Ohio/Penn DX Bulletin No. 438
December 6, 1999

The Ohio/Penn DX PacketCluster
DX Bulletin No. 438
BID: $OPDX.438
December 6, 1999
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, KF2TI, N2OO, W2FXA, WB2RAJ/ WB2YQH & The 59(9) DXReport, N5VT, AG8L, K8CX, K8YSE, NE8Z, K9NW, KE9KD & DX Central, DJ3IW, ER1DA, F6AJA & LNDX, G3NOM, G3SXW, IN3QBR, JF6OJX, OK1YM, OM3LZ, ON4LCE, PA3GIO, PY1KS, VE1ZL, VE2PJ, VE6VK, VK9NS, VR2XMT and Reinhart Pearson for the following DX information.

5T, MAURITANIA. The International Amateur Radio Volunteers (IARV) will be dispatching an eight member team here between December 13-20th, to build an emergency medical radio network in some remote cities. During their stay there, they will be authorized to operate as 5T5U. They will operate mainly on the WARC bands including 10 MHz, 28 MHz FM (29.260 MHZ) as well as 6 meters band (50.115 MHz - beacon). Please QSL via JA1UT. Your kind support will be much appreciated.

8P9, BARBADOS. Look for Dan, N8DCJ, to sign 8P9CW bewteen December 25th and January 9th. He is an excellent CW operator and this will probably be the main mode he will be using. QSL via homecall.

9G, GHANA. Zdeno, OK2ZW, is planning to stay the next 3 years in Ghana. He is using the callsign 9G5ZW. He was very active in both parts of the 1999 CQWW Contest (on 10 meters, making 4000 QSOs in both parts). His QSL Manager Miro, OM3LZ, informs OPDX that he has begun receiving the first QSLs, mostly from JA and USA. Every direct QSL will be answered, however, Milo will start answering the QSL beginning January 1st, 2000. He is currently waiting for new printed QSL cards.

FT/W, CROZET. Gilles, FT5WH, will leave Crozet on December 7th.

H4, TEMOTU. Bernhard, DL2GAC (alias VU2BMS, H44MS, H40MS) will going on a three month Pacific trip at the end of January 2000. In February 2000, he will stay and operate for about three weeks from Temotu. During this time and specifically for the CQ WPX RTTY Contest in February, he is looking for a RTTY operator to join him on Temotu. A beam and an amplifier are already on Temotu. The only way to contact him is by his FAX work number: +49 741 15377.

HC, ECUADOR. Doctor Rick, NE8Z, had to change his flight plans to Ecuador due to the volcanic activity in Mt. Pichincha (HC1) and Mt. Tungurahua (HC6). Due to the falling ash in the mountains, the Quito International Airport had to be closed down. Rick arrived in Guayaquil (HC2) on the coast of Ecuador and took a 6 hour bus ride to Tumbaco (HC1, 66km from Mt. Pichincha). He is now active as HC1MD until December 10th. He was spotted on the air on 20/10 meters. Suggested frequencies are: CW - 5 and 24 kHz up, 10113, 18073 and 24903; SSB - mainly 28430 and 50110 kHz. Look for him to be active from the Amazon (signing HC1MD/HC7) between December 10-13th. Rick states daily updates and photographs of the volcanic activity can be seen at: http://www.elcomercio.com/volcan/volcan.html QSL direct via K8LJG: John Kroll, 3628 Craig Drive, Flint, MI 48506 USA (k8ljg@tir.com) or via the bureau.

HR, HONDURAS. Look for Gerard, F2JD/HK3JBR, to be active as HR5/F2JD from the middle of December until early January.

KP2, U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS. Dave/AG8L and Mike/KC8NJA will be active from the Windwood contest station from December 9-15th. Dave will be a Single Op entry in the 10M contest. Mike, a new Tech-Plus, will be active on 10 meters SSB before and after the contest. Due to the recent hurricane, some of the activity may be limited before the contest due to antenna and station setup. QSL routes are: KP2/AG8L via NN6C, KP2/KC8NJA via NN6C, and WP2Z (contest callsign) via KU9C.

