Volume 6, Number 10



Volume 8, Number 4 April 2003

The Nugget

The Newsletter of the Mother Lode DX/Contest Club

MEETING LOCATION

This month’s meeting will be Noon, the 19th of April in the banquet room at the Round Table Pizza in Martel. This is our usual meeting place.

April Meeting Program

De Dick, K6LRN

The NCDXF just got the WRTC 2002 video and DVD, and we're getting the CY0MM CD soon. I can't decide which video to show at our April meeting. The VP8GEO or the WRTC.

2003 DUES ARE DUE NOW!

YEARLY DUES ARE $15, PLEASE SEND YOUR CHECKS TO OUR TREASURER, GARY STILWELL, KI6T, 7632 WOODLAND LANE, FAIR OAKS, CA. 95628

OUTSTANDING DUES AS OF 12 April 2003: K6AW, N6BT, AD6E, and N6TV.

From the Prez:

It’s good to be back from the snowbound (Denver). I wish I could have attended the last meeting and would like to thank Jettie Hill W6RFF for his presentation. Having been dominated by work and home duties I haven’t had much time to devote towards radio so the majority of my column is about our Field Day event.

FIELD DAY: Here are some snippets from an email I just received from our Field Day coordinator Jim (WX6V) that we’d like to discuss at our next meeting on the 19th.- The first major issue to resolve is the operating class we want to enter. If we are in Class 1A, for example, then the set up is relatively simple. If we decide on Class 2A, we are eligible to have two extra stations on the air - one would be the GOTA station and one would be the VHF/UHF station - for a total of four potential stations. Thus, the setup becomes a little more complex - but still doable if we have enough participants.

Another major issue is the commitment of equipment - especially transceivers, antennas,  support structures, and computers. Most critical are beams for 15 & 20. Wire antennas will work for the low bands (40 & 80). If we can pin down some beams and masts/ temporary towers, then we will be in pretty good shape. The computers should be networked together.

Another issue is FOOD. Ideally someone would volunteer to head up this area - OR - we could all do our own thing - whatever the group decides is fine, but we need to pin this item down early.

One of the things I will bring along with me at the next meeting is a listing of all the kinds of items that will be needed - you would be amazed at the number of little things that are required.

Enough for now. I'm starting to get revved up for this - I really do enjoy a good FD event - because if it's done right - it's a fun experience for everyone.

WEBITE: I re-though Bill’s (K6KM) idea about buying a domain name for the club and found new reasons to act on it. The club’s web page can now be accessed to from using . That domain name should forward to the current address where our page resides. Seeing that Comcast has bought back AT&T Broadband I though it a good idea to go with a real domain name and give the club a more polished look. If none of this makes sense, don’t worry. I do it for a living and it’s still a mystery to me. I’ve also added a few new links to the border page. Please, let me know if you want something else added or have any ideas about the page content.

MEMBERSHIP: We have a few folks that are late on their dues. If you don’t pay, you can’t be a member. If you’re not a member, we can’t accept your log for CQP. If we can’t take your log then you can’t be on the winning team. Simple as that. So if you’re late, please catch up. Thank you.

73 – Ron KG6CMS

EDITOR’S MESSAGE

Sorry I’m a late publishing this month. But as I’m writing this (on Sunday the 13th.) I still have the fever that the ol’ flu bug left me with and I feel like warmed-over dog do-do. But, that’s better than I felt yesterday so I hope that the worst is over. And as luck would have it, Karen is in Dallas visiting her girlfriend for a week. So I not only have no one to complain to, I’m stuck babysitting five (always hungry) cats, feeding the Carp in the pond, making sure the 20+ ravenous humming birds always have food in their feeders and watering a bunch of Damn houseplants. Jeez, I’m tired just thinking about it.

