The Ohio/Penn DX PacketCluster
DX Bulletin No. 547 BID: $OPDX.547 January 28, 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, N3SIG, W3UR & The Daily DX,
N4AA & QRZ DX, WA4TLI, K6RO, K8YSE, Kurt Brandstetter, CO8DM,
CO8ZZ, CT1EEB, DL1EK & DX News Letter, DL5EBE, EA7FTR, G4XTA,
HK6DOS, IZ8BRI & Diamond News, JH8KYU, JM1LRQ, LA6EIA,
LA8AJA, PA0DVM, VA3RJ & ICPO, VE7AHA/VA7CW and XQ5SM for the
following DX information.
DXCC COUNTRY/ENTITY REPORT: According to the
AR-Cluster Network for the week of Sunday, 20/January, through
Sunday, 27/January there were 240 countries active. Countries
available: 3A, 3B8, 3C, 3D2, 3V, 3W, 4J, 4L, 4S, 4W, 4X, 5A, 5B,
5H, 5N, 5R, 5V, 5W, 5X, 5Z, 6W, 6Y, 7P, 7Q, 7X, 8P, 8Q, 8R, 9A,
9G, 9H, 9J, 9K, 9L, 9M2, 9M6, 9N, 9U, 9V, 9Y, A2, A3, A4, A5, A6,
A7, A9, AP, BV, BY, C3, C6, CE, CE0A, 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, HA, HB, HB0, HC, HH, HI, HK,
HK0/a, HL, HM, HP, HR, HS, HZ, I, IS, J2, J3, J6, J7, JA, JD/o,
JT, JW, JX, JY, K, KG4, KH0, KH2, KH4, KH6, KH8, 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, S9, SM, SP, ST,
SU, SV, SV5, SV9, T30, T32, T7, T9, TA, TF, TG, TI, TK, TL, TN,
TR, TT, TU, UA, UA2, UA9, UK, UN, UR, V2, V3, V4, V5, V6, V7, VE,
VK, VK9N, VP2E, VP2M, VP5, VP6, VP8, VP8/h, VP8/o, VP8/s, 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, ZD8, 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).
3C5, EQUATORIAL GUINEA. Mirek, SP1NY, showed
up this past weekend as 3C5/SP1NY from Bioco Island (AF-010). The
length of his activity is currently unknown. However, he was
active mainly on CW, on 30/12/10 meters. QSL via his home
callsign.
5R, MADAGASCAR. Bruno, F5DKO, will be active
March 4-16th from some Madagascar islands. He expects to be
active during the first week of his trip from Madagascar's
Coastal Islands West Group (AF-057), and the second week from
Madagascar's Coastal Islands East Group (AF-090). QSL via IZ8CCW:
Antonio Cannataro, P.o.Box:360, 87100 Cosenza, Italy.
A LETTER FROM MONK APOLLO, SV2ASP/A. OPDX
InterNet Subscribers will receive an additional bulletin
containing a letter from SV2ASP/A explaining his view on the
"SY" prefix situation.
ANTARCTIC NEW ZEALAND DX TRIP. Chris Post,
N3SIG, informs OPDX that the first ever Antarctic New Zealand DX
Trip will take place next weekend on February 2nd. The McMurdo
Station Amateur Radio Club will sponsor this first ever event.
The primary operators will be Chris Post, N3SIG, and Mike Poole,
KE6ZYK. They will operate portable HF from the Ross Ice Shelf in
front of Scott Base. Operating primarily on 20/17/15 meters; with
the possiabliy of 40 and 80 meters as well. Start to look for
them on 20 meters at or about 14243 kHz starting at 0500z
Saturday the 2nd of February or 2:00 AM Eastern US Time. Times
may change to be earlier. Their equipment will be an Icom 706MkII
with IC2KL amp at about 500W. Antennas will be all wire antannas.
QSL cards go to AI3D with SASE please. Chris states that this
should be very popular with the big DXers as the Antarctic New
Zealand ham radio callsigns are very rare and Scott Base has no
hams or any type of a ham shack like they do at McMurdo. A
special QSL card will be printed when Chris returns. For more
info on the Scott Base Antarctica check out their Web page at: http://www.scott.aq.
CE9/LZ0, SOUTH SHETLAND ISLANDS...
