic of South Africa. Affectionately referred to as "Madiba", he became one of the most recognized leaders in the world and was instrumental in the peaceful transition of South Africa from minority rule to a constitutional democracy. South Africans join the people of the world in mourning his passing and celebrating his legacy. For more details and the operating schedule, visit:
http://www.amateurradio.org.za/zs9madiba.htm


Additional Bulletin for OPDX InterNet Subscribers


From: Tim Duffy k3lr@k3lr.com
Subject: Contest University USA 2014 Schedule

2014 will be a GREAT year for Contest University (CTU)!

In the USA for the first time - there will be TWO different Contest University all day sessions during 2014. There will be NO overlap or repeat papers given between these TWO CTU events. Each CTU will have unique and updated presentations - so it is best to attend BOTH CTU's in 2014 so you do not miss anything!

The first USA CTU will be the Dayton Contest University on Thursday May 15, 2014 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel. This is the day before the Dayton Hamvention opens. There will be over 20 presentations (all new) by top contesters and station builders. With four classrooms running most of the jam packed day. CTU Dayton registration will open up soon (during the next two weeks). Space at CTU USA Dayton will be limited - and Crowne Plaza hotel rooms are already fully booked.

Check the official CTU website for registration and updated information:
http://contestuniversity.com/

Please take a look at the VIDEOS section for highlights from the USA CTU 2013 sessions.

The second USA CTU will be held at the historic 2014 ARRL National Centennial Convention in Hartford, CT on July 17, 2014.

The CTU Centennial will be an all day event with six CTU presentations in one class room. Again, the ARRL CTU will have six NEW presentations that are not the same as the CTU Dayton event.

You can learn more about the ARRL Centennial event here:
http://www.arrl.org/files/file/Centennial%202014/QST_Nov_Centennial_Ad.pdf

Registration for the ARRL Centennial CTU will be handled through the ARRL.

Please forward this CTU update email to your contest clubs.
CU at TWO USA CTU's in 2014!
73,
Tim K3LR
Contest University Chairman



** IMPORTANT NOTICE/REMINDER **