The Ohio/Penn Dx PacketCluster
DX Bulletin No. 1458
BID: $OPDX.1458
March 30, 2020
Editor Tedd Mirgliotta, KB8NW
Provided by BARF80.ORG (Cleveland, Ohio)
Written/Sent from Strongsville, Ohio
Thanks to the Northern Ohio Amateur Radio Society, Northern Ohio DX Association, Ohio/Penn PacketCluster Network, the AB5K's AR Cluster Networks, NJ1Q & W1AW, KD3CQ, NG3K & ADXO, W3UR & The Daily DX, N6PSE, WB6RSE, K8YSE, W8GEX & 60m DX News, W9ILY, DL1SBF, DL7UXG & The DX News Letter, DXNews.com, DX-World.Net, F6AJA & Les Nouvelles DX, I1JQJ/IK1ADH & 425 DX News, OH2BH, Pete Rayer & ISWL, RN3RQ, Sixitalia Weekly, and VA3RJ & ICPO for the following DX information. ** EDITOR'S SPECIAL NOTICE: This week's bulletin was sent out earlier than normal to accommodate the late CQWW WPX SSB Contest announcements. Also, we wanted to provide the readers with a consolidated listing of the CQWW WPX SSB Contest participants. DXCC COUNTRY/ENTITY REPORT: According to the AR-Cluster Network for the week of Friday, 20th/March, through Friday, 27th/March there were 219 countries active. Countries available: 3A, 3B8, 3D2, 3V, 3W, 4J, 4L, 4O, 4S, 4X, 5A, 5B, 5H, 5N, 5R, 5T, 5W, 5Z, 6Y, 7X, 8P, 8Q, 9A, 9G, 9H, 9J, 9K, 9M2, 9M6, 9Q, 9V, 9X, 9Y, A2, A3, A4, A6, A7, A9, AP, BV, BY, C3, C5, C9, CE, CE0Y, CE9, CM, CN, CP, CT, CT3, CU, CX, D2, D4, DL, DU, E4, E5/s, E7, EA, EA6, EA8, EA9, EI, EK, EL, EP, ER, ES, EU, EX, EY, EZ, F, FG, FK, FM, FO, FR, FS, FY, G, GD, GI, GJ, GM, GU, GW, H4, HA, HB, HB0, HC, HH, HI, HK, HK0/a, HL, HP, HR, HS, HZ, I, IS, J3, J5, J6, J7, JA, JD/o, JT, JW, JX, 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, PY0F, PZ, S0, S2, S5, S7, S9, SM, SP, SU, SV, SV5, SV9, T33, T5, T7, TA, TF, TG, TI, TK, TN, TR, TT, TU, TZ, UA, UA2, UA9, UK, UN, UR, V3, V4, V5, V7, V8, VE, VK, VK9N, VP2E, VP2M, VP8, VP9, VR, VU, XE, XX9, YA, YB, YI, YJ, YL, YN, YO, YS, YU, YV, Z2, Z3, Z6, Z8, ZA, ZB, ZD7, ZD8, ZF, ZL, ZL7, 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". 4L, GEORGIA. Mamuka Kordzakhia, 4L2M, President of the National Associ- ation Radio Amateurs of Georgia (NARG), will be active during the CQWW WPX SSB Contest (March 28-29th) as a Single-Op/Single-Band (??m) entry. QSL via 4L2M. 8Q, MALDIVES. Kasimir, DL2SBY, who was expected to be active as 8Q7KB from Meedhupparu Island (AS-013) between May 4-12th, has now canceled his activities due to the coronavirus situation, but "may" go later this year. He is currently making plans for a to trip to Seychelles (S7) next year in February. A4, OMAN. Khalid, A41CK, will be active as A42K in Muscat during the CQWW WPX SSB Contest (March 28-29th) as a Single-Op entry (not a team due to COVID-19). QSL via LoTW. DXPEDITIONS (Updated/Cancellations). Over the last few weeks there has been many DXpeditions (some that were expected to be in the WPX SSB Contest) present and upcoming, have canceled their operations due to the coronavirus or travel restrictions caused by it. Many of the DXpedition have postponed, rescheduled for later in the year or planned to be active next year in 2021. The current list of cancellations is as follows (as of print time) [this week 54, up from 43 last week]: 3B8XF Mauritius (cut short) SP7D Poland 4V5H Haiti T30ET West Kiribati 8Q7KB Maldives T88HS Palau 9A1A Croatia T88SM Palau 9K2F Failaka Island (AS-118) T88UW Palau A25VR Botswana TC4PLH Turkey CE0Y/VE7ACN Easter Island TG9BBV Guatemala CP6/R7AL Bolivia TO7BP Martinique CP6/RW9JZ Bolivia TU2R Côte d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast) CP6/RK8A Bolivia V62P Polap Atoll (OC-155), Micronesia CP6/RZ3K Bolivia V62S Satawal Atoll (OC-299), Micronesia CQ3W Madeira Island VK5KI Kangaroo Island (OC-139) CT9/DF7EE Madeira Island VP2V/KB9DPF British Virgin Islands D4C Cape Verde VP2V/K0NR British Virgin Islands DU2/SP5APW Calayan Island (OC-092) VP2V/W9DR British Virgin Islands FK/C Chesterfield Island VP5/AF3K Turks and Caicos Islands HS0ZME (cut short) VP5/W2TT Turks and Caicos Islands J88PI St. Vincent VP5P Turks and Caicos Islands JW/DF3TS Svalbard VU4R Neil Islands (AS-001) JW/DC8TM Svalbard W8S Swains Island KH2KY Guam XR8RRC/p Riesco Island (SA-091) KH7M Hawaii XW4XR Laos MM2U