Eastern Iowa DX Association

Welcome to the Eastern Iowa DX Association web site! Our club is open to any amateur radio operator who is interested in DXing and/or contesting. You are cordially invited to attend club meetings and get aquainted. We have many friendly, outgoing members with varied areas of expertise, who would be delighted to meet you and offer their help as needed. (Detailed club information is on the "About EIDXA" page.)

EIDXA News (Updated March 29, 2019)

EIDXA April 2019 Meeting
The April meeting will be held on Friday April 5 at our normal meeting location at the Hall Perrine Cancer Center at Mercy Medical Center in Cedar Rapids. This is our normal meeting location and time. The doors will open at 6:30 p.m. and the meeting will start at 7:30 p.m. Complete details, including an aerial photo map, may be found on the "Meetings" page.

April 2019 Eastern Iowa DXer
The April 2019 edition of the Eastern Iowa DXer is now available on the "Newsletter" page. Bob, WØGXA, has as usual put together a great newsletter, loaded with good information. Be sure you don't miss it!

Buy-Sell-Trade Listings
There are several interesting listings of equipment for sale on the "Buy-Sell-Trade" page -- take a look!

EIDXA Email Reflector
The EIDXA email reflector is available for your use. To post to the reflector, email your message for the group to: eastern-iowa-dx-association@googlegroups.com
The reflector allows you to include photos or other files in your message.

You may visit the group homepage here:
https://groups.google.com/group/eastern-iowa-dx-association
The homepage has a complete archive of all messages exchanged via the group.

DX News (Updated May 13, 2019)

DX News items are courtesy of:

The Ohio/Penn DX Bulletin (OPDX)
Tedd Mirgliotta, KB8NW, Editor (kb8nw@hotmail.com or kb8nw@arrl.net)
The bulletin is available at http://www.papays.com/opdx.html

This list is a compilation of current DX operations (or those that start within the current week) from recent issues of the OPDX bulletin, with the dates of operation highlighted in red. The items appear in order of callsign prefix. Hot links are provided for QSL information wherever possible. Credit for the source is given at the end of each item.

3D2, FIJI (Reminder). Oleh, KD7WPJ/UR5BCP, will be active from Viti Levu Island (OC-016) between May 11-16th. Callsign is pending. Activity will be on 40-12 meters using CW and SSB, with 100w into dipoles and verticals. QSL via KD7WPJ or LoTW.
-[OPDX # 1413 May 6, 2019]

3D2 & FW, FIJI AND WALLIS & FUTUNA ISLANDS (Reminder/Update). Nobby, GØVJG, will be active as 3D2AS from Fiji between May 3-7/8th and May 20-22nd. He will also be active as FW/GØVJG from Wallis Island (OC-054) between May 7/8-22nd. He may also make a possible short side trip to Futuna Island (OC-118). Dates could change. Activity from the islands will be on 60/40/ 30/20/17/15/12/10/6 meters using SSB and FT8. He will be using a FT857 with a small amp (on SSB) into a Folding Hexbeam and a Vertical antenna. QSL via MØOXO direct only or his OQRS.
-[OPDX # 1412 April 29, 2019]

6O, SOMALIA (Update). Ali, EP3CQ, is once again active as 6O1OO as of April 19th, until May 15th. Activity will be limited to his spare time because he works for the UN Department of Safety and Security (UNDSS) in Mogadishu. Operations will be on 80/40/30/20/17/15/10 meters (mostly on 40/20meters FT8) using SSB and FT8. Last time he suggested that he will be on everyday between 1800-2000 East Africa Time (EAT) and on the weekend (Friday and Saturday) between 1400-1800. Equipment is a Yaesu 857D into a Tarheel Little II (currently active), and Sandpiper MV-10. Ali informed OPDX that he is looking for anybody who can donate a FT450D for the station. Also, effective as of February 11, 2019, the callsign (6O1OO) is accepted for DXCC credit. QSL direct to (changed a little): Ali Solhjoo, Schnackenburgstr. 3, Berlin 12159, Germany. QSL cards will be replied to on a bi-monthly basis. IRC's are not accepted. See QRZ.com for more info and picture of his station. Flash news will be posted via Twitter: @ep3cq -- ADDED NOTE: QSL cards received for 6O1OO by April 18th, will be replied/dispatched on the third week of May 2019.
-[OPDX # 1411 April 22, 2019]

