Here is the fortnightly bulletin of DX information for Australian DXers. Solar and ionospheric news, DX observations, announcements of DX activations, operating tips, and anything else that may be of interest to DXers in our part of the world may be found here. Reader’s observations and suggestions for content are welcome.

Propagation notes

After a mostly spotless October, a small sunspot group appeared about a week ago. There is not much more to report on the sun’s activity. There has been a lot of thunderstorm activity over the past two weeks, starting in VK6, and hanging around the eastern states now for more than a week. This has made the Low Bands very noisy.

Around the bands

Forty, thirty and twenty metres continue to offer plenty of DX, with some openings on 20 m short path into Europe late evenings and even some activity apparent on 17 m. There has been some DX on 15 m also, mostly stirred up by the various DXpeditions currently on air.

Low Bands are picking up, with some good openings on 160 and 80 m, but the high level of storm static makes it challenging.

DX Heard or Worked

There are presently and have been a number of DXpeditions active over the past two weeks, these include TO6OK Mayotte, 9X0T/9X0Y Rwanda, E6Y Niue, 5W0GC Samoa, VK9QR Norfolk Island, YJ0GC Vanuatu, ZL7X Chatham Islands, and 8Q7YC/8Q7PE Maldives. There has been quite a bit of South American activity also, with OA1F Peru and CX2AQ active just about daily. Also heard has been Walid OD5ZZ in Lebanon on 20 m SSB, Sal C31CT in Andorra on 30 m and 40 m, and Marc V31MA in Belize has been active on a number of bands and modes.

Upcoming Activations of Interest

Details of upcoming activations will be brief as there are so many, as we go into “DXpedition Season”! For more details of any activation listed below, visit NG3K’s excellent “Announced DX Operations” calendar https://www.ng3k.com/misc/adxo.html

Vietnam: XV9WJR, until 27th October.

South Shetland: DT8A, until 31st October.

Reunion: FR/DJ7RJ, until 27th October.

Guantanamo: KG4WV and KG4HF, until 24th October.

St Kitts: V47JA, until 6th November.

Maldives: 8Q7YC and 8Q7PE, until 21st October.

Laos: XW4XR, until 22nd October.

Vanuatu: YJ0GC, until 4th November.

Melilla: EA9/W1XGI, until 22nd October.

Chatham Islands: ZL7X, until 22nd October.

St Lucia: J68SL (FT8) or J6/K1ZZI (CW), until 25th October.

Christmas Island: VK9XG, until 29th October.

Bonaire: PJ4/N9EU, 20th – 30th October.

Ducie Island: VP6D, 20 October – 3rd November.

Burkina Faso: XT2SZZ, 22nd – 30th October.

Martinique: FM/DL7VOG, 26th October – 2nd November.

Zimbabwe: Z23MD, 26th October – 6th November.

TT8KO QRT

After only 24 hours of operation in N’Djamena, Ken was ordered to cease operating by the security police. After some delay and interrogation by the security police, Ken was informed that whilst he had the correct authorisation by the Chad telecommunications authority, they had not notified the security police. On the 17th, Ken still had not received permission to continue operating, so he will return home on the 18th.

VP6D Ducie Island DXpedition

The big DXpedition of the month is currently sailing towards Ducie Island (OC-182), 540 km East of Pitcairn Island. This one hasn’t been activated since 2008, so is sure to attract a lot of attention. Ducie Island is currently ranked Number 19 Most Wanted.

A team of fourteen operators will have up to seven stations running, on 160 – 6 m, CW SSB RTTY and FT8 (DXpedition mode). Please be aware of the protocols and requirements for FT8 DXpedition Mode, as described on their website. https://www.vp6d.com/

Yours Truly will be the Pilot for our region for this DXpedition, so if you have any information you think will help the team, and help you make your QSO, please pass it on to me, and I will compile a message for the team at least daily. vk3hj_luke@barefoothorse.com.au

3Y0I Bouvet Island

The Rebel DX Group is in advanced stages of planning for their DXpedition to Bouvet Island this summer. We wish them the best of success, especially after the last attempt at Bouvet which was unable to land. For more information visit their website: https://www.rebeldxgroup.com/tag/3y0i/

73

Luke VK3HJ