OPDX Bulletin 1315 May 15, 2017

The Ohio/Penn Dx PacketCluster
DX Bulletin No. 1315
BID: $OPDX.1315
May 15, 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, ARRL Web Page, NJ1Q & W1AW, WB2GAI, K3LR, NG3K & ADXO, W3UR & The Daily DX, K4ZW, N4AA & QRZ DX, WB6RSE, Af8C, K8GI, K8YSE, W8GEX & 60m DX News, W9ILY, DL1SBF, DL2SBY, DL2VFR, DL7UXG & The DX News Letter, DxCoffee.com, DXNews.com, DX-World.Net, F6AJA & Les Nouvelles DX, G3SNN, I1JQJ/IK1ADH & 425 DX News, I2MQP & DX Italia News, IK7JWY, OZ6OM & 50 MHz DX News, RSGB IOTA Web Site, Sixitalia Weekly, VA3RJ & ICPO, VHF-DX- Portal (MMMonVHF) and VR2BG for the following DX information.

SPECIAL NOTE FROM EDITOR (By KB8NW)
There will not be an OPDX Bulletin next week as I will be attending the Dayton HamVention. "IF" I receive a major announcement, I will probably send out a special bulletin. However, PLEASE continue to send your DX information. You never know what I might do.... 
See you in Day-Xenia! 73 de Tedd KB8NW

DXCC COUNTRY/ENTITY REPORT
According to the AR-Cluster Network for the week of Sunday, 7th/May, through Sunday, 14th/May there were 213 countries active. Countries available: 3A, 3B8, 3B9, 3D2, 3V, 3W, 4J, 4L, 4O, 4S, 4U1I, 4X, 5A, 5B, 5R, 5T, 5U, 5W, 5Z, 6Y, 7P, 7X, 8P, 8Q, 9A, 9H, 9J, 9K, 9L, 9M2, 9M6, 9N, 9Q, 9V, 9Y, A2, A3, A4, A6, A7, A9, AP, BV, BY, C3, C5, CE, CE0Y, CE9, CM, CN, CP, CT, CT3, CU, CX, D2, D4, DL, DU, E4, E5/n, E5/s, E7, EA, EA6, EA8, EA9, EI, EK, EL, EP, ER, ES, EU, EX, EY, F, FG, FJ, 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, HR, HS, HV, HZ, I, IS, J2, J3, J5, J6, J8, JA, JD/o, JT, JW, JY, K, KG4, 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, T5, T7, T8, TA, TF, TG, TI, TJ, TK, TR, TU, TY, TZ, UA, UA2, UA9, UK, UN, UR, V3, V4, V5, V7, V8, VE, VK, VK9L, VP2E, VP8, VP8/h, VP9, VR, VU, VU4, XE, XW, XX9, YB, YI, YL, YN, YO, YU, YV, 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".

8R, GUYANA (Cancelled). Tom, KC0W, has cancelled his 8R1/KC0W operation.
Early in the week he stated there was a problem with his license. Look
for Tom to head to Africa next month.


9L, SIERRA LEONE (IOTA Op). The Italian DXpedition Team (IDT) has announced
that their next Dxpedition will be in mid-March 2018 will be to Sherbro
Island (AF-056) using the callsign 9L1T. Operators mentioned are Alfeo/I1HJT,
Silvano/I2YSB, Vinicio/IK2CIO, Angelo/IK2CKR, Marcello/IK2DIA, Stefano/
IK2HKT and Mac/JA3USA. Art, IK7JWY, will be the HF pilot station. They
expect to have 3 stations on all HF bands (no 50 MHz), using CW and SSB,
and RTTY one band only, to be chosen. You can participate in the 9L1T
survey on their official Web site at: http://www.i2ysb.com/idt
Subject to the availability of internet connection, the REAL TIME Log
will be available at: http://win.i2ysb.com/logonline
Official forum at: http://www.hamradioweb.net


CT9, MADEIRA. Operators Serge/R7KW and Oleg/YL3JM will once again be
active as CT9/R7KW and CT9/YL3JM from Madeira Island (AF-014) between
May 25-28th. Activity will be on various HF bands. Look for CT9/R7KW to
be in the CQWW WPX CW Contest (May 27-28th). QSL both callsigns via
K2PF or ClubLog's OQRS.