This past month was a busy one for our household, some of the highlights were (In no particular order):

1. Working the ST0RY guys on 12, 17 and 30 Meters. I even heard them on 80M, but could not work em’.

2. Making a four day trip to Los Angeles to get our taxes done, and spend some time with our sons and their families.

3. Getting a surprise visit by our daughter with our grandkids. And, just two days after they left, Karen and I both came-down with the flu! Yep, no doubt about it, grandkids are just walking and talking germs. Any grandparent will attest to that, HI HI

4. Getting my QSL cards ready for submission at Visalia. And finding out just how lousy my data-entry and record keeping has been over the last year.

5. Gathering commitments for the Visalia DX Forum.

6. Integrating a new Yaesu FT-920 (a more compatible radio) into the SO2R contest setup. I have my Icom 736, 160-6M 100W-output radio, For Sale it has both IF CW filters installed, and operates on 115, 220AC or 13.8VDC. It’s in great shape for a mere $700. This is the perfect DXpedition, Field Day, or back-up radio. Give me a call if ur interested.

Hey, has anyone seen his or her 2002 DXCC Yearbook? I for one have not. Are we ever gonna’ see a 2002 DXCC Yearbook? Or, has the ARRL changed the rules on us, again? I have this as my #1 question to ask at the DX Forum. How about you, do you have something that you would like to have addressed at the DX forum? Just let me know and I will add it to my list.

Remember the VP6DI DXpedition last month? I stayed-up for several hours, in the middle of the night, the last three days they were on for a chance to work em’ on 160M. I heard them only one night (for about 20 minutes) and called them, but the thundering herd made it near impossible to get anything more than a snippet of a report or call sign. So where is this going, you say? I recently checked their website and found my call as one that they had logged on 160M. Notice I didn’t say worked, but logged. So because it was logged, did I really work em’? They thought so, but I never heard a QSL to my report. Should I request the card anyway? As one astute club member said to me “I think a lot of these DXpedition guys just log calls heard, not QSOs made when operating on 160”, in this case he may be right. What would you do? Are you curious to know what am I going to do? Sorry, but I don’t have time to answer that now. I have to rush and get a retching cat outdoors or cleanup after (what sounds like) a monster hairball. I guess you’ll just have to check my cards. CUL the 19th, de Rick, W6SR

MLDXCC PROFILE OF THE MONTH

None this month. Send in a profile, do not miss a chance at your 15 minutes of fame.

THE SECRETARY/TREASURER’S REPORT

SECRETARY’S REPORT

Board Meeting, March 22, 2003

Vice President Dick Wilson, K6LRN, called the Board meeting to order at 11:53 AM. Attending were Gary Stilwell, KI6T and Rick Casey, W6RKC. After a short discussion it was decided that the Board would nominate to the general membership Lew Dickerson, K6BPB, as an honorary member of the Club.

There was no report about Field Day, except that Jim, WX6V had volunteered to be Chairman. Dick, K6LRN will try and produce some publicity for our joint meeting with NCCC.

The meeting was adjourned at 12:03 PM.

General Meeting, March 22, 2003

The general meeting, being held at the Round Table Pizza in Martell, was called to order by Vice President Dick Wilson, K6LRN, at 12:17 PM. Kent, K6ENT from the Northern California Contest Club was attending and presented awards for the Sweepstakes and 10-meter contests to KI6CG, W6SR, K6LRN and W6KM. Kent also presented a CQP plaque to our Club as top California Club with a score of 2,048,738.

Jettie Hill, W6RFF, our Sacramento Valley Section Manager for the ARRL was our guest speaker. He advised ARRL processing time for DXCC cards was now 13 weeks. Log Book of the World would begin full testing in a couple of weeks. The California Antenna Bill is now in the Legislature. The ARRL has received about $332,000 for training 5,000 hams in emergency communications.

The membership unanimously voted honorary membership to Lew Dickerson, K6BPB. Ken Anderson filled us in on the Visalia International DX Convention, which will be the first weekend of May. The US Tower BBQ is back, W3UR will be the guest banquet speaker and Sunday AM breakfast presentation will be of the recent Ducie Island Expedition.

The meeting was adjourned at 1:50 PM.