NJDXA'S "YEAR 2000" EXECUTIVE BOARD. The "North Jersey DX Aocciation" (NJDXA) has elected the following:

• W2UDT - Bill Hudzik - President
• NA2R - John Sawina - Vice President
• N2BIM - Gene Ingraham - Treasurer
• KF2TI - Steve Adell - Secretary

Additionally

• K2CO - Ron Levy - W2 Incoming Buro Chief
• NA2U - Fred Hoffert - Assistant Buro Chief

For more details, check NJDXA's Web site at: http://www.njdxa.org

OD, LEBANON. Pavel, OK1MU, is active as OD5/OK1MU from Beiruth. Activity is mainly CW but SSB too. Over the past weekend, he was heard on 30/17/12 meters (try between 1330 and 1430z and around 0145z). QSL via OK DX Foundation. Also, look for Labib, OD5IU, on 10 meters SSB around 28545 kHz between 1400 and 1500z.

PIRATES.......

• Activity by a P51BH was keeping many in practice recently. Hopefully, the many who took the time to practice their skills will not QSL.
• Dick, K4UTE, states that he is being flooded with E-mail requests wanting to know if he is the QSL Manager for the station sign YA4A during the CQWW CW Contest. The answer is "NO", and he is sure that this station was pirate. However, if you worked him as YA4A in 1963-65, Dick still has the logs and QSLs.

PY, BRAZIL. Alex, PY1KS, and PY1NX, will be active in next week's ARRL 10m Contest as Multi-Operator/Single Tranmitter/Mixed Mode (CW/SSB) entry as PY1NX. QSL via PY1NX direct or bureau.

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

• NEED A QSL MANAGER. Doug, VE1ZL, who used to be a QSL Manager for C6ANU (now deceased), would like to offer his services again to manage one or two DX stations. Contact Doug via E-mail at: wipcitz@hotmail.com
• NEW QSL BUREAU MANAGER. Delano Taylor, C6AFV, has assumed duties as Bureau Manager for the "Bahamas Amateur Radio Society. The address is P.O.B F-43563, Freeport, Grand Bahama, Bahamas. Delano currently has thousands of cards for radio amateurs that have operated from C6-land. He has provided the following list: C6AFE, C6AJA, C6AFP, C6AHN, C6AKP, C6AKQ, C6AJT, C6AJZ, C6APK, C6ADR, C6AGT, C6AXP, C6LE, C6ANF, C6LFN, C6MPN, C6AGH, C6AMI, C61D, C6AGH, C6AKA, C6AKW, C6AHR, C6AJU, KR8V/C6A, C6AVW, C6CR, C6AJQ, C6CDQ, C6AKL, C6AHG, C6AHE, C6AHY, C6AHK, C6AGN, C6AKT, C6AJJ, C6AFQ, C6AHX, C6AGP, C6AFZ, C6ASR and C6AER. These cards will be held for a period of 60 days as of December 1st. If there is no response from these stations, the cards will be "DISPOSED OF"....
• THE 1999 HILLVIEW GARDENS BORNEO DXPEDITION IS QRT. Bob, N2OO, reports the preliminary QSO totals are as follows:
  • 9M6OO/p Spratly: 21,000
  • V85OO (plus some QSO's using V85AA, V8USA and V8SEA): 6,000
  • 9M6AAC: 7,000
  • 9M6RIT: 1,000 Total QSOs for the DXpedition was: 35,000. Bob states that these numbers are a ballpark figure for now, as they have a mix of log formats to go through, including some paper... QSL information is as follows: -- 9M6OO via N2OO -- V85OO via N2OO -- V8USA via N2OO -- V85AA via direct only to: WILLIAM MADDOX, PO Box 1711, Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei -- V8SEA via JA0AD -- 9M6AAC via N2OO -- 9M6RIT via G4SHF
• QSLs for FG5BG in CQWW CW Contest are direct via FG5BG. QSLs for FG/K9NW are via WW9DX: Western Wisconsin DX Association, PO Box 411, La Crosse, Wisconsin 54602
• The 1999 9G5AA CQ WW CW Contest operation is QSL via GM4FDM only. There is some confusion. Do not QSL via Roger, G3SXW, who was QSL Manager for the 1994 operation.
• VK9RS QSLS. Malcolm, VK6LC, reports that the special direct QSL cards for the Rowley Shoals DXpedition (OC-230) could start to flow around Christmas time, and bureau cards are scheduled for about May 2000. The VK9RS special stamps are not for sale because of limited quantities, and they have been sent to all VK9RS sponsors. The remaining are available to those that have worked VK9RS and supported a reasonable donation with their direct QSL card to I1HYW. Currently, Mal is in the South China Sea near Vung Tau engaging in Offshore Oil Design Engineering. He does visit during his time off Con Son (Iles de Poulo Condore) and Cu Lao Thu Islands. He will be commuting between Australia and Vietnam over the next 4 months and may have time to operate from these places, but only in his days off. Also, this will not be DXpedition style operating, but more of a social 3W6 contacts only.
• Youth Club Station UX2FXX, QSL via P.O. Box 14, Odessa 65076 UKRAINE
• Youth Club Station UT9F, QSL via UX2FXX: P.O.Box 14, Odessa 65076 UKRAINE

