The Ohio/Penn Dx PacketCluster
DX Bulletin No. 270
BID: $OPDX.270
September 16, 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, AD1C, K1EFI, N1REU, K4UTE, KQ4GC, W4BRE, KH6BZF, WB6VGI, KA7YAO, WA9BXB, K9WR, A35RK, DL5EBE, DL8HCO, F6AJA, G3SXW, G4BUE & the DX News Sheet, PA3DZN, VS2BG and ZL2AL following DX information.

3E, PANAMA (SPECIAL PREFIX). Gunther, HP1XVH, currently active on IOTA NA-072 (ed. Island was not provided) states he will be using the special callsign 3E1DX, October 20-31st during the CQWW Contest. QSL via KF0UI (John in Missouri).

5V, TOGO (UPDATE). The Voodoo Contest Group which will be active from here in November (read OPDX.261) has announced their new 5V5A Web Site page for the upcoming expedition to Togo in West Africa. The site is at: http://www.getnet.com/~kf7ay/5v5a.html

The WWW page has details on the team of ten who will enter the CQ World-Wide DX CW Contest on November 23-24th from Togo signing 5V5A. Six stations will be active along with 17 antennas on the hotel roof to enter as a Multi/Multi entry. The page also contains information about previous expeditions, the WW contest, operating site, transportation and logistics, their QSL routes (including bureau requests via e-mail), tips on making a QSO in the contest, best times and bands to work Togo from each major area, and much more. The expertise of Dr. Warren Hill, KF7AY, who constructed the page provides many photographs, maps, QSL cards, interesting details and graphics. As the project unfolds, they will post updated news items to the "Flash" section every few days. Please feel free to visit the site from time to time to stay in touch.

5R, MADAGASCAR. Jean Michel, F6AJA, is back in France after his 5R8FI operation and says he will have his QSL cards printed as soon as possible. He also mentions that Gerard will stay there, as 5R8EN, until the middle of October and can continue to make QSOs on RTTY. Jean has the 5R8EN logs up to September 7th (with the 5R8EN/P logs from Nosy Bé) and is preparing a short 5R8EN/P story.

5X, UGANDA (On RS-12). Peter, 5X1T (ON6TT), reports he has some windows to work him on the RS-12 satellite (+/- 1900-2000z) for the next couple of days. Peter states the window only covers him and Europe.

A35, TONGA (UPDATE). Paul Kidd, A35RK, reports his station is down now on Nuku'alofa, in preparation for departure for Lifuka Island this coming Tuesday (17 Sept). He will resume operation (probably around October 1st), it will be from the village of Holopeka, Lifuka Island, Ha'apai Island Group (IOTA OC-169). His QSL Manager is still W7TSQ (via his CBA or via W7 buro). Paul wants me to tell the OPDX readers that the A3 QSL Bureau is now totally defunct...and he is not even sure if they have a Post Office Box anymore. Also, Paul states: "Don't waste your time and money sending cards to the A3 buro. I don't know where the incoming cards are....All I can tell you for sure is that I don't have them, and I don't know where to get them. If you work an A35 station, get his QSL info, because that's the ONLY way you're gonna get a card!"

D2, ANGOLA. Alex, PA3DZN (aka WH2L, 9Q2L, TR2L, 9X5EE), expects to be active in early October from Luanda for a duration of a minimum of 6 months. He plans to use his TS-50 and R7 (10 - 40m), but a Force-12 C4 beam and a 600W amplifier will be shipped to Luanda as well. For 80 and 160 meters, he will try to install the usual wire antennas, the environment permitting. Operation will be on CW, CW, CW, RTTY, and SSB. QSL information "TO BE ANNOUNCED". (Please do not assume any of his previous QSL routes for other operations). The callsign "TO BE ANNOUNCED"; upon arrival, after he sorts some things out with the PTT.

FP, ST. PIERRE ISLAND (ed. This one may be just a tad earlier...HI!). Jack, N1REU, announced plans to activate this one the 3rd week of August 1997. He doesn't have an op list, but he is working on it. If you have any questions or comments about his plans, just please E-mail Jack (n1reu@contesting.com). He mentioned that these are just preliminary plans, no definates yet, but he will keep an up-to-date list of plans on a WEB page for the expedition. The address will be: http://www.cris.com/~Jackhamm/FP.html

HI, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC. Be on the lookout for Niki, DH2JD, to be active as DH2JDX/HI3 for the next three years. His activity will be mainly on the weekends at 1830z on 14272 kHz running.