DAY-XENIA HAMVENTION NEWS.........
 * DAYTON HAMVENTION DX HOSPITALITY SUITE. The Northern Ohio DX Association
 (along with Janeen Hire, W8ZET) will once again sponsor a Hospitality
 Suite (21st year) at this year's Dayton HamVention. It will be in Suite
 1011 on the 10th floor of the Crowne Plaza Hotel on Thursday, Friday and
 Saturday evenings (Look for signs!). All DXers/Contesters are welcome.
 Munchies and refreshments will be available. Come and meet the members
 and friends of NODXA.


 * DAY-XENIA 2017 CONTEST ACTIVITIES. Tim Duffy, K3LR, has put together
 a short video on the Contest University and other contest related
 activities at Day-Xenia 2017. You can access the video on the World-
 Wide Radio Operators Foundation (WWROF) at the following URL link:
 http://wwrof.org/webinar-archive/k3lr-contest-university-2017-dayton-contest-activities


 * WATCH HAM NATION AND CTU FROM DAYTON. Tim Duffy, K3LR, reports: If
 you are not attending Dayton this coming week - here are a few inter-
 esting Dayton live events that you can watch on the Internet from
 anywhere.


 On Wednesday, May 17th at 9 PM EDT Ham Nation will be LIVE from the
 Crowne Plaza Contest Super Suite. Ham Nation is led by Bob Heil, K9EID,
 and along with Val Hotzfeld, NV9L this should be a very entertaining
 live show with guests from the Super Suite audience.


 To watch Ham Nation LIVE - go to this link on Wednesday, May 17th
 at 9 PM EDT -- https://twit.tv/live 


 You can watch the recording of the "Ham Nation at the Crowne Plaza"
 show starting on Thursday morning (day after the live show) - go here:
 https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFKUe65yQy_vCT9kiubMkzZ6LQvESZn8O


 Thanks to Icom America, selected sessions of 2017 Dayton Contest
 University (CTU) will be shown LIVE on Thursday, May 18th starting
 at 8 AM EDT and lasting until 5 PM EDT. The CTU talks that will be
 shown LIVE are those in SALON ABCD or SALON B. You can see the CTU
 course times and topics (look for SALON ABCD or SALON B). See the
 PDF here: 
 https://www.contestuniversity.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/2017-CTU-Classes-rev-5.pdf


 To watch the Icom LIVE feed from Contest University in Dayton go to
  and click on the CLICK HERE button
 under the home page photos - next Thursday morning at 8 AM EDT. 


 There will be CTU recordings (these LIVE sessions) posted on the
 CTU website by Icom a few weeks after CTU.


 More details about Contest Super Suite and Contest University are here:
 http://contestsupersuite.com and http://contestuniversity.com


 * DAY-XENIA FLEA MARKET HOURS (General Public/Note The Change). From
 the HamVention schedule, there is an interesting change from previous
 years -- This year the flea market is scheduled to open to the general
 public at 9:00 AM, rather than the 8:00 AM opening that has been in
 practice for many years.


E4, PALESTINE (Reminder). Janusz, SP9FIH, will be active as E44WE from
Bethlehem between May 16-30th. He states that this is a "reconnaissance"
operation and his license is good for a year -- with more operations to
happen during the year. Activity will only be on 17/10/6 meters using
only 100 watts. QSL via SP9FIH or by ClubLog's OQRS (preferred). For more
details, updates and a online log-search, see: http://www.e4.dxpeditions.org


E5, NORTH COOK ISLANDS (Update). Cezar, VE3LYC, is now active as E51LYC
from Pukapuka Atoll (OC-098), North Cook Islands, until May 23rd. This
IOTA group has been on the air for more than 22 years. (See OPDX.1313)
Activity will be on 40-10 meters using CW and SSB. QSL via his home call-
sign or ClubLog's OQRS. For more details and updates on his band activities,
watch: http://e51lyc.weebly.com


E5, SOUTH COOK ISLANDS. Alex, F4GHS, will be active as E51GHS from two
of the South Cook Islands during August. His schedule is as follows:
 August 7-16th -- from Aitutaki Island (OC-083)
 August 16-25th -- from Rarotonga Island (OC-013)
 Activity will be holiday style on various HF bands using a K3 into a
home-made vertical (20m). QSL via his home callsign.


