Author - Charles M0OXO

IOTA Annual Submissions

This is a suitable time to remind you that the last date for sending score updates to checkpoints, both online or by QSL cards, for inclusion in the 2021 Honour Roll and Annual Listings is 31 January 2021. If cards are postmarked after that date, and each year checkpoints receive some, they are processed in the normal way but the scores are held over to the following year’s listing. The current disruption to postal services as a result of coronavirus suggests that, where cards are to be sent, they should be sent in good time to enable credit to be given. It is important that participants who have not updated since the 2016 annual listings and wish to remain listed should note the 5 year cut-off rule and make a submission before 31 January 2021. If you have not logged into your record for more than two years, you will need to revalidate your registration through [email protected]. Do not leave it to the last moment as you may run out of time.

Halim Dani YB2TJV – SK

Its with deep sadness we have to report that Halim Dani, YB2TJV (who is also the IARU R3 Disaster Chairman), passed away on 12 December 2020.

Such sad news for someone we (and I personally) are proud to have called a friend. Dani was a great guy, a family man with young children. He will be missed by many 😪

Halim Dani – YB2TJV. Started active on ham radio by joining ORARI in 1982 with callsign YD2DVM then 1984 upgraded to YC2DVM. In 2003 he changed to YC2TJV and in 2007 as an Advanced Licensee to YB2TJV. Preferring DX-ing he enjoyed the activating side of the hobby and worked as a QSL Manager for YE2IPY  (Indonesian Polar Year) and YE2H ( lighthouse IDO-374. He also maintained the APRS system.

Dani was also renowned for producing many of the Logo’s used in out hobby for major Dxpeditions, individual Logo’s and more generally for his design work. He produced most of the Logo’s used by myself over the last 5/6 yesrs including the M0OXO QSL Manager and OQRS Logo’s with which you are all familiar.

RIP, sleep well OM 😪

JW7GIA Svalbard

 
Kenneth (La7GIA) is currently qrv from Svalbard (IOTA EU-026) where he will participate in CQWW CW this coming weekend as JW7GIA.
 
He is currently QRV on 80/40m using a Spiderpole with which he has had fun tuning it in -8C temperatures and heavy Snowfall.  He says ”Africa next 😉 ”
 
Qsl via LOTW only

NL0H St Lawrence Island, Alaska NA-040

Some of you will have worked Henry Parker (originally from Nome, Alaska) earlier in the year when he operated as NL0H/P from St.Lawrence Island, Alaska (IOTA NA-040).
 
Henry has relocated to St. Lawrence in the Bering Sea and now as a permanent resident there, thus providing more activity on the Bands from the Island. There will be three separate logs on M0OXO OQRS relating to Henry’s past activity and his Callsign moving forward;
 
NL0H (from when Henry lived on the mainland)
NL0H/P NA-040 (His initial portable operations from the Island)
NL0H NA-040 (His current Callsign but now as a resident on the Island).
 
If you are unsure of where you worked Henry, check all three logbooks or email me.
New full colour Qsl Cards are currently in Print and will be available via M0OXO OQRS or Direct Post Mail.

 

Radio ‘sparks’ in the Battle of the Atlantic WW2

When Nazi Germany invaded neutral Norway in 1940, most of Norway’s merchant fleet was at sea, Although the Germans ordered them home, not one turned back. King Haakon VII and his government went into exile in London. From there, they formed Nortraship (the Norwegian Shipping and Trade Mission), which administered the Norwegian merchant fleet outside German-controlled areas. Nortraship operated some 1,000 vessels and was the largest shipping company in the world. It made a major contribution to the Allied war effort. 
 

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Sunspot for Election Day!

One of the biggest sunspots in years is emerging on the sun today. Hours ago it produced a C-class solar flare and a minor radio blackout over the Indian Ocean.
 
This sunspot, if it holds itself together, will face Earth for the next two weeks as it rotates across the face of the sun, potentially setting the stage for a sustained stretch of solar activity.

8Q7CQ Filaidhoo Island, Maldives

Nobby, G0VJG will be active again as 8Q7CQ, this time from Reethi Faru, Filaidhoo Island (IOTA AS-013) on the Maldive Islands.

He will operate on the 80 – 10m Bands using SSB & Digital modes, the operation being between the 14th and 29th of January 2021.

QSL via M0OXO OQRS or Direct Post Mail

CQWW SSB 2020

This weekend sees the biggest Contest of the Year arrive again with the CQWW Contest running between October 24-25, 2020.
 
By far the best place to find the runners and riders of the Contest is the NG3K Website (link below) where Bill provides us with all the information necessary, to see who is participating and of course their contact and QSL routes.
 
Thanks Bill as always for this great service……
 

IOTA Awards Manager – News

I am please to announce 2 x 1000 Islands Trophies have today been mailed, one to Ukraine and the second to Germany.
 
Congratulations to the two recipients, a great achievement!