April 2001 News Archive

• 30/4  Mellish Reef, VK9ML:
  More pictures from the digital camera have been added to the VK9ML website today.
  
         
  The 6M 5el yagi, A sooty tern with the Bach & Byte moored offshore, Peter VK4APG operating the 6M station.
  Click on the thumbnails above to view the images full-sized. (Use your <BACK> button to return)

• 30/4  Chesterfields QRV:
  TX0C was worked 59 both ways around 0530 via Es yesterday into Brisbane.  Thanks Philippe for that new one!

• 28/4  Solar Update:
  After bottoming out on April 16 at 123.4, solar flux is on the rise. Average flux values for this week were up over 50 points, and activity is still increasing with the return of sunspot region 9393. Solar flux is expected to peak this weekend around 210, but a rise in geomagnetic activity due to a large M7-class solar flare on Thursday is expected on Sunday. This flare was from sunspot 9393, which also hurled a full halo coronal mass ejection. This sunspot covers about half the area that it did when it was on our side of the sun last month, but it is still quite large. Last month it produced the largest solar flare ever recorded, which fortunately was not pointed toward earth.
  
  On Monday an enormous prominence (a filament of cool dense gas suspended above the sun) extended over the sun's southwestern limb. You may still be able to view a photo from the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory at
  http://spaceweather.com/images2001/23apr01/20010423_1837_eit_304_big.gif
  
  A number of emails have arrived lately asking about some of the numbers reported in this bulletin, so it is probably time to run the following explanation.
  
  Amateur Radio operators who use HF generally like increased sunspots because they correlate with better worldwide radio propagation. When there are more sunspots, the sun puts out radiation that charges particles in the earth's ionosphere. Radio waves bounce off of (refract from) these charged particles, and the denser these clouds of ions, the better the HF propagation.
  
  When the ionosphere is denser, higher frequencies will refract off it rather than passing through to outer space. This is why every 11 years or so when this activity is higher, 10 meters gets exciting. 10 meters is at a high enough frequency, right near the top of the HF spectrum, that radio waves propagate very efficiently when the sunspot count is high. Because of the shorter wavelength, smaller antennas are very efficient on this band, so mobile stations running low power on 10 meters can communicate world wide on a daily basis when the sunspot cycle is at its peak. There are also seasonal variations, and 10 meters tends to be best near the spring or fall equinox. If the ionosphere is not so dense, the Maximum Usable Frequency may be below 10 meters, and perhaps only signals with frequencies as high as 15 meters or below will propagate.
  
  The sunspot numbers used in this bulletin are calculated by counting the spots on the visible solar surface and also measuring their area.
  
  Solar flux is another value reported in this bulletin, and it is measured at an observatory in Penticton, British Columbia using an antenna pointed toward the sun hooked to a receiver tuned to 2.8 GHz, which is at a wavelength of 10.7 cm. Energy detected seems to correlate somewhat with sunspots and with the density of the ionosphere.
  
  Other solar activity of concern to HF operators are solar flares and coronal holes, which emit protons. Since the charged ions in the ionosphere are negative, a blast of protons from the sun can neutralize the charge and make the ionosphere less refractive. These waves of protons can be so intense that they may trigger an event called a geomagnetic storm. In addition, energy from a solar flare may energize the D-layer of the ionosphere, which absorbs radio waves.
  
  The Planetary A index relates to geomagnetic stability. Magnetometers around the world are used to generate a number called
  the Planetary K index.
  
  A one-point change in the K index is quite significant. K index readings below 3 generally mean good stable conditions, and above 3 can mean high absorption of radio waves. Each point change reflects a big change in conditions.
  
  Every 24 hours the K index is summarized in a number called the A index. A one-point change in the A value is not very significant. A full day with the K index at 3 will produce an A index of 15, K of 4 means A of 27, K of 5 means A of 48, and K of 6 means A of 80. You can find an explanation of these numbers on the web at http://www.ngdc.noaa.gov/stp/GEOMAG/kp_ap.html.
  
  The geomagnetic number reported here is the Planetary A index, which is a worldwide average based on the K index readings from a number of magnetometers. The numbers reported on WWV are the Boulder K and A index, measured in Colorado. Generally the higher the latitude of the measuring station, the higher the K and A indices reported. This is because the effects of geomagnetic instability tend to concentrate toward the polar regions of the globe. You can hear the Boulder K index updated every three hours on WWV, or by calling 303-497-3235.
  
  For an interesting web page on the earth's magnetosphere, check http://science.nasa.gov/ssl/pad/sppb/edu/magnetosphere/bullets.html
  
  Sunspot numbers for April 19 through 25 were 85, 103, 156, 164, 140, 175 and 182 with a mean of 143.6. 10.7 cm flux was 144.5, 180.4, 191.1, 192.5, 196.4, 193.5 and 193.9, with a mean of 184.6, and estimated planetary A indices were 7, 8, 7, 28, 21, 8 and 7 with a mean of 12.3.  (K7VVV)

• 26/4  Northern VK works South America via LP:
  With regard to the LP worked last night, Peter, PY5CC, writes...
  "Hello Adam:
  YES what a day !! Nice to work for the first time ever VK8 stations.  NO video from VK on this opening. Very strange !!.   I will be later on frequency and hope to hear you !!   Congratulation for the short VK9ML DxPedition to all the crew. I work Mellish on 10M for a new one !! My country 322 on 28Mhz.  We will have lot of PY's, LU's and ZP's on frequency !!"
  
