Ohio/Penn DX Bulletin No. 526
August 27, 2001

The Ohio/Penn DX PacketCluster
DX Bulletin No. 526
BID: $OPDX.526
August 27, 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 Network, KF2TI, N3SL, W3UR & The Daily DX, N4AA & QRZ DX, W4WX, WA4FFW, KH6BZF, W6DXO, AL7KC, K7ZZ, NH7A, K8YSE, DH5JG, DL1EK & DX News Letter, DL2VFR, F5NQL,, GW0ANA, IV3TAN, JH8KYU, RW3RN, UA6MF, VA3RJ, VE1JS, VK6CQ and YS1RR for the following DX information.

* EDITOR'S SPECIAL NOTE (by KB8NW): I know I said that "There will 'NOT' be an OPDX bulletin for August 27th", but due to some significant and important announcements I decided to send one out anyway before going on vacation (Call me "dedicated to my readers" or "crazy" as my wife would say!)

DXCC COUNTRY/ENTITY REPORT: According to the AR-Cluster Network for the week of Thursday, 16/August, through Thursday, 23/August there were 228 countries active. Countries available: 3A, 3B8, 3D2, 3DA, 3V, 3W, 4J, 4L, 4S, 4W, 4X, 5A, 5B, 5H, 5N, 5R, 5U, 5V, 5X, 5Z, 6W, 6Y, 7Q, 7X, 8P, 8R, 9A, 9G, 9H, 9J, 9K, 9M2, 9M6, 9N, 9V, 9Y, A4, A5, A6, A7, A9, AP, BV, BY, C3, C6, C9, CE, CE0A, CE0Z, CE9, CM, CN, CP, CT, CT3, CU, CX, D2, D4, D6, DL, DU, E4, EA, EA6, EA8, EA9, EI, EK, EL, EP, ER, ES, ET, EU, EX, EY, EZ, F, FG, FJ, FK, FM, FO, FR, FW, FY, G, GD, GI, GJ, GM, GU, GW, H4, H40, HA, HB, HB0, HC, HI, HK, HK0/a, HL, HP, HR, HS, HV, HZ, I, IS, J2, J3, J5, J6, J7, J8, JA, JT, JW, JX, JY, K, KG4, KH0, KH2, KH6, KH8, KL, KP2, KP4, LA, LU, LX, LY, LZ, OA, OD, OE, OH, OH0, OJ0, OK, OM, ON, OX, OY, OZ, P2, P4, PA, PJ2, PJ7, PY, PY0F, PZ, R1FJ, S2, S5, SM, SP, SU, SV, SV5, SV9, T2, T32, T7, T8, T9, TA, TF, TG, TI, TJ, TK, TL, TR, TT, TU, TY, TZ, UA, UA2, UA9, UK, UN, UR, V3, V4, V5, V6, V7, V8, VE, VK, VK9N, VP2E, VP5, VP8, VP9, VQ9, VR, VU, XE, XT, XU, XX9, YB, YK, YL, YN, YO, YU, YV, Z2, Z3, ZA, ZB, ZC4, ZD7, ZD8, 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).

3D2, CONWAY REEF. Raymundo, YS1RR, reports that he received a phone call from Hrane, YT1AD, and was told he couldn't get landing authorization for KH1 this time (see KH1 below), so he will go again to Conway Reef in October. Team members will be YT1AD, YU7AV, YZ7AA, YU1AU, YU1DX, Z32ZM, YT6A (possibly), RZ3AA and K1LZ. One member of their team is also a journalist. The team will leave from Fiji on September 30th, on the ship "MV Princess 2" and arrive on Conway Reef on October 1st. They should be active on the same day and then for the next 10 days (October 10th). The callsigns will be announced the first day of the operation (one call for CW and one call for SSB/RTTY). Their license is valid until December 31, 2002, and they estimate the cost of the operation is approx. 45000 USD. All donations are welcomed via YS1RR. Two stations will be active on 160-6 meters, including the WARC bands, around the DX windows. Pilots stations for this DXpedition will be YU1AA and VEJEXY. QSL CW QSOs via YT1AD: Dr. Hrane Milosevic, 36206 Vitanovac, YUGOSLAVIA.QSL SSB/RTTY QSOs via Z32AU: Dragan Kostevski, P.O. Box 35, 6000 OHRID, MACEDONIA, Europe. A Web site will be available after September 10th, for "Conway Reef 2" operation at: http://www.kragujevac.co.yu/3d2/