Respectfully submitted, Gary Stilwell, KI6T, Secretary/Treasurer

TREASURER’S REPORT

TREASURER’S REPORT

Beginning Balance: 02/28/03 $679.90

Income: Dues $60.00

Ending Balance: 03/31/03 $739.90

Respectfully submitted, Gary Stilwell, KI6T, Secretary/Treasurer

COMING EVENTS

Foothill Flea Market

2nd Saturday of each month from March through October at Foothill College, Los Altos.

Livermore Swap Meet

1st Sunday of each month at Las Positas College in Livermore, 7:00 AM to noon, all year. Talk in 147.045 from the west 145.35 from the east. Contact Cliff Chiba, KF6EII, (209) 835-6715, email larkswap@.

Placerville Swap Meet – every third Sunday, 3970 B Missouri Flat Rd #3, Placerville. 7:00 AM to 11:00 AM. Talk-in on 146.865 – PL 142.2, 440.700 + PL 88.5. No fee, free parking. Hwy. 50 East, take Missouri Flat off-ramp. Go over Hwy. to 2nd light, into shopping center in front of Radio Shack.

CONTEST FEEDBACK

With the CQ magazine sponsored World Wide Worked all Prefixes (CQ WW WPX) contest, we have more or less come to the end of the ‘major’ contest season. There are still plenty of state QSO parties, RTTY, and other contests such as JIDX (Japan International DX) to operate to keep gear and techniques sharp for the CQ WW WPX CW on May 24-25 and IARU-RadioSport on July 12.

Several MLDX/CCers were active in the WPX SSB ‘test. Gary, KI6T, had 394 Qs X 222 prefixes for 166,278 points. Jim, WX6V, had 624 Qs X 312 prefixes for 362,544 points in about 17.5 hours of low power operation. Nice going, Jim!! George, K6GT, rolled up 1156 Qs X 431 mults for 831,399 points…FB, Geo!! Andy, AE6Y, traveled to Aruba where he piloted P40Y to 4833 Qs X 989 prefixes for a grand total of 15,458,070. Andy operated from the ex-P40V QTH. Tom, N6BT, got on long enough to roll up 291 Qs X 211 mults for 145,168 points. Rick, W6RKC, got 210 Qs X 178 prefixes for 67,462 points. A great effort from George, KI6CG, saw 1,430 Qs and 574 mults go into the log for 1,585,962 points. An abbreviated session for Al, AD6E, resulted in 445 Qs X 271 prefixes for a total of 260,848 points. Rick, N6XI, put together a multi-single operation at his Truckee QTH to amass 1997 Qs X 637 mults for 2,476,656 points. Other ops were W6EU, K6ST and KI6IV. K6LRN managed to sit still long enough to pick up 649 Qs X 356 mults for 479,888. One of the highlights was being called by 9V1YC at 2359Z for one last mult. Many ops noted the lack of European operators. Even NCCCer Dan, K6IF, operating VC1R in Nova Scotia was commenting on the paucity of Europeans. Was propagation that bad or were some of them boycotting?? 61% of my Qs were with NA stations, 7% with EU or 299 one pointers. A point is a point…it’s more fun watching the score climb with the three and six point Qs.

Good news for those looking for a good DOS-based contest-logging program. Ken, K1EA, has decided to make CT freeware. He will continue to support the program, but does not want money for it. A PDF manual will be available ‘soon’. There is a CT ‘reflector’, also. AD1C offers updated country files before most contests. CT, like NA, will run on practically any computer from an 8086 up. For those of you that don’t want to tie up the ‘good’ computer or try to get DOS to work on your XP machine, you can get a suitable box and monitor cheap or free.

Contest information is available at .

The ARRL’s DXCC desk is currently processing DXCC applications received on February 19, 2003. Bring QSL cards, application forms and some $$ to Visalia for on the spot updating of your DXCC and WAZ. A hearty thanks to Gary and his crew for arranging.

It is too late for pre-registration, but there is still time to get registered for the International DX Convention in Visalia and as always registration can be made on arrival. See the NCDXC web site for details. Ken, K6TA, is planning another gang-busters program…the lunch at USTowers is on, plus all the other elements that make this convention one of the high points of the year.

