Latest News from United Radio Team

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Created on Saturday, 04 August 2012 22:42

I have decided to hold the Bureau dispatch until September, we have a lot more cards to prepare, CY9M, St Paul Island logs are being processed and this week sees the start of 9M4SLL from Spratly Islands by John 9M6XRO & Steve 9M6DXX. Image Left: 9M6DXX Steve & 9M6XRO John arrive on Spratly Island.

5B/G4MKP QRV Cyprus

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Created on Friday, 03 August 2012 17:00

5B/G4MKP (Terry) will be QRV from Tsada, Paphos over 4-16 August. Terry will be using dipoles all bands 40m -10m with his K3 and Expert 1K to help get noticed. If space available he will put up an 80m dipole. As usual he will focus on cw but also some digital modes and possibly SSB. This trip coincides with WAE DX (11/12 August) and Terry will put in some hours during the contest. It will make a change to be on the sending end of QTCs rather than sweating at 35wpm to get 10/10 sat at the receiving end! QSL via M0URX please.

Bureau cards received from RSGB

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Created on Tuesday, 31 July 2012 18:38

Incoming Bureau cards arrived 23rd July 2012 for the following call series.
4,600 QSL cards for "QSL Via M0URX" Processed 31/07/2012.
Dispatch will be held back until September to include CY9M & 9M4SLL Bureau QSL cards.

CY9M OQRS is now open. Please remember to update your log book as QSL requested using OQRS.
Please do not duplicate your QSL requets, this is very important.

RSGB IOTA Contest Participation (July 28-29)

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Created on Friday, 20 July 2012 20:30

The CY9M team will participate in the IOTA contest next weekend, giving both DXCC and IOTA hunters the chance to confirm NA-094. Our contest operation will be limited to 20 meters only – please do not ask for a contest exchange on other bands.
We will operate both SSB and CW modes throughout the contest.

The contest log will be merged with the regular DX operation, so there is no need to work us twice. Your contest contact will be valid for DXCC.

The CY9M QSL card will be used for confirmation and the log will be uploaded to LoTW. Contest log will be submitted to the RSGB IOTA Committee.

CY9M St Paul Island Expedition starts next week,  visit our website at www.cy9m.com. If you like to help out,  please go to www.cy9m.com/donor. Thank you!

For 6m operators please note the Grid Square is FN97. Please do not exchange locators just RST is good enough for expedition. Thank you.

Spratly 9M4SLL

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Created on Friday, 20 July 2012 14:46

Spratly 9M4SLL 7 – 13 August 2012

John, 9M6XRO, and Steve, 9M6DXX, will be operating as 9M4SLL from Pulau Layang Layang, Spratly Islands (IOTA AS-051) from 7 to 13 August inclusive. Activity will be on all bands from 80 to 10m, CW, SSB and RTTY, using two stations with linear amplifiers to vertical antennas on the edge of the ocean.

Spratly stands at number 29 in the current The DX Magazine ‘100 Most Needed Countries’ survey (world-wide, mixed modes), up from number 32 last year.

The QSL manager for 9M4SLL is Tim Beaumont, M0URX. QSL direct with SAE + $2 or 1 new IRC, OQRS (see http://m0urx.com/oqrs) or via the RSGB bureau (all bureau cards MUST be marked “via M0URX”). Logs will be uploaded to LoTW as soon as possible after the end of the operation (within a few days), but there will be NO online log during the DXpedition itself. If you are not certain of any QSO you are welcome to work us again for an ‘insurance’ contact.

9M6XRO and 9M6DXX would like to thank the Malaysian Prime Minister’s Department National Security Council for granting the operating permission from Layang-Layang Island. They would also like to thank Amid Drajak, 9W6ABD, of the MCMC licensing office in Kota Kinabalu for issuing the 9M4SLL licence, as well as the President of the Borneo Amateur Radio Club, Hamid, 9W6MID, and Rahim, 9M6RHM, for their help in obtaining the licence. Pekka, OH2YY, was of great help with the initial planning of the trip. Finally, thanks go to Vicky Lee of the Layang Layang Island Resort for her help in making this operation possible.

