DX Bulletin No. 1309
BID: $OPDX.1309
March 20, 2017
Editor Tedd Mirgliotta, KB8NW
Provided by BARF80.ORG (Cleveland, Ohio)
Written/Sent From Strongsville, Oh

Thanks to the Northern Ohio Amateur Radio Society, Northern Ohio DX Association, Ohio/Penn PacketCluster Network, AB5K & the AR TelNet Clusters Network, NJ1Q & W1AW, NG3K & ADXO, W3UR & The Daily DX, N4AA & QRZ DX, K8GI, K8YSE, W8GEX & 60m DX News, ND9M, CO8ZZ, DL1SBF, DL7UXG & The DX News Letter, DxCoffee.com, DXNews.com, DX-World.Net, ES1CW, F6AJA & Les Nouvelles DX, I1JQJ/IK1ADH & 425 DX News, I2MQP & DX Italia News, IK0EFR, OZ6OM & 50 MHz DX News, PA3CNO, 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, 12th/March, through Sunday, 19th/March there were 233 countries active. Countries available: 3A, 3B8, 3B9, 3D2, 3DA, 3V, 3W, 3X, 4J, 4L, 4O, 4S, 4X, 5A, 5B, 5H, 5N, 5R, 5T, 5U, 5V, 5X, 5Z, 6W, 6Y, 7X, 8P, 8R, 9A, 9G, 9H, 9J, 9K, 9M2, 9M6, 9N, 9Q, 9V, 9X, 9Y, A2, A3, A4, A6, A7, A9, AP, BV, BY, C3, C5, C6, C9, CE, CE0Y, CE9, CM, CN, CP, CT, CT3, CU, CX, D2, D4, DL, DU, E5/n, E5/s, E6, E7, EA, EA6, EA8, EA9, EI, EK, EL, EP, ER, ES, ET, EU, EX, EY, F, FG, FK, FM, FO, FR, FS, FY, G, GD, GI, GJ, GM, GU, GW, H4, H40, HA, HB, HB0, HC, HH, HI, HK, HK0/a, HL, HP, HR, HS, HZ, I, IS, J2, J3, J5, J6, J7, J8, JA, JD/m, JD/o, JT, JW, JY, K, KG4, KH0, KH2, KH6, KH8, KL, KP2, KP4, LA, LU, LX, LY, LZ, OA, OD, OE, OH, OH0, OK, OM, ON, OX, OY, OZ, P2, P4, PA, PJ2, PJ4, PJ5, PJ7, PY, PZ, S0, S2, S5, SM, SP, ST, SU, SV, SV5, SV9, T2, T30, T32, T7, T8, TA, TF, TG, TI, TK, TL, TR, TU, TY, TZ, UA, UA2, UA9, UK, UN, UR, V2, V3, V4, V5, V7, V8, VE, VK, VK9X, VP5, VP8, VP8/h, VP9, VR, VU, XE, XT, XU, XX9, YA, YB, YI, YL, YN, YO, YS, YU, YV, Z2, Z3, ZA, ZB, ZD7, ZD8, ZF, ZL, ZP, ZS, ZS8

* PLEASE NOTE: The report "could" contain "Pirate/SLIM" operations or more likely a "BUSTED CALLSIGN". As always, you never know - "Work First Worry Later".

8P, BARBADOS. Tom, W2SC, will be active as 8P5A during the CQWW WPX SSB
Contest (March 25-26th) as Single-Op/All-Band/High-Power entry. QSL via
LoTW or direct to NN1N.


A2, BOTSWANA (Update). A UK Team will be active as A25UK from Botswana
between April 25th and May 6th. Operators mentioned are Nobby/G0VJG,
Dave/ G4BUO, Nick/G4FAL, Graham/G4FNL, Tony/G4LDL, YL Glenys/G8KWD,
Guy/G0UKN, Martin/M0MDR, Toby/M0TBS and Giles/M0TGV. Activity will be
on 160-6 meters using CW, SSB, RTTY and PSK. Suggested frequencies are
available as a PDF file per the following languages (EN/IT/ES/FR/DE/JA/RU)
at: http://www.a25uk.com/2017-2#mhz
QSL via M0OXO or via ClubLog's OQRS. Also, visit their new Web page at:
 http://www.a25uk.com


AH2/KH2, GUAM. Operators Santos/EA4AK (AH2P) and Tony/EA5BY (KH2BY) will
be active from Guam between March 30th and April 10th. Activity will be
on 160-10 meters, but a focus on the lower bands (160/80/60/40/30m) using
RTTY and CW, with some SSB. Look for AH2P to operate mostly on RTTY and
KH2BY mainly on CW. Reports indicate that they will be on higher bands,
but mostly for western Europe. QSL AH2P is preferred via LoTW, eQSL or
ClubLog's OQRS. Later all AH2P QSLs will be sent by the Bureau. Please,
no direct or Bureau QSLing to AH2P to Guam's QTH. Send all your QSLs,
direct or via the Bureau, to EA4AK. QSL KH2BY only via EA5BY (see QRZ.com
address), by the Bureau, ClubLog's OQRS, GDURE and LoTW is OK. Do not
send direct QSL to the KH2BY QTH listed on QRZ.com, please.


