The Ohio/Penn DX PacketCluster
DX Bulletin No. 495 BID: $OPDX.495 January 22, 2001 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, AA1M, AD1C, KF2TI, N2WB, WB2YQH/WB2RAJ
& The 599 DX Report, W3UR & The Daily DX, K4HB, K4WLS,
N4AA & QRZ DX, WD4NGB, K8GG, K8YSE, N8BJQ, KU9C, W9VA, W0IS,
CE6TBN, DL2VFR, DL3APO, DL5AXX, DL5EBE, DL9NEI, F5CWU, F5NOD,
GW0ANA, HB9PL, OE3MZC, OM3LZ, UA2FM, VE3EXY, VK3TZ and ARRL
Letter for the following DX information.
3D2, CONWAY REEF (Update/Change). Hrane,
YT1AD, reported that the 2001 Conway Reef DXpedition will start a
day earlier than planned. The team will go via Hong Kong instead
of Kuala Lumpur, and the DXpedition will start on February 18th
at 08:00 local time, or on February 17 at 2100z.
3G0, EASTER ISLAND. Norbert, DL9NEI, informs
OPDX that a joint Chilean and German DXPedition will activate
Easter Island between March 4-19th. Operations will be on all HF
Bands mostly on CW/RTTY, on lower bands and the WARC bands. The
callsign used will be 3G0Y. Look for the latest information still
under development, that is happening now and during the operation
on the following Web site coming soon at: http://www.qsl.net/3g0y.
QSL via DK7YY.
3Y, BOUVET. Chuck, 3Y0C, continues to be
active in spite of the problems that keep developing. As this
bulletin was being prepared Sunday morning, a short review of
updates from the WD4NGB Web page reports that another big storm
hit the island January 18th and snapped the antenna mast and
smashed the beam. Chuck has managed to repair the beam and erect
it on the shortened mast, but will try to get the beam higher in
to the air. Chuck tried to take the photographs from the roof of
the shack, but the wind speed is so high that he cannot stand
upright on the roof. He will try again when the weather improves.
The generator's engine continues to cause problems. The engine is
not designed for extreme weather conditions and has allowed the
crankshaft bearing seals to freeze and loose their sealing
ability. The lubricating oil leaks past the seal and slowly
drains. The leaking oil has to be captured, strained and returned
to the engine. About 95% of the oil is being recovered, however,
they took enough oil for maintenance functions, not for leaks.
Because of leaking, battery charging is thus extended from 2
hours to 4 hours at a time. Another problem is also reported by
Chuck. It is now very unfortunate that his solid-state linear
amplifier has failed, and he has been unable to find out the
reason of the failure. Now for good news. The time set aside to
listen for Asia and Oceania has paid off. Chuck on Saturday,
around 0600z on 20 meters, worked many JAs and VKs. He will try
this for the next few days, and these areas are to look for Chuck
starting 0600z on 18130, 21295, 28495 and 14195 kHz. Also, it was
mentioned that some RTTY operations will begin next week. For the
complete/unedited up-to-date information mentioned above, check
out the Web page: http://www.qsl.net/wd4ngb/3y0.htm.
8Q, MALDIVES. Mike/OE3MZC and his wife
Barbara/OE3YCB will be active from here February 7-21st, as 8Q7MZ
and 8Q7BZ, respectively. Mike tells OPDX that they will be active
from the Island of Kuredu during the first week and the Island of
Velavaru during the second week. Activity will be on all HF
bands, mainly around the IOTA frequencies on SSB. There will also
be 6m, SSTV and PSK31. Mike informs us that this will be a
holiday DXpedition, so please allow them some time for snorkeling
as well as traveling from one island to another. For the latest
news, check their Web site at: http://www.qsl.net/oe3mzc/.
A4, OMAN. During an installation and
commissioning of trunking communications system in Oman by two
Slovakian radio operators, Stefan/OM3RG and Miro/OM3LZ, will be
active from the desert. This is thanks through the help of A41LZ,
the Omani Amateur Radio Society which permitted their operation.
Activity is now through January 25th (or 27th). Suggested
frequencies are:
They will use one TCVR with linear PA and vertical/wire
antenas mostly during the evening hours. QSL direct to OM3LZ.
