The Ohio/Penn DX PacketCluster
DX Bulletin No. 638 BID: $OPDX.638 December 8, 2003 Editor Tedd Mirgliotta, KB8NW
Provided by BARF80.ORG (Cleveland, Ohio)
Thanks to the Northern Ohio Amateur Radio Society, Northern
Ohio DX Association, Ohio/Penn PacketCluster Network, AB5K &
the AR TelNet Clusters Network, ARRL Letter, K1XN & GoList,
W2CE, NG3K, W3UR & The Daily DX, N4AA & QRZ DX, N5FG,
N5XZ, W5XC, K8YSE, KU9C, 9V1DX, DL/VE3ZIK &
www.contesting.info, DL1EK/DL7VOA & DX Newsletter, F5CQ,
F5CWU & La Gazette du DX, F5NQL & UFT, G3VMW,
I1JQJ/IK1ADH & 425 DX News, JF1LZQ/ JQ2GYU, JI6KVR &
JA-IOTA Islands News, JL1UXH, LU3XQ, LU6XTA, M3NJW, OM3JW,
OZ4ACK, PP5MQ, VA3RJ & ICPO and VE3EXY for the following DX
information.
DXCC COUNTRY/ENTITY REPORT: According to the
AR-Cluster Network for the week of Sunday, 30th/November, through
Sunday, 7th/December there were 245 countries active. Countries
available: 3A, 3B8, 3B9, 3D2, 3DA, 3V, 3W, 3X, 4J, 4L, 4S, 4U1I,
4U1U, 4W, 4X, 5A, 5B, 5H, 5N, 5R, 5T, 5U, 5V, 5W, 5X, 5Z, 6W, 6Y,
7Q, 7X, 8P, 8Q, 8R, 9A, 9G, 9H, 9J, 9K, 9L, 9M2, 9M6, 9N, 9Q, 9U,
9V, 9Y, A3, A4, A5, A6, A7, A9, AP, BV, BY, C2, C3, C9, CE, CE0A,
CE9, CM, CN, CP, CT, CT3, CU, CX, D2, D4, D6, 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, FR/j, FY, G, GD, GI, GJ, GM, GU, GW, H4,
HA, HB, HC, HC8, HH, HI, HK, HK0/a, HL, HP, HR, HS, HV, HZ, I,
IS, J2, J3, J6, J7, J8, JA, JD/m, JD/o, JT, JW, JY, K, KG4, KH0,
KH2, KH6, KH8, KH9, 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,
PY0S, PZ, S2, S5, S7, S9, SM, SP, SU, SV, SV5, SV9, T2, T31, T32,
T33, T7, T9, TA, TF, TG, TI, TK, TL, TR, TT, TU, TY, TZ, UA, UA2,
UA9, UK, UN, UR, V2, V3, V4, V5, V7, VE, VK, VK9C, VK9N, VP5,
VP8, VP8/h, VP9, VQ9, VR, VU, XE, XT, XU, XW, YA, YB, YI, YK, YL,
YN, YO, YS, YU, YV, Z2, Z3, ZA, ZB, ZC4, ZD7, ZD8, ZF, ZK1/s,
ZK2, ZL, ZP, ZS.
* PLEASE NOTE: The report "could" contain
"Pirate/SLIM" operations. As always, you never know -
"Work First Worry Later" (WFWL).
IMPORTANT NOTICE (ATTENTION WEB MASTERS AND
INFORMATION CONTRIBUTORS). Over the past few weeks there
have been some changes to the bulletin on the header and on the
final credits. The BARF-80 BBS public phone line is no longer
available, and the OPDX FAX number has been changed. I have
noticed that some Web pages have not yet changed the information.
So, Web masters "PLEASE" change your Web pages to the
new header and the final credits. Contributors, please notice
that OPDX has done away with the VOICE answering machine and now
has a NEW fax number to send information. OPDX's new F A X number
is: 1-419-828-7791 ( F A X only! ) Thank you for taking note of
these changes. 73 de Tedd KB8NW
3D2, FIJI (Also, T30). Reports indicate that
Hrane, YT1AD, is on the move again and heading to Fiji to team-up
with Boban, YZ1AU, to operate in the ARRL 10 Meter Contest this
weekend. Reportedly, Boban is already there. Their activity
outside of the contest will be on 80-6 meters. The duo has one
license already available to them (3D2AD), while the other one
will be applied for upon arrival (possibly 3D2YU). Following
their ARRL Contest operation, they plan to go to West Kiribati
(T30). Their callsigns are unknown at this time. LAST MINUTE
UPDATE/CHANGE: Boban, YZ1AU, is now operating as 3D2AD. The
station on Fiji is fully operational, and will be there for ARRL
10 Meter Contest next weekend. The callsign, 3D2YU, is expected
shortly. Meanwhile, Hrane (alone) is moving to West Kiribati
(T30) on Tuesday and will be operating from there during the
contest.
