Volume 6, Number 10



Volume 10, Number 2 February 2005

The Nugget

The Newsletter of the Mother Lode DX/Contest Club

MEETING DATE, LOCATION & PROGRAM

When: Saturday, February 26th, 11:30AM-14: 30PM

Where: Ione Hotel, 25 West Main St., Ione, CA 95640 Phone: 209-274-6082, Order from their menu.

What: This month's program will be a video of the 1994 DXpedition to Peter I Island (3Y0PI). This presentation was supposed to have coincided with the 3Y0X operation that would have started up this past weekend. Maybe this video will give us all some insights of the magnitude that a DXpedition to this forbidding location presents

de Jim WX6V.

MLDXCC meetings for balance of 2005. Subject to modification.

March 19 Ione Hotel Ione, CA

April 9 Ione Hotel Ione, CA

May 21 Ione Hotel Ione, CA

June 18 Ione Hotel Ione, CA (Pre-Field Day meeting)

July 23 Senior Center in Jackson?? Ione Hotel, maybe??

August 13 Ione Hotel NAQP-CW on 6th/SSB on 20

September 24 Ione Hotel Sprints on 10th & 17th

October 15 Ione Hotel (If we would rather attend Pacificon, meeting on

Oct 8) CQP is on Oct 1 & 2...CQWW SSB Oct 29 & 30 Nominations

November 12 Ione Hotel (SS/CW on 5th & 6th, SSB on 19th & 20th) Elections

December 17 Ione Hotel (Could have on 3rd-ARRL 160, if 17th too close

to Christmas)

January 28 2006 Ione Hotel (CQ WW 160 CW)

Any suggestions, ideas, major objections, quibbles?? Thanks for reading...73,

Dick K6LRN

As most of you know, I am the “stuckee” to setup the “Contest Dinner” at the 05’ DX Convention in Visalia. It will be Friday night, however I am still waiting for the final contract to sign. Just as soon as that happens I will let everyone know - thanks! – Jeff WK6I

FROM THE PREZ

DUES ARE DUE! Basic dues are $15 minimum. It is $10 more, if you want a paper copy of the ‘Nugget’. Donations gladly accepted. Please, pay at meeting…next best, mail to Treasurer, Carolyn Wilson, K6TKD at Box 273, Somerset, CA., 95684-0273.

Someone far wiser than I once stated about speeches…in my case it applies to statements made during meetings…”There are three speeches; the one you intended to give, the one you did give and the one you should have given.”

I am referring to comments about Round Table as a meeting place discussion. I spoke about the $100 RT management wanted as a guarantee that we would be spending that much to use their so-called banquet room. I failed to mention the part about not being able to reserve the room more than 30 days in advance. This, to me was more of a deal breaker than the $100. If someone were to reserve before us, we would be scrambling to find a place to meet. We had one mix-up over meeting venue a couple of years ago…that is one too many!!

Congrats to Bill, KI6PG, Ken, K6TA, Jeff WK6I, Rick W6SR+WX6V, KF6T, NU6T, KG6CMS (now N6NIA) for great scores in recent contests. Bill & Ken were first in class in IARU.

Thanks to all who opted to receive the ‘Nugget’ via email. It looks like we will be able to postpone a dues increase until next year. Many members have renewed on time…thanks, again. If funds are needed for any unusual expenses we might encounter for the balance of the year, we can ask for donations or assess ourselves. As of now, Field Day would be one possible expense.

…And speaking of Field Day…yes, it is about four months off. It is not too early to be looking for a beam for 20 meters (or parts to build one) or to brush up on CW, for instance.

Is everyone able to access the MLDXCC ‘reflector?? See info elsewhere in ‘Nugget’ on how to sign up. Help is available…ask Jeff or Ron, for instance.

Thanks to Rick, W6SR I got the antennas turning again. High winds in early January broke the aluminum casting on the Yaesu GS-800 rotator and left the antennas pointing north. I had been using a ‘Genie-Lift’ from Ace Rentals on Missouri Flat Rd. in Placerville to perform maintenance on tower. In desperation, I rented 5 sections of steel scaffolding to get to the 30’ level. I do not like to climb crank-up towers in general and this one in particular. With Rick on the ground shouting advice & encouragement we ‘got ‘er done’!!

An envelope from Germany held a card for CW contacts with TX9-Chesterfield Island making 316 confirmed on CW. Still waiting for SSB card…worked them on 75 ssb…that will be # 100 on 75/80.

