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The latest dx news/current propagation and more. Visit mike's Amateur Radio Page at www.qsl.net/swlham

Friday, September 26, 2014

SB DX @ WW < KB8NW $OPDX.1182
Ohio/Penn DX Bulletin No. 1182

The Ohio/Penn DX PacketCluster
DX Bulletin No. 1182
BID: $OPDX.1182
September 29, 2014
Editor Tedd Mirgliotta, KB8NW
Provided by BARF80.ORG (Cleveland, Ohio)
Written this week in Murfreesboro, TN

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, N4JF, K5GS, W5KUB, KK6EK, K8GI, K8YSE, KT8D, W8GEX & 60m News,
W9ILY, AT International, DL7UXG & The DX News Letter, DL1SBF, DxCoffee.com,
DX-World.Net, ES1CW, F6AJA & Les Nouvelles DX, I1JQJ/IK1ADH & 425 DX News,
I2MQP & DX Italia News, JA1HGY, JA1TRC, OK1OM, OZ6OM & 50 MHz DX News,
Pete Rayer (ISWL), PS7AB, RSGB IOTA Web Site, Sixitalia Weekly, VA3RJ &
ICPO, and the VHF-DX-Portal (MMMonVHF) for the following DX information.

**** EDITOR'S SPECIAL NOTE: Since OPDX Webmaster, John, K8YSE, is currently
     on a "WESTERN GRID EXPEDITION" (Satellite - see OPDX.1178), the
     bulletin will only be posted to the OPDX Web page as a "TXT" file.
     Those who like reading the OPDX in HTML format will have to wait
     until John returns or updates the Web page. Thanks for your under-
     standing.....

**** EDITOR'S SPECIAL NOTICE: This week's bulletin was sent out earlier
     than normal to accommodate the late CQWW DX RTTY Contest announcements.
     Also, we wanted to provide the OPDX readers with a consolidated
     listing of the CQWW DX RTTY Contest participants.

DXCC COUNTRY/ENTITY REPORT: According to the AR-Cluster Network for the
week of Friday, 19th/September, through Friday, 26th/September there were
222 countries active. Countries available: 3A, 3B8, 3B9, 3D2, 3DA, 3V, 3W,
4J, 4L, 4O, 4S, 4W, 4X, 5A, 5B, 5N, 5R, 5T, 5W, 6Y, 7Q, 7X, 8P, 8R, 9A,
9G, 9H, 9J, 9K, 9M2, 9M6, 9N, 9V, 9Y, A2, A3, A4, A6, A7, A9, AP, BV, BY,
C2, C3, C5, C6, C9, CE, CE0Y, CE9, CM, CN, CP, CT, CT3, CU, CX, CY0, D2,
DL, DU, E3, E4, E5/s, E7, EA, EA6, EA8, EA9, EI, EK, EL, EP, ER, ES, EU,
EX, EY, F, FG, FK, FM, FO, FP, FR, FY, G, GD, GI, GJ, GM, GU, GW, H4, HA,
HB, HB0, HC, HH, HI, HK, HL, HP, HR, HS, HZ, I, IS, J3, J6, J8, JA, JT,
JW, JX, JY, K, KH0, KH2, KH6, 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, PJ5, PJ7,
PY, PY0F, PZ, S0, S5, S7, SM, SP, ST, SU, SV, SV/a, SV5, SV9, T32, T7,
T8, TA, TF, TG, TI, TJ, TK, TN, TR, TT, TU, TY, UA, UA2, UA9, UK, UN, UR,
V3, V4, V5, V7, V8, VE, VK, VK9N, VK9X, VP2E, VP8, VP9, VQ9, VR, VU, XE,
XT, XU, XX9, YA, YB, YI, YJ, YL, YN, YO, YS, YU, YV, Z2, Z3, ZA, ZB, ZD7,
ZD8, ZD9, 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".

3W, VIETNAM. Bruce, 3W3B (AA4XR, HS0ZCY), from Da Nang, Vietnam, will be
active during the CQWW DX RTTY Contest (September 27-28th) as a Single-Op/
High-Power entry. QSL via E21EIC or LoTW.

5W, SAMOA. Cliff, KD6XH, will be active as 5W0XH from Samoa between October
23-28th. Activity will take place before, during and after the CQWW DX SSB
Contest (October 25-26th). QSL via his home callsign.

