Ohio/Penn DX Bulletin No. 539
December 3, 2001

The Ohio/Penn DX PacketCluster
DX Bulletin No. 539
BID: $OPDX.539
December 3, 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, ARRL Bulletins, NC1L, N7NG/1, W3UR & The Daily DX, N4AA & QRZ DX, N4GN, WD4NGB, K6ANP, W6AWO, AA8LL, K8YSE, KU9C, ANAN News, Worldwide UTE News, CE7ZK,CO8TW, DL1EK & DX News Letter, DL7HU, DL8AAM, HP1AC, HS1CKC, HS9XP, IK7JWX, LU4EJ, ON6TT, P29KH, PA5ET, PA0MIR, PY1NEZ, SM3DBU, VA3RJ & ICPO, VE6JO and VK3UY for the following DX information.

DXCC COUNTRY/ENTITY REPORT: According to the AR-Cluster Network for the week of Sunday, 25/November, through Sunday, 2/December there were 244 countries active. Countries available: 3A, 3B8, 3B9, 3D2, 3V, 3W, 4J, 4L, 4S, 4U1I, 4W, 4X, 5A, 5B, 5H, 5N, 5R, 5U, 5V, 5W, 5X, 5Z, 6W, 6Y, 7Q, 7X, 8P, 8R, 9A, 9G, 9H, 9J, 9K, 9L, 9M2, 9M6, 9N, 9U, 9V, 9Y, A4, A5, A6, A7, A9, AP, BV, BY, C2, C3, C6, C9, CE, CE0A, CE9, CM, CN, CP, CT, CT3, CU, CX, D2, D4, DL, DU, E3, EA, EA6, EA8, EA9, EI, EK, EL, EP, ER, ES, ET, EU, EX, EY, EZ, F, FG, FJ, FK, FM, FO, FP, FR, FW, FY, G, GD, GI, GJ, GM, GU, GW, H4, HA, HB, HB0, HC, HC8, HH, HI, HK, HK0/a, HL, HM, HP, HR, HS, HV, HZ, I, IS, J2, J3, J5, J6, J7, J8, JA, JD/o, JT, JW, JY, K, KG4, KH0, KH2, KH4, KH6, 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, S2, S5, S7, S9, SM, SP, ST, SU, SV, SV5, SV9, T30, T5, T7, T8, T9, TA, TF, TG, TI, TK, TL, TN, TR, TU, TZ, UA, UA2, UA9, UK, UN, UR, V2, V3, V4, V5, V6, V8, VE, VK, VK9N, VP2E, VP2M, VP2V, VP5, VP6, VP8, VP9, VQ9, VR, VU, XE, XT, XU, YA, YB, YI, YJ, YK, YL, YN, YO, YS, YU, YV, Z2, Z3, ZA, ZB, ZC4, ZD7, ZD8, ZD9, ZF, ZK1/s, ZK2, ZL, ZL7, ZP, ZS

* PLEASE NOTE: The report "could" contain "Pirate/SLIM" operations. As always, you never know - "Work First Worry Later" (WFWL).

C6, BAHAMAS (IOTA Op). Wade/AA8LL and Liz/K8LIZ will be active from Crooked Island (IOTA NA-113) as AA8LL/C6A and K8LIZ/C6A from 0000z Janaury 12th through 0600z January 14th. Activity will be on SSB only 40-10 meters on the IOTA frequencies. QSL AA8LL and K8LIZ to their CBA or via the bureau. By the way, their activity will be from Bird Rock Lighthouse which counts as ARLHS BAH-005. (Also see IOTA NA-213 below)

D2, ANGOLA. Vitor, CT1FSC, is expected to be active as D2/CT1FSC from Luanda between now and December 14th. No QSNs have been reported yet. QSL via CT1FSC. Meanwhile, Clay, AB0VE, showed up as AB0VE/D2 from Angola during this past weekend on 10 meters (28405 kHz between 1600-1700z).

DXCC NEWS. Bill Moore, NC1L, DXCC Manager, reported the following this week: "XU7AAR (Cambodia) has been on hold awaiting supporting documentation. This has been received and upon review it is now being accepted for DXCC credit. Anyone who had this rejected during a past submission can contact DXCC at --- dxcc@arrl.org --- for an update to his or her record. Or, it can be sent with the next submission for credit. (This operation occurred during the latter part of 1999).

FO/A, AUSTRAL ISLANDS. Just a reminder to look for Jon/WB8YJF as FO0SEV and Leo/K8PYD as FO0FRY this week. They should be active by the time you read this. Operations will last until December 14th with a heavy emphasis on RTTY, with CW and SSB as well. QSL via their home callsigns. Direct QSLs will result in a QSL the same week (once they are printed), the bureau can take substantially longer. They will both have their own station with activity on 80-10 meters.

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

OPERATION CANCELLED (LS2D). Mariano, LU4EJ, informed OPDX that the Radio Club Mar Del Plata (LU2DT) had to cancel their DXpedition to the Verde Island (LS2D) which was schedule for November 23-25th due to bad weather. The Patagonia area where they were going to operate was effected by strong winds and rain, and the operators were forced to leave the place. They apologize to the DX community for the cancellation.

