The Ohio/Penn Dx PacketCluster
DX Bulletin No. 1500
BID: $OPDX.1500
January 25, 2021
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, ARRL Letter/Web, NJ1Q & W1AW, NG3K & ADXO, W3UR & The Daily DX, WB6RSE, K7ZOO, K8YSE, W8GEX & 60m DX News, W9EWZ, DL1SBF, DL7UXG & The DX News Letter, DXNews.com, DX-World.Net, F6AJA & Les Nouvelles DX, I1JQJ/IK1ADH & 425 DX News, Sixitalia Weekly, and VA3RJ & ICPO for the following DX information. DXCC COUNTRY/ENTITY REPORT: According to the AR-Cluster Network for the week of Sunday, 17th/January, through Sunday, 24th/January there were 208 countries active. Countries available: 3B8, 3D2, 3DA, 3V, 3W, 4J, 4L, 4O, 4S, 4U1U, 4W, 4X, 5A, 5B, 5H, 5R, 5T, 5Z, 6W, 6Y, 7X, 8P, 8Q, 9A, 9G, 9H, 9J, 9K, 9M2, 9M6, 9N, 9V, 9Y, A4, A6, A7, A9, AP, BV, BY, C3, C6, CE, CE0Y, CE9, CM, CN, CP, CT, CT3, CU, CX, D2, D4, DL, DU, E5/s, E6, E7, EA, EA6, EA8, EA9, EI, EK, EL, EP, ER, ES, ET, EU, EX, F, FG, FK, FM, FP, FR, FS, FY, G, GD, GI, GJ, GM, GU, GW, HA, HB, HB0, HC, HH, HI, HK, HL, HP, HR, HS, HV, HZ, I, IS, J6, J7, JA, JD/o, JT, JW, JX, JY, K, 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, PY, PZ, S2, S5, S7, SM, SP, ST, SU, SV, SV5, SV9, T5, T7, TA, TF, TG, TI, TK, TR, TT, TU, TZ, UA, UA2, UA9, UK, UN, UR, V3, V4, V5, V7, V8, VE, VK, VK9N, VP2E, VP2M, VP8, VP9, VQ9, VR, VU, XE, XU, XW, YA, YB, YI, YJ, YL, YN, YO, YS, YU, YV, Z3, Z6, Z8, ZA, ZB, ZC4, 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". 2021 QSO TODAY VIRTUAL HAM EXPO (Update/Promotion). The QSO Today Virtual Ham Expo will be returning between March 13-14th, for a full 48 hours. The QSO Today team has been working hard to make this upcoming Expo even better with new speakers, panel discussions, kit building workshops, and much more. The QSO Today Virtual Ham Expo is now promoting discounted early tickets which is now available for this March event. Early tickets can be purchased for 10 USDs. Buying them at the door is 12.50 USDs. This includes entry for the Live 2 day period as well as the 30 day on-demand period. For more details and how to register, see: https://www.qsotodayhamexpo.com 3A, MONACO. Blaise, 3A2OC, is a new active ham from Monaco City. He states on QRZ.com, "I operate with long wire and vertical antenna, with Yaesu FTDX-3000." No QSNs have been reported on the DXCluster yet. QSL via his address on QRZ.com. 3V, TUNISIA. Operator SWL Ashraf "Ash", 3V4-002 (KF5EYY), will be active as 3V8SF from the Scout Radio Club of Sfax city club station during the CQWW 160M CW Contest (January 29-31st) as a Single-Op/Low-Power entry. QSL via LX1NO or LoTW. Read about Ashraf on the following Web page at: http://www.kf5eyy.info 4X, ISRAEL (Special Event Postponed/Rescheduled). Operators Amir/4X1AR, Chanan/4Z1DZ, Dan/4Z5SL, Gal/4X1KW, Gil/4Z1KD, Hilik/4X6YA, Roy/4X5IQ, Shimon/4Z1SH, Udi/4X6ZM, Zvika/4X1ZV and Zeev/4X5ZS, ho were expected to be active as 4X0RMN from the Ramon Crater (Holyland Square F-30-BS, WW Loc. KM70jo, WWFF 4XFF-0020) between January 31st and February 1st, have rescheduled their operation to 1900z, February 27th and 1400z, March 1st. QSL via 4X6ZM, LoTW and eQSL. All logs will be uploaded to eQSL and LoTW when activation ends. Activity is good for the "Land of Craters" program. 