The Ohio/Penn DX PacketCluster
DX Bulletin No. 544 BID: $OPDX.544 January 7, 2002 Editor Tedd Mirgliotta, KB8NW
Provided by BARF-80 BBS Cleveland, Ohio
Online at 440-237-8208 28.8k-1200 Baud 8/N/1
Thanks to the Northern Ohio Amateur Radio Society, Northern
Ohio DX Association, Ohio/Penn PacketCluster Network, AB5K &
the AR TelNet Clusters Network, KZ1Z, K2EWB, KF2TI, N3SL, W3UR
& The Daily DX, N4AA & QRZ DX, W4WX, WA6WZO, K8AV, K8YSE,
Steve Romagni, DJ2PJ, DL1EK & DX News Letter, G3SWH, G3SXW,
GW3CDP, G4PYR, JA6VQA, JE2EHP, JF2MBF, OA4AHW, RW3XA, VA3RJ &
ICPO and VK1AA for the following DX information.
DXCC COUNTRY/ENTITY REPORT: According to the
AR-Cluster Network for the week of Sunday, 30/December, through
Sunday, 6/January there were 228 countries active. Countries
available: 3A, 3B8, 3D2, 3V, 3W, 3X, 4J, 4L, 4S, 4X, 5A, 5B, 5H,
5N, 5R, 5T, 5U, 5V, 5W, 5X, 5Z, 6W, 6Y, 7Q, 7X, 8P, 8Q, 8R, 9A,
9G, 9H, 9J, 9K, 9L, 9M2, 9M6, 9N, 9U, 9V, 9Y, A3, A4, A6, A9, AP,
BV, BY, C3, C5, C6, CE, CE0A, CE9, CM, CN, CP, CT, CT3, CU, CX,
D2, D4, DL, DU, E3, EA, EA6, EA8, EA9, EI, EK, EL, EP, ER, ES,
ET, EU, EX, EY, EZ, F, FG, FH, FJ, FK, FM, FO, FP, FR, FW, FY, G,
GD, GI, GJ, GM, GU, GW, HA, HB, HB0, HC, HC8, HH, HI, HK, HK0/a,
HL, HP, HR, HS, HZ, I, IS, J2, J6, J7, JA, JD/o, JT, JW, JX, JY,
K, KG4, KH0, KH2, KH4, KH6, KL, KP2, KP4, LA, LU, LX, LY, LZ, OA,
OD, OE, OH, OH0, OK, OM, ON, OX, OY, OZ, P2, P4, PA, PJ2, PJ7,
PY, PY0F, PZ, S2, S5, S7, SM, SP, ST, SU, SV, SV5, SV9, T30, T5,
T7, T8, T9, TA, TF, TG, TI, TK, TL, TR, TU, UA, UA2, UA9, UK, UN,
UR, V2, V3, V4, V5, V6, V7, VE, VK, VK9N, VP2E, VP2V, VP5, VP6,
VP8, VP8/h, VP8/o, VP9, VQ9, VR, VU, XE, XT, XU, YB, YI, YK, YL,
YN, YO, YS, YU, YV, Z2, Z3, ZA, ZB, ZC4, ZD7, ZD9, ZF, ZL, ZP,
ZS.
* PLEASE NOTE: The report "could" contain
"Pirate/SLIM" operations. As always, you never know -
"Work First Worry Later" (WFWL).
4T, PERU. Rene/DL2JRM and Daniel/DL5SE will
operate as 4T4X and 4T4V from the station at the Radio Club
Peruano on all HF bands, 160-10 meters, with priority on CW and
some SSB from January 3-13th. They may operate from some island
during the coming dates, but they now plan to operate
"full-time" from OA4O (Radio Club Peruano station)
using their special callsigns. They hope to operate long hours in
order to achieve as many contacts as possible. QSL 4T4X via
DL2JRM and 4T4V via DL5SE.
8Q, MALDIVES. Look for Giovanni, I5JHW, to be
active as 8Q7CG from here starting January 6th for one week.
There was no announcement of bands or modes of activity. QSL via
his home callsign.
9U, BURUNDI. Gus, 9U5D, was very active over
this past week on 12 meters (around 24988 kHz between 1830 and
2130z). If he is not on 12 meters check 20 meters (around 14185
kHz). QSL 9U5D via SM5BFJ, only direct, NOT via the operator
SM5DIC. The new address for SM5BFJ (ex-SM0BFJ) is: Leif
Hammarstrom, Lerklockan 4, SE - 73091 Riddarhyttan, SWEDEN.