EG8, CANARY ISLANDS. Jack, R2AA, will be active as EG8AA from the Canary
Islands during the CQWW WPX CW Contest (May 27-28th) as a Single-Op/All-
Band entry. QSL via RW3RN.


IOTA NEWS..............
 AF-111P. "DX-World.net" reports that a team of 4-5 seasoned IOTA
 activators are planning a 3-4 day operation from Baiyah
 Island later this year. Dates are to be determined, but
 probably sometime in November. A reconnaissance trip has
 been completed with vital information on this little known
 island being collated. This IOTA group has never been activated
 before. More details, Web site and callsign will be forth-
 coming in the second half of 2017.


 EU-003. Operators Al/CU2GC and Pedro/CS8ABY will be active as CR1FF
 from Sao Miguel Island between August 19-20th. Station will
 be operating inside Farol da Ferraria Lighthouse (ILLW PT-0021).
 QSL via CS5NRA, direct or by the Bureau. For more details,
 see: http://www.nra.pt


 EU-020. Members of the Gotlands Radioklubb (SK1BL) will be active using
 the special callsigns 7S1GRK and SK70BL from Gotland Island until
 December 31st. Activity is to celebrate the club's 70th anni-
 versary. Activity will be on various HF bands. A special award
 is available. For details, see: http://sk1bl.hamlogs.net
 All QSOs will be confirmed automatically via the Bureau.
 Please, NO return QSLs.


 EU-110. Eight Croatian operators will be active as 9A17B from the
 Brijuni National Park on Veli Brijun Island (EU-110) between
 May 19-21st. QSL via 9A2MF.


JT, MONGOLIA. Roman, RN5M, is now in Mongolia and will use the JT5DX
contest station (under construction) in Zuunburen which is northwest
of Ulaanbaatar. Look for him to be active during his free time as JT5MA.
QSL via LY5W direct only (not LY QSL Bureau member). He is expected to
be there until May 31st.


KH4 AND KH7 REINSTATED!!! It was announced on the ARRL Web page, on May
11th, that "Midway and Kure Islands Reinstated as DXCC Entities". The
press release states: On March 31, 2017, the DXCC desk announced the
deletion of Midway Island and Kure Island from the DXCC entities list.
The stated reason for this action was because of changes in the admini-
stration resulting from changes in Papahanaumokuakea Marine National
Monument, formerly known as the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Marine
National Monument, of which the Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge
and the Battle of Midway National Memorial, the Hawaii State Seabird
Sanctuary at Kure Atoll, and the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands State
Marine Refuge, of which they are all included.
 After further review it has been found that the deletion of these two
entities is not supported by the changes that were made to the relevant
administrations. Therefore, the deletions from the DXCC list should not
have occurred and the two entities, Midway Island KH4 and Kure Island
KH7K, will return to the DXCC list as separate entities.
 http://www.arrl.org/news/view/midway-and-kure-islands-reinstated-as-dxcc-entities
ADDED NOTE: Do you want to know how to pronounce "Papahanaumokuakea"?
Go here to hear how to pronounce it: 
 http://www.papahanaumokuakea.gov/about/pronounce.mp3


PROPAGATION FORECAST/REPORT (May 15-21st).......
 May/15th AN May/18th HN May/20th DIS
 May/16th HN May/19th DIS May/21st HN
 May/17th LN


 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, will be back next issue....


 QSL UPDATE BY DL2SBY. Kasimir, DL2SBY, informs OPDX that QSL cards for
 his activities as S79KB, 8Q7KB and HB0/DL2SBY via the Bureau will only
 be possible until the end of September 2017. Please don't send any more
 QSL cards through the Bureau. QSL requests for Bureau cards will only
 be accepted/possible by CLUBLOG after the end of September 2017.


