The Ohio/Penn Dx PacketCluster
DX Bulletin No. 1297
BID: $OPDX.1297
December 26, 2016
Editor Tedd Mirgliotta, KB8NW
Provided by BARF80.ORG (Cleveland, Ohio)
Written/Sent From Strongsville, Oh

Thanks to the Northern Ohio Amateur Radio Society, Northern Ohio DX Association, Ohio/Penn PacketCluster Network, AB5K & the AR TelNet Clusters Network, NJ1Q & W1AW, WO2N, NG3K & ADXO, W3UR & The Daily DX, N4AA & QRZ DX, WB6RSE, K8GG, K8GI, K8YSE, W8GEX & 60m DX News, W9ILY, DL1SBF, DL7UXG & The DX News Letter, DL7VEE, DxCoffee.com, DXNews.com, DX-World.Net, ES1CW, F6AJA & Les Nouvelles DX, G8FXM, I1JQJ/IK1ADH & 425 DX News, I2MQP & DX Italia News, M0OXO, OZ6OM & 50 MHz DX News, RSGB IOTA Web Site, Sixitalia Weekly, VA3RJ & ICPO, and VHF-DX-Portal (MMMonVHF) 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 daughter Lilly Grace), and I (KB8NW) would like to wish all DXers, Contesters and OPDX readers a very "Happy Holiday, Merry Christmas and Season's Greetings". Thanks to the many individuals who sent holiday wishes to my family and me........
73 and Have a Great Holiday de Tedd KB8NW

P.S. Just a reminder.
Due to the Christmas and New Year holidays and family commitments, there is a strong possibility of a much smaller or no bulletin for the next week. However, special announcements will be sent out. Please keep sending the info, you never know what I may do.... Thanks for understanding...
73 de Tedd KB8NW

DXCC COUNTRY/ENTITY REPORT
According to the AR-Cluster Network for the week of Sunday, 18th/December, through Sunday, 25th/December there were 220 countries active. Countries available: 3A, 3B8, 3B9, 3D2, 3DA, 3V, 3W, 4J, 4L, 4O, 4S, 4U1I, 4W, 4X, 5A, 5B, 5H, 5R, 5T, 5W, 5X, 5Z, 6W, 6Y, 7P, 7X, 8P, 8R, 9A, 9G, 9H, 9J, 9K, 9M2, 9M6, 9Q, 9V, 9X, 9Y, A2, A3, A4, A6, A7, A9, AP, BV, BY, C2, C3, C5, C9, CE, CE9, CM, CN, CP, CT, CT3, CU, CX, D2, D4, DL, DU, E4, E5/n, E5/s, E7, EA, EA6, EA8, EA9, EI, EK, EL, EP, ER, ES, ET, EU, EX, EY, EZ, F, FG, FK, FM, FP, FR, FY, G, GD, GI, GJ, GM, GU, GW, H4, HA, HB, HB0, HC, HI, HK, HK0/a, HL, HP, HR, HS, HZ, I, IS, J3, J6, J7, J8, JA, JD/m, 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, S0, S2, S5, S7, SM, SP, ST, SU, SV, SV5, SV9, T2, T7, TA, TF, TG, TI, TJ, TK, TR, TT, TY, TZ, UA, UA2, UA9, UK, UN, UR, V2, V3, V4, V5, V7, V8, VE, VK, VK9N, VP2E, VP5, VP8, VP8/h, VP9, VR, VU, XE, XW, YA, YB, YI, YL, YN, YO, YS, YU, YV, Z2, Z3, ZA, ZB, ZD7, 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".

9G, GHANA. Members of "Six G Team" will be active as 9G5X from Ghana
between March 7-21st, 2017. Activity will be on 160-10 meters using CW,
SSB and RTTY. Operators mentioned are Bob/5B4AGN, Alan/G3XAQ, Steve/G3VMW,
Fred/G4BWP, Neil/G6MC and Iain/M0PCB. QSL via M0OXO, ClubLog's OQRS or
LoTW.