A52A BHUTAN VIDEO REVIEW (by KB8NW). James,
9V1YC, has done it again! I have just viewed the A52A video over
the past weekend and I would have to say James has made another
"**** Four Star Video". This high quality enlightening
and educational video is a must for DXers. In James' video (as in
all his videos) he mixes the sites and sounds of Bhutan which are
breathtaking. OH YEA, the bus trip to the Pine Wood Hotel was
great! Strap on your seat belts FOLKS! I personallly would like
to thank James for the ride and view of Bhutan. For more
information or to order a copy of this video, go to the Web page
at: http://home.pacific.net.sg/~jamesb.
AX, AUSTRALIA (Update.... Attention Prefix Hunters!).
Tony, VK3TZ, reported last week in OPDX.494 that the
"AX" prefix will be aired once again by all Aussie
amateurs on Australia Day - January 26th. The following times for
the use of the AX prefix are for the 24 hours commencing 0000
hours local time for each state:
VK1/VK2/VK3/VK7 - 1300z January 25th to 1300z January
26th
VK4 - 1400z January 25th to 1400z Janaury 26th
VK5 - 1330z Janaury 25th to 1330z Janaury 26th
VK6 - 1600z Janaury 25th to 1600z Janaury 26th
VK8 - 1430z Janaury 25th to 1430z Janaury 26th
VK9N/W/X/Y/VK0 - Various, since time zones are varied.
CE0Z, SAN AMBROSIO ISLAND (Update/Change).
Marco, CE6TBN, Team Leader for the DXpedition to San Ambrosio
Island during the second week in February, reports that "in
an unusual determination the SUBTEL (Sub Secretaria de
Telecomunicaciones) has changed the prefix to CE0ZT (from
CE0XT)...." This due to a new Chilean rule stating San Felix
and Juan Fernandez's prefix is now CE0Z.
D6, COMOROS. Josep/EA3BT/D68BT and
Nuria/EA3WL/D68WL continue to be very active on all bands until
January 28th. Due to a bad Internet connection, the logs will be
posted every 2 days instead of every day. If you want to see new
pictures and logs from the DXpedition, look every day at the
following URL address on the Web sites: http://www.qsl.net/ea3bt/Comoros-Picture_of_day.htm,
http://www.qsl.net/ea3bt/index2.htm.
DAYTON HAMVENTION 2001 DX DINNER. The
Southwest Ohio DX Association is pleased to announce the
Sixteenth Annual DX Dinner to be held on Friday, May 18th, 2001
at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Dayton, OH. There will be a cash bar
at 6:30 PM and dinner at 7:15 PM. Tickets are 32.00 (USD) and
must be purchased in advance. Groups wishing to sit together must
order as a group. A table seats eight. Please make your check or
money order payable to SWODXA and send an SASE for ticket return.
Seats will be assigned in the order that requests are received.
Seats will be assigned on 11th March 2001. Seating is limited.
Please order tickets from: Steve Bolia, N8BJQ, 7354 Thackery Rd,
Springfield OH 45502. For information on the dinner, check the
Web page: http://members.aol.com/SteveB4622/. Or
contact Steve Bolia, N8BJQ at (937) 788-2803 or via his E-mail
address at: n8bjq@erinet.com.
DX MAGAZINE'S 100 MOST WANTED! Carl, N4AA,
Editor of QRZ DX, reports that the results of "The DX
Magazine's 100 Most Wanted Survey" for the year 2000 have
been posted to the Web site (under "DX News") at: http://www.dxpub.com.
A complete breakdown by continent and USA time zone is included
in the January/February issue of The DX Magazine. As it stands,
the top ten are:
1 - P5, North Korea 6 - KH5K, Kingman Reef
2 - VU4, Andaman 7 - YA, Afghanistan
3 - BS7, Scarborough Reef 8 - VP8/SS, South Sandwich Island
4 - 3Y/B, Bouvet 9 - 3Y/P, Peter I Island
5 - VU7, Lakshadweep 10 - 7O, Yemen
DXCC NEWS. Submittals for the ARRL DXCC Honor Roll are due
March 31, 2001. For more information, contact ARRL DXCC Manager
Bill Moore, NC1L, via E-mail at: bmoore@arrl.org.
FO/FO0/M, FRENCH POLYNESIA AND MARQUESAS ISLANDS
(Update). Peter, DL3APO, informs OPDX that the callsigns
for the upcoming FO and FO0/M DXpedition are now approved, and
the German team will be using the CEPT license FO/homecall. So,
look for FO/DL1AWI, FO/DL5XU and FO/DL3APO to be aired January
27th through February 28th (Please refer OPDX.491 -- Oh, remember
to wish Peter a happy birthday on FO). The group has received a
2nd antenna in addition to the LP 5 from TITANEX - the V 160E
vertical with tuning unit for the lower bands. They will also
have two linear amplifiers with them. "The preparation is
going well", states Peter and Wil, DJ7AA, will be their
pilotstation. For more info, check Web page: http://www.radioklub.de/cgcg.
