The Ohio/Penn Dx PacketCluster
DX Bulletin No. 1475
BID: $OPDX.1475
August 3, 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, NG3K & ADXO, W3UR & The Daily DX, WB6RSE, AA7A,
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, RN3RQ, Sixitalia Weekly, VA3RJ & ICPO and ZP5YW for the
following DX information.

DXCC COUNTRY/ENTITY REPORT: According to the AR-Cluster Network for the
week of Sunday, 26th/July, through Sunday, 2nd/August there were 197
countries active. Countries available: 3A, 3B8, 3D2, 3DA, 3V, 3W, 4J, 4L,
4O, 4S, 4U1U, 4X, 5B, 5H, 5R, 5T, 5Z, 6Y, 7X, 8P, 8Q, 9A, 9G, 9H, 9J, 9K,
9L, 9M2, 9M6, 9N, 9Q, 9V, 9Y, A2, A4, A6, A7, A9, AP, BV, BY, C3, C9, CE,
CE0Y, CE9, CM, CN, CP, CT, CT3, CU, CX, D2, D4, DL, DU, E5/s, E7, EA, EA6,
EA8, EA9, EI, EK, EL, ER, ES, ET, EU, EX, EZ, F, FG, FK, FM, FO, FR, FS,
FY, G, GD, GI, GJ, GM, GU, GW, HA, HB, HB0, HC, HI, HK, HL, HP, HR, HS,
HZ, I, IS, J3, J6, J7, JA, JT, 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, S0, S5, S7, SM, SP, SU, SV, SV5, SV9, T2, T5, T7, T8, TA, TF,
TG, TI, TK, TR, TZ, UA, UA2, UA9, UK, UN, UR, V3, V4, V5, V7, V8, VE, VK,
VP2E, VP2M, VP8, VP9, VR, VU, XE, XW, YB, YI, YJ, YK, YL, YN, YO, YS, YU,
YV, Z2, Z3, ZA, ZB, ZD7, 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".

2020 ILLW NEWS (COVID-19 and the ILLW)[edited]. The following was posted
on the ILLW Web (https://illw.net/): "Please note that the ILLW (Inter-
national Lighthouse Lightship Weekend) for 2020 will NOT be cancelled
due to the impact of the Corona virus. Participation will be the decision
of each entrant depending on their own circumstances and Government rulings
regarding border and national parks closures and social contact etc."
 The 23rd ILLW will be held between 0001 UTC, August 22nd, to 2400 UTC,
August 23rd, 2020 (48 hours). As of July 31st, there are 264 entrants
listed for 2020. The list of lighthouses and reference numbers can be
found at: https://illw.net/index.php/entrants-list-2020

4U1UN (United Nations Amateur Radio Club) NEWS (FaceBook Update, dated
July 31st). Greetings from UNARC/4U1UN. As most are aware, UNHQ has been
shut down for some time due to COVID-19. As a result, basic maintenance
of equipment has been postponed until the building is reopened to staff.
The Secretary General has implemented a multi-phased approach based on
state and federal guidelines. As such, we hope to regain access in October
or November. It's at that time that maintenance activities will be sched-
uled with the appropriate departments in order to address pressing equip-
ment failures. This includes repair to our Acom amplifier control module
as well as the beacon antenna.
 On other news, I've been testing and evaluating a Flex Radio Systems
6600M which was kindly loaned to us by our friends at Flex Radio. The
Flex SDR system has proven more than capable of performing in our con-
strained operating environment, and is something as current club president,
hope to implement into our station as soon as possible. Many thanks go
to Flex Radio, especially, Matt Youngblood for his generosity and will-
ingness to work with the United Nations Amateur Radio Club 4U1UN.
 I'll try to update you with more news as it's made available to me by
senior management and our administration.
 Until then, be safe. Be well.... 73, James K2QI