CN, MOROCCO. Russell, G5XW, is once again active as CN2XW from Essaouira
until December 27th. This is another backpacking type holiday, but he
plans to be active using only 100 watts into some sort of wire vertical/
dipole. Operations will be CW only on 40/30/20/17 meters. QSL via G5XW.

CQWW PLAQUE ADDED. Dave, G8FXM, informs OPDX that the passing of Steve,
GW4BLE/SK, on December 2nd, "His favorite contest was the annual CQWW
SSB Contest where he excelled for over 40 years. Worldwide there can't
have been an SSB contester who didn't recognize his call. To this end
CQWW has agreed that a plaque in memory of Steve will be awarded to the
leading EU SSB Classic section every year. This will be managed by the
World Wide Radio Operators Foundation. This award is now in place and
will be available from this year onwards. It is worth noting that only
one other UK Amateur so far has an award in memory of their name and
that's the legendary Al Slater, G3FXB."

D4, CAPE VERDE. Vlad, UA4WHX, continues his African tour and is now active
as D44TVB from Santiago Island (AF-005) in the Cape Verde Island group.
Activity has been on 40/30/20/17 meters using CW, SSB and RTTY. As always,
the length of his stay is not known. QSL via his home callsign.

E5, SOUTH COOK ISLANDS. Milan, OK1DWC, is active once again as E51DWC
from the Rarotonga Islands (OC-013, WAZ-32) and will be there at least
until sometime early 2017. Milan is active every day on 160-10 meters
using CW, SSB and RTTY. QSL via his home callsign. Confirmation is not
a problem across all OQRS's and the information can be found on:
                         http://QRZ.com/lookup/E51DWC
                         http://QRZ.COM/lookup/OK1DWC
                         http://www.hamqth.com/E51DWC

HC8, GALAPAGOS ISLANDS. Geoff, G8OFQ, will once again be active as HC8/G8OFQ
from Isabela Island (SA-004) between August 1st and October 31st, 2017.
Activity will be on 160-6 meters using SSB only. There is a possibility
of some satellite activity on 2m and 70cm SSB. Geoff is there working as
a volunteer for the Galapagos National Park at the Giant Tortoise Breeding
Center (see pictures on QRZ.com) on Isabela Island. QSL via G8OFQ: Geoff
Dobson, 9 Fitzpain Road, Ferndown, Dorset, BH22 8RZ, United Kingdom.
Also LoTW on request.

HP, PANAMA. Operators Mike/W1USN and Bob/AA1M will be active as HP/W1USN
and HP/AA1M, respectively, from Panama between February 10-22nd, 2017.
Activity will be on various HF bands using CW, SSB and the Digital modes.
QSL HP/W1USN via W1USN direct or LoTW. QSL HP/AA1M via AA1M direct or LoTW.

IOTA NEWS..............
  AS-046.  Victor, R6AF, is now active as 9M2/R6AF/P from Batu Batu Resort
           on Pulau Babi Tengah Island. The length of his stay is not
           known. As this was being written, activity has been on 20/17
           meters CW. QSL via his home callsign or ClubLog's OQRS.

  AS-069.  Operators Vasily/R7AL, Vasil/RA1ZZ, Serge/RW5D and Vladimir/
           RK8A will be active as RI0C from Iony Island sometime in July
           2017 (tentative dates July 20-24th). Activity will be on 40-10
           meters using CW, SSB and the Digital modes. QSL via R7AL or
           ClubLog. For more information, see: http://www.iony2017.com/eng

  NA-092.  Erik, N5WR, will be active as N5WR/5 from Mustang Island
           between December 26th and January 1st, 2017. Activity will
           be on various bands. QSL via his home callsign direct or
           ClubLog's OQRS.