P29, PAPUA NEW GUINEA. Kyle Harris informs OPDX that after a 7 year absence he has returned to P29-land. He has also received his old callsign back, P29KH, and has started to catch up on his DXing and Contesting. Kyle states, "Except for contests, I usually work almost exclusively CW. (We live in a house in the jungle with no acoustic insulation whatsoever. Having to listen to me work pileups on SSB rattles my wife and disturbs the neighbors. Acoustic RFI.) Right now I have a Moonraker broadband dipole, that unfortunately has to be oriented exactly 90 degrees off of the optimum orientation for Stateside (makes it great for Europe, though). That will change in a couple of months. In February, the tower and tribander go up along with a vertical for 40 and 80. My usual operating times are around 0900-1200 UTC and 2000-2300 UTC, mainly on weekends. 20,40,80 meters early, higher bands late. I usually operate about 40 khz up from the bottom of the band, listening up if there is a pileup. I have been told that once it is up I can load my tower for use as a 160 meter vertical. I plan to try that as well if I can find the article that describes how to do it." (If you have information/file to help Kyle load his tower, please send to the editor, and I will pass it on.) QSL P29KH via Tim, WD9DZV, his QSL Manager.

P5, NORTH KOREA. Ed, P5/4L4FN, continues to be active daily, however, he has changed his 10 meter frequency to 28580 kHz to get away from QRM of non-hams. According to Bruce's, KK5DO, Web page Ed has made contact with ten 10-X members and has qualified for his own 10-X number (his number is 72722) making it a new country for DXCC 10-X'ers after November 29, 2001. Reportedly, Ed has made his 1,000th QSO on November 25th, hopefully they will all count towards DXCC and make 1,000 hams so very happy. Online logs are usually posted about 12 hours after the contacts are made, if they do not appear, please just check back later. They will be posted as soon as possible. On November 21st, the Butternut Vertical HF and Bencher Keyer were delivered, and it was indicated that he is now using it (however, the Web site does not mention this as this was being written). It was stressed on the Web page to "Do NOT send E-mail directly to Ed. He is receiving E-mail that has gone to the Director of the World Food Program. This is a very bad idea. First, Ed cannot make schedules with all 1,000,000 hams that want one. Second, if Ed receives too many E-mails, they will terminate his E-mail and then we have no way to get in touch with him." So, watch for Ed's activity on 10 meters between 2200-2300z (sometimes later on the weekends). He was also spotted on 20 meters (14195 kHz/EU list operation) around 1230z this past weekend. QSL via KK5DO.

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

W4FRU SK. It is with great sadness to report John Parrott, W4FRU, has become a "Silent Key" (SK) on Novenber 28th at the age of 79. John is well-known as a QSL Manager and avid DXer. OPDX and its readers would like to send out our deepest sympathy to John's family and friends. He will be dearly missed.

SPECIAL EVENTS BY W1AW. The Maxim Memorial Station W1AW has scheduled two Special Event operations during the month of December.

  1. Look for W1AW to be on the air December 3-7th to honor the 80th anniversary of the 1921 Transatlantic tests. Listen for W1AW/80 on many HF and VHF bands (including satellites).
  2. W1AW also will celebrate the 40th anniversary of the first Amateur Radio satellite--OSCAR I--launched into orbit on December 12, 1961. W1AW will be on the air as W1AW/40 December 10-14 on as many of the active satellites as possible.

A special QSL card will be available for contacts or listener reports on both events. QSL requests for W1AW/80 and W1AW/40 go to: W1AW, 225 Main St, Newington, CT 06111. Include a self-addressed, stamped envelope or the appropriate number of IRCs with each request.

SPECIAL MARCONI EVENT. Look for stations KPH and K6KPH to be on the air December 12, 2001, to help celebrate the 100th anniversary of the first wireless signal to cross the Atlantic, received by Marconi on December 12, 1901, at St. John's Newfoundland. Station K6KPH will be active beginning at 1700z on amateur radio frequencies: 3545, 7050 and 14050 kHz. Radio station KPH will begin operations at 0000z on December 13th, transmitting on commerical frequencies 500 and 450 kHz (with most of the activity on 500 kHz). Both stations will use the original transmitters, receivers and antennas of famous ex-RCA coast station KPH. The transmitters are located at the transmitting station founded by the American Marconi Co. in 1913 at Bolinas, CA. The receivers and operators will be at the KPH receiving station about 20 miles north at Pt. Reyes, CA. Amateurs and shortwave listeners are invited to contact or monitor KPH and K6KPH. Maritime stations may call KPH on 500 kHz.

  KPH reception reports may            K6KPH reception reports may
  be sent to: Tom Horsfall             be sent to: Dick Dillman
              1862 Tulare Ave.                     435 Utah St., No. 4
              Richmond, CA 94805,                  San Francisco, CA 94110
              USA                                  USA

For more information, check out the Maritime Radio Historical Society Web site at: http://www.radiomarine.org

SPECIAL MARCONI EVENT. Look for special station IR7GM during the weekends of December to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Guglielmo Marconi's first Transatlantic wireless transmission. Activity will be on CW/SSB on all HF bands including the WARC bands. QSL to IK7JWX via the bureau or direct.