UP-COMING CONTESTS

April 20 Holyland DX Contest

April 27 Florida QSO Party

May 24 CQWW WPX,CW

Check NCJ, CQ, and QST/ARRL for full rules and other details. Please, send me your scores; at k6lrn@

CU.73, Dick, K6LRN VP/CC

THE Ohio/Penn DX Bulletin No. 607

April 14, 2003Editor Tedd Mirgliotta, KB8NW

4S, SRI LANKA. Ivan, UR9IDX (ex-8Q7VG), will be active as 4S7DXG until May 1st. His activity over the past week was on 30/20/15 meters CW/SSB. Watch 21020 kHz after 1630z. Also watch 14014, 14195 and 10107 kHz between 1630-2230z. QSL via UR9IDX, P.O. Box 85, Mariupol 87531, UKRAINE.

4X/4Z, ISRAEL (Contest). The Israel Amateur Radio Club will run the Holyland Contest on Saturday, April 19th, between 0000-2359z, both CW and SSB. This is a good opportunity to work a good number of 4X/4Z stations towards the famous "Holyland Award" as well as other Israeli awards. The Contest Manager is Mark, 4Z4KX (E-mail address: 4z4kx@ ). For complete details on this contest, please visit the Web page at:

5Z, KENYA. QSL Manager Allan, G0IAS, informs OPDX that after nearly 12 years (when it was virtually impossible for a U.S. citizen to get a 5Z callsign) Don Gardner, ex-7Q7DC (KC7JDC), has been allocated 5Z4DE. Don is in Nairobi and will be transmitting after a long period of inactivity; as soon as possible (as soon as he gets his mast up!). ALL QSL cards are DIRECT ONLY to G0IAS. NO BUREAU and NOTHING sent to Don. ADDED NOTE BY ALLAN: Allan can still confirm any outstanding 7Q7DC QSL cards, but he states that he will probably close the books at the end of the year.

7P, A25 & ZS, LESOTHO, BOTSWANA AND SOUTH AFRICA. Operators Mauro/IN3QBR, Fabrizio/IN3ZNR and Joe/AA4NN are teaming up to go on the air as the "African Double Jump DXpedition". The team will be going to South Africa, Lesotho and Botswana starting at the end of June. According to their Web page, the team will meet with Andre, ZS6WPX, who will become their tour guide. Between June 28th and July 1st, the team will go on a Safari. There is a possibility they "MAY" do some operating using callsigns ZS/homecall. Early July 2nd, the team will head to Botswana's capital, Gaborone City. They plan to erect their antennas and operate from their hotel that day. Callsigns mentioned so far are A25NN and A25ZNR. They plan to leave for the town of Rustenburg on July 5th, and will travel to Sun City, South Africa. There "MAY" be some activity as ZS/homecall. Early July 7th, they will leave for Lesotho and expect to be there late afternoon. They will be active that same day. Expected callsigns will be 7P8JB and 7P8NR. Activity will last until July 11th. They depart for Johannesburg on July 12th and expect to leave for home July 13th. Please visit their Web page for updates at:

7P, LESOTHO. "NOT TO BE CONFUSED with the African Double Jump DXpedition" listed above, look for three Texans (Frosty/K5LBU, Madison/W5MJ and Tom/WW5L) and one Canadian (Neil/VA7DX) to be active as 7P8CF, 7P8MJ, 7P8TA and 7P8NK, respectively, from July 18-25th. Activity will be on all bands 160-10 meters CW/SSB/PSK31/RTTY. QSL each by their home calls. The group currently does not have a Web page, but more details will be released after June 1st. Watch Frosty's Web page for possible updates at:

DAYTON HAMVENTION DX DINNER PROGRAM. Steve Bolia, N8BJQ, informs OPDX that this year's SWODXA DX Dinner Banquet Program will be "A DXer's Expedition through the Halls of Power" with guest speaker Vice Admiral Scott Redd, U. S. Navy (Retired), K0DQ/A92Q. There are still some tickets available (Please refer to OPDX.597 for details).

