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 December 23, 2018)

EIDXA January 2019 Meeting
The January EIDXA meeting is scheduled for January 25 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.

January 2019 Eastern Iowa DXer
The January 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 New Listings
There are a bunch of new listings on the "Buy-Sell-Trade" page. Some really nice stuff for sale -- 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 January 14, 2019)

DX News items, unless otherwise noted, are courtesy of:
The Ohio/Penn DX Bulletin (OPDX)
Tedd Mirgliotta, KB8NW, Editor (kb8nw@barf80.nshore.org)
For subscription info, please see http://hamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/opdx
This list is a compilation of current DX operations (or those that start within the current week) from recent DX bulletins, 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.

OPDX News. On January 11th, the server that OPDX had been using since the late 80's, HAMNET.org, was hacked and wiped. The OPDX Mailing List, Tedd’s E-mails and automatic feeds were lost. His E-mail address is now no more. The OPDX Mailing List is in limbo, and he was told that the server HAMNET.org is probably gone for good. So PLEASE pass the word around about the OPDX Mailing List. The only way to obtain the OPDX Bulletins is via the OPDX Web page http://www.papays.com/opdx.html (provided by John, K8YSE)
Tedd also added:
I know this is going to be a big disappointment for the subscribers as well as for me, but after almost 29 years I am considering retiring from writing the bulletin. I will take some time to think about it in the next few weeks, and possibly try to find a new host for the mailing list... 73 de Tedd KB8NW
-[OPDX # 1398 January 14, 2019]

3YØI BOUVET DXPEDITION NEWS. On January 11th, the 3YØI team posted another update with a chart explaining "Bouvet's Weather" and disputing the claims that "the weather window has closed" on the Rebel DX Group Web site at:
https://www.rebeldxgroup.com/bouvet-weather
No other details to report. Departure dates are still not known. It is still a mystery...
Remember, it takes 12 days to get to Bouvet from South Africa, and they plan to stay on the island for at least 2 weeks, if the weather cooperates.
The 3YØI DXpedition's band plan frequencies (160-6m) and modes (CW/SSB/ FT8) can be found at:
https://www.rebeldxgroup.com
https://bouvetoya.org/3yoi-bandplan
QSL via ClubLog's OQRS (preferred), LoTW or via 3Z9DX. For more details and updates, we suggest watching the following Web pages:
https://bouvetoya.org
https://www.rebeldxgroup.com
http://jouban.jp/3y0i_ja (For JA stations)
https://www.facebook.com/bouvetoya.org
https://www.facebook.com/rebeldxgroup
https://twitter.com/Bouvetoyaorg
-[OPDX # 1398 January 14, 2019]

4S, SRI LANKA (Reminder). Peter, DCØKK, will once again be active as 4S7KKG from Moragalla, Sri Lanka (AS-003, WLOTA 0762) until April 1st. He states that he preferably likes to be active on the Digital modes and CW. QSL via his home callsign, direct and by the Bureau. All QSOs will be uploaded to LoTW and ClubLog.
-[OPDX # 1388 November 5, 2018]

5R, MADAGASCAR. Eric, F6ICX, will once again be active as 5R8IC from Saint Marie Island (AF-090, WLOTA LH-0491) from November 5th until mid-February 2019. Activity will be holiday style on 40-10 meters, mainly CW, but some SSB, RTTY, and PSK63, using a FT450 with 100 watts into various GPs or Inverted-Ls and a Hexbeam for 20-10 meters. There will be no online log during his activity. QSL via his home callsign (QRZ.com). Logs will be uploaded to ClubLog and LoTW.
-[OPDX # 1388 November 5, 2018]

8P, BARBADOS (Reminder). Willy, KB8YRX, will be active as 8P9CA from Barbados (NA-021) from January 16th until February 4th. Activity will be on 20-10 meters using SSB. QSL via KB8YRX and LoTW.
-[OPDX # 1398 January 14, 2019]

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]