DXCC NEWS. The ARRL DXCC Desk has approved the 2016 November operation
by E44CM from Palestine for DXCC credit.


E5, SOUTH COOK ISLANDS (Update). Milan, OK1DWC, who is still active as
E51DWC from the Rarotonga Islands (OC-013, WAZ-32), will be there at least
until sometime until the end of March. Milan is active every day on 160-10
meters using CW, SSB and RTTY. Look for him to be in the CQWW WPX DX SSB
Contest (March 25-26th) as a Single-Op/All-Band/High-Power entry. QSL via
his home callsign. Confirmation is not a problem across all OQRS's and
the information can be found on:
 http://QRZ.com/lookup/E51DWC
 http://QRZ.COM/lookup/OK1DWC
 http://www.hamqth.com/E51DWC


E5, SOUTH COOK ISLANDS. Operators Bruce/AD7MM (E51BAS) and Doug/W6HB
(E51DLD) will be active from Rarotonga Island (OC-013) between April
30th and May 12th. Activity will be holiday style on 160-10 meters, and
operating from E51AND and E51KC QTHs (also possibly from E51JD, E51BQ
and E51CG QTHs). QSL via their home callsigns direct (sse QRZ.com).


ED8, CANARY ISLANDS. Operators Alvaro/EA8JR, Jorge/EA8TL and Manuel/EA8DO
will be active as ED8W from La Palma Island (AF-004) during the CQWW WPX
SSB Contest (March 25-26th) Multi-Op entry. QSL via EA8DO or LoTW.


HB0, LIECHTENSTEIN. A group of Dutch radio amateurs (from the PI4RAZ Radio
Club) will be active as HB0/homecall from Liechtenstein between April 1-8th.
Operators are Mans/PA2HGJ, Robert/PA2RDK, Frank/PA3CNO, Paul/PA3DFR, Henry/
PA3HK, Gert/PE0MGB and Piet/PE1FLO. Operations will be on all bands, 160-10
meters, using mainly CW and some SSB/Digital modes with an emphasis on the
new 60m band. QSL via PE1FLO.


HH8, HAITI. Doug, KD8CAO, will once again be active as HH8/KD8CAO from
Jacmel, Haiti (FK38rf), on both satellite and the HF bands between March
19-23rd. The primary purpose of Doug's travel to Haiti is missions work
(he and his team will be installing a solar array to power Radio Lumiere's
FM broadcast station in Jacmel); amateur radio is secondary, so don't
expect him to be active on every pass. He plans to operate both SSB and
FM satellite as time allows, HF operation is planned for 17m and/or 20m
SSB, typically evenings between 2000-0000z. For those needing Haiti as
a new DXCC on satellite, please send Doug an E-mail at 
or via private Twitter message to indicate your interest in a sked.
Activity updates will be posted via Twitter, follow @kd8cao. QSL via
direct w/SASE and/or LoTW (upload upon return to USA).


IOTA NEWS..............
 AF-064. Operators Ashley/ZS1ASH, Grant/ZS1GS, Mari/ZS1MW and Elizabeth/
 ZS1XS are now active as ZS1FUN from Dassen Island until March
 22nd. Activity has been on 40/20 meters using mainly SSB. QSL
 via the Bureau or requests via E-mail at: info[at]zs1fun.co.za
 zs1fun.sa[at]gmail.com


 AS-071. Members of Russian Robinson Club (RRC) will be active as R71RRC
 from the Arakamchechen Island (RRA RR-12-02, RDA C?-06, RFF-165
 [NEW ONE], RLHA [NEW ONE], WLOTA [NEW ONE]), near the Chukotka
 Peninsula, in the Bering Sea Coast North Group, Asiatic Russia,
 between April 7-17th. The dates are tentative and dependent on
 local logistics and weather conditions. Operators mentioned are
 Aleksandr/RA3AV, Yuri/UA0KBG and Victor/UA3AKO. The team plans
 to be on the island at least 5-7 days. They plan to have two
 operating positions on the air on 40/30/20/17 meters using CW
 and SSB. Equipment to be used: two Elecraft K3's, FT-857 (for
 backup), two 500 watts power amplifiers. The antennas are:
 4 SQ for 20m, GP or 2 elements switchable for 30m, GP for 17m
 and GP for 40m. The electricity to be taken from two power
 generators (main and backup). QSL via UA3AKO, ClubLog's OQRS,
 direct and QSL Bureau. DXpedition's Web site in now online at:
 http://r71rrc.ru/en/


