Ohio/Penn DX Bulletin No. 553
March 11, 2002

The Ohio/Penn DX PacketCluster
DX Bulletin No. 553
BID: $OPDX.553
March 11, 2002
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, Sharon Taratula, NC1L, W3UR & The Daily DX, N4AA & QRZ DX, WA5PAE, N6MZ, AA7X, K8YSE, N9AG, K0SR, BV8BC, DJ2MX, DL1EK & DX News Letter, EA3BT, EA5RM, F5NQL & UFT, FJ5DX & La Gazette du DX, G4DMA, GM3WOJ, HL1VAU, IZ8BRI & Diamond News, JI3DST, OZ6OM & OZ 50 MHz DX Bulletin, PA1AW, PA5BW, S53R, VA3RJ & ICPO and ZK1CG for the following DX information.

DXCC COUNTRY/ENTITY REPORT: According to the AR-Cluster Network for the week of Sunday, 3/March, through Sunday, 10/March there were 238 countries active. Countries available: 3A, 3B8, 3D2, 3V, 3W, 4J, 4L, 4S, 4W, 4X, 5B, 5H, 5N, 5R, 5U, 5V, 5Z, 6W, 6Y, 7Q, 7X, 8P, 8Q, 8R, 9A, 9G, 9H, 9J, 9K, 9L, 9M2, 9M6, 9N, 9Q, 9V, 9Y, A2, A3, A4, A5, A6, A7, A9, AP, BV, BY, C2, C3, C5, C6, 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, HC, HH, HI, HK, HK0/a, HL, HP, HR, HS, HV, HZ, I, IS, J2, J3, J6, J7, J8, JA, JD/o, JT, JW, JX, JY, K, KG4, KH0, KH2, KH4, 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, PY0S, PY0T, PZ, S2, S5, S7, SM, SP, SU, SV, SV/a, SV5, SV9, T30, T7, T8, T9, TA, TF, TG, TI, TK, TL, TT, TU, TY, UA, UA2, UA9, UK, UN, UR, V2, V3, V4, V5, V7, VE, VK, VP2E, VP2V, VP5, VP6, VP8, VP8/h, VP8/o, VP9, VQ9, VR, VU, XE, XT, XU, XW, XX9, YA, YB, YI, YJ, YK, YL, YN, YO, YS, YU, YV, Z2, Z3, ZA, ZB, ZC4, ZD7, ZD8, ZD9, ZF, ZK1/s, ZK2, ZK3, ZL, ZP, ZS

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

3W, VIETNAM (New IOTA). Yuki/JI6KVR will lead a team of operators consisting of JA6IEF, Hau/3W2LI and 3W2KA (3W2LI's son) to activate a new IOTA in the South China Sea Coast North Group called Cham Island which is located 20 km south of Hoi-an and about 30 km from Danang. The callsigns for this operation will be XV3C, 3W3C, 3W2LI/3 and 3W2KA/3, respectively. The team will depart from Fukuoka to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, on March 12th. The team expects to be on the air during the late hours of March 13th and will be working in a non-stop operation with two stations active until their departure on March 18th. Operations will be from 160 through 6 meters on SSB and CW. Special plans have been made to insure that the low bands and 6 meters are activated with appropiate antennas and experienced operators dedicated to overcome the challenges that these bands offer. Visit the DXpedition Web site at: http://www3.ocn.ne.jp/~iota/newpage25.htm The online log will be available when operators return back home. Questions before the operation begins can be sent to JI6KVR at: ji6kvr@orange.ocn.ne.jp The team is looking for individual support and contributions, and they can be sent to JI6KVR or with your QSL-SASE to EA5KB/EA5RM.

The Cham Island DX Team would like to express deep thanks to the VARC (Vietnam Amateur Radio club) and Hau 3W2LI for their extremely important support that will permit the World Ham Radio Community a contact with Cham Island on all popular modes and bands.