9X, RWANDA (Reminder). Harald, DF2WO, will once again be active as 9X2AW from Kigali from January 18th until February 14th. He is currently preparing his 160m antenna and will build a Hexbeam with Bamboo Sticks for working on 20/17/15/12/10 meters using mainly Digital modes (FT8, PSK31, JT65 and RTTY), CW and SSB. QSL via MØOXO's OQRS.
-[OPDX # 1398 January 14, 2019]

C5, 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]

C5, THE GAMBIA. Andre, ON7YK, is once again active as C5YK from Bijilo until March 9th, 2019. Activity will be on 60/40/30/20/17/15/12/10/6 meters using mostly FT8 as well as CW, SSB, JT65, JT9 and RTTY. QSL via his home callsign, direct, LoTW or eQSL. Please NO QSL direct to his home address before March 15th, 2019!!!! Visit his Web page at: http://www.on7yk.eu/index.html
-[OPDX # 1392 December 3, 2018]

CE9, ANTARCTICA (New Callsign). Alex, RD1AV (Season Team Leader), just arrived at base for the new campaign, and has been active since December 6th as RI1ANC during his spare time from the Vostok Station (AN-016, WFF RFF-168) in the Antarctica. On December 24th, the RI1ANC license will end, and will be replaced with a new license RI1ANV. Alex will be at the base station until February 2019. QSL via RN1ON, direct, by the Bureau or ClubLog's OQRS.
-[OPDX # 1394 December 17, 2018]

CE9, ANTARCTICA. Danilo, IZ1KHY, will be involved in several scientific missions, research projects and some remote camps in the Antarctica as well as being active as IAØ/IZ1KHY until the end of February 2019.
-[OPDX # 1387 October 29, 2018]

CE9, ANTARCTICA. Sergey, R3IW, will be active as RI1ANW from the Novolazarevskaya Station, Antarctica, until March 2019. Activity will be on various HF bands. QSL via RN1ON or ClubLog's OQRS.
-[OPDX # 1374 July 30, 2018]

DXCC'S MOST WANTED (ClubLog). The "DXCC Most Wanted" entities list has been updated on ClubLog as of December 28th. The list contain 340 entities and here are the top 10 entities (which has not changed since last month):
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. VKØM Macquarie Island
5. CEØX San Felix Islands    10. FT5/X Kerguelen Island
The complete "DXCC Most Wanted" entities list is available at:  https://secure.clublog.org/mostwanted.php
-[OPDX # 1397 January 7, 2019]

E5, SOUTH COOK ISLANDS. Milan, OK1DWC, who is still active as E51DWC from the Rarotonga Islands (OC-013, WAZ-32), will be there at least until sometime in March. Milan is active every day on 160-10 meters using CW, SSB and RTTY. He will be active during the CQWW 160m CW Contest (January 25-27th) as a Single-Op/High-Power entry and possibly other contests. QSL via his home callsign. Confirmation is not a problem across all OQRS's and the information can be found on:
    http://QRZ.com/lookup/E51DWC
    http://QRZ.COM/lookup/OK1DWC
    http://www.hamqth.com/E51DWC
-[OPDX # 1397 January 7, 2019]

FG, GUADELOUPE. Herve, F5HRY, will once again be active as FG/F5HRY from Guadeloupe (NA-102) starting January 18th. Activity is on various HF bands using CW (SSB on request) with sporadic operations in the REF HF CW Contest. QSL via his home callsign.
-[OPDX # 1398 January 14, 2019]

FG, GUADELOUPE. Jean-Pierre, F6ITD, will once again be active as FG/F6ITD from Guadeloupe and one of its islands from January 14th until March 13th. This is his 10th trip. Island mentioned is La Desirade Island (IOTA NA-102, Lighthouse GUA005 and French Flora Faune FFF 1000). Activity will be on all HF bands (80-6m) using CW, SSB, FT8 and the Digital modes. Look for him to use the callsign TO7D during some contests. Radio equipment is a FT-450D + Tokyo 550 Power 500w. QSL via his home callsign, direct or LoTW (preferred). Logs will be uploaded to ClubLog and LoTW.
-[OPDX # 1394 December 17, 2018]

