The Ohio/Penn Dx PacketCluster
DX Bulletin No. 1263
BID: $OPDX.1263
April 25, 2016
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, NG3K & ADXO, W3UR & The Daily DX, N4AA & QRZ DX, K8GG, K8GI, K8YSE, W8GEX & 60m DX News, W9ILY, N0TG, CO8ZZ, CS5CRE, DL1SBF, DL7UXG & The DX News Letter, DxCoffee.com, DXNews.com, DX-World.Net, ES1CW, F5NQL, F6AJA & Les Nouvelles DX, G0GDA, I1JQJ/IK1ADH & 425 DX News, I2MQP & DX Italia News, MDXC, OZ6OM & 50 MHz DX News, RSGB IOTA Web Site, Sixitalia Weekly, VA3RJ & ICPO, and VHF-DX-Portal (MMMonVHF) for the following DX information.

DXCC COUNTRY/ENTITY REPORT
According to the AR-Cluster Network for the week of Sunday, 17th/April, through Sunday, 24th/April there were 223 countries active. Countries available: 1S, 3A, 3B8, 3B9, 3D2, 3DA, 3V, 3W, 4J, 4L, 4O, 4S, 4X, 5A, 5B, 5H, 5R, 5T, 5W, 5X, 5Z, 6W, 6Y, 7Q, 7X, 8P, 8Q, 8R, 9A, 9G, 9H, 9J, 9K, 9L, 9M2, 9M6, 9Q, 9V, 9Y, A2, A3, A4, A5, A6, A7, A9, AP, BV, BY, C3, CE, CE0Y, CE9, CM, CN, CP, CT, CT3, CU, CX, CY0, D2, DL, DU, E4, E5/s, E7, EA, EA6, EA8, EA9, EI, EK, EL, EP, ER, ES, ET, EU, EX, EY, F, FG, FH, FK, FM, FO, FP, FR, FW, FY, G, GD, GI, GJ, GM, GU, GW, HA, HB, HB0, HC, HH, HI, HK, HL, HP, HR, HS, HV, HZ, I, IS, J3, J6, J7, J8, JA, JD/o, JT, JW, JX, JY, K, KH2, KH6, KH8, KL, KP2, KP4, LA, LU, LX, LY, LZ, OA, OD, OE, OH, OK, OM, ON, OX, OY, OZ, P2, P4, PA, PJ2, PJ4, PJ7, PY, PZ, S0, S5, S9, SM, SP, ST, SU, SV, SV/a, SV5, SV9, T32, T7, T8, TA, TF, TG, TI, TK, TR, TU, TY, TZ, UA, UA2, UA9, UK, UN, UR, V3, V4, V5, V6, V7, V8, VE, VK, VK9L, VK9N, VP2E, VP2V, VP5, VP8, VP9, VR, VU, XE, XU, XW, XX9, YA, YB, YI, YJ, YL, YN, YO, YU, YV, Z2, Z3, Z8, ZA, ZB, ZD7, ZD8, 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".

AX, AUSTRALIA
Please note for 24 hours during ANZAC Day on April 25th, Australian stations may operate with AX prefix instead of usual VK during this day.

CE0Y, EASTER ISLAND
Martin, LU9EFO, will be active as CE0Y/LU9EFO from Easter Island (SA-001) between May 6-13th. Activity will be on the HF bands. QSL via F4BHW direct only.

CS2, PORTUGAL
Members of the "Clube Radioamadores do Entroncamento" (CRE), will use the special callsign CS2ND between May 26-28th, from Noudar Castel (WCA reference CT-0021, DCFP reference C-021, DMHP reference BJ-015 and DMP reference 0204 for the Portuguese Castles Award). Operation will be on the HF bands using CW, SSB and the Digital modes. The Noudar Castel is located in the Province of Beja in Barrancos village. QSL via direct or eQSL.

CY0, SABLE ISLAND
Aaron, VA1AXC, is once again active as CY0/VA1AXC from Sable Island (NA-063). He there on an 8 week work shift for the Parks Canada coordinating logistics in new National Park, and will be active when time permits. Usually activity is SSB only and mainly on 20 meters usually around 2300z. QSL via JE1LET DIRECT ONLY.

CY9C, ST. PAUL ISLAND DXPEDITION (August 19-29th)
Randy, N0TG, reports the following on April 16th: As was reported previously, we will have two separate sites...separated approximately 1.5 miles.