Does anyone have a larger TV we can use for video presentation?? I can bring VCR. We have a 13” TV but should have one a little larger so all can see.

Deadline for pre-registration for the International DX Convention is March 15. After that date, it will cost you $70. Info, including forms can be found at the website located at Ncdxc/Convention.

Make sure you sign in at the meeting.

Agenda;

Call to order

Roll Call

Introductions & recognition of guests

Acceptance of minutes & treasurer reports as printed in ‘Nugget’

Committee reports

Old business

New business

Recognition of achievements, milestones, etc.

Adjourn

Hope to see everyone in Ione next Saturday!

de Dick K6LRN

NEWS FLASH! (Possible New Country?).

Members of the American Samoa Amateur Radio Association (ASARA) have announced a DXpedition to Swains Island (IOTA OC-200) to take place March 2-6th. Operators will be Kan/JA1BK, John/K1ER/KH6, Tet/JH1JGX/AH7C, Yuichi/JR2KDN, Paul/F6EXV, Jim/N9TK and

Burt/W0MY (ex-W0RLX). The callsign will be KH8SI. Activity will be on

160-10 meters on the usual DX and IOTA frequencies. Modes will be CW, SSB and RTTY. Pilot base stations are: AH8LG, WA2MOE, JE2EHP and KH6BZF. QSL Manager will be VE3HO. The DXpedition's support team is: Yaesu, Steppir, JH1BUO and WD4NGB. The original ASARA project team members; JA1BK, AH8LG, K1ER, KH6BZF, K5FUV, W1RU, WA2MOE and AH7C, believe Swain Island, a privately owned island which is part of American Samoa, has a sufficient distance from Tutuila (where Pago Pago is located) to qualify as a new DXCC entity - per the original DXCC2000 Criteria. They also believe the island falls into the same category as Chesterfield, Ducie, and the Australes and Marquesas. The American Samoa's Amateur Radio Association had applied for membership in the IARU under Article II, paragraph 2. of the IARU Constitution, which states, "There shall be only one Member-Society representing a country or separate territory."

American Samoa, is in fact, a separate territory of the United States, and is thus eligible. However, the ARRL Board of Directors in January 2004 removed paragraph 1.c) from the DXCC criteria for determining a DXCC Entity. This provision, implemented in 1998 as part of the DXCC 2000 Program, had provided that "An Entity will be added to the DXCC List as a Political Entity if it ...has a separate IARU Member Society."

For more details, maps and pictures, we "highly" suggest that Dxers visit the following Web page:

We also recommend you read the section under "The Rough Road to IARU".

Courtesy of the Ohio/Penn DX Bulletin No. 698

The VP Says…………….

Greetings from beautiful uptown Auburn,

Sure enjoyed our new meeting location at the Ione Hotel last month. The place may be old, but I found it to be both historic and classy. The food was very good too! Also enjoyed the line noise presentation given by Bob Pretzer. It was very revealing just how little the average person knows about electronic things. Unfortunately, I will have to miss this month's meeting. My wife's best friend is renewing wedding vows with her husband of 22 years up in Lake Tahoe next weekend. My wife and I are serving as maid of honor and best man for this event.

Not much radio activity from my place - although I did pick up a new one when I worked 3D2RR on Rotuma Island recently as well as a few new band country contacts on 30 and 80 meters. The mailman brought me a huge envelope of QSL cards last week - mostly from last year's WPX contest. Surprisingly, the JA cards were outnumbered by cards from other places! Speaking of WPX, looks like we may operate WPX SSB as a multi-single from W6SR again this year. The contest is over the weekend of March 25-27.

Been working a little bit more on my tower project. The excavator man has been here to

check out the site of the dig - now we are waiting for something besides a rainy day. In the meantime, I got busy with my chain saw, removing several trees that were in the

vicinity of the new tower. Topped that off with a massive bonfire to get rid of the brush - great fun!

Too bad about the postponement of the 3Y0X DXpedition again for another year. I still

need this one on CW. In the meantime, the upcoming DXpedition to Kerguelen next month should generate some excitement on the bands.

That's about it from here. See ya in the pileups!

Jim -WX6V-

Recent contest scores posted on the reflector:

KI6T - CQ 160 Meter CW Contest 23,300

K6LRN - NA Sprint 8,364

WK6I - CQ RTTY WPX 1,371,534

(nice job- Jeff!)

Send future results to wx6v@. Jim -WX6V-

Using our MLDXCC E-mail Reflector

Take advantage of the MLDXCC email reflector to stay current on club and member news. This is a standard "Mailman" system provided to the club by the hosts of : AD1C, KM3T, W4AN and N5KO.