  See you later on SIX. 73s
  Peter PY5CC / PYØFM
  PY5CC@50mhz.com
  Locator GG54re
  Araucaria DX Group
  www.50mhz.com
  
  Take note of Peter's comment above.  No video heard.  Just because the band appears dead, don't give up!

• 26/4  Northern VK works South America via LP:
  The Far Nth Qld and VK8 mob worked Peter, PY5CC, via long path last night.
  VK4FNQ 50115.0 ZP4KFX HRD  53 1217 25 Apr 2001
  VK4FNQ 50120.0 PY5CC  wkd ssb 1223 25 Apr 2001 
  PY5CC  50120.0 VK4FNQ and other VK4s Long Path !! 1225 25 Apr 2001 
  PY5CC  50110.0 VK4APE 57 cq cq 1230 25 Apr 2001 
  PY5CC  50110.0 VK4ABW listen 50115 1231 25 Apr 2001 
  PY5CC  50110.0 VK8MS  55 1234 25 Apr 2001 
  PY5CC  50115.0 VK8MS  55 hear 1236 25 Apr 2001 
  PY5CC  50115.1 VK8MS  YESSS 559 NEW ZONE !!! 1245 25 Apr 2001 
  PY5CC  50110.0 VK4CXQ cq 579 1250 25 Apr 2001 
  PY5CC  50115.3 VK8AH  579 1251 25 Apr 2001 
  PY5CC  50115.0 VK8AH  53 1256 25 Apr 2001

• 25/4  Chesterfield Island, TX0 Update:
  Expected ETA on the reef is this Saturday.

• 25/4 Johnston Island, KH3:
  Supposed to be active today and tomorrow.  No spots as of 0400.

• 25/4  Mellish Reef, VK9ML:
  A quick count has revealed that the DXpedition worked 19 DXCC entities in the 96 hours of operation:
  4K4, BV, DU, FK8, HL, HP, JA, KH6, KH8, KL7, P4, TI, V73, VK, VR2, W6, YC, YS and ZL

• 24/4  Mellish Reef, VK9ML:
  QRT around 0600 today.  Hopefully all the hard work, effort and expense gave some of you lot a new country!  Complete 6M log and statistics will be made available in due course.  Hopefully next week.  
  
  The crew now have a rough 70 hour +/- sail back to Gladstone.  It was so rough on the way out nobody ate solids, just soups etc, couldn't hold it down let alone prepare a meal in the galley.  The things hams do!  
  
  In addition to logs and stats there will soon be a collection of pictures on the website to look at;  http://www.qsl.net/vk9ml/ 
  
  You will see a preview of the VK9ML QSL card first on this site... stay tuned.

• 23/4  Mayotte, FH:
  According to Ted, JJ1LIB, who operated as S07U, 5T5U and 8Q7JY, he will be active as FH/JJ1LIB from April 29 - May 4.
  Ted will use a TS-570 plus an IC2KL(500W), a 2 element HB9CV yagi for 20 - 10M, and a 6 element yagi for 6M. For the lower bands, he will use wire antennas. Operations will be on CW, SSB, and RTTY. The QSL for FH/JJ1LIB should be sent to JN1HOW.  (OPDX)

• 23/4  Chesterfield Island, TX0 Update:
  Andy, YS1AG, reports that he has received the following information from Kan, JA1BK, about the upcoming TX0 operation. Kan states that rumors of the upcoming TX0C DXpedition being cancelled is FALSE. Only Jacky/F2CW, and Akinori/JA4EKO have dropped out of the DXpedition. There will be only four operators now, Georges/FK8FS, Daniel/FK8FU, Dany/FK8VHY and Philippe/FO3BM. Activity is scheduled to take place April 27 - May 2, on HF and 6M.  Pilippe will be the only operator that will listen to 6M using a 7 element beam and a FT-100D plus a small amp. All QSLs via JA1BK.  (OPDX)

• 23/4  Honduras, HR:
  Wolf, HR1BY, is active from Valle de Angeles on 6M.  He is working QRP, only 8 watts. Check around 1830z and 2330z. QSL via EA7FTR. (OPDX)

• 23/4  Pacific Trip:
  Hide, JM1LJS, will be active on HF & 6M as V63LJ from Yap (OC-012) April 29 - May 2.  Then as KH2/JM1LJS from Guam (OC-026) on May 2 - 4 then as T88LJ from Palau (OC-009) on May 11 - 13.  QSL V63LJ and T88LJ via JH8DEH; QSL KH2/JM1LJS via JM1LJS. Log searches at http://radio-dream.com/logsearch/t88lj/ and /v63lj/ (JM1LJS)

• 23/4 Mellish Reef, VK9ML:
  Logs were updated again this morning.  Problems with a laptop PSU has meant that the laptop that was on the cat is now performing logging duties in the ops tent.  There is still some log files on the other PC that have yet to be sent.   http://www.qsl.net/vk9ml/ 
  
  VK9ML gets propagation across the pond this morning.  Worked W6, YS, HP as well as KH6, KHJ8 and V73.
  