5H, TANZANIA. Late last week, information came out about a well-known DXer
(from the late 80's and the first half of the 90's; many older DXers may
remember working him from very rare places; some questionable) will be
going to Pongwe, Zanzibar Island (AF-032), Tanzania, and be active as
5H1RR. Specific details and dates have not been mentioned, but the operator
was named -- Roman Vega (aka Romeo Stepanenko), 3W3RR (also to name a
"few" other callsigns -- 1S0RR, 1S0XV, 1S1RR, 4L/AH0M, 5A0RR, 9D0RR,
R3A/3W3RR, UB5JRR, XE2/AH0M, YA0RR and P5RS7).
 Romeo has been mostly in prison starting in 1993 (in Libya and Egypt),
in in 1999 by the FBI - in Miami (however, that case was dismissed), but
was arrested again in Cyprus in February of 2003. After spending 18 months
in prison there, Romeo was extradited to the United States on an Interpol
warrant in 2004. After serving many years in different prisons throughout
the U.S. (for conspiracies to commit money laundering and access device
fraud), Romeo was released from the York County Prison (PA) where he was
held until November 2019, and then escorted to an airplane jetway at JFK
airport and on February 1, 2020, landed in Russia.
 For more details about Romeo and his operations, pictures of his QSL
cards and his life activities (a lot of info), see the following Web
pages: http://www.3w3rr.com/p/intro.html
 http://www.dokufunk.org/amateur_radio/personalities/index.php?CID=1175

 ADDED NOTES: Even if Romeo's 5H1RR operation takes place, his operation
will probably not count. He has been banned/disqualified from participation
in the DXCC program (in any manner). This was inactive by the ARRL Awards
Committee after they reviewed all of the documentation for Romeo's 1992-93
P5RS7 North Korea operation. It was also announced in a ARRL DX Bulletin
(#11) in 1996: http://www.arrl.org/w1aw-bulletins-archive/ARLD011/1996
 By the way, on May 25th, 2020, there was a posting that Romeo was
also going to be active as 9Q9RR from Mbuji Mayi, Dem. Republic of Congo.
NO QRNs were reported.

5K8, COLOMBIA. Members of the Colombian Amateur Radio League (LCRA) will
be active with the special callsign 5K87LR from Bogota, Colombia, until
August 31st. Activity is to celebrate 87th anniversary of the LCRA.
Operations will be on various HF bands. QSL via LoTW only.

8P, BARBADOS. Mathieu, VA2MVR, is currently active as 8P9QC and is living
in Pine Gardens until September 12th. Activity is mainly on 40/20 meters
using SSB and may try FT4/FT8 later. He is using an FT-891 w/100 watts
into a sloping dipole between a tree and coconut tree. QSL only via LoTW.

CB6, CHILE (Special Event). Members of the Radio Club Traiguén (CE6TRA)
will activate 4 special callsigns between September 1-30th, to commemorate
the 131th anniversary of the arrival of the railway to the city of Traiguén.
The special callsigns will be associated with the following railway stations
of the Ramal Traiguén - Púa:
 CB6T - Traiguén Railway Station CB6P - Púa Railway Station
 CB6Q - Quino Railway Station. CB6TEB Electric Train J. Bunster B.
 Activity will be on various HF bands using CW, SSB and the Digital modes
(FT8/SSTV). Certificates will be awarded in three different categories,
according to the number of stations contacted or received (SWLs) by the
radio amateur requesting said diploma (Silver, Gold, Platinum). For direct
QSL cards, send to following address: RADIO CLUB TRAIGUÉN, BOX N ° 150,
CP 4730000, BRING, CHILE. For more details, see QRZ.com.

CN21, MOROCCO. Hassan, CN8SG, will be active with the special callsign
CN21SG from Kenitra. Activity is celebrating the 21st anniversary of the
reign of his Majesty King of Morocco Mohammed VI. Activity will be on
various HF bands. QSL via EA7FTR.

