Dear fellow PVARC members,
 
Work continues on configuring K6PV's new Hytera dual-mode DMR/analog repeater that should be fully operational by late March.  Our March QRO newsletter issue will have an article by Clay Davis, AB9A, about understanding Digital Mobile Radio (DMR) and our Vice President Ray Day, N6HE, has lined up as the PVARC's May meeting guest speaker DMR expert Michael Rickey, AF6FB, from the PAPA repeater system.  We believe enabling our club repeater to operate in DMR will open new avenues in ham radio for many PVARC members.  But rest assured your existing analog FM transceivers will still work in analog mode on K6PV and our usual weekly nets will continue in analog.
 
Don't forget this week's club net is tonight at 7:30 pm on K6PV (447.120 MHz, PL 100.0) and cross-banded onto 144.910 MHz, Tone Squelch, PL 156.7 if on the Palos Verdes Peninsula's ocean side.  Please check in and say hello.
 
The PVARC's 2019 Islands On The Air DXpedition to Two Harbors at Catalina Island's isthmus leaves San Pedro at 9:00 am tomorrow with eight club members and a lot of equipment.  Another member will arrive on Friday but we still expect to make many HF contacts from the island.  You can contact the DXpedition team or listen to DXpedition reports via the K6PV 447.120 MHz repeater which is easily reached from our Two Harbors camp area.  You might hear the call sign K6PV/6--necessary for Islands On The Air QSL purposes to designate we are operating from the island, not the mainland.
 
Lastly, the monthly W6TRW Swap Meet at Northrop Grumman in North Redondo Beach is this Saturday from 7:00-11:30 am and some of our members will be there.  Gary Lopes, WA6MEM, and I will be at Two Harbors this Saturday but our ARRL Southwestern Division Director Dick Norton, N6AA, might be at the Swap Meet instead.  Dick is also the guest speaker at our March 7th monthly club meeting.
 
Have a great week and 73,
Diana, AI6DF
 
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Here's the latest DX bulletin courtesy of the ARRL (some completed operations are omitted following a major CW contest last weekend):
 
This week's bulletin was made possible with information provided by
CO3JK, EA4NF, W1UE, The Daily DX, The OPDX Bulletin, 425 DX News,
DXNL, Contest Corral from QST and the ARRL Contest Calendar and
WA7BNM web sites.  Thanks to all.
 
 
BURUNDI, 9U.  Shabu, M0KRI is QRV as 9U4RI until February 25. 
Activity is on 40 to 10 meters using CW, SSB and PSK31.  QSL direct
to home call.
 
THE GAMBIA, C5.  Alan, G4DJX will be QRV as C5DX from February 16 to
23 while here with a group of students.  Activity will be in his
spare time on 40 to 10 meters using only CW.  QSL direct to home
call.
 
CAPE VERDE, D4.  Philip, HB9HFD will be QRV as D44TAQ from Sao
Vicente, IOTA AF-086, from February 17 to 22.  Activity will be on
40 to 10 meters using various digital modes.  QSL via LoTW.
 
HONDURAS, HR.  Dennis, W1UE is QRV as either HQ9X or W1UE/HR9 from
Roatan Island, IOTA NA-057, until February 26.  He will be active as
HQ9X in the ARRL International DX CW contest and the upcoming CQ
World Wide 160 Meter SSB contest.  Activity includes being on 160
and 80 meters during his evening hours, as well as 60 meters.  QSL
via KQ1F.
 
CENTRAL KIRIBATI, T31.  A group of operators will be QRV as T31EU
from Kanton Island, IOTA OC-043, from February 16 to March 5.
Activity will be on 160 to 10 meters using CW, SSB and various
digital modes with three stations active.  QSL via DL2AWG.
 
VIET NAM, XV.  Andy, DL3YM plans to be QRV as XV9YM from Ho Chi Minh
City from February 16 to March 18.  Activity will be in his spare
time on 40 to 10 meters using only CW.  QSL to home call.