FK, NEW CALEDONIA. Phil, F6OBD, will be active as FK/F6OBD from New Caledonia from December 18th until February 10th, 2019. Activity will be holiday style on various HF bands, using the Digital modes with a FT-857 into wire antennas. QSL via F6OBD.
-[OPDX # 1393 December 10, 2018]

FT8 OPERATING GUIDE. Gary, ZL2IFB has updated his "FT8 Operating Guide" (Version 1.20), a collection of "tips, pragmatic suggestions aimed at making FT8 easier and more effective to use on the HF bands": http://www.g4ifb.com/
-[425 DX NEWS No 1424 18 August 2018]

HI, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC. Holger, DK1FY, will be on air as HI6/DK1FY/p near the biggest salt water lake, "Lago Enriquillo", in Galván from December 31st until January 19th. Activity will be just barefoot with max. 100 watts, using a Yaesu FT857D into a vertical antenna (40-10 meters), mainly using CW, SSB and eventually some Digital modes. QSL via DK1FY.
-[OPDX # 1395 December 24, 2018]

HC8, GALAPAGOS ISLANDS (Reminder). Gerhard, OE3GEA, will be active as HC8GET from three of the Galapagos Islands (SA-004) between January 13-25th. Activity will be from Santa Cruz, Isabela and San Cristobal Islands. Operations will be on 30-10 meters. QSL via his home callsign, direct or by the Bureau. ADDED NOTE: After his HC8 activity, look for Gerhard to be active from Guadeloupe (FG), Dominica (J7) and Martinique (FM) for approximately 6 days each.
-[OPDX # 1398 January 14, 2019]

HP, PANAMA. Operators Naoki/JN1RVS, Jay/HP3AK, Robby/HP3SS and David/ HP3/WA6YJW will use the special callsign H33J from Volcan (HP3AK QTH), Chiriqui, Panama, between January 13-31st. Activity will be on 160-10 meters using CW, SSB, RTTY and FT8. Concentration will be on 160m FT8 when the band is open. QSL via JA1HGY, LoTW or ClubLog's OQRS.
-[OPDX # 1397 January 7, 2019]

J2, DJIBOUTI. Last week we mentioned that DX-WORLD.net reported: "A DXpedition to Djibouti (J2) in the early part of 2019 is currently in planning stages." This week they reported that the callsign would be J2ØDX. Look for more details to be forthcoming.
-[OPDX # 1396 December 31, 2018]

J6, ST. LUCIA. Gary, K9AW, is once again active as J68GD from St. Lucia (NA-108) until February 2nd, 2019. He plans to be in both CQWW DX Contest in October (27-28th) and November (24-25th), as a Single-Op/Single-Band (20m) entries. Activity outside of the contest will be on 160-10 meters using mainly CW with some SSB. QSL via K9AW direct or LoTW. He will make daily uploads to LoTW and ClubLog.
-[OPDX # 1387 October 29, 2018]

KG4, GUANTANAMO BAY. David, AC8AY, is now active as KG4AY from Guantanamo Bay (NA-015) until March 21st. Activity will be on 80-10 meters using only SSB. QSL via AC8AY, direct, eQSL, LoTW or QRZ.com Log Book.
-[OPDX # 1395 December 24, 2018]

OY, FAROE ISLANDS. Carsten, OY1CT, is active almost daily from Streymoy Island in the Faroe Islands (EU-018) around/about 14033 kHz after 1500z. QSL via OY1CT direct or ClubLog's OQRS.
-[OPDX # 1381 September 17, 2018]