CQ0, PORTUGAL (LH Op). Members of the OESTE DX Gang Association (ODXG)
will be active as CQ0ODX/P from the Lighthouse of Cape Carvoeiro/Peniche
(ILLW PT0002, P.F.F.P. FP-033, D.M.H.P. LR-085) during the International
Lighthouse Lightship Weekend (ILLW) [August 22-23rd). Activity will be
on 160/80/40/20/17/15/12/10/6/2 meters using CW, SSB and FT8/FT4. QSL
via only ClubLog and LoTW.

DID YOU MISS THE DXE VIRTUAL HAMFEST/DX ACADEMY? If you missed the DXE
Virtual Hamfest and DX Academy,you can catch it all on YouTube at:
 https://youtu.be/PC6iIVZAH88?t=287
The event is just under 8 hours long.

DXCC'S MOST WANTED (ClubLog). The "DXCC Most Wanted" entities list has
been updated on ClubLog as of July 27th. The list contains 340 entities.
The following are the top 26 entities:
 1. P5 DPRK (North Korea) 14. KH4 Midway Island
 2. 3Y/B Bouvet Island 15. ZS8 Prince Edward & Marion Islands
 3. FT5/W Crozet Island 16. PY0S Saint Peter and Paul Rocks
 4. BS7H Scarborough Reef 17. PY0T Trindade & Martim Vaz Islands
 5. CE0X San Felix Islands 18. KP5 Desecheo Island
 6. BV9P Pratas Island 19. SV/A Mount Athos
 7. KH7K Kure Island 20. VP8S South Sandwich Islands
 8. KH3 Johnston Island 21. KH5 Palmyra & Jarvis Islands
 9. 3Y/P Peter 1 Island 22. JD/M Minami Torishima
 10. FT5/X Kerguelen Island 23. EZ Turkmenistan
 11. FT/G Glorioso Island 24. ZL9 New Zealand Subantarctic Islands
 12. VK0M Macquarie Island 25. YK Syria
 13. YV0 Aves Island 26. FK/C Chesterfield Island

 No change on the Top 26 since we last reported back on May 4th. The
complete "DXCC Most Wanted" entities list (340) is available at:
 https://secure.clublog.org/mostwanted.php

EA8, CANARY ISLANDS (Reminder/Satellite Op/Rare Grid). Philippe, EA4NF,
will be operating on the satellites from Lanzarote Island, Canary Islands
(AF-004, WW Loc. IL38 & IL39), as EA8/EA4NF between August 10-17th. A
special focus will be from the very rare IL39 Grid. Portable activation
will be with a FT818 and a FT817ND operating in full Duplex with an Alaskan
Arrow Antenna. Activity will be on the FM and Linear Satellites. QSL via
LoTW as EA8/EA4NF. Keep an eye on Philippe's Twitter feed for further
updates and passes at: https://twitter.com/EA4NF_SAT

FINAL RESULTS OF COVID-19 COMMUNICATION EVENT (Press Release, by Martti,
OH2BH, dated July 31st)[edited].
 18,838 HAMS FROM 181 DXCC ENTITIES
 WITH THE MEDIAN AGE OF 62 YEARS OLD
 GREETED EACH OTHER IN THIS HISTORICAL RADIO EVENT
 JUNE 6-7th, 2020: A 24-HOUR COVID-19 COMMUNICATION EVENT

 The international gathering of STAYHOME/STAYSAFE stations and fellow
amateur radio operators was organized as a brief 24 hours event where
hams were able to quickly greet each other, in a contest-like format, in
the spirit of well-being. A total of 18,838 hams from 181 DXCC entities
participated in the event, using the CW, SSB and FT8 transmission modes.
There were 39 registered STAYHOME/STAYSAFE stations from all continents,
making this event a very unique global undertaking. An impressive 120,181
radio contacts were made during the event.

 THE CATEGORY WINNERS
 ----------------------
WORLD WINNERS: CW: RG9A SSB: PP5JR DIGITAL: YO9HP MULTI-MODE: LY9A

CONTINENTAL WINNERS: Africa: EA8RM Asia: RG9A Europe: LY9A NA: W1UE
 SA: PY5KD and OC: ZL3P

STAYHOME HALL OF FAME: The most productive STAYHOME/STAYSAFE groups that
 dominated the continental landscape were from
 Romania, Brazil and Finland.