  Expect to go QRT Tuesday around 0500.

• 22/4 Mellish Reef, VK9ML 3rd Update:
  Log data has been updated and contains QSOs up until 22/4/01 0131.  
  
  The following VKs are confirmed in the 6M log;
  VK4ABW, VK4ADC, VK4AFL, VK4BIT, VK4BLK, VK4CP, VK4CXQ, VK4FNQ, VK4JH, VK4JSR, VK4KJL, VK4KK, VK4KLC, VK4WDM, VK4ZJR
  
  Despite the poor conditions, VK9ML has so far worked 8 DXCC entities on 50MHz;

  • JAPAN JA0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9 including Okinawa

  • KOREA DS1,5, HL1,2

  • HAWAII KH6

  • AMERICAN SAMOA KH8

  • MARSHALL ISLANDS V73

  • AUSTRALIA VK4

  • HONG KONG VR2

  • INDONESIA YB0

• 22/4 Mellish Reef, VK9ML 2nd Update:
  VK9ML will be listening for VK to take advantage of the early morning scatter path that exists between 2000 - 2130 UTC.  The ops tent is manned from around 0500 local in the morning and the crew will be monitoring 50.105.6 and have the beacon keyer running.  Signal strength peaks around 7am local in the morning, strong enough for SSB.  This is the same path as for TX0DX in February 2000.

• 22/4 Mellish Reef, VK9ML Update:
  Peter operating VK9ML was worked in Brisbane early this morning via tropo scatter @ 20:25 (still 21/4 UTC date) on CW. Copy was pretty light but a few stations got through. vk9ml on cw   It took a number of minutes for a complete 2-way exchange.  Later on @ 21:10 Peter was strong enough to be heard on phone for a few minutes. 

• 22/4  Report from Far North Queensland:
  For 21 Apr 2001;
  0041 50.105    VK9ML HRD 519
  0245 50.105    VK9ML HRD 519
  0303 50.110    KH6SX HRD 559
  0303 50.115    W1VX/KH4 HRD 599
  0321 50.105    HL2WA HRD 519
  0321 50.115    JE8CIC HRD 559
  0330 48.239.60 VIDEO S7
  0330 48.249.40 VIDEO S7
  0330 50        JE7YNQ JR0YEE BCNS 419
  0330 50.061.10 KH6HME BCN 529
  0330 50.479.90 JH8ZND BCN 519
  0554 50.125    H44NC HRD 55
  0600 48.239.60 VIDEO S5
  0600 48.249.90 VIDEO S3
  0600 48.260.40 VIDEO S2
  0600 49.750. + VIDEO S9
  0645 50.145    VK9ML HRD 559
  0707 50.136    DS5GSP HRD 59+
  0800 48.239.60 VIDEO S3
  0800 48.249.90 VIDEO S1
  0800 48.260.40 VIDEO S1
  0800 49.750. + VIDEO S9++
  0800 50        JA2/6/1/7/0 BCNS 539
  0800 50.028.50 P29BPL BCN 529
  0800 50.061.10 KH6HME BCN 419
  0800 50.104    DS5ISO HRD 599
  0800 50.145    VK9ML HRD 55
  1030 48.239.60 VIDEO S3
  1030 48.249.90 VIDEO S2
  1030 49.750. + VIDEO S7
  1030 50.009.70 JA1/2/7/8/ BCN 529
  1030 50.013.40 V73SIX BCN 319
  1053 50.110    KH6SX HRD 519
  1240 48.239.60 VIDEO S5
  1240 48.260.40 VIDEO S5
  1240 49.750. + VIDEO S9++
  1240 50        JA1/2/6/7/0 BCNS 589
  1240 50.036.50 JR6YAG BCN 559
  1240 50.120    T88CL HRD 55
  1240 50.489.35 JG1ZGW BCN 589
  1336 50.120    BV2DP HRD 51
  1336 50.120    BX2AB HRD 51
  1400 48.239.60 VIDEO S6
  1400 48.250.08 VIDEO S5
  1400 48.260.40 VIDEO S5
  1400 49.750. + VIDEO S9++
  1400 50        JA1/2/6/7/0 BCNS 559
  1410 50.110    VR2XVD HRD 51
  1430 50.120    T88CL HRD 53
  1515 50.105    LU8MB HRD 52*
  1550 48.239.60 VIDEO S1
  1550 48.249.48 VIDEO S9
  1550 48.260.40 VIDEO S3
  1550 49.750. + VIDEO S9
  1550 50        JA2/6/7 BCNS 529
  2243 50.110    KH8/N5OLS HRD 57
  2252 50.110    FW5ZL HRD 57
  
