OPDX Bulletin 1368 June 18, 2018

The Ohio/Penn Dx PacketCluster
DX Bulletin No. 1368
BID: $OPDX.1368
June 18, 2018
Editor Tedd Mirgliotta, KB8NW
Provided by BARF80.ORG (Cleveland, Ohio)
Sent/Written in Strongsville, OH

Thanks to the Northern Ohio Amateur Radio Society, Northern Ohio DX Association, Ohio/Penn PacketCluster Network, AB5K & the AR TelNet Clusters Network, KC1CWF, NJ1Q & W1AW, W2ARP, NG3K & ADXO, W3UR & The Daily DX, KW4XJ, W4DTA, AA5AM, K5GS, AA6RE, WB6RSE, AA7JV, K8GI, K8YSE, KT8D, W8GEX & 60m DX News, W9ILY, DL1SBF, DL7UXG & The DX News Letter, DxCoffee.com, DXNews.com, DX-World.Net, EA5RM, ES1CW, F5NQL, F6AJA & Les Nouvelles DX, HP1AC?, I1JQJ/IK1ADH & 425 DX News, I2MQP & DX Italia News, OZ6OM & 50 MHz 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, 10th/June, through Sunday, 17th/June there were 215 countries active. Countries available: 3A, 3B8, 3B9, 3D2, 3V, 3W, 3X, 4J, 4L, 4O, 4S, 4U1I, 4X, 5A, 5B, 5R, 5T, 5V, 5W, 5X, 5Z, 6W, 6Y, 7X, 8P, 8Q, 8R, 9A, 9G, 9H, 9J, 9K, 9M2, 9M6, 9Q, 9V, 9X, 9Y, A3, A4, A6, A7, A9, AP, BV, BY, C3, C9, CE, CE0Y, CE9, CM, CN, CP, CT, CT3, CU, CX, DL, DU, E4, E5/s, E7, EA, EA6, EA8, EA9, EI, EK, EL, EP, ER, ES, EU, EX, EY, F, FG, FK, FM, FO, FP, FR, FS, FY, G, GD, GI, GJ, GM, GU, GW, HA, HB, HB0, HC, HH, HI, HK, HK0/a, HL, HP, HS, HV, HZ, I, IS, J2, J3, J6, J7, JA, JD/m, JD/o, JT, JW, JX, JY, K, KG4, KH0, KH2, KH6, KH8, 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, PJ7, PY, PZ, R1FJ, S0, S5, S7, SM, SP, SU, SV, SV/a, SV5, SV9, T7, T8, TA, TF, TG, TI, TK, TR, TU, TY, TZ, UA, UA2, UA9, UK, UN, UR, V3, V5, V6, V7, V8, VE, VK, VK0M, VK9X, VP2E, VP8, VP9, VR, VU, XE, XX9, XZ, YB, YK, YL, YN, YO, YS, YU, YV, Z3, Z6, 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".



6W, SENEGAL. Dominic, ON4AZP, will be active as 6W/ON4AZP from Senegal
between June 25th and July 5th. Activity will be holiday style on 40/20/
15/10 meters using SSB. QSL via his home callsign, direct, by the Bureau
or eQSL.