(Note for users of computer logging programs: The 9M4 prefix is issued to special event stations that may be anywhere on Malaysian territory; this includes the DXCC entities of West Malaysia, East Malaysia or, as in this case, Malaysian islands in the Spratly group.)
More infrmation click 9M4SLL Spratly Island

73, Steve, 9M6DXX

MC0SHL Ramsey Island EU-124

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Created on Monday, 09 July 2012 13:53

The Strumble Head DX and Contest Group (SHDXCG) will once again be activating Ramsey Island EU-124 between 12th and 14th July 2012. They will be on all bands from 40M through to 6M using 2 Hexbeams and a Windom. This year they are hoping to have a station dedicated to digital, mostly RTTY, using a TS480 at 200w and one of the Hexbeams. They have also analysed their logs and seen that there is a shortage of contacts with North and South America, and also the countries around the Caribbean. They have looked at the terrain and the location of the antennas with a view to getting one Hexbeam a little higher to clear a small ridge that blocks the Westerly direction allowing these contacts to be made.

As usual QSL via the manager Tim, M0URX, using his OQRS system for a speedy turn around. Logs will be uploaded to LOTW and Clublog as soon as they get back to the mainland. All details and (hopefully) a daily blog will be available on their website www.mc0shl.com. The team have also advised that they will operate from their farm HQ if they are unable to make the crossing to the island due to bad weather, but will announce on air if this is the case. Chris Colclough, G1VDP
Please note! Using OQRS? It is very important that you note in your log that QSL was requested by OQRS either by Bureau or Direct. So that you have a record of the date and method requested.

LATEST - 14/07/2012 The team will go back to the mainland on Sunday due to an incoming weather system that will sweep through the Island. From Sunday the team will operate from the farm on EU-005 mainland.

CY9M - Coming Soon! Donations Welcome!

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Created on Friday, 06 July 2012 16:26

Very soon it’s time for an international team of 10 amateur radio operators to board their flights to Nova Scotia, Canada to participate in the expedition to St. Paul Island, a top-40 “most wanted” DXCC.

Quick Facts: CY9M St. Paul Island, July 26-Aug 1, 160-6 meters.
QSL via M0URX.

Once the team arrives at St. Paul, in the Gulf of St Lawrence, we plan to unpack and prepare 6 Elecraft K3 transceivers, 4 amplifiers, raise 3 Hex Beams and a number of other antennas in order to be active on all bands from 160 meters through 6 meters CW, SSB and Digital. The power station consists of three generators that constantly chargers three large battery tanks for maximum efficiency. We plan to consume more that 500 litres of fuel, large amounts of food and other “necessities”, including several hundred litres of water.

The team, together with 2 tons of equipment and supplies, head out to sea on a 42 foot motor vessel on the evening of 25 July or on the morning of the 26th depending on weather. We expect to be active starting July 26 and continuously rock the bands until August 1, weather permitting.

After the activity, all contacts will be verified via LoTW and for those who want paper QSL, Tim Beaumont M0URX lends us his excellent manager services. The log will be available through ClubLog, likely after the expedition.

The activity is supported both financially and through the loan of equipment by several large clubs such as NCDXF, GDXF, ARRL and companies like Elecraft, Acom and DX Engineering. But we are most proud that so many individual amateur operators and DX chasers contribute to the activity out of their own pocket.

If you would like to donate any amount to the CY9M St Paul Island Dxpedition, please click here: http://www.cy9m.com/donor/.

Feel free to follow us on Twitter and Facebook for the latest news updates.

We look forward to working you from St Paul Island, a top 40 most wanted DXCC.

73, CY9M Team, St Paul Island DXpedition.

Bill, N2WB, George, EA2TA, Christian, EA3NT, Simon, IZ7ATN, Col, MM0NDX, Kevin, VE3EN, Steve, VA3FM, Victoria, SV2KBS, Bjorn, SM0MDG, Mike, AB5EB.

Latest QSL cards

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Created on Friday, 06 July 2012 16:06

Three QSL cards are now being printed and will be ready soon to be posted out. 5B4AHL, Dave, welcome to the team.  

GD4JVG, Steve, recently on holiday in the Isle of Man and

GQ1VDP Chris celebrating the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II.

All QSL cards will be ready to be posted later in July.

Ham Radio 2012 - Max ON5UR

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Created on Monday, 02 July 2012 18:27

Max, ON5UR QSL Printing had a successful visit to Ham Radio 2012 this year. Here are some images from the show. Max says "It was great to meet friends and clients from around the World, I was working hard behind my stand this year. Although I did have time to view the new Kenwood TS990 with my friend Dervin PD9DX"
Photographs by ON5UR.

 Below: Life is Simple - Eat Sleep DX.
 Below Right: HZ1M ON5UR A71FJ.

CY9M New Member Joins The Team

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Created on Tuesday, 26 June 2012 16:10

CY9M are delighted to welcome Bill N2WB to this exciting expedition.
 
Bill has a wealth of Dxpeditioning experience visiting and operating from some of the rarest places on Earth.
 
Welcome aboard Wild Bill !
 