FS & PJ8, ST. MARTIN and ST. MAARTEN.
Bob/AA1M, Jim/W1HL and Mike/W1USN will be operating from both
French and Dutch sides of this island. Look for them to sign
PJ8/homecall and FS/homecall from February 27th through March
6th. QSL AA1M and W1HL via AA1M CBA or bureau. QSL W1USN to CBA
or bureau.
GERMAN ISLAND AWARD/GERMAN IOTA. Ric, DL2VFR,
informs OPDX that information on German IOTAs and the "Most
Wanted German Islands" can be found in the weekly IOTA
activity news on the Web page: http://www.iota-post.com. The "Most
Wanted German Islands" is based on applications for the
"German Island Award" (tnx DL2MX/DL5RFF) and was based
on the checkpoints for DL, HB, OE, I, IT9, IS0, T7, W4, W5 and,
W6 (tnx DK1RV, I1JQJ, W9DC). The "German Island Award"
links are available in German, English, French, Italian and
Danish language.
IOTA NEWS...
OC-136. Tony, VK3TZ, will be travelling
to Phillip Island for a few days and will try to be
active when he can during this trip. His suggested
operating times are from about 0900-1200z and 2100-2200z,
on the IOTA frequencies 14260 and 21260 kHz. This will
only be a 3 day trip on January 24-27th. Tony states that
this is not a radio orientated trip, so do not expect too
much operating time nor a good signal. Operation will
only be 100 watts into a dipole or vertical. He mentions
that he may try to log into the Southern Cross DX net (on
14226.5) in the evening (0900z) and the 14226.5 net
during his mornings LP about 2000-2100z.
KP2/NP2, U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS. Look for
the "Battle Creek Georges", W8UVZ and K8GG, to
be operating from St. Croix for the CQWW 160M CW Contest.
They will be active from January 24-30th. Before and
after the contest they will use the callsign KP2/K8GG
with an emphasis on the lower and WARC bands. During the
contest they will use the callsign NP2S. QSL NP2S
contacts direct to Martha Golden, NP2S, POB 1276,
Kingshill, Saint Criox, VI 00851 USA. QSL KP2/K8GG via
K8GG.
MD, ISLE OF MAN. Operators DL4ALB,
DL4LQM, DL4WG, DL5AXX, DL5LYM and DL8WAA will once again
be active from the Isle of Man, February 12-19th. They
will be a Multi-Two entry in the ARRL DX CW Contest.
Before the contest they will be active on 160-10 meters
including the WARC bands, mainly on CW with some SSB and
RTTY. Callsigns will be MD/homecall. QSLs goes to the
operator's homecall. QSLs for the February 2000 operation
of MD/DL3OI has to be directed now to DL5AXX (via
eMail-request, bureau or CBA).
PIRATE STATIONS REPORTED. There have
been several pirate stations active over the last few
weeks. Most noteable P25BH, VP8SSI and YA/RW6AC. Also,
there has been reports of pirate operators using the
callsign 3Y0C on CW and on 50 MHz. Also, OPDX was duped
last week in reporting that 4W1CW and 4W1UN were active.
They too are pirates.
PY0S, ST. Peter AND ST. PAUL ROCKS (Update).
Bill, W9VA, reports, "Plans are moving ahead on
schedule for the DXpedtion to PY0S in early February,
2001. All government permissions to operate from the
Rocks are in hand, and the callsign PW0S has been issued.
The team will leave Recife, Brazil, on February 2nd,
arriving on the Rocks on February 7th, intending to
operate for five or six days. This is a long open ocean
trip and dates may vary. The operating team is led by Jim
Faria, PY7XC, who previously operated from the Rocks in
1978 as PW0PP. Other operators are Fred/PY7ZZ and
Ciro/PY7ZY. All have previously operated from Fernando de
Noronha and various Brazilian IOTA islands. Operation
will be on 160 through 6 meters, CW and SSB, possibly
RTTY. Steve, KU9C, has joined the team as QSL Manager.
Financial support from clubs and individuals is most
welcome." Contact Bill, W9VA/PY0ZFO, for more
information at: w9va@aol.com.
