The Ohio/Penn DX PacketCluster
DX Bulletin No. 551 BID: $OPDX.551 February 25, 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, NC1L, W3UR & The Daily DX,
KB4UTV, N4AA & QRZ DX, N4CT, N5VL, AD6WL, KH6BZF, AC7DX,
K8PT, K8YSE, KU9C, 4L5O, 9K2HN, 9V1YC, CE6TBN, CE4USW, CX3AN,
DL1EK & DX News Letter, DL2VFR, DL4TT, FJ5DX & La Gazette
du DX, G3XTT, GM4YXI, GU0SUP, ON7SA, OZ6OM & OZ 50 MHz DX
Bulletin, and Z36W for the following DX information.
DXCC COUNTRY/ENTITY REPORT: According to the
AR-Cluster Network for the week of Sunday, 17/February, through
Sunday, 24/February there were 240 countries active. Countries
available: 3A, 3B8, 3C, 3V, 3W, 4J, 4L, 4S, 4U1I, 4W, 4X, 5B, 5H,
5N, 5R, 5U, 5V, 5W, 5Z, 6Y, 7Q, 7X, 8P, 8Q, 8R, 9A, 9G, 9H, 9J,
9K, 9L, 9M2, 9M6, 9N, 9Q, 9U, 9V, 9Y, A2, A3, A4, A5, A6, A7, A9,
AP, BV, BY, C3, C5, C6, CE, CE0A, CE0X, CE9, CM, CN, CP, CT, CT3,
CU, CX, D2, D4, DL, DU, 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, H4, H40, HA, HB, HB0, HC, HI, HK,
HK0/a, HL, HM, HP, HR, HS, HZ, I, IS, J2, J3, J5, J6, J7, JA,
JD/o, JT, JW, JX, JY, K, KG4, KH0, KH2, KH3, KH6, KH8, KL, KP2,
KP4, LA, LU, LX, LY, LZ, OA, OD, OE, OH, OH0, OK, OM, ON, OX, OY,
OZ, P4, PA, PJ2, PJ7, PY, PY0T, PZ, S2, S5, S7, S9, SM, SP, ST,
SU, SV, SV/a, SV5, SV9, T2, T30, T7, T8, T9, TA, TF, TG, TI, TI9,
TK, TL, TR, TT, TU, UA, UA2, UA9, UK, UN, UR, V2, V3, V4, V5, V7,
V8, VE, VK, VP2E, VP2M, VP2V, VP5, VP6, VP8, VP8/h, VP8/o, VP9,
VQ9, VR, VU, XE, XU, XW, XX9, YA, YB, YI, YJ, YK, YL, YN, YO, YS,
YU, YV, Z2, Z3, ZA, ZB, ZC4, ZD7, ZD9, ZF, ZK1/s, ZL, ZP, ZS.
* PLEASE NOTE: The report "could" contain
"Pirate/SLIM" operations. As always, you never know -
"Work First Worry Later" (WFWL).
THE EXCITEMENT AND ACTIVITY OF THE WEEK...
PW0, TRINDADE ISLAND. This operation
became active on February 18th and will continue until
March 2nd. Some 1.5 tons of gear was off-loaded to the
island by a Navy helicopter early Monday morning.
Currently, the pile-ups are getting smaller and PW0T is
getting easlier to work on the usual higher bands CW/SSB.
There has been activity by PW0T on the lower bands and
RTTY. QSL via KU9C. Check the Web site for continuing
updates at: http://www.trindade2002.com.
TI9, COCOS ISLAND. Like the PW0T
operation, this DXpedition will continue until March 2nd.
Pile-ups are getting smaller, and it is getting easlier
to work on the usual higher bands. There is plently of
RTTY and 6 meter activity. There has been some activity
on the lower bands. QSL via AK0A. Check the Web site for
continuing updates at: http://www.qsl.net/ti9m.
3W, VIETNAM. Conny, DL1DA, is expected to be
active this week, possibly as 3W9KCS, until March 15th. He will
be on holiday so activity may be limited. Look for him to be on
40-10 meters CW. QSL via DL1DA.
6W, SENEGAL. Francois, VE2XO, is expected to
be in Dakar from February 27th through March 3rd. The callsign is
not known yet. Activity should be like his recent Guinea
operation (3XY6A). Watch 20/17/15 meters SSB.