4W, EAST TIMOR. Jose, CT1EEB (aka VK8CS, 4W6EB, CU3/CT1EEB), informed the DX community that Amateur Radio won't be forgotten in East Timor now that the only active DXers in the Territory have left or are about to leave. Carlos Poinho, CU3FT, active DXer from the Azores Archipelago and a Telecom Tech. for the Portuguese Air-Force, is in Tour-of-Duty for UNTAET in Dili, Capital of East-Timor, and will try to be as active as possible with the callsign 4W/CU3FT. The license has just been received from the United Nations in New York, and the creditation procedures is in process by DXCC. Special attention will be given to the WARC bands and 6 meters, especially the upcoming F2 openings in October/November. Also, he will work with ETARA (East-Timor Amateur Radio Association) and the local authorities to set up a future licensing authority after East Timor receives its full independence. Jose will also help in introducing Amateur radio to the East-Timor nationals. QSL via Manager CT1EEB: Jose Emanuel Ribeiro de Sa, P. O. Box 79, P-3860 Estarreja, Portugal.

9E, ETHIOPIA. Silvio, IV3TRK, will be active as 9E1S Friday, August 24th through September 4th. Activity will be mainly CW. He will also be active on the low bands. The only problem is that his antenna for the Top Band is a simple T antenna because he doesn't have enough space to install a better antenna for reception. The RX conditions on the low bands in Ethiopia are very poor during this season (rainy season). E-mail sked can be made via: et3vsc@telecom.net.et QSL via IV3TRK.

C6, BAHAMAS. Several MDXA members are planning to operate in the CQWW SSB Contest (October 27 - 28th) from C6A. They will be active the week before the contest (October 20th) with individual callsigns operating SSB, CW and perhaps some RTTY. They have rented the villa offered by Ken Helton, KC4SZE / C6AHN on Treasure Cay, Abaco Island (NA-080). This is the same QTH used by the C6AJX group for the 1999 CQWW CW Contest. Confirmed operators as of now are: Ernie - W5OXA/C6AKO, Randy - W5UE/C6ARB, Alan - N5PA, Stan - K5NY and Bernie - KK5EW. Details are still being worked out, so watch their web site for up to the minute information at: http://mdxa.org/c6a-2001.html

CN, MOROCCO. Al, NH7A, will be active in the CQWW SSB Contest as a Single Op/All Band entry as CN2AC. QSL via F6BEE. Also, F6BEE will be active in CQWW CW Contest as a Single Op/All Band entry as CN2JS. QSL via F6BEE.

IOTA NEWS..............

• AF-004. Frank, DH5JG, will be on holiday and active from Lanzarote Island from August 29th until September 10th, signing EA8/DH5JG. He will work mostly on CW on 40-10 meters, with a focus on the WARC bands. However, he will also participate in the WAEDXC SSB Contest. He will use an IC-706, 100w, with a dipole. QSL via home callsign, bureau or direct CBA (on www.qrz.com).
• EU-048. Didier, F5BJW, will be active from Ile de Groix, September 15-24th. Activity will be on 80-10 meters on SSB (100 watts) with dipole and GP antennas. Callsign will be TM2A. QSL via F5BJW. Look for info and photos after the expedition on the Web page: http://castres.dx.gang.free.fr/
• OC-142. Look for VK4HF to be active from Fraser Island, August 27-31st. Activity will be on 80-10 meters SSB. QSL via VK4HF.

KG4, GUANTANAMO BAY. Bill, W4WX, member of the Florida DXPedition Group (FDXPG), will be operating from Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, September 7-14th as KG4DX (ex-KG4GC). He will be active on RTTY and some SSB along with activity on the WARC bands and 6 meters. QSL direct or via bureau to his home call.

KH1, BAKER AND HOWLAND ISLANDS. Hrane, YT1AD, states that they have "received provisional permit for disembarkation of our expedition" from the United States Fish and Wild Services, " and this is a main step for our activity."