  OC-198.  (Early Announcement/Update) Craig, VK5CE, will be active as
           VK5CE/8 from North Island, Sir Edward Pellew Islands, between
           November 12-16th, 2017. Activity will be on various HF bands
           (40-15m, possibly 10m) and modes (QSL via his home callsign
           or ClubLog's OQRS. For more details and updates, see:
                            https://oc198.wordpress.com

  OC-267.  Andrey, VK5MAV, will be active as VK9MAV from Marion Reef,
           Coral Sea Islands, Territory North, between May-June 2017.
           Activity will be mainly 20/15 meters using an Icom IC-7200
           transceiver, VDA and dipole antennas. QSL via ClubLog's OQRS
           or via RN3RQ for Bureau QSLs (It will take 5-6 months).

JW, SVALBARD. Erik, LA2US, will once again be active as JW2US from Hopen
Island (IOTA EU-063) for the next 6 months.  He will operate on HF Bands 
mostly CW.  QSL via OQRS ClubLog, LOTW, eQSL.

JW, SVALBARD. Eric, LA2US, will once again be active from the Arctic.
Look for him to sign JW2US from Hopen Island (EU-063) sometime during
the first week in June, and he will stay for 6 months. Eric states, "I'll
be active on CW on/around IOTA frequencies or at the lower band edges.
As before, this is a spare time operation, and I'll be in the shack only
as often as work and other tasks permit. I'm working odd hours so I'd
rather not do any skeds. My log will be uploaded to ClubLog on a regular
basis and if you don't find your QSO there, please drop me an E-mail. I
might be guilty of a typing error. Log will also be uploaded to LoTW and
eQSL. QSL card service will be open via OQRS ClubLog while I'm on Hopen
Island. QSL cards will be printed and sent from GlobalQSL. Direct QSL
card service via OQRS ClubLog will open when I return home in June 2017.
Postal Mail service to EU-063/Hopen Island is poor, every other month -
at best. Do not send your QSL card to Hopen."

KP4, PUERTO RICO (Special Event). Look for special station KP4AW between
December 26th and January 29th, 2017. Activity is in celebration of the
ARRL Puerto Rico Section Convention (January 27-29th). Opertaions will
be on 160-10 meters (depending on the propagtion) and various modes.
QSL via NP3IR, LoTW or eQSL.

OV90/OX90/OZ90/5P90, GREENLAND. Members of the Experimenterende Danske
Radioamatører (EDR) will be active as OZ90EDR, OX90EDR and 5P90EDR from
Greenland (NA-018) throughout the year 2017. The special event callsigns
are to celebrate the 90th anniversary of the Danish Amateur Radio organi-
zation. Even though activity will take place throughout 2017, the main
activity will be during February 15th-May 15th 2017, and August 15th-
November 15th, 2017. Operations will be on all bands including the 30/17/12
meter bands and on all modes. On JT modes the callsign OZ7D will be used.
ONLY QSOs with OZ7D in JT modes are valid for the EDR award. Sometime
during the year you may work the special "joker" call OV90EDR. This is
also valid for the EDR award. QSL Manager is OZ1ACB. All QSOs will be
verified via LoTW and eQSL. NO BUREAU QSLS. For more details, see:
                     http://oz90edr.oz5bir.dk

P4, ARUBA. John, W2GD, will once again be active as P40W from Aruba
(SA-036) during the ARRL International DX CW Contest (February 18-19th)
as a Single-Op/All-Band entry. He will be there between February 12-20th,
2017. Operations outside of the contest are usually on 160/80m and 30/17/12
meters as time permits. Watch 160m on the hour and 80m on the half hour.
QSL via LoTW or direct to N2MM, Bureau cards are no longer accepted (since
1/1/2014). Logs will be loaded on LoTW upon his return to the USA.

