The Ohio/Penn Dx PacketCluster
DX Bulletin No. 241
BID: $OPDX.241
February 4, 1996
Editor Tedd Mirgliotta, KB8NW
Provided by BARF-80 BBS Cleveland, Ohio
Online at 216-237-8208 14400/9600/2400/1200/300 8/N/1

Thanks to the Northern Ohio Amateur Radio Society, Northern Ohio DX Association, Ohio/Penn PacketCluster Network, NA2M, AA4NC, KK6EK, W7TSQ, N8BJQ, NW8F, WA8JOC, AH0W/OH2LVG, WA0PUJ, 4X6UO, 9K2HN, DF4RD, DL1SBF, JH1ROJ, JH3GRE, OH5BTB/OH2TB, ON6TT, PT7WA, VP2ML and ZL2TT the following DX information.

CENTRAL AMERICA DXPEDITION. Bob, W7TSQ, will operate from San Andres, HK0 from February 13-20th and will be active in the ARRL CW Contest. From February 20th through March 5th operations will take place from Costa Rica (/TI5 and /TI?). He will also be active from Honduras, March 5-11th as /HR2 and March 12-18th as /HR6. QSLs via home call and included a SASE or SAE plus postage for direct response. All others via W7 bureau ONLY!!!! ADDED NOTE FROM BOB: In addition, he has been unable to get a log from YB3OSE since the end of March 1995, so if you are awaiting a card please be patient!!

CHANGE IN PLANS. It was reported last week that Art, WA2UJH, would be active as VP2MDY from February 16th through March 1st, this has changed. Art will now be active from Montserrat February 14-21st. He has now rented a house to conduct his operations on 10-160 meters. QSL via NW8F.

CY0, SABLE ISLAND. Ken, WA8JOC, reports everything is still a "GO" for the upcoming June CY0AA DXpedition. Ken says, "We are 95% there". They have obtaining the license and landing permission, but still need help in funding (about $5000-6000). A Canadian address will be announced later for sending funds to help. Beside Ken, other operators include VE9AA and W9OEH. The team will install a 6 meter beacon on the island and concentrate on 30-6 meters, but they will have wire antennas for 40, 80 and 160 meters.

DXAC NEWS (Mt. Athos vote postponed again). Garth Hamilton, VE3HO, DXAC chairman, has postponed the DXAC vote for Mount Athos INDEFINITELY. When it is resubmitted to the committee for a vote, the option to DELETE will be omitted. The only options will be to either WITHDRAW or LEAVE it as is.

GAZA & JERICHO. With many question being asked about these two possible new DXCC countries in the future, Arie, 4X6UO (HF Manager of the IARC), reports the following information: "According to the last meeting at ITU in Geneva, unfortunately the Palestinians in Gaza and Jericho will get a prefix from ITU only in 1997. This is according to the Oslo agreement, as long as they are an autonomy." Arie also reports there are at least two active hams in Gaza.

PY0, TRINDADE ISLANDS. According to PT2GTI, PY1UP is going to Trindade Islands for another 4 months. He will stay as a crew member of the Brasilian Navy Base. He intends to operate all bands as PY0TI. The ship will be leaving Rio during the first week of February. QSL via homecall.

QSL ROUTE. Hamad, 9K2HN, reports that his QSL route is only to: Hamad J. Al-Nusif, P.O.Box: 29174, 13152, Safat, Kuwait or by the bureau. He requests, "Please don't send any card to HH2HM/F" because he is not my qsl manager any more!!"

TD9, GUATEMALA (SPECIAL PREFIX). After setting a new 15 meter world record in last year's ARRL DX SSB Contest, Scott Neader, KA9FOX, will return to Guatemala. This time he will attempt an all band, high power effort for the ARRL DX SSB contest March 2-3rd. Scott plans to operate from the QTH of Gerry, TG9GI and to use a special callsign, TD9IGI. Scott also plans to operate as TG/KA9FOX starting February 22 through the start of the contest from the home of Juan, TG9AJR. Scott says he has obtained a QSL manager and will announce that route shortly.

VK9CR/VK9XY, COCOS KEELING AND CHRISTMAS ISLAND (REMINDER). In remembrance of Rudi, DJ5CQ, these two islands will be activated by Joerg/DL8WPX, Falk/DK7YY, Dietmar/DL3DXX and Juergen/DL7UFN. As a yearly tradition, a group of DLs would be active from a VK9. In past years Rudi, DJ5CQ (alias VK9LM), had been the leader and organizer, but as we all know, this well known DXpeditioner and QSL Manager passed away last December. As usual the crew will take satellite equipment which was provided by DC8TS, DK5MV and DJ5MN. They hope to become active on AO-13 from both islands. The team will be active from VK9XY (Christmas Island) February 4-12th (and again the 23-24th). Operations from VK9CR (Cocos Keeling Island) will take place February 13-22nd. Activity will be on 160-6 meters with operations on the satellites, CW and SSB. QSL to DK7NP, bureau (or direct). (Refer to OPDX.236 for address.)