9K, KUWAIT (Special Activity). Every year on
February 25-26th the country of Kuwait celebrates its
"National and Liberation Day". To participate in this
occasion, the Kuwait Amateur Radio Society will be active using
the callsign 9K2NLD on many amateur bands and modes. There will
be a special QSL card issued for the occasion. By the time you
read this the evet should have started and it is expected to end
2359z on Thursday, February 28th. There is no deadline for
submitting applications for the QSL card which should be
addressed to: Kuwait Amateur Radio Society, P.O. BOX 5240 Safat,
13053, Kuwait.
D2, ANGOLA. Joao, CT1BFL, is now in Luanda
and is signing D2U for the next two years. Activity will be on
160-10 meters CW/SSB. QSL via CT1BFL.
DXCC NEWS. Bill Moore, NC1L, DXCC Manager,
reports the following: "9Q0AR (Democratic Republic of Congo)
has been on hold awaiting supporting documentation. This has been
received and upon review it is now being accepted for DXCC
credit. Anyone who had this rejected during a recent submission
can contact DXCC at dxcc@arrl.org
for an update to their record. Or, it can be sent with the next
submission for credit."
DAWG X-RAY CLUB (The only DX-Club you don't
want to belong to!). Fritz, DL4TT, wants DXers to visit the
following Web site. He is looking for your feedback. Check out
the URL at: http://www.qsl.net/dl4tt/DawgX-rayClub.html.
FIVE STAR DXERS ASSOCIATION (Update). Don
Field, G3XTT, D68C Publicity Officer, informs OPDX of the
following: "Phil G3SWH reports that around 85% of the direct
requests for D68C QSLs have now been processed and that around
42,500 QSOs have been confirmed to date. Our thanks again to
Phil. The team is now starting to think about the perennial
question, 'Where do we go next?'. The Five Star DXers
Association, with its expeditions to 9M0C and D68C, now has
considerable experience in mounting large-scale operations to
'top 100' DXCC entities, with the ability to cover all bands and
modes to fill those missing slots, and is looking to mount its
next operation in late-2003 or early 2004. We are not planning to
head for Peter 1 or Bouvet, but the sort of DX entity where you
may have a 20m QSO, but are finding those low band, WARC or data
slots hard to fill. To this end, we would be interested in your
9-band, 3-mode 'wanted' lists, so we can gain some idea of which
these entities might be. E-mail your needs to Don, G3XTT, at: g3xtt@lineone.net. Being
mainly a European group our preference would be for an African
location for reasons of cost, propagation and travel time. (We
have of course already reviewed the various 'most-wanted'
surveys.) If there are enough responses, we will make the
analysis public, for the benefit of other would-be
DXpeditioners."
GJ, JERSEY. Pete/K8PT and Craig/K3PLV will
make their 3rd annual trek to the Channel Islands and activate
Jersey from March 13-19th. The emphasis will be on CW and RTTY,
however, Craig will try RS-12/13 for evening (USA time) passes.
Concentration will be on WARC bands during daylight and 30/40/80
meters during the evenings. Callsigns will be MJ/K8PT and
MJ/K3PLV. QSLs go via their home callsigns.
IOTA NEWS...
RARE IOTA ACTIVATED. If you worked CV1F
over the past weekend, it was activity from San Gabriel
Island (SA-057). Operators CX1SI, CX1CV, CX2AM, CX2FR,
CX2RU/A, CX3AN, CX3BV, CX4AAJ, CX4CR, CX4AAE, CX4SS,
CX6FK and CX8FB were transported to the island by the
Uruguayan Navy. They were to have 5 stations active on
all bands 160-2 meters. QSL via EA5KB.
EU-129. The Crew of DL0FTL will be
active from April 12-20th, from the Island of Usedom
(German Island Award O- 13). Operators will be DF3UFW,
DL8DZL, DK5NOA, DL2DSL, DL2DRO, DL2LCE, DM4WL and DL1DWR.
ADDED NOTES: On, Sunday April 14th, they plan the
activation of a new island for the German Island Award
called "Grosse Wotig" (not IOTA), GIA O-35.
Operators will be: DF3UFW, DL8DZL and DK5NOA. At the same
time, the rest of the group will be active from the
"Wolgaster Schlossinsel" (not IOTA), GIA O-031.
Operators will be DL2DSL, DL2DRO, DL2LCE, DM4WL and
DL1DWR.