PROPAGATION FORECAST/REPORT (December 26th-January 1st ).......
 Dec/26th AN      Dec/29th  AN     Dec/31st  AN
 Dec/27th AN      Dec/30th  AN     Jan/01st  AN
 Dec/28th 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

PY0F, FERNANDO DE NORONHA. Erwin, PY2QI, will be active as PY2QI/PY0F
from Fernando de Noronha Island (SA-003) between February 15-21st, 2017.
Activity will be on 40-10 meters including the 30/17/12m bands using
CW only. QSL via his home callsign direct.

QSL INFO AND NEWS...................
  QSL-INFO from DB0SDX by Lothar, DL1SBF.. (December 25th) 
  -------------------------------------------------------------------------
  3Z70AR via SQ8ERS        EA9KB via EA7FTR          HT7AAA via TI4SU (d)
  4L5P via UT7QF           EG7SOM via EA7TV          K3C via KK4ODQ
  4X07W via 4Z5LA          EM9WFF via EA5HPX (d)     K8C via KK4ODQ (d)
  4X3XMAS via 4Z4DX (L/e)  EX2V via RW6HS (d)        OH2IPA via OH4MDY
  4X7XMAS via 4Z4DX (L/e)  FM/F6AUS via F6AUS        RT17NY via RQ7L
  6W/UA4WHX/P via UA4WHX   HB0/NZ1C via NZ1C (L/e)   RW17NY via RQ7L
  D44TVB via UA4WHX        HB9/IW2NRI via IW2NRI (e) VI50DC via M0OXO
  DM6A via DL1MIL (d/e)    HS70A via HS6MYW          VK9NM via VK1MA (L/e)
    (e) eQSL only  (d) direct only   (B) Bureau only  (*-B) DX's- Bureau
    (O) OQRS only  (C) ClubLog only  (L) LoTW only    (*) No QSL Needed

  4O10A & 4O90A QSL MANAGER CHANGE. Nenad, VE3EXY, reports "I was receiving
  4O10A and 4O90A QSL card requests for quite sometime but was unable to
  respond with missing blank cards. To speed up the process, Acim, YU1YV,
  has accepted to handle those activations effective immediately. All cards
  requests I received so far will be forwarded to YU1YV, including your
  funds for direct response. Acim will update the 4O3A Web site to reflect
  this change." His address is: Acimovic Milos, Bul. Mihaila Pupina 19/9,
  11070 NOVI BEOGRAD, SERBIA. Nenad also states, "I will continue to act
  as the 4O3A manager (bureau or direct) for as long as I have blank cards."

  QSLS RECEIVED VIA LoTW: 4U1ITU, CU2AO, DM5TI, EA3FHP, EI1DQ, HB9ODP,
  ON4KEB, OZ3IZ, RT0C, S58Q, SV2DGH, VA3MJR, XU7MDC, TO2LEA, XZ1A and
  ZL4PW

  QSLS RECEIVED VIA MAIL: CY9C, FO/K7AR, MD/DL1RTL, SV8/DJ4EL (EU-158),
  T30KJ, TL8AO, UE23RRC, V63YY, VP2ESM, VP6J, VK9NZ, XT2AW and ZL7/W1XGI

  QSLS RECEIVED VIA THE BUREAU: 4O/LB9N, 5J0R, 6O0LA, 6W/LA9DL, 9A3SM,
  A25DL, C21GC, DL2CC, E7/OK1WT, EA5/LA7VK, HK7AAG, IZ3ALK, JW2US, JW4PM,
  JW5X, JW6VDA, JW8DW, JW9HH, JX9JKA, LA1K, LA2IR, LA3RNA, LA4DM, LA6OP,
  LA7GIA, LA8HGA, LA9LE, LA0BY, LB5WB, LG1GB, LI6CF, LM1814, LN4BBC,
  LN7TTT, OH4MDY, PJ2/W9VA, PJ7/G3TXF, T2GC, TA3J/4, TA3J/7, TA3J/0
  (AS-015), TC24KJ, TX3X, UN3GX, UN5GM, UN6G, UN6GAN, UN6GDX, UN6GT,
  UN6QBX, UN7BY, UN7FY, UN7GB, UN7GBY, UN7GDQ, UN7GDV, UN2GDX/7, UN7ID,
  UN7JZ, UN7GQ, UN7PCZ, UN7QCC, UN8PAS, UN9PQ, UO1P, UP2BEW, UP44WFF,
  UQ1EPC, Z6/LA4MIA, ZA/LB9N and ZM90DX

