Ohio/Penn DX Bulletin No. 386
December 7, 1998

The Ohio/Penn Dx PacketCluster
DX Bulletin No. 386
BID: $OPDX.386
December 7, 1998
Editor Tedd Mirgliotta, KB8NW
Provided by BARF-80 BBS Cleveland, Ohio
Online at 440-237-8208 28.8k-1200 Baud 8/N/1 (New Area Code!)

Thanks to the Northern Ohio Amateur Radio Society, Northern Ohio DX Association, Ohio/Penn PacketCluster Network, WB2RAJ/WB2YQH & The 59(9) DXReport, W3LEO, W3UR & The Daily DX, K4QD, N6FF, K7CO, W7TSQ, N8WRS, W8KKF, A35RK, CO8TW, DJ5AV & DX News Letter, DL2GAC, F6AJA & LNDX, G4BUE & DX News Sheet, HA5PP, ON5NT, PA0JR, PY1KS, UA0SJ, ZL2AL and ZS6AQS for the following DX information.

W O W !! WHAT A WEEK FOR DXERS!!!!!!!

4X, ISRAEL. The "DX News Sheet" reports that Dan, W0CN, will be active December 5-14th as 4X/W0CN. During his business trip there, Dan's activity will be SSB on 80-10 meters using a TS-450 and wire antenna. QSL via home call.

5W, WESTERN SAMOA. Look for Sakuma, JI3WLT, to be active from Apia as 5W1SA until March of the year 2000. He is currently active on 6 meters using a IC-706 and a six element yagi for 6 meters. He also has a TS-850 with him. QSL via JH7OHF.

A3, TONGA. Paul, A35RK, will be in New Zealand from December 8th until January 31st. While he is gone, Lee Reisenweber (3D2VA/VP2VE) will be "house-sitting" Paul's Lifuka Island QTH. Lee has arrived in Tonga on December 1st, and the callsign A35VR was issued to him. Paul states A35VR will be active no later than December 7th, and activity will last until at least February 1, 1999. Lee plans to be active on all bands, including the WARC bands, 6 meters, and possibly 160 meters. Lee's QSL Manager is WA2NHA. By the way, Paul is taking all 3 of his rigs to New Zealand to get them operational again before returning to Tonga.

A61AJ CONTEST WRAP UP. Bernie, W3UR, editor of "The Daily DX", reports that during their A61AJ operation they had over 15,000 QSOs, most of which were on CW during the CQWW CW DX Contest. They operated as a Multi-Multi entry and broke the Asian record. Their score is going to be around 31,000,000. QSL via W3UR.

BUREAU REOPENS. The French DX bulletin LNDX reports that after 2 years of being closed the FO QSL bureau will run again beginning in January.

CO8, CUBA. In the next ARRL 10 Meter Contest Victor/CO8HF and Juan/CO8TW will be active as CO8HF and be a Multi Op/Mixed Mode entry (Victor on SSB and Juan on CW). Also, Juan states that the log will be available on the Web page: http://db-sales.com/nfdxa/logs/logs.html QSL via Po Box 12, Santiago de Cuba, CP 90100, Cuba.

EL, LIBERIA. Mark, ON4WW (ex-9X4WW, S07WW, 5T5WW etc.), is now active from Monrovia using the callsign EL2WW. He was spotted this past weekend on 17/12/10 meters. Check 28470, 24891 and 18118 kHz between 1200 and 1530z. His QSL Manager Ghis, ON5NT, states Mark will not return to the Western Sahara, and he is currently sending out the S07WW QSLs. Expect the 5T5WW QSLs before Christmas.

H44, TEMOTU ISLAND. Bernhard, DL2GAC, will be active as H44MS in February, 1999. This is his 11th visit to Solomon Islands. He is currently looking for an experienced CW operator who is able to adjust to local conditions for an operation from Temotu starting February 5th through the 10th. This will be at the same location where H40AB operated last April.

HR, HONDURAS. Bob, W7TSQ, informs OPDX that Gary, N7QXQ/HR6, reports that although most of Honduras has suffered greatly as a result of hurricane Mitch, Roatan Island, although it also had some damage, was spared a great deal of the problems occurring on the mainland. Although he lost his 100 foot dock (which is currently being replaced), everything else is intact, and anyone contemplating a hamming and/or diving vacation should not be afraid to consider Roatan Island. At the present time, he has no ham booking for any of the major contests for 1999. However, Bob, W7TSQ, reports that he plans to operate a Multi Mode/Low Power (Unassisted) in the upcoming ARRL 10 Meter Contest.

HS98, THAILAND. Just a quick reminder to look for special event station HS98AG to be active this week (December 6-20th) during the 13th Asian Games. Please refer to OPDX.384. QSL via HS1CKC.