Site 1 will be the Atlantic Cove site with 6 operators. We will try to keep 4-5 radios running and more if 12/10m opens. Our plan is to have a RTTY station active at all times. From this site 160 will be given lots of attention with the Battle Creek Special antenna.

Site 2 - the Northeast Point separate island will be enhanced to include 4 -5 operators active at all times, thus the dxpedition in total can potentially have 8-10 radios working most of the time. We are seriously considering 6m EME and Satellite, however, we need to work out the planning details. And, as always, budget matters are a significant consideration as we expand operations. We appreciate the support by many to date. The desire is to make this a very complete operation that will offer fun and meeting needs for all interests.

D66, COMOROS (New Prefix)
Operators Pavel/OK1FPS, Petr/OK1FCJ and David/ OK6DJ will be active as D66D from Comoros (AF-007) during the second half of September and early October. Activity will be on 160-10 meters using various modes. QSL via OK6DJ, ClubLog's OQRS, LoTW or eQSL. For details and updates, see:

FM/TO5, MARTINIQUE
Laurent, FM5BH, will be active as TO972M from Martinique Island (NA-107) during the CQWW WPX CW Contest (May 28-29th) as a Single- Op/All-Band/High-Power entry. QSL TO972M via FM5BH direct or ClubLog's OQRS.

HAMVENTION NEWS
SWODXA DX DINNER ANNOUNCEMENT - April 20th , 2016, Bill Salyers, AJ8B, -- FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -- There is ONE month until the SouthWest Ohio DX Association (SWODXA) hosts the 31st annual DXdinner. The dinner, held in conjunction with the 2016 Dayton Hamvention®, will be on Friday, May 20th, at the Marriott Hotel in Dayton.

Martin F. Jue, K5FLU, of MFJ Enterprises, Inc., will be the keynote speaker discussing ‘The Early Days of MFJ” With all of the activity surrounding the international “Maker’s Faire”, Martins’ talk with be very timely!

Yaesu has donated an FT-1200 for the DX Forum and an FT-3000 for the DX Dinner. Icom has donated an IC-7300 for the DXDinner as well.

The newest inductee(s) in to the CQ Hall of Fame will be announced as well as the much anticipated DX Pedition of the Year! 75% of the available ticket sales have sold 75% so don’t wait much longer. For more information and to order dinner tickets, visit
WWW.SWODXAEVENTS.ORG and follow us on Twitter (@SWODXA).

RTTY CONTEST DINNER - Ed, W0YK, reports that the Dayton HamVention RTTY Dinner will be held on Thursday, May 19th, at 6 pm, at the Spaghetti Warehouse, 36 West 5th Street (two blocks from Crowne Plaza hotel and three blocks from Convention Center parking garage). What: Informal dinner with RTTY contesting friends (or, whomever)

Menu: choice of:
- Spaghetti & Meatballs
- Incredible 15-Layer Lasagne
- Fettuccini Alfredo
- Four-Cheese Manicotti
- Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad
- Chicken Parmigiana
Includes crisp fresh garden salad, freshly baked sourdough bread
and your choice of soft drink or tea. Cost: $21

RSVP: Ed, W0YK, with check or feeless (to him) PayPal transaction to w0yk@msn.com. Mailing address: POB 1877, Los Gatos, CA 95031-1877

(Feeless PayPal transactions are done by choosing "Friends and Family" and using funds already in your PayPal account or cash drawn from your bank account. Any transaction type that uses credit cards will need to be for $24 to cover the fee he will be charged. He can also process credit cards directly for $24.)

A banquet room is reserved that comfortably holds 55 people, so the first 54 to RSVP with payment will get a seat. All Ed is organizing is an informal dinner for socializing.

If someone wants to arrange a program and/or speaker, that would be great. Also, if someone would like to put together a prize raffle, that's fine, too. Ed can provide vendor contacts that Fred, WW4LL, and Ed have used the past two years. Contact him if you'd like to help out.

IOTA NEWS
AS-024. Operators Tak/JR1LZK and Mitsu/JE1HXZ will be active as home- call from Yonaguni Island between April 23rd and May 1st. Activity will be on 40-6 meters using CW, SSB and the Digital modes. QSL via their home callsigns, direct, by the Bureau or LoTW.

AS-142. (Update/Change/Also AS-025 Added) Operators Vasily/R7AL and XYL Anastasia, Vasily/RA1ZZ, Serge/RW5D, Vladimir/RK8A and Yury/UD0XAA will be active as UE23RRC from Kambalnyy Island (Toporkov) [RR-13-14] between August 14-18th. The special callsign, UE23RRC, is being used to celebrate the 23rd anni- versary of the Russian Robinson Club (RRC). They will have two stations on the HF Bands. QSL via ClubLog. For more details, see:

One member of their team, Vladimir, RK8A, will activate Paramushir Island (AS-025), in Kuril Islands, and is a rare RDA: SL-20.