9L. SIERRA LEONE (Update to OPDX.1367). Mark, KW4XJ, who is now active
as 9L1YXJ from Freetown (WW Loc. IJ38jk), informs OPDX that his overseas
assignment is for 3 years and he has been there for 9 months now. Mark
operates mainly on CW and the Digital modes on the HF bands (40-10m).
He adds that he [edited] uses an "ICOM IC-7300 running 100 watts, Chame-
leon EMCOMM II end-fed wire antenna in an inverted L configuration, with
a telescopic mast up about 25’, then the rest of the wire out horizontally
to a convenient supporting anchor. I had to switch to the wire antenna
as we have progressed into the rainy season, and we do get some rather
strong wind gusts and monsoon rains here in the tropics. Before that I
was using a Chameleon mil-whip w/extension. That worked very well but
is a portable antenna. No way it could hold up to the storms this time
of year. The wire antenna seems to be holding up well so far. I am going
to be ordering an Elecraft 500 watt amplifier and electronic antenna
tuner here shortly. I hope to have that delivered and installed in about
a month or so. Right now I’m using a MFJ manual antenna tuner — it works
fine but after awhile it gets tiring and the lazy side of me wants to
just hit a button to tune. :) With the sunspot cycle where it is I’ve
only been able to make FT8 and CW contacts with just 100 watts. Sometimes
PSK31 will work from here. I’ve made a handful of RTTY contacts. Usually
CW and FT8 most of the time. SSB seems pointless after many attempted
QSOs to Europe that were very marginal at best if we could get through
at all. That is why I was thinking the amplifier would help. My CW skills
are still pretty basic, I can reliably manage about 13 WPM on the air.
I did do my first ever CW contest here recently for the CQMM DX. I made
over 300 contacts which I thought was a decent showing given my relatively
low power, rookie operator, and slow speed. I need to find another CW
contest to try. I’m still relatively new at operating on HF. I’ve got a
lot of unexpected, excellent advice from hams around the world — the US,
but also lots of help from the UK, Germany, Brazil, and Japanese operators.
This is an amazing hobby. I’ve had FT8/JT65 QSOs from here in Freetown
to the Falkland Islands, Iceland, Japan (lots of Japan on the long path),
Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and the West coast of Canada, all
with my modest setup." QSL via his home callsign.


CP, BOLIVIA. Antonio, EA5RM, will be active as CP1XRM from Bolivia between
June 18th and July 10th, and working as Solidaridad Medica and Radioamateurs
Without Frontiers NGO volunteer. He plans to be on the air during his spare
time on 40-10 meters using SSB and the Digital modes. He may also be on 60
meters. QSL via EA5RM.


HS50, THAILAND (Special Event). Members of the Radio Society of Thailand
(RAST) are now active as HS50IARU until October 31st. Activity is to
celebrate the 50th anniversary of IARU Region 3. QSL via the Bureau, by
ClubLog's OQRS or LoTW. ADDED NOTE: The IARU Region 3 (Asia-Pacific Region)
will grant the 50th Anniversary Award to radio amateurs who certify having
contacted at least five contacts (QSOs) on different modes or bands with
Special Event Stations for commemorating the 50th Anniversary of IARU
Region 3 from eligible countries that are in Region III whose amateur
societies are members of IARU Region 3. Special event callsigns will have
the number "50" as the prefix number and IARU as their special event
callsign suffix. (ie. BV50IARU, HL50IARU, HS50IARU, V850IARU, VI50IARU3,
YB50IARU, etc..) The anniversary award rules can be found at:
                            http://awards-iaru-r3.org 


IOTA NEWS..............
  EU-064.  Thomas, DL1ASA, will be active as F/DL1ASA/p from Noirmountier
           for one day between June 18-24th. He will be activating several
           WWFF references. QSL via his home callsign.


  EU-090.  (Update) Members of the Radio Club Croatian Flora Fauna are
           now active as 9A90P from Vela Palagruza Island (CI-084, LH
           0057) until  June 23rd. Operators [Members of the Radio Club
           Croatian Flora Fauna] mentioned are Marijan/9A1MB, Radovan/
           9A2SC, Zeljko/9A3DF, Branko/9A3ST, Kiko/9A4WY, Vito/9A5VS,
           Neven/9A5YY and Emir/9A6AA. Activity will be on 80-6 meters
           near the IOTA frequencies using CW, SSB, the Digital modes
           and the satellites. QSL 9A90P via 9A2MF. For more details and
           updates, see:       https://9aff.wordpress.com
           ADDED NOTE. Look for some operators to possibly operate (using
           their own callsign) from neighboring islands: Mala Palagruza
           (EU-090, CI-461) and Galijula Island (EU-090, CI-462).


  EU-103/  (Cancelled/Update) Members of the EJ0DXG operation from Little
  EU-121.  Saltee Island (EU-103) scheduled for June 15-18th, had to post-
           poned their activity due to rough seas (could not land safe on
           the island). Look for new dates to be announced. The EIDX Group
           instead activated Bere Island (EU-121) this past weekend. If
           you missed them this past week, they will be active again
           between August 24-26th. QSL via M0OXO's OQRS. For more details
           and updates on the EIDX Group's "Irish Island IOTA Tour 2018",
           see their QRZ.com or FaceBook pages.