We hope you will find it an effective means of communication within the club. This is a closed reflector. Only MLDXCC members may subscribe to it and any message sent to it will go only to MLDXCC members currently subscribed. We encourage you to use the reflector for announcements of interest to MLDXCC members such as:

* Contest results, including:

* contest name

* operator callsign(s)

* station callsign (if different)

* entry class (e.g., SO15LP, MSABHP, etc.)

* QSOs

* mults

* score

* soapbox comments (bragging, lies, etc.)

* Antenna parties

* Mailing parties

* Special events

* Items for sale or wanted (please limit to contesting-related items -- no junk, please!)

* Operators wanted or available

Posting

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Aliases

If you want to use an alias, e.g., kg6cms@, as your subscription address, be advised that your postings will be rejected as "non-member submissions" because your 'From:' address will be your real email address, not the alias which is subscribed. However, there is an easy solution to this. Simply send the list administrator (WK6I, mldxcc-owner@), any email addresses you may wish to post messages from and they will be added to a special list of approved addresses to post. These additional addresses will only be allowed to post, i.e., no reflector postings will be sent to them.

Jeff Stai jds@

Twisted Oak Winery

MLDXCC TREASURER’S REPORT, DECEMBER

Balance January 1, 2005 $276.51

Income: Donations 15.00

Dues 315.00

$330.00

Expenses: Badge 12.87

Speaker _8.00

$20.87

Balance January 31, 2005:

Cash 175.36

Checking 410.28

$585.64

Carolyn Wilson, K6TKD, Treasurer

EDITOR’S MESSAGE

This past month found Karen and I catching-up on medical and dental appointments, some were scheduled, and others were overdue because we had delayed them because of the holidays. Anyway, at least a couple of times a week we have been makin’ a trek down the hill for medical stuff. We will be glad when all this probing and poking this stuff is over, it makes us feel old, HI HI

My mother has finally decided to move out of her apartment (at 89 years old it’s about time) and into a small second home on my brother’s property in Sacramento. Karen and I gathered all the small stuff from her apartment and moved it for her, the movers handled all the big stuff. Another few days up and down the hill HI HI. However, since she has decided to live with my brother, and not here, the ol’ radio shack got a reprieve and does not have to be dismantled and moved. Hooray!

A week a go Tuesday, Norm N6JV, Mike W6FI and I visited Ken (TA) and Kay (KO) QTH to tighten the mast on their 89’ tower. It had worked loose in the recent windstorms and was in the (almost) freewheeling mode. All went FB, and we even got Ken’s Alpha 87A re-assembled and back on-line after a repair visit at the Alpha factory. All and all we spent 2-3 hours there and had a nice visit. Ken who is recuperating from a recent fall, was in good sprits and has been on the air while he mends. After the work party, Kay took us out to lunch at a very good Mexican restaurant in the area. Gee, maybe we should do this more often?

Generally condition this past month were yucky on the low bands but I did manage to put a few new band countries in the log:

VP2E and YV5MBX on 160M.

EI9HX on 17M

6O0CW on 30 and 40M.

As well as VK0MT on 75M

I was playing around during the ARRL CW this weekend, but the A and K were pretty high and the lower bands were noisy. I found a couple of CU2’s and YO’s that I needed on 40M and not much else.

73 and CU all at the meeting, de Rick W6SR

MEMBER’S NEWS & STUFF FER SALE

I attended the Visalia planning meeting. The US Tower BBQ is now definitely on, but you will have to drive 15 miles east of town to get to their new location. The lunch hour will be 11-1 to accommodate the extra travel time. Prize drawings will be at

10, 1 and 3. The prize room will be open from 10 to 11. and 1 to 6 on Saturday. On Sunday, the prize room will be open at the end of the breakfast program, from approximately 11 to noon.

DX: worked DX0K on Spratly for a new one.

Rick N6RK

Update on N6XI: Finally decided to do something about the embarrassing boxes of unanswered QSL cards littering the floor of my ham shack: A few months ago, I bought a copy of DX4Win and dumped all the logs I could find into it. Then I painfully entered my last couple of paper logbooks covering most of 2001-2003. I used Log Convert to generate ADIF from CT and trlog files and exported ADIF directly from Writelog. DX4Win, despite its atrocious user interface, ate all this stuff up pretty happily. The main challenge was figuring out the draconian keystroke sequences for manipulating "group numbers" and "group names" which were necessary to keep Saratoga and Truckee Q's straight. Hope I got it right... I then started working on the buro QSLs and had sent out about 1500 cards (perhaps half of the backlog) when I ran out of Truckee card stock.