KH3, JOHNSTON ATOLL. Just a reminder that Dan, KH6UW, will lead a group of four operators including AL7KC, W7TSQ and K7ZZ on a trip to Johnston Island (OC-023) from September 11-18th. The group will be active on 160- 6 meters including the WARC bands using CW and SSB, using the callsign K3J. Two 24-hour stations will be used, with a third activated as needed. European contacts will be emphasized when band openings permit. In response to many requests, a six-meter station (with beacon) has been added to the group's capabilities. A web site, which will contain log checking, may be found at: http://www.qsl.net/k3j/ Many people have contributed to the success of the trip, but special thanks goes to Force 12 for antenna support. QSL via AH6HN.

QSL INFO AND NEWS................

• 3B6RF QSL STATUS. Steve, N3SL, informs OPDX that they ran out of 3B6RF cards the weekend of August 11-12th. Rene and Christina (2 members of the 3B6RF team) drove to Germany and picked up more QSL cards (where Funk Amateur provided the printing). Steve received an E-mail Friday, August 17th, stating that 500 more QSL cards were mailed directly to him this past Wednesday, August 15th. The last batch of QSL cards took 12 days to arrive from Germany. Right now Steve has just over 200 cards waiting to be answered. He is presuming a significant number of people will wait until they know cards are coming out, then send for theirs, as these 200+ cards have arrived in the past 10 days or so. The day the new batch of blank QSLs arrive, they should be able to knock out the current pile in one evening. This includes those who QSLed via WF5E.
• 3Y0C QSL STATUS. Mac, WA4FFW, reports that 5000 3Y0C DX station QSL cards were mailed out August 17th. This did not include any stateside cards or bureau cards. They processed the DX cards first so as to give them some extra travel time in hope that they could be used for this year's submission. "It has been our goal to get the cards out in time to allow everyone to get them turned in before the September deadline." Stateside cards will be processed and mailed within the next two weeks. There are a lot of "NOT IN LOG", but they will check every one of these against the paper log before rejecting any request. The rework "NIL" verifications and bureau cards will be processed immediately following the stateside mailing. Joe/N4OL and Gene/WJ4T are assisting Mac with the QSL duty and things are going well and quick. They see no reason all stateside cards will not be mailed in two weeks. Please do not send E-mail inquiring or asking for special favors. They are processing as fast as they are capable of doing. They received the cards from the printer the first week of August and they have mailed over 5000 out to date. They can't respond to requests and process at the same time. Thank you for your help in this area. This first mailing does not include bureau cards, they will be processed after stateside cards. For those that did not send an SAE or envelope, these will get answered but after all the rest of the cards are mailed. Mac could not see delaying everyone's cards just to stop and fill in addresses. They will get answered along with the bureau cards. In regard to turning in the cards for this year's submission, they have not received any word from The ARRL as to the operation's approval. All documentation has been submitted.
• CORRECTION. John, VE1JS, active from Brier Island (NA-127) should be QSLed via VE1JS, direct or via Bureau (not VE2JS as reported). His address is good in any callbook since 1999. All cards will be answered in the method that they are received!
• VK0LD E-QSL (Good News!). Alan, VK6CQ (aka VK0LD), informs OPDX (in a long press release) that after having received several requests over the past few months for "valid" or "real" VK0LD QSL cards as well as suggestions as to how the existing VK0LD eQSL cards could be authenticated sufficiently for DXCC purposes, he has found an acceptable way to have the VK0LD eQSL valid for DXCC. It is IMPORTANT to read the following instructions from Alan to have your eQSL count for DXCC:
  1. Anyone who had a valid QSO with VK0LD and downloaded a VK0LD eQSL card from the eQSL website who wishes to submit such a card to DXCC can forward the eQSL card to Alan for personal authentication.
  2. Alan will check the card against the original log and sign the reverse of the card, stamp it with a special VK0LD rubber stamp and return the card to sender. He would then suggest that the card be laminated by the sender.
  The ARRL has advised Alan that this will be sufficient to make the VK0LD eQSL card valid for Macquarie Island according to the ARRL rules for DXCC accreditation. Cards should be sent to the following address and it is IMPORTANT that the envelope is clearly marked PRIVATE & CONFIDENTIAL: Alan Cheshire, c/o Station Engineer, West Coast Radio, PO Box 688, Mandurah, Western Australia 6210, AUSTRALIA. Please include a correct sized SAE and funds to cover return postage (ONE Greenback is sufficient to cover the A$1.50 for international mail from Australia). Alan requests to Please:
  1. DO NOT Send Australian Stamps (Australia Post now uses special international only stamps - other Australian stamps are no longer valid for international post out of Australia)
  2. DO NOT Send IRC's. Half of the ones Alan has received in the past are not accepted for exchange by the Australia Post, either due to being incorrectly stamped at originating office or being more than one year old). All in all, IRCs are a general pain to redeem. He will therefore not reply to cards sent with IRCs.
  3. He is not a member of the Wireless Institute of Australia and does not use the QSL Bureau.
  4. DO NOT put VK0LD or any other callsign on the envelope.
  5. There is no need to make a donation to Camp Qualityor the Children's Cander Hospital in Sao Paolo as these were a VK0MM/AX0LD thing.
  Lastly, Alan's "complete" press release will be sent out to all OPDX InterNet Subscribers as an addtional bulletin.
• Glyn, GW0ANA, QSL Manager for the ZD7K and ZD8K operations, informs OPDX that all direct QSL cards for their DXpedition have gone out as of August 18th. He is now working on the Bureau cards as they come in.