DU, PHILIPPINES. Jon, N0NM, continues to be active as DU9/N0NM until April 23rd, before he leaves on a trip to HS-land. He was active this past week on 80 meters (between 3500-3506) after 1000z. If the bands are decent, he will usually try top band (watch 1828.3 kHz).

GM, SCOTLAND (Special Weekend Activity). The annual Scottish Activity Weekend takes place on April 19/20th, and is organized by the GM DX Group. This is not a contest, just an opportunity to work Scottish stations on all LF and HF bands, and to gain credits for several awards, including the new "Celtic Connections Award". For complete details, visit the Web page at" Please work GM, MM, GS and MS stations during the weekend.

IOTA NEWS...........................

AF-019. Operators ON6VP, ON4CAQ and ON1AEO will be active as IG9/ON4DST from Calla Madonna, Lampedusa Island, between May 24-29th. Activity will be on 80/40/20/15/10 meters SSB only. They will be using a FT-757 with groundplanes and wire antennas. For skeds, please E-mail: ON6VP@pi.be QSL to ON4DST via the bureau, or direct via ON4AMM (Mary Lou Moons, Oudestraat 9, B-3560 Lummen, Belgium).

AS-079. Takeshi "Take", JI3DST, will be active as JI3DST/6 from Miyako Island (Miyako-jima Hirars-City Okinawa-ken) starting at 0600z, April 26th to 0000z, May 5th. Activity will be on 17/15/12/10/6/2 meters SSB. He will be looking for AF and SA on 6 meters. QSL via the Bureau (Bureau is Best) or direct to the address on .

EU-008. Members of the Calderdale Raynet Group will activate the Island of Colonsay (IOSA NH19 and WAB NR39) from Saturday evening, April 26th to Thursday lunch-time, May 1st. Their activity will be on all HF bands depending on the conditions. They will use the club callsign MM0CRG. All stations worked will be sent a QSL card via the RSGB or QSL direct (w/SAE) to G3TAY.

EU-031. Walter, IN3XUG, will be active on Ischia Island from April 16-27th using the callsign IC8/IN3XUG. Activity will be on the IOTA frequencies (28460, 21260, 14260 and 7060 kHz) SSB. He will pay particular attention to U.S. stateside stations. QSL via IN3XUG, Bureau or direct.

EU-172. Peter/DL4AMK and his XYL will activate the Danish Island of Aaroe (JY-003) as OZ/DL4AMK from April 16-21st. He will use an Icom 735 with an ZZ-1004 amp and a Gap-Eagle antenna. Activity will be on 40/20/17/15/12/10 meters SSB. QSL via the DARC bureau or direct.

OC-NEW. Just a reminder (refer to OPDX.602), to look for Tom/VK3ZZ, Keith/VK3FT, Jack/VK3WWW and Peter/VK3QI to activate the IOTA, Waldegrave Island in the South Australia State West Centre Group, April 17-22nd. Callsign will be VI5WCP. QSL via VK3ZZ.

OC-241. Irfan, YC4FIJ, will sign YC4FIJ/P from Utan Island, April 19-21st. QSL via YC9BU, with SAE+IRCs only (Note: DO NOT send USDs, they will be stolen in YB-land's post office).

OC-241. Look for a Multi-operation using the callsign 8A9R to activate Rote Island in the middle of June. Activity will be on several bands. Kadek, YC9BU, will be one of the operators and also the QSL Manager.

OH0, ALAND ISLAND (Cancelled!). Ben, SM6CCO, reports that he had to cancel his OH0CO operation from Aland Island. It was scheduled to take place between April 10-16th.

PJ2, NETHERLANDS ANTILLES. Operators John/K1AR, Martin/W1MD, Jeff/WC4E, Steve/N8BJQ, Ron/K8NZ and Geoff/W0CG will be active from Curacao as PJ2T in the CQ World Wide DX SSB Contest (October 25-26th) as a Multi/2 entry. QSL via N9AG.

QSL INFO AND NEWS.....................