Pilot stations:

5R, MADAGASCAR. Bruno, F5DKO, who has been active as 5R8/F5DKO from the island of Nosy Be (AF-057), currently does not have a valid 5R license. Ben, PA5BW (aka 5R8DS), informed OPDX that he talked to Bruno, and he admitted to him that he does not have a valid license. So the operation is NOT valid for DXCC or IOTA. According to Bruno, the Radio Administration had been closed when he arrived in the capitol city, Tananarive. His plans are to pass via Tananarive again when he travels to Ile Sainte Marie (AF-090). Ben gave Bruno the telephone number of the President of the Malagasy Amateur Radio Asociation (Solofo, 5R8ET) in the hope that he can still obtain a license. It will depend however on how much work he has done already to create a complete file BEFORE he went to Madagascar. Ben states, "To do just all that and get all appropriate signatures in the single day he is in Tananarive is totally unrealistic. As he did not know Solofo or any other 5R8-hams, I have my doubts about his preparations. ..... But we'll see. If he will make legal activity from Ile Sainte Marie he will have a 5R8+two letters callsign. All legal amateur radio stations on Madagascar have callsigns ranging form 5R8DA through HZ or so. No 5R8/homecalls... have ever been issued."

7Q, MALAWI. Harry, G0JUM, continues to be active as 7Q7HB until April 28th. He was heard this past week on 14220 kHz around 0315z. In past weeks, he was heard on 21324 and 28600 kHz between 1400-1800z. QSL via G0IAS direct only to: Allan Hickman, The Conifers, High Street, Elkesley, Retford, DN22 8AJ Notts, UK.

ARRL PRESS RELEASE on their "Electronic QSL Policy". OPDX InterNet Subscribers will receive an additional bulletin containing this press release by Wayne Mills, N7NG.

C6, BAHAMAS. Bill, AA7X, will be operating as C6AKK from Exuma Island (NA-001) from March 23-31st. This includes an entry in the CQWW WPX Contest. QSL to AA7X.

CT3, MADEIRA ISLANDS. Hardy/DL3KWF and Rosel/DL3KWR are active now as CT3/homecall until March 21st. Activity will be only on CW and mainly on the WARC bands. They were spotted this past weekend on 10106, 18072 and 24889 kHz at various times. All QSOs will be answered automatically on E-QSL at: http://www.eQSL.cc A QSL card is available via the bureau as well.

EA8, CANARY ISLANDS. Axel, DL5SDK, will be active as EA8/DL5SDK this coming weekend, March 17-22nd. Activity will be on 14300, 21350 and 28400 kHz using only a 100 watts into a 3 element tri-band beam. QSL via the bureau.

FG, GUADELOUPE. Look for Pierre, F6FXS, to be active as FG/F6FXS for a month starting April 17th to May 16th. Pierre will use an IC-706 and a long wire antenna; his power will be about 30to 40 watts. He will also take a FD3 antenna if he can put it in his luggage. Suggested frequencies are: 28030, 21030, 14030 and 7023 +/- QRM and CW only. Suggested operating times are: 1400-1600z on 10 and 15 meters; and possibly from 2100-2200z on 20 and 40 meters. QSL via home callsign direct to CBA or via the French bureau.

HI9, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC. Danny, T93M, will be active as T93M/HI9 between March 26th and April 1st. Activity will be on all HF bands, CW and SSB with special attention to 6 meters. His operation will include SOAB entry in CQWW WPX SSB Contest. QSL via DJ2MX through DARC bureau, direct or via E-mail at: dj2mx@t-online.de ADDED NOTE: All direct QSLs for the FG/T93M activity have been processed and a picture of his QSL may be found in the QSL gallery on the Web site: http://www.dj2mx.com

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

KG4, GUANTANAMO BAY. Jay/K4ZLE and Pick/WA5PAE will be visiting GITMO again from March 21-30th and sign KG4MO and KG4IZ, respectively. Their activity will place an emphasis on the low bands including 160 meters. The majority of their operations will be on CW. QSL via their home callsigns.