SPECIAL EVENT STATIONS FOR THE YEAR 2000.........

• To celebrate the coming of a New Millenium, look for special event ER2000A to be active starting from December 15th and lasting until January 20, 2000. QSL via ER1DA direct to: Valery Metaxa, P.O. Box 9537, Kishinev, MD-2071, Moldova, Europe (or via the Bureau).
• Special event station "Millenium Plus" will use the special one-by-one callsign, N5T, between January 1-15th. Activity will be on on all bands (including the Novice portion, 6m/2m/432) on CW/SSB/RTTY/Packet/PK31. A special QSL card will be available (along with a SASE) from N5VT.
• Phil, ON4LCE, will be on the air from Guadeloupe Island (NA-102) with the special callsign TO2OOO from Monday, December 20th, to Monday, January 3rd (2000). Activity will be on 80-10 meters including the WARC bands. His preferred modes are SSB/RTTY and a special effort on PSK31. His operating times will be limited because he is on a family holiday. He may make a trip to Les Saintes Island (NA-114) for a 1 or 2 day operation. QSL via home callsign (only for this operation). All requests are welcome by E-mail: on4lce@arrl.net Or by packet BBS: on4lce@on0sat.lu.be.eu
• Charlie, VR2XMT, informs OPDX that the "Hong Kong Amateur Radio DX Association" (HARDXA) will be active as for the celebration of the new year 2000. Activity will be on HF-430 MHz (including satellite) from now until January 31st. Activity is also planned for March 1st through March 31st, and from May 1st through July 31st. For the year 2000 QSL send to VR2XRW. Also, check out the Web page: http://www.qsl.net/vr2dxa/
• VC2K UPDATE. Terry, VE2PJ, informed OPDX that the reason he is using this callsign (between December 31st and January 31st) is to celebrate the new Millenium. He had asked for the callsign XK2K but was told that XK is not for use in QUEBEC.....

SV, GREECE. Olda, OK1YM, is now active as SV/OK1YM from Athens on CW, SSB and RTTY. He will probably stay for more than 1 year there. QSL cards via OK DX Foundation: OK DX Foundation, P.O.Box 73, Bradlec, 293 06, CZECH REPUBLIC. For more info on the Web, visit: http://www.qsl.net/ok1ym/ - or - http://www.okdxf.cz

TY, BENIN. Philippe, TU2FH/FK8VHU, will be here from December 6-28th. He hopes to get a licence, and he will take his TS-680S and vertical with him.