6O7O DXPEDITION TO SOMALIA (Video Available). During the January 2021 Central Arizona DX Association (CADXA) meeting, there was a presentation on "6O7O DXpedition to Somalia" by Ken Opskar, LA7GIA. Ken was in Somalia in September 2019 for a trip planned, in part, to be a fund-raiser for Sabona, a Norwegian organization that funds education and meals for children in Africa. This 52 minute program is now available online on YouTube.com at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AE5zhvcb3EE 9A64, CROATIA (Special Event). Tom, 9A2AA, will be using the special event callsign 9A64AA until the end of the year. Activity is to celebrate the 64th anniversary of his amateur radio activity. QSL via his home callsign. AX, AUSTRALIA (Special Prefix). Look for Australian radio amateurs to use the special prefix "AX" on their holiday -- Australia Day, January 26th. The day commemorates the arrival of the first fleet in 1788, the raising of the British flag, and the establishment of European settle- ments. The annual day celebrates Australian history and culture. GB80, ENGLAND (Special Event). Look for special event station GB80ATC to be on the air during 2021-2022 for the celebration of 80th anniversary of the formation of the Air Training Corps (ATC), now known as the Royal Air Force Air Cadets (RAFAC). QSL via address on QRZ.com. GU, GUERNSEY (Correction). Look for GU4YOX (not GU4YDX) from Guernsey to be active during the CQ 160m CW Contest (January 29-31st) as a Single-Op/ High-Power entry. QSL via LoTW or GU4YOX direct. HAMCATION QSO PARTY. The HamCation QSO Party has been organized to create a fun way for amateurs to celebrate the Orlando HamCation experience over the air. The QSO party will replicate the camaraderie and social experience of attending HamCation and provide a way to have fun on the radio since HamCation 2021 will not be held due to Covid-19. The HamCation QSO Party will be a 12-hour QSO Party on the HamCation weekend of February 13th, 2021, from 10:00 am EST Saturday, to 10:00 pm EST Saturday. It will be a CW and SSB on-the-air operating event on 80, 40, 20, 15, and 10 Meters, during which anyone can work anyone! There are different power categories and all participants will be single operators as there is no multi- operator category. There will be special event stations to heighten the fun and challenge of participating in the QSO party. Nine Special Event 1x1 stations will be active that will spell out ?HAMCATION?, such as K4*H*, W4*A*, K4*M*, etc. Sponsored Icom Plaques will be issued, and all participants will be able to download an ICOM-sponsored certificates. For more details, see the following Web pages: https://www.hamcation.com/special-event-station http://www.arrl.org/news/orlando-hamcation-online-event-and-qso-party-set http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter?issue=2021-01-21#toc01 ADDED NOTE (Virtual HamCation): The Orlando HamCation Special Edition online event (https://www.hamcation.com/) over the February 13-14th, will take the place of what would have been the HamCation 2021 in-person show. The online event will include youth, technology, contesting, and vendor webinar tracks (https://www.hamcation.com/forums-speakers). IN CASE YOU MISSED IT! Bob, W9EWZ, President of the Madison DX Club, informs OPDX readers: For those who might have missed K9LA's presentation "Understanding and Applying Solar Indices," the complete video recording is now available on the Madison DX Club's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbOR4kFlf2JgMuGVx5pKNYg Also, to understand the scientific basis of solar cycle predictions, see the excellent presentation from NOAA's Space Prediction Center Chief, Dr. Doug Biesecker also on our YouTube channel. IOTA NEWS. The following are IOTA operations that were active this past week between January 18-23rd (as per the DXCluster): IOTA Callsign Island/GROUP Bands/Modes ------ ---------- ------------- ------------ AN-016 LU1ZG ANTARCTICA 20m; FT8 AF-003 ZD8HZ Ascension 20m; FT8 AF-004 EA8JK