8R, GUYANA (Special Event). Operators Peter/8R1WD (President of Guyana
Amateur Radio Association) and Isao/JH1ROJ/KG8XV have been active as
8R1AE from Georgetown since September 8th. Activity will last until
October 7th. Operations are to commemorate "Amerindian Heritage Month"
in Republic of Guyana. On September 10th, 1995, Guyana's Prime Minister,
Cheddi Jagan officially designated the month of September as "Amerindian
Heritage Month" to commemorate Stephen Campbell becoming Guyana's first
Amerindian Member of Parliament on September 10th, 1957. Please see
Operators will use a K3, HL1K, microHAM DigiKeyer II into a A3S, wire
dipole and G5RV antennas. QSL via JA1HGY.

C6, BAHAMAS (Update/Reminder). Just a reminder that operators Georg/DK7LX
and Phil/G3SWH, will be active as C6AYS from New Providence Island (NA-001)
between September 30th and October 10th, while en route to and from Grand
Turk Island (NA-003) in the Turks and Caicos Islands (see OPDX.1166/1181).
There will be a log search facility on the following Web page which is
subject to a decent Internet connection, and it will be updated daily at:
                       http://www.g3swh.org.uk/c6ays.html
The log will also be uploaded to the ARRL's "Log Book of the World" (LoTW)
and ClubLog upon his return to the UK. Proper QSLs will be available via
the OQRS facility on the above Web site (preferred), direct via snail
mail with adequate return postage or via the RSGB bureau. Please note
that IRCs are NOT accepted.

CR3/CT9, MADEIRA ISLANDS. The CR3L contest station in Santana on Madeira
Island (AF-014) will be active during the CQWW DX RTTY Contest (September
27-28th) as a Multi-Multi entry. Operators mentioned are Walter/DJ6QT,
Tom/DL6TK, David/DL1DN, Hans/DL8NBE, Juergen/DG7JB and Dieter/DK4QT. QSL
CR3L via DJ6QT. Activity by operators outside of the contest will sign
as CT9/homecall. QSL via their home callsign. Visit the CR3L Santana,
Madeira Island, Web page at:           http://www.cq3l.de

E3, ERITREA (Update/Dated September 23rd). Jay, JA1TRC, from the FGC
Radio Team reports: "Zorro shut down the station around 18:00 UTC on
22nd September for this trip. He reported that he made 4,200+ QSOs,
with his pleasure of giving ATNOs. He said it was the toughest QRV
from DX he had ever experienced and exhausted himself by his official
duties. However, he was healed whenever he heard 'Thank you Zorro for
your hard work.'
  He is on his way back to JA land and expected to arrive Tokyo around
noon on 24th September local time. We will start arranging DXCC and
LoTW documentations and register the LoTW account. We also will provide
ClubLog online check and OQRS for convenient QSLing, after he returns
to SEISA/FGC office."

E4, PALESTINE. Mai, E41MT, was heard this past week on 10 meters SSB.
She lives in Gaza with her husband Walaa, E41WT. QSL via KB9GSY.

IOTA NEWS..............
  OC-213.  Operators Din/YB8RW and Syafyuddin/YB8OUN will be active as
           homecall/p from Batudaka Island between September 27th and
           October 2nd. Activity will be on the HF bands. QSL via their
           home callsigns direct.

  SA-061.  Operators Mark/LU7CAW and Martin/LU9EFO will be active as
           CE5/homecall from Mocha Island between November 4-10th. Their
           activity will depend on good weather conditions. Operations
           will be on various HF bands.

IOTA NEWS (Press Release From RSGB). An additional bulletin (very long)
will be added at the end from the RSGB containing an announcement by the
RSGB President, John Gould, G3WKL, concerning an exciting way forward
for IOTA.

ISWL CALLSIGNS (For October). The following ISWL club callsigns will
be used throughout the month of September 2014:
  GX4BJC/A - Operated from Clacton-on-Sea, in Essex, by George/G1IPU.
             (/A WAB Square TM11 - England, IOTA EU-005, WLOTA 1841).
             George will also operate as GX4BJC/P throughout the month.
             If required, he will give his current WAB Square during
             the QSO.

  MX1SWL/A - Operated from Walton-on-the-Naze, in Essex, by Herbie/G6XOU.
             (/A WAB Square TM22 - England, IOTA EU-005, WLOTA 1841).
             Herbie will also operate as MX1SWL/P throughout the month.
             If required, he will give his current WAB Square during
             the QSO.