  Good luck and DX fm John VK4FNQ QG39EX
  *Note the long path to Argentina

• 22/4  Ascension Island, ZD8VHF:
  Johhny, ZD8KW, writes...
  Here is the new 6 m antenna situated at the beacon now I have just installed the new antenna with the help of lenny who gave up his value Friday afternoon to help out Ian thanks for reminding me to switch of the  beacon before I dismantle the old antenna but you did not remind me that the new antenna had a pl259 type fitting on it and the old antenna had a uhf type connector on it so it just cost a trip back down the mountain to  change the connector on the end of the coax after I had carefully put together all the bit s and pieces in the truck in order to make it a one trip up replace antenna and home again however it took us to 8 pm (dark with a torch) almost to finally got it sorted by the time we return to the mountain and secure and insulate the cable and tune the antenna up. 
  
  Not to forget I forgot to put batteries in the camera so the old ones allow me to take one picture only which is this one - above.
  I will take more to send you as well in a few days I would be interested to know if the signal has improved as well the vswr is 1,2,1 acceptable I guess will update later let me know if this is ok the way it is mounted etc regards for now.  Johnny Clingham

• 21/4 Mellish Reef, VK9ML Update:
  As of 21/4/01 0824 there are 720 QSOs in the electronic log.  There were many QSOs with JA that were initially logged manually by hand.  This was done in order to get the 6M station on the air as soon as possible not having to wait for the laptops to be setup and interfaced to the rigs.  These QSOs will be added to the master log file once the team have returned home to Brisbane.
  
  VK9ML has worked 6 DXCC entities so far on 50MHz in the following areas:

  • JAPAN JA0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9 and Okinawa

  • KOREA DS1,5, HL1,2

  • HAWAII KH6

  • MARSHALL ISLANDS V73

  • AUSTRALIA VK4

  • INDONESIA YB0

Above - The operating Tent on Mellish Reef with the "Bach & Byte" 43' catamaran in the background.  Note the Honda generator just to the left of the tent entrance.  This thing is super quiet and runs on the smell of an oily rag!  (Picture from digital camera sent via satellite phone)

• 21/4  Mellish Reef, VK9ML:
  The team landed on the reef at 23:21 Thursday.  The nose of the catamaran went straight up onto the beach area on the Western side of the reef.  In the first 24 hours about 1,000 contacts have been made on 6M with JA, HL and V73.  No VK, yet!  About 1,000 contacts have been made on HF as well.

• 21/4  Solar Update:
  Solar flux and sunspot numbers have been declining, but still there is plenty of activity to keep geomagnetic conditions active. Mean daily sunspot numbers declined by nearly 60 points this week over last, and average solar flux was down nearly 44 points. Sunspot numbers were down to the double instead of triple digits this week, with Tuesday through Thursday sunspot numbers at 89, 63 and 85. Sunspot numbers were last in the double digits about a month ago.
  
  That large sunspot that caused so much excitement a few weeks ago is now visible again, and about to rotate into full view. Daily solar flux probably reached a minimum on Monday at 123.4, and the latest forecast has solar flux for Friday through Monday at 155, 165, 175 and 185. Solar flux is expected to peak somewhere around April 27 or 28 at 230. Of course, new activity could change this. After all, when solar flux peaked at 273 and 274 on March 27 and 28, a week earlier the best guess was that solar flux would peak around 180 on those dates.
  
  Last Friday a strong geomagnetic storm was triggered by an interplanetary shock wave. This followed a couple of days of similar effects from coronal mass ejections. Then on Sunday, one of the most powerful solar flares ever recorded was observed, but it was near the sun's western limb, and mostly aimed away from earth.  But Gary, WB0FFI, was talking to a friend on 80 meters a little over 200 miles away in Colorado on Sunday morning when all signals on the band
  suddenly vanished. Gary reported that signals went from S9 to nothing, and all that was left were electrical noise and the buzz of television sweep oscillators. Gary wondered if the energy from this flare caused a sudden expansion of the D layer, absorbing radio waves, and I think he is probably right. The X14 class flare happened at 1350z, right during Gary's weekly 1330-1430z sked.
  
  Another interplanetary shock wave struck earth on Tuesday. This has been quite a week for auroras. The most disturbed day this week was Wednesday, when the planetary A index was 50 and the planetary K index reached 7 over two periods. This came one week after another severe disturbance, when the planetary A index was 60 and the high latitude College A index was 100.
  
  Sunspot numbers for April 12 through 18 were 159, 138, 149, 100, 107, 89 and 63 with a mean of 115. 10.7 cm flux was 149, 137, 138.7, 134.2, 123.4, 126.1 and 131.8, with a mean of 134.3, and estimated planetary A indices were 38, 36, 15, 13, 7, 7 and 50 with a mean of 23.7.

• 18/4  Gridsquare Hunters:
  Listen for V73E the DXpedition to the Marshall Islands operating from Enewetak Island April 19 - 26.  They're in grid field RK11.  Visit the V73E website at: http://www.sixmeters.com/v73e

• 18/4  Mellish Reef Site Survey/DXpedition, VK9ML:
   Getting closer!  As of 0700UTC Thursday the position of the Bach & Byte is only 115nm South West of Mellish Reef.