Scotland (EU-008) Z66Y Kosovo NH7A Hawaii ZA/HG2DX Albania PJ2/DK5ON Curacao ZC4MK U.K. Sovereign Base Areas on Cyprus PJ7AA Sint Maarten (cut short) ZD7VJ St. Helena Island PZ5G Papegaaien Island (NA-092) ZF2PG Cayman Islands ARRL HAMFEST/CONVENTION CANCELLATIONS. The ARRL has created a Web page that lists all hamfests and conventions that have advised the League that they are canceling scheduled events due to the concerns over the corona- virus (currently there are 46 listed; up from 17 last week): http://www.arrl.org/hamfests/search/page:1/keywords:Canceled/model:Event ADDED NOTE: On March 23rd, the following was posted on the ARRL Web page: "ARRL Headquarters is Closing -- ARRL Headquarters will comply with an executive order from Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont that all non- essential businesses and not-for-profit entities reduce in-person workforces by 100% no later than March 23, 2020, at 8 PM. ARRL will equip as many Headquarters staffers as possible to work remotely. W1AW bulletin and code practice transmissions will continue." Read the complete press release at: http://www.arrl.org/news/view/arrl-headquarters-is-closing ARRL'S W1AW (To limit transmit schedule). In ARLB009, it states: In re- sponse to an executive order from Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont that all non-essential businesses and not-for-profit entities reduce in-person workforces because of COVID-19 pandemic concerns, W1AW has slightly altered its transmission schedule. W1AW has suspended its morning code practice and qualifying run trans- missions, beginning March 24, 2020. However, W1AW's evening transmissions, including qualifying runs, will be sent as usual -- there are no changes to the evening transmit schedule." SAFE CONTESTING SUGGESTIONS FROM CQ. On March 23rd, CQ Amateur Radio magazine has posted some safe operation suggestions, if you're "sheltering in place" or otherwise stuck at home to help prevent the spread of corona- virus, during the CQ World Wide WPX SSB Contest this coming weekend (March 28-29th), is the perfect way to have some fun and keep connected with the outside world. See the list of suggestions at: http://cqnewsroom.blogspot.com GB5, ENGLAND (Special Event). Look for special event station GB5ST to be on the air to celebrate 54 years of the hit TV show Star Trek, spin off shows, many Star Trek movies and for the continuing new shows upcoming in the future. The GB5ST station will be on the air starting September 1st, and through the next 6 years. QSL via the RSGB Bureau or direct to the address on QRZ.com. Look for more details to be forthcoming. HAMVENTION QSO PARTY (Something New To Do!). The Dayton Hamvention for 2020 has been cancelled. The WWROF, in cooperation with the Hamvention organizers, wanted to create a fun way for people to celebrate the Ham- vention experience over the air - the Hamvention QSO Party. This is a 12 hour fun event on Saturday of Hamvention May 16, 2020. There are special bonus points for working W8BI, the club call of the Dayton Amateur Radio Association (DARA is the host of Hamvention) which will be activated by DARA members from their home stations. For complete details, see: https://wwrof.org/hamvention-qso-party ADDED NOTE: The event is in memory of Ron, W8ILC, who became a Silent Key just two days after the Hamvention 2020 cancellation announcement. Ron had attended every Hamvention since the beginning. HH, HAITI. Matt, K0BBC, will be active as HH2AA from Radio Club D'Haïti in Obleon during the CQWW WPX SSB Contest (March 28-29th) as a Single-Op/ Low-Power entry. QSL via LoTW only. INTREPID-DX GROUP NEWS (Press Release, dated March 24th). The Annual Intrepid Spirit Award goes to the VP8PJ Team [edited]: The Intrepid-DX Group is pleased to announce the recipients of the annual "Intrepid Spirit Award". This year's award goes to the Perseverance DX Group's VP8PJ South Orkney Island team for their superb activation from Signy Island. This DXpedition was extremely well planned and executed from this very remote, cold and harsh Island. This award is to recognize the entire team's collective effort to act- ivate these