Ricardo, CE9R has been active from Julio
Escudero Base on King George Island. Look for him to be
on a net around 1700z on 21275 kHz. QSL via CE3HDI:
P.O.Box 15, International Airport, Santiago, Chile.
LZ0A has been pleasing many on
80/40/30/20/15 meters. Some activity has been on CW and
SSB. Watch around 3793 kHz between 0130 and 0530z. He
also showed up on a net on 21275 kHz around 1815z. QSL
via LZ1KDP.
CO, CUBA (6 meters). Doug, CO8DM, informs
OPDX that he has been working many Europeans and stateside
stations on 6 meters, and thanks everybody for the QSO. He is
running 100 watts and a wire dipole. Activity seems to be around
50125 kHz after 2130z. His QSL Manager is KU9C.
EP, IRAN. There has been a lot of activity
from EP3PTT lately. That is because Stig, LA7JO, has been given
permission to operate and is the first foreigner to obtain an
official operating license since 1979. He is allowed to use the
club station of the PTT (using the callsign EP3PTT) and has been
active on 40/20/15/12/10 meters. QSL via LA7JO. ADDED NOTE: It
has been mentioned that you can QSL Stig direct to the address:
UNICEF Iran, Stig Lindblom, No. 30 East Farzan St., Naji St.,
Dastgerdi Ave., Tehran 19187, Islamic Republic of Iran. However,
please avoiding writing any callsign on the envelope and DO NOT
send IRCs.
FS, SAINT MARTIN. George/W4LW and
Fredrick/K4FMD will be active February 2-8th from the French side
of the island of St. Martin using the callsign FS/K4UP. Their
plans are to be active mainly on SSB on 10, 15, 20 and possibly
some 80 meter frequencies. They will try to be on 28495, 21295,
14195, 14260 and 3795 kHz. Most of their time on the air will be
after dinner or around breakfast time and possibly other air time
as much as possible. (They mention that their wives are with them
and they have to devote some time to vacation.) They are taking a
Yaesu 900, G5RV, and a Carolina Windom 20 and a laptop. QSL via
K4UP.
IOTA NEWS...
SA-070. This past weekend, some members
of Southern Cross DX Group, plus a couple of guest ops
were active from Santa Maria Island for the first time
using special Chilean call XR5SM. However, if you missed
them this past weekend they will repeat the operation
again in February (no dates provided). Their main
activity will be on HF bands, both CW and SSB. It takes a
two hour sailing trip through the Arauco Gulf to reach
the island. QSL route for this past weekend's operation
is via Fernando, XQ5SM: Bureau or direct is OK. There is
an informative Web page with details at: http://www.qsl.net/xr5sm.
J7, DOMINICA. Look for Lars, SM0CCM, to be
active this weekend as J73CCM between February 2nd through March
4. His activity will be mainly on CW (with some PSK31) with 100
watts and vertical. QSL via SM0CCM.
KH2, GUAM. Hide, JH8KYU, plans to be active
from here as K8YU/KH2 from February 8-11th. The main purpose of
his stay is to take part in the CQ/RJ WPX RTTY Contest. His entry
will be Single Operator/All Band and the frequencies used will be
on all HF bands. He states that he may also operate on CW and SSB
in spite of his short stay because Single Ops are limited to
operate within 30 hours only in this contest. QSL via JH8KYU,
either direct to his mailing address in Tokyo or through the JARL
bureau. Don't send any cards to the K8YU's callbook address or
bureaus of W8 or KH2.
KH0, MARIANA ISLANDS. Nobuyuki
"Nob", JM1LRQ, will be active as KH0/JM1LRQ from Saipan
Island (OC-086), February 14-18th. Activity will be on 160-6
meters CW/SSB. He will also participate in the ARRL International
DX CW Contest as Single Operator/All Band entry. Nob will
concentrate on SSB and the WARC bands outside of the contest. QSL
via the bureau or direct as follows: Nobuyuki Arai, 5-6-1-1002
Kitayamata, Tsuzuki, Yokohama, 224-0021, Japan.
LIGHTHOUSE ACTIVITY AND NEWS...
