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 June 14, 2020)
EIDXA July 2020 Meeting
The July meeting is on hold indefinitely due to Covid 19 virus
concerns. When this crisis is resolved, we will resume meetings. Stay
tuned!
We normally meet quarterly in January, April, July and October on a Friday evening. Our normal meeting location is the Hall Perrine Cancer Center at Mercy Medical Center in Cedar Rapids. The doors open at 6:30 p.m. and the meeting starts at 7:30 p.m. A program of interest follows the business meeting. Complete details, including an aerial photo map, may be found on the "Meetings" page.
Note: The presentation by Al, KØVM from the October 2019 meeting is available for download on the "Meetings" page.
July 2020
Eastern Iowa DXer
The July 2020 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!
EIDXA Member KCØQ SK
Jim Spencer, WØSR reports that Jeff Russell, KCØQ, has lost his long
battle with pancreatic cancer. He was 72. Jeff was the creator of the
"Kansas City Keyer", which evolved into the Super CMOS line of keyers
from Idiom Press, in your editor's humble opinion, the finest keyer of
all time. RIP, Jeff.
| EIDXA Member NNØL SK | |
 | We regret to inform you that EIDXA member Ronnie Borkgren, NNØL of Anamosa became a Silent Key on March 3 following a sudden illness. He was 77. Ronnie was a great guy and will be sorely missed by the eastern Iowa Ham Radio community. |
Membership roster updated on February 8, 2020
The membership roster has been updated. Thanks to Mike, NA9Q, for updating the list! You can find the list on the "Members"
page.
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 June 28, 2020)
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.
13 COLONIES (Special Event). Once again the annual (the 12th) "13 Colonies Special Event" will take place beginning 1300z, July 1st until 0400z July 7th.
The certificate is printed on heavy card stock. Stations working one
state or, as many as all 15, will be eligible for the certificate. A
"Clean Sweep" indicator will be affixed for those lucky enough to work
all 15. A special endorsement will be attached for stations contacting
their sister operation, WM3PEN,
in Philadelphia, PA, where independence was declared. New since 2015,
the 13 Colonies have added a second sister event station. GB13COL will
operate from Durham, England. The 13 Colonies certificate will have a
Liberty Bell added for a contact with WM3PEN. There should be at least
two stations from each on the 13 colonies on the air, as well as Super
contest stations, multi-operator Club stations and OM and XYL teams.
The U.S. original 13 colonies are CT-DE-GA-MA-MD-NC-NH-NJ-NY-PA-
RI-SC-VA. The special events stations mentioned are: K2A (NY), K2B
(VA), K2C (RI), K2D (CT), K2E (DE), K2F (MD), K2G (GA), K2H (MA), K2I
(NJ), K2J (NC), K2K (NH), K2L (SC), and K2M (PA). All HF bands will be
in play, including the WARC bands, with the exception of 60 meters. 2
meters and 6 meter simplex are encouraged. All modes of operation
should be represented - SSB, CW, RTTY, Digital, and the Satellites. The
mode of operation is up to the individual colony state station. For
more details on the stations, suggested frequencies, QSL info and how
to obtain the special certificate, see:
http://www.13colonies.us
All Short Wave Listeners (SWL), you can also qualify for the certificate.
-[OPDX # 1470 June 29, 2020]
3A, MONACO. Ennio, IW1RBI, will once again be active as 3A/IW1RBI from Monaco between July 6-19th. Activity will be on 30-6 meters using SSB and FT8. QSL via his home callsign or LoTW.
-[OPDX # 1470 June 29, 2020]
3YØI BOUVET ISLAND DXPEDITION NEWS (Update).
The Rebel DX Group (RDXG) team reports/posted the following on June
16th [edited]: After today's telephone conversation with the Norwegian
Polar Institute, we learned that the Institute suspends all scientific
expeditions to a small weather base located on the west side of the
Bouvet island. It is very likely that the station was swept to the
ocean by "landslide".
The 3YØI radio expedition is not at
risk. We are keep pushing to get a full budget before we set a sail
again by end of the year.
Our base will be established on
the eastern side of the island on the glacier. This part of the island
is not exposed to the worst western winds, waves and landslides. We
want to remind you that we have access to accurate, current satellite
photographic data of our landing site.
