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

Holiday DX’ing

By the time you receive this issue of the NARC bulletin, the holiday season will be “hard” upon us. Even though it is a busy time of the year, what with holiday gift buying, office and club parties, etc., I seem to find a bit of time to hunker down at the rig and do some serious listening, and perhaps even a bit of chasing the rare DX. From the looks of band conditions and sunspots this holiday season, there should be some choice pickings. Many thanks to the folks of the Ohio-Penn DX Bulletin for these holiday tidbits.

5N, Nigeria

Bogdan, SP5CPR, will be active as 5N3CPR once again. He will be here until the middle of December. He will be active on all bands. The QSL route is OK via his Polish callsign via the buro, "he prefers bureau confirming".

5R, Madagasgar

The French DX Bulletin "LNDX" reports that Andre/F6AOI, Alain/F6BFH, Bernard/F9IE and their wives will be in 5R- land from November 15th to December 7th. They will try to be active from Sainte Marie Island and Nosy Be (both IOTA AF-057). Activity will be on all bands CW and SSB.

African Activity

From the "Picture DX Bulletin", ZS6HZ states he will be traveling to Arusha, Tanzania (5H), at the end of November, early December, 1998. He will also be traveling through Zimbabwe (Z2) and Zambia (9J). The actual dates are still unknown, but ZS6HZ has to leave South Africa on November 27th and has to be in Tanzania on December 5th. He is guessing that he will be in Zambia around November 1-3rd and again around December 9-11th. Callsigns are also unknown at this time as he is trying to obtain license for these three countries. He states that he would like to operate SSTV from these countries as well as SSB. Expect signals to be weak because he’ll be operating via vehicle using dipoles.

GD4, Isle of Man

Steve, G4UOL, will be active as GD4UOL on CW only on all the HF bands from 2000z Friday, November 20th to around 1600z Friday, December 4th. QSLs should go to the GD bureau rather than his home callsign as this speeds up the process. QSLs direct are via his home callsign of G4UOL. Skeds via email are welcome outside the contest. Send them to: steve@g4uol.demon.co.uk Steve expects to concentrate this year on 18 and 24 MHz, as long as the bands produce QSOs. More information about his previous trips can be found on his WEB pages at: http://www.g4uol.demon.co.uk In the CQWW CW Contest he will be Single Op/Low Power, unassisted.

VK9C, Cocos-Keeling Island

Hide, JM1LJS, informs OPDX that he will be going here December 26, 1998 to January 2, 1999. His callsign will be VK9CL. Hide will operate on 80-10 meters bands CW/SSB/(FM). He states that his operating station will be a "simple system" due to the weight limit of the airplane: 400W+DP or GP. Hide adds that from January 2-4th, look for him to use VK6SJS. If you hear him sign VK6SJS/HRP on January 3rd, his QTH is the "Hutt River Province" (He states there is no credit of DXCC for this location). QSL information is as follows: Hideyuki Kai, 4- 22-15, Takata-Higashi, Kohoku-ku Yokohama-City 223-0063, JAPAN (Please note: Address was changed and the callbook address is incorrect.)

VK9L, Lord Howe Island

Plans are well underway for a DXpedition to Lord Howe Island between November 22nd and December 1st. The callsign to be used will be VK9LX. It has been reported from a press release that the bulk of the equipment has arrived, and the team members are signed up. The team leader is Nick, VK2ICV. The other team members are: Bill/K6KM, Charlie/N0TT, Ray/N4RU and Mary Lou/NM7N. The DXpedition has two purposes: to provide a DX contacts with Lord Howe Island and to participate in the CQWW CW Contest. Before the contest they will be operating 2 stations on all the HF bands, including the WARC bands and 160 meters. Operations are also planned for 6 meters. Modes of operation will be CW, SSB, and RTTY. Before the contest they will be emphasizing operations on the low bands and WARC bands, propagation permitting. During the contest they will be operating as Multi/Single working all HF bands except the WARC bands. Propagation information for the various bands has been prepared by Bob, NM7M, and is available on the VK9LX WEB site. QSL via VK2ICV, Nick Hacko, P.O.Box 730, Parramatta, NSW 2124, Australia. For further information check the VK9LX web site at: http://qsl.net/vk9lx. E-mail for the DXpedition can be sent to: vk9lx@qsl.net. Those wishing to contribute financially to the DXpedition to help cover shipping costs, etc. should check the web site for info on where to send donations.

YA, Afghanistan

The "DX News Sheet" reports that Mike, K5KWG, is trying to obtain permission to be active during his regular work trips. However, Mike is currently active in a Albania until December 1st as ZA1MH. QSL via Z32KV.

TO150 DXpedition

Activity is planned on top of "Piton des Neiges", an island off of Reunion, with an altitude about 3069 meters. Activity will last for 3 days. On December 18th, 19th and 20th, look for TO150 (Tango Oscar One Hundred Fifty) to be activated by 10 operators on CW/SSB/RTTY on 160-2 meters. A special QSL will be available. The special callsign is in celebration of the 150th anniversary of abolishing slavery on Reunion Island on the December 20, 1848.

XR3, Chile

XR3J will be active during the World Scout Jamboree from December 28th to January 5th. Operators are: PA3BAR, HB9AOF, M0AEU, PA3GVR, ZL2APE, OH2BXB, K2BS, PY2RAR, PU5TAZ, PD1AIL, OZ1JRD, LW4DYZ, LW1ECO, PA3EFR, LX3DL, LX2AJ and G7VFD. QSL via HB9AOF. Also, look for XR3M to be on the air. Operator will be CE3/W9FW (ex-CE0/W9FW, XT2JB, TU4EI, TU5EV). Special cards will be printed and W3HC will furnish the cards and be the manager.

XZ, Myanmar

The following is a press release by Dan Brown, NA7DB: "XZ1N will return to the airwaves beginning November 21, 1998, through December 6, 1998. The operation will take place from Yangon, Union of Myanmar. Most of the team are members of the Central Arizona DX Association, with some members of the original XZ1N operation in 1996. This will be a multiple station operation covering 160 through 10 meters including the WARC bands. Modes of operation will be CW, SSB, & RTTY. There will be entries in the CQWW CW Contest and the ARRL 160 meter contest. Original team member WA6CDR, Robin, will be returning and will dedicate the bulk of his time to 160 meters. Planned improvements over his successful 1996 efforts give us great hope for even greater success in 1998. Returning YL operators, Millie, WY7K, Sally, KM5EP, and Jessica, N7ZRD, will give the operation a unique flavor and an added incentive for those seeking YL contacts with a rare country. Mike Bill, N7MB, a veteran DXpeditioner and current President of CADXA, will be active on CW and RTTY.”
Hope this helps to spice up your holiday operating enjoyment. And to all my friends in the Nashua Area Radio Club, may the joy and blessings of this holiday season be especially bountiful for you and your families for now and throughout the coming year. Di-di-dit dah-di-dah….de K7CTW.
73 es Good DX, de K7CTW

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