AH0, MARIANA ISLANDS (Attention Top-banders!).
Kazu, JA1RJU, will be active from here and making a special
effort to work North American and European top-banders from KH0
Northern Mariana between January 10-15th using the callsign
KH2K/AH0. Look for him on 1827.5 kHz using a full sized dipole
with a 1kw. QSL via JA1RJU either JARL bureau or direct (SAE+IRC
or GS). Do NOT send your QSL to the KH0 or KH2 bureau. ADDED
NOTES: Do not get KH2K/AH0 mixed up with AH2K/KH0 who has been
operating at present. Kazu will also operate on other HF bands
and 6m, however, he won't stay on much since the main purpose of
the operation is 160 meters. This is a one-man operation.
CE9, SOUTH SHETLANDS ISLANDS. Oleg, UA1PBA,
is expected to be active as CE9/R1ANF from a Chilean base on King
George Island in the South Shetlands (AN-010) on January 8th. QSL
via RK1PWA.
DX FORUM AND DINNER AT THE MIAMI HAMFEST. The
South Florida DX Association is again proud to be hosting the DX
Forum at this year's Miami Tropical Hamboree on February 2nd. The
DX Forum will include a presentation by Dan Henderson, N1ND, from
the ARRL on "Logbooks Of The World", how it is
proceeding and how it will affect us in the future. They will
also be hosting an informal DX Dinner ("A Gathering Of
Friends") Saturday evening (more information on the location
to come). They will have door prizes during the DX Forum and
dinner. For more information about the Forum and DX dinner,
please visit the SFDXA Web site at: http://www.qsl.net/k4fk.
H40, TEMOTU PROVINCE. Nick, VK1AA, reports
that he is in the final stage of preparation for his Temotu
DXpedition, March 28th-April 12th. He is going there to do some
serious activity on 160 and 80 meters. He intends to spend as
much time as possible on the low bands. However, the bad news is
that due to the strict baggage limits of only 16kg, Nick had no
choice but to make some special (costly!) arrangements with
Solomon Airlines which would allow him to take a 160/80m vertical
and amplifier. His total transport/flying cost of this one-man
operation is approx. 3500 USD. Nick mentions that most of this
sum is already provided by private funding, more support is
needed and much appreciated. Temotu is not a "holiday
island" - it is a place where malaria, civil unrests, lack
of basic necessities from drinking water to reliable power,
unreliable transport and flying arrangements is to be expected.
If you are in position to help with some modest
contribution/donation, please contact him direct via E-mail at: watchman@tig.com.au.
HS, THAILAND. There have been reports that
Dave, W3VK, has been assigned to the U.S. embassy in Thailand and
is now using the callsign HS0ZDP.
INTERNATIONAL DX CONVENTION (April 26-28th, Visalia,
CA). The International DX Convention, sponsored by the
Southern California DX Club, will be held at the Holiday Inn
Plaza, 9000 W Airport Dr. Features include DX forums/programs,
vendors, Saturday banquet and Sunday breakfast with major
DXpedition speakers. Admission is 60 USD in advance, 65 USD at
the door. For more information, see the Web page at: http://www.qsl.net/visalia2002.
Or contact Don Bostrom, N6IC, 4447 Atoll Ave., Sherman Oaks, CA
91432; 818/784-2590; E-mail n6ic@arrl.net.
IOTA NEWS...
AS-153. Members of the Calcutta VHF
Amateur Radio Society will travel to the Ganga Sagar
Melaannual Festival on Sagar Island and will be active
from January 10-16th. Operators Deepak/VU2DPM,
Sked/VU2SKD, Kitchu/VU2KFR, Horey/VU2HFR and Joy/VU2JSH
are there for the main purpose to handle the emergency
radio network, however; amateur radio contacts will be
made during their spare time. Suggested frequencies are:
CW - 14040, 21040 and 28040; SSB - 14260, 21260 and 28460
kHz. Possible activity may be tried on PSK31 on 14070
kHz. QSL via IZ8CCW.
NA-113. Remember to look for
Wade/AA8LL/C6A and Liz/K8LIZ/C6A to be active from
Crooked Island this week (January 12-14th). Their
activity will be on the SSB IOTA frequencies, 40-10
meters. QSL via bureau.