While waiting for cards, I joined ARRL's Logbook of the World Program, arguably one of the most over-engineered pieces of clerical automation in history. Someone takes this whole business way too seriously! Today I uploaded about 33,000 Qs to that system, encountering about 4,000 insta-matches. I don't care much about using them for award credit (I've never applied for DXCC.) but I hope this repository will reduce the flow of postcards. I'm also hoping that my retirement-induced determination to finally answer QSL cards lasts long enough to finish the job. I have to find half a dozen missing logs, print cards for some special calls, and process the rest of the stacks. I can see the light at the end of

the tunnel!73, Rick

Ray Tee’s-off on Logbook of the World

Congratulations! You made one of the best hobbies in the world into a pain in the rear end.

I've just wasted hours trying to renew my certificate. I have a copy of the renewal directions and version 1.10. The renewal option is not available and I don't have a certificate to renew. That's strange? I've uploaded five files previously.

I never been more PO'd and I don't mean the post office, about anything in ham radio any more than the cobbled up mess called Log Book of the World. Even the jammers in pileups don' give me this kind of grief.

I guess I'm not alone. Less than 16 percent of the hams who took your survey reported favorable on Lotw.

The fact that the certificates expire every year for security reasons is another weird feature.

My FCC license is good for ten years, my passport is good for years and even my driver’s license is good for SIX! What's wrong with Lotw? Someone going to steal DXCC? And if they did, what the heck do they have, that 99.99% of the people in the world don't even know about? Anyone ever buy a lunch with DXCC? Jeez, I can get a nickel for an empty Coke bottle. Check your survey again. Out of the 2-thousand plus hams that took your survey, how many didn't know what Lotw can do for them.

It's my opinion that the creators of Lotw have lost touch with the meaning of HOBBY. We contest, chase DX and rag chew for the fun and adventure. Not subject us to more bureaucratic BS.,

So, just like when the jammers start ahloing and belching over dx pileups, I'll turn this aggravation OFF and enjoy building my eQSL account. 73 Ray ND6S

Help get KP1/KP5 on the Air!

My fellow DXers,

You have probably seen some info kicking around about KP1/KP5 lately....yes? I would like to share just a little bandwidth regarding this subject.

Work began over two years ago by the team that has been pressing this legislative approach. K4RT has invested SIGNIFICANT time at has own expense researching Fish & Wildlife's records on their denial of access. NA5U has put in great effort into compiling an email list. Many of you were contacted from this list requesting your help by contacting your congressman regarding this bill. We have two very influential Representatives co sponsoring this bill. I have been apart of this team and I can assure you, it is my sincere

opinion, that Fish & Wildlife Service will NOT change their decision on Special Use Permit access until they have been forced by a legal overturn or a legislative law is passed that REQUIRES they unlock the door. Those are the facts.

Ladies and gentlemen, it's time to fish or cut bait.

We have been given as much legislative and legal help on this as I have seen my 44 years chasing DX. We DO NOT want to miss this important opportunity to actually change this federal law. Now you might say, Glen, naah....don't think I'll take the time to email or call my representative,I already have them confirmed. Well, so do I ...OM.... but the restrictive approach the Fish & Wildlife are using for Desecheo, Navassa, Fallon Islands could very well extend to Baker, Johnson and other Pacific countries that are now under their jurisdiction. Aaaah.....so you do need some of them for band countries, huh?

Well, it is time to step up to the plate!!

PLEASE ....E-MAIL AND CALL YOUR CONGRESSMAN TO SUPPORT H.R. 298 (see webpage at: Sample letter to congressman)

Thanks, 73 Glen Kesselring K0JGH

UPCOMING EVENTS

Foothill Flea Market

2nd Saturday of each month from March through October at Lockheed, Sunnyvale.