Just a few weeks to go now. M0URX will be QSL manager for CY9M, very proud to be supporting you guys. I have requested a LoTW certificate and can confirm that the log will be uploaded at the earliest opportunity.
Direct & Bureau QSL cards will be available from all routes. I would ask please all Bureau requests to be made through my OQRS to save on Bureau expenses.

Rockall DVD On Sale Now!

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Created on Sunday, 24 June 2012 19:39

Rockall Island: Undertaking an expedition to this tiny rock in the North Atlantic Ocean is like traveling through time into another World. Watch the adventure unfold in this daring expedition through Storm Force 11 seas.
MM0RAI/P was the call sign used to activate Rockall IOTA EU-189.
Order your DVD NOW 
United Radio QSL Bureau have the DVD's ready to post NOW. Order yours! 

OQRS Use it - Don't Send It

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Created on Sunday, 24 June 2012 18:40

OQRS or Online QSL Request System is a tool to help both the DX chaser and the DXpeditioner. Here at the United Radio QSL Bureau I am doing my very best to reduce costs to the World IARU Bureaus, to you and myself.

For DXpeditions and many rare DX, they do not need your incoming QSL card. There is no need to be putting your QSL through the Bureau system clogging up valuable time and money for the Bureaus.

Why? Because it is these DXpeditions that are trying to give you a new DXCC or IOTA or Zone. This is for your benefit. Always use the OQRS system for your Bureau Request.
From feedback I have had, Bureau QSL cards are being delivered in some countries in less that 2 months.
All Bureau cards here are posted every 3 - 4 months directly to the World IARU Bureaus by Priority Air Mail to ensure faster delivery. This cuts the delivery time by almost 2 years.

Direct requests are also preferred using OQRS, from €2 for more information check QSL Instructions page. All Direct Requests are answered very fast. Try it! Secure and safe!

Update

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Created on Saturday, 23 June 2012 07:54

United Radio QSL Bureau is back online, sorry for the downtime over the last two days. Technical problems that took a little time to resolve. All is now back to normal. OQRS and the log search are both running correctly.

I would like to pass my sincere get well wishes to Steve , VE2TKH. Steve suffered an ACV back in March and has a long recovery ahead. Steve has been the main operator QRV as VE2CSI, operating from CQ Zone 2 since October 2010 logging 12,500 QSO's. I am sure you will understand that I have not been able to process QSL requests from February for VE2CSI. Once Steve is on the road to recovery I will ensure that the few requets will be dealt with, the priority is 100% Steve's recovery. Get well Steve, hope to hear you back on air soon.

GD4JVG QSL will be designed and printed in July.
Band conditions here in Coventry have been pretty poor this summer, with constant solar flares, geo-magnetic storms, while the SFI and SSN has been good the A index has been very high. Then the A index drops and so does the SSN. Even the weather here has been poor, cloudy, cold and wet. Things can only get better!

XV3C

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Created on Saturday, 16 June 2012 14:09

P29CS, Andy reports that he is currently working in the "Socialist Republic of Vietnam" Andy will be QRV as XV3C for the next few weeks during his spare time.
Andy has with him his Icom 706 II DSP, Spider Beam on 10m, G5RV & 500W Amplifier.
QSL Via M0URX

GD4JVG

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Created on Tuesday, 05 June 2012 07:17

9M6DXX ,Steve, will be in the Isle of Man until about the 7th June, QRV as GD4JVG.
QSL Via M0URX. I have enabled the OQRS to accept all Direct & Bureau Requests for your convenience.

07/06/2012 - Update: 556 QSOs uploaded to online log search & LoTW. QSL requests processed into log. QSL cards will be printed when I receive images from Steve.

CY9M Press Release - May 25, 2012

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Created on Friday, 25 May 2012 18:03

Time is flying!
Two months today the CY9M team will be making their way to Sydney, Nova Scotia, then onwards to the northernmost tip of Cape Breton, ready to depart for St Paul island on July 26th.

Much has happened since the first press release in February. Those who keep an eye on the CY9M website will note major organisations such as Northern California DX Foundation and ARRL Colvin Award have agreed to financially back our plans. Together, with all other kind donors and clubs, we thank them sincerely.
The team make special mention to Al VE1AL for his local logistical help. His ongoing assistance is much appreciated.

Meanwhile, the last few weeks has seen a host of sponsors commit to the expedition.
Elecraft, main equipment sponsor of our expedition, are providing six K3 transceivers. We are indebted to Elecraft for their support.
DX Engineering, Tigertronics, Waters & Stanton, Heil Sound, Spiderbeam, RF Power and Vibroplex have shown faith in our activation by generously supporting too.