    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.

IT9, ITALY. Members of the Italian Contest Club (II9K Team) will be active
as IT9GNG from Sicily during the CQWW DX RTTY Contest (September 27-28th)
as a Multi-2 entry. QSL via IT9GNG.

PROPAGATION FORECAST/REPORT (September 29th-October 5th)....
 Sep/29th AN      Oct/02nd  AN      Oct/04th  AN
 Sep/30th AN      Oct/03rd  AN      Oct/05th  AN
 Oct/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

QSL INFO AND NEWS.....................
  QSL-INFO from DB0SDX (September 26th)
  --------------------------------------------------------------------------
  3B8BAE via K5XK         HB0/DL5YL via DL5YL      TC3AFT via TA3GO
  4A1LM via XE1LM         HB0/DL5YM via DL5YM      TM80GW via F5INJ
  4O/LB9N via LB9N        HG15SPORT via HA7PL      TM89IARU via F6KMF
  8R1AE via JA1HGY        IA5/OK2BOB via OK2BOB    UE16CT via RX3F
  AO2014RWC via EA1URB    II1ENG via I1ANP         UE16MM via RN3RQ
  CO6LC via IZ1GDB        IY1GMS via IK1SPR        UE16MP via RY2S
  CO8JY via KU9C          LJ6BG via LB6BG          UE16MT and UE16HQ via *
  DX8DX via M0OXO         LZ14IARU via LZ-(B)      UE16SA via UA6ABE
  EA6/G3SZU via M0OXO     OJ0AM via OH2BH          UE16SF via UA3RF
  EA6/MW0LUK/P via MW0LUK P49X via W0YK            VP9/WW3S via WW3S
  EG1RSO via EA1AST       PA/DL5ASE via DL5ASE     XT2CML via LZ1CLM
  EG4ATB via EA4TX        PA175RR via PI4KST    YB0AZ via W4JS (new Manager)
  EG7SFC via EC7AKV       PJ5/OL8R via OK6DJ   
  FO/DF1YP via DF1YP      SV9/DJ9XB via DJ9XB  
  HA/DL1EKO/P via DL1EKO  SX7AMF via SZ7SER (d)
    (e) eQSL only  (d) direct only   (B) Bureau only  (L) LoTW only
    (O) OQRS only  (C) ClubLog only
    (*) R4AAS (no Bureau) - OQRS on f1award.ru

  QSL RECEIVED VIA LoTW: 3D2TR, 4H1T, 7X2GK, 9W2GSG, A71AE, CE3RR, DL1EAL,
  DL8WEM, DP5A, E30FB, EA3BOX, EA5IBW, EG1CEL, EG1DEP, EG4GET, EG7MAL,
  FG1JS, FT5ZM, JW8DW, KC4AAA, M1MST, P3F, PY2VZ, R7AB, S50XX, SU9AF,
  SV8CRI, VK6IR, VK9NT, VQ9JC, VQ94JC and ZD9XF

  QSLS RECEIVED VIA MAIL: 3Y0BYP, A71BO, FT5ZM, HC6EP, JT5DX, JX9JKA,
  JW9JKA, N7ET/DU7, RK9UN, S79D, T88CL, YF1AR/5 and ZD8N

  QSLS RECEIVED VIA THE BUREAU: NONE REPORTED THIS WEEK!!

SPECIAL EVENT WEBCAST (It's time for the K6H Special Events Webcast from
the TV set of "Last Man Standing" in Hollywood). Tom Medlin, W5KUB, reports
[edited]: "Please join us during our very special webcast of the Special
Events Station K6H Sept 27th and 28th. Hosts for the event will be Amateur
Radio crew members of the ABC television series 'Last Man Standing'. On
the show, actor Tim Allen plays Mike Baxter, KA0XTT. The show's producer
is our friend, John Amodeo, NN6JA.
  To join the webcast go to <http://W5KUB.com> where the fun begins! During
the special event <W5KUB.COM> will interview many special guests, give tours
of the famous Stage 9 Hollywood set, and also show the California Papa
Systems group operating the station. This is will be one or our best web-
casts as it is packed with activity and possibly some surprises! During
the live webcast, viewers can meet and chat with us at the event or chat
with other ham radio operators from around the world.
  You could win one of a number of prizes, including KA0XTT (Mike Baxter)
or KF0XIE (Mandy Baxter) QSL cards autographed by Tim Allen and Molly
Ephraim, which will be awarded during the webcast! To be eligible for
prizes, please be sure you have a registered login account on <W5KUB.COM>.
If you don’t already have a login there is a link on the login screen to
create a new account.  This year over $10,000 in prizes have been awarded
to viewers of our webcast!  Of course, no purchase is necessary to win a
prize because we don't sell anything!! W5KUB is not affiliated with any
products or companies.