POSTAGE GOING UP FOR U.S. The U.S. Postal Service announced new prices for 2019 and they go into effect on Jan. 27, 2019. The proposed price changes include:
Product                                  Current    Proposed
--------------------------------------   --------   --------
Letters (1 oz.)                          50 cents   55 cents
Letters additional ounces                21 cents   15 cents
Letters (metered 1 oz.)                  47 cents   50 cents
Outbound International Letters (1 oz.)   $1.15      $1.15
Domestic Postcards                       35 cents   35 cents
For more info, see:
https://about.usps.com/news/national-releases/2018/pr18_086.htm
-[OPDX # 1397 January 7, 2019]

TR, GABON. Roland, F8EN (ex-CN8EM, FO8BV, 3C3CR), who recently just turned 90, will once again be active as TR8CR from Gabon for 3 months starting on December 16th. Activity will be on 40-17 meters (possibly on 80m) using CW and SSB. QSL via F6AJA, by the Bureau or direct. When possible, the logs will be uploaded to: http://LesNouvellesDX.fr/voirlogs.php
-[OPDX # 1392 December 3, 2018]

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]

V4, ST. KITTS AND NEVIS. Bernie/W3UR (Editor of The Daily DX) and his wife Becky/N3OSH will be active as V47UR from Calypso Bay, St. Kitts Island (NA-104), between January 8-20th. Activity will be holiday style on 160-6 meters using CW, SSB and FT8. Bernie states that he will be "running 100 watts and verticals. An emphasis will be made on 160 meters during local sunset and sunrise. I also plan to operate in the North American QSO Party CW." QSL via LoTW and W3UR.
-[OPDX # 1397 January 7, 2019]

WSJT-X 2.0 (Full Release Now Available; FT8 Enthusiasts Urged to Upgrade Now). It has been announced that the new WSJT-X 2.0 software suite has been released by developer Joe Taylor, K1JT. It was also mentioned that FT8 and MSK144 users are urged to upgrade to the new standard because the FT8 and MSK144 protocols have been enhanced in a way that is not backward compatible with older versions of the program. This includes any of the older 1.9 version releases. As of December 10th, the new protocols will become the worldwide standards, and all users should upgrade to WSJT-X 2.0 by January 1, 2019. Joe Taylor, K1JT, states, "After that date, only the new FT8 and MSK144 should be used on the air." The new version can be obtained on the WSJT-X home page at:
https://physics.princeton.edu/pulsar/k1jt/wsjtx.html
Users are encouraged to read the new Quick Start Guide for WSJT-X at:
https://physics.princeton.edu/pulsar/k1jt/Quick_Start_WSJT-X_2.0.pdf
Gary Hinson, ZL2IFB, has released an FT8 Operating Guide at:
http://www.g4ifb.com/FT8_Hinson_tips_for_HF_DXers.pdf
-[OPDX # 1394 December 17, 2018]

Z8, SOUTH SUDAN. Diya, YI1DZ, is once again active as Z81D from Juba, South Sudan, for the next 6 months. Activity will be limited to his spare time on 80-10 meters using SSB and some Digital modes. QSL via OM3JW. He also use ClubLog and LoTW.
-[OPDX # 1394 December 17, 2018]

ZF, CAYMAN ISLANDS. Pete, K8PGJ, will once again be active as ZF2PG on the Sunny Grand Cayman Islands (NA-016) during the week of January 17-20th. Activity will be on 160-10 meters during the NAQP SSB Contest (January 19-20th). Outside of the contest, look for him work on the 17th, especially on 160-40 meters during the evening hours. Then all day on the 18th and the mornings of the 19th and 20th. Pete states that he will be trying to motivate 10 meters. LoTW will be utilized and direct QSL via his home callsign. A weekday schedule will be posted on QRZ.com.
-[OPDX # 1392 December 3, 2018]