CT QSL HISTORICAL ARCHIVE. Carlos Nora, CT1END, reports: "We are the only organization in Portugal that is devoted to documenting and preserving the history of Amateur Radio in Portugal, from the early days to the present. If you have Portuguese QSL cards prior to 1960, and Portuguese QSL cards from DXpeditions and other special events, we would appreciate receiving them as a donation to our collection, or as an alternative, send a digital image of the QSL card." If you can help them, please respond by E-mail ( ct1end@netcabo.pt ) or by mail to the address: Carlos Nora, CT1END, Praceta D.Mecia N 15 - 2 Dto., Massama Norte, 2605 Belas, Portugal.

The LLDXT trip to Faroer Islands (OY) went QRT during the morning of April 10th. Pictures and the team's diary are available at the LLDXT Web site, as are the logs. The logs are updated April 13th with all QSOs. The LLDXT Website :

LAST MINUTE PRESS RELEASE BY ROB, PA5ET:" We have completed our Faroe Island DXpedition and had lots of fights with the propagation and the high winds. We managed to log 26,964 QSOs in 10 days of operation of which 14,041 in CW and 11,054 in SSB, 1,532 in RTTY, 300 in PSK and finally 37 in SSTV from 10-160 meters although it is better to say we worked mainly from 17-160 meter due to the bad propagation. The QSO statistics can be found on out web-site. Despite the lots of Europeans in the log we worked outside Europe every opportunity we had. There have simply not been that many openings unfortunately. Despite of that we are very happy with the result. The on-line logs have now been finalized so all QSOs should be visible on our web-site. The LLDXT web-site will be updated in the coming days with pictures and

real-audio files. I like to thank the Europeans for the many times they had to QRX to allow us to work the 'rare' DX, a great example it can be done regardless what other DX-peditions say. All QSLs will be handled by the LLDXT QSL manager PA5ET, Rob Snieder, Van Leeuwenstraat 137, 2273 VS Voorburg, The Netherlands......... 73 de Bill OY7WB (AK0A), Tom OY7TW (GM4FDM), Ronald OY7WP (PA3EWP), Dick OY7QA (PA3FQA) and Rob OY7ET (PA5ET)"

VISALIA CONVENTION. QSL card checking at the "2003 Visalia

International DX Convention" will take place from 2-4 PM on Saturday, May 3rd, in the Plaza Room of the Visalia Holiday Inn Hotel. All DXCC QSLs can be

checked which would include 160 meters, deleted countries and cards over 10 years old. Also this year they will be able to check cards for the CQ WAZ Award and other ARRL Awards such as WAS and VUCC. Application forms for DXCC and WAZ will be available at the door, however, you can download the forms from these organizations in order to fill them in prior to the convention Any questions can be directed to Gary Stilwell, KI6T at: ki6t@

QSL XR6T (active in the 2003 CQ WPX Contest) via CE6TBN at: Box 1234, Temuco, Chile. Georg, DF7JN, announced this past week that he has lost contact (even a couple weeks before the war) with his friend YI1FC. His friend YI1FC supplied Georg with some (more or less uncomplete) logbooks from YI1 stations. For this reason, Georg has quit his job as QSL Manager for the YI1 stations until further notice.

S0, WESTERN SARAHA. The S05X team is expected to be active on Wednesday, April 16th. In the S05X press releases this past week, they informed the DX community that the S05X Team will also be active in the U.S. General Class Operator's bands. They also announced that another operator was added to the team. Joe, KO4RR, from Georgia and a well-known Contester and DXer/Dxpeditioner (E30GA, T32R, KO4RR/KH5K- Palmyra, K5K- Kingman Reef and KO4RR/I8) was added to the team of YT1AD, YU1AU, I8NHJ, CT1BWW, N6TQS, EA1BT, EA2RC, EA5RM, EA5XX and S01MZ. QSL Manager is EA4URE. Also, due to the high expense to travel into the desert, all donations to the S05X Team are WELCOME. Donations can be sent to the S05X QSL Manager: URE, Union de Radioaficionados Espanoles, Avda. Monte Igueldo 102, Madrid 28053, Spain. All names will be listed on their Web site at:

S2, BANGLADESH. Takeda, S21YY, was pleasing the RTTY operators this past weekend on 20 meters. Watch for him on/around 14080 kHz after 0100z.

