Ohio/Penn DX Bulletin No. 488
December 4, 2000

The Ohio/Penn DX PacketCluster
DX Bulletin No. 488
BID: $OPDX.488
December 4, 2000
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, AA1AC, AI2Q, N2OO, WB2YQH/ WB2RAJ & The 59(9) DX Report, W3HC, W3UR & The Daily DX, K4QD, K4VUD, KD4EUH, W4DXX, W4ZYT, AI5P, K7BV, N7NG, AG8L, K8YSE, BA1DU, CE6TBN, DJ5AV & DX News Letter, DK9KX, DL7VYL, EA3BT, F5NOD, F6AJA & Les Nouvelles DX, JF1OCQ, JQ1SUO, JT1KAA, ON5FP, PY1NEZ, SQ4NR, VK4AAR, VK0MM, YS1RR, YT1AD and 9M2TO for the following DX information.

3D2, CONWAY REEF. Hrane, YT1AD, reports that their plans are firm for the upcoming DXpedition. The operation will take place February 18-27th in 2001. The operators will be YT1AD, YU1RL, YU1NR, YU7AV, YS1RR, Z32AU and Z32ZM. Activity will be on 160-6 meters as well as 2 meters. The modes to be used are: CW, SSB, RTTY, PSK and SSTV. The total costs of the DXpedition is 45000 USD. Any donation will be highly appreciated. More details will be forthcoming.

3DA0, SWAZILAND. Dan, W5AHC, is here currently installing a communications systems for church groups for an undetermined time. He has reportedly received the callsign 3DA0AA. So far no QSNs have been reported on any activity.

3Z, POLAND (Special Event). Look for special event station 3Z0KOR from Olsztyn to be active during the whole of December. The station is on the air to celebrate 25 years of Polish Reserve Officers' Club. If you work this station a special award is available. QSL via SP4KSY (bureau or direct). You can find additional information on this activity on the Web site: http://www.cqsp.republika.pl/3z0korenglish.htm

4S OPERATION WRAP-UP. Phil Whitchurch, G3SWH, informs OPDX that he had a rather disappointing operation from Sri Lanka. He reports, "The airline managed to lose my baggage containing the R-7000 antenna, the vibroplex, tools and headphones etc., not to mention all my clothes. I hand carried the IC-706, power supply, laptop etc. When the airline found and forwarded the bags, the Sri Lankan customs impounded the antenna, and all my other equipment and refused to release it without documentation from the Sri Lankan Ministry of Defence. A copy of my Sri Lankan licence was not acceptable. I was very lucky to manage to negotiate the release of the equipment in time to load it aboard the homeward bound aircraft. I did manage a limited operation, mainly on 24 MHz CW and made 584 QSOs with 63 DXCC entities, but it was nowhere near the level of activity which I had planned..... 73 for now."

A4, OMAN. Murtadha, A41LZ, has been active around 14180 kHz (+/- 10 kHz) after 0330z. Chris, A45XR, was heard this past week on 28033 kHz around 1459z.

A5, BHUTAN (and XU, Combodia). By the time you read this, Charly/K4VUD and Yani/9M6US will be operating from Ham Center in Thimphu, Bhutan. They plan to run two stations. Charly will be operating from December 1-12th, signing A52UD on SSB/CW emphasizing the low bands. He was on this past weekend on/around 7048, 14260 and 28495 kHz. Jani will be using A52AP from December 1-7th, concentrating on SSB and RTTY on higher bands. He was heard this past weekend on 24936 kHz around 1145z. Jani will go to Cambodia (XU) from December 8-12th operating as XU7AAP including a participation in the ARRL 10m Contest. QSLs for A52UD go via K4VUD, while A52AP and XU7AAP go via N2OO.

BY/R1ANF. There has been some confusion on this station's activity. First this station is reportedly operating from the Chinese Antarctic Base "Great Wall" in the South Shetlands (King George Island), not China. The operator was Oleg, UA1PBA, visiting the Chinese base. This activity sparked a press release by Alan, BA1DU, stating "According to current radio regulation of China, it is impossible to issue such a BY/ callsign. The authorities never permit foreigners to operate amateur radio stations independently in China, and all holders of Chinese guest amateur radio operating license can only operate under a BY club callsign/guest's home call sign. Although there are no national boundaries in Antarctica, Chinese authorities never permit that callsign operation". QSL via RK1PWA: Nick Shapkin, P.O.Box 73, 164744 Amderma, Arkhangelskaja, Russia.

D6, COMOROS (Update to OPDX.486). Josep, EA3BT, sent out another short press release this past weekend requesting input from the DX community on what "bands and modes" he and his wife (Nuria/EA3WL) should be active on from Comoros. Their activity will be from January 13-28th. You can find information on their DXpedition and leave your input on what bands and modes they should operate on at: http://www.qsl.net/ea3bt/

EP, IRAN (Update). Hamid, EP3HR, manager of the club station EP4PTT, reports that this station is now only working on 20 meters SSB. This is because their equipment is homemade and can only work on 20 meters, but they are planning to make a four band radio which will work on 40, 20, 15 and 10 meters. Unfortunately, a pirate station near their country of Iran and as been using the callsign EP4PTT asking for IRCs or green stamps. QSL information for EP4PTT is only via the bureau of Iran with this address: C/O Directorate of Telecommunications, Box 11365 - 931, Tehran, Iran.