CANARY 40m; SSB AF-004 EA8TL CANARY 20m; SSB AF-004 EA8UP CANARY 40m; SSB AF-004 EA8WK CANARY 40m; SSB AF-014 CT3MD MADEIRA 20m; SSB AF-018 IH9YMC PANTELLERIA 60m; AF-022 ZD7BG ST. HELENA 15m; CW AF-024 S79KW INNER 20m; SSB AS-007 JA3BWC Honshu 20m; SSB AS-007 JH7MQD Honshu 40m; SSB AS-007 JP7DKQ Honshu 160m; AS-012 JA6LCJ KYUSHU'S COASTAL 40m; FT8 AS-201 TA0TA Sea of Marmara 20m; SSB EU-004 EB6KB BALEARIC 20m; SSB EU-004 EA6AM BALEARIC 80m; CW EU-004 EC6DX BALEARIC 30m; FT8 EU-004 EA6NB BALEARIC 160m; EU-005 G3UML GREAT BRITAIN 20m; SSB EU-005 G6AD GREAT BRITAIN 17m; SSB EU-005 MW0CSO GREAT BRITAIN 17m; FT8 EU-009 GS8VL ORKNEY 17m; FT4 EU-013 GJ0KYZ JERSEY 40m; FT8 EU-016 9A4W DALMATIA SOUTH 17m; CW EU-023 9H1TT MALTA 40m; SSB EU-024 IS0HMZ SARDINIA 40m; SSB EU-025 IT9RZR Sicily 17m; FT8 EU-026 JW4PUA SPITSBERGEN 30m; FT8 EU-031 IC8HRG CAMPANIA REGION 20m; SSB EU-032 F6BFH POITOU-CHARENTES REGION 20m; FT4 EU-038 PA0VLD NOORD HOLLAND/FRIESLAND/GRONINGEN PROVINCE 40m; RTTY EU-062 LA6OP NORDLAND/NORD-TRONDELAG COUNTY 20/17m; FT8 EU-093 EA5IWD ALICANTE/MURCIA PROVINCE 40m; SSB EU-116 MD0CCE ISLE OF MAN 20m; SSB EU-131 IK3PQH/P VENETO REGION 40m; SSB EU-137 GD0TEP SKANE COUNTY 40m; FT8 EU-172 OZ7PR/P JYLLAND EAST AND FYN 40m; SSB NA-031 KC1NEK RHODE ISLAND STATE 20m; SSB NA-040 NL0H St. Lawrence 40m; FT8 NA-076 WA2UFD FLORIDA STATE NORTH WEST 40m; SSB NA-083 N3MK VIRGINIA STATE 40m; FT8 NA-105 FS4WBS ST MARTIN 20m; SSB NA-108 J69BP ST LUCIA 30m; FT8 NA-122 HI1IDT Alto Velo 40/20m; SSB/FT8 NA-151 OX3LX Tasiilaq 160m; OC-001 VK5RA Australia 40m; FT8 OC-001 VK5MMM Australia 20m; SSB OC-001 VK3CWB Australia 15m; CW OC-001 VK4SX Australia 20m; SSB OC-006 VK7XX TASMANIA 20m; FT8 OC-016 3D2AG VITI LEVU AND VANUA LEVU 20m; FT8 OC-022 YC9BGE BALI 20m; FT8 OC-036 ZL2AIM North 40m; CW OC-036 ZL3TE North 15m; FT8 OC-134 ZL3JT South 17m; FT8 OC-139 VK5KI Kangaroo 80/40/30/20/17/10m; CW/SSB/FT8 OC-166 YD7RV Laut 40m; FT8 SA-002 VP8LP FALKLAND 30/17m; FT8 SA-011 9Z4AH TRINIDAD 17m; SSB ** Thanks to the individuals who put the island/group and mode on their QSNs on their PacketCluster reports. The format we suggest is "IOTA#/Mode/Island or Group" (ex. OC-146/FT8/Celebes). NA-122. If you worked HI1IDT, activity was from Isla Alto Velo and will be on the air until January 24th. Activity was expected to be on various HF/VHF bands using SSB, FM and the Digital modes. QSL via address on QRZ.com. OC-298. Cezar, VE3LYC, has posted more pictures of his TX0T Tatakoto Island operation at: https://tx0t.weebly.com/gallery.html 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...... LZ190, BULGARIA (Special Event). George, LZ2VP, has activated the special event station LZ190FT to celebrate the 190th birthday of the Bulgarian Revolutionary Filip Totyu until December 31st. Activity will be on various HF bands. QSL via LZ2VP. OC200, PERU (Special Event). Members of the Radio Club Peruano (OA4O) will activate four different special event callsigns (with a single suffix spelling the word PERU) throughout the 2021 year to celebrate the 200th anniversary of Peruvian Independence. QSL all callsign via OA4O. The special callsigns and months are as follows: OC200P -- January/May/September OC200R -- March/July/November OC200E -- February/June/October OC200U -- April/August/December Contacts with the four stations, regardless of the order, will award individual the Bicentennial Diploma of Independence in the following ways: a) Bronze: Form the word PERU only once b) Silver: Form the word PERU twice c) Gold: Form the word PERU three times P44, ARUBA (Canceled). Mathias, DL4MM, who was expected to be active as P44AA from Aruba (SA-036) during the CQ 160m CW Contest (January 29-31st), has canceled his operation. He states, "Unfortunately KLM airline is going to halt all long haul flights due to new restrictions imposed by the Dutch government." PROPAGATION FORECAST/REPORT (January 25-31st)....... Jan/25th LN Jan/28th AN Jan/30th AN Jan/26th LN Jan/29th AN Jan/31st LN Jan/27th 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 * Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC) & National Oceanic and Atmospheric Adminisration (NOAA): https://www.swpc.noaa.gov https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/products/solar-cycle-progression * 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 from DB0SDX by Lothar, DL1SBF (www.qslinfo.eu) (January 24th) and various sources provided by OPDX ------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3V8SF via LX1NO II7MMI via IZ7AUH RQ30KR via RM9RZ 3Z6M via SP6IEQ & (L) KL7/W7IV via N7RO RT30KR via R7DA 4U0WFP via S57DX LU1ZG via LU4DXU RT78ML via RQ7L 4X6FR via 4X6OM LU3HRS/Z via LU3HRS RW78ML via RQ7L 5R8AL via G3SWH M2E via G0RPM (L/e) SD400SU via SM3NXS (O) 5Z4BU via EA5GL M2G via M0OXO (O) SN2S via SP2MHD (L) 9N1CA via EA5ZD M4X via M0OXO (O/L/e) T77C via T77C (O/d/L) AP2SD via EA5ZD MM4D via GM4ATA (L) TG9ADM via EA5GL BA5CJ/5 via BA5CJ NS1DX via W1VE TG9ADQ via VE7BV CN8ZG via EA7FTR OD5VB via EA5GL TG9ANF via VE7BV CQ750RSI via CT7AQD OT4A via ON4AEK (L/e) TM1CCA via F4CVQ DL0RD via DL3CQ OU5U via OZ3FD V51HZ via N4GNR (d/L) DQ100JL via DM7MA PA5150EVH via PF1SCT V73NS via W3HNK & (L) EH5COV via EA5AG PA5DX via IZ8CLM VK5KI via M0OXO (O/L) EP2HAM via M0OXO PJ2CF via EA5GL VK6AS via VK6AS (L/e) G5W via G3BJ (d/L) PJ4DX via M0URX VK8NSB via M0URX G6T via M0URX (O/L) PJ4KY via M0URX VP6MW via W0VTT HA8LCA via HA8RD (d) R30ARCK via RW0UM VR2CC via VR2XRW HF100CH via SP2LQP RG30KR via RW6HS (d) YB0AR via EB7DX HF100LEM via SP9PKZ RG78ML via RQ7L YB0ECT via W2FB HK1MW via N2OO RI01ANT via RX6A YC1SDL via EA5ZD HZ1SK via IZ8CLM & (L) RO30KR via RC9W ZP5DNB via IK2DUW (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 (n) no printed QSLs (*) QSLs will be sent via the Bureau - No QSL needed LOGS ONLINE (New/Updated) AVAILABLE ON CLUBLOG.ORG THIS WEEK...... https://clublog.org/logsearch/3D2AG/P (Updated) https://clublog.org/logsearch/9G5FI (Updated) https://clublog.org/logsearch/KP4/AB2RF (Updated) https://clublog.org/logsearch/ZD8HZ (Updated) 3D2AG/P QSL STATUS. Tony, 3D2AG, posted the following on QRZ.com, on January 20th: "Online logs for FT8 (complete), and CW logs (partial) until 28 December 2020 11:47 UTC are now uploaded to ClubLog. The remainder of the CW logs until the 13th of January will be uploaded soon. VY 73s and congratulations to all that made contacts with Rotuma this time." VK5KI KANGAROO ISLAND (OC-139) QSL STATUS/UPDATE. Grant, VK5GR, who was recently active from Kangaroo Island (OC-139) as VK5KI, posted the following on January 21st[edited]: VK5KI now QRT: QSL Card Requests Open -- Thanks everyone for all of the QSOs over the past 10 days. It has been a lot of fun. Hopefully I have been able to give out OC-139 IOTA to a few more people for an All Time New Island (ATNI). Those seeking QSL cards for IOTA credits will be happy to learn that the log has already been delivered to my QSL Card Manager Charles, M0OXO. Cards have already been printed and are available NOW for immediate request. While I recognize time is short to make this year's IOTA Hall of Fame list you might just make it if the postal service is still working between yourselves and the UK. Thanks again until next time! QSLS RECEIVED VIA LoTW: 2U0WZY, 