 WE SINCERELY CONGRATULATE ALL HIGH SCORERS & WINNERS!
 * The detailed results of the event are available at:
 http://ko8sca.com/results.pdf
 * The prize lottery will be organized within the next two-weeks.

 The COVID-19 Radio Communication Event Organizing Committee:
 73, E21EIC, KO8SCA, OH2BH, OH2MM, and PY5EG

 --------------------------------------------------------------------
 THE COVID-19 COMMUNICATION EVENT WAS PART OF THE GLOBAL STAYHOME
 ACTIVITY FROM APRIL 8th, 2020, TO JUNE 7th, 2020

 The OH0-OH9 stations made an impressive 133,000 contacts along with
 25,000 FT8 QSOs logged by the Brazilian digital station ZW5STAYHOME,
 working hams from a total of 180 countries from all 40 CQ zones, with
 other STAYHOME stations totaling almost 290,000 contacts in the two
 month period. This reinforced the recommended STAYHOME/STAYSAFE message
 of distancing and well-being among the global on-the-air amateur radio
 community. On June 8th, 2020, the Finnish led movement was put on hold
 while waiting for further news from around the world. Unfortunately,
 the news has been discouraging and our sympathy goes to the families
 of the suffering and the lost lives. Amateur radio operators continue
 to pass well-being messages and are ready and at service for the society
 when needed.
 These events were organized jointly by Radio Arcala of Finland and
 Araucaria DX Group of Brazil.
 -------------------------------------------------

IOTA NEWS. The following are IOTA operations that were active this past
week between July 27th-August 1st (as per the DXCluster):