QSL INFO AND NEWS...
IMPORTANT NOTICE! Victor, UA2FM, informs
OPDX that due to the new Russian Post Rules (Item
"d", Para.123): "123. The mail will be
returned if: d. If the NAME of adressee who is the
subscriber of the P.O.Box, is not shown or if shown
wrong." These Rules are in force starting 1 January
2001. Victor states, "So please put name first, not
the call, if you write to any Russian ham. As for RW2F@RK2FWA or UA2FM,
please put neither call, nor "UA2 Contest
Club", nor "Petrovo Radio Club" but Victor
Loginov, P.O.Box 73, Kaliningrad, 236000, Russia. In case
you send us QSL direct, please keep in mind that our
postmen love 'green stamps', they have little knowledge
about what IRCs are, but can destroy your letter with IRC
as well. So we earnestly recommend you to send RK2FWA@RW2F cards via DK4VW
instead."
HOW MUCH DO I SEND? Hal, K4HB, informs
OPDX that he has put together a list of countries which
require more than 1 US Dollar for return postage to the
U.S. and Europe. For those who send DX stamps, Hal has a
list of countries that had a postage hike during January.
He also has information about Russia's dramatic increase
in postage rates. Hal states that he doesn't get his
information from individual's in the DX countries.
Instead, he compiles the information from government and
other reliable sites, also he uses input from "Bill
Plum's Airmail and DX Supplies". Hal doesn't claim
to be 100% accurate, and he states this on his Web page,
but he believes the information on his Web page is as
close as it gets. The URL address is: http://www.k4hb.com.
Click on "Foreign Postage Rates" near the top.
Hal's site is also linked from "Rod's Super
Site" at: http://www.ac6v.com/irc.htm.
QSL Cards are still at the printers for
the "Flordia DXpedition Group's (FDXPG)" 2000
Guadeloupe DXpedition (October 24-31st, 2000). CARDS WILL
BE MAILED AS SOON AS THEY ARRIVE FROM PRINTERS. William,
N2WB, reports that it is a very nice Multi-Photo,
Multi-Color QSL card. The QSL information is as follows:
FG/N2WB via direct to N2OO
FG/W9AAZ via CBA
FG/W4WX via CBA
FG/KR4DA via CBA
All QSL for FG5BG (for the CQWW SSB CONTEST 2000)
"ONLY" go via Bob, KR4DA)
Gil, F5NOD, reports that around 8000
FR/F6KDF/T QSLs were sent out to EU, NA, SA, AS and OC.
He states if you don't receive your QSL card, don't
resend another request yet ( save your money..). They
have around 2000 QSLs that have to be processed yet, so
maybe yours is still inside that batch. Next sending will
be early in February. Gil states, "Anyway, don't
worry, all qsl will be sent!!"
It has been reported that Lothar, DJ4ZB,
will close the logs at the end of March 2001 of his
following DXpeditions:
A35ZB (Oct. 1994 )
ZL7ZB (Feb/Mar 1997)
ZL7ZB (Feb./Mar 1995)
ZM7ZB (Jan/Feb/Mar 2000)
T32ZB (Sep/Oct/Nov 1995)
QSL cards can be sent until the end of March 2001 to:
Lothar Grotehusmann, Quaekerstrasse 35, D-13403 Berlin,
Germany
R1, FRANZ JOSEF LAND. R1FJV was been keeping
the folks happy on 160/80 meters lately between 2300 and 2400z.
Check around 1830 and 3505 kHz. Also, check 17 meters around
18077 kHz after 1000z. QSL via UA3AGS.
SPECIAL EVENT (Marconi). Look for two special
event stations to be active from "Niton Radio" (GNI)
and "Lizard Radio" (GLD) during the "Double
Marconi Centenary" celebration January 21-23rd. The event
stations will sign GB100GNI and GB100LD. Suggested frequencies
are: 3650, 7060, 14200, 18150, 21200 and 24950 kHz. More details
are available at the following Web site: http://www.needlesradio.org.uk/.(Check
"Latest News")
TY, BENIN. Operators Flo/F5CWU, Thierry/F5MOO
and Didier/F5AOV will be active from here August 9-31st. Activity
will be on 160-6 meters, CW/SSB and the digital modes. They are
currently waiting at this time for their licenses and to see what
restrictions will apply. They plan to leave France with Quads
antennas for 20m to 10m, verticals for the lower bands, a yagi
for 6m and a 500 watt amplifier. Flo informs OPDX that they are
looking for your needs from Benin. Please advise them on what
bands, modes or any comments you have for them via the following
E-mail address: f5cwu@wanadoo.fr.