4L6, GEORGIA. Shota, 4L6AM, will be active in
the ARRL 10-Meter Contest (December 13-14th) as a Single-Op SSB
entry. QSL via the address on QRZ.com.
4W, TIMOR LESTE. Michal, OM2AQ, is now active
as 4W2AQ from Timor Leste (East Timor) until December 18th.
Steve, OM3JW, suggests/states to look for him everyday at 0900z
on 28480 kHz. However, we spotted Michal on 15 meters on 21299
kHz between 1130-1330z. QSL via OM2AQ.
9V0 & VP8, ANTARCTICA. Alan, 9V1DX (aka
VK0LD and ex-VK0MM Macquarie Island 2000), informs OPDX that he
will be active from a temporary base camp in the remote Ellsworth
Mountains in the Antarctic interior (approx. 2000 km due South of
Peter First Island). He is there supporting a team of scientists
and mountainteers climbing Mt. Vinson (highest mountain in the
Antartic) from approx. December 15th to around January 10th
(exact dates depend on the weather for the long, non-commercial
flight in & out). His old callsign VP8PJ has been re-issued
for life by the Falkland Islands Govt., and he will use it
exclusively on PSK-31. The Singapore licencing authority has also
issued him the special callsign 9V0A which he will use for CW and
SSB. Alan will be as active as his work schedule permits. QSL
route will be announced later. For more details, please visit the
following two Web pages at: http://www.sarts.org.sg and http://www.geocities.com/vk0ld/2003.html.
D2, ANGOLA. Ed Giorgadze, 4L4FN (aka
P5/4L4FN), is now active as D2PFN. Activity will be on SSB and
RTTY. He was spotted this past weekend on 15 meters RTTY (on
around 21080 kHz between 1430-2030z) and SSB (on 21235 kHz after
1000z). QSL Manager is Bruce Paige, KK5DO. More information and
an on-line log will be available on Paige's Web site at: http://www.amsatnet.com.
(click on D2 Angola)
CO8, CUBA. Raul, CO8ZZ, who was active in
this past weekend's ARRL 160m Contest, states he will be active
in this weekend's ARRL 10m Contest (December 13-14th) as a
Single-Op/CW only/Low Power entry. QSL for both contests are via
DK1WI.
E3, ERITREA (2004 DXpedition Cancelled!).
Steve Wilson, G3VMW, has sadly informed the Northern Ohio DX
Association (NODXA) and OPDX that he will be writing to all their
sponsors very soon to advise them of the current situation in
Eritrea. He states: "We have been told very recently by the
Eritrean PTT that 'ALL amateur radio operation in Eritrea is
temporarily suspended and that we should not be optimistic about
a radio licence in February.' As you can imagine, we were
devastated by this news and it has taken a couple of weeks to
find out why the ban on amateur radio has happened. One of our
crew has been in Eritrea for three weeks trying to sort out a
licence and the place is crawling with UN staff. There is an
ongoing border dispute between Eritrea and Ethiopia about a
contested village, which may easily erupt into a full-blown war
once again. The situation is very serious and the UN is trying to
avert another war. All personal communications, including the GSM
Cellfone system have been turned off. No amateur radio will be
allowed in the foreseeable future. Regrettably, I have no choice
but to cancel our planned operation for February 2004 and return
all our sponsor's money. I would not be right to hang on to money
that has been sent in good faith indefinitely in the hope that
the situation might change. We may get the OK to proceed later in
2004, but there is no guarantee and we are faced with looking at
an alternative location. I will return your check (NODXA's) and
advise all our other sponsors in the next few days. You are the
first group I have informed and it hurts!"
EY8, TAJIKISTAN. Nodir, EY8MM, will be active
in the CQ 160 Meter CW Contest (January 24-25th) as a Single-Op
entry. QSL via K1BV.
FO/A, AUSTRAL ISLANDS. By the time you read
this, Vladimir, UA4WHX, will be finishing up his FO/AC4LN/m
operation to Marquesas Islands (QRT December 9th) and will move
on to Rurutu Island in the Austral Islands (IOTA OC-050) between
December 10-12th. He will probably sign FO/AC4LN/a. He seems to
favor 40 and 30 meters CW (There was some SSB reported on 40m).
QSL to his home callsign.
HI9, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC. William, N7OU, will
be active as N7OU/HI9 in the ARRL DX CW Contest (February
21-22nd) as Single-Op/All Band/Low Power entry. QSL via N7OU.
IOTA NEWS...
AS-043. Osamu, JR1EEU, will be active
from Aoga Shima Island (JIIA-AS-043-001) until March
2004. He plans to be active on the HF bands. QSL via
direct or via bureau.
