Ten X DX News
Aug. 23, 1996
This article is dedicated to the first person that achieved the coveted 1010
DXCC. This modest lady was honored to be on the cover of the 1010 News after
she confirmed 100 countries, a major 1010 accomplishment! We met on the
radio in 1979 when I started to be active in 1010. Back then Cycle 21 was
giving us excellent conditions, we sometimes talked daily before I would go
to work and she always had that easy going nature. When not working on her
farm she was on the radio paper chasing and Dxing so she had a head start on
many. WD9CXQ worked many people during the 70's & 80's, and took on the job
of 9th Area Manager during her spare time. My only time to meet Bernice in
person was at Dayton in 1983 while she sat next to the Parrot in the O'Hare
cafeteria. At the time, she immediately reminded me of my mother but I never
told her of the resemblances. Years passed and she began to have less time to
spend on the radio, her health problems increased and she gave up her
Manager job in 1991. I remember asking her why she never increased her
country count and she said other things were now more important. Bernice's
health got more serious and finally circummed to cancer on July 21, 1996 when
Bernice Tielemann, N9CDO #20025 became a silent key. Hugh, WA4QZU, said:
"Bernice was the premier paper chaser of her era. Her passing causes me to
recall some of the 'good old days'. May she always have good propagation.
Tempus doth Fugit." RIP.
_____________________________________________
Skip for the Summer QSO Party was the best in years! As I said in my last DX
article, the most interesting thing since June has been the return of short
stateside skip on Ten. A weak DX opening during the summer QSO Party started
about 2100 Z for us in the middle of the US. Many QSO Party participants
did not notice the very weak Europe stations as it was much easier to work
the stronger stateside stations that had S9 signals. The DX opening lasted
less than an hour. This type of opening has only occurred when the solar
flux has been above 80 and that is exactly what caused improved conditions
that weekend.
Thanks to the people that sent me their QSO Party log so I could do a
propagation study. At the start, there was very weak 1-2 hop skip in the mid
US that lasted until about 300 Z. Stateside, the band opened 13-1400 Z with
the East coast having skip into the mid US and the mid South into the Great
Lakes. Signals were over S9 but varied up and down in strength. This
continues until about 2000 Z when it closed for two hours and then reopened
for three more hours with weak signals. Sunday this pattern repeated but the
band stayed open from 1300 to 2400 Z.
The new callsign changes now being allowed by the FCC caused some confusion
during the recent QSO party. Members with changed callsigns did not match
with the 1010 database! One lady got so upset, she went back to using her
old call when asked about the 1010 difference! Watch September 23 for 'gate
2' when those of us in the extra class group get our chance to upgrade!
Now a Canadian callsign story: From Paul VE1DX #42051 (ex VE1UK): "Hi Mike,
first, Andy VE9DX #40999 (ex. VE1DX) is alive and well. He is still located
in St. John, NB. Several years ago Industry Canada broke the maritime
provinces into 3 call areas. NB became VE9, PE1 became VY2 and NS retained
VE1. No amateur in NB or PEI was forced to give up their old VE1 call . . .
they had the option to keep their original call or get a new one reflecting
the province they lived in. Most went with new calls, but there are still
VE1s in NB and PEI, and many will keep them. Andy had both VE9DX and VE1DX .
. . he used VE1DX as a packet radio repeater call for a while. Last year he
simply got tired of paying for two licenses (in Canada we have to pay $24 a
year for each call we have.) He let VE1DX go, retained VE9DX and I got
VE1DX. I do not know if VE1UK has been reissued. I've not heard anyone
using it. So, as far as 10-10 goes, my number is 42051. I suppose Andy
still has the original number. He is no longer active on HF or VHF, but
retains VE9DX in case he returns to the air waves. "
Andy's reply: "Yes I hold number 40999 and have used it a couple of times as
VE9DX. I also used it as VE1ASJ, VE1DX, VE8CW, VE1SPI, CY0SPI (Saint Paul
Isl.) and even a few times as CI8CW and CI8C. Not active much at the moment
but some day soon I will be back. I expect Paul is abusing VE1DX nicely. If
not, I will have to talk with him. 73. Andy "
Last time I talked about long path conditions on Ten and quickly found out
that it is NOT so rare. I received an excellent article written by Carl K9LA
#41258 who has documented conditions in his article "10-Meter Long Path
During Solar Cycles 21 & 22". Contact Carl Luetzelschwab, 1227 Pion Rd.,
Fort Wayne, IN 46845. For a reprint send a $1 to Carl for postage and copy
cost.
I am sticking to my comments about May 28, 1996 being the start of Cycle 23.
With the increase in average solar flux during June and the predictions
published by NOAA, we have started the next cycle. (It's just not official
yet).
KH6, Hawaiian Isl. Eric, WB9PTN/KH6, was on Maui from August 10-22th. QSL
via 96 CBA or via WB9PGB.
Upcoming DXpeditions & New 10-10 Country Activity: Tunisia, 3V. Eddie
W6/G0AZT #45814, will be on the air October 9-13 from 3V8BB with low power on
80 through 10 meters. Operations will be mostly RTTY 80-10 meters and low
power. QSL to Eddie Schneider, 1826 Van Ness, San Pablo CA 94806. SASE is
appreciated.