Also, visit their Web site for the DXpedition (under the item
TY-2001) at: http://perso.wanadoo.fr/f5cwu.
UA0, ASIATIC RUSSIA. Valery, UA0ZC, in
Kamchatka, in Zone 19, can usually be found on 20 meters CW
around 2200-2400Z and 80 meters CW around 0630-0730z. QSL only
direct to the following address, not to the one listed in the
2001 Flying Horse CallBook which is incorrect. The correct
address is: Valery A. Makarov, P.O. Box 6, Petropavlovsk,
Kamchatsky 683000 Russia.
VP5, TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS. Look for
Jerry/WB9Z, Don/K9NR, Billie/K9QT and Howard/AK9F to be active
this week, January 23-27th, signing homecall /VP5. Their activity
will include the CQWW 160M Contest as a Multi/Single entry
signing VP5F. QSL via home callsigns. Listen for instructions on
the QSL info for VP5F.
XV, VIETNAM. Torsten, XV9TH, was heard on
Sunday on 28466 kHz between 1200-1300z. QSL via SK7AX. Also,
heard during the past week was XV2J on 7012 kHz between
1100-1130z and on 21012 kHz between 0100-0230z.
YI, IRAQ. YI1BGD was heard over the past week
on 10 meters around 28415 kHz between 1300 and 1500z. The
operator's name was Rodger. The operator made a brief apprearance
on 12 meters after 1500z on 24942 kHz. Rodger states to QSL via
G0MMI.
YV, VENEZUELA (Change in plans!). Rick, W0IS,
will be going on a mini-DXpedition here next weekend, and
informed OPDX that he will not be able to go to Los Roques
(SA-035) as a side trip. Instead, he will be on the air from
Caracas Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, beginning late Friday
evening. Activity will be late night or early morning local time,
probably around 0400-1000z. Operations will probably be somewhere
near 7040 CW or 7075 SSB.
ZD7/ZD8, ST. HELENA AND ASCENSION ISLAND.
Glyn, GW0ANA, Chairman of the Barry Amateur Radio Society,
informs OPDX that on March the 19th, 4 members of Barry Amateur
Radio Society (B.A.R.S.), Rich/GW4BVJ (CW op), Sheri their
logistics manager, Doug/G0WMW (CW & SSB op), Glyn/GW0ANA
(DATA & SSB op), will be flying down to Ascension Island.
They intend to operate on all bands and various modes (i.e. 160-6
meters - Modes: CW, SSB, RTTY, PSK31, SSTV, MFSK, Heilshriber).
They will be on Ascension for 8 days then it's off to St. Helena
were they will again repeat the operation as on ZD8 using as many
modes as possible. They will be on St. Helena for 15 days before
returning to Ascension and then home. The callsigns are at this
moment being finalized, so Glyn will tell us once they have
confirmation. They also intend to be active on the Lower
Frequencies (LF) bands as there is a need for LF QSOs from both
of these islands. Doug, G0WMW, has built a "Dragon
Special", a 75 foot vertical, which should give them a great
signal at 1000 feet ASL on both islands and a amp on the bottom.
The other antennas are Force 12 beam, phased twin Butternut
verticals, and a GAP Triton together with a beam for 6 meters.
Richard, GW4BVJ, is at present designing a web page for the
DXpedition, and once completed it will be released to the DX
community. QSL manager for both islands is Glyn, GW0ANA. Glyn
states, "The object of this DXpedition is to commemorate the
passing of a 100 years of Morse Communication from these islands.
As once in the southern latitudes they were the communication hub
for our far flung 'British Empire' using nothing but 'Morse
Code'. So in keeping with us honouring the operators of old we
will be spending more time on CW and Data modes then normal for
the most DXpeditions." This DXpedition welcomes any
financial support from the DX community, and if you would care to
make a contribution please send it to Glyn, GW0ANA, in any call
book. All contributions acknowledged.
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
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VOICE or FAX answering machine at 440-237-8208 which shares the
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Tedd Mirgliotta KB8NW
InterNet: kb8nw@barf80.nshore.org
Basic Amateur Radio Frequency BBS (BARF-80) +1 (440) 237-8208
"Totally devoted to Amateur Radio" - 24 Hrs a day 8/N/1
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