EU-109. Nigel, M3NJW, informs OPDX that
the North Wakefield Radio Club will be operating under
the callsign GX4NOK/P from the Island of Inner Farne
(EU-109), off the northeast coast of England, April
17-18th, 2004. This is a rare opportunity, as the island
is a National Trust bird sanctuary. Operation will be on
multiple bands/modes, and information will be posted on
the days of operation at: http://www.g4nok.org.
OC-137 & OC-171. Steve, G0UIH, is
expected to be active again as VK2IAY/4 possibly from
Dunk Island (OC-171) starting around December 9th for 5
days and Lamb Island (OC-137), December 16-18th. QSL via
G0UIH either direct or through the Bureau.
SA-027. To celebate the 500th
anniversary of the discovery of the Island of Sao
Francisco do Sul, look for the special callsign ZW5SF to
be activated between December 15th and January 15th.
Activity will be on all HF bands CW/SSB. QSL via PP5CIT.
KH2, GUAM. Setsu, JL1UXH/KK2H, and his XYL
Maki, 7L4FSR, will be again on the air from Guam from December
16-23rd as KK2H/KH2. Setsu will focus on working Europe and USA
East Coast stations. He will be active on all HF bands on CW and
SSB. Online logs will be available during the operation and will
be updated on a daily basis at: http://kk2h.4th.jp. QSL via JL1UXH either via
the JA Bureau or direct to his JA callsign. Please do not send
anything to the U.S. address of KK2H. All the direct QSLs for the
last November operation of KK2H/KH2 have been answered. The
bureau cards will be sent in the early part of 2004 in order to
wait for some more direct requests. Also, the log has been
uploaded to the LoTW (Logbook of The World) and already 38 QSOs
have been matched out of 2,500 contacts.
PY0, FERNANDO DE NORONHA. Tony, PY0FT, will
be active from December 15-26th. No bands or modes of activity
were provided (Last year he was active mainly on the digital
modes). QSL via JA1ELY.
QSL INFO AND NEWS...
The "ARRL Letter" reports this
week that the ARRL's "Logbook of the World"
(LoTW) secure contact-verification database continues to
grow. So far, reports ARRL Membership Services Manager
Wayne Mills, N7NG, nearly 5000 users have uploaded logs
containing some 25.4 million Amateur Radio contacts. This
has resulted in more than 1 million QSL records. Signing
up as a new LoTW user is simple. Visit the Logbook of The
World and read the "Getting Started" document,
Mills said. He advises new users to print it out to have
the instructions handy. The Web site is: http://www.arrl.org/lotw.
BQ9P QSL STATUS. Steve, KU9C, informed
the DX community this past week that he should be seeing
cards from the printer late this week for BQ9P 2003. He
has gotten the labels printed for cards received as of
December 4th. Steve guesses he will have most in the mail
before the end of the year or in the first week or two of
2004. PLEASE NOTE: Those who chose to use the BQ9P
envelope to include other cards that Steve is QSL Manager
for will likely be delayed.
Radio Club Ushuaia (LU8XW) in Ushuaia,
on the Island of Tierra del Fuego in Argentina, has
designated Patrick Stoddard, WD9EWK, as their new QSL
Manager. The entries on the QRZ.com and Buckmaster for
LU8XW now show WD9EWK as the QSL Manager, and the
information for WD9EWK is correct at those Web sites as
well as in the Radio Amateur Callbook since 1997. WD9EWK
is also the QSL Manager for the special callsign, AY8XW,
that was used in 2002. More QSL information by WD9EWK is
also available at: http://qsl.wd9ewk.net/.
NO LONGER A PIRATE. Mogens, OZ4ACK,
informs OPDX that the callsign OZ9TR (former pirate
according to some official databases) is now a legal
station and is allowed to work on UHF/VHF and 6m.
QSL MANAGER CHANGE. QSL HB0/HB9LEY via
JA1LZR. The QSL Manager used to be JH1BSE, but he had
been SK. Please do not send any QSL requests to
HB0/HB9LEY.
CLOSING THE LOGBOOK. Joe, JA1LZR, has
finished replying to all QSL requests for the VP2V/N2AIR
operation in 1984, and states he will not answer any more
requests.
Ulli, DL5MBY, announces that the JY8YB
online log has been updated to include QSOs up to
December 2, 2003 (1210z - Also CQWWDX-CW Contest). You
also can check on the status of your JY8YB, JY9QJ and
JY8B QSOs on the online log at: http://www.qsl.net/dl5mby.
There is also information available about QSLing.
TO4, EUROPA. The Europa T04E team is still
active despite the rumor stating they are QRT. It is only a
rumor, and they are expected to be active until December 16th.