EU-003. Olivier, W6NV, will be active as CU2/W6NV from Sao Miguel Island, Azores, during the RSGB IOTA Contest (July 30-31st) as a Single- Op/All-Band entry. QSL via his home callsign.

EU-013. Operators Philippe/ON4LEM, YL Cécile/ON5TC, Michel/ON6QO, Gert- Jan/ON7GLF, Frédéric/ON7WZ and Peter/ON8VP will be active as MJ/ON4RSX from St. Brelade, Jersey, between May 5-8th. Activity will be on 40-6 meters using CW, SSB and the Digital modes. QSL via the Bureau to ON4RSX or direct to ON8VP.

EU-042. Mike, DG5LAC, will be active as DG5LAC/p from Amrum Island between April 30th and May 6th. Activity will be on 80-10 meters using SSB. QSL via his home callsign, direct, by the Bureau or ClubLog's OQRS.

EU-120. Three operators from the Virtual Amateur Radio Club from East Kent, U.K., will be active for 5 days on the Isle of Lundy (WAB SS14, ARLHS-73) between May 2-7th. Operators mentioned are Mark/G0GQT, Keith/M0KJA and Nigel/G0GDA. They are taking 4 rigs, 2 linears and a variety of aerials to run SSB, CW and Data. The island has no grid electricity and runs on generators from 0600 to midnight British Summer time. They are staying in a cottage adjacent to a disused lighthouse (ARLS-073) and the island is a FLORA & FAUNA site (WWFF GFF-103). QSL info: All Logs will be uploaded to eQSL, Clublog, QRZ.com and QRZCQ.com. - As far as they know there is no internet connection on the island, so if that is the case logs will be uploaded on return.

EU-123. Members of the Grantham ARC will be active as GM0GRC and GM7GRC from the Isle of Arran, Scotland, between August 13-21st. Operators mentioned 2E0FYQ, Alan/G0RCI, YL Judith/G4IAQ, Dave/ G4IAR, Alan/G4VUA, Kevin/G6SSN, Pete/M0USY and possibly others. Activity will be on all bands using SSB and the Digital modes. QSL direct only to G0RCI; the logs will be uploaded to ClubLog.

OC-022. Kurt, DL5CO, is currently active as YB9/DL5CO from Bali Island (OC-022) during the month of April. Activity has been on the HF bands (40/30/20/17/15m) using CW. QSL via his home callsign.

OC-164. Operators John/VK6AG and Pavel/VK6NAX will be active as VK6AG/P and VK6NAX/P from Garden Island on April 25th. Activity will be on the HF bands. QSL via their home callsign (se instruction on QRZ.com).

* The Spring 2016 IOTA Directory is now available at the RSGB Shop at:

* RSGB IOTA NEWS ["Rule Changes" and "Introducing Islands on the Air (IOTA) Ltd"] -- See the https://www.rsgbiota.org/ Web page under "News".

* K6VVA/KL7 MYSTERY IOTA (YOU GOTTA READ THIS TO BELIEVE IT!!) -- Rick, K6VVA, states, "Between 1 JUNE 2016 and 30 AUGUST 2016, I intend to activate several more KL7 IOTAs. But each NA-xxx IOTA # will remain a "MYSTERY" until AFTER the Expedition is completed. You MUST check this webpage http://www.k6vva.com/iota/ for details and Confirmation of QSO instructions, which will then include the specific date(s) of QRV and IOTA # needed to solve each "Mystery"." For more details, see Rick's Web page.

P5, NORTH KOREA (Rumor)
At this time it seems to be nothing but a rumor, but reports state: "a group of 10 European and American Ops believe they can activate a full scale DXpedition inside the DPRK (P5, North Korea) next month (May, 2016)."

