22 December 2001
No 555
*** 4 2 5 D X N E W S *** **** DX INFORMATION ****
Edited by I1JQJ & IK1ADH
TO ALL OUR READERS - Warmest thoughts and
best wishes for a wonderful holiday and a Very Happy New Year.
DUCIE ISLAND 2002 - PIARA President Tom
Christian, VP6TC announces that all planning is now complete for
the Pitcairn Island Amateur Radio Association's second attempt to
activate Ducie Island (OC-182) [425DXN 554]. The group will leave
Mangareva (French Polynesia) on 12 March; they will use a VP6
callsign to be announced at the beginning of the activity and
plans to be operational as soon as possible after arriving upon
the island. The operators will be VP6TC, VP6DB, VP6AZ, VP6MW,
VP6BK/JA1BK, JA3USA, JF1IST, K9AJ, and K5VT. The two main
frequencies - 21020 kHz (CW) and 21295 kHz (SSB) - will be used
24 hours a day. Other prime frequencies include 28495 kHz and
14195 kHz for SSB and 14020 kHz for CW, but some activity is
planned to take place on the other bands (160-6 metres) and on
RTTY as well. It is expected that low band and WARC operations
are more likely to take place in the last days of the operation,
as the initial emphasis will be to allow as many operators as
possible to work this new DXCC Entity. The team will have
2-element beams for 10 and 15 metres, a 4 Square for 20 metres
and wire and vertical antennas for the other bands. There will be
a 6 meter beacon on 50.110 Mhz. QSL via VE3HO (HF QSOs: Garth
Hamilton, P.O. Box 1156, Fonthill, Ontario L0S 1E0, Canada) and
JA1BK (6m QSOs: Kan Mizoguchi, 5-3 Sakuragaoka 4 Chome,
Tama-City, Tokyo 206-0013, Japan). Logs will be available at http://www.big.or.jp/~ham/dx.html.
Donations will be gratefully accepted and can be sent to either
VE3HO or JA1BK. [TNX K5NX and VE3HO]
XR0X, SAN FELIX 2002 - Massimo Mucci, I8NHJ
(Europeans will surely remember him working EU pile-ups as K5K
from Kingman Reef) will be one of the 13 operators who will be
conducting a DXpedition to San Felix Island (SA-013) for two
weeks tentatively between 12 and 30 March 2002. The expedition is
being organized and led by Carlos G. Nascimento, NP4IW/CE3AQI (cgnascim@attbi.com), and the
project is being carried out in conjunction with Cordell
Expeditions (info@cordell.org).
All permits have been obtained. Other team members include Alan
Brown (K5AB), Doug Faunt (N6TQS), Dick Hanson (K5AND), John
Kennon (N7CQQ), Franz Langner (DJ9ZB), Ricardo Menzel (CE0YWS),
Michael Mraz (N6MZ), Joseph M. Owen (KO4RR), Willy Ruesch
(HB9AHL), Robert Schmieder (KK6EK), Charles Spetnagel (W6KK). The
expedition is being financed by the participants, supplemented by
donations from DX associations, radio clubs, and individuals.
Contributions made to the expedition through Cordell Expeditions
are eligible for U. S. tax deduction as a donation to a nonprofit
organization. QSL via N7CQQ. For further information please visit
the Expedition website at http://www.cordell.org/SFX.
7X - Mirek, SP5IXI (aka VK3DXI, 9V1XE and
9M8DX) has been working in Algeria since June 2001. He reports
that an amateur radio licence (requested call 7X0DX) has been
issued to him and he should receive it soon. He hopes to start
being active (on HF bands and via satellite) in January for 2-4
months. QSL via DL4DBR either direct (Teddy Barczyk,
Pappelstrasse 34, 58099 Hagen, Germany) or through the DARC
bureau. Updates and logs will be available at http://www.7x0.sp5xcc.waw.pl.
7X - Steve, OM3JW reports an IOTA activity
from the Habibas Islands (AF-???) is being organized to take
place in May 2002. The organizers are a Scout group from Oran led
by Afif, 7X2RO; team members should include Ivan/OM3CUG,
Mike/OM2DX and possibly Steve/OM3JW. They are looking for support
from the IOTA community; if you are willing to help, please
contact Steve (om3jw@konektel.sk)
and ask for the details.