  EU-132.  Adam, DJ0IF, will once again be active as SN0RX from Wolin
           Island during the RSGB IOTA Contest (July 28-29th) as a Single-
           Op/CW-Mode entry. QSL via SP8BXL.


  NA-055.  Mike, W2IY, will once again be active from Mount Desert Island
           (USI ME-021S, WLOTA 1129, Hancock County, Maine) during the
           RSGB IOTA Contest (July 28-29th) as a Single-Op entry. Outside
           of the contest, activity will be holiday style. QSL via his
           home callsign, by the Bureau or direct.


  NA-143.  Joe, K5KUA, will once again be active as K5KUA/5 from Galveston
           Island (USI TX-001S, Galveston County, Texas) during the RSGB
           IOTA Contest (July 28-29th) as a Single-Op/24-Hrs entry. QSL
           via his home callsign, direct, by the Bureau or LoTW.


  PLEASE NOTE: Since the Webmasters of the new  have
  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......


KH1/KH7Z BAKER ISLAND DXPEDITION NEWS.......
  *  TOPBAND ADVICE BY GEORGE, AA7JV [edited]: Hello TopBanders -- The
     KH1/KH7Z will be active on 160m from Baker Island from June 27 to
     July 6 (note that dates are tentative and may change -- please visit
     ). Given the time of the year,
     KH1 is likely to be challenging for most. In addition to the less
     then perfect time of the year, we are limited to a maximum antenna
     height of 43 feet. But we do have a new antenna for 160 meters; we
     will stand it in the salt-water to maximize its performance. We will
     also have a couple of DHDL receiving antennas with high performance
     pre-amplifiers. In other words, we will do our absolute best to over-
     come the handicaps that we were dealt. Our TX frequency will be 1822.5
     to begin with, and we will be listening up. NA stations should call
     above 1825.0 to avoid the stronger JA callers who are limited to
     below 1825.0. Our sunset will be at 07:45 UTC. We will be on the band
     at sunset to fully take advantage of the 1 1/2 hours of common dark-
     ness with the NA East Coast. During that time the sun will be still
     up in Japan, so we will be able to focus on NA and SA. West Coast
     stations will have more than 4 hours of common darkness with us, so
     they should have a decent chance of putting KH1 in the log. After
     the West Coast sunrise, from about 12:45 UTC onward, JA, UA0 and
     SE Asia, as well as ZL/VK, will have an exclusive shot at us. During
     this time we may move down to give the JA-s more room. EU will be,,,
     well ...difficult. We will stay on the air throughout each sunrise,
     working as far west as possible.... GL and CU, George, AA7JV


  *  Don, N1DG, posted a photo on the KH1/KH7Z - Baker Island DXpedition
     2018 FaceBook page on June 12th, stating: Our advance team has arrived
     in Fiji and today visited the Nai'a support warehouse in anticipation
     of loading the vessel in 3 days. Here is Tomi, HA7RY, George, AA7JV
     and Mike, KN4EEI with the Nai'a warehouse crew.
     https://scontent-ort2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/35331219_10156427747323210_7549337305501138944_o.jpg?_nc_cat=0&oh=b2cf436c9b49d3a635c61c4bd05cdeee&oe=5BB73048


  *  This album chronicles the Dateline DX Association's (KH1/KH7Z)
     adventure to, and activation of Baker Island:
     https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=oa.2154334738179158&type=3


  *  June 15th, Update -- All DXpedition gear has been loaded into the
     NAI'A has been loaded in preparation of her journey from Lautoka,
     Fiji, to Pago Pago, American Samoa, where the team will embark to
     begin their voyage to Baker Island. See 25 pictures at:
     http://kh7z.net/2018/06/16/team-equipment-loaded-onto-the-naia/


