New Years 2009 may have come and gone but its never too late to resolve to help preserve and encourage CW activity across our amateur bands.  To celebrate the new year, come and join the NAQCC (North American QRP CW Club), a club for any and ALL CW enthusiasts around the world.

Our members include “Big Gun” contesters, hard-core QRPers, experimenters, ragchewers and SWLers; young and old alike.  As different as we may be, we all share one thing in common, and that is our love for CW.

We welcome all who want to help support CW and have at least some interest in using QRP from time-to-time. Our club runs monthly sprints and challenges. Plus we sponsor some additional special on-air activities during the year.

Membership is FREE and once you join you’re automatically a lifetime member!  So sign up today and help us keep CW alive and well.

Visit our web site at http://www.usatek.net/~yoel/.  You’ll find info on all of our various activities plus an online membership application.

We look forward to your support and hope to soon see your call added to our membership roster.

73,
Paul/KD2MX
NAQCC Membership Recruiter

On behalf of:
Tom, WY3H - NAQCC President
John, K3WWP - NAQCC Vice President
Larry, W2LJ - NAQCC Asst. Publicity Director
Dave, VA3RJ/VE3JDR - NAQCC Publicity Officer

or is it contesting versus DX’ing ?

It appears that a serious situation is brewing.

In order to confirm a QSO you need to be able to provide all 5 pieces of information which are callsign, date, time, band and mode. Currently the online call lookup services generally provide the band and mode once you enter a callsign, so there you have 3 pieces of information. The reason for leaving out the date and time is to reduce the number falsified QSO’s confirmations. (Cheating is a whole different topic).

The staff at CQ has decided to published the entire list of online logs for the the 2006 CQWW CW and SSB complete with all the QSO data.

The ARRL has long stated that if you are going to post online logs that it only contain a subset of the full log, they feel that this will maintain the integrity of the contact. While I agree that measure to keep the integrity of the QSO are necessary in a world with less than trustworthy people, this somewhat reminds me of a saying that we have in the information technology world of “security through obscurity”.

I am not siding with the ARRL or CQ at this point but the following questions exist:

• Why the sudden desire to publish the entire log for the contests?
• Should we evaluate the logging programs and the way the information is handled?
• Will the ARRL start to ban the QSO’s from every contest that publishes full log data?
  • If the ARRL bans QSO’s publish in the CQWW results, how are they going to manage it, that will require a lot of man power.

If CQWW QSOs dont count for DXCC credit, and CQ continues to publish the full logs, this has the potential to put a whole new face on the contesting and DX playing fields. Is it really all that different from clubs that have split due to interest in contesting versus DXing? Has this once trivial dichotomy finally gone to a larger level?

Will contest participation reduce over time due to DX Chasers only working folks outside the contest window? If so, this could be dangerous for the contest itself. Over the last few years the CQWW participantion has seen a slight increase in participants (particularly CW!!!) but the growth has been in the single digit percent.

Your comments and the comments of CQ and ARRL are always welcome.

Paul K4UJ

This message was posted on the TopBand reflector January 11, 2007 by Bill W4ZV. I made some minor edits and some others contributed to the email thread. What you see below is the culmination of many years of 160M DX Operating experience and in my opinion represents best practices for any DXpedition who works topband. Our hope is that by sharing the information more of us have better results on TopBand!

Reprinted with permission of Bill W4ZV.

Suggestion #1

Avoid using exact multiples (e.g. 1830.00) of 9 nd 10 kHz (i.e. not 1818, 1827, 1836, 1810, 1820, 830 and 1840). 9 kHz multiples often have BCI images or harmonics in Europe and 10 kHz multiples have the same in North America. Many Europeans make the mistake of operating on 1830.00 which is the worst possible choice for stations in North America to copy them.

Suggestion #2

• Avoid using 1817.5 when working North America. W1AW uses this for bulletins and code practice.
• Avoid 1818.5 when working the Pacific. There is a Digi-GPS station located in New Zealand on this frequency.

Suggestion #3
Remember to listen for JA’s in their 1810-1825 window before JA sunrise (i.e. 20-22z).

Suggestion #4

ALWAYS split at least 2 kHz.