The team was a little tired during the first part of the week
because of their participation in the CQWW DX CW Contest. Many
have complained about the teams operating schedule. They want
everyone to know that their activity would not be possible
without the help of the French Army, and they must respect their
order while on the island. Also, the generators on the island are
under the control of the Military. The team does have a new
operating schedule: 0600-0700z and 1515-1945z (They are trying to
increase the length or split these periods.) The 5 operators are
trying to have 4 stations active as much as possible during their
operating times. A report (dated December 5th) from Rafik, F5CQ,
states: "Since their arrival on the island, the team has
completed 15300 QSOs with TO4E callsign: 5800 on SSB, 7700 on CW,
1800 on RTTY, 6 on 50 MHz (with ZS), plus 4000 contacts during
the CW CQ WW Contest, as TO4WW." INTERESTING NOTE: Rafik,
F5CQ, also reports that protected sea turtles have been a
nuisance for the TO4E operation. Lowband antennas are installed
on the beach, and each night the turtles knock them over and
destroy the radials on their way from the ocean to the top of the
beach to rest during the night. This means the team must then
repair and reinstall the antenna systems on a daily basis. The
Europa Web site is: http://europa2003.free.fr.
TT8, CHAD. Allen, N5XZ, informs OPDX that it
has take about a month after his arrival to receive a license in
hand. However, he has received the callsign TT8XZ, thanks to the
efforts of Dennis Carter, KE3TD, and Christian Berdjugin, TT8CB.
He now has a HF radio in his room, but as of yet, no antenna. He
is still working on that. They are going to try to set up a
mobile antenna on a mast with some radials. Allen will be on HF
SSB only because the Motorola radio lent to him by the Security
Manager, Christian, TT8CB, only has SSB. It will do CW with an
accessory that they do not have. Allen told OPDX that if he comes
back next year, he will be there longer and probably bring his
IC-706, a keyer and maybe some sort of antenna. Keep your fingers
crossed! He also mentioned that he is going to try real hard to
spend at least a few hours in the 10 meter contest. Allen will be
in Chad until December 19th. QSL via N5XZ.
VK DROPS CW AND CELEBRATES WITH QSO PARTY. On
New Year's Day, Australian radio amateurs will gain access to the
High Frequency (HF) bands using licenses that don't require the
passing of Morse code telegraphy tests. The Wireless Institute of
Australia (WIA) invites the world's amateur radio fraternity to
join an on-air celebration of this special occasion. To celebrate
the event, there will be a "WIA Welcome to HF QSO
Party" beginning at 0001 Australian Eastern Daylight Time
and conclude at 2400 UTC on New Year's Day - a total of 35 hours.
The VK radio amateurs appearing on HF bands for the first time
can be identified by three-letter VK callsign suffixes that begin
with the letters H, T, U, X, Y and Z. Also, WIA amateur stations
will be on air to join the HF QSO Party, and these stations will
have a two-letter callsign suffixes "WI" or three
letter suffixes starting with "WI." Listen for the call
"CQ WIA Welcome to HF QSO Party".
VK9C, COCOS KEELING ISLAND. Look for Ken,
JA1CMD (N4XJ), to be active as VK9CA from December 28th to
January 2nd. Activity will be on 80-10 meters CW/SSB using only a
100 watts. QSL via JA1CMD or K4ST.
VK9L, LORD HOWE ISLAND. Look for Mark,
VK2GND, to be active as VK9LD from December 25-31st. Suggested
frequencies are (on or around): 14273 and 14195 kHz. QSL via
VK2GND.
VK0, HEARD ISLAND. Reports indicate that Jim,
VK9NS, is reporting that a "scientific multi-interest team
of fifteen expeditioners" is preparing to leave for Heard
Island in the coming days. Jim does not know if there is an
amateur radio operator with this team. He also mentioned that
there are plans to visit Heard Island on a regular basis every
three year to study the island. Jim also mentioned that it has
been 21 years since the HIDXA group has been to Heard Island (ed.
WOW, has it been that long. Boy am I getting old fast!).
XU7, CAMBODIA. Peter, NO2R, informs the DX
community that he will be active from Hiroo's (XU7ACY) shack in
Sihanoukville, Cambodia, the first week of Februay 2004. He
states he will be concentrating his activity on 160 meters.
Meanwhile, Dick, N6FF, is now active as XU7ACB from here.
However, Dick has lost his Kenwood transceiver which had a full
set of CW filters and is now using an IC-706 which has NO CW
FILTERS. He had to makeup an interface cable for the IC-706, and
must key the amplifier separately with a foot switch. He should
be active on the low bands. Dick will try to alternate between 80
and 160 meters every other day. On the higher bands you will find
him on CW or RTTY, as time permits.
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
long as KB8NW/OPDX/BARF80 receive credit. To contribute DX info,
please send via InterNet Mail to: kb8nw@barf80.nshore.org
- OR - kb8nw@arrl.net.
Information can now be faxed to the following "NEW"
phone line at: 1-419-828-7791 (F A X only!)
