Ten X DX News
Sept. 14, 1995
by Mike Davidson KC5CP #24949
The best DX news that I can tell you comes from Cal.
Tech University astronomers who have seen the first
sunspot of Solar Cycle 23! Scientists at Caltech's Big
Bear Solar Observatory photographed the spot on August
12. Early in the 11-year sunspot cycle, sunspots appear
rarely and at relative high latitudes, then increase in
frequency and appear at lower latitudes until they reach
sunspot maximum, Caltech said. After this peak in
activity, the number of sunspots slowly declines, and they
appear ever closer to the sun's equator, until they reach a
quiet period called sunspot minimum. (like the past 2
years). The new sun spot seen by Caltech appeared at a
solar latitude of 21 degrees and its magnetic polarity was
opposite to that seen during cycle 22, a key indicator of
the start of a new cycle, Caltech said! The federal agency
NOAA, predicted the summer of 1996 to be the start of
the next cycle, thus I expect them to take several months
to confirm the start of Solar Cycle 23!
The 1995 Ten-Ten Convention in Alabama was a great
experience, seeing friends that I had not seen for two years
and getting some 10-10 business done! I took two weeks
off from work to be able to combine a vacation with two
conventions. I drove to Arlington, Texas, where I talked
about 10-10 to the Republic of Texas chapter at the
HamCom Convention. On my way to Alabama, I visited
with relatives in Louisiana where my home town is in
Cajun country, one hour from New Orleans. My total car
mileage was 2020 miles, which equals to 1010 both ways!
I continue to work stateside short skip looking for new
counties while waiting for a DX opening, and guess what
happened while driving to the 10-10 Convention? The
band opened several days to Europe! My mobile HF rig
developed a sensitivity problem and I could not hear the
DX while in the car. When I got back to Houston, I used
my four element yagi antenna to work European stations
about 000Z in June and July. Several stateside stations told
me of similar openings up to July 15 when the band closed
to Europe for the summer.
The biggest DX news this Summer continues to be the
approval by the ARRL for P5 North Korea to be the
newest DXCC country. The recent DXpedition by a
group of Finish operators lead by non-member Marty Lane
OH6BH, will be followed this winter by another group that
should make thousands of contacts if all go according to
present plans. Good luck to all and be patient!
Feature DX Station:
WP4LNY Puerto Rico by Julio #64747 was worked in
the July Summer QSO Party. Julio is an active Technician
class op and he has over 100 DXCC countries worked but
only 72 confirmed. He needs Montana to complete WAS,
so please call him from MT if you are on at 2100-2300Z
daily on 28480 or 28280 CW. His station is a Yaesu
FT890, to a Cushcraft 3 element yagi, a vertical Astron 99
and a 80 meter dipole. He is in all the 10-10 QSO parties
plus Novice Roundup where he was 2nd in his region. He
has VP #2825 and a few certificates. QSL to Julio Medina,
POBox 19715, San Juan, Puerto Rico 00910-1715.
9X/ON4WW Rwanda by Mark #49103 was active June
4-18. DL7VTM Holger #22401 confirmed Mark operated
on ten and possibly gave out his number! This would be
the first 10-10 activity from Rwanda. If someone will
confirm 10-10 activity, I will update the number of
claimed 10-10 countries to # 273! QSL to ON5NT.
XR0Y Easter Island and XR0Z Salas y Gomez by a
large group of ops and three team members have 10-10
numbers: XE1CI Nellie #45888, XE1L Luis #18056 and
K0IR Ralph #2609. I hope you sorted out who was where
as I can only account for Nellie on Easter Isl. This trip was
unique since many received a notice of being in the log via
Email! XR0Z only operated September 7-11 and counts
for Easter Isl. QSL to WA3HUP Mary Crider, 2485
Lewisberry Rd.,York Haven, PA 17370.
CE0Z Juan Fernandez Isl. by K0EU Randy #04977 were
on the island September 13-30 with two non-members
K4UEE and K0IYF. This all mode operation plus satellite,
was during the same time as XR0Y. QSL to K0IYF.
Propagation: Solar flux will range from 70-98 in the Fall
1995 which will be a slight increase from the summer flux
numbers. As I write this, the Solar flux is 69 the A index
9 and K index 1 which is exactly equal to 3 months ago!
Expect sporadic E Layer conditions to be one & two hop
skip from 400-1600 miles with fading, when there is no
DX skip. This could last 12 more months until Solar Cycle
23 really gets moving. Remember to listen for the beacons
(28.2-28.3) when you want to check band conditions. This
winter, stations on the US East coast, could hear Europe
an average 2-5 days a month if the solar flux gets to 100.