  Special Events webcast schedule:
    Saturday, September 27, 1600 UTC - 1900 UTC (9:00 AM - noon PDT):
    Tour the set, watch the Papa System Group set up for Sunday’s operation,
    and interview guests.

    Sunday, September 28, 1430 UTC - 2200 UTC (7:30 AM - 3:00 PM PDT):
    K6H Special Event, interview special guests, tours, prizes, and much
    more.

    Frequencies: 10 Meters 28.420 SSB, 20 Meters 14.250 SSB and 40 Meters
    7.260 SSB.  There will also be a CW station but the frequency has not
    been determined at this time. DSTAR will be on Reflector 12A. EchoLink
    connections will be through WD4WDW-R and WB5EKU-R.

  Please join our group on Facebook at <https://www.facebook.com/groups/w5kub>
for more details and to keep up with our webcasts year-round.
  Also, please help spread the word by posting this announcement in Facebook
and forwarding this message to your ham radio friends that may not have
received this message!"

SV5, DODECANESE. Wolfgang "Wolf", DL3DRN, will once again be active as
SV5/DL3DRN Rhodos Island (EU-001 and WLOTA L-0045), (QTH Kolymbia) between
September 26th and October 9th. Activity will be holiday style, mostly on
the HF bands using CW, SSB and RTTY, with a FT-857 and a FD4. QSL via his
home callsign, direct or by the Bureau.

TX5, CHESTERFIELD ISLAND (Press Release dated September 21st). Gene, K5GS,
sent out the following: "Chesterfield Islands 2015 DX-pedition (OC-176)--
The Perseverance DX Group (pdxg.net) is pleased to announce their intention
to conduct a DX-pedition to the Chesterfield Islands, currently number 25
most wanted on Clublog. Initial planning has begun for an expedition later
in 2015.
  The expedition yacht Evohe will provide transportation to the island.
Subject to licensing and landing formalities, it is expected a team of up
to 12 operators will be on the island for up to 12 days. The team will
sail from Noumea, New Caledonia.
  Team members committed or considering their participation include:
Pista/HA5AO, Les/W2LK, Heye/DJ9RR, Norbert/DJ7JC, Mike/WA6O and Gene/K5GS.
Additional team members will be added throughout the planning phase.
  Our website is under construction. Watch the usual DX sources for infor-
mation. We will announce additional details as they develop.
  Please direct questions to Gene/K5GS or Pista/HA5AO at their e-mail
address listed on QRZ.com...... 73, Team Chesterfield - 2015"

VK0EK, HEARD ISLAND NEWS (Press Release - NEW VESSEL IS SELECTED AND
EXPEDITION SCHEDULE IS ADVANCED TO NOV / DEC 2015) [edited]: "During the
past several months, we have made considerable progress and some significant
changes in the plan for the Heard Island Expedition. The most important
change is the switch to the vessel Akademik Shokalskiy, operated by Heritage
Expeditions. This switch brings numerous advantages, including:
  * Departure from Fremantle, Australia, significantly more convenient to
    the numerous Australia team members.
  * The vessel will stay with us for the duration at Heard Island, nominally
    21 days. We are discussing the possiblity that the vessel will make a
    side-trip to Kerguelen during the stay on Heard Island, perhaps enabling
    additional activities form that location.
  * Due to the higher vessel speed (14 kt, 16kt max) and the lower distance
    (2209 nm) of the Skokalskiy, the total trip duration is reduced to 35
    days, rather than 45 days previously planned.
  * Calculations by N6BV, K6TU and KY6R indicate that radio propagation is
    optimum in November, significantly better than the previously plan for
    January.
  * Carrying out the expedition in 2015 enables us to apply for a major
    grant (up to $100k) from the Explorers Club, available only for 2015.