VK0, HEARD ISLANDS DXPEDITION UPDATE. According to three press releases put out by Peter, ON6TT, and Bob, KK6EK, the major hurdle of finding a suitable vessel for the DXpedition was acomplished. "Suitable," meaning within the budget, realistic time schedule, at least two weeks on Heard, a place for 20 team members plus cargo and no compromises on safety both on the vessel and while landing. After one month of negotiations by fax and telephone, Willy, HB9AHL, and Peter went over to Paris last Friday (January 26th) to meet representatives of the French government and to come to an agreement. They succeeded in acquiring the "Marion Dufresne" which was especially built to the specs of the TAAF/IFRTP (the French Antarctic Institute and Administration) to work in the area of Kerguelen, Crozet and Amsterdam. It is a no-compromise vessel which can sail and work under ANY weather conditions in the polar regions. She has the most sophisticated safety features, including polar life crafts and helicopters and all needed electronics. And above all: the ship's crew has been at and on Heard Island several times, so they know the waters very well. Bob, KK6EK is updating their expedition scoping document which, in its next release, will feature a picture of the ship. Have a look at this document, which is the backbone of our operation: http://www.ccnet.com/~cordell/HI/scoping

ADDED NOTE: Their safety does not come free. The charter costs of this vessel is $200,000 (US) including the landing and pickup. OPDX InterNet subscribers will receive an additional bulletin with a copy on all three press releases containing more details of the vessel and operators......

VO2/KB4GYT QSL CARDS. Paul, KB4GYT, states that all VO2/KB4GYT QSLs for all DX QSOs have been sent out via the bureau. He will still accept QSLs direct if you want a quicker confirmed contact. Also, he has mentioned that he has received a few QSLs for times he was not operating and is not sure if there was someone using that call or not.

VP2E, ANGUILLA. Will, AA4NC, will operate as VP2EN February 12-20th. He will be a Multi/Op entry (along with KI4HN) in the ARRL DX CW Contest. RTTY operations are planned outside the contest on the usual DX frequencies (concentrating on 80,40, and 20 meters). QSL direct w/SASE via AA4NC at the callbook address. Also be looking for Bob, W5EUQ, and Bill, W5SJ, as VP2EEU and VP2ESJ respectively, from February 6-13th. Activity will be mostly 160-20 meters. Suggested frequencies: 1828, 3505, 3795, 7005, 7026, 7080, 14005, and 14195 kHz. QSL home callsigns. Stewart/KC0ZC, Glenn/WA0PUJ and Loring/N0ZSU will be operating from Anguilla from February 28th to March 5th. They will be signing VP2E during the ARRL SSB Contest. QSL to KC0ZC. Outside the contest, look for VP2ES (KC0ZC), VP2EZ (WA0PUJ) and VP2E/N0ZSU. QSL via home calls.

XV, VIETNAM (UPDATE). As reported two weeks ago, JA3UB, JR3MVF and JH3GRE should be active later this week (February 9-15th). The team has now announced that they will have RTTY equipment with them and plan to look for US/EU contacts on low bands. Their callsign will be 3W6YL and QSL should go to JH3GRE. A SPECIAL NOTE FROM JH3GRE: From JA to US/EU/SA/AF a SAE+two green stamps or 1 IRC will cover first 10g by air. With one green stamp or only SAE, QSLs will go by sea mail or through the bureau.

ZL7, CHATHAM ISLAND. Barry Fletcher, G3MFW/ZS1JF, will operate from Chatham Island from February 15-19th. This will mainly be a SSB operation, and the callsign will be announced at a later date. QSL via KA1JC. Antti, OH2BTB/OH5TB will also be active from the Chatham Islands from February 9-16th. His band/mode activities were not mentioned. QSL via OH5TB.

ZL8RI, KERMADEC DXPEDITION UPDATE. Ron Wills, ZL2TT (NZART DX Editor), advises everyone that things are going well for this Dxpedition. Ken Holdom, ZL2HU, has sent to the ARRL and ARRL DXCC DESK copies of photographs of the ship and copies of all permits and licences. Other than finances all is now sorted out for the Dxpedition to be active on all bands and modes for a period of 11 days from May 4-14th. They have the operators and the equipment. The thing needed is the resources to hire the boat. Donations can be sent to The Kermadec DX Association, c/o Ken Holdom ZL2HU, P.O. Box 56099, Tawa, Wellington.

1996 DAYTON DX DINNER BANQUET. The Southwest Ohio DX Association is pleased to announce the Eleventh Annual DX Dinner which will be held on Friday, May 17th, 1996, at the Stouffer Renaissance Hotel, Dayton, OH. There will be a cash bar at 6:30 with dinner at 7:15. Tickets must be purchased in advance and are available from Tom Inglin, NR8Z, 4061 Eaton Rd, Hamilton OH 45013. Tickets will be $29.00. Please make your check payable to SWODXA, and send an SASE for ticket return. Seating will be limited, so please order early. If you wish to sit as a group, you must order as a group. All seats will be reserved. For further information on the dinner, contact Steve Bolia, N8BJQ, at (513) 429-9954 voice / (513) 429-0218 fax or via Internet at N8BJQ@ERINET.COM.

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