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/UP-COMING CONTESTS

CQ 160-Meter Contest, SSB 0000Z, Feb 26 to 2359Z, Feb 27

Mississippi QSO Party 1500Z, Feb 26 to 0300Z, Feb 27

North American QSO Party, RTTY 1800Z, Feb 26 to 0600Z, Feb 27

High Speed Club CW Contest 0900Z-1100Z, Feb 27 and 1500Z-1700Z, Feb 27

North Carolina QSO Party 1700Z, Feb 27 to 0300Z, Feb 28 March, 2005

ARRL Inter. DX Contest, SSB 0000Z, Mar 5 to 2400Z, Mar 6

ARS Spartan Sprint (Mar) 0200Z-0400Z, Mar 8

Pesky Texan Armadillo Chase 0200Z-0400Z, Mar 10

Oklahoma QSO Party 1400Z, Mar 12 to 0200Z, Mar 13 and

1400Z-2000Z, Mar 13

North American Sprint, RTTY 0000Z-0400Z, Mar 13

Wisconsin QSO Party 1800Z, Mar 13 to 0100Z, Mar 14

BARTG HF RTTY Contest 0200Z, Mar 19 to 0200Z, Mar 21

SARL VHF/UHF Contest 1000Z, Mar 19 to 1000Z, Mar 20

Russian DX Contest 1200Z, Mar 19 to 1200Z, Mar 20

Virginia QSO Party 1800Z, Mar 19 to 0200Z, Mar 21

CQ WW WPX Contest, SSB 0000Z, Mar 26 to 2359Z

MLDXCC Club Meeting minutes for 29-Jan-2005

The meeting was called to order at 12:00PT sharp by President Dick Wilson (k6LRN). Club officers in attendance where VP WX6V, ND6S dir, KI6T dir, K6TKD Treas & KG6CMS Sec.

Guest Speaker Bob Pretzer was introduced to the club, followed by introductions of all club members.

Dick reviewed the current situation between the club and Round Table Pizza, and reminded all present to complete the sign-in sheet. This information will be later presented to the Ione hotel and possibly RTP.

Info was presented about K4VUD making an appearance at the Visalia convention April 15-17.

Minutes from the last meeting where accepted.

WX6V made a brief request for Field Day. Anyone knowing of a 20 meter mono-bander that the club cout use, Dick Wilson offered storage for the antenna. Please keep your eyes open at swaps. Jim stated he will accept parts and will build up if necessary. There was also another mention that we can also use additional operators to fill in the openings in the

schedule.

Rick N6RK announced that he had some folks sigh up to help him work the

prize room at the Visalia Convention, but that he still had openings in the schedule. Please contact Rick and help support him and the club. If you're going to Visalia, sign up for a few hours.

Jeff WK6I will be organizing the Contest Dinner at the Visalia Convention. They will be taking money at the door. Reservations and money in advance is also welcome.

Old Business:

The club heard discusstion concerning expenses for the Newsletter. Rick mentioned that expenses where down seeing that we have only three members paying for hardcopy newsletters.

New Business:

Dick and Carolyn presented the 2005 budget. A motion to accept the proposed budget was passed.

Bill K6KM offered an extra room for the Visalia convention. The room was quickly taken.

Shirley AA6K requested information be available on how to sign up for

and use the mldxcc club email reflector. Info currently exists on the club website . Additional info if needed is available on request to kg6cms@

Ray mentioned something which wasn't recorded....

Kay K6KO made an announcement that Ken K6TA had sustained a hip/leg injury as the result of an accident. Kay mentioned that Ken is home and recuperating and could probably enjoy any phone calls, email or any general harrasement that could be directed his way. The club certainly

wishes ken a speedy recovery.

A request was made to have a link to the ARRL DXCC webpage added to our

club webpage.

The meeting was adjourned at 12:40PT

Minutes respectfully submitted by Ron N6NIA

Subject: 3Y0X Peter I postponed to 2006

I am afraid we have bad news. At 1 AM local time today we learned that our charter vessel, the Cavendish Sea, had not yet sailed from the port of Comodoro Rivadavia. The Cavendish Sea was to sail to Ushuaia to pick up the Dxpedtion team and their equipment on Friday, Feb 18th. We were to sail before noon.

Because they have delayed their arrival until Sunday, and with a projected Monday departure, we have simply run out time. This latest delay on top of numerous previous delays, simply makes it impossible for us to spend a sufficient amount of time on Peter I to justify the DXpedition this year.

So, we have no choice but to postpone the DXpedition until 2006. We believe it is essential to allow enough time on Peter I to justify the monetary investment made by the team members, our sponsors, individual contributors, DX Clubs, DX Foundations.