 EU-121. Fred, ON6QR, will be active as EI/ON6QR from Tory Island during
 the RSGB IOTA Contest (July 29-30th) as a Single-Op/CW-Mode
 entry. QSL via his home callsign.


 OC-098. Cezar, VE3LYC, has announced that he will be active as E51LYC
 from Pukapuka Atoll (Danger Islands), North Cooks Island,
 between May 9-23rd. This IOTA group has not been activated
 for more than 22 years. More details will be forthcoming and
 a Web site is currently under construction.


IQ0, ITALY (ARI 90 Years Award). Look for special event station IQ0PG
(Sezione A.R.I. Perugia) to be active between April 1-30th. Activity
will be on 160-2 meters. Operations are valid for the ARI 90 Years Award.
QSL via the Bureau, direct, LoTW, eQSL.cc or Clublog's OQRS. For details
and rules about the U9ШARI1 special award, see:
http://www.ari.it/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=4517%3Aari-90-years-award&catid=242%3Aawards&Itemid=262&lang=it


J3, GRENADA. Franz, OE2SNL, is now active as J3/OE2SNL from Grenada
(NA-024) until March 30th. Activity will be on 160-10 meters using a
Kenwood TS-480HX into a G5RV antenna and 160m inverted L. QSL via his
home callsign. For more details, see: https://www.oe2snl.at/j3-grenada-2017


J6, ST. LUCIA. Bill, K9HZ, will once again be active as J68HZ from his
villa at Labrelotte Bay, Castries, St. Lucia (NA-108, WLOTA L-1336) between
April 1-8th. Activity is usually on 160-6 meters using CW, SSB and RTTY.
He states, "Will try to fill some band-mode slots for WAS and DXCC.
Particularly looking for AK and MT in the USA to complete 8BWAS." His
equipment will consist of an Elecraft K3, a 3 element beam for 20-6
meters and wire antennas for 160-30 meters. QSL via his home callsign.
He does use the LoTW, ClubLog and eQSL.


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 April 12-23rd. Activity
will be on 40/20/17/15/10/6 meters SSB only using an Elecraft KX3 and
KXPA100 Power Amp (100w) into a 10m vertical antenna and a M0CVO HW-40HP
off center fed dipole. QSL via GW4DVB, by the Bureau or direct to:
PO Box 20:20, Llanharan, Pontyclun, 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.


OE17, AUSTRIA. Look for special event station OE17ATOM to be active from
the Nuclear Power Plant (inside the reactor's hall) in Zwentendorf between
April 21-22nd. Activity will be on the HF, VHF and UHF bands. Operators
mentioned are Stefan/OE1SSU, Franz/OE1AOA and Gregor/OE1SGW. There will
be live streaming video during the operation (see QRZ.com for details).
QSL via ADL303 only. Direct QSL card requests to operator's callsign
will not be answered. All logged QSOs will receive a QSL.


OJ0, MARKET REEF. Operators Jean-Paul/ON2KMJ, Ronald/ON5TQ, Mike/ON6QO and
Peter/ON8VP will once again be active as OJ0V from Market Reef (EU-053)
between July 1-7th. Activity will be on 80-6 meters with two stations on
the air using CW, SSB and the Digital modes. QSL via ON5TC, direct or by
the Bureau. Log will be uploaded to ClubLog during the DXpedition if they
have a connection to the internet or as soon as they return back in Belgium.


PA10, THE NETHERLANDS. Operators Bert/PA1BK, Alfred/PA7AL, Laurens/PD9X
and Frank/PF5T will be active as PA10A from the contest station location
of PI4M during the CQWW WPX SSB Contest as a Multi-One entry. QSL via LoTW.


PA150, THE NETHERLANDS. Harry, PA3ARM, will be active as PA150LIM during
the CQWW WPX CW Contest (May 27-28th) as a Single-Op/All-Band/Low-Power
entry. QSL via PD0MHZ. Special callsign is to celebrate 150th anniversary
of the Dutch Province Limburg.