Everything depends on how many sunspots begin to show
up. If the flux stays 70-90, DX conditions will be poor (1
day a month) to Europe. States west of the Mississippi
may not hear Europe at all, if the flux stays under 100. As
the spots increase, the Maximum Usable Frequency
(MUF) will go up and you could see several openings a
month into Europe from the West US. Solar conditions
will improve so keep working the short skip and fill in
your needs with 10-10 & VP numbers, certificates and
counties.
VP2MO Bobby Martin #30307 was seriously injured in
a car accident during the evacuation effort caused by the
active volcano now on Montserrat. His wife Mae VP2MN
was killed in the accident with a military vehicle. They
were going to move some radio equipment when the
accident occurred. Bobby was airlifted to Antigua where
he underwent surgery and is now improving. I have not
had a report on his condition since a hurricane went thru
the area in early September. Our prayers go out to Bobby
and his children. Check 14236 at 2330Z INDEXA info.
CY9 St. Paul Isl. by AA4VK Ron #12423, W5IJU Vance
#63352 and 3 non-members were on the island July27 to
August 2. QSL to WA4DAN.
4S/HB9BRM Sri Lanka by Mario #30935 was active
September 14 to October 3. I need it for a new 10-10
country but given present conditions, we will not hear him
on ten in the US! Anyone work him?
V26Z Antigua by Stephen WF2S #45134 will be their
from September 17-30. QSL homecall. V26B by four
members and others during CQWW SSB Contest October
28-29 and before/after the contest with their own V26 call.
Upcoming Dxpeditions:
I1YRL Italy by Luc #58966 will be active from 4U1ITU
in September and from 3A (Monaco). QSL to Glarey Luc,
Via S. Martino 11, 10091 Alpignano, Torino, Italy.
TI9JJP Cocos Isl. by Jose TI2JJP #45800 was active
from October 4-20 if everything went as planned. He goes
to the island for his yearly vacation. QSL to Jose Pastora,
POBox 529, Centro Colon 1007, San Jose, Costa Rica.
10-10 ISLANDS ON THE AIR (IOTA):
NA-144 Santa Cruz Isl by N6AWD #27773 and W6ED
#15824 Sept 22-24. NA-126 Marsh Isl by N5UR Buzz
#9466 Sept 21-24.
ZS6MPL/N9FIZ by Steve #63496 is now in New York
City with his wife Jayne. He has not had much luck in
working many stateside stations due to conditions. He
wanted to express his appreciation to all his 10-10 friends
they were able to work while in South Africa. They found
it reassuring to turn on the radio and hear 'home'! The
Springbok members really helped them to be at ease with
the community and to make them feel at home. They
appreciated your friendship and many thanks to 10-10 and
Ham Radio, Steve said. QSL Steve Koeller, 245 E40th St
#32H, NY NY 10016.
THANKS! Several European stations have helped with
the callsigns for the obsolete East Germany Y2-Y6 calls.
I have sent the call changes to Jerry WA6POZ. I know
DL7VTM Holger #22401 (Y58IO), a life member in
Berlin, has not been getting his 10-10 News. Holger and
his wife Birgit DL7VTZ # 62276 (Y58AO), Fritz
DL7VRO #55523 (Y49RO) and Fritz's daughter Shilke,
all visited with me while they were on vacation here in the
US. We all went to the New Orleans Int. DX Convention
where we had a great time and Holger presented his
TN2M/TN4U Congo video there and here in Houston to
the Texas DX Society. Fritz DL7VRO is the QSL
manager for the group, sorry I only have Holger's address.
Holger Hannemann, R.Seiffert Str. 58, D-10369 Berlin,
Germany. Berlin Bears still meet weekly on their net
frequency with DL7ZR Michael as chapter head.
Remember: German postage is slightly more than $2
US or 3 IRC's for surface, airmail is $3! Germany has
high postal rates, so less postage could mean 'buro'!
I recently received the ARRL #1 Honor Roll plaque for
having worked all 332 DXCC countries that were current
as of June . Now that North Korea has been approved, for
me to stay #1 HR, I will have to work P5 and get the QSL
confirmed. My last two countries were Z3 Macadonia
and YA Afganastan, both had 10-10 numbers! My 10-10
country count is 235 confirmed.
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
555 DX Net Begins Sunday November 12 on
28.555 at 1400 to 1530Z. This weekly net will be hosted
by KC5CP or a East coast station. On contest weekends
(ARRL 10 meter contest) there could be no net. Poor
conditions last year closed the net at the end of February.
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