The Ohio/Penn DX PacketCluster
DX Bulletin No. 555 BID: $OPDX.555 March 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, ARRL Letter, NC1L, KF2TI, W3UR
& The Daily DX, K4QD, K4ZIN, N4AA & QRZ DX, W6DXO, K8IW,
K8YSE, DL1EK & DX News Letter, DL4KQ, EY8MM, F5NOD, F5NQL
& UFT, F5PHW, F6AJA & Les Nouvelles DX, FJ5DX & La
Gazette du DX, GM4YXI, I2YSB, JF1SQC, JH1KLN, JI6KVR, ON7YX,
OZ6OM & OZ 50 MHz DX Bulletin, RN3OA, RN9XA, SP5EWY, UR5EAW,
VA3RJ & ICPO, VE3CDP/W9 and XE1KK for the following DX
information.
DXCC COUNTRY/ENTITY REPORT: According to the
AR-Cluster Network for the week of Sunday, 17/March, through
Sunday, 24/March there were 230 countries active. Countries
available: 3A, 3B8, 3B9, 3C, 3D2, 3V, 3W, 4J, 4L, 4S, 4U1I, 4U1U,
4W, 4X, 5B, 5H, 5N, 5R, 5U, 5V, 5W, 5Z, 6W, 6Y, 7Q, 7X, 8P, 8R,
9A, 9G, 9H, 9J, 9K, 9L, 9M2, 9M6, 9N, 9Q, 9V, 9Y, A2, A4, A5, A6,
A7, A9, AP, BV, BY, C3, C6, CE, CE0A, CE0X, CE0Z, CE9, CM, CN,
CP, CT, CT3, CU, CX, D2, D4, DL, DU, EA, EA6, EA8, EA9, EI, EK,
EP, ER, ES, ET, EU, EX, EY, EZ, F, FG, FJ, FK, FM, FO, FR, 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, J6, J7, J8, JA, JD/o, JT,
JW, JX, JY, K, KG4, KH0, KH2, 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, PZ, S2, S5, SM, SP, ST, SU, SV, SV/a, SV5, SV9, T7, T9,
TA, TF, TG, TI, TI9, TK, TL, TR, TT, TU, UA, UA2, UA9, UK, UN,
UR, V3, V4, V5, V7, V8, VE, VK, VK9N, VP2V, VP5, VP6, VP6D, VP8,
VP8/h, VP9, VQ9, VR, VU, XE, XT, XU, XW, YA, YB, YI, YJ, YK, YL,
YN, YO, YS, YU, YV, Z2, Z3, ZA, ZB, ZC4, ZD7, ZD8, ZD9, ZF,
ZK1/s, ZK3, ZL, ZP, ZS.
* PLEASE NOTE: The report "could" contain
"Pirate/SLIM" operations. As always, you never know -
"Work First Worry Later" (WFWL).
3B9, RODRIGUES ISLAND. Robert, 3B9FR, showed
up last week and has been active on 20/17/15/10 meters SSB.
3W, VIETNAM (IOTAs). Jack, F6BUM, was been
activating some Vietnam IOTAs over the past two weeks. So far he
has activated Tam Island (AS-157) and Cham Island (AS-162). His
next stop will be Cat Ba Island (AS-132) from April 3-5th. The
callsign he uses for all the islands is 3W3M. Look for him on
7003, 10107, 14004, 18073, 21004, 24897 kHz on CW and 14160 and
21260 kHz on SSB.
5W, SAMOA (Western Samoa). Look for
Tommy/VK2IR and Bruce/VK2KLM to be active from Apia, Upolu Island
(OC-097), as 5W0IR between March 28th and April 3rd. Activity
will be on all bands 80-6 meters, SSB only. QSL to VK2IR (direct
only): Tommy Horozakis, PO Box 1, South Bexley, Sydney, NSW 2207,
Australia). It is requested that you please include a SAE along
with two USDs, or 1 new IRC, for return of your QSL card. They
are currently looking for support to help offset the very high
cost in running a DXpedition, and any or all donations are very
welcome. A web page is available for the updates and log search
at: http://www.qsl.net/va3rj/5w0ir.html.
