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DX Worldby John F.W. Minke, III, N6JM
(This article ran in Worldradio, August 1998) W-100-N There were four Worked 100 Nations Award applications this month. Congratulations go to the following deserving DXers: 531. Maurice I. Sasson W2JAJ 28 May Henry’s application had 103 contacts all on CW except for two on SSB. I took the liberty of deleting the two SSB contacts in order to endorse his application as "All CW." Normally, there are no endorsements to this award, but I will endorse such as above or all one band. I do not endorse "All SSB" unless it is all on a single band. CATZ Congratulations to the following for completing Worldradio’s
CATZ Award: #3 Dick McKercher WØMLY 01 May All of Dick’s contacts were with IOTA islands and we have endorsed his certificate as such. Amsterdam Is. (FT/X)The Daily DX reports that the upcoming DXpedition to Amster-dam Island by members of the Lyon DX Gang is still in need of funding. Eric Blanchard, F5SIH, and Mehdi Escoffler, F5PFP, will leave from Reunion Island on 10 November 1998 aboard the Marion Dufresne, arriving on 15 November on Crozet Island. They will leave the next day and arrive on Kerguelen Island four days later. After a short stay they sail again for Amsterdam Island, arriving on 25 November. FT5ZH Operation will start 23 December 1998. Plans are to be active with two complete stations on 10-160 Meters CW, SSB and RTTY. The priority of this DXpedition will be North America, Europe and Japan on the lower frequency bands. Donations for this DXpedition may be sent to: Lyon DX Gang, Eric Blanchard, F5PXT, 2 Rue Bichat Bat 32, 69002 Lyon, FRANCE. Gil Gautier, F5NOD, is the Official European Pilot and the coordinator for this DXpedition. They will be devoting full time to operating the radios as that was their sole purpose for visiting the island. They are still in need of some equipment. Gil’s e-mail is: f5nod@easynet.fr. Australia (VK)The Ohio/Penn DX Bulletin notes that the call VM4AA is not that of Slim. This is a genuine call issued to Keith "Macka" McCarty, who is a retired Royal Australian Air Force Squadron Leader. Macka is 87 years old and was first licenced as VK3FX in 1932. He is the only amateur in Australia to have this unique prefix of VM. He was awarded the call VM4AAA in 1983 by the Minister of Communications in recognition of extended participation in amateur service. The call was modified to VM4AA in 1997. Although not very active he can be found near 14.020 MHz. Yes, he operates CW only. Austral Islands (FO/A)With the possibility of the Austral Islands becoming a new DXCC entity, you might look for Albert Durou, FO5JR, who will leave Tahiti on 20 July to go over to Rimatara Island (OC-050). He plans to begin operation on or about 24 July and continue through 13 August. Albert works CW only and will be near 14.010 or 21.010 MHz. Be aware he does not care for those pileup type contacts. Bhutan (A5)If everything goes along without any problems there should be a DXpedition to the Kingdom of Bhutan sometime early next year. Zorro Miyazawa, JH1AJT, announced during the Sunday breakfast at the International DX Convention in Visalia that he has been invited back. Zorro operated from there in February 1995. Chad (TT)The Ohio/Penn DX Bulletin notes activity of Eric, TT8JE, on 20 Meters, both CW and SSB. His activity is often found on 14.025 or 14.195 MHz. Look for him between 2100 and 0100 UTC. Also, reported often during the month has been TT8ZB. Mongolia (JT)The Hungarian DXpedition to Mongolia in May ran into some serious problems that affected their operation, although they seemed to have corrected them. One of the problems was their close proximity to high voltage transmission lines which generated severe electrical noise (QRN). They also changed their call from JU1HA to JT1X. The operation continued through 02 June. Nepal (9N)Charlie Harpole, K4VUD, says he will be going to Nepal again
in July and will be there through the middle of November, and will be
signing with his 9N1UD call. He plans to be on the air during his local sunrise and
sunset with his main operating frequencies of 14.023 and 14.195 MHZ. And,
if conditions are good, he will try 21.023, 21.295, 7.023, 7.065 and 3.799
MHz. If there is a 10 Meter opening look for him near 28.490 MHz. Charlie says that along with 9N1AA they hope to get an RTTY operation going. He also reminds those who wish to contribute to the 9N1MM Father Moran Memorial Station in Kathmandu should send a check or money order to: American Savings Bank, Kahului Branch, 73 Puuene Avenue, Kahului, HI 96732. Please mark donations: 9N1MM for deposit to account #21-471089, The Tsurphu Foundation. Rotuma Island (3D2/R)The Daily DX reports Roberto Diaz-Gonzalez, EA4DX, plans to operate from Rotuma Island signing 3D2DX/P from 29 August through 19 September. He will be operating 10-160 Meters on SSB and RTTY. St. Brandon Island (3B7) The multi-national DXpedition to Raphael Island in the
St. Brandon Archipelago (AF-015) came on the air on schedule with the
first report of 3B7RF spotted about 1330 UTC on 06 May. The team members
of this event included the calls: 3B8CF, HB9ABO, HB9ADP, HB9AFH, HB9AFI,
HB9AHL, HB9AJW, HB9BQI, HB9BQW, HB9BXE, HB9JAI, JA3IC, K5KC and W7SE.