  During this period we have also increased the team roster, which currently
has 28 members, more than the minimum of 25 needed for the vessel charter.
The roster will be updated on this website in the relatively near future.
  The budget for the entire expedition is $800k. Considering expected
support, especially from the amateur radio community, we expect to be able
to cap the participant expense at $18k. In addition, the team will be
working on corporate in-kind donations that can reduce this to $15k.
  In summary, we believe we now have all the core elements in place for the
expedition, and have moved from the planning phase into the preparation
phase. We will welcome your contributions of any kind, and still have
spaces for a few more participants.
  We sincerely thank the sponsors and donors to this point, and future
support in advance."
  For information, please contact the Expedition Leader at:
                          schmieder@cordell.org
To see the complete press by Rich, KY6R, go to: http://vk0ek.org/author/ky6r

VK9L, LORD HOWE ISLAND. Mathias, DJ2HD, one of the team members of the
Lagunaria DX Group going to Lord Howe (signing as VK9DLXVK9LM), announced
that he received his VK9DJ callsign/license to use on Lord Howe between
October 10-12th before the main team starts their big operation. Activity
by Mathias will be on CW, SSB and RTTY. QSL via DJ2HD, direct or by the
Bureau.

VP9, BERMUDA. Operators George/K3GP, Ray/ND8L and Jamie/WW3S will be
active as VP9I from Ed/VP9GE's Hamilton Parish QTH (NA-005, WLOTA 0201)
for the CQWW DX RTTY Contest (September 26-27th) as a Multi-Op/All-Band/
Low-Power entry. QSL VP9I via WW3S. Outside of the contest, look for
operators to be active as VP9/homecall. QSL via their home callsigns.

Z3, MACEDONIA. Chris, Z39A, will be active during the CQWW DX RTTY Contest
(September 27-28th) as a Single-Op/Single-Band (20m) entry. QSL via Z39A.

ZY3, BRAZIL (Fort Op). Operators Diego/PY3PDG, Luiz/PU3KTM and Sadi/PU3SSC
will be active as ZY3WTS from Fortress Dom Pedro II, Cacapava South, between
October 3-5th. Activity will be SSB only on 160/80/40/12/10 meters. QSL
via PU3SSC.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------
        The following stations are expected to be active in the
         CQ World Wide DX RTTY Contest (September 27-28th, 2014)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
       Thanks to Bill, NG3K, for providing OPDX readers with the following
consolidated listing of the participants in the 2014 CQWW DX RTTY Contest.
For a more detailed listing (and up-to-date changes/corrections) in HTML
format, please visit Bill's Web page at:
           http://www.ng3k.com/Misc/cqr2014.html  (By call sign)
           http://www.ng3k.com/Misc/cqrd2014.html (By entity)
           http://www.ng3k.com/Misc/cqrz2014.html (By zone)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Contest        DXCC       CQZ     Class         QSL
  Callsign       Entity                           Route
------------------------------------------------------------------------
3G1B             Chile      12      M/?           HA1AG
3W3B             Vietnam    26      SO HP         LoTW; QSL via E21EIC
C37NL            Andorra    14                    C37URA
CR3L             Madeira    33      M/M           DJ6QT
EA9LZ       Ceuta & Melilla 33      SO            LoTW; QSL via EA5KB
EE7X             Spain      14      M/?           EA7JX
EI4KI            Ireland    14      SOAB HP       M0OXO
EI6JK            Ireland    14      SOAB          LoTW
ES9C             Estonia    15      M/?           LoTW
IQ1RY            Italy      15      M/M           IW1FNW
IT9GNG           Sicily     15      M/2           IT9GNG
LX7I             Luxembourg 14      M/2           LX2A
MJ5Z             Jersey     14      SOAB LP       LoTW; QSL via M0CFW
OH2ET            Finland    15      M/2           OH2ET
P40HF            Aruba      08      M/?           W6HGF
PJ5   Saba & Sint Eustatius 08      M/?           OK6DJ
PJ7PL          Sint Maarten 08      SO LP         WA1ZAM
TM1A             France     14      M/?           F6KOP (B)
VE2CSI           Canada     02      M/?           LoTW; QSL via M0URX
VK6XX            Australia  29      SOAB          LoTW
VP9I             Bermuda    05      M/S           WW3S
WP3C            Puerto Rico 08      SOAB LP       W3HNK
YB9/HA3JB        Indonesia  28                    ClubLog
YB0NDT           Indonesia  28      SOSB 15M      LoTW; QSL via YB0NDT (d)
YE2C             Indonesia  28      M/S           LoTW
ZA/S56A          Albania    15      SOAB LP       LoTW; QSL via S56A
ZA/Z35T          Albania    15      M/S           Z35T
Z39A             Macedonia  15      SOSB 20M      Z39A
ZD8RH      Ascension Island 36      SOSB LP       G4DBW
ZF2AV         Cayman Island 08      SOAB LP       NR6M
    (e) eQSL only  (d) direct only   (B) Bureau only  (L) LoTW only
    (O) OQRS only  (C) ClubLog only