DL - DH3ZK will operate (on SSB and PSK31)
from Poel Island (EU-098, group to be deleted on 1 February 2005)
between 22 December and 5 January. QSL via bureau. [TNX DL2VFR]
DU - Gerard, F2JD is active (on 20, 15 and 10
metres SSB and CW) as DU1/G0SHN from the Philippines until June.
He plans to operate as DU6/G0SHN from Boracay Island (OC-129)
between 22 December and 1 January. QSL via F6AJA. [TNX La Gazette
du DX]
FY - Pierre, FY5FU will be active as FY5FU/P
from Fort Ceperou (DFCF FY-97002) in Cayenne, French Guyana on 22
December. Look for him on or around 28428 and 21421 kHz . QSL via
F5AEG. [TNX La Gazette du DX]
HC - Rick Dorsch, NE8Z will operate (on 80-10
metres CW and SSB) from Ecuador between 1 and 16 February. He
will be signing HC1MD from Tumbaco, HC1MD/HC1 from Pichincha
Volcano, HC1MD/HC3 from Loja, HC1MD/HC4 from Sua, HC1MD/HC4/p
from IOTA SA-056 (with 100 watts and a dipole) and HC1MD/HC5 from
Cuenca. QSL via K8LJG (John Kroll, 3528 Craig Drive, Flint,
Michigan 48506, USA). Give a look to the HC/HD DX Award
"Equatorial Line Diploma" at http://www.octavia.com/qsl/awards.htm.
[TNX NE8Z]
KH0 - Nozomu, JE8KKX will be active as
AH2K/KH0 from Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands (OC-086) on 3-5
January. He plans to operate on 40-6 metres CW and SSB, and if
time permits on 160m, 80m and WARC bands as well. QSL via JE8KKX
(Nozomu Takahashi, 2-5, 5 chome 18jo Toko, Asahikawa, Hokkaido,
078-8358 Japan). [TNX JE8KKX]
T8 - Due to health and family reasons
Erminio, IZ8AJQ and Silvano, KB5GL have been forced to cancel
their participation in the T88SI operation from Sonsorol Island
(OC-???) [425DXN 553]. The team now includes Maurizio/IZ1CRR,
Nando/IT9YRE and Derek/G3KHZ (ex 3B6RF) who will work CW. They
expect to reach Sonsorol in the late local afternoon of 7
February or in the early morning of the 8th and to leave on 11
February. QSL via IT9YRE. This will be mainly an IOTA operation,
but there is a survey at http://www.425dxn.org/dxped/t88si
to help them understand on which bands and modes the DX community
needs T8. Donations can be sent to the Diamond DX Club c/o I8YRK
(Gennaro Casaburi, Via XXXI maggio 11, 80027 Frattamaggiore - NA,
Italy).
TI9 - The TI9M DXpedition to Cocos Island
(NA-012) is now scheduled for 17 February through 4 March and 14
operators have confirmed so far (they will be 15 in total). They
will run four stations (one for RTTY and 6 metres) with verticals
(160, 80 and 40m), 5-band Cubical Quads (20/17/15/12/10m),
dipoles for 30m and a 6-element Yagi for 6m. Suggested
frequencies are: 1825, 3502, 7002, 10102, 14022, 18072, 21022,
24892, 28022 and 50102 kHz CW; 1845, 3795, 7080, 14195, 18145,
21295, 24945, 28495 and 50145 kHz SSB; 7035, 14080, 21080 and
28080 kHz RTTY. QSL via Grupo Isla del Coco, Apartado 220-6100,
Ciudad Colon, Costa Rica (no IRCs please as they are not valid in
Costa Rica). The web site for the DXpedition is at http://www.qsl.net/ti2hmg/cocos.htm.
UA - Alexander, RX3AJL reports he will be
active (mainly on 20 metres SSB, with some possible operation on
40 and 80 metres) as RX3AJL/1 from Mudjugsky Island (EU-153,
RR-02-05) on 3-5 January. [TNX G3KMA]
VK9_ni - Look for Bernd, VK2IA/DL1VJ to be
active (mostly CW on the WARC bands) as VK9AA/9 from Norfolk
Island (OC-005) for about seven days starting on 23 December. QSL
via DL8YR. [TNX DL8YR]
VU - The Calcutta VHF Amateur Radio Society's
(CVARS) operation from Sagar Island (AS-153) is scheduled to take
place on 10-16 January [425DXN 552] during Ganga Sagar Mela 2002.