G3TXQ Broadband Hexbeam by MW0JZE is providing the team with three antennas. Using both Hexbeams and vertical arrays, we hope to be heard from the island! M2 Antenna Systems are also contributing with a 50Mhz yagi/beam - we know how wanted St Paul island is on 6m and cross fingers for good openings.

As mentioned previously, there are few landing spots on the island. Actual station location will be determined where we land. From planning discussions, we know each *proposed *location has positives and negatives to certain regions around the globe - therefore this is very much an "on the day" set-up at any given landing spot.

Now the shipping process begins.

If you would like to donate any amount to the CY9M St Paul Island Dxpedition, please click here: CY9M Donate Page.

Feel free to follow us on  CY9M Twitter & CY9M Facebook nearer the time of departure (and afterwards) various team members will update as we journey.

Thanks for taking the time to read and share - we look forward to working you from DXCC Most Wanted entity #40.

73, CY9M Team, St Paul Island DXpedition.

Wythall Radio Club

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Created on Monday, 21 May 2012 20:54

Wythall Radio Club is my local club, and one that I am proud to be a member of. For many years the dedicated members have been working hard in all aspects of Amateur Radio to bring new people into the hobby. The professionalism and enthusiasm from the team has been great to see.

Recently the club re-launcehed their website which is fresh and full of news of what is happening in Amateur Radio around the area. A great events calendar throughout the year. If you live in the area drop by and say hello.

Mindless Idiots!

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Created on Monday, 21 May 2012 19:40

9M6DXX QRV

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Created on Sunday, 29 April 2012 17:07

9M6DXX, Steve, has been QRV on Sunday on 15m with S9+ signals into Europe and East coast USA. Valid for the ARRL Diamond DXCC Challenge as British North Borneo. Good to see the band conditons improving once again.

YJ0VK DXpedition to Vanuatu were heard here for about 9 hours today on 20m and doing an excellent job from YJ.

High winds here in England stopped much of my transmissions today, the storm has now passed and antenna is back in the air. First signs of 6m opening with some Sporadic E signals from much of Europe today.

Bureau Cards Posted

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Created on Monday, 23 April 2012 21:04

6,100 QSL cards have been posted 24/04/2012 to 77 World Bureaus, weight: 26.kg cost: £214.30 - £8.25 per kg.
This posting includes 1,000 Bureau cards from TN2T DXpedition in January.

If you work at the Bureaus and receive my package please let me know its progress. It is always good to be sure that my Bureau packages are processed quickly. Thank you.

Click title to see full list of Bureaus.

Read more: Bureau Cards Posted

OQRS & How to log your QSL Request

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Created on Tuesday, 17 April 2012 20:18

OQRS - Online QSL Request System is a relatively recent addition to the tool used by the DXer to request a QSL from the DXpedition. From my experience many of you are not sure how to use OQRS in relation to your QSLing and logging needs.
 
Firstly it is most important to remember that YOUR QSL card is NOT required for DXpeditions, IOTA's and some rare DX activity. If you use my OQRS and I need your QSL then I will email you and ask you for your card.

Once you have made your OQRS request you MUST enter into your logbook in the "QSL OUT" field that the QSL card is sent, write "OD 10/02/2012" OD = OQRS DIRECT or "OB 10/02/2012" OB = OQRS Bureau.

If your log does not allow for OQRS then write in the "REMARKS" field that the QSL card has been requested and the date. This may all sound like common sense, but as I am receiving sometimes several OQRS, direct letters and Bureau cards for the same single QSO it is quite clear that there needs to be much better log keeping by DXers.
By bombarding me with duplicate QSL requests just slows my work down and delays ALL outgoing mail so I must ask you please to think!

VERY IMPORTANT - If an OQRS is available then NO QSL cards should be sent Via Bureau, only those who have no internet access.

How do I know when my OQRS has been processed?
You can log into my OQRS with your email address and call sign at any time. You will see your QSL requests listed as "OPEN" this means i have opened the request. Once I have then processed your request you will see "PROCESSED" next to the QSO details.
The QSL will be posted direct quickly. Bureau dispatches are sent directly to each world Bureau every 3 months.

Why does it cost more than $2?
When using PayPal for small transactions there is a PayPal charge of 42c that I have to pay for every transaction. This is why my OQRS is set at €2 to cover this charge and that of the envelope and ink. This is still cheaper than your postage costs.

We have a duty to reduce waste that goes through our Bureau system, this will speed up QSL delivery times and reduce costs for the IARU Bureaus.

Don't Send It - Request It! - Use OQRS