  * June 16th, Press Release -- The first of our team arrived in Fiji this
    week to load the Nai’a.  The Nai’a is now underway from Fiji to Pago
    Pago for its pre-departure inspection by US authorities. This is the
    last hurdle before departing with the team on 20 June for Baker.
      We have activated our daily blog and in-reach GPS so you can follow
    us. You can see both new features at .
      When we arrive on the 26th at Baker we will immediately begin setup
    and expect to be QRV by our afternoon on the 27th (00:00 UTC 28 June).
      We will have 8 radios on all open bands 24/7 for the next 10 days.
    Our band plan is here:   .
    But any plan is only good until you meet the enemy in the field of
    battle.  We plan on listening to our pilots. Please tell them if we
    are missing an opening or opportunity. We can and will adjust to the
    propagation.
      We still could still use your donation at this time.
           http://www.baker2018.net/pages/donate.html
      Thank you in advance for your support.
      The Baker Island 2018 Team


    See photos of Nai'a departing from Fiji:
    http://kh7z.net/2018/06/16/6-16-2018-0200z-update/


PROPAGATION FORECAST/REPORT June 18-24th).......
 Jun/18th AN      Jun/21st  AN     Jun/23rd  AN
 Jun/19th AN      Jun/22nd  AN     Jun/24th  AN
 Jun/20th 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
  A daily HF radio wave propagation forecast can be found at:
             https://www.facebook.com/thomasfranklingiellaw4hm
      Also on Twitter: https://twitter.com/@GiellaW4hm


QSL INFO AND NEWS...................
  QSL-INFO from DB0SDX by Lothar, DL1SBF  [June 17th]
  -------------------------------------------------------------------------
  3W9XG via DF2XG          EA8/DF4WC via DF4WC       PA18FIFA via PA0RSM
  4U18FIFA via UA3DX       EA8/DL2EAA via DL2EAA     RC18SO via RZ6A
  5K18FWC via 5K18FWC (L/e) EJ0DXG via M0OXO (O)     S510SOTA via S58R
  9A/IV3APH via IV3APH     EJ2HMB via DG5SDQ         SN0UNESCO via SP9KDU
  9A11VEDA via 9A3AG & (L) G6XX via M0OXO (O)        SN600L via SP4SAF
  AO5AGA via EA5RCZ        GB18FIFA via MI0SAI       SX18FIFA via (SV-B)
  CN18FWC via CN8MC        GI6XX via M0OXO (O)       T88DT via JH1OLB & (L)
  CR2018FWC via (L/e)      IR0UN via (I-B)           TA2/DL2JRM via DL2JRM
  CS20EXPO via CT1REP      KH8/WJ2O via N2ZN         TI2/KM4HI via KM4HI & (L)
  CS2CEM via (CT-B)        KP4/K6DTT via K6DTT       TM390SR via F4DTO
  CS7/DO3HK via DO3HK      LA/SP7IDX via SP7IDX      VB18FIFA via VB18FIFA (L)
  CW18FWC via (CX-B)       LZ/DJ8QP via DJ8QP        WH2JA via JR3RIU (d/L)
  DL160EMMA via DG5YHE    MM/DL9FBF via DL9FBF & (L) YW18FIFA via (YV-B & L)
  DM18ARDF via DK2FW (B)   OE/DL1KMN/P via DL1KMN    Z30FIFA via Z30A
  E7/YU1CA/P via YU1CA     OH0/PA0VHA via PA0VHA
  EA/DL8NCG via DL8NCG     OO9A via ON8YB


  (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        


  LOGS ONLINE AT CLUBLOG.ORG THIS WEEK......
  https://clublog.org/logsearch/TE6DX    (Updated)
  https://clublog.org/logsearch/XZ2A     (Updated)


  YV5EED NOW ON CLUBLOG. Steve, W4DTA, states, "I have uploaded the YV5EED 
  logs into ClubLog, that will make it easier and faster to get YV confirmed
  hi hi... the link to the log is: 
             https://secure.clublog.org/logsearch/yv5eed


  ZS9FOC QSL ROUTE. The South Africa Radio Club's (ZS9FOC) QSL Manager
  is Robert Pantazes, W2ARP, 314 SE 20th Place, Cape Coral, FL 33990.