 IOTA Callsign Island/GROUP Bands/Modes
 ------ ---------- ------------- ------------
 AF-004 EA8DHA Canary 17m; SSB
 AF-032 5H1FF ZANZIBAR 17m; FT8
 AS-003 4S7JL/MM SRI LANKA 20m; SSB
 AS-004 5B60AIX CYPRUS 20m; SSB
 AS-005 D44PM Sao Tiago 20m; SSB
 AS-007 JA9LX HONSHU 20m; Digi
 AS-007 JE1NVD HONSHU 20m; Digi
 AS-007 JF2DDR HONSHU 20m; Digi
 AS-007 JF4VZT HONSHU 20m; Digi
 AS-007 JG4AKL HONSHU 20m; Digi
 AS-007 JH0NCG HONSHU 20m; Digi
 AS-007 JO7KMB HONSHU 20m; Digi
 AS-078 JA8IZP HOKKAIDO 20m; Digi
 AS-141 BA5CJ/5 ZHEJIANG PROVINCE S 20m; FT8
 EU-002 OH0Z ALAND 20m; CW
 EU-004 EA6/EA3HSO BALEARIC 20m; CW
 EU-005 G7CNF GREAT BRITAIN 15m; Digi
 EU-005 GM5X Scotland 80/40/20/15m; SSB
 EU-005 M3OVA GREAT BRITAIN 30m; Digi
 EU-007 R1MJ/P BLASKET 20m; SSB
 EU-014 TK/F4IDN CORSICA 40m; SSB
 EU-021 TF5B ICELAND 15m; Digi
 EU-025 IT9BGE SICILY 40m; SSB
 EU-030 OZ8IE/P BORNHOLM 20m; SSB
 EU-032 F1HOM/P POITOU-CHARENTES REGION 80/20m; SSB
 EU-036 LB9RE OR-TRONDELAG/MOREOG ROMSDAL COUNTY N 17m; Digi
 EU-042 DL0SY CHLESWIG-HOLSTEIN STATE NW 20m; SSB
 EU-042 DL1DAW/P CHLESWIG-HOLSTEIN STATE NW 20m; CW
 EU-048 F/LX1NO/P BRETAGNE 20/17/15m; CW/Digi
 EU-051 IT9AGZ/IE9 USTICA 40m; SSB
 EU-054 IF9/IT9PPG EGADI 20m; CW
 EU-056 LA/DF9TM GODOYA 17m; SSB
 EU-056 LA/DL2SWW GODOYA 30/20/17m; CW
 EU-062 LA7GIA/P TJOTTA 30m; CW
 EU-076 LA7GIA/P LOFOTEN 30m; CW
 EU-079 LA/DF9TM MORE OG ROMSDAL COUNTY S 40/20m; SSB
 EU-079 LA/DL2SWW MORE OG ROMSDAL COUNTY S 40/20/10m; CW
 EU-096 OH3OJ/1 KAURISSALO 40/30/20/17m; CW
 EU-113 SV8/DJ4EL Kythira 40/20/17m; SSB
 EU-115 GI5NI IRELAND 40m; SSB
 EU-115 MI0AIH IRELAND 20m; SSB
 EU-115 MI7RPG IRELAND 20m; Digi
 EU-116 GD1JNB ISLE OF MAN 40m; SSB
 EU-117 R1MJ/P Gulf of Finland North 20m; SSB
 EU-117 R1CBL/P Gulf of Finland North 20m; SSB
 EU-132 SP/DL7DF ZCZECIN/KOSZALIN PROVINCE 40m; CW/SSB
 EU-170 9A0FF DALMATIA NORTH 40m; CW
 EU-170 9A3ST/P DALMATIA NORTH 40m; SSB
 EU-170 9A8TQF Tramerka 20m; SSB
 EU-175 CU3DX/P Azores 20m; CW/SSB
 NA-015 CM6RK CUBA 40m; SSB
 NA-021 8P6ET Barbados 20m; Digi
 NA-096 HI7M Dominican Republic 17m; SSB
 NA-101 J73WA Dominica 30m; Digi
 NA-108 J69DS St. Lucia 17m; Digi
 NA-178 K6VVK CALIFORNIA STATE CENTRE 20m; Digi
 OC-001 VK2WJ AUSTRALIA 20m; Digi
 OC-001 VK6MIT AUSTRALIA 20m; Digi
 OC-013 E51JD RAROTONGA 20m; SSB
 OC-016 3D2AG VITI LEVU AND VANUA LEVU 17m; Digi
 OC-021 YB2HAF JAVA 20m; Digi
 OC-022 YB9AY BALI 30m; Digi
 OC-036 ZL1WN NORTH 20m; SSB
 OC-048 DV3CEP LUZON 20m; Digi
 OC-148 YD9MFD TIMOR 40m; Digi
 SA-011 9Z4Y Trinidad and Tobago 20m; CW
 SA-012 YV7PMG Isla Margarita 20m; SSB
 SA-012 YV7WGA Isla Margarita 15m; Digi

 ** Thanks to the individuals who put the island/group and mode
 on their QSNs on the PacketCluster reports....

 AS-117. Kenji, JA4GXS, will once again be active as JA4GXS/4 from
 Kasado Island on August 22nd, between 0700-2200z. Activity
 will be on 40/20/17/15/6 meters using CW, SSB and FT8. QSL
 via his home callsign, direct or by the Bureau.

 EU-041. Simone, IU4HRJ, will once again be active as IM0/IU4HRJ from
 Maddalena Island between August 4-10th. Activity will be on
 40-2 meters using SSB and the Digital modes. Plans to pos-
 sibly activate some DCI/WCA reference numbers. QSL via his
 home callsign, direct or by the Bureau.

 EU-052. Francesco, IK6QON, will be active as SV8/IK6QON from Corfu
 Island between August 9-20th. Activity will be holiday style
 on 40-6 meters using CW and SSB, with 100 watts into a multi-
 band vertical. QSL via IK6QON.

 EU-076. By the time you read this, Ken, LA7GIA, should be finishing
 up his LA7GIA/P activity from Lofoten Island until August 3rd.
 Operations will be on 30 meters CW or possibly 20 meters.

 EU-096. Tony, OH1TD, is currently active again from his summer QTH
 on Korpo Island until September. QSL via his home callsign,
 direct or via the Bureau.

