Archive - September 2021

VY0ERC Ellesmere Island, Nunavut

30th September 2021
VY0ERC Ellesmere Island, Nunavut & VE3KTB/VE8 Yellowknife, Canada
 
I was please to receive a message this morning from Pierre (VE3KTB) & Alex (VE1RUS) to say that they hope to be back at the Eureka site (IOTA NA-008) around the 11th October 2021.
 
Meanwhile they are isolating prior to their departure to Eureka in Yellowknife, Canada when they will be erecting antennas and hope to be on air as VE3KTB/VE8.
 
They will be qrv on all modes in particular FT8 and by Satellite and hope to be QRV in Contests such as CQWW and the ARRL Sweepstakes.
 
You may be interested to see the Weather Data from the PEARL Research Station at Eureka in the image below.
 

3B9FR Rodrigues Island

25th September 2021
Today I have spoken with Robert who tells me that he is now active again within the hobby on HF.
 
For those that are relatively new to the hobby, Robert 3B9FR is a resident of Rodrigues Island (DXCC Entity and IOTA (AF-017). He is mainly a CW Op and he did do the occasional SSB and FT8 modes.
 
QRZ.Com is now up to date so please stop all the Cluster comments and let’s welcome Robert back in our Community.
 
*****Update – First Log now available https://www.m0oxo.com/oqrs
 

9X2AW Rwanda Sept 2021

19th September 2021
Harald is now qrv in Kigali, Rwanda. After initial problems with Customs seizing his equipment, he has now managed to get on air and his first log has now been uploaded to M0OXO OQRS.
 
You can find his log available to search and to request his QSL Cards on the link below.
 
Please report and Missing or Busted Calls using the ”QSO Missing?” form on OQRS. This is the fastest way to get your enquiry dealt with, Social media requests will not be answered.
 
 
LOTW will be uploaded at the end of his Dxpedition.

Swains Island Dxpedition

19th September 2021
On September 18 the Dutch team members met during the annual HF/DX meeting organised by the Dutch Radio Amateur Society VERON.
 
Ronald PA3EWP gave a presentation on the planning phase and the reason to postpone up to where we are now.
Of course, like our U.S. members did before, we had to take a picture of the Dutch team members. L to R: Alex PA1AW (webmaster/pilot), Marcel PA9M, Gerben PG5M, Martin PA4WM and Ronald PA3EWP.
 

Reporting NIL (Not In Log) queries

13th September 2021

Reporting QSO’s that are not in the log is very easy using the NIL Form on my Bespoke OQRS.

Simply enter the Bespoke OQRS Logsearch page and select the Log that you wish to search. You will usually get a response from your search which will show a table showing Green coloured ticks. These green Ticks will show the Band Slots you have in this available log.

If you are unlucky and have QSO’s missing (no Green Ticks in the appropriate Band/Mode slots) or a total NIL sheet with no Band Slots showing, then you will be presented with this image.

 

Below the box you will see a button labelled ‘Not In Log?’. All you need to do is to click there and then you will get the following screen.

Its very easy to complete and should take no longer than a few minutes. Simply hit the SEND button once complete and it will be send to my work queue awaiting processing. Once you have sent it, you will receive a auto-generated reply saying the request has been received by the QSL Manager.

This NIL form is the most efficient way to get your enquiry dealt with. In most cases you are guaranteed a reply at the latest, 24 hours after submission. Email requests and Social media requests are not dealt with as I have no record of the enquiry once dealt with. OQRS keeps all enquiries which is another great tool in my system and allows back tracking of any enquiry should it be needed.

Please use the NIL Form at every opportunity. It was designed specifically for you to streamline the process of reporting Busted and/or Missing Calls.

QSL request standards slipping again

12th September 2021

It pains me yet again to have to Post about this situation. It seems once more standards are slipping and people are just trying it on.

Today alone I received 3 letters;

1) Request from EU for 3 cards GS8VL, 4L8A & V31MA….1 USD enclosed & SAE

 2) Request from EU, 3D2TS, V31MA & G4RCG ….. 0 (Zero) Dollars enclosed No SAE 

3) Request from EU, 9N1DX, 3D2TS, & VK5IR……1 USD enclosed NO SAE

One Dollar ($1.00) in an envelope is NOT sufficient to cover mailing costs for one card to EU or Internationally. A minimum of $2 by Post will cover ONE CARD only.

If you want one card or more than one card then read the QSL instructions and send the correct money https://www.m0oxo.com/direct-a-bureau-instructions/ .I will not pay for your mailing costs. You aren’t paying for a card, you are contributing to the amount it costs to Post the card to you and for those that don’t realise it, 2, 3, 4 extra cards in an envelope weigh more, – amazing but it’s true!

If your Direct requested Card doesn’t arrive then ask yourself why!

9X2AW Rwanda

7th September 2021
I had a phone call from Harald (DF2WO) last night to say his plans were all ok for his upcoming trip to Rwanda. He said restrictions were tight this time and its not easy to enter or leave due to the Pandemic but he expects to be qrv from the 13th until the 28th of September 2021.
 
His QTH will be just north of Kigali, where he will have a Yaesu 991A and a “bamboo stick” hexbeam, multiband dipole and a vertical. He plans to do FT8, FT4, SSB, CW and the QO-100 satellite on 2M and 70cm.
 
QSL via M0OXO. LOTW uploads will be at the end of his stay.

3Y0J Press Release #5

6th September 2021

August 30, 2021  

​3Y0J DXpedition to Bouvet Island, November 2022  

We are happy to announce that Northern California DX Foundation has voted to grant $100,000 to the upcoming 3Y0J DXpedition to Bouvet. This is an all-time high donation and matches the previous donation given to Bouvet projects. The 3Y0J team is very grateful and honored in the trust NCDXF has shown by supporting our project.  

The DXpedition will be carried out by “Amateur Radio DXpeditions”, a Norwegian non-profit organization created for the purpose of conducting DXpeditions. With an overall budget of $650,000 this will be the most expensive DXpedition ever. With the NCDXF donation we hope to succeed in the fundraising as our first payment milestone for the vessel contract is approaching. By end October we will pay 30% of the vessel contract, and by that time we must have regained confidence that we can succeed financially. We critically need upfront donations to be able to make it. While we have a solid plan, a “young and strong team”, a dedicated crew and vessel Marama – we need your upfront support to go there and make 120,000 QSOs from Cape Fie at Bouvet. 

Donations to the 3Y0J project can be done through paypal on our website or by bank wire transfer. 

We wish to recognize and thank the Northern California DX Foundation as the Lead Sponsor for our 3Y0J DXpedition to Bouvet. Without the support of the NCDXF, operations to the world’s rarest entities would be difficult.  

You can follow our plans from our website and the 3Y0J Facebook pages: 

http://www.3y0j.no  

Thank you,  

Ken Opskar LA7GIA, Co-Leader  

Rune Oye LA7THA, Co-Leader