Dom, 3Z9DX, also has
over 100 pictures from his non-radio visit and materials from other
people who had visited the island. We are really well prepared to do
this job. Now is your turn to help or forget about Bouvet in the log.
Donation link: https://www.gofundme.com/f/3y0i-bouvet-island-expedition
Please share!
For more details and updates on the Bouvet Island DXpedition, watch the following Web page and Media sites at:
Main site: https://bouvetoya.org
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bouvetoya.org
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Bouvetoyaorg
Rebel DX Group: https://www.facebook.com/rebeldxgroup
https://rebeldxgroup.com/
-[OPDX # 1469 June 22, 2020]
A6, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES (Special Event). Operators from the United Arab Emirates (U.A.E.) will be active with special callsign A6ØFTDMC from Sharjah during FT8DMC activity weeks (July 1-31st). Activity will be on various HF bands. QSL via OE4VIE. For more details on the FT8DMC event, see: https://www.ft8dmc.eu
-[OPDX # 1463 May 4, 2020]
A6, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES (Special Event). Members of the Emirates Amateur Radio Society (EARS) will be active as A6ØCH (Committed to a Homeland) from Sharjah. Length of activity is not known.
Activity is: "Campaign to adhere to government preventive measures to
limit the spread of the Corona virus in the United Arab Emirates. The
Emirates Amateur Radio Society launched a volunteer initiative called
"Committed to a Homeland" to support governmental precautionary
measures against the "Corona" virus to prevent its spread in the
country, by educating citizens and residents to adhere to all
preventive measures implemented by the state to limit the spread of the
virus." QSL via EA7FTR.
-[OPDX # 1468 June 15, 2020]
CE9, ANTARCTICA. Alexander, RX3ABI, has been active as RI1ANM from the Mirny Antarctica Base Station (AN-016) and will be there until early 2021.
Activity will be limited to spare time on various HF bands, but it
seems he likes mostly 40 and 20 meters FT8 between 0200-1530z. QSL via
his home callsign.
-[OPDX # 1469 June 22, 2020]
DXCC NEWS.
The 2019 DXCC Yearbook is now available for download. The yearbook
includes the 2019 Annual List and Clinton B. DeSoto Challenge top
scorers for 2019. To view and/or download, go to:
http://www.arrl.org/files/file/DXCC/DXCCYearbook/2019%20YEABOOK%20COMPLETE.pdf
-[OPDX # 1467 June 1, 2020]
EA6, BALEARIC ISLANDS. Andy, DK5ON, will once again be active as EA6/DK5ON from Mallorca Island (EU-004, ARLHS BAL-010 Cap de Pera Light, WLOTA 1902) between July 1-11th.
Activity will be holiday style with some possible EAFF and SOTA/GMA
activities. Operations will be on 40-6 meters using CW, SSB and the
Digital modes (JT65, RTTY, PSK31, FT4, FT8). He will be using an
Elecraft KX3 (QRP 5 watts) and ICOM IC-7300 into Buddstick and
Buddipole antenna system. QSL via DK5ON, direct, by the Bureau, ClubLog's
OQRS or LoTW.
-[OPDX # 1469 June 22, 2020]
F, FRANCE (Special Event). Members of the Radio Club du Val d'Issole (F8KGH) will be active as TM1SAFE
from the South of France to promote the "STAY HOME" campaign and stop
the spread of COVID-19. The purpose of this special event callsign is
to highlight the importance of staying at home during the COVID-19
pandemic and to express their solidarity with all the people who are
affected by this virus. In addition, the amateur radio community wishes
to express its gratitude to all the medical personnel who give their
best in their tireless efforts to comfort all patients in their fight
against this pandemic. QSL is available via eQSL, QRZ.com, LoTW, ClubLog's
OQRS, HRDLOG or their QSL Manager F4GPB.
-[OPDX # 1466 May 25, 2020]
FT8DMC ANNIVERSARY ACTIVITY WEEKS 2020. To commemorate the 3rd anniversary, several special event stations will be on air during the "FT8DMC Activity Days" between July 1-31st.
