Archive - August 2018

IOTA News – New Groups

IOTA

IOTA Programme Structure A.4.2 in the 2018 Directory provides for a review of the list of valid island groups to take place every five years. The last such occasion took place in June 2014 with the announcement made at  the 50th anniversary celebration of IOTA’s launch the following month. It resulted in 11 new groups being added.

This time IOTA Management has decided to bring forward the review to give a chance for any new groups announced to be activated in 2019, the target year. The review process is scheduled to start with an announcement of some additions at this year’s RSGB Convention and may possibly finish with a top-up at next year’s Friedrichshafen Ham Radio event.

Any new groups will be very few in number, probably  between 5 and 10. It should be noted that only proposals that meet the programme criteria at Sections B and C of the IOTA Programme Structure chapter (2018 Directory) will be considered and, as guidance, it is unlikely that any additions will be made to the Europe list because it is already generously covered. Proposals for consideration should be sent to Roger, G3KMA by 1 October with a short justification (one paragraph please) in terms of the programme criteria.

Best regards

Roger, G3KMA

 

FW Wallis & Futuna islands

fw2

Nobby G0VJG informs me that his plans are well underway for his next Dxpedition to FW (Wallis & Futuna Islands) in early 2019.

 
He will operate from Wallis Island (IOTA OC-054) using a small Amplifier and a Beam antenna mostly on the higher bands. His emphasis will be on Europe dependent on band conditions using SSB and FT8.
 
There is also possibility of a short side trip to Futuna Island (IOTA OC-118), this to be confirmed later and also Fiji (IOTA OC-016) may also be included to the trip
 
Flights have been booked and Callsign has been requested, QRZ.Com and further updates to follow in the coming months.
 

M0OXO OQRS (PDXG v.4.6.1)

oqrs cosmetic

The new version of the PDXG OQRS is now on line and there are quite a lot of changes. Many are cosmetic, adding a bit of colour and others are more practical. I will post a longer description later but two of the main changes;

1) OQRS now allows ”live logging” by Dxpeditions providing they have a stable Internet connection and are using N1MM.

2) After a log search you will see that we will no longer accept email and social media requests for Missing Call requests. This is a practical change and indeed a safer way to ensure all busted calls are traceable and more important, that none are missed by being sent on many different social media platforms.
Social Media requests need to be discouraged.

Thanks, hope you enjoy the new version which you will catch on both M0URX and M0OXO OQRS sites…..

 

Irish Islands Tour & Most Wanted Plaques

Irish Islands M0OXO 1

Huge thanks to Ken RW3DD for designing this beautiful plaque available to whoever works EJ0DXG from 4 different IOTA Groups.

Remember, EI0DXG will also be QRV throughout and until September 30th as a ‘Bonus’ or ‘Joker’ station from Mainland Ireland EU-115. This station can help you to reach the minimum 4 Groups required if necessary.
 

Ken has also added a bonus to those who are lucky to work us from all 5 groups and has now added the ”Worked All 5 Groups” endorsement, a nice addition for the collector! You can see a sample of this Plaque below.
 

Orders are now being taken for the Plaques and you can find more information by visiting the Most Wanted Website here

 
OR email Ken at this address;
 

 
 
 

 

RA/VK3FY Cards printing..

RA VK3FY

Qsl Cards for Chris VK3FY’s recent trip to Russia are now printing at UX5UO Print Shop.

 

Cards are available now on OQRS and will be ready in 2-3 weeks time.

RA VK3FY ob

Edit

VE3KTB/VY0 NA-043 Axel Heiberg Island

VE3KTB VY0

Since the sad news of the passing of Reg VE7IG, Qsl cards for the activity from the McGill Arctic Research Station (MARS) Axel Heiberg Island NA-043 should no longer be requested via that route.

Qsl Cards are being printed for the NA-043 dxpedition conducted by Pierre Fogal VE3KTB and will be available via M0OXO (as is already the case with the Eureka Research Station VY0ERC NA-008).

Qsl via M0OXO OQRS

 

 

 

 

EJ0DXG EU-103 Little Saltee Isld

EIDX Group logo

EJ0DXG will be QRV from Little Saltee Island IOTA EU-103 this weekend.

As part of the continued ‘Irish Islands IOTA Tour 2018’, Dave EI9FBB and Declan EI9HQ have already boarded the boat and will land on the Island this morning. Expect activity from early afternoon today.

This activation replaces the cancelled activation from EU-103 in June when the operation had to be postponed due to high sea conditions.

The duo will have two stations on air. Please look for them from 80m through 6m bands on CW, SSB & FT8.

Please remember contact with this station counts for the Irish Islands IOTA Tour Plaque (Most Wanted Plaques) that will be available after the event concludes in September.

From all the Irish Island IOTA groups, EU-103 is the most difficult with a ‘wet landing’ and tent and generator style. The team hope to be QRV until midday Monday 6th August but again, this depends entirely on the local weather.

Little Saltee Island was last QRV in May 2015.

 Qsl via M0OXO OQRS