• 17/4  QSL Collection Update:
  Cards arrived today from DU1EV, BG7OH and BD7NI have been added to the QSL Collection

• 17/4  Austral Islands, FO0 Active:
  It's a pity FO0CLA wasn't active over the Easter weekend when great Pacific propagation was to be had:(  However, this station is QRV on 6M now.
  YS1AG-@ 50110.0 FO0CLA 559 -Australs Is. 2340 16 Apr
  KB6NAN  50110.0 FO0CLA Australs oc152 going now cw 2308 16 Apr
  (Thanks Scott, VK4JSR, for the spot)

• 17/4  Mellish Reef Site Survey/DXpedition, VK9ML:
  The crew sailed out of Gladstone today around 0400.  Expect to arrive early Friday.
  qsl.net problems appear to be rectified, so access to the website should be ok.
  On-line log data will be updated twice daily around 2230 and 1230UTC.
  Look for daily news updates at:   http://www.qsl.net/vk9ml/ 

• 16/4  Exmouth Beacon, VK6RSX:
  Don, VK6HK, writes regarding an update on VK6RSX...
  After some problems at the original site at Exmouth, the VK6RSX beacons on 50.304 (and 144.576) MHz have been moved to a new site at Dampier, Western Australia (QTH OG89). The transmitters and antennas are as before (50W into an omni).
  
  The location is near to where VK6PA operated so successfully last cycle.  The VK Beacon Map has been updated.
  
  VK6RSX on 50.304 is readily receivable in Perth over about 1200 Km via meteor scatter most days.

• 16/4  Mellish Reef Site Survey/DXpedition, VK9ML:
  Alan, VK4BKM, Peter, VK4APG, and Harris, VK4CWT, will arrive in Gladstone lunchtime today after a seven hour drive from hometown Brisbane early this morning to meet up with David, VK4GL and Bill Brosnan (non-amateur sailing crew member).  
  
  The transport out to the Reef is David's catamaran "Bach & Byte" which came third on handicap in the multi-hull section of the Brisbane to Gladstone Easter yacht race.  The boat is in fine condition - no broken masts like last year just prior to leaving for the VK9WI Willis Island DXpedition!  
  
  The VK9ML crew will sail out of Gladstone Tuesday morning headed for Mellish Reef.  Expecting to arrive Friday +/- WX.
  
  Peter, VK4APG, the VK9ML 6M operator will be taking along a third transceiver an Icom IC-706 and will activate 10M if 6M is dead, and, providing there is little interference to the main HF station that will also be operating.  Expect the 6M rig, a Kenwood TS-60, to be running in Beacon mode at times on 50.105MHz (the CW frequency).  The phone frequency will be 50.145MHz.  If your rig has dual watch - listen on these two and you can't miss!
  
  qsl.net doesn't appear to running 100% still.  Although new News Bulletins have been FTPed to the site it is still referring to older pages:(  Hopefully Al will have all the problems sorted out and back in shape before weeks end when VK9ML arc ups. 

• 16/4  Malpelo Island, HK0JJH:
  16 Apr ys1rr-1 (0028Z) : hk3jjh/hk0 will be in 6m tomorrow de ys1rr
  
  Background info from SM7AED:
  March 20.
  Malpelo Island, HK0JJH.
  Looks like Pedro, HK3JJH will be going to Malpelo with a IC-706 xcvr April 2001 and does plan some 6M activity. This will be the first time ever Malpelo has been QRV on 6M, and perhaps a once in a 6M DXers lifetime chance to work Malpelo on the magic band. Pedro's QTH is on the south side of Malpelo with a large mountain between him and the states. Pedro has a clear shot to EU, South America, Oceania and Japan. Malpelo should experience similar 6M prop. to the HC8GR beacon. He may be workable by W/VE 6M DXers via backscatter, I worked him on Malpelo via 10M backscatter in 1999. 6M DXers who wish to encourage Pedro to spend some time on 6M should consider sending a contribution for his DXpedition to N4AA.

• 16/4  UKSMG Announcement Page:
  I would like to remind readers of this page that a log is kept of all the IP addresses and times of posts. I don't take kindly to spoofed postings or postings without email addresses. I have used this log information several times since 1995 to track down anonymous posters down with 100% success. So, please desist! You will also remember that I took the page down last year for a few days and I am quite happy to do so again if needs be. You have been warned! Chris
  Chris, G3WOS <g3wos@uksmg.org>
  - Sunday, April 15, 2001 at 12:01:19 (GMT/BST)

• 15/4  Trinidad & Tobago, 9Y:
  Charlie, N2IM, will be operating from Trinidad, as 9Y4/N2IM, April 26 - May 4.  He is expected to be on 20, 15, 10 and 6M.  QSL direct to N2IM.