PROPAGATION FORECAST/REPORT (March 20-26th).......
 Mar/20th AN Mar/23rd HN Mar/25th AN
 Mar/21st AN Mar/24th AN Mar/26th AN
 Mar/22nd 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


 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.. (March 19th) 
 -------------------------------------------------------------------------
 5T2AI via NI5DX HI3/N3SY via N3SY OE2017IIO via OE5IIO
 6E3MAYA via XE3N or (L) II0IDR via IZ0FVD (O) OE2017MPI via OE7MPI
 CQ3W via CQ3W (O) II3ICZ via IQ3GA OE2017MXL via OE5MXL
 CT9/DL3KWF via DL3KWF II8GIRF via IK8HEQ OE2017SGU via OE3SGU
 CV7S via CX7SS II9IGA via IT9CKA OE2017SWG via OE6SWG
 DL2DSD via DL2DYL (e/d) J3/OE2SNL via OE2SNL OE2017VIE via OE4VIE
 DP6A via DL8OH KL7J via N3SL OE40WG via OE6XUG
 E2A via E21EIC & (L) KL7RST via K7ICE PJ2/DL1RNT via DL1RNT
 EA7/M0TTT via M0TTT (L) LY/UA4WHX via UA4WHX S21ZED via YL2GN (OQRS/L)
 EA9/DL7DF via DL7DF LZ5R via LZ1YQ TC102GS via TA3AHJ
 EA9/DL7UFN via DL7UFN M7O via M0VKY (O) TM40LUB via F4PCM
 EH3DWN via EA3HKY (L/e) MJ5Z via M0CFW (O/L) UP0L via DL8KAC
 EK/R2DX via R2DX OE2017AKD via OE6AKD UP2L via UA9AB
 GI5I via GI4DOH OE2017CCN via OE5CCN VE3GFM/W4 via VE3GFM
 HB0/DL2JRM via DL2JRM OE2017CFC via OE3CFC YL/UA4WHX via UA4WHX
 HB0/HB9RB via RC3C OE2017FKS via OE3FKS
 HF800O via SP6PAZ OE2017GTU via OE1GTU
 (e) eQSL only (d) direct only (B) Bureau only (*-B) DX's- Bureau
 (O) OQRS only (C) ClubLog only (L) LoTW only (*) No QSL Needed


 QSLS RECEIVED VIA LoTW: 3B8/G3TXF, 4O4A, 5Z4/DL2RMC, 9G5X, CP6CL, HH2AA,
 HR5/F2JD, NP2X, OJ0DX, S55SL, T31T, UT1AA and YS1YS


 QSLS RECEIVED VIA MAIL: A35W, 7X4AN, HB0/DK4YJ and ZC4A


 QSLS RECEIVED VIA THE BUREAU: 5B4ES, 5B4MF, E71EZC, E72WG, E73EPA,
 E74X, E75O, E76C/P, E77AO, E78G, OA4AI, OA4CN, OA4CPY, P3J, PY3ETS,
 PY3KV, R2015GV, T93Y, T94JS, T94VT, TO4K, VE3CFN, VE3IKT, VE3KP,
 VE3MCE, VE3NOO, VE3OTL, VE3QN, VE3VDX, VE7DP/7 (IOTA NA-181), VE7VAW
 and XL3T


SI9, SWEDEN. Operators Jef/DD2CW and Dirk/ON3UN will be active as SI9AM
from the "King Chulalongkorn Memorial", the largest Thai Pavilion in the
world outside Thailand in Raganda, Sweden, between March 22-29th. Activity
will include the CQWW WPX SSB Contest (March 25-26th) as Multi-Single
entry. Suggested frequencies outside of the contest are:
 CW - 1817, 3517, 7017, 10117, 14017, 18077, 21017, 24897 and 28017 kHz
 SSB - 1840, 3760, 7060, 14210, 18160, 21310, 24960 and 28510 kHz
 FM - 145.550 MHz and repeater RV49 - 145.612 MHz
QSL this operation via ON3UN. Visit the SI9AM Web page at:
 http://www.si9am.com
 http://www.si9am.se


SILENT KEY. Members of the Northern Ohio DX Association were sadden this
past week to learn their long time Vice President Dwaine Modock, K8ME
(ex-WA8MEM), became a Silent Key unexpectedly late Saturday evening on
March 11th, at the age of 68. Dwaine was a WAS and VUCC card checker, a
member of FIST #1466, a Life Member of the ARRL, Life Member of the QCWA
#22130, a Life Member of INDEXA and a member of OMISS #6316. He had DXCC
Honor Roll Mixed 351, DXCC Honor Roll Phone 347, DXCC Honor Roll CW 344 and
DXCC on RTTY 289. Dwaine had many friends and belonged to many associations
and clubs. He will dearly be missed by all. OPDX and readers would like
to send out our deepest sympathy to the family and friends of K8ME.