J3, GRENADA. Harry, W8KKF, will be active as J37K in the 10 meter contest December 12th and 13th. Also, look for him Thursday and Friday before the contest and Monday afterwards. Operations will be SSB only, and he will QSY to other bands on request outside contest for those who need J3 for significant awards. Harry states that Thursday will be the most likely time for late evening QSOs. QSL to W8KKF with SASE.

JY, JORDAN. "The 59(9) DXReport" states Pete, N3FNE, has been active as JY9NE for the past year and is using the JY bureau for QSLing. He now requests cards be sent to his home callsign N3FNE. Pete's activity is on 40-2 meters until the summer of 2000.

KP1, NAVASSA ISLAND. The preparations for the N1V activity seems to be going very slow. "The 59(9) DX Report" states that they could not obtain new information from the organizer K8RF. Last rumours reported states they were waiting for an official scientific report to receive the final decision to land on the island.

KP2, U.S. VIRGIN ISLAND. Slavek, OK1TN, continues to be active as KP1AD until December 20. During the past week he was heard mainly on the WARC bands and 160 meters. Check 24900 kHz around 1330-1500z, 18071 kHz after 1500z, 10106 kHz at 2100 and 0545z; and 1813 kHz at 0145z. QSL via Czech DX Foundation, OKDXF, Box 73, Bradlec 293 06 Mlada Boleslav, Czech Republic.

NEW PREFIX SERIES FOR DUTCH AMATEURS. Andre, PA0JR, from VRZA (Dutch Society of Radio-Amateurs), informs OPDX that licensed radio amateurs in The Netherlands will be allowed to choose their own callsign. Therefore, the Dutch Administration has opened up new prefix blocks. From mid-December 1998, you can expect the following prefixes on the amateur radio bands:

• HF-licenses: PA1 up to PA0; and PB1 up to PB0
• VHF-licenses: PE1 up to PE0
• Novice-licenses: PD1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and PD0.

P4, ARUBA. Martin, VE3MR, will be active as P49M from here until next year (April 20). His activity will be mainly 12 and 17 meters SSB. QSL via VE3MR, or if you don't wish to wait until Martin returns home, send direct to: M. Rosenthal, P.O. Box 4069, Noord, Aruba.

PX, BRAZIL. Alex, PY1KS, will be active in the ARRL 10 Meters DX Contest using the special callsign PX1I on SSB and CW. QSL via PY1KS Bureau or direct.

QSL NEWS AND INFO.....

• Juan, CO8TW, who was active in the CQWW CW Contest and the ARRL 160 Meters CW Contest states to QSL via direct or via his QSL Manager:

        Juan Carlos Veranes, CO8TW      Joe L. Arcure, W3HNK QSL Manager
        Po Box 8                        Po Box 73
        Santiago De Cuba                Edgemont, PA 19028
        CP 90100, CUBA.                 USA.
        E-mail co8tw@co9nla.uo.edu.cu   E-mail  w3hnk@aol.com
  

  His logs will be available on the NFDXA's Web site at: http://db-sales.com/nfdxa/logs/logs.html
• Zoli, HA5PP, reports that Eritrean photos (E30HA, E30GA...) are on his WEB home page at: http://www.extra.hu/ha5pp/e30ha.GIF
• JT, K7CO, states that his K7CO/6Y5 logs are on-line now at: http://www.vcr.com/6y5/ He also mentions that the 6Y2A (CQWW CW Contest operation) will have a WEB site soon at: http://www.vcr.com/6y2a/

RARE DC MULTIPLIER IN THE 10 METER CONTEST. Look for the Potomac Valley Radio Club (PVRC) to again activate K3VOA for the rare District of Columbia [DC] multiplier in the ARRL 10 Meter Contest, December 12-13th (Thanks to the hospitality of the Voice of America Amateur Radio Club). The multi-operator team (W3LEO, K3IXD, N3NT, K3DNE, and W6HZW) will be active on both CW and SSB. QSLs for this contest only go to W3LEO, CBA, SASE please.

SAD NEWS. It has been reported in a ARRL W1AW Bulletin (ARLB104) that Mary Lou Brown, NM7M, ARRL Northwestern Division Director, suffered a heart attack and passed away at the LAX Airport, Los Angeles, CA, on the way back from the recent VK9LX Lord Howe Island DXpedition. OPDX would like to send our condolences to her family. OPDX InterNet Subscribers will receive ARLB104 as an additional bulletin.

SPECIAL PLEAD TO DXPEDITIONS. OPDX received the following from a station in Africa (Please pass the word!): "I have noticed more and more that a number of DX expeditions will give times for North America, and South America, Japan, Europe and Asia. But what happened to Africa? We are still here, be nice if they took a stand by from time to time for Africa."