• 15/4  VK Records Posting on UKSMG Announcement Page:
  John, VK3KWA, writes...
  "Hi Adam.   That posting on 6 metre state records did not come from me.  I have only one e-mail address and it is not the one that was given. I do not know why anyone would bother to impersonate me, and I certainly don't appreciate it. I would be grateful if you could post this on your web page so as to set the record straight.  Best 73s, John VK3KWA"

• 15/4  www.qsl.net Problems:
  Some have been experiencing trouble trying to look at web sites (including VK9ML, Mellish Reef) hosted by qsl.net.  Al has had some problems and writes...
  "Lost the primary 80GB HD last night....rebuilding new image now but 50GB will take a while to write. It will slowly get back to normal later tonight.   Al"

• 15/4  P49MR QSL Route Confirmed:
  I spoke to martin, P49MR, on 28.885MHz this arvo and he gave his QSL Route as;
    Martin Rosenthal 
    P.O Box 33
    Markham 
    Ontario  L3P 3J5
    Canada
  
  His home address in the same town is also OK as well, but prefers QSLs to his PO Box.  Any other addresses are obsolete and should not be used.  Martin said he was leaving Aruba on April 25 to head back to Canada.  He plans to return to Aruba in December 2001.

• 15/4  6M Report from VK4DO:
  Good opening on 15 April to USA between 0231 and 0340.  
  Grids, DM02,03,06,07,12,13,14,33,42,43 CM94,95,96,97 for total 48 stations. Signals up and down from S1+ QSB to S9.
  Earlier FW5,TI2,TI4,TI5,FO3,VK9NS ( new country ) and ZL2TPY b/s.
  On 14 April at 0435 YB0CB1 ( OI33 ).
  Wally VK4DO.
  Wally Watkins, VK4DO, Strathdickie, North Queensland.  in the beautiful Whitsunday's, The gateway to the Great Barrier Reef.

• 15/4  Pacific Activity:
  Another great day of DX from across the Pacific with TI, YS1AG, HP, TG9NX, XE, FO3BM, FW5ZL, VK9NS, and ZL heard/worked.

• 15/4  Solar Update:
  High solar activity continued this week. Although the actual sunspot numbers and solar flux values have generally declined, new active areas on the sun have rotated into Earth's view, bringing flares and coronal holes--and with them geomagnetic storms and dramatic auroral displays.
  
  Average sunspot numbers for the week declined more than 100 points, and average solar flux was off more than 62 points. Again this week, on April 5 and 6, the 10.7 cm solar flux value had to be adjusted because the observatory in Penticton, British Columbia was overwhelmed by energy from solar flares. Daily values for last Thursday and Friday were flare enhanced at 398.7 and 563.5, but were adjusted downward and reported by NOAA as 210 and 192.
  
  As this bulletin is being written on Thursday, two clouds of charged particles are headed our way. The last is from another X-class solar flare. This one erupted near sunspot group 9415 at 1025 UTC, and caused a radio blackout across the Atlantic Ocean, Europe, and parts of Western Asia.
  
  On Wednesday energy from a pair of coronal mass ejections hit Earth and triggered a severe G4-category geomagnetic storm between around 1500-1800 UTC. G4 category is severe, one step below the top G5 category, which is extreme. This may cause problems with power distribution systems, with surges in voltage and tripping of circuit breakers. On Wednesday the planetary K index hit 8, and the planetary A index was 60. Middle latitude A index was 69.
  
  On the bands expect long periods of very little HF propagation, but look for auroral propagation on VHF. Current predictions call for solar flux to decline below 150 this weekend and bottom out around 140 on Sunday. Then, it is expected to rise to 180 around April 20, and peak around 185 after April 23 and toward the end of the month.
  
  Sunspot numbers for April 5 through 11 were 214, 136, 153, 188, 185, 170 and 178 with a mean of 174.9. 10.7 cm flux was 210, 192, 179.5, 169.2, 164.8, 169.7 and 159.6, with a mean of 177.8, and estimated planetary A indices were 19, 12, 16, 41, 19, 9 and 60 with a mean of 25.1.  (K7VVV)

• 14/4  Mellish Reef, VK9ML:
  The crew packed all the gear into the trailer to be towed up to Gladstone where they'll meet up with the catamaran on Monday, once it has finished its sailing commitments in the Brisbane to Gladstone yacht race.  The crew plan to sail out of Gladstone Tuesday.  Depending on weather they hope to land on Mellish Reef on Friday.  The official VK9ML website is at:  http://www.qsl.net/vk9ml  (QSL net has been down for the last two days but will hopefully be running again soon)

• 14/4  Midway Atol, KH4:
  W1VX/KH4 will be QRV April 15 - 21.
  Mode:CW,SSB,RTTY
  CW: 1.830, 3.507, 7.007, 14.027, 14.077, 21.027, 24.907, 28.027, 50.115
  SSB: 3.800, 14.227, 18.127, 21.260, 24.960, 28.460, 50.115
  He will be operating on 10m Band every day 18:00-20:00UTC and 50.115MHZ, running a beacon all time. Using FT-100 and a Yagi QSL to Direct or Buro via JF1OCQ, 371-0811, 1-3-6 Asakyra, Maebashi, JAPAN

• 14/4  Cancelled Trips:
  Jamaica 6Y5/GM0EFT cancelled.
  Malpello Isl., HK5MQZ/0 & HK5OGX/0. Expedition cancelled.
  St. Kitts & Nevis, V47CA. Will try again later in the year.