T2, TUVALU (Reminder). Operators Jacek/SP5EAQ and Marek/SP7DQR are now
active as T2AQ and T2QR, respectively, from Tuvalu between March 14th
and April 6th. Activity will be on 80-10 meters. Jacek will operate only
SSB, while Marek will operate the Digital modes (mainly RTTY) and CW.
QSL both callsigns via SP7DQR, direct, by the Bureau or LoTW (after the
operation). Online logs with an OQRS for the Tuvalu activities will be
available on SP7DQR's Web page during the operation at:
 http://sp7dqr.pl/en/oqrs.php
Logs will also be on ClubLog after the operation. For more details and
updates, see: http://tuvalu.sp7dqr.pl/index.html


T32, EASTERN KIRIBATI ISLANDS. Ken, KH6QJ, will once again be active as
T32AZ from Kiritimati Island (OC-024) between April 11-18th. Activity
will be on 80/40/20/15/10 meters using SSB. He will also be in the WAPC
Contest (Worked All Provinces China) [See: ]
QSL via his home callsign, direct or by the Bureau.


T40, CUBA. Raul, CO8ZZ, informs OPDX that several operators from the Las
Tunas Contest Crew (T48K) [including CO8ZZ] will be active as T40A during
both the CQWW WPX SSB and CW Contest (March 25-26th and May 27-28th) as a
Multi-Single/Low-Power entry. The main goal of the operations will be to
introduce new contest operators to their local contest station (Las Tunas
Contest Crew T48K) and the development of contesting skills on them.
Operators list also include CO8TH, CM8ADT and CL8RCT. 


T8 PALAU. Kiyoshi, JA0EKI, is once again active as T88XH from the VIP
Guest Hotel (Free Radio Room) on Koror Island (OC-009) until March 22nd.
Activity will be on 160-10 meters using CW, SSB and the Digital modes.
QSL via JA0EKI. For more details about the VIP Guest Hotel (Free Radio
Room), see: http://www.palau-radio.com/index.php?page=rr2014


T8 PALAU (Update). Operators Toshio/JM1LRA (T88TA), Kazuhiro/JA7WFT (T88FT),
Shinichi/JI6IHG (T88IH) and Ichiro/JH7IPR (T88UW) will be active from the
VIP Guest Hotel (Free Radio Room) on Koror Island (OC-009), between April
14-21st. Activity will be on 160-6 meters using CW, SSB, JT65 and JT9. QSL
T88IH via JI6IHG. QSL T88FT via JA7WFT. QSL T88TA via JM1LRA. QSL T88UW
via JH7IPR, direct, by the Bureau, eQSL, LoTW or ClubLog. For more details
about the VIP Guest Hotel (Free Radio Room), see:
 http://www.palau-radio.com/index.php?page=rr2014


VQ917, CHAGOS ISLANDS. Jim, ND9M (VQ96JC), from Diego Garcia Island
(AF-006) informs OPDX on March 14th, "Well, the local licensing office
came through for me again. The VQ917JC license I asked for just came
through here this afternoon." So start looking for Jim to be on the air
signing as VQ917JC. Jim told OPDX he will not make an effort on 60m at
this time. His operating hours are still limited to 1200-1600z max which
doesn't do much good for the NA/SA ops. He states that he will probably
focus on 30, 20, and 17 meters just to get VQ9 into some logs. Jim also
mentioned he did bring his satellite equipment. QSL via his home call-
sign. Look for more details to be forthcoming.


XO1, CANADA. Members of the Canam Contest Club will be active as XO1X
from Whitehorse, Yukon, throughout the year of 2017, celebrating Canada's
150th anniversary/birthday. Next big operation will take place between
March 25-27th during the CQWW WPX SSB Contest (as well as the CW WPX).
Operators mentioned are Gerry/VE1RM, Cary/VE4EA and Gene/KB7Q. QSL via
KC1CWF.


XW, LAOS. Bruce, 3W3B (HS0ZCY/XU7ADF/XW1B/AA4XR), who lives in Da Nang,
will once again be active as XW4XR from Vientiane between April 12-26th,
2017. Activity will be on 80-10 meters using CW, RTTY and JT65. QSL via
E21EIC and LoTW.


Z6, KOSOVO. The Kosovo Amateur Radio Association (SHRAK) will be active
as Z60A during the the coming CQWW WPX SSB Contest (March 25-26th). Pekka,
OH2YY, will operate this station as a Single-Op/All-Band/High-Power entry.
QSL via Z60A.