Marion Island, ZS8W. Yuris, YL2GM and all personnel are still on board the SA Agulhas II. “I had a quick chat on the phone with Yuris earlier today”, MM0NDX reported on 24 April. “The seas haven’t been great recently and continue to be lumpy so no landing just yet. Said he’d update on when he’s likely to go on land, possibly Saturday”. The ZS8W website is currently “under maintenance” (https://lral.lv/zs8w/).
Namibia, V5. Remo, HB9SHD will be active holiday style as V51/HB9SHD while touring Namibia between 29 April and 15 June. He will operate SSB and digital modes on 40 to 6 metres. QSL via LoTW.
Reunion Island, FR. Celebrating the centenaries of the Reseau des Emetteurs Francais (REF) and the International Amateur Radio Union (IARU), Phil FR8UA and Ann FR8TZ will be active as TO974REF from Reunion Island (AF-016) between 1 and 4 May, 8 and 11 May, 17 and 19 May and 29 May and 1 June. They will operate CW, SSB and digital modes on 40, 20, 15 and 10 m. TO974REF participates in REF’s Radio Challenge; eQSL and certificates on
https://tm100ref.r-e-f.org/
Equatorial Guinea, 3C. The Mediterraneo DX Club has announced plans for a DXpedition to take place from Bioko Island (AF-010), Equatorial Guinea from 30 October to 10 November. A multi-national team of fourteen operators will be active as 3C2MD on 160 to 6 metres SSB, CW and digital modes. Expected activities include EME and QO-100. QSL via IK2VUC. More information is expected in due course.
Cape Verde, D4. Harald, DF2WO and Warren, KN6ZZI will be active as D44TWO (mainly CW and digital) and D44ZZI (mainly SSB and digital), respectively, from Santiago Island (AF-005), Cape Verde between 4 and 26 May. Look also for activity via QO-100. QSL for both call signs via M0OXO’s OQRS.
China, BY. Ten stations (B0CRA, B1CRA, B2CRA, B3CRA, B4CRA, B5CRA, B6CRA, B7CRA, B8CRA and B9CRA) from across the country will be active on 3 to 5 May for the annual “5.5 China Amateur Radio Festival” on air event, organized by the Chinese Radio Amateurs Club (CRAC). See http://www.crac.org.cn/55 for log search and the awards.
Russia, UA. A very large number of Russian stations using special prefix RP80 will be active between 1 and 9 May to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. More information on https://logradio.ru/.
Greece, SV. SX20TARG is the special call sign for members of the Thessaloniki Amateur Radio Group to celebrate its 20th anniversary between 3 and 17 May. QSL only via eQSL.
Germany, DL. Special call sign DM0LIMES will be active between 1 May and 1 July for this year’s German World Heritage Day (1 June). QSL via the bureau and eQSL. Also, active will be DM3LIMES (QSL via the bureau) on 31 May and 1 June. The limes was the border line of the Roman Empire at its greatest extent. In 2005, the remnants of the Upper German-Raetian Limes were inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list as “Frontiers of the Roman Empire”.
France, F. Celebrating the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II in Europe, special call sign TM45END will be active between 7 and 31 May. QSL via F5JYD.
Northern Ireland, GI. Once again, the North West Group ARC (MN0NWG) is running special event station GB0AEL between 5 and 31 May to commemorate the anniversary of Amelia Earhart’s transatlantic flight. QSL via MI0HOZ (direct or bureau). On 20 and 21 May 1932, Earhart became the first woman to fly nonstop and alone across the Atlantic, leaving Harbor Grace on Newfoundland (Canada), and landing 15 hours later near Londonderry (Northern Ireland).
Guernsey, GU. Team GU6EFW will be active from Guernsey (EU-114) between 7 and 14 May. Seven operators (ON1BN, ON4AML, ON6EF, ON6VJ, ON7TA, ON7VM and ON9DJ) will be QRV on 160 to 6 metres SSB, CW and digital modes. They will also give QO-100 and 2,3 GHz EME a try. QSL via ON6EF. See https://hamradioexpedition.com/ for more information.
Spain, EA. Celebrating IARU’s centenary, Spanish amateurs are allowed to replace their normal prefix from 1 to 15 May as follows: EA stations can use AO#100, EB stations can use AN#100, and EC stations can use AM#100, where “#” is the digit of their call area. For example, EA6VQ will use AO6100VQ, EB3WH will use AN3100WH, and EC7R will use AM7100R.
Spain, EA. Once again, the Federacion Digital EA will operate special call signs AO1EU, AO2EU, AO3EU, AO4EU, AO5EU, AO6EU, AO7EU, AO8EU and AO9EU between 2 and 11 May to celebrate Europe Day, the anniversary of the Schuman Declaration (9 May 1950) that paved the way to the European Union. QSL direct to EA3RKF: Federacion Digital EA, Apartado Postal 3050, 08200 Sabadell (Barcelona), Spain.