 QSLS RECEIVED VIA LoTW: 5K0N, 5V7P, 9M2/R6AF/P (AS-073), A25UK, C5FUD,
 FW5JJ, J5B, MJ/PA1AW, MJ/PA9JO, MJ/PB5X, PA3PCV, PE1NCP, RV6ALI,
 TF/KM4SII, TI2CC and VP5H


 QSLS RECEIVED VIA MAIL: 5U5R, 9G5X, EK/RZ3DJ, H40FN, J6/K1ZZI, S21SM,
 S21ZED, S21ZEE, VP6EU and XX9D


 QSLS RECEIVED VIA THE BUREAU: 5B4AHL, 5H1XX, 7M4GMH (IOTA AS-007),
 8J1ITU, 8J3XX/3, 8N1F/1, 8N1HQ, 8R1AE, 9M2A, 9M2/JE1SCJ, A35T, DU1ST,
 EA6/G3SZU, EP6T, HH2/HB9AMO, JD11BON (IOTA AS-31), JI3DST/1 (IOTA
 AS-008), JI3DST/5 (IOTA AS-200), KH2Y, MD0CCE, PJ4DX, PJ4NX, PJ4V,
 T8CW, T88A, T88ON, T88ZO, TC7V, TT8AMO, TX5T, V63GG, VK9MT, VR2KF,
 XV9NPS and ZM90DX


S21, BANGLADESH. Jun, JH4RHF/OE1ZKC, is now active as S21ZBD from Bangla-
desh until May 17th. Activity will be on various HF bands. QSL via OE1ZKC.


SD3/SD5/SD7/SM5/SM7, SWEDEN (IOTA and WWFF Op). A group of German oper-
ators are planning a one week IOTA and WWFF Expedition between May 20-28th.
Operators mentioned are Ric/DL2VFR, Klaus-Peter/DL2YBG and Klaus/DL7UXG.
Their schedule and callsigns are as follows:
 May 20-21st -- Цland Island (EU-037) signing SD7V, SD3G/7 and SM7/DL2YBG
 May 21-25th -- They will be based within SMFF-0366 / Ekцn on a camping
 site. From there they will go by boat at least once to
 EU-177 during daylight. Callsigns are SD7V/5, SD3G/5
 and SM5/DL2YBG.
 May 25-27th -- Tjurkц Island (EU-138) signing SD7V, SD3G/7 and SM7/DL2YBG
 again.


 Operations will be on CW and SSB. There is still a chance that DL2YBG
will receive a special Swedish callsign as well (he applied for SD5Y?).
QSL SD7V callsigns via DL2VFR. QSL SD3G callsigns via DL7UXG. QSL DL2YBG
callsigns via his home callsign. 


SV9, CRETE. Ron, WB2GAI, will once again be active as SV9/WB2GAI/P from
Crete (EU-015) between July 2nd and September 29th. He states that he
will be using an Elecraft KX2 and KX3 rigs into a LNR/PAR end-fed/half-
wave antennas. All DX stations QSL via the Bureau. USA stations QSL to
his callbook address. All received QSLs are sent out at the end of the
month received. LogBook of the World not used, Ron collects QSL cards
and still uses paper log books. ADDED NOTE: Ron has all his logs for
PJ8 (1996) and SV9 (2001, 2005, 2009 and 2011), if you are in need of
his QSL.


T2, TUVALU. John, KK7L, will once again be active as T2R from Funafuti
Atoll (OC-015) between May 23-29th. John is there continuing the club
outreach and education efforts by introducing government, Red Cross, and
others to HF Digital modes for inter-island and around-the-world communi-
cations. If all goes well, a permanent Winlink station will be established
for emergency and maritime communications needs in the Central Pacific
region. Donations are welcome to help cover the cost for a set of radios
to support digital mode operations from Tuvalu. See QRZ.com for more
details.? Activity will be on various HF bands and possibly an entry in
the CQWW WPX CW Contest. QSL via N7SMI, LoTW or ClubLog.