SA-020. Remember to look for the
"Radio Club of Kourou" (FY5KE) to activate
Salut Islands, January 12-13th. Activity will be on HF, 6
meters and AO-40 satellite. QSL direct.
SA-050. The Southern Cross DX Group of
Chile is expected to activate the Islands of Lennox,
Nueva and Picton during January. Their activation dates
will be announced online at: http://www.qsl.net/ce9c.
KG4 GUANTANAMO BAY QSL BUREAU. OPDX was
informed that the ARRL QSL Bureau has shut down the KG4 bureau in
Guantanamo Bay. All QSL cards for KG4(??) stations should now be
sent direct per the operator's instructions.
KG4, GUANTANAMO BAY. Two members of the
Florida DXPedition Group, Bill/W4WX (KG4DX) and Larry/W1LR
(KG4LR) will be active from GTMO January 11-19th. Look for them
on all bands, including 6 meters, on CW, SSB, RTTY, and PSK-31.
QSL to home callsigns via the bureau or direct. Remember there is
no QSL bureau at GTMO.
KH0, MARIANA ISLANDS. Members of the Oita DX
Club JA6BTO (KH0/JA6BTO), JA6HJP (KF4LX/AH0), JA6LZN
(KH0/JA6LZN), JA6PBO (KK7UB/KH0), JA6VQA(WH0B) and JH6ALF
(AB2GA/KHO) will be active (especially on 160 meters, 80/40
meters, the WARC band, 6 meters, CW,SSB,SSTV,RTTY) from Saipan,
Northern Mariana Islands (OC-086), February 7-10th. QSLs via
their home callsigns either direct or through the JARL bureau.
KH0, MARIANA ISLANDS. Toshi/JP1IOF and
Yoshi/JE2EHP will be active as KH0WW and K1HP/KH0, respectively,
from Saipan Island in the Northern Mariana Island, January
25-28th. Activity will be on 160-6 meters with operations on
CW/SSB/FM/RTTY. QSL KH0WW (Toshi) via JP1IOF and K1HP/KH0 (Yoshi)
via JE2EHP.
KH4, MIDWAY ISLAND. Jim/G3RTE and Phil/G3SWH
will activate Midway Island on both SSB and CW between March 30th
and April 6th. Jim Kellaway, G3RTE, has been licensed since 1962,
is on the DXCC honor roll (CW and Mixed), a keen DXer on both CW
and SSB, a member of FOC and has operated as GI3RTE/P, GJ3RTE/P,
F/G3RTE/P, 5Z4LI and 5Z4WI. Phil Whitchurch, G3SWH, has been
licensed since 1963, is a member of FOC and a keen DXer on CW
only, has operated as UI8A/G3SWH, GU6YB/P, SV8/G3SWH, F/G3SWH/P,
BY1QH/G3SWH, 5H3/G3SWH, 5H1/G3SWH, GJ3SWH/P, FR/G3SWH, 5Z4LI,
9M6PWT, 5Z4WI, 4S7WHG/A, 8Q7WH and 5R8HA, QSL manager for 9M0C
(1998), D68C (2001) and ZF2NT, amongst others. They have already
secured the special callsign of W4M which will be used
exclusively during their stay on the island. QSLs will be handled
by G3SWH. Midway was ranked number 27 in Europe and number 55
world-wide on the "425 DX News Most Wanted DXCC Countries
Survey in 2001" and number 89 on the ARRL list in 2000. In
addition, Midway counts as OC-030 for the "Islands on the
Air" (IOTA) award. Propagation permitting, their main
objective is to work as many European stations on as many bands
as possible. They have an expedition target of 10,000 QSOs with
an approximate 50/50% split between CW and SSB. They expect to
have two stations on the air on all bands between 40 and 10
meters. They are happy to meet the costs of transport to and from
the island, but are looking for sponsorship and donations towards
their living expenses, printing QSLs and the like. If you would
like to help, send an E-mail to Phil, G3SWH, at: Phil@g3swh.demon.co.uk.
PACIFIC OPERATION (T8 and V6). Tony, K2NV,
will be going on a vacation in the Pacific during January
12-22nd. He is expected to sign T88ZZ from Palau from Janaury
12-15th and as V63RF from Micronesia from January 18-22nd. His
activity will be mostly on CW, but with some SSB and RTTY. QSL
via K2NV.
QSL INFO AND NEWS...