SA-018. SA-043 and SA-064. Mark, CE6TBN,
will be on the air as CE6TBN/7 from Chiloe Island
(SA-018, ICE-701) between March 7- 10th and from Acencion
Island (SA-043, ICE-704) between March 11-14th. Activity
will be on 20/17/15/12/10 meters, only SSB. QSL via
N1IBM. Both island are valid for new Chilean Island
Award. He may also be going to Las Huinchas Island
(SA-064) to the CE7AOY's QTH.
KG4, GUANTANAMO BAY. Vance, N5VL, will be
active as KG4VL from March 1-6th. This will include an entry in
the ARRL International DX Contest. Look for some 160 meters
operations on CW and SSB. QSL to N5VL.
P4, ARUBA. John, KK9A, who was active as P40A
this past weekend in the 160 contest, will be here until March
9th. Look for activity on 160-10 meters CW/SSB during his stay.
QSL via KK9A.
P5, NORTH KOREA (P5/4L4FN Status). It was
reported this past week, Bruce, KK5DO, (QSL Manager for Ed,
P5/4L4FN) was heard saying he has a good feeling that all of the
P5/4L4FN contacts will count for DXCC. However, this is not
official yet. He mentioned North Korea dosn't issue any license
so any written permission to operate will suffice. Government
officials have checked his station on a few occasions and the
North Korean government obviously knows he is operateing there.
His current contract with the United Nations World Food Program
is good until June and if it is renewed he will be there for
another year. Ed continues to be active on 15 meters SSB.
However, he has been practicing some RTTY and CW and should be on
those modes soon.
QSL INFO AND NEWS...
Omari, 4L5O, informs OPDX that his QSL
card can be obtained from K1WY for QSOs between the year
2000 and now.
Ron, AC7DX, informs OPDX that he will be
the new QSL Manager for Corliss, AL1G, in Alaska.
Keith, GM4YXI, informs OPDX that he now
has a QSL Manager. Steve/N3SL and his daughter Kimberly
are now managers for GM4YXI, and also for all past and
future 9M2/GM4YXI expeditions. All HF logs from Keith's
home station and the 9M2 expeditions [April 1998:AS-097,
May 1998:AS-072, May 1999:AS-097, June 9-10th 2000:AS-097
and June 17-18th 2000:AS-074] are with Steve and can be
viewed on his homepage at: http://qsl.net/n3sl. QSL is OK direct
(with the usual postage/SASE) or via the ARRL bureau. All
direct requests to Keith's home address have been
answered.
Phil, GU0SUP, President of the Guernsey
ARS, informs OPDX that the following Web site has an
updated callbook listing for all known GU/MU callsigns.
The list includes known operations by visitors, and as
much QSL info as possible. The URL is: http://www.gars.org.gg/calls.html.
This is the website of the Guernsey Amateur Radio
Society.
The OT2H Contest Crew now has a website
where you can read about their adventures in contesting.
There are pictures of the crew and the club station
(ON7SA), but also there is a log search function for all
contests they entered. The page is also valid for OT0H
and OT1H. The OT-prefix is issued to Belgian contest
stations, and it allows the use of high power on the HF
bands. QSL for OTxH is 100% via bureau to ON5YR (x = last
digit of the year, OT0H in 2000, OT1H in 2001...). You
can find the club's website at: http://www.on7sa.be.
Gerard, ex-PA3AXU and now ON4AXU (he
states, "soldiers sometimes have to change their
QTH...), reports that all "PA3AXU 2001 Pacific
Trip" QSL cards received up through February 5th
have been answered.
Logs for the Southern Cross DX Group's
(SCDXG) XR5SM DXpeditions (January and February), as well
as the ARRL DX CW Contest log, are now on-line at: http://www.qsl.net/xr5sm.
This Web site has been updated and new photographs have
been added. Operations included 160m to 70cm, in CW, FM
and SSB modes. Almost 4000 QSOs were made within a total
of 67 hours of operation (adding up both trips: XR5SM I
and XR5SM II). The XR5SM QSL card has already been
designed and will be out from the printer in just a
couple of weeks.
Another team of members of the Southern
Cross DX Group, SCDXG, has activated Damas Island which
is located in Choros Archipelago belonging to Coquimbo
Province Group (SA-086) this past weekend. The callsign
was XR2D. The team was formed by CE4USW (Team Leader),
XQ1IDM, CE4PBB and XQ1ZW (ex XQ3ZW). QSL via CE4USW, P.O.