SPECIAL PREFIXES. A special event prefix has been authorized to be used by all Canadian Radio Amateurs to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Guglielmo Marconi's first Transatlantic wireless transmission. This special event prefix is sponsored by Radio Amateurs of Canada. The special prefixes assigned to this special event will be: VX for VE's, VG for VA's, XJ for VO's and XK for VY's. Canadian amateurs can use these prefixes between December 12, 2001 to February 12, 2002.

TI9, COCOS ISLAND. Bill, AK0A, reports that they still need two more operators to join their DXpedition. For details on the DXpedition and on how to join the operation, check the Web page at: http://www.qsl.net/ti2hmg/cocos.htm

V7, MARSHALL ISLANDS. Steve, 3D2SJ, who has been recently active from Tarawa, West Kiribati, as T30ED, will move on to Marshall Island. He will be active as V73ED between December 6-13th. His band/mode activity was not mentioned, but on T30 he was active on 20 meters SSB. QSL via 3D2SJ: Fr. Steve Dives MSC, P.O. Box 1354, Suva, Fiji Islands.

VP8, SOUTH SANDWICH AND SOUTH GEORGIA ISLANDS. In the ANAN News, Marty Betts reports that a group of hams have chartered a New Zealand vessel, registered under the name "Braveheart", for part of the 2001-2002 season, to conduct operations from South Sandwich Islands as well as South Georgia early next year. The group, which has received permission from the proper governments of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands for the operation, is hoping to make in an excess of 100,000 QSOs with hams around the world in the second half of January and early February. The twelve operator team , who are reportedly from Canada, Ireland, The Netherlands, Switzerland and the United States, are to assemble in Port Stanley during the first half of January, and leave there on the "Braveheart" for island operations around the middle of that month. The team expects to be active January 18th from the former manager's villa at the old Husvik whaling station on the central north coast of South Georgia for about a week. After their activities at Husvik, they will again depart on the "Braveheart" on January 25th for the island of Southern Thule some 500 km to the southeast, near the southern end of the South Sandwich Islands chain. They expect to be active between January 28th and February 3rd. List of operators, QSL information, bands and modes of operation were not provided at this time.

YA, AFGHANISTAN. In OPDX.538, we mentioned that well-known DXer Peter Casier, ON6TT (aka 5X1T), was in Afghanistan and not be surprised if he would try to obtain permission to operate. Well, on November 21st Peter was heard as YA/ON6TT/M operating in a convoy and later in the week the foreign ministry of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan (Northern Alliance) issued the callsign YA5T, which can be used on all bands by Peter/ON6TT, Matts/ SM7PKK and Robert/S53R. The "Good News" is Wayne Mills, N7NG/1, Manager of the Membership Service Dept for the ARRL, reports: "The DXCC Desk has received acceptable documentation for YA5T operated by ON6TT, S53R, SM7PKK or ON4WW. The documentation is for QSOs made November 20, 2001 and after. No other callsigns or operations have been approved as of this date." Also, a press release on Tuesday, November 27th by Peter states, "The YA5T license is now secured and approved by the DXCC for with S53R, SM7PKK, ON4WW and ON6TT as operators. The team members all work for the United Nations World Food Programme. Only Peter, ON6TT, is in Afghanistan at the moment, though the other team members will come in and out of Afghanistan as per requirements by their organization. So for the first couple of weeks or months, the operators will operate after their normal work duties, in smaller scale ham operations. Their work demands are very heavy and the living and working conditions are not always favourable. Peter is expected to be on the air in the evenings local time, as of November 28th, out of Kabul. He will be flying out of Kabul by the end of the week, but should be back into Afghanistan a week later. At this moment, due to cargo restrictions on the humanitarian flights, the equipment will be low power only, with limited antennas, restricting pileup operations to the main stream bands. Once the working conditions and security arrangements allow it, the team will mount a much larger scale operation. The license has no time restriction, and allows the team to operate from anywhere in Afghanistan from 160m up to SHF, with power up to 500W..... The earlier operation of YA/ON6TT/M (the callsign that was to be approved by the authorities, but later changed) is not valid for DXCC. Any contributions coming with the QSL cards will be used for humanitarian projects within Afghanistan." Peter was spotted early Sunday (December 2nd) morning operating on 21295 khz between 1300-1430z. He was also heard on 28495 kHz working Europe just before going to 15 meters.

The QSL Manager for YA5T is KU9C. The QSL process has been coordinated between Peter and the Northern California DX Association (NCDXF). The NCDXF is providing financial assistance involving QSL expense and perhaps some additional help as conditions warrant. Bruce, WD4NGB, has set up a Web page for this operation with more info and pictures. Please visit it at: http://www.qsl.net/ya5t/ There is also indications that Marcel, F6EKD, has been given oral permission to operate as YA/F6EKD. He will obtain the proper written license and hopes to receive a proper YA callsign.


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