PROPAGATION FORECAST/REPORT (April 30th-May 1st)

 Apr/25th HN      Apr/28th  AN     Apr/30th  HN
 Apr/26th HN      Apr/29th  LN     May/01st  AN
 Apr/27th 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

Also, check out the VOACAP predication Web page at:

QSL INFO AND NEWS

  QSL-INFO from DB0SDX (April 24th) 
  -------------------------------------------------------------------------
  5W0XG via JA1XGI (B/d)    HB0/PA3CNO via PE1FLO      PF16GIRO via PA0FAW
  5Z4/JM1CAX via JM1CAX     HF1050BRP via SP9BRP       RT73GP via RL5G (d)
  7U7WARD via 7X2VB         IA5J via IU3BXI            SN1050CP via SP3PGR
  8Q7CA via RC5A            IB0X via (O/L)*            SV2RSG via SV1RP
  9Y/K2HVN via K2HVN        IL7/IQ7NK via IW7EGQ (d)   T88FG via JR1EFG & (L)
  D2/CT1ITE via CT1ITE      IY0GA via IS0JMA           TC101GS via TA3X
  DL/KU1CW via KU1CW (L)    IY0ORP via IZ0FVD (d)      TK9C via IK2AHB
  EA8/ON4LBI via ON4LBI     IY7M via IZ7XNB            TM0GA via F5MAG
  EH1ARD via EA1AST     JG8NQJ/JD1 via JA8CJY (d/JA-B) VK9NU via VK4ADC
  HB0/DL2JRM via DL2JRM     MJ0KUC via ON4ZD & (O)     Z370CEF via Z37CEF
  HB0/DL5SE via DL5SE       OE16M via OE1WHC
    (e) eQSL only  (d) direct only   (B) Bureau only  (*-B) DX's- Bureau
    (O) OQRS only  (C) ClubLog only  (L) LoTW only    * Do not send cards

UA9AB QSL INFO. George, K8GG, informs the following about Russian QSL Manager Gennady, UA9AB: I have used UA9AB to find and receive Russian QSLs for the last few years. He has contact with many other QSL managers for old and much needed QSLs not available by other routes. Gene is a stamp collector, looking for commemorative stamps from around the world. He will take an envelope of interesting used commemorative stamps in lieu of IRCs or other payments. Gene also collects mint commemorative stamps. Contact Gene directly at ua9ab at mail dot ru before sending any mail, other than donating stamps to him. Whether you need help or not, the commemorative stamps from your incoming mail from anywhere in the world will probably be of interest to Gene. His address is valid at QRZ.com:
Gennady T. Shcumat, P. O. Box 18527, 454021 Chelyabinsk, Russia.
The UA9AB page at QRZ.com has more information on some of his QSL cap- abilities.

QSLS RECEIVED VIA LoTW: 4A1DX, CT3DZ, FH/F2DX, FK8IK, FT4JA, S01WS, S52OT, S79SP, T32MU, TX3X, V73D, VE2GHI, VK0EK and ZL2AGY

QSLS RECEIVED VIA MAIL: 3XY1T, 4S7GWG, 7X4AN, B7/BD7IHN (AS-129), EY7AD, J79XF, VK5CE/6 (OC-243) and VP8RHF

QSLS RECEIVED VIA THE BUREAU: 4L6DL, BA4TB/4, BD4TS, BD4TS/5, BG9HKP, BH2RO, BY2WL, BY1WXD/5, C21GC, CR2AA, CU2JT, CU3AA/P, CU3AC, CU3AK, CU3DP, CU3EM, CU3HN, LZ70VZ, LZ/KY6AA, LZ110RAEM, SV9/LZ3FN, TA0/LZ3FN, TM39TMR, TM90WARD, TM150UTI, TM190NB, TM200CK, YV5ABH, YV5CWM, YV5DTJ, YV5EAH, YV5EPM, YV5HNJ, YV5KQA, YV5KTM, YV5NEA, YV5NWG, YY5ALO, YY5FRD, YY5MA, YY5SKA, YY5SRR and Z6/LZ1BJ

SV/A, MOUNT ATHOS
For years Monk Apollo, SV2ASP/A, has been the only amateur radio operator from the Docheiariou Monastery. However, this past week news came out that Monk Iakovos, who lives in the Koutloum- ousiou Holy Monastery in Mt. Athos, has received his radio amateur train- ing from George, SV1RP, and then his SV2RSG license from the Ministry of Telecommunication in 2015. Reports indicate that Monk Iakovos has been on 40 meters (7141 kHz) on SSB using an IC-735 into a vertical antenna. He does operate CW!! QSL via SV1RP. Check out his QRZ.com page at:

SV9, CRETE
Uli, DJ9XB, will once again be active as SV9/DJ9XB from Crete between May 10-20th. Activity will be holiday style on 40-6 meters, but with a focus on 6 meters and using only RTTY and JT65. QSL via his home callsign, direct, by the Bureau or LoTW.