SV/A, MT. ATHOS. Monk Apollo, SV2ASP/A, has been showing up on 10 meters lately. This past weekend he was on 28485 kHz listening up 5 kHz between 1330 and 1430z.

TN, CONGO. YL Hazel, TN7OT, was active this past week on a European DX net on 14243 kHz around 0600z. Her signal was reported to be very good from Northeastern Ohio during this time. She has also been reported on the 14252 DX net around 2000z. Also, check the net at 21355 kHz around the same time.

TP50, FRANCE (Special Event). To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Council of Europe, the club station TP2CE, located in Strasbourg, will be using the callsign TP50CE from January 15th (at 1700z) to January 17th (at 1200z). The club will be active on 80-10 meters SSB and CW. QSL via F6FQK.

UA0, RUSSIA ASIATIC (Zone 18). Look for Yuri, UA0SJ, to be active in the 1998 TARA RTTY Sprint Contest and the ARRL 10 Meter Contest. QSL direct only via: Yuri A. Maltsev, P.O. Box 2304, Bratsk-city, 665700, Russia /Asiatic/.

VP8, FALKLANS ISLANDS. Jan, K4QD, reports that his VP8CRB operation is on schedule from Port Stanley, Falkland Islands. Activity will be between December 26th and January 12th (1999). Efforts will be made to operate bands and modes needed by most hams. Special efforts will be made to contact geographical areas where the Falklands are needed. Jan reports the following:

• Low Band: Permission has been secured to use two 150 foot towers spaced 250 feet apart on a hill overlooking Port Stanley for low band antennas. A 130 foot vertical with elevated radials is being erected between them for 160 meters. The 80-40 meter Radio Works Super Loop antenna used quite effectively on Kermadec will also be placed between the towers. A portable trailer and power have been secured for our use at this site.
• WARC Bands: WARC band antennas are being taken and a concentrated effort will be made on WARC bands as well as ten meters which has not been operated recently from the Falklands.
• RTTY: Significant RTTY operation is planned including the ARRL RTTY Roundup. The special call VP8TTY will be used on RTTY.

XZ1N UPDATE (by Dick, N6FF). The XZ1N group are currently in the process of dismantling two of the stations (ed. As this bulletin was being prepared). They will have 3 stations left for the duration. They will be concentrating on 10/12 meters with the C3 antenna for the next few days, from 2300z to 1600z. The 160 meters station will be active again once all the contesting is done. Also, look for them to spend time on the other bands (30/40/80 meters). They have worked around 33,000 QSOs so far, with 500-600 on RTTY.

ZL9CI, AUCKLAND ISLANDS. A press release from Lee, ZL2AL, indicates that it there are only 4 weeks to go before the excitement of ZL9CI activity begins. Some of the equipment has arrived in New Zealand for packing and checking, and more gear will arrive over the next few weeks. Two of the operators have regretfully announced that they will be unable to make the trip due to "health reasons" and "unfortunate timings business pressures" (ops Ron/ZL2TT and MikeN6MZ). Two new team members will join the group for the trip South: Trey Garlough, N5KO, and Wilbert Knol, ZL2BSJ. Both of these new operators are excellent CW men! For more details and updates check the WEB page: http://www.qsl.net/zl9ci/ OPDX InterNet Subscribers will receive the complete press release by Lee/ZL2AL as an additional bulletin.

SPECIAL NOTE FROM THE EDITOR. Please send all DX announcements/information "ONLY" to the addresses below and "NOT" to the distribution InterNet address of: dxinfo@barf80.nshore.org

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
OPDX SPANISH WEB SITE. (provide by "QTC Magazine" and Tony Pernas, EA1CSI):
http://www.intercom.es/qtc/qtcopdx.htm

Excerpts and distribution of The OPDX Bulletin are granted as long as KB8NW/OPDX/BARF80 receive credit. To contribute DX info, call BARF-80 BBS online at 440-237-8208 14400/9600/2400/1200/300 and leave a message with the Sysop or send InterNet Mail to one of the two following addresses: kb8nw@barf80.nshore.org -or- aq474@cleveland.freenet.edu - OR - Send a message via packet to KB8NW @ WA8BXN.OH.USA.NA - OR - Use the VOICE or FAX answering machine at 440-237-8208 which shares the same phone line as BARF-80 BBS using a data/fax/phone switch. To access: 1) Dial Number. 2) Wait for first ring (the second ring should be a false ring from the fax/data switch box) and then dial four quick ones ("1111"). (NOTE: Some FAX machines that send single "BEEPS" every second will not have to do this step.) 3) The phone will pick up and after the "BEEP" leave your voice message or FAX.

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 14.4k-300 baud