RI6, EUROPEAN RUSSIA. Ivan, UA6MF, informs OPDX that a group will be planning an island DXpedition to the Azov Sea. Activity will be from the RR 17-04 island group for the "Russian Robinson Award ( RRA )". The callsign will be RI6LAP as well as their home callsigns: UA6LGR/p, UA6LAM/p and UA6MF/p. Operations will be on August 24-26th. Activity will be on 40-10 meters CW/SSB. QSLs for RI6LAP is OK via UA6MF, the bureau or direct to: Ivan. A. Gudima, P. Box 47, Rostov-on-Don, 344007, Russia.

SILENT KEY. Mac, WA4FFW, reports with deep sorrow of the passing of Joe Curlott, W4CTG. Many knew him as K5CTG before he changed his call to represent the 4th district as W4CTG. Joe lost a very quick 6 week fight with cancer and the swiftness was a shock to all. He was at Dayton this year and started having problems shortly after returning home. He became a Silent Key July 30. Many knew Joe as the Anchor and Beacon Station for 80 METER DXING. He gathered both Stateside and DX stations on 3772 kHz nightly for the past 16 years. Although he had worked and confirmed around 320 on that band, he was always there stirring up contacts for others to work. He was a gentleman and always willing to help someone work a new one on 80. He will be greatly missed.

SPECIAL EVENT. Look for special event station UM8LA to be active on all bands between August 27th and September 5th to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the independence for Uzbekistan. QSL via RW3RN: Alex Kuznetsov.Box 57,Tambov-23,392023 Russia.

T2, TUVALU. Hiro, JA0SC, will be active as T22SC from Funafuti, August 23-30th. Activity will be on SSTV and RTTY. QSL via JA0SC, direct or via the bureau.

TI, COSTA RICA. Hide, JH8KYU (ex-3W2KYU/9M6HTT), will visit TI5KD's shack in Costa Rica from September 27th through October 2nd. The main purpose of his trip is to participate in the CQ/RJ RTTY Contest as a Single Op/All Band entry. The callsign used will be TI5U in the contest. Hide won the Oceanian low power record in that contest from KH0 last year. He wants to make many more contacts than last year's contest, so he will use some great antennas and a high power amplifier. Hide will also operate as TI5/JH8KYU on SSB/CW outside the contest. QSLs for both TI5U and TI5/JH8KYU go to Hide's CBA.

Z2, ZIMBABWE (QRP Safari Op). Harry, W6DXO, informs OPDX that he is pleased to announce, thanks through the courtesy of the Zimbabwe Amateur Radio Society, that he will be operating as Z2/W6DXO, September 27th through October 5th, from the Linkwasha Wilderness Camp, and the Victoria Falls Hotel both in Zimbabwe. Working conditions mandate QRP Ops. He will concentrate on 20 meters. QSL via W6DXO direct only.

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