Ten X DX News
March 15,1995
In the US everyone looks forward to good skip conditions
on Ten Meters each winter. This is the time when you
work the DX that you missed during the Summer. I hoped
that this season would give us a few openings into Europe
and Asia but band conditions have been poor this winter.
The number of openings into Europe have been less than
a dozen over this past quarter, which was less than
expected. I worked the ARRL DX CW & SSB contests
single band Ten and talked with 10 Europeans and 7 Japan
stations, none on CW, and made 142 QSO's with only 58
countries on SSB.
I worked a new 10-10 DX country during the ARRL DX
SSB contest on March 4th when I worked V51C Namibia
operated by Ian #32960 (ex ZS9IS). He was working the
contest from his home in Walvis Bay on 28470 at 1415Z.
You may remember that Walvis Bay was a separate
country until recently annexed by Namibia from South
Africa. Ian has been a good supporter of 10-10 giving out
his number when asked during pileups. Ian has operated
from ZS0 Penguin Isl. which is also now Namibia. QSL
Ian Sutherland, Box 2327, Walvis Bay, Namibia, Africa.
The count of 10-10 Countries should be 271 now that
activity from V5 Namibia has been found. My research
has determined that another station from Namibia was first
issued a number in September 1990 to V51BG Karl
#25980. I would like anyone's DX worked list to make the
DXCC list more accurate. I have updated my DXCC list
and copies are available for an SASE and 2 stamps.
In my last article I reported that OA4SS may operate from
HV3SJ, the Vatican, but at this time I have no reports of
Father Schmidt operating from HV3SJ. I have reports of
CW activity on the higher bands from the Vatican but
nothing on Ten. Father Schmidt was expected to leave on
March 25th so if any of our European members can verify
they worked him I would appreciate hearing the details.
TG9ITH Guatemala by Richard #64671. I received 10-
10 country #236 when he sent me his QSL. Richard put
his callsign on a postcard which doubles as his QSL card
and for his missionary work. He wrote my QSL info on a
piece of paper and placed it inside the folded postcard.
This is a poor excuse for a QSL card and I am not sure if
it will be acceptable by the ARRL. Since TG is not on the
DXCC restricted list, it should be OK. I hope he can
change his card or print a QSL card. His address was in
the last issue.
Feature DX Station:
ZS6JHS S Africa by Johan #61509 was worked in late
February and has 270 confirmed countries on various
bands. He needs three states on 80 meters to complete his
5 BDXCC but he said Alaska will be a tough one to get!
On Ten meters he has 131 countries confirmed with over
40 QSL cards out. Presently he needs the following four
states for WAS 10-10: Maine, Montana, Nevada &
Vermont. If you can help him please look for Johan on
28425 at 1600Z. He is in the Diplomatic corp and his
work may allow him to operate from Angola D2 and
Nigeria 5N later this year. Johan likes to operate mobile
with a Kenwood TS50 in his 4x4 vehicle and he has a nice
Icom 781 at his home station with an amplifier running
400 watts to a KT34XA beam antenna up 70 feet. At his
work he has the uses of a log periodic and a 400 watt Icom
station with Packet radio for messages. He told me it is
very difficult to work DX from ZS due to skip patterns. I
expect Johan will complete 1010 WAS, 5BDXCC and in
a few more years Honor Roll. QSL Johan Sevenster, POB
5561, Pretoria 0001, South Africa.
Congratulations to VP2VF Dirk #63440 in the Br.
Virgin Isl. did a first class job during the Winter QSO
Party. His 714 contacts for 1217 points should be good
enough for first place as I had no reports of anyone else
scoring higher! QSL Dirk Jong, Box 137, Road Town,
Tortola, Br.Virgin Island.
VP8SGP South Georgia Isl. by WA4VQD Jan #13423
and others put on an excellent Dxpedition to start off the
year with over 18,000 contacts. Poor propagation and the
mountain ridge around the whaling station where they
operated, yielded less than 2,000 contacts on 10 - 17
meters! They began their activities on January 4th and
stopped on the 15th. They had to cut short their stay by 4
days due to a scheduling problem with the ship. They then
traveled to the Falkland Isl. Weather was not a factor as
temps ranged from the 20-30's F and winds ranged from 30
to 65 mph. QSL to W4FRU callbook address with SASE.
Propagation: Solar flux will average 72-91 in the
Spring/Summer 95 which should be the lowest average of
this Solar cycle. As I write this the Solar flux is 76, the A
index 20 and K index 6, down from 84, 2 and 0 just four
days ago. Expect flux dips to 68, high A indexes greater
than 20 and the K index greater than 5, will occur 30% of
the time. For stations in the US, expect a 10% chance of
DX propagation to be East-West paths into Europe & Asia
and a chance into Africa. For stations in S.America,
expect a 50% chance of DX skip into Europe and Asia.
Expect sporadic E Layer conditions to be one hop skip
with fading, when long DX skip is not open and this will
last 12-20 months until the next solar cycle hopefully
begins in 96. Remember to listen for the beacons (28.2-
28.3) when you want to check band conditions.
555 DX Net Sunday on 28.555 at 1400-1530 UTC: has
closed until better band conditions in November 1995.
PZ5JR Surinam by Bob #39926 was on 28360 at 1900Z
working the US in a contest when we swapped numbers.
His QSL manager is K3BYV.
L37N Argentina by Carlos #25994 (LU2NI) was very
active in the ARRL DX SSB contest. He told me he made
over 3200 contacts and 210 multipliers on all bands. Last
year he used the call LR0N. QSL to Carlos Meneclier,
Melvin Jones 696, 4200 Santiago del Estero, Argentina.
ZD7CRC St. Helena Isl. by Chuck #63447 was active in
the ARRL DX SSB contest when we swapped numbers.
He is working on WAS so please help him if possible.
ZS6SCI South Africa club station by Ken ZS6NB
#63494 and several other Spring Bok members, keep
28425 active daily. ZS6AQS Don, ZS6CRT Don, ZS4AE
Franz and ZS6ATN Alfred were on frequency the last
time I checked in. Ken reports average skip conditions
into Europe several time a week. QSL each station to his
callbook address.
P4/KA3DBN Aruba by John #25754 will be active from
several islands in March. Look for him as PJ7/KA3DBN
Anguilla, VP2EBN St. Martin. QSL callbook.
4K9W Azerbaijan by Vlad (ex UD6DKW) #55512 has
recently sent a package of QSL cards to DL6KVA Alex for
distribution. Vlad is a good CW operator, I found him on
20 meters recently, 14020 at 400Z. QSL to DL6KVA.
TG/KA9FOX Guatemala by Scott #31122 was planning
to use the station of TG9GI but changed his plans. He did
use the call TG0AA besides his portable call. QSL
callbook.
VS6CT Hong Kong by Phil #18476 is off the air while he
moves his QTH until late 95. Look for him in Dayton. He
expects to settle in Hong Kong but plans are not firm yet.
Upcoming Dxpeditions:
9M0A/1S Spratly Isl. by a group of JA and Malaysian ops
will be active the first of April. Only one operator has a
number so find him for a new 10-10 country!
I1YRL Italy by Luc #58966 will be active from 4U1ITU
in March 11-12 & 25-26, May & September 95 and from
3A (Monaco) in April, June & September 95. QSL to
Glarey Luc, Via S. Martino 11, 10091 Alpignano, Torino,
Italy.
KP1/W5IJU Navassa Isl. by Vance #63352 and
KB4VLO David #60721 could be active from the island
with three other operators. Expected date late-April or
early-May.
DL1XAQ by Mark #64617 and DL9XAT by Ralf #63465
will be in the Caribbean during late March and early April.
They will be on J8 St.Vincent NA-109, Mustique Isl.
NA-025, J6 St.Lucia NA-108, and FG Guadeloupe NA-
102. This team was suppose to go to 9H Malta but recent
info indicates their plans have changed to the Caribbean.
10-10 ISLANDS ON THE AIR (IOTA):
EU-167 Pessegueiro Isl. by CT1EEB/P Jose #58967,
QSL to WA1ECA. NA-037 Shemya Isl. by KL7FBI
#06808. NA-135 Carmen Isl. by XE1BGM/3 Bernardo
#20325. SA-012 Margaritia Isl. by YV5/N2AUK
#53803, QSL to N2LDV. NA-080 Abaco Isl. Bahamas
by NT9U #46739, QSL to WB4FLB. EU-088 Laeso Isl.
OZ/DH8BQA #64672 and OZ/DL3BQA #42017.
HELP: The 10-10 records for the old Y2-Y6 callsigns
have not been changed for all of the old East German
stations. Will someone in Germany please write me with
info on the new callsigns of these: Y21XO Ted, Y24AO,
Y32QD Frank, Y49RO, Y66YF. I know that Y58AO is
DL7VTZ Birgit #62276 and Y58IO is DL7VTM Holger
#22401 who are married and operate from places like TN
Congo and 9H Malta! They expect to be on Gozo Isl.
EU-023 for CQWW WPX in late March until April 7th
signing 9H1TZ and 9H1TY respectively. QSL to
DL7VRO.
Letters & Cards Received:
DL5XAT Holger #64618 sent me his plans for going to
9H Malta Gozo Isl. EU-023 from April 11-23. His call
will be 9H3SB and QSL via bureau or direct to H.Binder,
Thorkoppel 15A - 22885 Barsbuttel, Germany.
K6QWH Howard #28380 thanks for the 10-10 DX info on
LU2DF Cef #40951 on 28499 at 2130Z and others.
LU6HSV Ronnie #66021 for his photocard and QSL,
R.Lambert, POBox 65, C.P.5000, Cordoba, Argentina.
KE4KRT Phil #66137 worked ZD7CRC Chuck #63447
on 28425 at 1430Z. V31DE Derek #64606 for his photo
and QSL, D.Griffin, POBox 273, Belmopan, Belize C.A.
I want to thank everyone for the letters and photos that you
have been sending. Thanks to the QRZ-DX & Ohio/Penn
DX Bulletins. Please send photos to Mike Davidson, 3518
Bellefontaine, Houston, TX 77025 USA. Email to
MDavidson@infosvcs.tmh.tmc.edu.
Good DX & 73. ... Mike Davidson KC5CP #24949
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