IOTA NEWS. Tony, WF1N, and LOU, KA1DIG, will be on Appledore Island (NA-148, Isles of Shoals), September 20-23rd. Activity will be on or near the IOTA frequencies. They will pay special attention to 40 meters: 7160-7190 kHz (Listening down for DX) and 7260-7290 kHz (for USA). QSL direct to home calls or via bureau.

J3, GRENADA (Need another operator). IV3NVN, IV3TMV, W8KKF, W9IXX, WA8LOW and WB8GEX will be active from October 23-29th. The group will be active as J3A in the CQWW SSB Contest and is looking for another operator. Contact Harry, W8KKF, at 513/434-9616. Also it is reported that Joe, WB8GEX, is planning to install a beacon for 6 meters with 2.5 watts. QSL J3A via WA8YOW.

JD, OGASAWARA. Eiji, JQ1SUO, has announces that he will be active from here December 16th to January 3rd as JQ1SUO/JD1. His operations will be on: CW - 1909-10, 3505, 7005, 10107 and 14025 kHz and SSB - 3795, 3800, 7050, 14240 and 14200 kHz. He will look for USA stations between 2200 and 0000z on 14240 kHz. QSL to CBA.

KG4, GUANTANAMO BAY. Bill, KG4GC (KQ4GC), and Jan, KG4QD (WA4VQD), will be active September 27th to October 4th. They will be active on all bands to include SSB, CW and RTTY. Bill and Jan will join Rusty, KG4AU, as a Multi/Single high power entry in the CQWW RTTY Contest September 28-29th. Contest call will be KG4GC. QSL with SASE to home calls. Also, Larry, WB6VGI, is currently active as KG4ML until September 24th or 25th. He is using a TS-50 and operating primarily on the WARC bands with brief excursions to 40/80 meters CW when WARC bands are down. He has no plans on operating on the other bands except to chase down new countries for his DXCC from there.

KH7 CONFUSION (not Kure Island!). Lee, KH6BZF, wants to remind OPDX readers that the FCC has started issuing KH7 licenses to Hawaiian Amateurs. KH7 callsigns have been appearing on the bands in the last week or so.

KP2, U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS (Operator Needed). The Clay County DX Assocciation (CCDXA), located in north Florida, will be Multi/Single entry in CQWW SSB this October from St. Croix. At present time they have five operators (KD6WW, KQ4GC, AE4FY, AB4NS and KX8N). There is room for one more!!! If you would like to go or receive more information please call, Bill KQ4GC, at 904-282-9925.

OZ, LAESOE ISLAND (North-Denmark). DL8HCO, DJ9RR, DH1LAD and DK7XS will be activate from EU-088, October 6-11th. Operations will be on all bands CW/SSB. Check the IOTA frequencies. They plan to be active around the clock. Callsigns are OZ/Homecall and QSL via bureau or direct.

QSL INFORMATION AND NEWS...

• Rich, WA9BXB, has been recently getting cards for TI1C, TI2CF and TI4CF. He is not their manager and he was told by two people that he is listed in the new Callbook CD Rom as manager for TI1C which is incorrect. However, Rich is the QSL Manager for the following: VK3MO, TI2/N9IUO, TI2IDX and TI4IDX. Also, Rich states he is willing to manage another moderately active DX station that needs a manager. Rich is willing to pay for all QSL cards.
• There has been a QSL Manager change in the upcoming ZV0MB and ZV0MV DXpedition. PT2DX was announced earlier as manager, but his address is not in the current callbook. So, to make things easier for DXers, PT2GTI was announced as QSL Manager for the Martim Vaz Island DXpedition. QSLs go to P.O. Box 09647, BRASMLIA (DF), 70001-970. For more information on this DXpedition read OPDX.269.
• LY2ZZ states QSLs for LY0HQ are to be sent to LY2ZZ. The Danish QSL Bureau has changed their address to: E.D.R. QSL BUREAU, Klokkestoebervej 11, DK 5230 Odense M., Denmark.
• Lee, ZL2AL, reports to OPDX, that they are still processing cards for ZL8RI DXpedition..... over 6000 direct mail QSLs have been sent out to date. Lee states, "It is a hard task, but every QSO is checked on CT and verified. QSLs will not be sent for non-existant QSOs! We ask all who worked us to please be patient. Every valid contact will be QSLed. Five of us are working hard and abusive letters by some hams do not help our frame of minds when we are burning the midnight oil. QSLs for ZL8RI are still via ZL2HU." Lee also mentions that he is the QSL Manager for ZL7AA 1993 operation and cards can be sent to ZL7AA, POB 54, Hastings, New Zealand.
• Dan W4BRE, states that Carl, N4AA (of "QRZ-DX,"), has now completely caught-up with all USA requests (see exceptions below). He has now been answering requests, usually on the day they come in. Exceptions: There are several discrepancies where a station's call is not in the COMPUTER for a particular band/mode, etc. but this does not mean the station is "Not In The Log!!" Approx. 38,500 plus contacts were entered into the computer *after* the return to Kiev from Libya, so it's understanderable if a few didn't get entered. Carl should have his hands on the PAPER logs very soon and hopefully will be able to resolve most cases where he cannot find someone's call in the computer. ADDED NOTE: The complete news release by Dan will be sent to all OPDX InterNet subscribes.

