The Ohio/Penn Dx PacketCluster
DX Bulletin No. 1496
BID: $OPDX.1496
December 28, 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, W2VU, NG3K & ADXO, W3UR & The Daily DX, W5JON,
K8YSE, W8GEX & 60m DX News, DL1SBF, DL7UXG & The DX News Letter, DXNews.com,
DX-World.Net, F6AJA & Les Nouvelles DX, I1JQJ/IK1ADH & 425 DX News,
OH2BH, Pete Rayer & ISWL, Sixitalia Weekly, and VA3RJ & ICPO for the
following DX information.

*** SPECIAL NOTE FROM EDITOR (Tedd, KB8NW): My family (wife/OPDX's chief
 proof-reader Linda, son Teddy [TJ] and his wife Jessi, daughter Katie and
 her husband Kevin and son Lliam and daughter Lilly Grace), and I (KB8NW)
 would like to wish all DXers, Contesters and OPDX readers a "Happy New
 Year". Thanks to the many individuals who have provided DX information
 over the past year. Without you there would not be an OPDX Bulletin.
 Also, thanks to the many individuals who sent holiday wishes to my family
 and me...... 73 and Have a Great Holiday de Tedd KB8NW

DXCC COUNTRY/ENTITY REPORT: According to the AR-Cluster Network for the
week of Sunday, 20th/December, through Sunday, 27th/December there were 215
countries active. Countries available: 3B8, 3D2, 3DA, 3V, 3W, 4J, 4L, 4O,
4S, 4U1U, 4X, 5A, 5B, 5H, 5R, 5T, 5Z, 6W, 6Y, 7Q, 7X, 8P, 8Q, 9A, 9G, 9H,
9J, 9K, 9M2, 9M6, 9Q, 9V, 9Y, A4, A5, A6, A7, A9, AP, BV, BY, C3, CE, 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, F, FG, FH, 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, HZ, I, IS, J3, J6, J7, JA, JD/o, JT, JW, JX, JY, K, KG4, 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, PJ5, PJ7, PY, PY0F, PZ, S0, S2, S5,
S7, SM, SP, ST, SU, SV, SV5, SV9, T5, T7, TA, TF, TG, TI, TK, TN, TR, TT,
TU, TY, TZ, UA, UA2, UA9, UK, UN, UR, V2, V3, V5, V7, V8, VE, VK, VK9L,
VK9N, VP2E, VP2M, VP8, VP9, VQ9, VR, VU, XE, XU, XX9, YB, YI, YJ, YL, YN,
YO, YS, YU, YV, Z3, Z6, Z8, 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".

3D2/R, ROTUMA (Reminder). Tony, 3D2AG, is once again active as 3D2AG/p
from Rotuma Island (OC-060). Most of his activity has been on 30/20/17/15
meters FT8, with some CW. Look for him to go QRT on January 8th, with
him leaving the island on the 10th. QSL via 3D2AG using PayPal, ClubLog's
OQRS or direct. He uses paper logs for CW, and ClubLog for FT8. NO LoTW.

5H, TANZANIA. Sergey, UT8UU, will be active as 5H3UU from Dar Es Salaam,
Tanzania, during the first half of August 2021. He does have permission
to be active on most HF/VHF/UHF bands and modes, but has not announced
which ones he will be using. More details will be forthcoming. QSL via
UT8UU, direct, by the Bureau, LoTW or eQSL.

5U, NIGER. The Daily DX and some other sources report that Adrien, F4IHM,
is expected to be back in Niamey, Niger, and be active as 5UAIHM (not
5U4IHM as first reported) in early 2021, possibly between January 7th
and February 11th. Activity will be on 40 and 20 meters CW (beginner)
using a FT-817 with a wire antenna and straight. QSL via his home call-
sign, direct or by the REF Bureau.