All stations will bear the FTDMC or FTDM suffix, referring to the 3rd
anniversary of the "FT8 Digital Mode Club". Special QSL-cards will
confirm all QSOs and all logs will be uploaded to LoTW and eQSL. The
following stations will be active:
9K8FTDMC (Kuwait, QSL via 9K2RA)
A6ØFTDMC (United Arab Emirates, QSL via OE4VIE)
A91FTDMC (Bahrain, Operator A92AA, QSL via A92AA)
DQ8FTDMC (Germany, QSL via DM2RM)
HZ8FTDMC (Saudi Arabia, see QRZ.com for QSL info)
II8FTDM (Italy, Operator IK8YFU, QSL via IK8YFU)
LR8FTDMC (Argentina, Operators LU3PI, LW5DR, LW2EIY, LU6MAL and LU1DLA;
QSL via F1ULQ)
LX8FTDM (Luxembourg, Operators LX1TI, LX1JH, LX1HD, QSL via LX1TI)
OD5FTDMC (Lebanon, Operator OD5TE, QSL via K3IRV)
OE2ØFTDMC (Austria, Operators OE1SGU and OE4VIE, QSL via OE1SGU)
OE4FTDMC (Austria, listen for QSL route)
RO3FTDM (Russia, listen for QSL route)
SU8FTDMC (Egypt, QSL via A92AA)
TM8FTDM (France, Operators F1ULQ and F4ESV, QSL via F1ULQ)
TO8FTDM (Guadeloupe, Operator FG8OJ, QSL via F1ULQ)
TK8FTDM (Corsica, listen for QSL route)
YP8FTDMC (Romania, QSL via LoTW, eQSL, Clublog)
YQ6FTDMC (Romania, QSL via e-QSL, hrdlog.net, LoTW)
ZL6FTDMC (New Zealand, Operator ZL1MVL, QSL via F1ULQ)
ZW8FTDMC (Brazil, QSL via PP2CS, BUREAU/LoTW/DIRECT/eQsl/ClubLog
An
FTDMC Anniversary Award can be earned by working the FTDMC and FTDM
stations and collecting points applicable for various award classes:
Bronze: 10 QSOs with at least 3 different special 'FTDMC/FTDM' stations
Silver: 15 QSOs with at least 4 different special 'FTDMC/FTDM' stations
Gold: 20 QSOs with at least 5 different special 'FTDMC/FTDM' stations
Platinum: 30 QSO's with all activated 'FTDMC/FTDM' stations
For more details, see the FT8DMC Web page at: https://www.ft8dmc.eu
-[OPDX # 1468 June 15, 2020]
G, ENGLAND (Special Event).
Members of the Royal Signals Amateur Radio Society (RSARS) are
celebrating their 100th anniversary by using the special callsign GB1ØØRS from June 28th until the end of October. Activity will be on various HF bands using CW, SSB, RTTY and PSK. Special awards are available. See: https://rsars.org.uk/rsars-corps-celebrations-2020
QSL via the Bureau.
-[OPDX # 1470 June 29, 2020]
GW, WALES (Special Event). Members of the North Wales Amateur Radio Group and Eryri DX group are now active from the Welsh Mountain Zoo (situated in Colwyn Bay on the North Wales coast; http://www.welshmountainzoo.org/) using the special callsign GBØWMZ until July 17th. QSL via MWØJWP by the Bureau.
-[OPDX # 1470 June 29, 2020]
JW, SVALBARD. Peter, LA7QIA, will once again be active as JW7QIA from from Spitsbergen Island (EU-026, WW Loc. JQ68) from June 27th until July 4th. Activity will be focused on 6 meters and possibly on 70 MHz, using CW, SSB and the Digital modes. QSL via his home callsign.
-[OPDX # 1469 June 22, 2020]
KG4, GUANTANAMO BAY. Just a reminder that Miguel, W1SRR, is being deployed to Guantanamo Bay [WW. Loc: FK29kv (Shack) and FK29kw (House)] sometime in mid-June for a year. He plans to be active as KG4MA.
His current shack equipment: Elecraft KX3 with KXPA100. Activity will
be on Digital and SSB on various HF bands; he is learning CW and will
try and make contacts via CW once proficient. He states, "Will attempt
QSL cards, please standby for further direction."
-[OPDX # 1468 June 15, 2020]
U.S. POSTAL STOPPAGE (Updated as June 19th).
The U.S. Postal Service is temporarily suspending international mail
acceptance for certain destinations due to service impacts related to
the COVID-19 pandemic.