8Q, MALDIVES. Igor, RN3OA will be active as
8Q7OA between March 29th and April 10th. Activity will be on
80-10 meters CW/SSB. Look for him to participate in the CQ WW WPX
SSB Contest. QSL via RN3OA either through the bureau or direct
to: Igor Zakharov, P.O. Box 381, Voronezh, 394000, Russia.
9L, SIERRA LEONE (Update). Jerry, K4ZIN,
informs OPDX on more details of his 9L1JT operation. He expects
to have some limited operation time April 9-16th, but has full
time operations on April 20-22nd. Activity will be on 40-10
meters CW and SSB. QSL via K4ZIN.
9M6, EAST MALAYSIA. Taka, JL1CHV, will
operate from Kotakinabalu, East Malaysia, in the upcoming weekend
from March 29-31st. Activity will be on the HF bands. Also, he
will be an entry in the CQ WPX SSB Contest (only for one and a
half days because of his return flight). His callsign is not
clear at the present time, but he may sign 9M6/homecall. QSL via
his home call, JL1CHV, direct or via Bureau.
D4, CAPE VERDE. Nodir, EY8MM, informed OPDX
from Cape Verde that he and Al, 4L5A, are now active as D44AC.
Their activity will be centered on CW, RTTY and Low Bands. The CW
operation has already started; their RTTY operations have began
on the past weekend, and the 160 meter operation is expected to
start around March 25th (When their Titanex antenna will be
cleared from customs). Activity will last until April 3rd. Nodir
states operations on the WARC bands are not planned but possible.
Al, 4L5A, is planning to operate as a Single Band entry on 10
meters during the CQ WPX Contest, possibly with a personal
callsign. QSL via IK3HHX.
DXCC NEWS...
Bill Moore, NC1L, DXCC Manager, reports:
"XU7ABA and XU7ABB for Cambodia 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."
Bill Moore, NC1L, DXCC Manager, reports:
"The TI9M, the recent DXpedition to Cocos Island,
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."
The "ARRL Letter" reports that
the ARRL's DXCC Desk now is down to days in terms of
application turnaround time. It was not long ago that
DXCC hopefuls waited in line for more than two months to
get their certificates or updates processed. Now
applications are taking approximately one week. For more
details, read last week's "ARRL Letter" or
visit the ARRL Web site at: http://www.arrl.org.
Also, reported in the "ARRL Letter",
ARRL Membership Services Manager Wayne Mills, N7NG,
indicated that the DXCC Desk will begin offering the last
of the single-band DXCC awards--for 30 meters. An
official announcement is pending, but it's expected the
new award will debut October 1, 2002. Those planning to
participate may send cards now to get a leg up on the new
award.
EM11, UKRAINIAN ISLANDS (IOTA). Alexander,
UR5EAW, informs OPDX to look for some activity from Ukrainian
islands to qualify for the "Islands of Ukraine on Air"
and "IOTA" Award Program. The special expedition
callsign, EM11E, will be used between May 1st through August
31st. The expedition will cover the Dniper - River islands, and
the islands of the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov. QSL Manager is
UR5EAW: Shevchenko Alexander, Pelina str. 29, Dnepropetrovsk
49107 UA, Ukraine.
F3, FRANCE (Rare prefix). Maurice, F5NQL, DX
editor for the UFT, informs OPDX that he will be in the next CQ
WPX CW Contest as F3GJ using the F3 prefix which is rare. Look
for him two hours before the beginning of the contest, extra op
only on CW. QSL via F3GJ CBA or via French Bureau.