challenging and much needed entities on behalf of a grateful Global DX Community. The team was comprised of Dave/K3EL, Les/W2LK, Gene/ K5GS, Arliss/W7XU, Heye/DJ9RR, Laci/HA0NAR, Vadym/UT6UD, Walt/N6XG, Rob/ N7QT, Steve/W1SRD, Mike/WA6O, Ken/NG2H, Hans-Peter/HB9BXE and Alan/VK6CQ. We acknowledge the team's pursuit of operating excellence in making these difficult activations. It is for these reasons that we are honoring them with our Intrepid Spirit Award. This award would normally be presented in front of their peers at the International DX Convention in Visalia, CA. This "Intrepid-Spirit Award" is made in memory of our fallen friend and member, James McLaughlin, T6AF, who was killed in Kabul, Afghanistan in April, 2011. The award is intended to recognize and honor those individuals or teams that boldly activate rare entities where their own personal safety is secondary to their pursuit of providing contacts to the DX Community. While we do not encourage DXers to go into harm's way, we recognize that circumstances sometimes require that, and we recognize those Intrepid DXers with the Intrepid Spirit Award. Thank you, The Intrepid-DX Group IOTA NEWS.............. AS-207. (Reminder/NEW) Members of the Russian Robinson Club (RRC) will be active as R207RRC from Kosa Dvukh Pilotov Island (RDA CK-05, WW Loc AP18gg, RRA RR-11-05) in the Chukchi Sea Coast Centre group for the first time ever between April 3-10th (estimated dates). Operators mentioned are Victor/UA3AKO, Yuri/UA0KBG and Alexander/RA3AV. Activity will be on 40/30/20/15 meters using CW, SSB and possibly FT8 (F/H). QSL via UA3AKO, direct, by the Bureau or ClubLog's OQRS. For more details and updates, watch QRZ.com or the Web page: http://r207rrc.ru They need your financial support because of the complex and expensive logistics. PayPal address is: r207rrc@gmail.com From RSGB HFCC (Posted March 24th, by the RSGB Communications Manager, Heather Parsons): IOTA Contest and additional contests -- We have reached a point with COVID-19 that it is inappropriate for us to run the IOTA Contest in July 2020 in its usual format. We cannot encourage our par- ticipants to operate in multi-operator groups nor to travel to island locations where visitors are not currently welcome. We would like your opinion on whether we should cancel outright or should retain a contest this year for single operator, home stations only. We are also conscious that a large number of our members are going to be spending more time at home than normal. Unable to enjoy many of our favorite outdoor contests we are proposing a series of home-based day-time contests to entertain and support one another. Both these issues are detailed in a survey which we invite you to complete. This is at (https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/RSGB_HFCC_2020). The survey is open until Friday 3 April after which the outcomes will be made public. PLEASE NOTE: Since the Webmasters of the newhave decided NOT to post or dedicate a Web page to announce upcoming IOTA operations, PLEASE send your IOTA operations information to the OPDX, and we will post it here in an upcoming bulletin...... ISWL CALLSIGNS (For April 2020). The following ISWL club callsigns will be used throughout the month of April 2020: G4BJC and GX4BJC - Operated from Heathfield, in East Sussex, by Arthur, G0KOC (WAB Square - TQ62 - England, IOTA EU-005, WLOTA 1841) MX1SWL/A - Operated /A, from Walton on the Naze, in Essex, by Herbie, G6XOU (WAB Square - TM22 - England, IOTA EU-005, WLOTA 1841) ALL QSLs will be handled by Dick, M5DIK - The QSL Manager and NOT the individual operator. The I.S.W.L. is a member of the European PSK Club. All QSL info is on or or or via . NO LoTW. J8, ST. VINCENT (Canceled). Brian, GW4DVB, who was expected to be active as J88PI from Palm Island (aka Prune Island, WW Loc. FK92HO, IOTA NA-025), in the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Island group, between April 6-15th, has canceled his activity. LY73, LITHUANIA. Rolandas, LY5AA, will be active as LY73A from Kaunas during the CQWW WPX SSB Contest (March 28-29th) as a Single-Op/Single- Band (160m)/High-Power entry. QSL