T40, CUBA
Raul, CO8ZZ, will be active as T40A during the CQWW WPX CW Contest (May 28-29th) as a Single-Op/All-Band/Low-Power/Assisted entry. QSL via QRZ.com instructions.

V3, BELIZE
The Daily DX reports that Henk, PA0C, will be active as V31HV and V31HV/P from Belize until October 2016. He will use the portable call- sign during weekends from beaches south of the city. Activity will be on 80/40/20/15 meters using CW, SSB and JT65. Equipment is a FT-857 trans- ceiver, a W3DZZ, Long wire and verticals. QSL via his home callsign direct.

V6, MICRONESIA
Kouchi, JR2GAG, is now active as V63GG from Yap Island (OC-012) until April 26th. Activity will be holiday style mostly on 20-6 meters, but he will be able to operate on 160-40 meters. QSL via his home callsign, by the Bureau, direct or ClubLog's OQRS. No LoTW or eQSL.

VG2, CANADA (Zone 2)
Operators Jean/VE2VIA and Jean-Pierre/VE2SSS will be active as VG2O from Zone 2 during the CQWW WPX CW Contest (May 28-29th) as a Multi-Op/High-Power entry. QSL is direct via VE2JCW.

XT, BURKINA FASO
Operators Jusei/A3IVU and Junichi/JH3AEF will be active as XV2IVU and XT2AEF, respectively, from Ouaga Dougou, between April 28th and May 4th. Activity will be 80-6 meters using CW, SSB and the Digital modes. They will have a 500 watt amp and have a beam for 20-10m and dipoles for 80/40m. QSL XT2IVU via JA3IVU. QSL XT2AEF via JH3AEF.

XU7, CAMBODIA (PRESS RELEASE #1) [edited]
"Once again an international team under the flag of MDXC, Mediterraneo Dx Club, will be on air, starting from 4th to 14th November 2016. The license as XU7MDC is already in the hands of Antonio, IZ8CCW, (leader) and Gabriele, I2VGW, (co-leader) of the team (20 people). They have planned, as usual, to operate 24/24 hours with 5 stations from the beach of Sihanoukville, Cambodia, with a parti- cular stress to low bands and digital modes. The official web site is under construction. Further infos soon."

ADDED NOTES AND UPDATE: The Web page is now online at: http://www.mdxc.org/xu7mdc Operators mentioned are Gabry/I2VGW, Ant/IZ8CCW, Marco/IZ2GNQ, Michel/F5EOT, Dario/IZ4UEZ, Gab/YO8WW, Francois/ON4LO, Eric/ON7RN, Feri/YO5OED, Marco/ HB9OCR, Fulvio/HB9DHG, Mario/IK4MTK, Tony/F8ATS, Dario/IT9ZZO, Fabio/ IK4QJF and Gilles/F6IRA. Pilots are: N1DG/USA, HK3W/SA, and IC8ATA/EU. Activity will be on 160-10 meters using CW, SSB and RTTY.

Suggested frequencies are:
CW - 1826.5, 3505, 7005, 10105, 14025, 18075, 21025, 24895 and 28025 kHz
SSB - 1840, 3799, 7080, 14200, 18145, 21295, 24950 and 28470 kHz
RTTY - 3600, 7040, 10140, 18100, 21080, 24930 and 28085 kHz

QSL Manager for direct/Bureau/OQRS cards is IK2VUC: Giuliano Mondini, PO BOX 10, 21052 Busto Arsizio (VA), ITALY. LoTW files will be uploaded by the end of May 2016. For more details, see their Web page.

ZD8, ASCENSION ISLAND
Oliver, W6NV, will once again be active as ZD8W from Ascension Island between October and November. Activity will include the CQWW DX SSB Contest (October 29-30th) as a Single-Op/All-Band entry, and the CQWW DX CW Contest (November 26-27th) as a Multi-Op/All-Band entry with other operators to be announced later. Look for activity before and after the contests on 160-6 meters. QSL via his home callsign.

TO BE ADDED TO THE OPDX MAILING LIST -- Click or send requests to:
Help: opdx-request@barf80.org Subject:help
Subscribe: opdx-request@barf80.org Subject:subscribe
Unsubscribe: opdx-request@barf80.org Subject:unsubscribe

OPDX WORLD-WIDE WEB HOME (provided by John, K8YSE (k8yse@papays.com):
http://www.papays.com/opdx.html

ALSO VISIT THE NORTHERN OHIO DX ASSOCIATION'S WEB HOME PAGE:
http://www.nodxa.org
http://www.facebook.com/NorthernOhioDxAssociation