A special event operation will take
place from Sturgeon Point Lighthouse (USA-823) on August
17-19th, with the combined cooperation of Gary, K8IKW,
and the Alcona County Amateur Radio Club. Gary has
secured the special event callsign K8S for this event
weekend during the International Lighthouse/Lightship
Weekend. There will also be a joint event with the Alcona
County (Michigan) Historical Society for their local
heritage festival, and many people are expected to attend
these events. The local radio club, and Gary are
discussing the use of an old time antique wireless radio
from the lighthouse, vintage 1930's and 1940's. A high
volume of HF operations are expected during this event
weekend. Further details will follow later in the spring
and early summer of this year as details become more
final.
The Metro Amateur Radio Club (MAC) of
Chicago will activate Chicago Harbor Lighthouse, Amateur
Radio Lighthouse Society USA #171, on February 9-10th.
The special event station K9Y will be operated from
Columbia Yacht Club, according to Mike Dinelli, N9BOR. A
special QSL will be available. The usual ARLHS
frequencies will be used: SSB on 7270, 14270, 21370,
28370; and CW on 7030, 14030, 21030 and 28030 kHz. For
more information, please visit the MAC website at: http://www.qsl.net/mac.
Watch them via the WebCam while operating from the pilot
house of the Abby. Questions may be directed to: mac@qsl.net.
P5, NORTH KOREA. Ed, P5/4L4LN, is back on the
air testing out his new Butternut Vertical. Reports indicate that
Ed is being heard better, and he has begun operating on 15
meters. Look for him to show up on 21225 kHz (now his primary
frequency) after 2300z, working stations by call areas and other
parts of the world. Also, continue to watch 28580 kHz; he may
show up here.
PIRATE ALERT. Oscar, HK6DOS, QSL Manager for
Abel, CO6XN, informs OPDX that a PIRATE station using Abel's
callsign was active on 21020.9 kHz, January 16th. Any cards sent
to Oscar for activity on this date will be sent back.
PJ2, NETHERLAND ANTILLES. Larry/K6RO and
Ron/W6UL will be on Curacau, February 27th through March 5th, for
the ARRL SSB contest. Larry will be a Single Op/All Band/High
Power entry using the call PJ2K. Ron will be using the callsign
PJ2/W6UL before and after the contest. They will be using CW and
SSB before and after the contest concentrating on the WARC bands
and 160m. They will be operating from the CCC "Signal
Point" station. QSL via KU9C.
QSL INFO AND NEWS...
Jose, CT1EEB, reports that the backlog
of 4W/CU3FT cards is now clear, and he is replying to
both 4W/CU3FT and 4W6EB (also CU3/CT1EEB) QSLs on a daily
basis. Over the past couple of weeks, he has sent some
112 envelopes for 4W/CU3FT via airmail and over 800
4W6EB, CU3/CT1EEB and CT1EEB QSL cards via the REP QSL
bureau system [also a few 4W/CU3FT QSL cards].
Fran, EA7FTR, reports to OPDX that he is
now the QSL Manager for Jose/YV5LIX, Marco/YN1ZZE and
Jan/5X1BK in Uganda.
IRC OR USD? THAT IS THE QUESTION. The
IRC discussion still continues on some of the DX
reflectors about the use of IRCs and the "NEW
IRC". OPDX was informed this week by David, PA0DVM,
that in The Netherlands such a discussion no longer makes
sense. The Dutch Post Office just informed him that from
January 1, 2002 on, they stopped selling IRCs completely.
So, for the amateurs in The Netherlands, the use of green
stamps is the only possibility left, or they could try to
collect IRCs from other countries. David added that
airmail postage from Holland to outside Europe is 0.75
Euro, and that is well below one USD which is quite
different from the situation in Germany. Also, Paul,
G4XTA, reports/states the following to OPDX: "I've
seen all the hype about the NEW IRC's and read that the
USA and Australia already only issue the new type and
that my stocks of old ones will be worthless soon. All
the changes allegedly took place on January 1, 2002.
BUT.......this just ain't true! I've called the
international section of the ROYAL MAIL here in the UK.
They know nothing about it. All British Post Offices are
still fully stocked with 'OLD' type IRC's which they
continue to sell. I've also talked to many DXers in USA
and Australia, and they've never seen the new type of
IRC, and say that their post offices are also still
selling the 'OLD' ones." So, many DXers and QSL
Manager, would have to ask what is going on? Do we dump
the old IRC (cash in) or use them? Any advice would be
appreciated.