via LY5AA direct to: Rolandas Zakelis, Naujakuriu g.82-19, LT47131 Kaunas, LITHUANIA. MEETING DANNY WEIL, VP2VB, WAS A RICH EXPERIENCE (By Martti, OH2BH, dated March 24th)[edited]. Digging into the past of the first multi- hopping DXpeditioner Danny Weil, VP2VB, was another rich piece of history. Spending time in his home; Road Town of Tortola, British Virgin Islands, gave us a blend of history in its original setting. Together with Austrian DocuFunk archives, headed by Paulina, OE1YPP, and Wolf, OE1WHC, and meeting with Kenneth, VP2VK, and George, VP2VQ, and the local telecom authorities placed us straight back where it all once began. We have now collected most of the material, including Danny's only existing interview to: https://www.qrz.com/db/VP2VB We would like to thank our Webmaster Vlad, W7/UA6JD, for a super job all along, for keeping the web records fresh. Some 50.000 fellow hams have already viewed the material. So, join the party and get to know the history of our great passion for the DX hunt. We are currently reviewing the FT8 backup file for more QSOs and get- ting QSL card design ready for printing. It will be a 4-page, full color affair - for this special occasion. LoTW will soon follow. Regards and let's keep our planet together for more DX. Martti, OH2BH In 14-day quarantine, Finland ------------------------------------------- Also see the following URLs: https://s3.amazonaws.com/files.qrz.com/b/vp2vb/v1.jpg https://s3.amazonaws.com/files.qrz.com/b/vp2vb/v2.jpg NP2, U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS. Yuriy, N2TTA, will once again be active from here as NP2P during the CQWW WPX SSB Contest (March 28-29th) as a Single- Op entry. QSL via LoTW. OL30, CZECH REPUBLIC (Special Event). Members of the Czechoslovak DX Club [CSDXC](OK2KDX) will be active as OL30DXC until the end of the year. Activity is to celebrate CSDXC's 30th anniversary. Operations will be on various HF and VHF bands using CW, SSB, FM and the Digital modes. QSL via OK2PXJ. For more details about CSDXC, see QRZ.com or: https://www.dx.cz OL700, CZECH REPUBLIC (Special Event). Look for special event stations OL700CO, OL700LTV, and OL700DKO to be active throughout the year. Activity is to celebrate 700th anniversary of the town of Dobruska. A special award is available, and details can be found at: http://www.ok1kqi.com QSL only via ClubLog's OQRS. PROPAGATION FORECAST/REPORT (March 30th-April 5th)....... Mar/30th AN Apr/02nd AN Apr/04th AN Mar/31st HN Apr/03rd HN Apr/05th AN Apr/01st HN 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 Meanwhile, check out the following Web sites for propagation: * VOACAP predication Web page at: http://www.voacap.com/hf and http://www.voacap.com/prediction.html * DX.QSL.NET Propagation page: https://dx.qsl.net/propagation * A daily HF radio wave propagation forecast can be found at: https://www.facebook.com/thomasfranklingiellaw4hm * SolarHam Web page: http://www.solarham.net * Radio Propagation/Space Weather/Sunspot Cycle Information at: http://sunspotwatch.com * News and Information About The Sun-Earth Environment: https://www.spaceweather.com * Monthly propagation charts between four USA regions and twelve overseas locations are at: http://arrl.org/propagation * Information and tutorials on propagation are at: http://k9la.us * Graphic propagation tool by DR2W: http://www.dr2w.de/dx-propagation * Point to point propagation at: http://www.predtest.uk/p2p.html * Real-time propagation at: http://www.predtest.uk * Also on Twitter: https://twitter.com/@GiellaW4hm QSL INFO AND NEWS................... QSL-INFO from DB0SDX by Lothar, DL1SBF (www.qslinfo.eu) (March 27th) ------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4L1R via W3HNK DF0BGL via DD2KS OH0/R1BEV via R1BEV 5B60AIF via 5B4AIF (O/L) DM30RSV via DK5ON OP3A via ON8AJ & (L) CO8LY via EA7ADH (d/L) EO0U via UT7UT & (L) XP3A via PA3249 (d/L/e) DA0TOR via DL9WJM HF576KOC via SQ9PCO (e) eQSL only (d) direct only (B) Bureau only (*-B) DX's- Bureau (O) OQRS only (C) ClubLog only (L) LoTW only (N) No QSL needed (I) No IRC (P) PayPal (NB) No Bureau LOGS ONLINE (New/Updated) AVAILABLE ON CLUBLOG.ORG THIS