8N1, JAPAN (Special Event). Special event station 8N1IZA is now active
until March 31st, 2021. Activity is to celebrate the 50th anniversary of
Niiza city. No QSL is needed! All QSLs will be sent automatically via
the Bureau.

8Q, MALDIVES (Update/Change). Nobby, G0VJG, will once again be active as
8Q7CQ between March 6-22nd (not January 14-29th). He had to reschedule
due to the Covid-19. Operations this time will be from Reethi Faru,
Filaidhoo Island (AS-013). Activity will be on 80-10 meters (this now
includes 60m) using SSB and the Digital modes. His equipment will be a
FT-450D with a 400 watt amp into a small 6m beam, Butternut vertical for
the HF bands and possibly a 3 element tri-bander. QSL via M0OXO OQRS,
direct or ClubLog's OQRS.

ARRL RTTY ROUNDUP. Just a reminder that the "ARRL RTTY Roundup" takes
place between 1800z, January 2nd and 2400z, January 3rd. For complete
details, see: http://www.arrl.org/rtty-roundup

CQ NEWS [Stever Molo, KI4KWR, Named CQ Awards Editor] (Press Release,
by Richard, W2VU, dated December 21st). Steve Molo, KI4KWR, of Madison,
Alabama, has been named CQ magazine Awards Editor, CQ Editor Rich Moseson,
W2VU announced today. Steve has been active in radio communications for
close to 30 years, starting in a REACT group in Pennsylvania. Following
graduation from high school, he enlisted in the United States Navy as a
Radioman, reaching the rank of Chief Petty Officer before returning to
civilian life.
 Steve discovered amateur radio in 2005 while in the Navy and living in
Portsmouth, Virginia. In 2013, he moved to New Jersey, where became very
active with the South Jersey DX Association and participated in 160-meter
contests with both the N2CW and W2GD teams, placing in the top five several
years straight and occasionally in first place.
 Since January 2019, Steve has worked for GigaParts in Huntsville,
Alabama, as Brand Ambassador for all brands offered by the company. After
work, he can generally be found on HF, chasing contacts and rare DX. Steve
is currently vice president of the North Alabama DX Club and a member of
the Alabama Contest Group, Huntsville Amateur Radio Club and several
others. He is currently focusing his award-chasing on the various FT8
awards that have recently become available.
 "I look forward to the opportunity to keep CQ readers aware of the
available awards in amateur radio," said Molo, "by highlighting long-
standing awards that may not be well-known as well as focusing on newer
offerings such as FT8 awards."
 Molo's first column will appear in the February, 2021 issue of CQ.

D2, ANGOLA. Paulo, CT1FJZ, is now active D2FJZ from Menongue. The length
of his stay is unknown at this time. Activity has been mainly on 20 meters
SSB using a TS-480AT into a EZ-wire antenna. QSL via CT1FJZ direct.

GB0, ENGLAND (Special Event). Paul, M0XZT, will activate the "New Year"
special event station GB0NY through January 7th. He will operate a few
hours a day on 160-10m, 2m/70cm and 4m, using SSB, FT8/FT4, SSTV, FM,
Dstar, DMR and C4FM modes. QSL is only via eQSL. Logs will be uploaded
after January 7th.

HB40, SWITZERLAND (Special Event). To celebrate the 40th anniversary of
the International Police Association Radio Club (IPARC) of Switzerland,
look for special event station HB40POLICE to be active between January 1st
and December 31st, 2021. Activity will be on 160-6 meters, and frequently
on VHF, UHF and SHF. For a sked please contact Roland, HB9GSO. QSL via
the Bureau or eQSL. A QSO with HB40POLICE counts as a club callsign for
the IPARC Switzerland and is valid for the Matterhorn Award.