SILENT KEY. Victor Rivera, ZK1CG and ZK1USA, received word from Poko, the son of Tuatai Tupou (ZK1MA North Cooks and ZK1CY South Cooks), that his father passed away in Australia on the morning of April 12th. Victor states, "Tuatai will be missed here and in Manihiki by a lot of people. Poko ask me to inform all his Ham radio friends of his passing away." OPDX and its readers would like to send out our deepest sympathy to Tuatai's family and friends.

SV9, CRETE. Jim, SM2EKM, will be active as SV9/SM2EKM from Agia Marina, Crete, May 29th through June 12th. Jim informs OPDX that most of his activity will be CW on all bands (but this depends on antenna installation). QSL to his home callsign, bureau or direct. If there are any Bureau requests, E-mail to: sm2ekm@

VP8/LU1BR (Pirate Activity). Luis, LU1BR, has informed OPDX that a station using his callsign was operating on 10 and 12 meters on the CW mode was a PIRATE. Activity took place on March 13th, 2140-2240z on 28006 and 24896 kHz. Also, Luis mentions that probably this same person changed all his data entered on the Web page. All QSLs received for these bands activity will be returned.

WARD (Remember!). Just a reminder that the "World Amateur Radio Day" (WARD) will be celebrated by IARU on April 18th (Please refer to PDX.602). For rules on how to receive the special WARD 2003 Award, go to the following Web site:

XW, LAOS. Plenty of activity from this one over the past week. Stations heard were XW1A, XW1FAN, XW6KM and XW1X. Operator Kamphan, XW1FAN, seemed to be the most active over the past week. Watch around 21220, 21225 and 21260 kHz after 0830z or between 1330-1430z.

YI, IRAQ. Some interesting QSNs where reported over the past week. Jim, KT4CK, was spotted as YI/KT4CK on the DX cluster system. Jim is with or has been with the 101st Airborne and lives near Ft. Campbell. DX Mail Reflectors suggest he was trying to attempt to contact his family on 21312 kHz at 1438z and 21278 kHz at 1632z. Also, heard was Mark, NG5L, signing as YI/NG5L over the past weekend. He was very active on 20 meters after/or just before 0500z and between 1945 and 2300z. Watch around 14195 kHz and 14240 kHz. Mark is with the 82nd Airborne in the Iraqi desert near Nassaryia. Remember, WORK FIRST WORRY LATER.

YK, SYRIA. Saad, N5FF, informs OPDX of the following: "This is to advise the DX community that my planned trip to the YK land, initially scheduled for tomorrow (April 12th), has been postponed due to the current overall situation in the Middle East. No firm date has been set for my trip yet, but it's possible to take place in couple of weeks or so, and it may even be postponed till later on in the year. I guess it's fair to say that the trip is now up in the air, but I will update you the minute I have concrete plans."

ZA, ALBANIA. Fred, IK7JWX, reports to look for "Team ZA3/ On The Air" from the city of Durazzo, Albania, May 29th through June 3rd. Activity will be on HF, WARC, and 6/2 meters. Modes to be used are: CW, SSB, RTTY and PSK31. Their Grid Square will be JN91RH. Operators are: ZA1FD, ZA5G, IK7JWX, IK7LMX, IZ7CTE, IZ7ATN, IZ7BNH, IK7QMJ, IK7FPX, IK2DUW, IZ2DPX, IK6CAC, IZ0CKJ, IV3FSG, IK5MDF and IK5BHN. All the operators will have the prefix ZA3/. Please, QSL via their home call, either the bureau or direct w/SASE (addresses on ).

ZD8, ASCENSION ISLAND. Jim, N6TJ, will once again be active as ZD8Z from April 16-26th. Activity will be on CW/SSB on the WARC bands and low bands. QSL via VE3HO, direct ONLY!