Suspension Due to Foreign Postal Operator Service Suspension
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Bolivia
Ecuador
Libya Peru
British Virgin Islands Honduras Madagascar Rwanda
Chad
India
Malawi South Africa
Dominican Republic Kyrgyzstan
Panama Turkmenistan
Suspension Due to Unavailability of Transportation
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Algeria
Egypt
Liberia
Sint Maarten
Angola
Ethiopia
Maldives Solomon
Islands
Argentina Faroe
Island
Mauritania South Sudan
Azerbaijan
Fiji
Mauritius Sri Lanka
Bahamas French
Polynesia
Mongolia Sudan
Bahrain
Gambia
Morocco
Suriname
Bangladesh
Ghana
Mozambique Swaziland
(Eswatini)
Benin
Grenada
Myanmar
Tajikistan
Bermuda
Guatemala
Namibia
Tanzania
Botswana Guinea
Bissau
Nepal
Timor-Leste
Brunei
Guyana
Nigeria
Tonga
Burkina Faso
Haiti
Oman
Tunisia
Burundi
Iraq
Pakistan Turks
& Caicos
Cameroon Ivory
Coast Papua New Guinea United Arab
Emirates
Cape Verde
Jordan
Paraguay Uganda
Cayman Islands Kazakhstan
Philippines Uruguay
Chile
Kenya
Qatar
Uzbekistan
Colombia
Kiribati Republic of
Congo Vanuatu
Cook Islands
Kosovo
Samoa
Venezuela
Costa Rica
Kuwait
Saudi Arabia Yemen
Cuba
Laos
Senegal
Zambia
Curacao
Lebanon
Seychelles Zimbabwe
Dem.Rep. Congo Lesotho Sierra Leone
Customers:
Please refrain from mailing items addressed to the countries listed
above, until further notice. For more details, see:
https://about.usps.com/newsroom/service-alerts/international/welcome.htm
-[OPDX # 1469 June 22, 2020]
VP8, FALKLAND ISLANDS. Look for VP8HDM/A
[HDM suffix = Historical Dock-yard Museum] to be active during the 2020
International Museum Weekends. Normally, operations are from the
Historic Dockyard Museum in Stanley, Falkland Islands (SA-002), but due
to the COVID-19 pandemic, VP8HDM/A will operate from "alternative
locations" between June 20-21st and 27-28th weekends. QSL via VP8LP. For more details about the International Museums Weekends, see:
http://www.radio-amateur-events.org/IMW
-[OPDX # 1468 June 15, 2020]
VU, INDIA (Special Event). Dinesh "Pandir", VU2DCT, will use the special callsign ATØII (II=Improve Immunity) from Lucknow, India, to spread the awareness of the Covid-19 pandemic situation. Activity will be through August 18th. QSL via his home callsign.
-[OPDX # 1466 May 25, 2020]
VU, INDIA (Special Event). Utsav, VU3ZIG, will use the special callsign AT2SON
(SON=Save Our Nation) from Habra, India, which was issued by WPC
Ministry of Telecommunications Government of India, to show the
gratitude and tribute for the COVID-19 warriors during this pandemic
situation. Activity will be through August 18th. QSL via his home callsign.
-[OPDX # 1466 May 25, 2020]
YJ, VANUATU (Special Event). Operators Colin/YJ8CW, Estelle/YJ8ED and Rod/YJ8RN will be active as YJ4ØIND between July 1-30th.
Activity is to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Independence of
Vanuatu. It was 40 years ago on July 30th, 1980, Vanuatu formerly known
as New Hebrides, was granted its Independence. Operations will be
mainly on 40/20/15 meters using CW, SSB and FT8. Most of their activity
will be on the weekends.
-[OPDX # 1469 June 22, 2020]
ZS, SOUTH AFRICA (Special Event). The Port Elizabeth Amateur Radio Society has registered the special callsign ZS182ØS and will be operating the callsign for the rest of this year.
The ZS182ØS callsign commemorates the 200th anniversary of the arrival
of the 1820 British Settlers in the Eastern Cape area of South Africa.
Activity will be on various HF bands and modes. QSL via the Bureau to
Tom, ZS2EC, also via LoTW, ClubLog's
OQRS and QRZ.com. For more details about the Settlers, see:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1820_Settlers
https://www.1820settlers.com
-[OPDX # 1465 May 18, 2020]