CVARS has been participating in Ganga Sagar operations for the
last three years. The team operates upon request from the
district administration to assist them in maintaining an
emergency communication network and handling missing persons
traffic. In January 2001 the team found the time to make some 300
QSOs with six continents, which were enough for a new IOTA
reference number to be issued; in 2002 CVARS is sending around 20
operators and a few of them will constitute a dedicated IOTA team
for HF IOTA operation with efforts being made to operate on 40,
20 and 15 metres CW and SSB. QSL route TBA. The operation is
partly being funded by IREF, however contributions from the IOTA
community will be most welcome, as the society's resources are
extremely limited. Contributions can be sent in the form of
cheque or bank draft drawn in favour of Calcutta VHF Amateur
Radio Society, 87 Rashbehari Avenue, Calcutta 700 026, India. For
further information please check http://www.calham.org or http://www.employees.org/~cvars.
[TNX VU2HFR, CVARS Secretary]
W - Special event call K1D will be aired (on
28370, 21370, 14270 and 3895 kHz) between 22 December and 6
January to celebrate Kid's Day (5 January) and Amateur Radio
Awareness. The operators will be Peter (W1DAD) and Jeanne (K1MOM)
Schipelliti, 7 Dearborn Ridge Rd, Atkinson, NH 03811, USA. [TNX
W1DAD].
W - Ralph, K8RYU will be active from the Dry
Tortugas (NA-079) on 5-6 January. He plans to be on 40-10 metres
mostly CW with some SSB. QSL via home call. [TNX N8KM]
XE - Radio Club Cancun members XE3OYJ,
XE3WAO, XE2MVS, XE3PPR, XE2NN and XE3RGJ will be active as XF3IC
from Holbox Island (NA-045) on 28-30 December. Look for them on
1825, 3800, 7100, 14195, 21260 and 28500 kHz SSB; 3530, 7005,
14005 and 28005 kHz CW; 14090 and 28090 kHz RTTY. QSL via XE3OYJ
(Jose Angel Yanez, Apartado Postal 1883, Cancun, Quintana Roo
77500, Mexico). The web page for the operation is at http://www.qsl.net/xf3ic/holbox.htm.
[TNX XE2NN]
XE - "La Gazette du DX" reports
that Ken/G3OCA, Les/G4CWD, Ramon/XE1KK, Pepe/XE2MX, Javier/XE2JSP
and others are planning IOTA activities from NA-162, NA-163,
NA-164 and NA-165 in March. The expect to operate (on 10, 12, 15,
17, 20 and 40 metres) with two stations for three days and three
nights from each island.
YB - Adhi, YC3MM had to cancel his YC3MM/P
operation from Siberut Island (OC-215) due to business
committments. He plans to be active (on 15 metres CW only) again
as YC3MM/P from Madura Island (OC-237) on 3-4 January. [TNX
IZ8CCW]
GOOD TO KNOW - Edited by I1JQJ & IK1ADH
LIGHTHOUSES ---> The OPDX Bulletin
reports that the following stations are expected to
participate in the Amateur Radio Lighthouse Society's
"Lighthouse Christmas Lights 2001" [425DX 552]:
CS5E (on 40, 20, 15 and 10 metres SSB) from Outao
Lighthouse (POR-033) on 26-28 December.
N5AOK and WA5MLT as N5L (on 20, 15, 10 and 40 metres)
from Boliver Point Lighthouse (USA-069), Texas on 22-23
December. QSL direct to N5AOK.
W2AGN as W3IYQ from Marcus Hook Rear Range Light
(USA-475), Delaware on 22 December (14270, 21270 and
28370 kHz) and 29 December (14035, 21035 and 28035 kHz).
Complete details on LCL 2001 frequencies, exchanges,
scoring, certificates and prizes (all participants in
this year's event will be eligible to receive a Harbour
Lights miniature lighthouse collectible) can be found at http://www.arlhs.com.
NA-050 ---> John, KL7JR logged some
1250 QSOs (85% on 10 metres) between 13 and 18 December
during his staying on Barter Island [425DXN 550]. The
vast majority of contacts was with W, VE, JA and UA
stations - "called CQ on 21.360 many, many
times", John says, "with no IOTAers
around". QSLs are on order.