 EU-170. Didi, DL4DCW, will be active as 9A/DL4DCW from Vir Island,
 in the Dalmatia North Group, Croatia. Activity will be holiday
 style on various HF bands. QSL via his home callsign or eQSL.

 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......

ISWL CALLSIGNS (For August 2020). The following ISWL club callsigns will
be used throughout the month of August 2020:

 GX4BJC/A & GX4BJC/P - Signing /A suffix will be from Great Sutton,
 in Cheshire (WAB Square - SJ37 - England, IOTA EU-005,
 WLOTA 1841); Operator is Geof, M0BAU. Geof will give his
 /P WAB square if requested.

 MN1SWL/A - Signing /A suffix, from Belfast, in Northern Ireland (WAB
 Square - J36 - N. Ireland, IOTA EU-115, WLOTA 1439); Operator
 is Alan, GI0VWU.

 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. Brian, GW4DVB, will once again 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 November 23rd and December
1st. Activity will be holiday style on 40/20/17/15/10/6 meters using CW,
SSB, SSTV and FT8. He will use a Yaesu FT991A into a 10m vertical antenna,
a M0CVO HW-40HP off center fed dipole and possibly new antennas. QSL via
GW4DVB direct only (PayPal available) to: PO Box 20:20, Llanharan, Ponty-
clun, Wales - UK CF72 9ZA. For more details and updates, check:
 http://www.g4dvb.co.uk
ADDED NOTE: Palm Island is an exclusive, private-island resort. This
idyllic tropical hideaway is situated near the southern tip of St. Vincent
and the Grenadines, an idyllic archipelago of 32 tropical islands and
cays known for its stunning natural beauty, clear, warm waters and turtles.

JW, SVALBARD. Arne, LA7WCA, will be active as JW7WCA from Svalbard (EU-026)
sometime in May 2021. Activity will be on various HF Bands using SBB, RTTY
and FT8. QSL via his home callsign.

NCDXF NEWS (Press Release, date July 28th) [edited]. The Northern Cali-
fornia DX Foundation is pleased to announce it is granting 5,000 USDs to
the JX0X 2021 Jan Mayen Island DXpedition planned for September/October
2021. Jan Mayen Island is in high demand on the LF bands by DXers in North
America and East Asia and is a primary focus of this team.
 DXpedition team leader Ken Opskar, LA7GIA, says "the JX0X team (is)
very pleased to have received this major grant from NCDXF. With the trust
you have shown by supporting us, we will put a lot of effort in making a
good low band show in 2021. We are aware of how much JX is needed in NA
and look forward working many NA DXers!"
 The Web page (http://jx0x.com) has details of the 2021 Jan Mayen Island
DXpedition.
 DXpeditions to rare entities like Jan Mayen Island that are so remote
are becoming more expensive, a trend that we believe will continue.
 NCDXF's primary purpose is to help fund well-organized DXpeditions to
desirable DXCC entities like South Orkney Island. During the last 48
years, NCDXF has granted nearly 1.2 million USDs to hundreds of DX-
peditions - helping to put an "All-Time-New-one" (ATNO) in the log and
make DX happen for thousands of DXers worldwide. The credit for these
large grants goes to the NCDXF contributors, individuals and clubs who
support the DX community. Without those contributions, DXpeditions to
entities like Bouvet or other desirable locations would not be possible.
 We wish the JX0X Jan Mayen Island DXpedition team a safe and very
successful trip to Jan Mayen Island next year.
 73, Ned Stearns, AA7A -- NCDXF Vice President
 NCDXF Web page -- http://www.ncdxf.org

OJ0, MARKET REEF. Operators Tommi/OH3BRJ (father) and Valtteri/OH3BRK
(son) are expected to be to be active as OJ0/OH3BRJ and OJ0/OH3BRK
from Market Reef (EU-053) between August 6-7th. Activity will be on
80-6 meters using SSB, RTTY and FT8/FT4 with two IC-7300.