II/IO/IR, ITALY (Special Event). To celebrate the 160th anniversary of
the establishment of the Italian Navy, members of the Amateur Radio Associ-
ation of Italian Sailors will provide a special radio diploma called "160th
Anniversary of the Italian Navy" for working the following special event
stations between 0000z, January 1st and 2400z, December 31st, 2021. Look
for special stations with the suffix "MMI" (Marina Militare Italiana).
Rules to obtain the 3 diplomas (Gold, Silver, Bronze) and plaque are
available at:
http://www.assoradiomarinai.it/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=113&Itemid=184
The list of special stations accredited for the Diploma (updated as of
DECEMBER 24th, 2020) are:
 CALLSIGN #MI QSL MANAGER CALLSIGN #MI QSL MANAGER
 -------- ---- ----------- -------- ---- -----------
 IR0MMI 561 IZ0XZD II7MMI 1174 IZ7AUH
 IO0MMI 562 IM0SDX IR7MMI 1245 IZ7LOW
 II0MMI 1161 IZ0EGC IR8MMI 1250 IU8OJZ
 II1MMI 1162 IK1YRA II9MMI 1378 IT9GHW
 II2MMI 1656 I2QIL IO9MMI 1600 IT9MRM
 IR5MMI 1171 IK5AEQ IR9MMI 1655 IT9YBL

 Activity will be on various HF bands using CW, SSB and the Digital
modes. Award Manager of this event is Alberto Mattei, IT9MRM (his E-mail
is: it9mrm@hotmail.com). ADDED NOTE: "The Italian Navy was born with the
name of 'Regia Marina' on March 17th, 1861, following the proclamation
of the Kingdom of Italy by the parliament of Turin. Since 1946, following
the proclamation of the Republic, it has assumed the new name of 'Marina
Militare'."

IOTA NEWS. The following are IOTA operations that were active this past
week between December 21-26th (as per the DXCluster):