ET, ETHIOPIA. Claudio, ET3VSC, was heard on 17/12 meters this past weekend. Activity was on 18076 kHz at 1958z and 24957 kHz beginning at 1300z.

FO/A & FO, AUSTRAL ISLANDS AND FRENCH POLYNESIA. Alain, F2HE, has left for the FO-lands via Los Angeles and hopes to be active on Rangiroa (OC-066) with his FO0CLA callsign. He will be there for at least 8 months and also hopes to be active from Rurutu (OC-050) in the Austral's, Mangareva (OC-063) in the Gambier Island group, and maybe from Pukapuka Atoll (OC-062). QSL via F6CTL.

FS, FRENCH ST. MARTIN. Just a reminder! Look for members from the North Jersey DX Association (NJDXA) to begin their activity December 5th (Refer to OPDX.482). The seven operators will be active until December 12th with two stations on the air on CW/SSB on all bands. They will be active during the ARRL 10M Contest as FS/W2JJ. Operators Mike/WA2VUN, Jay/WB2BHC, Gene/K2KJI, Maryann/K2RVH, Bob/W5GJ, Ann/W2AZK, and Brian/KF2HC will use their own individual callsigns outside of the contest. QSL via their home callsigns.

FT/W/X/Z, A NO GO. In OPDX.486 we mentioned that Andre, F6GQO, was going to travel on the vessel "Marion Dufresnes" and possibly be active from Crozet, Kerguelen and Amsterdam Islands. Unfortunatly, Andre, couldn't obtain the permission to be active.

IOTA NEWS.........

JD1, OGASAWARA. Eiji, JQ1SUO, informs OPDX that he will be going to Hahajima (AS-031) and will be active as JQ1SUO/JD1 from December 30th through January 3rd (2001). Activity will be on 160-10 meters CW/SSB.

KH0, MARIANA ISLANDS. A group of JA operators will be active from December 8-11th on 40-10 meters SSB/CW, and possibly 6 meters. Look for the callsigns W1VX/KH0, KZ5C/KH0 and KH0/JR1IBD from Saipan Island. QSL routes are as follows: W1VX/KH0 via JF1OCQ, KZ5C/KH0 via JA0QBY and KH0/JR1IBD via JR1IBD. Please do NOT send directly to the U.S. or the Bureau.

KP2/WP2, U.S. VIRGIN ISLAND. Dave, AG8L, will be active from the Windwood contest station, WP2Z, from December 6-13th, including an entry in the ARRL 10M Contest. The callsign KP2/AG8L will be used outside of the contest. The station is located on the island of St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Dave states that there is no 6 meter activity possible, but there may be some PSK-31 activity after the contest. QSL routes are: KP2/AG8L via NN6C and WP2Z (contest callsign) via KU9C.

PY0F, FERNANDO DE NORONHA. Andre, PY0FF, has been very active on 6 meters lately. Listen for him between 1330 and 1800z.

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

SPECIAL EVENT. The USS Wisconsin Radio Club will make its debut under the callsign N4WIS during a four day special event from the Nauticus National Maritime Museum in Norfolk, Virginia, December 7-10th. This event commemorates the 59th anniversary of the attack at Pearl Harbor, and marks the permanent berthing of the Wisconsin at the Nauticus Museum. Operations from the museum will be on CW and SSB 40-10 meters (7035, 10110, 14035, 18078, 21035, 28035, 7235, 14210, 18120, 21260) as well as 2 meter FM (146.970). Times are 1300-2200z (0800-1700 EST). Other off site operation by the club on additional ham bands during other hours using the N4WIS callsign are planned. A commemorative QSL or certificate will be available. The complete press release with more information about the battleship will be sent to all OPDX InterNet Subscribers as an additional bulletin.

TT8, CHAD. The "LNDX" reports that Christian, TT8DX, has started to be active on 6 meters. There were no QSNs provided. Also, he is installing 7 elements beam soon for all HF bands.

VP2M, MONTSERRAT. "The 59(9) DX Report" reports that Graham, M0AEP, will be active from here December 6-20th as VP2MDD. There was no mention of bands or modes of operation. QSL via M0AEP.

VP5, TURKS & CAICOS ISLANDS. Bruce, AA5B, is now active from North Caicos. He was active as VP5K during last weekend's ARRL 160m Contest. He is also expected to be in the upcoming 10 meter contest running full power, but will be on the air during the week as VP5/AA5B. Look for him around the QRP frequencies and on the WARC bands alot. He states that he will be happy to have a 2xQRP QSO with you!

VP9, BERMUDA. Just a quick reminder! Mark, AA1AC, will be active next week (December 8-12th) from Hamilton Parish, Bermuda, as AA1AC/VP9. His activity will be on 80-10 meters CW/SSB. QSL via home callsign.

VY, CANADA. Dennis, K7BV, will operate the ARRL 10 Meter Contest from the VY1 Yukon multiplier. He will use VY1/K7BV in and outside of the contest. He will operate mostly CW from VY1JA's Whitehorse QTH. His "Warm-up" activity (literally-considering the location...) will occur in the 24 hours before the contest. QSL via Steve, KU9C.

ZD8, ASCENSION (Did not happen!). Jim, N6TJ/ZD8Z, was not active from here as expected during the CQWW CW Contest, but changed his plans and was active from Hawaii instead as KH7R.

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