Suggestion #5

Multiples of 0.5 kHz are good to avoid other image problems (e.g. 1826.5, 1827.5, etc).

Suggestion #6

Use appropriate modes and code speed. This normally means CW with speeds in the range of 20-30 WPM. Remember that you may be hearing stations much better than they are hearing you since NA/EU stations are probably using higher power to larger antennas than a typical DXpedition. QRN may also be very different at the NA/EU side compared to what you hear.

Unless you know you’re extremely strong, always sign the call of the station you answer at the end of your transmission (e.g W1BB W1BB 559 559 W1BB K). This will help with QSB and the possibility that on-frequency callers covered you when you first answer stations.

Suggestion #7

Try to operate around the clock early in the expedition. This will give you a good idea when propagation may exist, which is not always at
sunrise/sunset times.

Suggestion #8

Put your 160 antenna up at the beginning of the expedition. It takes no less effort than doing so at the end and you will maximize the probability of getting at least one good day of propagation and low QRN.

Bill W4ZV

This is a two man, AA7JV and HA7RY, mini expedition. HA7RY, Tomi, will be working the high bands during the day (when I will be diving) and I will work 160 and 80 bands at night.

George and Tomi will be using 500W into two vertical antenna systems. They have chosen the Spiderbeam Telescoping 60 foot mast for the 60 foot inverted L on 160M and 80M as well as the 40 foot Spiderbeam telescopic mast for 40M/30M/20M

George advises that they have not selected operating frequencies but is open for ideas.

We are scheduled to leave Cairns on the Motor Vessell Varzin (with me skippering), on Sep 22 and commence operations on Willis on Sep 25. Please note, however, that these dates are strongly WX dependent, the Varzin only being a 60 foot motor vessel, we may delay our departure waiting for favorable weather. I will e-mail advising any delays. Our intent is to set up on the North Cay, but according to recently received advise from VE5RA, Doug, the Middle Cay may be more suitable for landing. I intend to play it by ear. (Navigating between coral heads is a scary thing the best of times, so the ability to get close to the cay and a good anchorage will decide where we end up.) We intend to depart Willis on Oct 5.

Chris Lorek, G4HCL, has authorized me to inform everyone that he plans to be active from Sana, Yemen, once again as 7O/G4HCL from Monday 13 August until early on Wednesday 15 August. Chris has written permission and official authority to operate on all HF amateur bands under supervised conditions, but warns that it may or may not be possible to obtain the specific documentation that satisfies DXCC requirements. WFWL!

This is NOT A DXpedition but a business trip, and operation will therefore only be when possible and is only likely to be for short periods at a time. Chris will be using 1kW to a professional biconical monopole communications antenna. Activity will be SSB only, and probably only on 20m (look between 14170 and 14260kHz). QSL information for this operation is direct only to G4HCL,PO Box 400, Eastleigh SO53 4ZF, UK.

If Chris is able to get on the air for extended periods, this should certainly liven up the bands a little as a prelude to our 3B7C operation!

73,
Steve, 9M6DXX

NOT just another DXpedition: Liberia 2007

What inspires people to travel to a country, where others advise you not to go, where it is much too warm, where there’s hardly any comfort, no standard gas, electricity or water and where you are ashamed yourself that you are so rich. What inspires people to sacrifice their holidays for benevolence, pay for their travel and stay, and work hard every day (except Sunday), often under cumbersome circumstances.

Fortunately these people exist. An organization which facilitates this, and that itself is run by volunteers, is Mercy Ships. Mercy Ships programs promote health and well-being by serving the urgent surgical needs of the forgotten poor, and empowering developing communities. For this Mercy Ships uses seagoing hospital ships. On these hospital ships and bases ashore volunteers use their professional skills to make a difference. The new flagship of this organization is the Africa Mercy. With 6 operation rooms, laboratories and patient rooms for 78 patients 7000 operations can be performed per year and teams can go ashore to carry out different projects. At this moment the Africa Mercy is visiting the African country Liberia, that is being rebuilt after a number of tearing civil wars.