JW REPORT. Andreas, LA8AJA, reports that
JW8AJA worked about 3400 QSOs. JW5QFA worked about 1000
QSOs and JW4X (6M) worked 273 QSOs with 18 DXCC entities.
QSLs for JW8AJA are via LA8AJA, JW5QFA and JW4X are via
LA6EIA. QSL cards are not printed yet, please be patient.
For more info, pictures, story and logsearch (JW4X), go
to the Web page at: http://www.qsl.net/la8aja. Andreas
also adds that postage in Norway has increased. Postage
for sending letters outside Europe is now 10NKR. One USD
is no longer enough to cover the postage. For people
outside Europe sending cards direct, please include 2
USDs or 1 IRC.
SWL Kurt Brandstetter (OE 1002419)
reports for those who are interested he has updated his
"Marconi QSL's 2001" Web page with QSLs from
the International Marconi Day 2001 and Marconi Memorial
Stations that was active on the 12th of December 2001
(Celebrating the first radio transmission across the
Atlantic on December 12, 1901). The Web page is at: http://www.swl.net/oe1002419.
S9, SAO TOME (Attention Top Banders). Ole,
LA6EIA, will be joining the Scandinavian group which will be
active from Sao Tome from February 4-10th. Their callsign will be
S9LA. He states they will transmit CW on 1827.5 kHz (listening
up) and SSB on 1845 kHz (listening on 1850 kHz). The antenna on
the topband will be a TITANEX 160E (if they can get it up...).
For more details, look at the S9LA Web page at: http://www.qsl.net/s9la.
T4, CUBA. The Las Tunas Contest Crew, T48K,
will be active during the next ARRL International DX CW Contest
as a Multi-Single category. The operators will be: Josy/CO8JY,
Doug/CO8DM, Geo/CO2JZ and Raul/CO8ZZ. QSL via DK1WI.
TG, GUATEMALA. Tom/W9AEB and Bob/WF9V are
expected to be active this week as TG7/W9AEB from Central
Guatemala between January 31st and February 9th. Activity will be
on 20-10 meters CW/SSB. QSL via WF9V.
V3, BELIZE. Andy, VE7AHA/VA7CW, informs OPDX
that he will active as V31HA from February 2-16th, near the town
of Hopkins on the mainland (no IOTA), and also near V31JP whom he
hopes to visit. He states, "We will be there for radio,
snork, fishing and beer. Not always in that order." QSL via
VE7AHA.
VP8, SOUTH GEORGIA ISLAND. The multi-national
team of twelve experienced operators (EI6FR, EI5IQ, HB9ASZ,
PA3FQA, K0IR, W3WL, K4UEE, VE3EJ, N5KO, K5TR, W7EW and 9V1YC),
active as VP8THU, went QRT from Southern Thule (South Sandwich
Islands) early morning January 22nd. As this was being written,
the team was expected to be active from South Georgia Island,
Sunday, January 26th. However, it has been rumoured that a bad
storm is delaying their landing, and they remain on the vessel
"Braveheart". The callsign and the QSL route will be
announced once the operation begins. QSL VP8THU via VE3XN: Garry
Hammond, 5 McLaren Avenue, Listowel, Ontario N4W 3K1 CANADA.
YA, AFGHANISTAN. There are no new updates on
Peter and boys other than what we reported last week. However, a
new station, YA0USA, was reported on the air this past week
operating on 17 meters CW/SSB. Watch 18068 and 18120 kHz after
1330z. Also, watch 14210 kHz around 1700. The operator is Karl,
K4YT, who is working at the U.S. Embassy in Kabul. He states to
QSL via K4YT. A report from "The Daily DX" over the
past weekend states Karl has been there "for about a week
and has just obtained a club license from the Minister of
Communications for the American Embassy in Kabul."
Reportedly, the license, YA0USA, can be operated by Embassy U.S.
government officials; there are several of them stationed there
now. Karl will be here until the end of the month and will be
active in his spare time. "The Daily DX" states Karl is
using a TS-50 and a 80 meter dipole with a tuner.
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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