[ADXA] [Fwd: [newsletter@vp6dx.com] VP6DX News #18- 2008 Feb 19]

[Earl]

FYI !!
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-------- Original Message --------
Subject: [newsletter at vp6dx.com] VP6DX News #18- 2008 Feb 19
Date: Tue, 19 Feb 2008 06:05:23 +0100


News #18- 2008 Feb 19 05:00z


Special Request for Europe
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The propagation path between Ducie Island and UA1-3-4-6-9, UR, OH, SM and LA is
very difficult... typically open for less than 1 hour each day.

On Feb 17 around our sunrise (Feb 17/1345-1445z) we successfully worked 80m CW
and 75m SSB long path QSOs with OH and UA3/UA6. Signals peaked on the 195°
beverage for most stations worked, with some stations equally strong on the 225°
beverage. We hope to work more long path contacts with Scandinavia and western
Russia during this time... and, with luck, perhaps a 160m long path QSO could
occur. We will be listening!

Special Request for DXers worldwide
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When the VP6DX operator asks for ONLY calls from this difficult part of the
world, stations in other locations PLEASE stand-by. Give us a chance to work
this area during the short opening.

Everyone here on Ducie Island has noticed that North America operators have been
very cooperative, waiting many hours during the European openings so that as
many European stations as possible can get in the log. We are very grateful for
this cooperation (and we are watching the QSO statistics to make sure North
America has an equal chance to be in the log).

We ask western, central, and southeast European stations to also help us during
this short opening, and to help pass along this request to other DXers in the
region.

160m SSB operation
******************
We will begin working 160m SSB when the CW pileups are down to "slow" size (1-2
workable/audible stations during any 5-10 minute period). At this earlier phase
of the expedition, it is more important to provide a "new 160m entity" QSO on CW
to DXers (especially those with smaller stations/antennas), rather than provide
a second contact on SSB to DXers who already have made a CW QSO. Please review
the information on 160m operations on the website here
http://ducie2008.dl1mgb.com/operating/160m/index.php for more details.

VP6DX will be participating in the CQ WW 160m SSB contest this coming weekend.
Stations interested in 160m SSB contacts can be sure VP6DX will be on 160 SSB
during that 48-hour period.

Split operation for restricted licenses
***************************************
As a matter of policy, when VP6DX is listening for North America on SSB, the
operator's listening frequencies are in the portion of the band which can be
used for transmission by USA General Class operators. This procedure is also in
effect for CW.

At other times, the SSB operator may use a different frequency chosen for a
target part of the world that does not include the USA. For example, on 75m the
operator may listen around 3799 for Europe and for Japan/Australia. Stations in
Europe, Japan and Australia cannot transmit on, for instance, 3853 kHz due to
regulatory restrictions in those parts of the world.

If VP6DX is not listening on an appropriate frequency, please submit a reception
report via the website http://ducie2008.dl1mgb.com/contactus/index.php. To help
us, we need this important information in the report:

     * your location (USA state, for example)
     * the date and time when you were listening.
     * the band.
     * the announced listening frequency.
     * the stations being worked (parts of the world; e.g., Europe)

Without ALL of this information, it will be difficult for us to correct any
problems.

Server errors
*************
It can occur that the online log, the OQRS and the visitors counter show some
errors. This is due to overload of the server. Maybe you try it a little bit
later when traffic decreased again.

Thank you for your understanding.

We would be delighted if DX editors would publish this information as widely as
possible and DXers bring it to the attention of their clubs and fellow DXers.