WEEK...... https://clublog.org/logsearch/5Z4/G3AB (Updated) https://clublog.org/logsearch/RI0B/AS-68 QSLS RECEIVED VIA LoTW: 5Z4/G3AB, 9J2LA, FR4QT, HS0ZIV, HV5PUL, OY1R, TN/UA9FGR and XX9YTY QSLS RECEIVED VIA MAIL: 5I4ZZ (AF-032) ad YP0H (EU-183) QSLS RECEIVED VIA THE BUREAU: 5T2KW, J3/S50R, PJ7/K1XM, TX5EG, XX9D and ZL7X --- We would like to see more QSL Bureaus (such as AS/US/SA/AF.. etc) send in their info.... SILENT KEY. Well-known former Administrator of the DXCC Desk (for 15 yrs) and DXCC QSL Checker, Don Search, W3AZD, became a Silent Key (SK) on March 26th, as a hospice patient at Wilton Manors Rehab Center. Don had long struggled with health issues related to a fall where he hit his head on a table at a restaurant on December 17, 2019. OPDX and its readers would like to send out our deepest sympathy to the family and friends of W3AZD. T8 PALAU. Operators Hirotaka/JA6KYU, Munehiro/JR6DRH, Mike/JA6EGL and Toshiya/JH6HZH, will be active as T88HS, T88RH, T88SM and T88HZ, respec- tively, from the VIP Guest Hotel (Palau Radio Club) on Koror Island (OC-009) between October 14-21st. Activity will be holiday style on 160-6 meters using CW, SSB and the Digital modes. QSL T88HS via JA6KYU. QSL T88RH via JR6DRH. QSL T88SM via JA6EGL. QSL T88HZ via JH6HZH. For more details about the VIP Guest Hotel (Free Radio Room), see: https://palau-radio-club.jimdofree.com TC1, TURKEY (Special Event). Members of the Tango Alpha Ham Radio Club (YM1KE) will be active using the special event callsign TC1STAYHOME for the awareness of COVID-19 pandemic between March 27th and May 5th. They state, "For a couple of weeks; stay home, stay safe please. Let's hope this threat leaves our World before the date ends." QSL via info on QRZ.com. VK9N, NORFOLK ISLAND (Reminder/Update). Janusz, SP9FIH, continues to be active as VK9NK from Norfolk Island (OC-005) supposedly until April 12th. However, Janusz reported the following on March 25th: "All my flights are canceled and I have to stay on Norfolk for some time more. It gives chance to work me for those who need VK9N. On 10th April I will change QTH on the island for little cheaper - my resources are limited. I hope signals from new place will be also good enough to give few people ATNO." Remember that Janusz states (about this operation), "It is my tribute to Jim Smith, VK9NS, who lived and operated from there for years. According to last internet poll VK9N is 85th most wanted entity." Activity is on 160-10 meters using SSB, RTTY and FT8. Suggested frequencies are listed in OPDX.1441/1446 or on his Web page at: http://vk9nk.dxpeditions.org Also, look for VK9NK to be in the CQWW WPX SSB Contest (March 28-29th). QSL via SP9FIH or ClubLog's OQRS. VP2V, BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS. Dave, W9DR, who was expected to be active as VP2V/W9DR from the north shore of the Island of Anegada (NA-023) in the British Virgin Islands (FK78TR) between June 17-24th, has canceled his 6 meter operation. He hopes to try again in June 2021. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- The following stations are expected to be active in the CQWW WPX SSB Contest (March 28-29th, 2020) Contest Rules: http://www.cqwpx.com/rules.htm -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Thanks to Bill, NG3K, for providing OPDX readers with the following consolidated listing of the participants in the 2020 CQWW WPX SSB 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/wpxs2020.html (By callsign) http://www.ng3k.com/Misc/wpxsd2020.html (By entity) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Contest DXCC Class QSL Callsign Entity Route ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 4L2M Georgia SOSB 4L2M A42K Oman SO LoTW BP0P Taiwan M/2 LoTW; QSL via ART QSL Service FM5AN Martinique SO LoTW FM5BH Martinique SOAB LoTW; QSL via W3HNK HH2AA Haiti SO LP LoTW GT0SP Isle of Man M/? LoTW HC5 Ecuador SOAB HP QSL via B/d (direct w/2USDs + SAE) LX20I Luxembourg M/? LX2A NP2P U.S. Virgin Islands SO LoTW PY0F Fernando de Noronha SOAB PY7RP YB2DX Indonesia SOAB LoTW; QSL via h/c direct YJ0CA Vanuatu SO VK2YUS (d)
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