T8, PALAU. Operators Kay/JH3AZC (T88CX), Takio/JH3QFL (T88CU), Mamoru/
JH3VAA (T88CV) and Taka/JP3EKR (T88DG) will be active from the "West
Plaza Hotel By The Sea" on Korror Island (OC-009) between October 11-16th.
Look for T88CX and T88DG to be active on 2 meters EME (grid locator
PJ77fi) and T8CU to be on the satellites. T88CV will be active on the
HF bands. There is a team callsign to be used which is T8EM. QSL T88CX
and T8EM via JH3AZC, T88DG via JP3EXR, T88CU via JH3QFL and T88CV via
JH3VAA.


TJ, CAMEROON. Dan, AA9WO, is a new resident living at Yaounde and became
active as TJ3PD on May 10th. Activity has been on 20 meters SSB, but
operations are limited to time, weather and electricity (constant power
outages). He states on QRZ.com, "Hopefully, I can get a battery hooked
up so the daily power cuts don't take me off the air so often." "The
Daily DX" states, "Dan is running 100 watts, or less, from an IC-707
using dipoles, at the moment. For the moment listen for him on 40, 20
and 10 meters mainly on SSB. However, he plans to eventually be active
on 80-10 meters." QSL via LoTW. 


TN, REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO. Ken, LA7GIA, will be active as TN5E from
Brazzaville between May 25th and June 4th. Activity will be on 80-10
meters (possibly 6m) using CW and SSB. His equipment is an Elecraft
K3 with an Ameritron ALS 500 amp, into a 2 element rotatable beam for
20/15/10m (up 25-30 meters), wire dipoles on 80/40/30/17/12m (up 25-30
meters), 80m dipole fixed to EU, 40/30/17/15/12m dipole fixed to NA/VK,
5 element Cushcraft 50 MHz rotatable beam up 25 meter, Low-band receiving
antennas, homebrew K9AY and BOG, and wire backup antennas on all fre-
quencies (dipole/delta loop). QSL via M0OXO, LoTW or ClubLog's OQRS. FREE
LoTW June 5th!! OQRS will be activated, Bureau cards MUST be requested
via OQRS!! For more details and updates, see: 
 http://la7gia.com/tn%20-%20congo/index.html


VE, CANADA (Rare Canadian Satellite Grid Expedition). Ken, VE3HLS, has
announced that he plans to operate from four never-activated grids on
the satellites grids this weekend (May 20th and 21st). He will be driving
up from his home QTH in FN03 to Chibougamau, QC, on the afternoon of
Saturday, May 20th. There are several favorable passes on Saturday evening
and he hopes to spend a few hours handing out the FN29 grid as a warm
up. On Sunday the 21st, there is a bonanza of great satellite passes!
The trouble will be deciding when to break so he can move to a different
location. The plan at this time is to set up on the FN29/39 boundary
in the morning and operate there for a few hours. Then he will move to
FO20/30 and then FO20/FN29. More information about operating schedules
will be posted on amsat-bb as he gets closer to departure date. He will
also post information on his QRZ page at: https://qrz.com/db/VE3HLS


VP2M, MONTSERRAT. George, K2DM, will once again be active as VP2MDG from
Montserrat (NA-103) between May 25-29th. Activity will be on 40-10 meters,
and he plans to be in the CQWW WPX CW Contest (May 27-28th). QSL via his
home callsign direct only or LoTW. NO Bureau QSLs.


VR20, HONG KONG (Special Event). Brett, VR2BG, Treasurer of the HRSA,
just found out that the Hongkong Radio Sports Association's (HRSA) requests
to allow VR2s to sign VR20 (VR-two-zero) from July 1st, 2017, to June 30th,
2018, to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the HK Special Administrative
Region of the People's Republic of China, has been approved by their tele-
communications authority. See the following URL for details:
https://www.itu.int/dms_pub/itu-t/opb/sp/T-SP-OB.1116-2017-OAS-PDF-E.pdf


VU7, LAKSHADWEEP ISLANDS (Reminder/Update). Krish, W4VKU/VU2VKU, will
be active as VU7KP from Bangaram Island, Lakshadweep Islands (AS-011),
between May 15-19th. Pai, VU2PAI, will not be joining him as first
announced. Activity will be holiday style on 40-10 meters using SSB and
RTTY. There may be some 80 meters operations. QSL via W4VKU, ClubLog's
OQRS or LoTW.