  QSLS RECEIVED VIA LoTW: 3B7A, 4L1MA, 9A9K, A91HI, AH2R, DM80FOC, DS5USH,
  EA5XA, EA9/EA5DCL, FY5KE, G6XX, HK3W, HK6JCF, HQ9X, JA1NCZ, JA1PCM,
  JG3FEA, JJ1DWT, LX5IGRY, OA4DOS, R0AX, R5CA, SC80FOC, TC179JAN, VK5NG,
  XR0YD and Z35Y


  QSLS RECEIVED VIA MAIL: TJ2TT, Z66D and ZK3SB


  QSLS RECEIVED VIA THE BUREAU: 8J1ITU, 8J3A, 8J2016Y, A5A, AC2AI/KH2,
  AH0BT, E31A, JA0FOX, KH0XG, PY0F/PP1CZ and XV9NPS


TM2, FRANCE (Special Event). Members of the Radio Club Vendeen RCV (F6KUF)
will be active with the special callsign TM2GGR for the 50th Golden Globe
Race (a second race will start on the July 1st, from Les Sables d'Olonne)
between June 21st and July 5th. QSL via F6KUF (by the Bureau) or via F5OEV
(for direct QSLs). NO eQSL or LoTW.


TM8, FRANCE (Special Event). Members of the Radio Club Vendeen RCV (F6KUF)
will be active with the special callsign TM85TF for the 105th "Tour de
France" bicycle race starting from Vendée between July 6-20th. QSL via
F6KUF (by the Bureau) or via F5OEV (for direct QSLs). NO eQSL or LoTW.


VP5, TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS (Reminder/6m Op). Dave, W9DR, a well-known
6m op, is now active as VP5/W9DR from VP5-land (Grid Sq. FL41AW) until
June 25th. Activity will be on 6 meters (50.115 MHz) only using CW and
SSB. Dave states that he will be using a SDR Transceiver, 1 KW, 5 element
Yagi, Beacon during slow periods, all salt water launch over North Atlantic
to NA and EU/Mid-East." QSL via W9DR direct.


VP6D DUCIE ISLAND DXPEDITION NEWS (Press Release #5, dates June 14th)
[edited] -- The VP6D Ducie Island (OC-182) 2018 project is on schedule.
At Visalia and Dayton we had the pleasure of meeting many of our supporters
and equipment sponsors, including: DX Engineering, Elecraft, SteppIR and
Arlan Communications (RadioSport headsets). Several of team attended
Europe’s Ham Radio event conducted at Friedrichshafen, Germany, where we
met with corporate, EU club and foundation sponsors, many EU DXers and
other DX-pedition operators.
  Joining the Pilot Team is Mason, KM4SII, from Clemmons, South Carolina.
Mason, an avid DXer, is 15 years old. In 2017 he operated from Iceland as
TF/KM4SII, in July 2018 he will operate from Curacao as PJ2/KM4SII. Mason
will work with NA and Chief Pilot Glenn KE4KY.
  Joining our list of corporate sponsors is Rig Expert Ukraine Ltd
. Rig Expert is a recognized leader in the develop-
ment, production and global sales of antenna analyzers, transceiver inter-
faces, ARDF equipment and amateur radio software. Rig Expert donated 2
Model AA-55 Zoom antenna analyzers to the project. We appreciate the
support of our corporate sponsors.
  Our current fundraising campaign is underway; you may see the progress
at our website. We appreciate the donations and equipment support we’ve
already received. Our final payment for the Braveheart is due on September
1st. Please keep in mind, boat/tent/generator DX-peditions incur similar
expenses whether or not you make a contact. Team members have booked their
travel to meet the Braveheart at Mangareva, French Polynesia. This is not
a VP6D project expense; each team member pays travel expenses from personal
funds.
  Financial transparency allows the major sponsors to better understand
the costs associated with a DX-pedition and how we spend their money.
Consistent with our previous DX-peditions, we will send club and foundation
sponsors a VP6D financial summary.
  We need your help to keep our DX-pedition team’s personal investment
to a reasonable level.  Please consider making a donation at: vp6d.com
  Good luck to the KH1/KH7Z DX-pedition team, we’ll see you in the pile-ups.
  73, Team Ducie ­ 2018
  Website:  vp6d.com, Twitter and Facebook
  Please direct questions to:  info@vp6d.com


YI, IRAQ. Several sources are reporting that Darko, E70A (ex-6O3A, 9A7WW,
J28AA, J28OO), will be in Baghdad soon and have been issued the callsign
YI9DX. QSL via K2PF or E77E. 

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