S557, SLOVENIA (Special Event). Members of the Radio Club Cerkno (S50E)
will be active with the special event callsign S557E throughout 2017.
Activity is to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the club foundation
since the year 1957. A special QSL will be sent to confirm each contact
via the Bureau in early 2018. Log will be uploaded on the ARRL's LoTW
on a regular basis. For those who want to send card direct please send
SASE with 2 IRCs or 2 USDs to cover the return postage to QSL Manager
Miran Voncina, S50O, Cvetkova 35, 5282 Cerkno, Slovenia, with priority
return when getting cards from the printer. Cards with insufficient
postage or no return envelope will be returned via the QSL Bureau. Please
visit  for more information.

SOUTH PACIFIC 6M EME DXPEDITIONS. "The Daily DX" reports  that Lance,
W7GJ, will once again be active from the Pacific Ocean to focus on 6
meters EME QSOs. This time Lance is planning a 6 Meter EME DXpedition to
Cocos Island as VK9CGJ, and Christmas Island as VK9XGJ. The details are
yet to be worked out. At this point he's shooting for October 2017 with 
airline connections and the best 6M EME conditions being factors.

T8, PALAU. Yoshi, JK2VOC, will once again be active as T88FY between
December 26-29th. Activity will be on various HF bands and modes. QSL
via his home callsign.

TI, COSTA RICA. Nathan, N4YDU, will be active as TI5W from Alajuela during
the ARRL International DX CW Contest (February 18-19th) as a Single-Op/
All-Band/High-Power entry. QSL via N3YIM direct. Look for activity as
TI5/N4YDU before and after the contest. QSL TI5/N4YDU via LoTW. QSL TI5W
via W4FS and LoTW.

V3, BELIZE. Mike, W0MU, will be in Belize between February 14-28th for
the ARRL International DX CW Contest (February 18-19th) with Jonathan,
G0DVJ. Activity will be vacation style outside of the contest. He is
still waiting on callsigns. They will be located in the Placencia area 
in southern Belize.

V6, MICRONESIA. Sho, JA7HMZ, will once again be active as V63DX from
Pohnpei Island (OC-010) between February 17-24th, 2017. Activity will be
on 160-6 meters, all modes and including the ARRL International DX CW
Contest (February 18-19th) as a Single-Op/All-Band entry signing V6A. He
will be looking for European stations on 160m before and after the contest.
QSL via his home callsign. No Bureau QSLs.

ZC4, UK SOV. BASE AREAS ON CYPRUS. Dave, G4IAR, and his XYL Judith, G4IAQ,
will be active as ZC4DB and ZC4JB, respectively, from UK Sovereign Bases
on Cyprus (AS-004) during January 2017. Activity will be primarily holiday
style on various HF bands. Activity will be from the Sovereign Base areas
to which the public has access. When on other parts of the island, their
callsigns will be 5B/G4IAR/P and 5B/G4IAQ/P.  QSL via their home callsigns
direct. ADDED REMINDER: Steve, G0GSB, will once again be active as ZC4SB
from UK Sovereign Base Areas on Cyprus (AS-004) between January 11-25th,
2017. See OPDX.1293.

ZF9, CAYMAN ISLANDS. Stan, K5GO, will be active as ZF9CW from Cayman Brac
Island (NA-016) between January 22nd and February 23rd, 2017. Activity
will include the CQWW 160m CW (January 29-31st/Single-Op/High-Power) and
the ARRL DX CW Contest (February 18-19th/Single-Op/Low-Power). QSL via
his home callsign direct.

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