FG, GUADELOUPE (IOTA activity). Dany, F5CW,
will be in Guadeloupe from June 22nd to July 12th. He will be
jointed by F8CMT from July 5-25th. Both will be active from
Saintes Islands (NA-114) from July 4-9th with the callsign TO8CW.
FJ, ST. BARTHELEMY ISLAND. Remember to look
for Bert, PA3GIO, to be active as FJ/PA3GIO/m or /p now through
March 28th. Operation will be on SSB only with operations on
80/40/20/17/15/12/10 meters. QSL via PA3GIO either direct or
(preferably) through the bureau. The Web page for this operation
is at: http://www.pa3gio.nl/FJ/.
FO, FRENCH POLYNESIA. Sei, JF1SQC/KH0DQ,
informs OPDX that he will be active from Bora Bora (OC-067) as
FO8DX in the CQWPX SSB Contest. He mentioned that he may be
active as FO0(something) outside of the contest. QSL via JF1SQC
(JA bureau).
GM, SCOTLAND. Keith, GM4YXI, informs OPDX
that he will be active during the CQ WPX SSB Contest as a Single
Band/10m/High Power/Unassisted entry. He will use the "North
of Scotland Contest" group's callsign, GM7V. As with all
other QSOs with this callsign, QSL is via Edwin, ZS5BBO. Check
out the Web page: http://www.gm7v.com.
H40, TEMOTU PROVINCE (Also H44). Nick Hacko,
VK1AA (aka VK2ICV/VK9LX), reports that all of the equipment went
through custom clearance OK (thanks to Greg Pearson, H44GR!) and
is stored safely in Honiara. Unfortunately, Ranko, YT6A, is NOT
going, and Nick has yet to figure out how he is going to manage
125 kg of equipment. Nick states, "Obviously, something will
need to stay in H44 therefore only the most important stuff will
be taken to H40. This includes an FT920, MLA2500 amplifier,
tribander, antenna mast and lowband vertical. No WARC antenna;
RTTY is also under question. Also, I would need to cut the coax
(heavy RG8), therefore, I can only have one antenna at the time -
either vertical or tribander. There will be no activity from
Honiara BEFORE departure to Temotu, only later, April
7-9th." His callsign will be H44TL for Honiara, and for
Temotu the callsign will be H40XX. Nick appeared on the air
(Sunday morning Zulu time) on 10 meters CW (around 28008 kHz at
0113z) as this was being written. The web site for the operation
is at: http://www.qsl.net/vk1aa/temotu/.
HC8, GALAPAGOS ISLAND. Ramon, XE1KK, will
join Trey, N5KO/HC8N, during the CQ WW WPX SSB Contest. Before
and after the contest he will be active on HF, 50 MHz and FM
satellites as HC8/XE1KK and/or HC8N. QSL for XE1KK via his
homecall; bureau OK. QSLs for HC8N via AA5BT.
HH, HAITI. Jan, K4QD, will operate from Haiti
as HH4/K4QD during the period of April 8-19th. Jan, a member of
the Florida DXPedition Group (FDXPG), is going as a volunteer to
the Northwest Haiti Christian Mission, and he will operate in any
spare time available. Operation will be 100W on SSB and CW with a
beam on 20-10 meters and a 40/80 meter dipole. QSL K4QD via his
CBA or via the bureau.
HV, VATICAN. Don, VE3CDP/W9, from
Edwardsville, Illinois, informed OPDX that Francesco, HV0A, who
has been active 15/12/10 meters CW/SSB, is a cousin to his wife.
Next year Don and his wife plan to visit him in Rome where he
lives and practices law. Also, Don has been invited to operate
HV0A. Don mentions that Francesco plans to visit them in Illinois
this summer.
IOTA NEWS...
AS-008. Look for JJ2GAZ/1 to be active
from Izu Archipelago (Mikura Island) on CW and SSB on all
bands from March 30-31st. QSL via the bureau or home
call.