 IOTA Callsign Island/GROUP Bands/Modes
 ------ ---------- ------------- ------------
 AF-004 EA8AT CANARY 30m; FT8
 AF-004 EA8UP CANARY 40m; SSB
 AF-004 EA8WK CANARY 40m; SSB
 AF-018 IH9YMC PANTELLERIA 20m; FT4
 AF-022 ZD7JC ST HELENA 15/12m; FT8
 AF-049 3B8CW MAURITIUS 10m; FT8
 AS-003 4S7VG SRI LANKA 10m; FT8
 AS-007 JH3NGD HONSHU 40m; SSB
 AS-007 JH7MQD HONSHU 40m; SSB
 AS-013 8Q7AM MALDIVE 15m; FT8
 AS-018 RM0F Sakhalin 80/30m; FT8
 AS-020 BX6ABV TAIWAN 10m; FT8
 AS-031 JD1BMH Chichijima 80/40/30/20m; CW
 AS-031 JD1BHA CHICHI/HAHA/MUKO 20m; CW FT8
 AS-079 JO2ASQ/6 Miyako 20m;
 AS-117 JA4GXS/4 HONSHU'S COASTAL ISLANDS WEST 40m; FT8
 EU-002 OH0Z ALAND 160/15m; CW
 EU-004 EA6AIU BALEARIC 40m; SSB
 EU-004 EA6B BALEARIC 20m; SSB
 EU-004 EA6NB BALEARIC 160m;
 EU-004 EA6SB BALEARIC 40m; SSB
 EU-004 EA6VQ BALEARIC 30m; FT8
 EU-005 GM4ATA GREAT BRITAIN 80m; CW
 EU-005 GW3TMP GREAT BRITAIN 15m; CW
 EU-005 M0PLX/M GREAT BRITAIN 20m; SSB
 EU-005 M1EYP/P GREAT BRITAIN 40m;
 EU-012 GM4LER SHETLAND 40m; FT8
 EU-015 SX9A CRETE 17m; SSB
 EU-018 OY5CT FAROE 15m; CW
 EU-018 OY5ET FAROE 20m; FT8
 EU-020 SM1HEV GOTLAND COUNTY 80m; CW
 EU-020 SM1IRS GOTLAND COUNTY 80m; CW
 EU-021 TF5B ICELAND 30/17m; FT8
 EU-022 JX2US JAN MAYEN 20m;
 EU-023 9H5SN MALTA 40m; SSB
 EU-024 IS0BHY SARDINIA 80m; FT8
 EU-024 IS0GGA SARDINIA 17m; SSB
 EU-025 IT9JAV Sicily 40m; SSB
 EU-025 IT9RZR Sicily 15m; FT8
 EU-031 IC8HRG CAMPANIA REGION 40m; FT8
 EU-040 CT2KNA ESTREMADURA PROVINCE 20m; SSB
 EU-084 8S0DX UPPSALA/STOCKHOLM COUNTY 160m;
 EU-115 EI2KP IRELAND 20m; SSB
 EU-115 EI9JF IRELAND 40m; CW
 EU-115 MI0JLC IRELAND 30m; FT8
 EU-159 F4FHX AQUITAINE REGION 17m; SSB
 NA-015 CO2RQ Cuba 160m;
 NA-015 CO8RCP Cuba 30m; FT8
 NA-016 ZF1EJ CAYMAN 160m;
 NA-026 N2YG NEW YORK STATE 15m; FT8
 NA-026 W2C NEW YORK STATE 40m; SSB
 NA-026 W2F NEW YORK STATE 20m; SSB
 NA-026 W2G NEW YORK STATE 20m; SSB
 NA-027 VO1CH NEWFOUNDLAND 20m; SSB
 NA-083 N3MK VIRGINIA STATE 15m; FT8
 NA-091 VE7BGD BRITISH COLUMBIA PROVINCE SOUTH 20m; FT8
 NA-096 HI8RD HISPANIOLA 40m; SSB
 NA-099 KP4JRS PUERTO RICO 40m; CW
 NA-106 KP2B VIRGIN 20m; FT8
 OC-001 VK2NA Australia 15m; CW
 OC-001 VK5GR Australia 17m; FT8
 OC-001 VK5MAV Australia 20m; CW
 OC-001 VK6HH Australia 160m; FT8
 OC-001 VK6LW Australia 160m;
 OC-001 VK6RZ Australia 40m; CW
 OC-001 VK6SJ Australia 15m; SSB
 OC-021 YB0AZ JAVA 20m; SSB
 OC-032 FK8GX NEW CALEDONIA 40m; FT8
 OC-032 FK8HM NEW CALEDONIA 10m; FT8
 OC-042 DU1IST LUZON 40m; SSB
 OC-060 3D2AG/P Rotuma 20/17/15m; CW
 OC-088 9M8DEN BORNEO 30m; FT8
 OC-134 ZL1CVD SOUTH 30m; FT8
 OC-134 ZL3RIK SOUTH 20m; FT8
 OC-134 ZL3XDJ SOUTH 40m; CW
 OC-150 7C9N Lombok 20/17m; SSB/FT8
 OC-150 7C9T TENGGARA BARAT 30m; FT8
 OC-166 YD7RV/P Laut 40m; FT8
 OC-236 7C8M Gusung Toraja 40/20/17/15m; CW/FT8
 SA-006 PJ4EL BONAIRE 40m; FT8
 SA-011 9Z4AH Trinidad 40m; SSB
 SA-011 9Z4FE Trinidad 17m; SSB
 SA-011 9Z4Y Trinidad 17m; CW
 SA-012 YV7BMZ NUEVA ESPARTA STATE 20m; FT8
 SA-046 PY7PX PERNAMBUCO STATE 30m; FT8
 SA-058 YV4NY CARABOBO/ARAGUA/DF/MIRANDA STATE 30m; FT8
 SA-099 PJ2LS CURACAO 30m; FT8

 ** Thanks to the individuals who put the island/group and mode
 on their QSNs on their PacketCluster reports. The format we
 suggest is "IOTA#/Mode/Island or Group" (ex. OC-146/FT8/Celebes).