After having the first vessel, the Antarctic Dream, default on their contract with us, then the helicopter company default on their contract and then after putting everything back together with an new boat and helicopter on this past Tuesday, the team has been on quite an emotional rollercoaster. Our sincerest thanks to everyone for the encouragement and support you offered us during this time. Thanks, Bob Allphin, K4UEE, Ralph Fedor, K0IR Don, N1DG Peter I pilot

UP-COMING DXPEDITIONS

Jan 1-Apr 19, 2005 DXCC: Djibouti

Callsign: J20FH QSL: F5PRU Buro

80-10m; CW SSB, perhaps digital; also QRV for REF contests, CW + SSB; spare time operation

Jan 4-Mar 31, 2005 DXCC: Macquarie Island

Callsign: VK0MT QSL: JE1LET Direct

HF bands, 1000-1100z; spare time operation

Jan 28-Feb 22, 2005 DXCC: Rotuma

Callsign: 3D2RR QSL: 3D2RE

all HF bands; CW SSB RTTY; see 3D2RE on for QSL info; QRV for CQ 160m CW + ARRL DX CW contests

Jan 29-Mar 1, 2005 DXCC: Spratly

Callsign: DX0K QSL: 4F2KWT

CW SSB; C3SS yagi + wires for WARC

Jan 31-Feb 17, 2005 DXCC: South Cook Islands

Callsign: ZK1 QSL: M3SDE Direct

By ZK1WET ZK1XMY ZK1SDE ZK1SDZ fm Aitutaki; 160-10m w/ focus on 20 17m; mainly SSB, but ZK1WET QRV in CW + RTTY; yagis for 20 17 10m + verts

Jan 31-Feb 28, 2005 DXCC: Malta

Callsign: 9H3RW QSL: G4IPE

mainly 20m SSB (14260 kHz); QSL OK via Buro or direct

February

Feb 7-Apr 7, 2005 DXCC: Niue

Callsign: ZK2 QSL:??

mainly SSB, some CW PSK RTTY; fm a motel on the west coast

Feb 8-Mar 20, 2005 DXCC: Chad

Callsign: TT8KLJ QSL: ON4IA

By YL2KL YL2LY YL2GM as 9Y4/homecall fm Tobago Is; All bands; CW SSB RTTY; fm 9Y4ZC QTH

Feb 10-Mar 14, 2005 DXCC: St Vincent

Callsign: J88DR QSL: G3TBK

By G3TBK fm NA-109; 160-10m; mainly CW RTTY, some SSB; QSL OK via Buro or direct

Feb 12-Mar 31, 2005 DXCC: Crozet

Callsign: FT_W QSL: F5BU

By F4EGX F5BU as FT1WK and FT5WJ fm Possession Is (AF-008); check 14278 kHz; SSB; spare time operation; end date unsure

Feb 13-Mar 22, 2005 DXCC: Bahamas

Callsign: C6A QSL: AK0m

By AK0M KC0RD as C6ASB and C6ASC fm Eleuthera (NA-001, FL16); 160-6m; mainly CW, some SSB and digital; wire verts

Feb 14-Mar 20, 2005 DXCC: St Maarten

Callsign: PJ7 QSL: W8EB

By W8EB W8DVC; 160-10m; SSB CW PSK31

Feb 16-Mar 14, 2005 DXCC: Dominica

Callsign: J73CCM QSL: SM0CCM

By SM0CCM; all bands; mainly CW RTTY, some PSK SSB; likely as few days as J70SWD fm Carib Indian Territory

Feb 20-26, 2005 DXCC: São Tomé & Principe

Callsign: S92RI QSL:??

By CT1APE CT1FFU CT2GLO fm Ilheu das Rolas (AF-023); 160-6m; SSB CW RTTY PSK31

Feb 21-24, 2005 DXCC: Antigua

Callsign: V25 QSL: Home Call Direct

By W1LR W4WX as V25LR and V25WX; 20-6m; mainly PSK31 RTTY

Feb 21-Mar 4, 2005 DXCC: Haiti

Callsign: HH4 QSL: See Info

By K4QD as HH4/K4QD (QSL via K4QD) and JA7KAC as HH4/K2AC (QSL via JA7AGO) as HH4/homecall fm NA-096 fm St Louis du Nord

Feb 22-Mar 5, 2005 DXCC: Peru

Callsign: OA4 QSL: SM1TDE

By SM1TDEas SM1TDE/OA4 fm Lima; 80-10m; focus on CW, WARC; QSL OK via Buro or direct

Feb 22-Mar 9, 2005 DXCC: British Virgin Islands Callsign: VP2V QSL: DL7DF

By DL7DF DL7UFR DL4WK; All bands, focus on low bands; SSB CW RTTY PSK31 SSTV; 3 stns, at least 1 stn QRV 24 hrs/day