AS-147. Look for JR8KJR/8 to activate
Rebun Islands from March 30-31st. He will also activate
Rishiri Island, April 1-3rd. Activity is expected on 6,
10, 12, 15, 17 and 40 meters SSB. QSL via JR8KJR.
EU-016. Look for 9A/DE0MST/p (Fredy),
9A/DF9MV/p (Sven) and 9A/DL9CHR/p (Chris) to be active
now through March 30th from Susac Island (CI-109).
Activity will be from the Kanula Lighthouse (LH 1430,
CLH-047, ARLHS: CRO 064). QSL via DE0MST (100% via
bureau). Direct QSL via DE0MST: Manfred Stippschild, P.O.
Box 1406, D-83657 Lenggries, Germany.
EU-038. The UBA in section
"NOK" will again take part in the 2002 IOTA
Contest from the Island of Texel. Also, they will
simultaneously activate the Texel Lighthouse NET-024
(ARLHS). Activity will be from July 26-28th. Their
callsign before the contest will be PA/ON4NOK, and during
the contest they will sign PA6TEX. Look for activity on
80-10 meters, including the WARC bands, before the
contest. A full colored QSL card will be available. QSL
via ON7YX (Ron, ex-ON4ALW). Please DO NOT send QSL via
the DUTCH QSL Bureau since this is a Belgian operation
the Dutch bureau will not handle the QSL cards. Send them
either direct or via UBA Bureau to ON7YX.
NA-001. Watch for Bill, AA7X, to be
operating as C6AKK from Exuma Island now through March
31st. His activity will included an entry in the CQWW WPX
Contest. QSL to AA7X.
NA-188. Remember, operators
Enrique/XE1LWY, Luis/XE1YJL, Javier/XE1KOF, Alfonso/XE1UZ
and Martin/XE1ML will be active from Cacaluta Island from
Mar 26-31st. Activity is expected to be on all HF bands
including 6 meters on SSB/CW/RTTY. The callsign will be
XF4IH.
OC-224. Yannick, F6FYD (President of
Clipperton DX Club), has jointed Gerard, F2JD/G0SHN, in
Manilla, Philippines, for business (working). They will
be active from Verde Island from March 28-31st as
DU1/G0SHN. Activity will be on CW/SSB on 14, 21 and 28
MHz with 100 watts and a dipole. QSL via F6AJA.
JW8, SVALBARD. Operators Torfinn/LA4OFA,
Magnus/LA4PHA, Morten/LA9GY and Bjoern/LA9IY will be active from
March 28th and April 1st. The group will participate in the CQWW
WPX SSB Contest this coming weekend as JW8G. Look for activity
outside the contest as they operate as JW4OFA, JW4PHA, JW9GY and
JW9IY, respectively. QSL JW8G via LA9GY, and the others via home
their home callsign.
NODXA OFFICERS RE-ELECTED. The following
amateurs have been re-elected to serve as Northern Ohio DX
Association officers for the year 2002-2003:
President - Tedd Mirgliotta, KB8NW
V. President - Dwaine Modock, K8ME
Secretary - Ron Borkey, K8VJG
Treasurer - Mary Michaelis, N8DMM
P5, NORTH KOREA. Ed, P5/4L4FN, showed up over
the weekend on 15 meters SSB (21225 kHz after 2230z). Really no
new detail to report this week.
QSL INFO AND NEWS...
Mike, K8IW, was told by Hrane, YT1AD,
that the last batch of 3D2CI cards will go out sometime
next week.
Silvano, I2YSB, reports all the logs of
the Niger 2002 DXpedition (5U1A, 5U4R, 5U6W, 5U8B, 5U9C
and 5U0T) are now on-line at: http://www.qsl.net/niger-2002/log.htm.
After typing the paper-logs and merging all the files,
some typo and mistake are possible. If you don't find all
your QSOs with them, please send an E-mail to I2YSB and
he will check the logs. His E-mail address is: i2ysb@libero.it.