ZF, CAYMAN ISLAND. John, NC8V, informs OPDX that he will be conducting his usual operation from the Little Cayman Island (NA-016) this year from April 12th through April 19th. He will be using the call-sign F2JC and will be operating mostly SSB near the IOTA frequencies on 20, 15, 12 and 10 meters. He will have a 6 meter antenna with him this year and will give that a try if the band should open. QSLs should go to his home address 15100 E. Scatter Ridge Rd., Athens OH 45701 (w/SASE etc... would be appreciated).

PROPAGATION FORECAST

Propagation de K7RA

Sunspots and solar flux values dropped this week after a rise the week prior. Average daily sunspot numbers were down nearly 72 points, while average daily solar flux values were down nearly 21 points. Solar flux is expected to decline, dropping below 100 by Sunday, April 13. It should reach a minimum around 85 from April 16-17. A solar flux value of 85 is about equivalent to a nominal sunspot number of 28.7. Solar flux at 70 or below is generally what you see when the sunspot count is 0. For instance, for over a month from September 13 to October 20, 1996 the sunspot number was 0 every day. Solar flux during this period ranged from 66.4 to 70. On Monday of this week helioseismic holography revealed a large sunspot group forming on the sun's far side. This was another week with active geomagnetic conditions, although the planetary A index never went above 26. April 8 brought a brief G1 level geomagnetic storm caused by solar wind. On April 10 earth is entering another solar wind stream. The predicted planetary A index value for Friday is 20, followed by 15 for every day through April 19. Pat, W5OZI in Texas wrote last week to say he'd been hearing his own backscatter echoes from the south on 6-meters. He was working ZP6CW in Paraguay with the ZP6 beaming west. On April 4 Pat wrote, "Yesterday, was the same, highlighted by a QSO with 5W1SA in Western Samoa at 2202z followed an hour later with a quick QSO with ZL3TY." is showing a neat drawing of twenty days of a sunspot group's progression across the solar disk, from March 12 through March 31. See it at . This web site is produced by Dr. Tony Williams, who has a new service out called Space Weather Phone. This service provides verbal alerts of space weather events, and you can set alert levels and times of day when it will call you concerning geomagnetic storms and aurora warnings. You can learn about it at . Here are some web sites we haven't mentioned in awhile. Check for an archive of solar images. For daily space weather, check and . For daily space weather alerts, check . For more information about propagation and an explanation of the numbers used in this bulletin see the Propagation page on the ARRL Web site at . Sunspot numbers for April 3 through 9 were 154, 148, 94, 75, 77, 52, and 88, with a mean of 98.3. 10.7 cm flux was 155.7, 165.5, 137.4, 125.9, 115.6, 112.3, and 109.4, with a mean of 131.7. Estimated planetary A indices were 14, 26, 23, 9, 6, 20, and 25, with a mean of 17.6.

MLDXCC 2003 Meeting Schedule

May 17

June 21

July 19

August 23

September 20

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Membership criteria may be obtained by writing the Secretary/Treasurer at:

MLDXCC

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The MLDXCC NEWSLETTER

Information may be reproduced provided credit is given MLDXCC.

2003 Officers of the MLDXCC

Ron St. Jean, KG6CMS, President

e mail kg6cms@

Dick Wilson, K6LRN, VP

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Gary Stilwell, KI6T, Secty/Treas.

E-mail: ki6t@

Ray Parker, ND6S, Director

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Rick Casey, W6RKC, Director

E-mail: ab1u@

Net: Wednesday’s 19:30 local, W6SF repeater 147.165 (+600)

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Rick Samoian, W6SR

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Contest Feedback

Dick Wilson, K6LRN

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QSL Manager:

Norm Regan, WA6SJQ

Publicity Chairperson

Brandt Woodard, K6BEW

ARRL Awards Checkers

DXCC

Gary Stillwell, KI6T

Ken Anderson, K6TA

WAS & others Dennis King, N6KD

ARRL Sixth District QSL Bureau

PO Box 530, Weed, CA 96094-0530.

For more information, visit the ARRL Sixth District QSL Bureau Web site .

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