A Dutch group of radio amateurs, united in the DAGOE Foundation (DAGOE = Dutch Amateurs Going On Expedition), will support the work of Mercy Ships and at the same time help the Liberian radio amateur community. First week of October Arie PA3A, Henk PA3AWW, ad PA8AD and Arie PA3AN will leave for Africa for a radio expedition. Goal is to bring Liberia as DXCC entity on the air on all HF bands in SSB and CW, and at the same time bring the good work of Mercy Ships to the attention of the worldwide amateur radio community so that their projects will get more worldwide support.

Very special about this DXpedition is that the sponsoring (for example QSL green stamps or operating material) will be partly donated to the Liberian radio amateur community and partly to the rebuilding - and development projects of Mercy Ships in Liberia. The expedition will arrive in Liberia 3 October and a couple days later will be on the air. Departure date is set for 24 October.

For further information about this DAGOE DXpedition, its objectives and sponsoring, look at the Internet website www.liberia2007.com .

Further information on the DAGOE Foundation to see www.dagoe.com.

We are announcing our upcoming expedition to Equatorial Guinea 2007.

After 5 years without any kind of ham radio activity in this country and with many Ham Radio enthusiasts asking to hear 3C in their bands, we think it is very interesting for the world of DX to carry out a DXpedition at this time.

The team is composed by, Fred KH7Y, Vic EA5YN, Luis EA5BRE, y Elmo EA5BYP.

The expedition will take place in Malabo, (Bioko Island AF-010). We will be operating for 10 days in all the bands and modes, CW-SSB - RTTY.

The call sign authorized by the Equatorial Guinea Ministry of Communications is 3C7Y.

The expedition dates are from October 5 to October 15,

The QSLs can be sent to EA5BYP.

Sincerely,
Team 3C7Y

From Bob K4UEE,

The VooDoo Contest Group plans to do CQWW CW in November from 3X, Guinea. We will move our one tonne of equipment overland from Mali where we have been TZ5A for the past two years.

The eight-man team this year is AA7A, G3SXW, G4BWP, G4IRN, GM3YTS, K4UEE, K5VT, KC7V. The contest call-sign and personal call-signs will be announced later. QSL manager for the contest will be G3SXW. QSLs for personal call-signs go to the home-call.

As usual, we will enter the Multi-Multi category of the contest with mono-band antennas for all six bands and kilowatt amplifiers. This time we will be immediately beside salt-water, a real luxury!

Immediately before and after the contest we expect to be on the bands with personal call-signs. Also, AA7A + KC7V will do EME for several days.

CLIPPERTON ISLAND DXPEDITION 2008

Bob Grimmick, N6OX, will lead an international team to Clipperton Atoll in early March 2008. On the 30th anniversary of the 1978 FO0XA-XH dxpedition to Clipperton Atoll, the goal of our dxpedition is to make 100,000+ qso’s worldwide. Organization and management provided by John Kennon, N7CQQ, David Anderson, K4SV. Major sponsors include Icom America, Acom, SteppIR and HeilSound.

WEB SITE URL: www.clipperton2008.org/

Bill N2WB (WILD BILL)

See map

July 30 thru August 6, 2007

Six members of the Japan Amateur Radio League (JARL) Kyoto Club, will stage a DX-pedition to the Federated Stetes of Micronesia (FSM) this summer. The FSM is a an island nation in the Pacific Ocean located northeast of Papa New Guinea.

We have been allowed to use special callsigns which have the brand-new prefix of V6Ø to celebrate our club’s 60th anniversary. Our special thanks should go to Mark DeOrio, Frequency Manager at the FSM Department of Transportation, Communications & Infrastructure.

Source

David is reporting that he has a new callsign TO1USB for his August 4-18th Dxpedition on Guadeloupe Island. He will be working 20M,10M,6M and 2M. IOTA NA-102, Grid FK96CD.  His operation will be SSB only hence the prefix in the new callsign.

Image Source

So, some of you may know about Hans Island. A smallish island in the Kennedy Channel portion of the Nares Strait (simply put right at the arctic ocean) has been claimed both by Canada and Denmark… (kinda sounds like the hassles in Scarborough Reef huh?) Well the battle has heated up in the last week or so with claims that the latest in mapping and GPS technology claims that the boundary line run right through the middle of the island. Previous debates over sovereignty on the island were based on a map from the 1960’s that drew the line east of center.

