This Week in DX - 08/14/2026

Hello and Welcome to the DX Corner for your weekly Dose of DX. I’m Bill, AJ8B. The following DX information comes from Bernie, W3UR, editor of the DailyDX, the WeeklyDX, and the How’s DX column in QST. If you would like a free 2-week trial of the DailyDX, your only source of real-time DX information, just drop me a note at [email protected] Earthquake in Colombia - On August 10, 2026, at 07:34 AM (12:34Z), a 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck western Colombia near San José del Palmar in Chocó, causing damage in Cali, Pereira, Quibdó, Manizales, and surrounding areas. CO2JC, Carlos Alberto Santamaría González, IARU Region 2 Emergency Coordinator, reported that the Colombian Amateur Radio League (LCR) and affiliated operators were working with the Colombian Red Cross to support damage assessment and emergency communications in affected areas including the Coffee Axis, the Pacific coast, Pereira, Dos Quebradas, Manizales, Medellín, and Cali. Amateur radio operators are asked to keep clear the emergency frequencies 3.985, 7.060, 7.240, 7.275, 14.300, 18.160, 21.360, and 146.520 MHz simplex for possible relief traffic. R1FJ – Franz Jozef Land - R7AL, Vasily, and his team should be QRV now until about August 30. TU – Ivory Coast - F5HPE, Fredy, is QRV from the Ivory Coast, where he has the TU5MM callsign. He will be joining TU5JZ, Mathruin. Fredy expects to be there until August 22nd , operating from the Motobé Radio Club on 80, 40, 20, 15 and 10M SSB and FT8. OJ0 - Märket Reef - OH6BG says a DXpedition should be QRV about now until August 22, with OJ0JR, Henri; and OJ0YL, Anne. He points out that the reef is the most exposed location in the Baltic Sea, “more rock than island, more sea than shelter.” To be dealt with before the first QSO is made is the weather, landing conditions, antennas, power and constant wind and waves, he says. They plan 80-10 CW, SSB and FT8. 3B8 – Mauritius & 3B9 – Rodrigues - SQ9UM, Alex, reports that “Everything seems to be arranged so far,” with flights and lodging now confirmed. 3B8/SQ9UM is August 14-17 and 21-27. 3B9/SQ9UM is August 18-20. He plans 40-10 FT8/FT4 and CW and says “SSB if possible.” The rig is an IC-7100, 100 watts, to a multiband dipole or vertical depending on “local conditions.” V7 – Marshall Islands - May 22 we reported that KC8CPK, Mac, is a “flight nurse” on temporary duty on Kwajalein, callsign V7/KC8CPK. Now his Marshall license has come through and he is V73RM. Mac says he is there through the end of August and will try to get on the air in his spare time. Contest Updates   August starts the contest season for me with two contests kicking things off. First is the Ohio QSO Party. I work every minute of this and have had some good rates the past few years. However, I have also been kicked off the air by lightning 3 of the last 4 years so I am hoping for good weather. I finished 7th overall in Ohio last year and #1 in Warren County. I could use your help if you are around the weekend of August 22nd. The contest period runs from 1200 EDT noon in Ohio (1600Z) to Midnight on the 22nd (0400Z Sunday). Secondly is the CQWW RTTY contest. This is the weekend of September 26th and 27th. This contest typically draws over 15,000 participants with over 3,600 logs submitted. If you can operate FT8, you can operate RTTY. Why not give it a try? If you have questions or need information, just drop me a note at [email protected] Until next week, this is Bill, AJ8B saying 73 and thanks to my XYL Karen for her love and support. I Hope to hear you in the pileups! Have a great DX week!