DXCC'S MOST WANTED (ClubLog). The "DXCC Most Wanted" entities list has been updated on ClubLog as of May 5th. The list contains 340 entities. The following are the top 10 entities:
    1. P5    DPRK (North Korea)   6. BV9P Pratas Island
    2. 3Y/B Bouvet Island        7. KH7K Kure Island
    3. FT5/W Crozet Island        8. KH3   Johnston Island
    4. BS7H Scarborough Reef     9. FT5/X Kerguelen Island
    5. CEØX San Felix Islands   10. 3Y/P Peter 1 Island
No changes this month. The complete "DXCC Most Wanted" entities list is available at: https://secure.clublog.org/mostwanted.php
-[OPDX # 1413 May 6, 2019]

EA, SPAIN. Hans, ON6ZK, will be active as EA7/ON6ZK from San Juan de Los Terreros between May 14-19th. Activity will be on 14306 kHz SSB using a Yaesu FT-857 and a ground mounted 1/4 wave vertical. In case of Sporadic E, he will be on 144 MHz SSB as well running a 4 element YAGI. WW Loc. IM97di. QSL via his home callsign.
-[OPDX # 1413 May 6, 2019]

EX, KYRGYZSTAN. Operators Ivan/EX7DI, Vladimir/EX8ABC, Eugene/EX8AY, YL Alena/UN5GAO, Sergey/UN6GAO, Victor/UN7GIT and Victor/UN9GD will be active as EX26Y from a few locations in Kyrgyzstan between May 7-15th. Activity is to celebrate 26th anniversary of Amateur Radio Union of Kyrgyzstan. Look for them to operate from the following locations:
   May   7-9th -- Bishkek; WW Loc. MN72hu
   May 10-12th -- Cholpan Ata; WW Loc. MN82mp
   May 13-15th -- Bishkek; WW Loc. MN72hu
Activity will be on 160-10 meters using CW, SSB and the Digital modes. QSL via EX7DI direct, LoTW, eQSL or HamLog. NO QSL Bureau. A special award is available. Details are here:
http://qrzex.com/diplom-soyuzu-radiolyubitelej-kyrgyzskoj-respubliki-26-let
-[OPDX # 1413 May 6, 2019]

FR, REUNION ISLAND (Reminder). Thomas, F4HPX, will once again be active as FR/F4HPX from various locations on Reunion Island (AF-016) from mid-May until the beginning of June. He will be operating from his family home, and also from beaches and especially from the mountains because there is a lot of them including an active volcano. This time he will be with SOTA Manager for FR-RE - James, FR4PV, (but possibly alone as well). Activity will be on 40-15 meters using CW (possibly), SSB, RTTY, PSK31, JT65, JT9 and possibly FT8. He will use various wire and portable antennas with 2 rigs: FT-891 from home with 100w and KX2 outside (alone or with small 30W HF amp). QSL via his home callsign, by the Bureau, direct, LoTW, eQSL or ClubLog's OQRS. Also, check out the pictures of his past operations on QRZ.com.
-[OPDX # 1411 April 22, 2019]

FT8 OPERATING GUIDE. Gary, ZL2IFB has updated his "FT8 Operating Guide" (Version 2.21 as of May 13, 2019), a collection of "tips, pragmatic suggestions aimed at making FT8 easier and more effective to use on the HF bands": http://www.g4ifb.com/
-[KØCF May 5, 2019]

FW, WALLIS AND FUTUNA ISLANDS (Update). Nobby, GØVJG, was active as FW/GØVJG on his first day but was able to obtain a FW callsign and is now active as FW5JG from Wallis Island (OC-054) until May 20th. Activity will be on 60-6 meters using SSB and FT8. QSL both callsigns via MØOXO or his OQRS.
-[OPDX # 1414 May 13, 2019]