VU7/VU2JBS, Andaman Isl. DXer Jim Smith, VK9NS #47404, has received a 5-year
Indian license. He believes the permit to import the equipment being donated
to Mani, VU2JPS, was mailed to Norfolk Island. Jim plans to return to the
Andamans this fall as work and permissions allow. QSL to callbook for VK9NS.
Malta H. by Matthias 9H3UF (DL4OCL #61570) and Felix 9H3UD (DL8OBC/AA0NV
#55519), operated from Gozo Isl. EU-023, from July 22 to August 9. They
operated on ten as confirmed by packet cluster reports from Europe. See QSL
address last article.
VK Australia - Steve Salmon, AA6LF #50995 was active in August for 3 days as
VK4ALF from the Ashmore reef OC-216. Steve is sailing around the world by
boat that is planned to take him seven years. QSL via AA6BB.
Nigeria, 5N. Pete W0AW, Mike N9NS, Joe K8JP #22977 and Vincent G0LMY, will
be on the air October 22 to November 3 operating CW and RTTY on HF. They
will also work through satellites RS12 and AO13. They will sign 5N9N during
the CQ WW SSB Contest. Two more ops are needed for the trip. QSL via N2AU.
Corsica, TK. Paul F2YT #22871, will sign TK/F2YT August 18 to September. He
will also try to activate a coastal island or two.
Liberia, EL. Carl K4YT/DL4YT #37347, will be active for 2-3 weeks from
Monrovia, starting August 12. No call sign was mentioned. QSL via K4YT.
KH4, Midway Isl. The August 1996 DXpedition to the Midway Atoll National
Wildlife Refuge, (IOTA OC-030), is pleased to announce that it will now
include satellite modes by Pat NH6UY. The rest of the team includes Andy
UA3AB #23433, Jack WA7LNW #23594 and non members AH0W/OH2LVG & W2UE. QSL to
Bob Johnson, KE7LZ #24375.
J8, St. Vincent. Buzz N5FTR #45645, will be active from September 2-7th.
Buzz is going to request a J8 call but may have to sign J8/N5FTR.
Operation will be mainly on SSB, but CW gear will be taken. Those wishing
for a CW contact will have to be patient as Buzz is "relearning" the code.
Operation will be with 100 watts to a vertical antenna from a beachfront
hotel. QSL Buzz Loeschman, 717 Milton, Angleton TX 77518.
Propagation: Solar flux will range from 68-84 in the
Fall/Winter of 1996, as I write this, the Solar flux is 69, the A index 8 and
K index 1, about the same as last quarter but more absorption of signals.
The flux never got below 65 during the summer, but dips to 67, high A
indexes greater than 15 and the K index greater than 4, will occur 10% of the
time. For stations in the US, expect a 12% chance of DX propagation to be
East-West paths into Europe and in S.America, expect a 15% chance of DX skip
into Europe and Asia. Expect light Sporadic E Layer conditions during the
fall to be 2-4 hop skip that will travel 500 to 2000 miles with fading.
Remember to listen for the beacons (28.2-28.3) to check conditions.
Letters, Cards and Email Received:
Mike G4BLH #18446 had these comments from England on Aug. 11: "Just a brief
report from the UK. Band has been totally dead for the last 10 days or so,
but yesterday, we had short skip conditions into Western Europe. Stations
worked: GW, D, F, ES, SP and SM0OIG/P5, Ollie operating from his Summer
location in the Roslagen archipelago with a 10x number. Today, Sunday, again
lots of short skip. Stations worked: D, SM, I3UBL with a 10x, OZ2GG on
Bornholm Isl, F, HB, and heard but not worked, SP ,9A ,LA ,OH ,F, EA. At
1240Z, I heard, but did not work WB3ANT in PA. Lots of QSB, but S3 on peaks
and Q5 most of the time. Pointed beam to USA and called, and called . . . but
no response. Band has gone dead by 1330Z. Cu later! 73 Mike "
"On September 22, I will be returning to Antigua for a week of sun and
hamming. My call is V26Z on digital modes and V2/WF2S on SSB. My 10X # 45134
and I will be checking 28 MHZ. I prefer CW for quick contacts and SSB for
long-winded sessions. This year I will be using a Ten Tec Scout and wire
antennas from the palm trees. I would appreciate an SASE for all requests:
Steve Licht 3268 West Main St. Rd., Batavia, NY 14020-9109."
Thanks to: Russ Gauthier #1525 (N5EJS@linknet.net) for his assistance; To
everyone for the letters and photos that you have been sending; To the
on-line DX Reflector, QRZ-DX & Ohio/Penn DX Bulletins. Send photos to Mike
Davidson, 3518 Bellefontaine, Houston, TX 77025 USA or Email to
Mdavidson@infosvcs.tmh.tmc.edu or KC5CP@aol.com. Remember, DX IS !
Good DX & 73 . . . Mike Davidson KC5CP #24949
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