Feb 23-Mar 3, 2005 DXCC: Trinidad & Tobago Callsign: 9Y4DLH QSL: DJ3FK

By DD8ZX, DG3FK DH6ICE DJ3FK DJ9RB DK7LX DK7PE DK7TF DL1FDS DL4FP fm Tobago Is (SA-009); 160-10m; SSB CW Digital

Feb 23-Mar 5, 2005 DXCC: Aruba

Callsign: P40 QSL: N2MM

By W2GD; all bands, incl WARC; CW; QRV in CQ160 SSB and ARRL DX Phone

Feb 24-Mar 2, 2005 DXCC: Montserrat

Callsign: VP2M QSL: Home Call Direct

By W1LR W4WX as VP2MHS and VP2MHX; 20-6m; mainly PSK31 RTTY

Feb 24-Mar 3, 2005 DXCC: Peter I

Callsign: 3Y0X QSL: K4YL Direct

Postponed until 2006 due to delays

Feb 24-Mar 3, 2005 DXCC: South Cook Islands

Callsign: ZK1 QSL: M3SDE Direct

By ZK1SDE ZK1SDZ fm Aitutaki (OC-083); 160-10m w/ focus on 20 17m; mainly SSB; yagis for 20 17 10m + verts

Feb 24-Mar 4, 2005 DXCC: Mauritania Callsign: 5T0CW QSL: G3SWH

By G3SWH G3RTE ON8RA ON5GA fm Nuachachott; 160-10m; CW only; at least 1 stn QRV 24hr/day; QSL OK via Buro, direct, or E-mail request for Buro

Feb 24-Mar 4, 2005 DXCC: St Kitts & Nevis

Callsign: V4 QSL: Home Call

By W1USN AA1M W1SSR as V4/homecall fm St Kitts; all HF bands; CW SSB PSK; QSL OK via Buro or CBA

Feb 24-Mar 8, 2005 DXCC: Montserrat

Callsign: VP2MDY QSL:??

Source: 425DXN (Jan 29, 2005)

Info: By N2NB fm NA-103; 160-6m; QRV in PSK31

Feb 25-Mar 11, 2005 DXCC: Namibia

Callsign: V51 QSL: Home Call

By SP6IXF SP7VC as V51/homecall; all bands

Feb 26-Mar 11, 2005 DXCC: Burkina Faso

Callsign: XT2JZ QSL: SM5DJZ

By SM5DJZ; 40-10m, possibly 80m; mainly CW; QRV for ARRL DX SSB; QSL OK via SM Buro

Feb 26-Mar 23, 2005 DXCC: Netherlands Antilles Callsign: PJ2 QSL: ??

By PA0VDV as PJ2/PA0VDV fm Curacao (SA-006)

Feb 27-Mar 20, 2005 DXCC: Dodecanese

Callsign: SV5 QSL: DJ7RJ Direct

By DJ7RJ fm Kos Is; focus on low bands, incl 160m

March

Mar 4-22, 2005 DXCC: Guadeloupe

Callsign: FG QSL: F6FXS

By F6FXS as FG/F6FXS; 40-10m; CW only; wire antennas; QSL OK via Buro or direct

Mar 7-17, 2005 DXCC: French Guiana

Callsign: TO7C QSL: F9IE

By F6KOP + others fm Ile du Salut (SA-020); 160-6m; CW SSB digital

Mar 9-16, 2005 DXCC: Jersey

Callsign: MJ QSL: Home Call

By K8PT K3PLV as MJ/homecall fm EU-013; 160-6m (at least 1 all-nighter on 80 160m); CW SSB RTTY PSK31; skeds OK via E-mail (CW/RTTY -- SSB/PSK31)

Mar 10-24, 2005 DXCC: Madeira

Callsign: CT3 QSL: Home Call

By DL3KWR DL3KWF as CT3/homecall fm AF-014; 80m + WARC focus; CW; E-mail request for Buro cards OK: DL3KWR or DL3KWF

Mar 14-17, 2005 DXCC: Vietnam

Callsign: XV3 QSL: Home Call

By JA9BV JA3DYU as XV3BV and XV3DYU fm Hoi An; 80 40 20 15m; CW SSB

Mar 14-24, 2005 DXCC: Netherlands Antilles Callsign: PJ4 QSL: Home Call

By DF7ZS as PJ4/DF7ZS; 40 20m; SSB RTTY; verticals; low power; QSL OK via Buro or direct