HS, THAILAND (Update/Special Event). Champ, E21EIC, updates OPDX on the two special event stations to mark the Coronation of King Vajiralongkorn Bodindradebayavarangkun (King Rama X):
HS1ØKING - The Radio Amateur Society of Thailand under the Royal Patronage
           of H.M. the King (RAST) will activate this special even station
           from May 1st until July 31st. Activity will be on all bands
           and all modes including satellite operations.
QSL via: Radio Amateur Society of Thailand, G.P.O.Box 2008, Bangkok 10501, Thailand. All QSOs/QSL Card will send automatically via the Bureau. (No need to send QSL requests).
-[OPDX # 1413 May 6, 2019]

J7, DOMINICA. Operators Tom/SMØCXU/SM2U (PY2ZZXU, PW2D) and Andersson/ SMØDZB/SMØT will be active as J79U and J79TA, respectively, from Dominica Island (NA-101) between May 7-15th. Activity will be on various HF bands. QSL both callsign via MØOXO or his OQRS.
-[OPDX # 1411 April 22, 2019]

J8, ST. VINCENT (Reminder/Update). Brian, GW4DVB, will once again be active as J88PI from Palm Island (aka Prune Island, WW Loc. FK92HO, IOTA NA-025), in the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Island group, between May 7-14th. Activity will be on 40/20/17/15/10/6 meters using CW, SSB, SSTV and FT8. He will use a Yaesu FT991A into a 10m vertical antenna, a MØCVO HW-40HP off center fed dipole and possibly new antennas. QSL via GW4DVB direct only (PayPal available) to: PO Box 20:20, Llanharan, Pontyclun, Wales - UK CF72 9ZA. For more details and updates, check: http://www.g4dvb.co.uk
ADDED NOTE: Palm Island is an exclusive, private-island resort. This idyllic tropical hideaway is situated near the southern tip of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, an idyllic archipelago of 32 tropical islands and cays known for its stunning natural beauty, clear, warm waters and turtles.
-[OPDX # 1411 April 22, 2019]

OM, SLOVAK REPUBLIC (Special Event). Members of the Slovak Amateur Radio Association (SARA) will activate special event stations OM83IHWC and OM2Ø19IIHF during the 83rd Ice Hockey World Championship (May 10-26th). The stations will be on the air between May 1-31st, on various HF and VHF bands. A special award is available. For details, see: http://awards.szr.sk/index_eng.html
QSL Manager for OM2Ø19IIHF and OM83IHWC is OM2FY. All logs will be up- loaded to ClubLog. You can request a QSL card via ClubLog's OQRS or by the Bureau.
-[OPDX # 1413 May 6, 2019]

T8, PALAU. Operators Toshio/JM1LRA (T88TA), Kazuhiro/JA7WFT (T88FT) and Shinichi/JI6IHG (T88IH) will once again be active from the VIP Guest Hotel (Free Radio Room) on Koror Island (OC-009), between May 16-24th. Activity will be on 160-6 meters using CW, SSB, FT8, JT65 and JT9. QSL T88IH via JI6IHG, by the Bureau, direct or LoTW. QSL T88FT via JA7WFT by the Bureau. QSL T88TA via JM1LRA, direct or by the Bureau.
-[OPDX # 1414 May 13, 2019]

TG, GUATEMALA. Dwight, VE7BV, will once again be active as TG9BBV from Antigua, Sacatepéquez, Guatemala, from May 24th to June 13th. Activity will be on 80/40/20/17/15/12 meters using mostly CW, but with some SSB and FT8. QSL via VE7BV, direct, by the Bureau or LoTW.
-[OPDX # 1411 April 22, 2019]

TK, CORSICA. Martin, DB4BJ, will be active as TK/DB4BJ from the northern part of Corsica until May 17th. Activity will be on 60-20 meters using mostly FT8 with 50 watts from an FT-897 and a 5-meter high vertical. QSL via DB4BJ, by the Bureau, direct or eQSL.
-[OPDX # 1414 May 13, 2019]

