DX RX

The Doctor of DX prescribes the
answers to your problems, low and
high, near and far.

A how to of what for, by Mike(aka Billy)Graham, K7CTW

Summer/Fall Fun

By the time you read this, our 1998 Field Day effort will be either close to or after-the- fact history. Time to start thinking about checking out those antennas you erected or repaired this past spring, and to hone your skills for the upcoming contest season this fall. And as we get further along into the new Cycle 23, some choice DX will be appearing daily on the higher HF bands. Here are just a few known DXpedition operations that will be taking place on or after 1 July and into 1999. Have lotsa fun. The following list of upcoming operations is courtesy of K2CD and NG3K.

Raoul Is., Kermadec Is. Group, ZL8RS

(6/28 - 7/17) This operation will be on the air as time permits from scientific work. QSL via ZL1RS, R. J. Sutton, 109 Wright Rd., RD 2, Katikati 3063, New Zealand. No frequencies announced. Watch the cluster.

Liechtenstein, HB0/PI4TUE

(7/1 - 7/14) QRV by the Eindhoven Student Radio Amateur Club (ESRAC) from Malbun. They will be operating all bands, all modes. QSL to PI4TUE.

Barbados, 8P9??

(7/7 - 7/14) An 8P9 call will be assigned upon arrival. QSL to K7BV, Dennis Motschenbacher, 0110 S.W. Porter St., Portland, OR 97201. No frequencies specified - watch for spots on the cluster.

Nepal, 9N1UD

(7/7 - 11/15) QRV by K4VUD. Here's an excellent opportunity with wide availability for multiple bands/modes. Check 14023, 14195, 14215, 21023, 21295, 7023, 7065 KHz. QSL via K4VUD, Charlie Harpole, Ph. D., 3100 North Hwy. 426, Geneva, FL 32732-9761.

Bahamas, C6AFP

(7/10 - 8/2) QRV by N4JQQ from Treasure Cay, Abaco. No frequencies - watch for spots on the cluster. QSL to N4JQQ, Steve Rutledge, 199 So. Grove Park Road, Memphis, TN 38117.

Austral Islands, (OC-050) FO0?? (probablly FO0JR)

(7/24 - 8/13) Here's another chance for those of you who may have missed out on the first Austral Islands DXpedition earlier this year. QRV by FO5JR. No frequencies - watch for spots. QSL to FO5JR, Albert Durou, Box 10127, Paea, Tahiti, French Polynesia.

Shijiutuo Is., China, BI3H

(7/25 - 7/26) Small window of opportunity for an Asian IOTA (number unknown), during the IOTA contest. Frequencies unknown - watch for spots. QSL to W3HC, Carl F. McDaniel, 2116 Reed St., Williamsport, PA 17701.

South Cook Is., ZK1SCQ & ZK1SCR

(8/9 - 8/14 and 8/24 - 8/26) Chance for a QSO from Rarotonga (OC-013) during first op period and Mangaia (OC-159) during second op period by a YL (DL1SCQ - Ann). Ops DL2SCQ/DL1SCQ (Wolf & Ann). Frequencies not announced - watch for spots. QSL via DL6DK, Peter X. Voits, Uhlandstr. 28, D-59192 Bergkamen, Germany.

North Cook Is., ZK1SCQ & ZK1SCR

(8/16 - 8/21) (OC-082) Same YL/OM team and same QSL manager from Penrhyn Atoll. No frequencies announced.

Fiji Islands, 3D2WD & 3D2DA

(8/29 - 9/1 from Mamanuca Is. [OC-121]) and (9/4 - 9/7 from Yasawa Is. [OC-156]) Again, same YL/OM team and same QSL manager as previous two entries. No frequencies specified - watch for spots.

Belize, V31

(8/26 - 8/30) QRV by W5JYK (V31YK), K5KR (V31KR), and W5ZPA (V31MP) from Ambergris Caye (NA-73). QSL via the homecall of op. No frequencies given - watch for spots.

Amsterdam Island, FT5ZH

(11/27 - 12/23) Merry Christmas! QRV by F5PEP on all bands, all modes; running yagis and amps; full-time DXpedition. Web site to be up and running soon. QSL via F5PEP at home call. Stay tuned.

Belau, T88II

(12/8 - 12/17) QRV by NF9V and NZ9Z. Operations all HF bands. QSL via KJ9I, David Schmocker, N7298 County Trunk Highway F, Oconomowoc, WI 53066-9040.

Cambell Island, ZL9CI

(1/9/99 - 1/25/99) Happy New Year! Sponsored by the Kermadec DX Association. Operations all HF bands on CW, SSB & RTTY. No QSL manager yet specified. Stay tuned.

Forecast

The ionosphere is heating up and thinning as we move into summer, lowering daytime MUFs. This closes high latitude paths on 10 Meters, which have been marginal anyway. This phenomenon is also beginning to adversely effect 15. The MUFs rise slowly in the morning and drop slowly at night, making for excellent conditions on 20 Meters. There is also limited nightpath activity on 17 and 15. As this sunspot cycle progresses, the nighttime activity on 15 and 17 will not be so limited. For now, these higher bands are well worth checking at night. The 3B7 was recently copied on 17 for two hours past midnight from here and various long path directions (northwest to southwest). In late afternoon, try working into areas where it is night. Some Europeans are coming through on 15 along with the usual opening to Japan. The most awesome propagation is currently on 20, along with the most activity. All polar directions are open throughout the evening, with Europe opening again late at night (their morning). Morning long path openings are becoming more westerly due to the Antarctic winter, so tune more for Africa and enjoy the short path pipeline to Asia that lasts for several hours after sunrise. 40 Meters is getting noisy (though conditions are still very good), and most activity has moved to 20.
73 es Good DX, de K7CTW

Back to In this issue...