QSLs for RH9XN go via RN9XA: Eugene
Bugrimov, P.O.Box 1229 Syktyvkar, Russia. This was a
special event station to honor Russian Hockey.
QSL S21/OK1FWC via OKDXF at: OK DX
Foundation, Box 73, Bradlec 293-06, Czech Repiblic. Logs
are expected to be on the OKDXF Web page at: http://www.qsl.net/okdxf/e_index.htm.
Word from Janusz, SP6IXF, reports that
QSL cards for V51/SP6IXF will be received from the
printer on March 26th. Janusz will send them out just
after that. QSL V51/SP6IXF via SP6IXF: Janusz Szymanski,
P.O.Box 1808, 50-385 Wroclaw 46, Poland.
S7, SEYCHELLES. Look for Kurt, HB9MX, to be
active as S79MX for about one month starting March 25th. Activity
will be on CW/SSB and probably on all bands. QSL via HB9MX.
SPECIAL EVENT. Look for the special callsign
TM5PDG to be activated on Sunday, April 7th, from 0900-1900z.
French hams will operate from "LE PONT DU GARD" (Bridge
of Gard, dated from Roman period). TM5PDG will be active on 40-15
meters on CW/SSB/SSTV and PSK31. QSL via F6KQK by the bureau.
T9, BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA. Bernard, F5LPY, is
active as T9/F5LPY until the end of May. Look for him every
evening around 2030z, on 20 meters CW. He may possibly QSY to 80
meters. When working on 40 meters, Bernard must use a very sharp
filter because of a violent local QRM so you may have to change
your frequency. Bernard also works SSB each Sunday morning
between 0700-1030z on 20 meters. QSL via the French bureau
(please no cards to T9 bureau). Bernard will answer 100%, after
he comes back home. SWL cards are also very welcome.
U.S.A. POSTAGE TO GO UP. It was announced
(officially) this past week that stateside 1st class mail postage
is going up 3 cents, possibly around June 30th.
VK0, MACQUARIE ISLAND. "QRZ DX"
reported this past week that another ham will be active from
here. It has been reported that Peter Andrew Pokorny, VK0MQI,
will be working as a member of the 2002 Australian National
Antarctic Research Expedition to Macquarie Island. Peter is 43
years old and has worked on contract with ANARE as a supervising
communications technical officer for one year. He had operated as
VK0AC from Davis Base, Antarctica in 1998. Peter has already
departed for VK0 on March 11th, so he may have already arrived on
the island. He will be staying on the island until December of
this year. He will only be on the air in his spare time. His
operating site will be the same house which Tom, VK0TS, used in
1997. Peter is expected to operate on all bands including 6
meters. However, he does not have much experience in DXing, so
please be patient in the early part of his operation. QSL
Managers will be Masa, JE1LET, for his JA QSOs and Toshi, JA1ELY,
for other DX QSOs.
VP6/D, DUCIE ISLAND. Pilot stations
Stu/WA2MOE, Yoshi/JE2EHP and Jay/AF2C have been keeping the DX
community well informed over the past week on the activity and
status of VP6DI. As this was being typed, reports indicate that
the team is tired but in good spirits. Over the past weekend
there has been some activity on 80/40/17 meters. On 160 they make
no promises. The operator N9TK (VP6DI) reported that the vertical
antenna intended for use on 160 and 80 is giving the operators
trouble. They are trying to repair it. Also, there is word that
there is something wrong with the RTTY equipment. The VP6DI team
is scheduled to cease operation on March 27th and leave the
island that evening (their time). They intend to arrive on
Henderson Island (OC-056) on March 28th. This is a rare IOTA.
They will only stay for one day and depart Henderson on March
29th. On March 30th, they will arrive at Pitcairn (long enough to
eat lunch). On April 1st, they are expected to arrive back in
Gambier, and all should be back home by April 3rd. Remember, QSL
Manager is Garth Hamilton, VE3HO, for all HF operations only. QSL
Manager for all 6 meter QSOs is Kan, JA1BK. A log search is or
will be available at: http://www.big.or.jp/~ham/dx.html.