OPDX MAILING LIST (Just A Reminder). Details on how to subscribe and
unsubscribe from the "OPDX Mailing List" are at the bottom of this
bulletin. PLEASE pass the word around.... Thanks and 73 de Tedd KB8NW

PROPAGATION FORECAST/REPORT (August 3-9th).......
 Aug/03rd AN Aug/06th AN Aug/08th AN
 Aug/04th AN Aug/07th AN Aug/09th AN
 Aug/05th 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

 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) (August 2nd)
 -------------------------------------------------------------------------
 4A15DXXE via 4A15DXXE (L) IP1DCI/IX1 via IK1QFM SN5N via SP5KP (d/L)
 5P5CW via DL5SE IQ8UC via IC8SQS SP/DH5FS via DH5FS
 6K0FS via HL1IWD (O/L) IU0DUM via IU0DUM (d/L) SV8/LZ3FN via LZ1PM
 9A0FF via 9A2MF V3/HB9CAT via HB9CAT & (L) SV8/LZ3SM via LZ3SM
 9A8DV via IK6VXO LX/DL8ECA/P via DL8ECA SV8/SV1CEI via SV1CEI
 9A8TQF via HB9TQF (B) LY/ES2TT via ES2TT TK/DM5JBN via DM5JBN
 CN21SG via EA7FTR LZ55HW via LZ1HW TM40PB via F6KDL
 CS7/DO3HK via DO3HK LZ662MI via LZ1KCP TM5T via F5VKT (O/L)
 CT9/DL5CW via DL5CW OG70AD via OH3AD & (L) UN7AM via RN3RQ
 DL/ON4UP/P via ON4UP (L) OH0Z via W0MM and LoTW VI250COOK via VK4HM (L/e)
 DU6/PE1NSQ via EA5GL & (L/e) OL30DXC via OK2PXJ VK8NSB via M0URX (O/L)
 EA5/G3XGS via G3XGS (d) OL725PLZ via OK1DRQ (O) YB0AR via YB0AR (L)
 ED3T/6 via N4GNR (d/L) OZ/DB5ZP via DB5ZP (d) YJ40IND via NZ4DX
 EF1E via EB1DJ OZ/DL9BQ via DL9BQ YL/SQ9MDF/P via SQ9MDF
 ES/SQ9MDF/P via SQ9MDF OZ11A via OZ6ABA (d) YP8T via YO8KGA (L)
 F/DL6GCA/p via DL6GCA OZ8FTDM via OZ1KZX (L/e) ZA/IZ7PMQ via IZ0HLY & (L)
 F/ON8ON/P via ON8ON PI75KML via PA3DVA ZV1M via PY1MT
 FR/F5PLC via F5PLC SF1Z via SM0HEV & (L)
 HB0/HB9HBY/P via HB9HBY SN0RX via SP8BXL & (L)

 (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 RECEIVED VIA LoTW: 3V8SS, 4L1MA, 9N7AM, 9Z4Y, A61EK, AH2R, D2EB,
 DL1DAW (EU-042), DL1YM, E44RU, E44WE,HC1DL, HC1HC, J79AG, K7RE, LY5O,
 NP3V, R207RRC (AS-207), TG9ADQ, VP2EIH, YS1RS and ZP4KFX

 QSLS RECEIVED VIA MAIL: 4J3DJ, 9N7AM, CB0Z, E44CC, PA2M, RI0B (AS-068),
 RW2F, SU9VB, TA0/R7AL (AS-115), VR2XAN and XR8RRC (SA-032)

 QSLS RECEIVED VIA THE BUREAU: 3V8CB, 4L1R, 4O3A, 4O4A, 7K2ABV/6 (AS-023),
 EX0QP, FK/DB1RUL, FO/JI1JKW (OC-066), JM1CRZ/6 (AS-024), KH6NR, PJ2/DL4OCF,
 R63RRC (AS-063), RT9K/MM, TI9A, UN7AM, V63YAP (OC-012) and V63YAP/P (OC-011)
 --- We would like to see more QSL Bureaus (such as AS/US/SA/AF.. etc)
 send in their info....