Mar 15-Apr 2, 2005 DXCC: Kerguelen

Callsign: FT/x QSL: TBA

By an international team

Mar 17-24, 2005 DXCC: Netherlands Antilles Callsign: PJ4 QSL: Home Call

By DK9VZ as PJ4/DK9VZ; WARC; CW; verticals; low power; QSL OK via Buro or direct

Mar 18-20, 2005 DXCC: Guam

Callsign: NH2 QSL: JH0MGJ

By JH0MGJ as AL5A/NH2; QSL OK via JARL Buro

Mar 18-23, 2005 DXCC: Taiwan

Callsign: BW2 QSL: Home Call

By JA9BV JA3DYU as BW2/homecall; 80 40 20 15m; CW SSB

Mar 18-28, 2005 DXCC: Marshall Islands

Callsign: V73 QSL: ??

By JA1JQY/V73JY JA1KJW/V73KJ JA1HEE/V73HE JI1FPO/V73OP fm Majuro Atoll (OC-029); 160-10m, focus on 160 80m for EU + ECNA; CW SSB, some RTTY

Mar 19-Apr 1, 2005 DXCC: Martinique

Callsign: FM QSL: F5TGR

By F5TGR; 40-10m; SSB CW; 100w; dipoles; QSL OK via Buro or direct

Mar 20-Apr 2, 2005 DXCC: St Lucia

Callsign: J6 QSL: WB5ZAM

By WB5ZAM as J6/WB5ZAM; QSL OK via Buro or direct

PROPAGATION FORECAST

Propagation Forecast Bulletin 7 ARLP007 From Tad Cook, K7RA

Seattle, WA February 18, 2005

To all radio amateurs

Conditions improved this week over last. The average daily sunspot number rose nearly 34 points to 75.1, and the geomagnetic indices

were down over the week. The geomagnetic field may become more active, and for February 18-20 the planetary A index is predicted at 20, 20 and 15. The major sunspot group affecting us this week will soon move off the visible solar disk, but there is a small sunspot group on the other side of the sun. Conditions should be fair to good for the ARRL International DX CW Contest this weekend.

Carl Luetzelschwab, K9LA has an interesting and useful propagation column in the March 2005 issue of WorldRadio. With ionosonde data he demonstrates how daily variations in solar flux have little effect on the MUF. Instead, propagation is better predicted with a smoothed sunspot number applied to seasonal variations.

For instance, this afternoon when I wanted a feeling for when 15 and 17 meters would still be open toward various locations, it was better to use W6ELprop with an average of sunspot numbers for the previous five days rather than today's solar flux. You can get the recent sunspot numbers from , and download W6ELprop from .

This afternoon I went out to the car to do some 17 meter mobile work. Geomagnetic indices were low and the band was good. I had a nice CW chat with KG0TS in Des Moines, Iowa, and then worked 9Y4/YL2GM in Tobago on SSB. Juris was in the Caribbean getting ready for the DX contest from 9Y4W this weekend.

If you would like to comment or have a tip, email the author at,k7ra@.

For more information concerning propagation and an explanation ofthe numbers used in this bulletin see the ARRL Technical Information Service propagation page at,

.

Sunspot numbers for February 10 through 16 were 63, 73, 72, 73, 115,69 and 61 with a mean of 75.1. 10.7 cm flux was 114.1, 114.1, 116.4,115.5, 118.1, 121.7 and 112.8, with a mean of 116.1. Estimated planetary A indices were 17, 11, 5, 4, 5, 5 and 13 with a mean of 8.6. Estimated mid-latitude A indices were 11, 7, 3, 2, 4, 1 and 8,with a mean of 5.1.

MLDXCC 2005 Meeting Schedule

February 26, 11:30AM-2:30PM, Ione Hotel

March 19, 11:30AM-2:30PM , Ione Hotel

April 9, 11:30AM-2:30PM, Ione Hotel

Membership Criteria

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

MLDXCC

PO Box 1073

Pine Grove, CA 95665-1073

The club website is:

The MLDXCC NEWSLETTER

Information may be reproduced provided credit is given MLDXCC.

2005 Officers of the MLDXCC

President: Dick Wilson, K6LRN,

k6lrn@

Vice Prez: Jim Vennenman, WX6V

wx6v@

Secretary: Ron St.Jean, N6NIA n6nia@

Treasurer: Carolyn Wilson, K6TKD

k6tkd@

Director: Ray Parker, ND6S

Nd6sarrl@

Director: Gary Stilwell, KI6T

E-mail: ki6t@

Nugget Editor: Rick Samoian,W6SR samoian@

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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