• 14/4  Nepal, 9N:
  Kaz, JA8MWU, plans to operate from Katmandu as 9N7WU between April 25 - May 3 on 20 - 6M. SSB only. (The 50 MHz DX Bulletin)

• 14/4  Bhutan, A5:
  Yeshey, A51AA, has promised to put back his 6M beam and become QRV on 6M. (The 50 MHz DX Bulletin) 

• 14/4  Micronesia V63 &  Guam, KH2:
  Tada, JA1WPX, will be spending his Golden Week Holidays on Yap Island (OC-012) as V63YV from April 30 - May 3.  He may take one or two days on Guam as KH2/JA1WPX.  Tada is a well known Japanese DXer who enjoys island hopping. Look for activity on 40 - 6M on SSB and CW. QSL via JA1WPX. (The Daily DX).

• 14/4  Fiji & Rotuma, 3D2:.
  Kit, JA1NVF, expects to be QRV from Rotuma Island as 3D2NV/P from April 27 - May 4.  Next he'll be active from Fiji as 3D2NV May 4 - 7. Activity is planned for 40 - 6M SSB only. QSL via JA1NVF either via the JARL QSL bureau or direct to Katsumi Yoshinuma, 17-6 Wakamiyadai, Yokosuka, 239-0829 JAPAN (The Daily DX).

• 13/4  Johnston Island, KH3:
  Scott, VK4JSR, writes...
  V73GOD will be QRV from Johnston Atoll 25/26 April 2001

• 13/4  FW5ZL QSL Route:
  Guy has a number of QSL addresses floating around, but this morning during a 6M opening he confirmed his QSL address as;
  Guy Petit de la Rhodiere, 
  B. P. 2, 
  F-98600 
  Mata-Utu, 
  Wallis Island

• 10/4  Ukraine, UZ5:
  Look for grid square LN08 and LN09 to be active from June 2 - 11, by UX2MM, UX2MF, UX5MZ, UR5LCV, UX7MX, UX7MA, UR3MP, UR5MID and UR5EAW. The group of Ukrainians will be active as UZ5M in the IARU1 50 MHz June Contest and the UKSMC. QSL via UX2MM (Box 59, Lisichansk, 93100).  (OPDX)

• 10/4  Trinidad & Tobago, 9Y:
  Charlie, N2IM, will be operating from Trinidad, as 9Y4/N2IM, April 26 - May 4. He is expected to be on 20, 15, 10, and 6M, and possibly other bands. He will be using dipoles and 100 watts. Look for him on the air in the early morning and late evening.
  QSL direct to N2IM.  (OPDX)

• 10/4  Namibia, V5:
  Nick, ZS4NS, is expected to be active as V51/ZS4NS from April 10 - 20.  His activity will be mainly on 6M (listening on 50.110 MHz). He will, however, be active 20/15/10 meters also. QSL via N7RO.  (OPDX)

• 10/4  Guam, KH2:
  Shige, JI3CEY, will be active as KH2/JI3CEY on HF and 6M from Guam between April 21 - 23. This is a short DX holiday from KH2JU's rental shack. QSL via homecall bureau or direct: Shigeru Yokoi, 2-138-1-704 Hamaderasuwanomorichonishi, Sakai-City Osaka 592-8347 Japan.  (OPDX)

• 10/4  Saipan, KH0:
  Look for Akira, JA3AOP, to be active April 13 - 17. Activity will be on all bands and 6 meters. There was no callsign mentioned. QSL via JA3AOP.  (OPDX)

• 9/4  VK2 TV copied in South Africa:
  Ian, ZS6BTE, writes...
  Chief VHF event of the weekend for me was reception of carrier of the Wagga Wagga TV outlet (New South Wales, Australia) on 46.240046 MHz, first time since April last year, and a rare event, one could wait another 11 years....Sunday 8 April 6.30-7.00z direct path. Expecting further openings between Hawaii and Australia 50 MHz, possible New Zealand TV, during the next week at the same time. Watch for these ones! 73 es cusn on 6m.   itr@nanoteq.co.za

• 8/4  Cuba, CO:
  Oscar, CO2OJ, writes...
  Hi all. Commemorating the 40th anniversary of the Cuban victory in Bay of Pig, a group of hams will activate a special station from the battle place in Playa Giron, EL92, April 13th, 14th and 15th, using the callsign T40VPG.  T40VPG will operate in all bands from 160m to 6m in SSB and 2m FM. All stations contacted will receive an special QSL card. More information about the operation and a photo of the qsl card could be found in http://frc.co.cu   The 6m operator will be CO2QQ running 10 watts and a 2 elem yagi. Lets cross our fingers for some opening!!  73, Oscar, co2oj

• 7/4  Solar Update:
  This has been another week of remarkable solar activity, with Sunspot 9393 producing more excitement. Sunspot numbers peaked on March 28 and 30 at 352 and 349, and solar flux on March 27 and 28 at 273.4 and 273.5. Total visible sunspot area peaked on March 29 at 3940 millionths of the solar hemisphere. This week solar flares tossed out enough energy to overwhelm the equipment that measures 10.7 cm solar flux.
  