NEED A QSL MANAGER? Steve, N3SL, informs
OPDX that his daughter, Kimberly, who did most of the
QSLing chores for AH1A and all of them for North America
for 3B6RF, is looking for more work. Now that the Agalega
QSLs are essentially done, she is fired up and ready to
do things for other stations or expeditions. Kimberly,
who is handicapped, really gets a kick out of the postage
stamps and notes on the QSL cards. Anyone who may want to
consider her services can contact her through Steve at: n3sl@arrl.net.
AP2JZB QSL CHANGE. Leon, K2EWB, informs
OPDX readers that effective immediately requests for QSL
cards of AP2JZB should only be sent direct with at least
one IRC or 1 USD and a SAE to his call book address (or
on QRZ.com also has the correct information). Bob,
AP2JZB, wants to return to writing his own cards, and it
has become too time consuming to transfer log information
over the air. Leon will continue to confirm any cards he
receives for contacts prior to January 1, 2002, because
he was given out as the manager prior to that date.
Phil, G3SWH, informs OPDX that he has
now received the logs from Albert, 5R8O, for his
activities between May 2000 and May 2001. He is now able
to confirm QSOs for this station.
QSL 9U5JB via ON5NT. The operator was
N4HX.
Robert, G4PYR, who was active as
M2001Y/MRC15, states that QSLs should be sent via GX0PUV
either direct or via the RSGB Bureau.
PJ4M UPDATE. Last week we mentioned that
we felt the callsign PJ4M "may" have been a
possible busted callsign in the CQWW Contest. However,
thanks to Hadi, DJ2PJ/OH0JWH, DX Editor of CQ DL
Magazine, who informed OPDX that PJ4M is not
a"busted callsign" and his QSL address is:
Daniel Marlow, 12 Sub Rincon, Bonaire, Neth. Antilles. He
also mentioned that Daniel is rather active on RTTY and
has been spotted on some of the DXClusters.
Roger, G3SXW, reports that XT2DX logged
nearly 16,000 QSOs in the CQ World-Wide DX CW Contest in
November. All requests for QSL cards (over 2,000 QSOs)
have now been answered. QSL Manager is G3SXW. Please QSL
direct (Roger Western, 7 Field Close, Chessington, KT9
2QD, England) or via the bureau. A bureau reply can be
requested by E-mail to: g3sxw@compuserve.com.
Please include both callsigns, dates, times and bands.
Duplicate requests by different routes are not helpful.
XT2DX will be active again next November in the CW
contest. Meanwhile, more details are available at: http://www.voodudes.org.
R1, ANTARCTICA. Nikolai Makarov, UA3YH
(AB0KG), will be active as R1ANM from the
"Amundsen-Scott" South Pole station (WABA K-08) within
a couple of weeks, January 9-20th. He plans to operate both CW
and SSB mainly on 20 meters, perhaps some 15 and 10 meters
occasionally. His basic frequencies are:
14020/14160 kHz within 1600-1900z for Europe (non-rotored 3
element tri-band yagi)
14020/14243 kHz within 0000-0200z for NA/SA/AS (fixed 6 element
yagi).
QSL via the bureau to UA3YH or direct to AB0KG (P.O.Box
18118,Boulder, CO 80308-1118 USA). The QSL cards for R1ANM have
been printed a few weeks ago. All requests for the R1ANM 2001
year operation, either direct or via the bureau, have already
been answered.
S7, SEYCHELLES. Luca, I5IHE, is now active as
S79LC from Praslin Island (AF-024) until January 11th. His
activity will be mainly on SSB and RTTY, with some CW and SSTV.
He was spotted this past week on 14257 kHz around 1900z. QSL via
I5JZP.
SU, EGYPT. Ahmed, SU3AM, in Port Said, has
been very active on 12 and 17 meters. Look for him around 18147
kHz and 24950 kHz between 1000 and 1200z. QSL via DL5ZBV.
SY (Prefix Confusion). OPDX has been informed
by Denny, GW3CDP, that he has recently received a letter from
Monk Apollo, SV2ASP/A (also SY2A), stating that there has been
some confusion by DXers around the world thinking they are
working Mount Athos with the use of the special "SY"
prefix by Greek amateurs. The Greek Communications Authority has
been issuing the "SY" prefix for special event stations
in Greece (SV), However, Monk Apollo reports that he has been
receiving QSL requests for these contacts. He has been returning
the QSLs explaining that their contacts were not from Mount
Athos; however, he states many don't believe him. Monk Apollo has
tried tp explain to the Greek authorities that the "SY"
prefix has always been the alternatate PREFIX fo Mount Athos.