QSL FO/HG9B ---> FO/HG9B logged 25240
contacts (12942 on CW and 12298 on SSB) on 80 (145 CW
only), 40 (632/163), 30 (815), 20 (5525/4740), 15
(4110/5860) and 10 (1715/1535) metres. Cards should be
sent direct only and with US$2 to HA8IB (Karoly Szabo,
Aradi u.42, Fuzesgyarmat, 5525 Hungary). If you want to
check if your request for direct cards has been delivered
to him, just send Charlie an e-mail at ha8ib@bekesnet.hu.
[TNX HA8IB]
QSL GU/MU ---> Phil Cooper, GU0SUP
(RSGB QSL Sub-manager for GU/MU cards) says he is
receiving large numbers of QSL cards for GU4GMW, MU0AWR
and GU0BCC. Please note that [a] GU4GMW has never been
used from Guernsey, [b] MU0AWR is definitely a pirate
call (MJ0AWR is active, but has never operated from
Guernsey) and [c] GU0BCC, as far as Phil knows, has not
been issued and is not active from Guernsey. "Due to
the large quantities of cards for these calls", Phil
says, "it is not practical for me to return them to
sender".
QSL US0HZ ---> Stan says that cards
can be requested via W3HNK or direct from Stan Ermachkov,
P.O. Box DX, Poltava 36000, Ukraine.
QSL TX0DX ---> All QSLs (direct,
bureau and even for those who did not ever claim their
cards) for the Chesterfield Islands TX0DX operation
(March 2000) have been released into the QSL network. In
the U.S, TX0DX cards were sent directly to Newington from
where they were distribited to area QSL bureaus some two
weeks ago. The JA cards were taken to JARL in Tokyo and
the rest were released through OH QSL bureau. The job is
now 100 percent completed. [TNX N4GN]
QSL ZC4DW ---> Dez, ZC4DW/G0DEZ
reports that the only correct address for QSLling is: Dez
Watson, C.A.O., JSSU (AN), BFPO 59, London, United
Kingdom.
SAMOA AND TONGA ---> OH3JR, OH1AWW
and OH6KN will be active from Samoa (5W0VK) between 19
December and 2 January and from Tonga (A3) on 5-15
January, with an emphasis on 160-30 metres and Europe.
They will work CW (1822, 3503, 7003, 10105, 14005, 18075,
21005, 24895 and 28005 kHz), SSB (1845, 3790, 7050,
14195, 18145, 21295, 24945 and 28495 kHz) and RTTY
(14080, 21080 and 28070 kHz) with three stations with
verticals and dipoles. QSL via OH3JR either direct (Henri
Olander, Helavalkeantie 15, 13270 Hameenlinna, Finland)
or through the bureau. The web pages for the operation
are at http://www.qsl.net/ohpacific. [TNX
OH6KN]
DL7VRO, SILENT KEY - Holger and Birgit
Berger (DL7IO and DL7IQ) report the very sad news of the
sudden passing of Fritz Stefan Bergner, DL7VRO, who
unexpectedly became a silent key on 16 December. He was
not only a most reliable QSL manager for about 50
callsigns, but also an active DXer and contester, who
organized and took part in the TN2M/TN4U, 8Q7IO and
ED8CMT operations and other IOTA activities. He is
survived by his wife Gerda (DL7VYL), two children, three
grandchildren and his son-in-law Roy (DL7UBA), who will
take over Fritz's QSL chores for past DXpeditions.
NEWS FROM THE WEB - Edited by I1JQJ &
IK1ADH
YA5T: For up-to-date information on
Peter's (ON6TT) activity from Afghanistan, do not forget
to bookmark http://www.qsl.net/ya5t.
QSLs received through the WF5E DX-QSL Service
---> 4K9W, 5H3US, A92ZE, C56NY, CE0ZY, JW5UF, KP2AD, NL7Z,
OD5/OK1MU, OD5PN, OX2K, PW0S, PY0FF, SU9ZZ, TA3DD, V31GI, VK6EWI,
VP9LR, XE2MX, XU7AAP, ZY5YZ.
425 DX NEWS WWW PAGE ---> http://www.425dxn.org
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