4U75UN, 9H1TT, 9H1XT, CN8KD, MD0CCE, TT8SN, TZ4AM, V7/KX4QD, VP8NO and Z81D QSLS RECEIVED VIA MAIL: 3D2CR, 8R1/K9KX, E51WL, G4BUO, KH0/K0CW, R7AL/1 (EU-147) and VK5KI (OC-139) QSLS RECEIVED VIA THE BUREAU: NONE REPORTED THIS WEEK!!!! --- We would like to see more QSL Bureaus (such as AS/US/SA/AF.. etc) send in their info.... R900, EUROPEAN RUSSIA (Special Event). Radio amateurs from St. Petersburg and the Leningrad Region will activate the following special event/memorial stations R900DM (QSL via RC1C), R900DV and R900BL (QSL via UF1M) between January 25-31st or until February 3rd. Activity is to commemorate/dedicate the 77th anniversary of full removal of enemy blockade of Leningrad and 76th anniversary Victories of the Soviet people in the Second World War. Operations will be on various HF bands, and is good towards a FREE "Blockade" diploma (see, http://www.alrs.info/articles.php?article_id=10 or https://www.qrz.ru/news/16444.html). ROVING GRID SATELLITE OP IN NEW MEXICO AND SOUTHWEST TEXAS. Curt, K7ZOO, will be active from the following Grids between January 24-31st: DM62/DM63 (Border), DM70/DM79 (Border), DL88, DL89, DL98 and DM71/DM81 (Border). Details can be found on his Twitter page @K7ZOO_Rover, and he has also submitted a description to the author of the AMSAT Roving Page. SN0, POLAND (Special Event). Wojciech, SP2FVN, will activate the special event callsign SN0MORSE to celebrate the 230th anniversary of the birth of Samuel Finley Bresse Morse (April 2, 1872), an American painter and inventor who developed and electric telegraph. In 1838 he and his friend Alfred Vail developed the Morse Code. QSL via SP2FVN. SV/A, MT. ATHOS (Video - Pilgrimage to Mt. Athos). From YouTube.com, the Bay Area DX Club Zoom meeting presentation: "Rick, NE8Z/HC1MD, generously presents the details of his 2011 trip to Mt. Athos and visit with friend and fellow ham, Fr. Apollo SV2ASP. Only pilgrims are allowed to visit (no tourists) and are ordinarily prohibited from taking pictures, but Rick received special permission to do so during his 9-day stay. Rick's photos and memories of Fr. Apollo, Mt. Athos, and the culture of this special place reveal a world that few will ever see. Thank you, Rick!" To see the 1:42 hour video, go to: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0qbk0YyYFmE VR2, HONG KONG (Special Event). Hong Kong's 1555th Kowloon Group (VR2CS) will activate the special event memorial station VR2BLEE to honor one of the most popular icons in modern history, the legendary martial arts master Bruce Lee (The Dragon) who still inspires people worldwide more then 47 years after his passing. The chief operator of VR2BLEE will be Igor, VR2ZQZ. Length of activity and operations were not mentioned. QSL via address on QRZ.com direct. For more details on Bruce Lee, see: https://brucelee.com ZL100, NEW ZEALAND (Special Event). Members of the Radio Society of Christchurch [RSC](ZL3AC) will be active as ZL100RSC throughout the month of February. Activity is to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the club's founding (February 1921). QSL via the address on QRZ.com or the operator's instructions. ZS, SOUTH AFRICA. Member of the Rebel DX Group, Dom, 3Z9DX, has been heard the last few days from Cape Town as ZS/3Z9DX. Activity has be on 80/20/17 meters. QSL via ClubLog's OQRS.
SUBSCRIBE TO THE OPDX MAILING LIST::
kb8nw@hotmail.com?subject=subscribe
UNSUBSCRIBE TO THE OPDX MAILING LIST:
kb8nw@hotmail.com?subject=unsubscribe
OPDX WORLD-WIDE WEB HOME PAGE (provided by John, K8YSE):
NOW ON TWITTER: https://twitter.com/kb8nw_opdx
ALSO VISIT THE NORTHERN OHIO DX ASSOCIATION'S WEB PAGES AT: