Ten X DX News
June 8, 1995
The Convention is just a few more days away and the
band has been open for one and two hop short skip in the
US. I have been working new counties to makeup for the
DX that I can not find! I just worked three new Wisconsin
counties so this is a good time to find new counties and
pick up a few certificates during the summer months.
Conditions have been poor for DX as we continue to slide
to the bottom of Solar cycle 22. The only DX worked has
been during openings into the Caribbean, Central and
South America. I have not heard Europe or Asia since
February and I last worked Africa in March. Solar
conditions will begin to improve when we enter the next
Solar cycle which is at least a year off. Keep looking for
the short skip and fill in your operating needs with 10-10
numbers, VP numbers, certificates and counties, as band
conditions allow.
The biggest DX news this Summer was the first ever
amateur radio operation from P5 North Korea by a group
of Finish business men selling Telecom equipment to
N.Korea. Most of the radio activity was on twenty meters
and DU9RG Robin #36943, was one of about twenty
lucky stations to work OH5AM/P5 on 14.295. This was
a demonstration for the North Korean officials which
lasted for 1-1/2 hours on May 15 at about 1420Z. There
was some activity from P5DPRK on 40 CW reported and
a complete station was donated to an educational institute
in N.Korea. Look for P5 to be voted by the ARRL as the
next DXCC country now that an authorized amateur
operation has been recognized and amateur radio contacts
have been made. I expect more Dxpeditions will emerge
from P5 just like China did several years ago, just be
patient! Now, if we could just hear them on ten, that
would be great news! Thanks to OH2BH Marty Lane (non
member) and his Finish group.
I received two new 10-10 QSL cards during the past
months! I worked V51C Namibia by Ian #32960 (ex
ZS9IS) and YA5MM Afghanistan by Nodir UJ8JMM
#52767. QSL Ian Sutherland, Box 2327, Walvis Bay,
Namibia, Africa. QSL for YA5MM: LA1HA Ted Dikov,
POBox 32, 1000 Sofia, Bulgaria. Include $ for postage.
The count of 10-10 Countries is at least 272 now that
activity from YA, Afghanistan, has been confirmed! I
continue my research for any DX that may have been
active from countries that are not on my DXCC 10-10
worked list. I would like anyone's DX worked list to
update the DXCC list. My DXCC list is available for an
SASE and 2 stamps.
Feature DX Station:
WP4MSC Puerto Rico by Jose #67225 was worked in
April & May. Jose has a new 10-10 number and is very
active when the band is open. When I first worked him, he
had already worked about one hundred members so he has
been very committed to his 10-10 number collecting. Jose
lives on the west coast of Puerto Rico in the city of
Mayaguez. Jose operates his station with a Yaesu FT747
feeding either a vertical, a Antron 99 Solarcov, up 25 feet
or a three element beam up 12 feet. (I hope he gets his
beam up higher to help his signal!) NP4QH Monserrate
#63541 helped Jose get his number. The second time we
worked, Jose was having a problem with his microphone.
The third time we worked, he had fixed his microphone
and was calling CQ 10-10 with many takers as the band
was wide open. I sent him a QSL card back in February
when he was collecting numbers to join 10-10. Jose
waited until his QSL cards were printed, with his 10-10
number in large numbers, before he sent his QSL to me
recently. He told me that he tries to work 10-10 daily but
for many days there has been no propagation to Puerto
Rico. QSL to Jose Moreno, Duliebra 79, Mayoguez,
Puerto Rico 00680. Include US postage.
BS7H Scarborough Reef by KJ4VH Tim #41856 put on
a DXpedition with five other operators from what could be
another new country if the ARRL votes for approval! This
island is off the coast of China (BS7) in the South China
Sea. This latest operation in April made about 12,000
contacts but I have no reports of any 10-10 activity.
Expect more in 1996.
Propagation: Solar flux will range from 66-92 in the
Summer/Fall 1995 which will be very close to the lowest
flux levels of the previous Solar cycle 21. As I write this,
the Solar flux is 69, the A index 9 and K index 3, down
from a flux high on May 18 of 95, A = 25 and K = 2 which
was just a few days ago. Expect flux dips to 61, 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
5% chance of DX propagation to be East-West paths into
Europe, Asia and Africa. For stations in S.America,
expect a 35% chance of DX skip into Europe and Asia.
Expect sporadic E Layer conditions to be one & two hop
skip from 400 to 1600 miles with fading, when there is no
DX skip. This could last 12-24 months until Solar cycle 23
begins. Remember to listen for the beacons (28.2-28.3)
when you want to check band conditions. I read an article
by one of my favorite propagation people, KH6BZF Lee
#8888, who is predicting August 1997 as the start of the
next Solar cycle. The NOAA agency has predicted May of
1996 as the start of Solar cycle 23.
NEW CALLSIGNS: The FCC will begin assigning AL,
KL, NL and WL prefixes followed by ANY number from
0 thru 9 for Alaskan amateurs. There will be an exception
for call from US Personnel in Korea (KL9KAA thru
KL9KHZ). Hawaii: AH7, KH7, NH7 and WH7 will be
used for Hawaii. The same prefixes with a 'K' following
the number will be assigned to Kure Isl. Caribbean: KP3,
NP3 and WP3 (or 4) will indicate Puerto Rico except
Desecheo Isl.
Fiji 3D2LF by AA6LF Steve #50995 began operating in
late May for two weeks from IOTA OC-156 and OC-121.
Steve is in the middle of a seven year circumnavigation
and DXpedition and is planning many stops from his
sailboat before spending next winter in Australia. QSL to
AA6BB.
9X/ON4WW Rwanda by Mark #49103 has been active
thru June using an FT900 and R7 Vertical mainly on CW.
I found reports of Mark on 160 thru 15 meters but nothing
on 10 as yet. This would be the first reported 10-10
activity from Rwanda if he gives out his number! QSL to
ON5NT.
Upcoming Dxpeditions:
CY9 St. Paul Isl. by AA4VK Ron #12423, W5IJU Vance
#63352 and two other non member ops will set up on the
island July 27 to August 2. All modes including satellite.
All permissions have been obtained plus the boat charter.
They plan to use big yagi antennas so lets hope the
propagation gods allow us to hear them on ten as this will
be a new 10-10 DXCC country!
Vietnam 3W by a group of seven operators are planning
to travel to Vietnam in January of 1996. The main mode
of operation will be CW but expect SSB activity on 40 - 10
plus WARC. No callsign has been issued as of yet. As
with previous operations, the government will likely assign
fixed frequencies and these will be published in advance.
Look for N7WTU #21616, AA7NO #11404, WA7LNW
#23594.
VK0 Heard Isl. by a select group of ops are being
organized by WA4JQS Tony #3621 for a DXpedition to
this rare island around the end of 1996. This will coincide
with the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the
Australian base on Heard Island. Tony is currently
attempting to replace the equipment lost on the Peter I
DXpedition which cost $20000.
I1YRL Italy by Luc #58966 will be active from 4U1ITU
in May & September 95 and from 3A (Monaco) in June
& September 95. QSL to Glarey Luc, Via S. Martino 11,
10091 Alpignano, Torino, Italy.
XR0Y Easter Island and XR0Z Salas y Gomez by a
large group of ops is planned for a September DXpedition
that will last for three weeks. They plan to use the Internet
to post the logs on a next day basis! Would you believe a
QSL sent out within 24 hours of the QSO! They are
seeking to find new ways for a DXpedition to serve the
varied desires of the DX community. Two team members
will have 10-10 numbers: XE1L #18056 and K0IR #2609.
This will be a good chance for many of you to pick up a
10-10 country to the South.
CE0Z Juan Fernandez Isl. by K0EU Randy #4977 will
be on the island September 13 - 21 with K4UEE Bob (non
member). These two were among the DXpedition group
to AH1A Howland Isl. which was voted 'Best DXpedition
of 1993'. NOTE: This operation is in the same time period
as the planned Easter Isl. XR0Y & Salas Gomez XR0Z
(which counts for Juan Fernandez) in September.
10-10 ISLANDS ON THE AIR (IOTA):
IOTA Contest July 29-30, 1995 both modes SSB & CW.
EU-121 Irish Islands by DL8MCA Detlef #55528 will
visit several islands and move to EU-006 Inishmore and
finally EU-115 Achill Isl. EU-049 SV by IK3GEG
Gabriele #45876 will be in Greece in July-Aug. Look for
him on EU-052 Letkada and EU-049 Thassos Isl. NA-137
by WW1V Bob #60154 with 2 other ops, will activate
Cousins Isl. in the West Maine group will begin one day
before the IOTA contest. NA-065 Guemes Isl. by
WA7VNI Pat #11158 during the IOTA contest.
Letters & Cards Received:
HP9I Iguana Isl. operated by HP2CWB Jose #42071,
HP2DFU Emilio #62294, HP2CTM Ricardo #64642 from
April 30 - May 1. This is the first IOTA activity from the
Los Santos Province (HP9) and was designated NA-203.
Iguana Island is uninhabited but the wildlife on the island
make it the most important wildlife refuge of Panama.
QSL to Jose Ng Lee, POBox 728, Colon, Rep. of Panama.
THANKS! Last issue I asked for help in updating the 10-
10 records for the East Germany Y2-Y6 callsigns. I
received replies from Germany: DE7KKB Klaus #64603,
DL3EAY Klaus #42003. DL3EAY sent me a conversion
list of Y2 to DL and DL to Y2 calls. This reference was
published in the ham radio magazine "Funkamateur" in
1993. I appreciate both stations sending me the following:
Y21XO is DL7UXO, Y24AO is DL7VOA, Y32QD is
DL1RWN, Y49RO is DL7VRO, Y66YF is DL7UAA. I
received a quick reply, which indicates that sending the
News by Airmail has helped to get the News out faster!
I want to thank everyone for the letters and photos that you
have been sending. Thanks to the QRZ-DX, Ohio/Penn
DX & IK1TZO 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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