V26, ANTIGUA. Tom Roscoe, K8CX, reports that he will be active from Antigua as V26X from December 7th through December 13th. He will be active on all 9 HF bands. Tom will be an entry in the ARRL 10 Meter Contest on December 11th and 12th. A full color photo QSL card will be available for all completed contacts. QSL via K8CX.

V3, BELIZE (IOTA DXpeditions). Bert, PA3GIO, will be active as V31GI on SouthwestCaye, Glovers Reef (NA-180), from March 19-24th (2000). Also, from March 26-29th he will be on Little Water Caye (NA-180). Activity will be on 80/40/20/17/15/12/10 meters SSB only using 100 watts into a Doublet open feeder line. QSL "PREFERABLE" by the Bureau to PA3GIO. QSL direct to PA3GIO: Bert v.d. Berg, Parklaan 38, NL-3931 KK Woudenberg, The Netherlands, Europe. Visit Bert's Web site with pictures of his 1999 activation at: http://www.xs4all.nl/~pa3gio/

VK0, MACQUARIE ISLAND. (Excerpts from a Jim Smith, VK9NS, press release. OPDX InterNet Subscribers will receive the complete press release as an additional bulletin.) Alan Cheshire, VK0LD, is now active and is employed as a Senior Communications Engineer for the current Australian Antarctic Research Expedition (ANARE) Base on Macquarie Island until late 2000. He and other members of the ANARE team on the island have extended work loads and operating times will depend on this factor. Alan is primarily a CW operator and it is in this mode that he hopes to make a dent into the pile ups of the needy. He will concentrate mainly on 20 meters or perhaps 15 meters to maximise the chance of the DXers working a new country. He seems to be uninterested in chasing around the bands towards the multi- band QSO routine. His rig is an ICOM 706 MKII. As of this past weekend, Alan's current operating schedule is as follows:

• 1000-1100z CW - JA/HL/BV/UA0 "ONLY" - North Vee Beam.
• 1100-1200z CW - Europe "ONLY" - NW Vee Beam Short Path (includes TF, OX, JW etc. and UA9)
• 1200-1300z CW - USA/ VE/ S.America/ Africa "ONLY" - Vertical.

There will not be a QSL Manager, so all QSLing will be done after Alan's tour of duty. Alan has a super Web site available for updates, schedule, Web Cam and pictures at: http://www.geocities.com/vk0ld/1.html

VP9, BERMUDA. Gene, W2FXA, will be active as W2FXA/VP from Devonshire Parish, Bermuda, from now through January 4th (2000). Activity will be on 40-10 meters CW and SSB. QSL to home callsign. Also, "The 59(9) DXReport" is reporting that Mark, AA1AC, will be active from Paget Parish December 16-20th as AA1AC/VP9. He will be active on 40-10 meters CW/SSB. QSL via homecall.

VQ9, CHAGOS. "The 59(9) DXReport" is reporting that Paul, W2JDK, is now active as VQ9PH from Diego Garcia until December 15th. Reportedly. he prefers CW. However, OPDX QSNs show that Paul was active this past weekend on 15 meters SSB (on 21333 kHz between 1545 and 1615z) and on CW, 14004 kHz around 1430z. This is his third trip here. QSL via W2JDK.

XU, CAMBODIA. Mauro, IN3QBR, informs OPDX that he and Fabri/IN3ZNR will operate from here between December 24th and January 3rd (2000). Their callsigns are: XU7AAY (Fabri) and XU7AAZ (Mauro). They plan to operate on CW/SSB and during the ARRL Round-up Contest on RTTY. They will be active on all bands including the WARC bands and hope to do good work on the low bands. QSL cards are via IN3ZNR: Fabrizio Vedovelli, Via Gramsci, 38100 TRENTO Italy.

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