As with other claims for sovereignty on islands, the bigger issue is claims for natural resources and rights for the fishing territory. This will be one to watch as the months go by as DXers look for a new opportunity to create yet another DXCC Entity.

Source ; Source 2

From Carlos CT1END…
A group of operators will activate CQ7P from Pessegueiro Island (IOTA EU-167, DIP BA-001, DCFP F-043) for the RSGB IOTA
Contest this weekend (July 28-29, 2007 , 12-12h00 UTC ) . There may be some pre-contest activity with their homecalls /p.

QSL CQ7P via CS1GDX listed on QRZ.com.

Mark, W4CK, hopes to be active from Wake Island for about two weeks beginning around 19 August. He has obtained the special callsign K9W and anticipates a CW-only operation. QSL via W4CK.

These are the only 4 valid callsigns available in 9Q (former Zaire) 9Q1D, 9Q1NT, 9Q1TB and 9Q1EK, all others are illegal.

Here is an interesting link to Google Maps that shows the QTH of 9Q1TB

9Q1EK - aka VE2EK’s blog has some very interesting posts about 9Q.

The 2007 Scarborough Reef DXpedition is pleased to announce that today the first QSLs were mailed.

Steve, KU9C, has received over 10,000 envelopes so we expect it will take approximately 2 months before EVERY card is answered. Please do not send for a second card until we announce all cards have been answered.

Steve will also upload QSOs to LOTW as he processes the cards so, if you utilize LOTW, you can expect your QSOs to show up roughly the same time you receive your card. This will allow you to avoid mailing in your physical QSL card for verification.

A small number of QSL cards were received with either no SASE, or a SASE with old style IRCs that are no longer valid. KU9C will attempt to contact you via email, but if he cannot contact you, these will be returned by the bureau. Steve will also upload bureau card QSOs to LOTW as they are processed.

73
The 2007 Scarborough Reef DXpedition

Highlights:

• Amateur Radio use will be allowed.
• The first visitors will be allowed sometime between November and January. (hello…Topband season)
• You will be expected to pull some weeds, clear the marine debris while you are there… (hey I have chores at home too)

The much talked about Midway Atoll KH4 will soon be expecting visitors and Volunteers. In an effort to help maintain the fast growing flowers and such on the island, as well as clean up some of the marine life debris, Carolyn Bohan the Regional Chief of the National Wildlife Refuge Pacific Region (US Fish and Wildlife Service) approved the visitors plan on May 23,2007.

There will be compatibility determinations evaluated for the purpose of Amateur Radio operations on the site. According to the documents they have determined that they will “allow amateur radio use from Midway Atoll in accordance with stipulations that
make the use compatible.

“Because of potential bird strikes on amateur radio antennae, limitations will be placed on this use. FWS will work with amateur radio enthusiasts to implement a compatible program, as long as it does not displace wildlife-dependent visitors wanting to visit Midway Atoll. Placement of the outdoor antennae must be approved by the refuge manager”

This is all very good news for the Amateur Radio community, since January 2002 all visitation by the general public has been banned.

Additional Links

• Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge
• The visitors plan was approved on May 23, 2007
• Wikipedia link to Midway

Link to the Full Yahoo News Story

Thanks to Don N1DG for the story tip…

click on the play button below to practice your CW copying ability

Duane WV2B has started planning for a fall 2009 trip to Sable Island - CY0.

Why Sable ?

Although many DXers in North America and Europe have CY0 confirmed, there still remains ample opportunity for QSO’s on various bands and modes. Also there is always demand for Sable from Japan, Asia, Australia, New Zealand, etc.

Due to the fact that there are only 4 year round residents, and none of the are amateur radio operators, DXers around the world welcome the chance to get another QSO with CY0.
Currently the team is allocated and they are seeking sponsorship and funding to cover equipment and operating costs which they expect to be about $16,000 US dollars.

The team plans to activate 3 stations, one for SSB, one for CW and one for RTTY.

For more information you may contact wv2b at juno dot com.

73 - Paul K4UJ

I am experimenting with Podcasting. In this post is a 25WPM Koch method sample files. This file was generated using G4FONs Morse Trainer software.

If you want some CW copy practice, simply download the files to your MP3 player and you can practice copying code while you commute to work

Look for more podcasts in the future..