R90, EUROPEAN RUSSIA (Special Event). Members of the Fifth Ocean Amateur
Radio Amateur Club, together with the Union of Radio Amateurs of the
Armed Forces (SRVS) with the support of the Russian Radio Amateurs Union
(SRR), are now active as R90WDWR from Bryansk Region until August 16th.
Activity is to mark the 90th anniversary of the formation of the Russian
Airborne Troops. Operations will be on 160-10 meters. QSL via RZ5D (paper
only). For more details, see: https://www.qrz.ru/news/16256.html

SILENT KEY (SK). Mike, ZP5YW, informs OPDX of Doug Wooley, ZP6CW,
becoming a Silent Key (SK) on July 28th. Mike states that Doug was a
very active CW operator. He was winner of the first 6m and 160m DXCC
in Paraguay among many other achievements, plus a CW operator in many
contests as part of ZP5MAL's contest station team.

T30ET TARAWA ISLAND, WESTERN KIRIBATI, DXPEDITION NEWS (Update). Alex,
5B4ALX, who has been trying to be active as T30ET from Tarawa Atoll
(OC-017) since mid-March, posted the following on July 28th [edited]:
 "Unfortunately, today Solomon Island Gov published the extension of
the ban period to international flights to 24 October 2020.
 Solomon Airlines has today confirmed the airline will extend its sus-
pension of scheduled international passenger flying from August 31st,
as previously advised, until October 24th, 2020.
 However, I continue to monitor the situation in the hope of better
development.
 The villa is still booked and paid for for a period of 3 weeks as well
as overnight transit in Brisbane; therefore T30ET is currently postponed
- NOT DELETED!"
 He also posted: "Unfortunately, at the moment, the only further possi-
bility of reaching Tarawa Island is through Fiji Island, but further
quarantine constraints and two additional flights with over 100kg of
equipment make this alternative unacceptable.
 I evaluated the possibility of an alternative activity in September
from another location in central Africa, but I decided that I prefer to
focus resources on T30 as soon as possible with the possibility, if
resources allow it (time and money) to extend the DXpedition to H40 as
well, a location that was planned for 2021.
 At the moment the villa in Tarawa is paid for three weeks and I have a
voucher for the transit to Brisbane, so nothing is canceled ... you just
have to be a little patient and not be put off.
 All the material is ready to go and is regularly tested and kept checked
... we wait for the flights to reopen!"
 For more details and updates, watch:
 https://www.5b4alx.cloud/t30et-tarawa-atoll-2020

VK0IR HEARD ISLAND VIDEOS RELEASED. Dr. Bob Schmieder, KK6EK, has released
6 unseen videos of the Cordell Expedition's - VK0IR DXpedition to Heard
Island during Jan/Feb 1997. He divided the collection into six parts,
on YouTube.com:
 Part 1 Preparation -- https://youtu.be/IGcbjiFWAig
 Part 2 Outbound -- https://youtu.be/RFCzL5dyDkM
 Part 3 Landing/setup -- https://youtu.be/50ykT4acnV8
 Part 4 Operations -- https://youtu.be/kYX-F1mulTo
 Part 5 Environment -- https://youtu.be/gXNAKC--ElI
 Part 6 Departure -- https://youtu.be/uGFiFw3TWxY

ZL7, CHATHAM ISLANDS. Stuart, ZL3STU, who lives on the Chatham Islands
(OC-038) and was heard on 30 meters FT8, July 30th, between 0450-0625z.
His QRZ.com page states that he uses an IC-706MKII. QSL via info on
QRZ.com.

ZL7, CHATHAM ISLANDS. Operators Chris/ZL2DX and XYL Catherine/ZL2QT are
once again active as ZL7DX and ZL7QT, respectively, from Waitangi, Chatham
Islands (OC-038) and will be there for the next couple of years. Activity
will be on various HF bands plus 6m EME. QSL via M0OXO.