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
TO BE ADDED TO THE OPDX MAILING LIST -- Click or send requests to:
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                
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
* All excerpts and distribution of "The OPDX Bulletin" are granted as
  long as KB8NW/OPDX/BARF80 receives credit.

** To contribute DX info, please send via InterNet Mail to:
   <kb8nw@barf80.nshore.org> OR <kb8nw@arrl.net> OR <kb8nw@hotmail.com>
   Information can now be faxed to the following phone line at:
                           1-419-828-7791 (F A X only!)
/EXIT
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Additional Bulletin for OPDX InterNet Subscribers.
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Radio Society of Great Britain -- Date: 24 September 2014

       The way forward for Islands on the Air (IOTA)

Islands on the Air (IOTA) celebrated its 50th anniversary as a premier DX
programme in July 2014, under the care of the RSGB and the IOTA manager,
Roger Balister G3KMA. The last fifty years has seen the programme grow to
2,500 active island chasers and approximately 15,000 more casual partic-
ipants. It is perhaps second in scale and scope to the DXCC award; indeed,
many would argue it is a step beyond that programme. The 50th Anniversary
event in Windsor was very successful, with enthusiasts travelling from the
UK and overseas to celebrate this important milestone in DX history.

Those close to it have been anxious to ensure the sustainability of the
IOTA programme over the next 50 years and have spent some time reviewing
the challenges and opportunities it faces. A number of issues have been
identified: firstly, the heavy reliance of the programme on just a few key
people; secondly, the need to ensure that IT support for the programme is
modern and robust and will include online island credit submission akin to
LoTW; and thirdly, a requirement for a friendlier and more accessible
website which will be of greater use to both newcomers and the more ex-
perienced island chaser.

The review accepted without question that all island and participant
databases should be preserved and that any changes should be backwards-
compatible. In addition, it was important to seek ways to rejuvenate and
ensure the sustainability of the programme. This vision we loosely called
‘New IOTA’.

Over the summer, one particular pathway began to emerge. It was that of
partnership rather than a top-down approach which had characterised some
aspects of the programme’s management in the past. The RSGB Board is agreed
that the IOTA team should be invited to establish a group to develop and
implement the “New IOTA” concept, with the RSGB providing seed-corn finance
and other appropriate support. This approach acknowledges that the strength
of the programme lies with its national and international participants whom,
we are assured, have the motivation, skills and enthusiasm to develop the
programme and to promote it to its full potential. This way forward has the
full support of the IOTA team and has been welcomed by the wider IOTA com-
munity both at home and abroad.

Our initial feedback is best summed up by Don Chamberlain MD, W9DC, who
said:

“I am excited that the RSGB is combining with IOTA enthusiasts around the
world to create a ‘New IOTA’ program. Their efforts will resolve most
existing QSL and submission issues and will encourage IOTA chasers to
participate in this very prestigious and challenging award.”

Over the next nine months the group will be asked, through a market/user-led
approach, to develop a plan for the ‘New IOTA’ programme to embrace manage-
ment and governance, IT, data management and security, and a review of
partnering options and any other relevant topics. It is envisaged that this
will lead to a devolved structure, with a Memorandum of Understanding to
clearly delineate the responsibilities of all parties.

The Society and the programme’s Management believe that the resulting
governance structure, management processes and IT framework will ensure
the IOTA programme is not only sustainable into the next years of the
21st century, but continues to grow and play the prominent role that it
has done in Amateur Radio DXing and contest activity for the last fifty
years.

John Gould G3WKL
President, RSGB

- Ends
For further information:
Contact: Heather Parsons, Communications Manager
Email: heather.parsons@rsgb.org.uk

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

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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