WIND/WATERMILLS ACTIVITY. OPDX was informed
that "National Mills Weekend" will take place on May
11-12th. The Denby Dale Amateur Radio Society (DDARS) is once
again co-ordinating the "Mills On The Air". The
"Society for the Protection of Ancient Building"
(S.P.A.B.) runs the mills event every year on or around the
second weekend in May; however, amateur radio is another part of
the many attractions that take place. Certificates this year will
be issued like last year by working 10 stations or more on 1 or
both days, send 3-00 pounds or more payable to DDARS via Sue,
G0WFE. Currently, S.P.A.B has not decided what mill to activate
during this event, but details are forthcoming. Watch for
up-to-date info via Internet, Packet, RSGB news and the following
Web pages: http://www.spab.org.uk/mills
and http://www.qsl.net/g4cdd/mills.htm.
ADDED NOTE: This event is not a contest. They just want to have a
good time promoting the wonders of amateur radio while helping to
remind "Joe Public" that there are still a few
individuals left who enjoy preserving our heritage, and why not.
The above group would like to see more Wind/WaterMills active
during this event.
XR0, SAN FELIX ISLAND. The USA pilot station
Dr. Bill, K6GNX, has been keeping the DX community well informed
over the past week on the activity and status of XR0X. As this
was being written, XR0X was operating 3 SSB stations (one shared
with RTTY), 3 CW stations and 6 meters. One CW generator failed
and was replaced with a spare. The piles are thinning out. The
XR0X team expects to go QTH sometime during March 26th to have
everything loaded aboard ship to weight anchor at 1200z (local)
on the March 27th. QSL via John Kennon, N7CQQ, P. O. Box 31553,
Laughlin, Nevada 89028 USA. The San Felix Expedition Web site has
up-to-date news and a log search available at: http://www.cordell.org/SFX.
XV9, SPRATLY ISLAND. Reports indicate that
the Vietnam Amateur Radio Club (VARC) plan to be on from here
during April. They will use the callsign XV9TH, however, specific
dates are unknown. More details are forthcoming.
XY, MYANMAR. Frank, DL4KQ, informs OPDX that
9 operators will be active from here August 4-22nd. Operators
include: DF2IC, DF7KP, DL4KQ, DL5OAB, DL8KBJ, IN3QBR, IN3ZNR,
XW0X, and YB0US. They will use the callsigns XY3C for CW, XY5T
for SSB and XY7V for the digital modes. They plan to have three
stations (w/amlifiers) active at all times on 160-6 meters. Yagis
will be used between 30-6 meters. The lower bands will use
horizontal and vertical systems. They plan to travel and operate
(possibly) from three different locations. There will be limited
operation between August 4-8th from Yangon (on 40-6 meters). Then
between August 9-22nd, they will operate from Ngapal, near
Thandwe (earlier known as Sandoway) at Arrakan coast. There is a
small chance, for a short period, that they may activate a new
IOTA in the Arrakan Group. QSL Managers are as follows: XY3C via
DL4KQ, XY5T via IN3ZNR and XY7V via DL8KBJ (direct or bureau).
They have as Web page at: http://www.dx-pedition.de.
XX9, MACAO. Pertti, OH2PM, is expected to be
active as XX9TRR from here between March 26th and April 1st.
Activity will be on 80-10 meters CW/SSB. He will concentrate on
80 and 30 meters. Look for him before and after his sunrise and
sunset. QSL via N6XJ.
YA, AFGHANISTAN. Look for Mark, VK4KMT, to
join the YA5T team. He is expected to fly to Dubai on March 25th
and then into YA-land in about 5 days. His mode of preference is
SSB, so this will help the guys waiting for SSB action.
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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