ZL7, CHATHAM ISLAND. Nobuaki "Nobu", JAØJHQ, will be on a short vacation from the Chatham Islands (OC-038) as ZL7/JAØJHQ between January 17-20th. Activity will be mainly FT8 on 160 meters and 6 meters as well as 160-10 meters CW. QSL via his home callsign, direct or by the Bureau. For updates, watch his home page at:
http://pandasan.jimdo.com
ADDED NOTE: Nobu may try to go to Auckland and be active....
-[OPDX # 1392 December 3, 2018]

Older Items

9L, SIERRA LEONE (Update to OPDX.1367). Mark, KW4XJ, who is now active as 9L1YXJ from Freetown (WW Loc. IJ38jk), informs OPDX that his overseas assignment is for 3 years and he has been there for 9 months now. Mark operates mainly on CW and the Digital modes on the HF bands (40-10m). He adds that he [edited] uses an "ICOM IC-7300 running 100 watts, Chameleon EMCOMM II end-fed wire antenna in an inverted L configuration, with a telescopic mast up about 25’, then the rest of the wire out horizontally to a convenient supporting anchor. I had to switch to the wire antenna as we have progressed into the rainy season, and we do get some rather strong wind gusts and monsoon rains here in the tropics. Before that I was using a Chameleon mil-whip w/extension. That worked very well but is a portable antenna. No way it could hold up to the storms this time of year. The wire antenna seems to be holding up well so far. I am going to be ordering an Elecraft 500-watt amplifier and electronic antenna tuner here shortly. I hope to have that delivered and installed in about a month or so. Right now, I’m using a MFJ manual antenna tuner — it works fine but after a while it gets tiring and the lazy side of me wants to just hit a button to tune. :) With the sunspot cycle where it is I’ve only been able to make FT8 and CW contacts with just 100 watts. Sometimes PSK31 will work from here. I’ve made a handful of RTTY contacts. Usually CW and FT8 most of the time. SSB seems pointless after many attempted QSOs to Europe that were very marginal at best if we could get through at all. That is why I was thinking the amplifier would help. My CW skills are still pretty basic, I can reliably manage about 13 WPM on the air. I did do my first ever CW contest here recently for the CQMM DX. I made over 300 contacts which I thought was a decent showing given my relatively low power, rookie operator, and slow speed. I need to find another CW contest to try. I’m still relatively new at operating on HF. I’ve got a lot of unexpected, excellent advice from hams around the world — the US, but also lots of help from the UK, Germany, Brazil, and Japanese operators. This is an amazing hobby. I’ve had FT8/JT65 QSOs from here in Freetown to the Falkland Islands, Iceland, Japan (lots of Japan on the long path), Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and the West coast of Canada, all with my modest setup." QSL via his home callsign.
-[OPDX # 1368 June 18, 2018]

9X, RWANDA. Alan, KE4TA, after a long ride back from Pretoria, he is now back in Kigali and will be active as 9XØTA during his spare time. He states, "Things are very busy here right now, and likely to get busier in the next few weeks. I'll try to get on the air when I get the chance." He should be here for just under 2-1/2 years. Activity will be primarily on 20/17 meters using 600W/100W of power. He does have antennas or antenna+tuner combinations for 80-10 meters and 6m. Modes will be SSB, the Digital modes and some CW. Power may be restricted by the Rwandan authorities in accordance with their laws. Radio is a Yaesu FT-991, and antenna will be a Hexbeam on a push up tower. Alan, states, "Noise levels here are extremely high. Please don't be offended if I'm not answering your call, I likely can't hear you." QSL via DIRECT to N4GNR. He will also use LoTW. For more details, pictures and updates (maybe even an operating schedule), visit his Web page at: http://www.rwandadx.com
-[OPDX # 1365.May 28, 2018]

VKØ/M, MACQUARIE ISLAND. Reports state that Norbert, VK5MQ, is now active as VKØAI from Macquarie Island (AN-005). He is expected to be there with the next winter team for one year. QSNs show that he was on 30/20 meters running FT8 between 0440-0630z. He has an Icom IC-7300 transceiver and a vertical antenna. QSL via VK5MQ.
-[OPDX # 1362 April 30, 2018]