Some or many may remember that Monk Apollo used the SY2A callsign
for a few months in 1999 as a special event. Monk Apollo is quite
suprised that the powers in Greece do not understand that the
"SY" prefix signifies that he is on Mount Athos and
that radio amateurs world-wide will assume the same when they
hear it. Monk Apollo is still in contact with the Greek Authority
and will continue to try/convince them to stop further
"SY" issued callsigns.
T30, WESTERN KIRIBATI. After spending the
holidays back in the United States with his family, Eric, T30ES
(N1JSY), will return to Western Kiribati on January 8th. While
stateside, he met with members of his support team, sharing his
adventures on the island of Butaritari with the Peace Corps. Eric
is planning to install a second antenna, an inverted V. In
addition, arrangements have been made for obtaining a new higher
capacity battery. This should extend his operating time. T30ES
operates on battery power, charged daily by solar panels. Eric
frequently operates on Saturdays at 1400z and Thursdays from
1830z around 14288 kHz. He is on at other times, as his work
schedule allows. In December, Eric used his equipment
coordinating the emergency medical evacuation of a native having
complications during childbirth. The mother and child were
reported doing well in a Tarawa hospital. This action proving
that amateur radio is not just DX but a valuable resource in an
emergency. For more information, photographs and updates on this
operation, check the Web site at: http://people.mags.net/boem/kiribati1.htm.
V3, BELIZE. By the time you read this,
Gerd/DJ4KW and Gisela/DK9GG should be in Belize and active for
the next four weeks. Gerd is expected to sign V31YN on
CW/RTTY/PSK31 and Gisela will be active as V31GW.
VP8/SG & VP8/SS, SOUTH GEORGIA AND SOUTH SANDWICH
ISLANDS. Current reports indicate that James/9V1YC and
Trey/N5KO are in the ship "Braveheart", and they can
sometimes be heard active as maritime mobile (homecall/MM). James
was heard this past Sunday on 20 meters saying he was west of the
Falkland Islands. The rest of the team operators will be picked
up over the next few weeks. Landing and activity from VP8/SS will
all depend on the weather and sea conditions. If activity does
happen from VP8/SS, it will be around the 3rd week in January and
only for 3 to 4 days. Operations will be LIMITED. The team hopes
to be active longer on VP8/SG, possibly 10 days toward the last
weeks of January through early February.
YA, AFGHANISTAN. All activity by YA5T over
the last few weeks were the work of a PIRATE/SLIM operator.
Peter, ON6TT, left Kabul on December 4th and has not been active
as YA5T since then. According to the YA5T Web page, Peter will be
leaving his home in Belgium on January 20th to head back to
Afghanistan. He has a few stops on the way, so he will not arrive
in Kabul until a few days later.
ZF, CAYMAN ISLANDS. Lou, KE1F, will be
operating from Grand Cayman Island as ZF2LM starting January 14th
and will finish his operation on January 30th. Activity will be
on 160-10 meters, CW, SSB and perhaps RTTY. He will be looking
for JA stations. QSL Manager is AF2C, SASE PLEASE.
SPECIAL NOTE BY EDITOR: If you are having a problem receiving
bounced mail by sending mail to me via "kb8nw@barf80.nshore.org",
please send mail to me via "kb8nw@arrl.net"......
TNX de Tedd KB8NW
Excerpts and distribution of The OPDX Bulletin are granted as
long as KB8NW/OPDX/BARF80 receive credit. To contribute DX info,
call BARF-80 BBS online at 440-237-8208
28.8k/14400/9600/2400/1200 and leave a message with the Sysop or
send via InterNet Mail to: kb8nw@barf80.nshore.org
- OR - kb8nw@arrl.net. Use
the VOICE or FAX answering machine at 440-237-8208 which shares
the same phone line as BARF-80 BBS using a data/fax/phone switch.
To access: 1) Dial Number. 2) Wait for first ring (the second
ring should be a false ring from the fax/data switch box) and
then dial four quick ones ("1111"). (NOTE: Some FAX
machines that send single "BEEPS" every second will not
have to do this step.) 3) The phone will pick up and after the
"BEEP" leave your voice message or FAX.