  At 2300z on April 2 the flux reading was 563.1, and on April 5 the readings were 582.5 and 398.7 at 1700 and 2000z. These flare-enhanced readings would certainly be a new record far beyond any daily values reported for this solar cycle, but they are discarded because they don't reflect actual 10.7 cm energy. So for April 5, instead of a daily reading of 398.7, NOAA reported 210, probably a guess based upon declining daily readings and a more accurate 2300z reading of 207.5.
  
  Following the new high in sunspot numbers, we have seen a number of large solar flares and resulting aurora. On April 2 the most powerful flare in at least 25 years erupted. Fortunately most of it was aimed away from earth. A few days earlier on March 31 the planetary A index soared to 155 and the planetary K index went as high as 9 during a severe geomagnetic storm. There were incredible auroral displays, seen as far south as Mexico. See an amazing gallery of aurora images, many from southern regions that very rarely see aurora, at http://spaceweather.com/aurora/gallery_31mar01.html .
  
  Since March and the first quarter of the year are both over, it is time to report some numbers for those periods. Average solar flux for March was 177.7. This is an increase, as the average daily solar flux for December through February was 173.6, 166.6 and 147.2. Average daily sunspot numbers for March were 166.7, and for December through February were 146, 143 and 131. Quarterly average solar flux for last year was 180.5, 182.9, 188.3 and 173.3.
  
  For the first quarter of this year the average solar flux was 164.4. The average daily sunspot number for the quarter just ended was 147.3, and the quarterly sunspot averages for last year were 168.9, 190.8, 193.1 and 145. Although this quarter really ended with quite a bang, the quarterly averages for both solar flux and sunspots were lower than the same period a year earlier.
  
  Although the really active regions have now rotated off of the visible solar disk, there are more rotating into view. Predicted solar flux for the next few days, Friday through Monday, is 210, 210, 205 and 205. The predicted planetary A index for those days is 15, 8, 8 and 10.
  
  For some time now W6EL's MiniProp program for propagation prediction has been unavailable. This is the program used to generate the occasional path predictions shown in this bulletin. I am extremely happy to report that W6EL has just released a new free version of his software, this time for Windows, and you can get it at http://www.qsl.net/w6elprop/. It works with all recent versions of Windows, including 95, 98, ME, NT and 2000. Be sure to give this a try, and send W6EL a note of thanks. It is a great piece of software for looking at seasonal, time of day, frequency and solar activity variables and their effects on HF communications.
  
  Sunspot numbers for March 29 through April 4 were 315, 349, 326, 320, 223, 228 and 217 with a mean of 282.6. 10.7 cm flux was 261.7, 256.8, 245.6, 257.5, 228, 223.1 and 204.8, with a mean of 239.6, and estimated planetary A indices were 22, 10, 155, 30, 20, 5 and 15 with a mean of 36.7.  (K7VVV)

• 5/4  DDQ-0 Toowoomba Heard In Chile:
  Felipe, CE3SAD, writes with reference to 46.172...
  Hola, I hear this outlet yesterday at 23:05 for 15 mins. with s7 Hope to hear you soon.  Please check 48,3 FM station as a beacon for my qth FF46 if you hear something send me an email to my mobil PCS: 8656426@smartweb.cl
  73 Felipe "Pipe" Asenjo   CE3SAD @ FF46rn  www.qsl.net/ce3sad 
  
  Given the time slot this must have been via the direct Short Path Tuesday morning here.  Argentina worked Tuesday night via LP.

• 4/4  Long Path Propagation:
  What a night!  JAs in during most of the evening, with the appearance of that annoying carrier on 50.110.  When we hear we know there's a path across to the Hong Kong region.  Sure enough up popped VR2XMT, VR2ZXP, VR2VXD and others from 13:00 onwards.  
  
  13:20 saw 9M6BAA audible working JA's.  It was nice of Peter to swing his beam around to work the VK's (JA's take note of this courtesy!) on CW & Phone.  13:54 and the path still open with a QSO to Richard, BV2DP.  
  
  Luckily the beam was sitting on 330° here at VK4CP where LU8MB was heard calling.  VK4CP, VK4KK and VK4JSR worked LU8MB 51 in FF57oc between 14:32 -14:35. He was gone less than 10 minutes later, with no other SA stations heard.
  
    Albeto F. Nenciolini, LU8MB
    Rondeau 169
    MENDOZA, 5500
    ARGENTINA

• 3/4  St Kitts & Nevis DXpedition:
  Joe, VE3BW, writes...
  V47CA TRIP CANCELLED, (originally scheduled for 9 - 24 April).  I WILL TRY AGAIN LATER IN THE YEAR. SEE YOU IN THE PILEUPS- JOE VE3BW/V47CA   Joe VE3BW ve3bw@sympatico.ca