 OC-139. Grant, VK5GR, posted the following on his Web page on December
 17th [edited]: "As announced in October, I am heading back to
 Kangaroo Island over the summer holidays with the family.
 This time it will be more holiday and less radio, however
 I am taking the station down with me and will be down there
 for nearly 2 weeks as opposed to 5 nights. I hope to be active
 on 40/30m with a vertical, 20-6m with my Hex Beam and possibly
 80m with a dipole. There is a chance 160m might get activated
 as well (depending on what gear I can fit into the car). This
 is a single op trip holiday style. I will be down there from
 the 11th to the 22nd of January. Most likely operating hours
 will be evenings and mornings. Daytime will be spent with the
 family and touring the island.
 I will run the live logging into Clublog for the activity to
 help you find me. OQRS will be available via Charlies, M0OXO,
 and logs will be loaded to Charles at least daily. QSL cards
 are already available so there will be no waiting for this one.
 Activity will be a combination of CW, SSB and FT8, possibly
 with some RTTY and PSK thrown in for fun. I also hope to put
 VK5KI on air during the WIA Summer VHF/UHF field day on 6m/2m/
 70cm (and maybe 23cm). With the 90m elevation we will have I
 hope to be heard at least up in Adelaide. Worst case I will
 take some gear mobile up to Stokes Hill for the day (200m
 elevation).
 See you on the air from VK5KI Kangaroo Island - OC-139!"
 Visit VK5GR Web page at: https://vk5gr-iota.net

 OC-166. Ravie, YD7RV, is now active as YD7RV/p from Laut Island.
 Length of stay was not mentioned. Activity was on 40 meters
 FT8. QSL via his home callsign direct or EA5GL.

 OC-236. Members of the Tipalayo DX Club are now active as 7C8M from
 Gusung Toraja Island, in the Celebes Coastal Islands, until
 December 30th. Activity has been on 40/20/17/15 meters using
 CW and FT8. QSL via YB8BRI direct.

 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 January 2021). The following ISWL club callsigns
will be used throughout the month of January 2021:

 GX4BJC/A - Operated /A from Eastbourne, in East Sussex, by Peter, G0NQZ
 (WAB Square - TQ60 - England, IOTA EU-005, WLOTA 1841).

 MX1SWL/A - Operated /A, from Skegby, in Nottinghamshire, by Merv, G0UJD
 (WAB Square - SK56 - England, IOTA EU-005, WLOTA 1841).

 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 (www.iswl.org.uk) or (www.qrzcq.com) or (www.qrz.com)
or via (www.eQSL.cc). NO LoTW.

KH4, MIDWAY ISLAND (KH6VV/KH4 DXPEDITION Update). Ron, KH6DV, posted the
following on QRZ.com, December 20th: "Recently the USF&W Service became
uncomfortable with our proposed expedition date due to the forecast of
a second virus wave. We are now in that second wave, and the latest news
is that Europe is seeing a new strain of the virus that is 70% more con-
tagious. We agreed to change the date to September 2021 and submit a new
Supplemental Use Permit application. 
 Just after that discussion the email link went dark. Business partner
Bill Austin, who once served as Maintenance Manager and Harbor Master on
Midway, is still well connected to the gossip email reflector. From this
source we learned that there had been an incident on Midway, and the
on-island management team for USF&W had been recalled along with two of
the supervisors from the contractor.
 A new management team is expected on-island once the holidays are over.
Once that team is in place we will submit our revised application."

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
PLEASE NOTE: OUTLOOK users PLEASE read below.

P44, ARUBA (Rare Prefix/Update). Mathias, DL4MM, will be active as P44AA
from Aruba (SA-036) during the CQ 160m CW Contest (January 29-31st, 2021)
as a Single-Op/Assisted/High-Power entry. QSL P44AA via DL4MM. Look for
him to sign P4/DL4MM before and after the contest between January 23rd
and February 3rd with a focus on the low bands. QSL via DL4MM, direct
(via ClubLog), LoTW or by the Bureau.

PJ5, ST. EUSTATIUS. In the middle of his 2021 June trip to St. Kitts (V4)
[see below], John, W5JON/V47JA, will be going to St. Eustatius between
June 22-28th, 2021, and be active as PJ5/W5JON. His radio equipment is
a Yaesu FT-450D, Amplifier and dipoles. Activity will be on 40-6 meters
using SSB and FT8. ALL QSLs go to W5JON direct or via LoTW. NO Bureau
QSLs.

PROPAGATION FORECAST/REPORT (December 28th-January 3rd).......
 Dec/28th AN Dec/31st AN Jan/02nd AN
 Dec/29th AN Jan/01st AN Jan/03rd AN
 Dec/30th 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
 * Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC) & National Oceanic and
 Atmospheric Adminisration (NOAA):
 https://www.swpc.noaa.gov
 https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/products/solar-cycle-progression
 * 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) (December 27th)
 and by OPDX from other sources
 -------------------------------------------------------------------------
 4L1WL via 4L1BR HP/W1VE via W1VE RG21NY via RQ7L
 5Q2J via OZ2JBC IQ6KX via IW6ATQ (d/e) RK21NY via RQ7L
 5Z4PA via M0URX J79WTA via HB9MFM RL21NY via RQ7L
 CN1M via RW6HS (d) LG9L via (LA-B/L) RN21NY via RQ7L
 CN8GDO via EA7FTR or RW6HS(d) LZ105AJ via LZ1ZF RY21NY via RQ7L
 CO8LY via EA7ADH LZ50GU via LZ1GU SE5L via SM5ALJ
 CP4BT via IK2DUW LZ5R via LZ1YQ & (L) TC3SAV via TA3X
 CP5HK via EC6DX (d) NL8F via N7RO TR8CA via F6CBC
 D44PM via IZ4DPV OP5T via ON4DS TZ4AM via W0SA
 EG4CSH via EA4DCU (L/e) OQ5M via ON5ZO UA0JFG via RW6HS (d)
 FM/F6BCW via F6BCW PJ4EL via M0URX UN9L via LZ1YE (d/L)
 HC1HC via NE8Z R2021NY via RQ7L W4A via N9EN
 HC1M via EA5GL R21HNY via RQ7L Z34K via Z32ZM
 HC3RJ via EA5GL RA21NY via RQ7L
 HF1J via SP1NEN RD21NY via RQ7L

 (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
 (*) They send via the Bureau - No QSL needed

 LOGS ONLINE (New/Updated) AVAILABLE ON CLUBLOG.ORG THIS WEEK......
 https://clublog.org/logsearch/JD1BLY (Updated)

 QSLS RECEIVED VIA LoTW: 4U75UN, 8J1RL, BD7JMR, CP6UA, CT1EAV, DS5TOS,
 OE4AAC, RN1CW, SV5DKL, US0KW, XP3A, YC7DDG, YC0VM, YD1AYO, YD1FRU and
 YD2DBW

 QSLS RECEIVED VIA MAIL: 4U1UN, 9X2AW, A61DL (AS-021), ID9OSC (EU-017),
 PJ4/K5KG, SP2GR, TX0T (OC-298), VA3IKE and VE3ELL

 QSLS RECEIVED VIA THE BUREAU: NONE REPORTED FOR THIS WEEK!!!!
 --- We would like to see more QSL Bureaus (such as AS/US/SA/AF.. etc)
 send in their info....