Box 128, Talca, Chile, or via Bureau. There is an
informative Web page at: http://www.qsl.net/xr2d.
Venco, Z36W (ex-Z31JA, Z32JA, 4N5JA..),
informs OPDX that his QSL Manager Mike, NN6C, is
currently recovering from a serious heart attack and may
be out of action for some time. If you need a QSL card
from Venco, please send direct to his address on QRZ.com.
The adddress for his old callsign Z31JA is also still
good.
QSL MANAGER FOUND! Charlie, N4CT, now
active as HS0ZDR, thanked OPDX for the announcement he
was looking for a QSL Manager. Charlie states, "WOW,
I was really surprised at all the volunteers who E-mailed
me replies for my asking for a QSL MGR for my HS0ZDR
call. Thanks and I responded to each one. The first offer
was from my old friend, Tony, W4FOA, who is retired and
an avid DX'er. So I said 'OK Tony, you are my MGR.' Tony
prefers QSLs direct to him at his CBA: Tony Martin,
W4FOA, 1801 Grand Center Road, Chickamauga, GA
30707-1878. Tony replies immediately to QSLs sent direct
(SASE, IRCs or green stamps please). Bureau cards will be
answered, of course, but not sent out that often. Again
thanks to all who volunteered...some very nice E-mails...
73-DX DE CHARLIE N4CT HS0ZDR"
NEED A QSL MANAGER? John Pate, KB4UTV,
is interested in becoming a QSL Manager. He is a General
class licensed amateur and reside in New Hampshire. He is
very eager to serve the DX community with his help. If
anyone is intrested, please contact him at: lighthousedx@hotmail.com.
Steve Wheatley, KU9C, states that the
logs for YA5T have been updated online through about
0400z on February 17th. You can check them out at: http://www.ve9dx.com/ya5t/ya5t.html.
ADDED NOTE: If you are having trouble in accessing the
link above, try going direct (first) to: http://www.ve9dx.com.
SOUTH SANDWICH/SOUTH GEORGIA POST EXPEDITION REPORT.
James, 9V1YC, provided OPDX with a post report on this
DXpedition. The complete report will be sent to all OPDX InterNet
Subscribers as an additional. In short, the DXpedition achieved
all its goals, and results were absolutely outstanding. The
expedition made 70,428 QSOs in total using SSB, CW and RTTY.
On-air time was 80 hours at VP8THU, and 7 days, 10 hours at
VP8GEO. Operators were EI5IQ, EI6FR, HB9ASZ, K0IR, K4UEE, K5TR,
N5KO, PA3FQA, VE3EJ, W3WL, W7EW and 9V1YC. QSL routes are as
follows: VP8THU is via VE3XN; and VP8GEO is via VE3GCO Logs are
with the managers, QSL's have already been printed, and cards are
now rolling out. At this time they do not have a Web site or an
on-line log check. A full write up will appear in the usual
magazines, and stay tuned for two really cool videos coming out
soon.
SPECIAL EVENT. The unique callsign GB50 has
been issued by the United Kingdom Radiocommunications Agency for
a special event station to be established at Windsor Castle to
celebrate the Queen's Jubilee (50th Anniversary of her succession
to the throne) from May 29th through June 9th. The station will
be run by Cray Valley Radio Society (CVRS), in association with
Burnham Beeches Radio Society (BBRC), and with the support of the
Radio Society of Great Britain (RSGB). Activity will be on daily
between 0700-2200z on all bands from 80-6 meters on CW, SSB,
PSK31 and RTTY. A 144 MHz station will also be active on CW, SSB
and FM. The station will be open to the public. The QSL Manager
will be Owen, G4DFI. A Web site is now up and running and will be
kept updated with the latest news at: http://www.gb50.com.
OPDX InterNet Subscribers will receive the complete announcement
with some more interesting information as an additional bulletin.
WWV/WWVH TO CHANGE FORMAT. Propagation guru
Lee, KH6BZF, informs OPDX that "SEC/NOAA has announced that
a WWV/WWVH format change will occur on March 12, 2002, radio
day." Stay tuned to 2.5, 5.0, 10, 15, 20 MHz for details.
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
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