The group was very active until about 0800 UTC on 17 May, with SP2HOU
being the last station to be logged. They worked in excess of 53,000 contacts.
Their return trip to Mauritius took about 75 hours due
to rough seas. They spent much time at anchor after traveling only two
hours after the 0800 UTC departure on the 18th. When conditions permitted
they continued on and arrived on the 20th about 1300 UTC. This DXpedition was a long awaited one with many a DXer adding this one to their totals. Many had worked 3B7RF on several bands and modes. However, those on the West Coast unfortunately did not enjoy logging this one. Considering the location of the DXpedition and the location of the West Coast and the propagation it was very difficult. There were several that did make the log and they all should consider themselves deserving DXers. Maybe conditions will be better next time. Thanks should go to the DXpedition team for their fine job. IOTA The Daily DX notes that Eddie Battenberg, GMØKVI,
had a serious heart attack on 03 May while operating GB5FI on Trennish
Island (EU-108) and was air-lifted to a hospital at Oban, Scotland. Eddie
has been quite active in the IOTA program. Also reported in 425 DX News, Wolf Dattenburg, DL2SCQ,
and his wife, Ann, DL1SCQ, will operate from Mamanuca Island (OC-121)
near the end of this summer, 29 August through 1 September. Then they
will go to the Yasawa Islands (OC-156) between 04 and 07 September. They
will be using the calls 3D2WD and 3D2DA, respectively. Earlier the couple
will visit Mangaia Island (OC-159) in the South Cook Islands and operate
as ZK1SCQ and ZK1SCR, respectively, between 24-26 August. According to 425 DX News the recent IOTA DXpedition to
Shijiutuo Island (AS-134) by BI3H collected 2,698 contacts in 23 hours
of operation. Of that amount, 922 were on CW, 1,776 on SSB. More than
half were on 20 Meters. If you missed this one look for them in the IOTA
contest. Malcolm Johnson, VK6LC, has announced his intentions of
activating a new one for IOTA, Rowley Shoals, sometime next year. Here is another selection of IOTA activity, this one for
the month of May. Note that I have been listing the island name with these
listings, something most other publications don’t do. If you would
rather see other information such as frequencies instead let me know.
Space limits won’t allow me to list both. F2JD signing with HR3/F2JD on Cayo Cochinos (NA-160) at
times said he was on R Island (NA-057) which was an error. Lew Jenkins, N6VV, reports that their V63VV DXpedition
to Mokil Atoll had to be cancelled. The supply ship which was to deliver
the generators and gasoline was unable to make its normal stop due to
a water crisis on the other outer islands. The air charter also informed
them that they could not carry gasoline aboard the aircraft. This would
have been a new IOTA island. The H75A DXpedition to Isla de Venado (NA-209) during May netted 6,914 contacts during 63 hours of operation. They would have stayed longer but heavy rains forced them to leave the island. IOTA contest 1998/99 IOTA Directory The RSGB IOTA Directory and Yearbook for 1998/99 is hot
off the press. For IOTA enthusiasts this is a must. It contains all the
latest information necessary for participation in the IOTA programs. The yearbook portion contains such items as "IOTA
and the Environment" discussed by Marin Atherton, G3ZAY. With many
of the islands today there are many that DXpeditioners should be concerned
about. There is also a DXpedition roundup discussing 20 recent ones added
to the list of activated island groups. The Honor Roll and Annual Listing is also included, plus
many other interesting subjects. The second portion of the publication is the Directory.
As in the past directories important matters are discussed regarding application
for the awards. The latest list of islands with their respective reference
numbers are also included. To get your copy please send a check or money order for $16 to Dewitt Jones, W4BAA, P.O. Box 8695, Lacey, WA 98509. The price includes postage. If you are becoming interested in this growing activity and do not yet have a directory now is your chance. A directory is mandatory to participate in the program. If you already have an older directory it is not necessary to get a new one. But it is nice to have the latest information and it is well worth the investment. DX conventions This year’s annual W9DXCC will be held on Saturday,
12 September, at the Holiday Inn in Rolling Meadows, IL, which is a northwest
suburb of Chicago. The program will include the H4ØAA Temotu Island
DXpedition by Tim Totten, N4GN, with Fred Laun, K3ZO, as the banquet speaker
that evening. Early registration is $44, which covers the program and
banquet. For more details contact the chairman, Bill Smith, W9VA, at 1345
Linden Avenue, Deerfield, IL 60015. Bill says the convention rate for accommodations at the
hotel is $85 per night plus tax. Contact the hotel directly at 847/259-5000. Also, there is the annual Northwest DX Convention in Seattle
at the Double Tree Inn, 17 to 19 July. It is sponsored this year by the
Western Washington DX Club. The program for the New Orleans International DX Convention looks good. Details on this one are in last month’s column. Again, this on Friday and Saturday, 14-15 August. If you intend to go to the Saturday evening banquet be sure to pack a jacket and tie. Antique QSL Department
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