V3, BELIZE. Paul, VE3AXT, is once again active as V31AX in the northern part of the country, Consejo Shores, Corozal, until mid-May. His rig is an IC-7300 with 100 watts into a Hexbeam G5RV dipole. QSL via MØURX and OQRS. Bureau QSLs are via OQRS ONLY at <http://m0urx.com/oqrs>. Please do not send YOUR QSL card via the Bureau. For more info and pictures, see his V31AX QRZ.com Web page.
-[OPDX # 1395 December 24, 2018]

VP6R PITCAIRN ISLAND DXPEDITION NEWS (Update). The following was posted on the VP6R Web page May 5th: "Here's an update on our progress. Our newly acquired 20-foot sea container has been set in place next to the 40 footer we used for the Bouvet attempt. Our laptops have all been updated, loaded with appropriate software, and tested. Our Flex stations have arrived, all packed in Pelican cases and including in each a Flex 6700, power supply, foot switch, Radiosport headset, and necessary accessories.
Members of our team will arrive at the staging site in Peoria, IL, on May 10th and begin inventorying everything being shipped to Pitcairn, testing the gear, doing some pre-assembly, re-packing the needed gear into the 20 foot container, and documenting everything for customs.
Our container will be picked up and trucked to a railhead in Chicago on May 21st to begin its journey to a container ship bound for Tauranga, New Zealand.
The inland freight cost, customs and agency fees, and ocean freight costs represent a significant and current expense for us. If you have supported financially, we thank you. If not, this would be a great time to consider a donation to help us.
--— The Pitcairn Island DXpedition Team"
Pictures are available at: https://pitcairndx.com/news-and-updates
Visit the Pitcairn Island DXpedition Web page at: https://pitcairndx.com
Their Pitcairn Island FaceBook page is at: https://www.facebook.com/groups/580069859103416
Also, their Twitter page is at: https://twitter.com/2019Island
-[OPDX # 1414 May 13, 2019]

XU, CAMBODIA. Franco, IUØCRW, is now active as XU7AKP from Siem Reap. The length of his stay is not known. Activity will be on various HF bands using a Kenwood TS450S into a wire antenna 23m long. QSL via IW3SNW direct only.
-[OPDX # 1414 May 13, 2019]

XV, VIETNAM (Reminder). Tom, DL7BO, will once again be active as XV9BO from Mui Ne between May 13-19th. Activity will be sporadic on 160-10 meters using CW, SSB, RTTY and FT8. QSL via LoTW or DL7BO.
-[OPDX # 1414 May 13, 2019]

Older Items

9G, GHANA (Update). Last week we mentioned that Matt, IZ4YGS, is active as 9G5GS from Sanzule, West Takoradi (Western Region), Ghana. Matt informed OPDX of the following [edited]: "I'm travelling to Ghana almost every month for work reasons and it will be so throughout 2019. I'd like to be on-air from 80-6m, but it will take some time to be operational on all bands. I'll start with an FT-891 and wire antennas, SSB and FT8, mainly in the evening after work. Ham radio won't be my main activity in Ghana, but I'll do my best to let everybody have fun." QSL via IZ4YGS, direct or eQSL.
-[OPDX # 1395 December 24, 2018]

C5, THE GAMBIA. Przemyslaw, SP3PS, who became a resident of Gambia in 2017, is once again active as C5SP from Sanyang. Checkout his house being built on QRZ.com (under C5SP and SP3PS). He was heard on 20 meters using FT8 on December 29th at various times. According to Przemyslaw QRZ.com page, he can be active on the following bands:
80/40/30 meters using SSB and FT-8, into dipole antennas
30/20/17/15/12/10 meters using SSB and FT-8, into a Directional MultiBand-7-PL Antenna from Julian, SP3PL
QSL via SP3PS, direct, LoTW or eQSL.
-[OPDX # 1396 December 31, 2018]