S521, SLOVENIA (Special Event). Members of the Radio Club "Slovenj Gradec"
are now active as S521PMC to promote the WW PMC (Peace Messenger Cities)
Contest and IAPMC (The International Association of Peace Messenger Cities
of the United Nations) organization until January 3rd, 2021. Activity has
been on 80-15 meters using CW, SSB and FT8/FT4. QSL is not needed. All
QSLs will be sent out via the Bureau in 2021. For details on the WW PMC
Contest, see: http://www.s59dcd.si/index.php/sl/ww-pmc/ww-pmc-contest-rules

SF400, SWEDEN (Special Event). Members of the Borås Radioamatörer (SK6LK)
will activate the special event callsign SF400B from Tranemo, Sweden,
between January 1st and December 31st, 2021. Activity is to commemorate
400th anniversary of Boras City. Operations will be on various HF bands.
QSL via SK6LK by the Bureau or LoTW. Please visit their Web page at
(www.sf400b.se) where they have a logbook and a map showing which coun-
tries they have been in contact with.

TI, COSTA RICA (SOTA Op). Operators David/KM3A and Scott/N0OI will head up
a AB3G DXpedition to Costa Rica to be active from several different summits
in Costa Rica between January 3-9th. While climbing the summits, they plan
to be active as TI2/AB3G, TI3/AB3G and TI5/AB3G. Activity will be mainly
40/30/20/17/15 meters CW. QSL via LoTW or ClubLog's OQRS (preferred).

V4, ST. KITTS. John, W5JON, has announced another operation besides his
February-March/October-November 2021 operations (see OPDX.1480 & OPDX.1494).
He will once again be active as V47JA from his Calypso Bay, St. Kitts, West
Indies vacation home, located 200 feet from the Caribbean Sea, between June
12th and July 10th, 2021,. Activity will be on 160-6 meters (incl. 60m)
using SSB and FT8, with emphasis on 6m and 160m - FT8. Equipment is a
Yaesu FT1000MP, FT450D and an Elecraft KPA500 Amplifier. John states his
antennas are a Mosley Mini32A 10/15/20m, 33' Vertical 10-40m, 35' Top
Loaded 80m Vertical, 160m Vertical and 6m 5 element Yagi. ALL QSLs go to
W5JON direct or via LoTW. NO Bureau QSLs. ADDED NOTE: John will also make
a side trip to Saint Eustatius Island (PJ5). See PJ5 above.

YASME FOUNDATION INC. NEWS (Press Release; "OH8X Node Active", sent by
Martti, OH2BH, dated December 23rd). [ANOTHER CHRISTMAS GIFT TO THE
SCIENTIFIC AND AMATEUR COMMUNITY LAUNCHED DECEMBER.22,2020 -- THE MOST
NORTHERN RBN NODE IN EUROPE]. As part of the Yasme Foundation (yasme.org)
project to provide additional Reverse Beacon Network (reversebeacon.net)
nodes in underserved areas, equipment has been provided to a team in
northern Finland. The latest node to become active is currently hosted
by Radio Arcala, OH8X, very close to the Lapland (OH9) Region..
 FURTHER STUDY OF THE POLAR PATH -- A mysterious propagation mode called
Polar Path exists in Northern Europe during the winter season. At and
above the Arctic Circle in the middle of the night this propagation offers
a footprint covering the entire North American continent for many hours.
This occurs in spite of the stations being within the Aurora Oval. Only
100 miles to the south, there is no such propagation at all. A few far-
northern stations have taken advantage of this opportunity, such as SJ2W
holding the 20 meter CQ WW record and OH8X winning CQ WW Europe on 20
meters ten times straight.
 Carl Luetzelschwab, K9LA, has tentatively studied the Polar Path and
expects that two independent propagation scenarios need to co-exist to
create this interesting path. The OH8X RBN node would further help the
study of the Polar Path in which Radio Arcala will be cooperating with
the northern scientific community.
 The RBN node receiver is currently located at the Radio Arcala station,
OH8X; 65 11 03N & 26 14 53E, but may later move even farther north to be
at the heart of this unique Auroral Region of the Arctic Circle.