VK0, MACQUARIE ISLAND. Warren, VK0WH, will be leaving on the next ship, so any mail should now go to his home address. He is presently snowed under with work and amateur radio will have to take a backseat for now. Warren currently has made 1200 QSOs with about 50 countries, but NO FEAR, another operator is on his way. VK0GW is reportedly to be with the next crew on Macquarie. Details about his equipment and operating times should be forthcoming.

VP5, TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS. The North Florida DX Association will be returning to Provo for the CQWW SSB Contest. They will arrive October 22nd and depart on October 29th. The callsign they will be using during the contest is VP5DX. Operators will be AB4UF, N4KE, NO4J, NF4L, W3ZNB, and K4UTE. QSL via K4UTE. PLEASE - NO QSLS via the VP5 Bureau, U.S. Bureau is OK via K4UTE. This will be a Multi-Single effort.

VP9, BERMUDA. Fred, K1EFI, will be heading here for his annual September vacation, and once again he will be operating as K1EFI/VP9 from Sandys Parish. Operations will be from September 26th to October 8th, mostly on CW, all bands. QSLs go to the home call.

VR96-VS96, HONG KONG (Special prefixes for Hong Kong). According to Brett, VS2BG (President of HART, the Hongkong Amateur Radio Transmitting Society), the Hong Kong Government Office of the Telecommunications Authority will be allowed to use several prefixes to commemorate the transfer of sovereignty over the territory from the United Kingdom to the People's Republic of China on 1 July 1997. At the request of HARTS, Hong Kong amateurs will be allowed to change the numeral in their callsign to "96" in 1996, "97" in 1997 & "98" in 1998. Amateurs began the use of these new prefixes as of September 10th, starting with a contact between VS96BG & VR96GO. HARTS will announce later the details of a new award to be offered to amateurs for contacting stations using these special prefixes.

W9DXCC DX CONVENTION (Review by KB8NW). The reason there was no bulletin last week, was because your editor (along with John, K8YSE) attended the 44th Annual 1996 W9DXCC Convention. This was John and your editior's first DX Convention. Both of us felt that the Northern Illinois DX Association put on a very good and well organized convention packed with forums, prizes (a lot of prizes... everyone went home with something) and a great program/dinner banquet. Both John and I will probably attend again next year. Here also are a few of my favorite highlights:

• Jim O'Connell, W9WU, was a great MC throughout the day plus kept everyone laughing between forums.
• Bob Heil, K9EID, talk on ZERO-Beating and other Audio Techniques.
• Jim Riff, K9JSC, talk on the XR0Y and XR0Z DXpedition.
• Wayne Mills, N7NG, (Dinner Banquet speaker), talk on "Beyond DXpeditioning: Albania, Myanmar and North Korea".

ZONE 2. Louis, VE2BQB, is currently active from Iqaluit on Baffin Island (IOTA NA-047) until December 15, 1996, as VE8TA. he was heard on 20 meters (14173 kHz) around 1745z. QSL via his CBA: VE2BQB, Louis Paquet, 1368 Rang 4, Lac au Saumon, P.Q., G0J 1M0 Canada.

OPDX INTERNET SUBSCRIBE/UNSUBSCRIBE REQUEST: opdx-request@nshore.org OPDX WORLD-WIDE WEB HOME (provided by John, K8YSE): http://www.en.com/users/k8yse/opdx.html

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