LIGHTHOUSE ACTIVITY. Look for Francis/F6HKS and Jean Claude/F6HDH to be active on March 17th, starting about 0800z, for the day long operation from L'Espiguette Lighthouse (Gard Department) located South of Le Grau du Roi (ARLHS FRA 276; DPLF PB 069 - French Onshore Lighthouses Program). Activity will be mainly on 40 and 20 meters. If propagation is good, they will be on 15 meters. Look for Francis as F6HKS/p on CW and Jean-Claude as F6HDH/p on SSB. QSL via the French REF Bureau or direct via the current CBA.

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

P5, NORTH KOREA (YU op). This one is currently up in the air. All we can say is wait and listen. During last week there was conflicting information about Hrane's, YT1AD, location (was he at the airport in Rome, presumably heading back to Belgrade or in Pyongyang, North Korea). It is believed he is in Pyongyang with Voja, YU7AV, the docs/permits and is awaiting the "OK" to begin Amateur Radio transmissions (which they hope will happen March 11th). All activity so far (P5/YT1AD) has been the work of a pirate.

PJ2, CURACAO. Steve/N8BJQ and Geoff/W0CG will be active between March 14th through April 2nd as PJ2/homecall. They plan to operate in the CQ WW WPX-SSB Contest as Single Op (possible single bands) entry as PJ2T. QSL via their home callsigns. QSL PJ2T via N9AG.

TN, CONGO. Josep/EA3BT and Nuria/EA3WL are planning another DXpedition; this time to the Congo between May 16-27th. You may remember them from their 2001 DXpedition to Comoros as D68BT and D68WL. They have applied for the callsigns TN3B and TN3W (still not comfirmed). They plan for activity on 80-6 meters with operations on SSB/RTTY and some CW. Two stations will be active with beams (for 20/17/15/12/10) and dipoles (for 40/80 meters) in the hope to provide a "new one" (entity/band/mode) to as many as possibe. The Congo is listed as the 38th most wanted entity by the ARRL's DXCC. Check out their Web page for more information at: http://www.qsl.net/ea3bt/

V51, NAMIBIA. Laurence (aka "Flo"), KL7/G4DMA, informs OPDX that he will be active as V51/G4DMA from Aris, Central Namibia, from March 17th until the end of the month. Activity will be on 80-6 meters.

VP6/D, DUCIE ISLAND. There were no press releases over the past week to report on. The VP6/D team should be leaving Mangareva, French Polynesia, (March 12th) to head to Pitcairn Island by the time you read this. They will pickup supplies and operators, and then head to Ducie Island (two day trip). Activity should take place by the weekend. Keep watching the following Web page for updated details at: http://www.qsl.net/wd5ngb/ducie.htm

XQ0X, SAN FELIX ISLAND. Mike, N6MZ, provided the following update: "The San Felix 2002 DXpedition is on schedule to hit the airwaves around March 17th, with radio operations continuing for approximately 12-14 days. Expedition leader Carlos, NP4IW/CE3AQI, arrived in Chile on Tuesday, March 5th, and is busy making final preparations; the rest of the 13-person team will arrive later this week. Departure from Valparaiso is scheduled for March 12th, and the vessel is scheduled to make port at Isla Juan Fernandez (CE0Z) during the outbound voyage. Please see the expedition web site http://www.cordell.org/SFX/ for for more information on frequencies and operating plans. Radio operations manager Mike, N6MZ, worked closely with the Ducie Island expedition team to coordinate frequencies and splits, given that both expeditions will be on the air simultaneously. The teams hope that this coordination will maximize the success of both operations. The web site will contain a Web Log QSO search and frequent news updates, both thanks to our USA pilot Dr. Bill, K6GNX, and our EU pilot Klaus, DL1XX. The San Felix 2002 DXpedition is being undertaken in conjunction with Cordell Expeditions (Robert Schmieder, KK6EK), a nonprofit organization that has carried out expeditions to remote sites for more than 20 years. Contributions made to the expedition through Cordell Expeditions are eligible for income tax deductions as a donation to a 501( c )( 3 ) organization. Some expedition expenses will be quite large (for example, use of the Chilean Navy's helicopter), so your contributions are still needed and will be greatly appreciated."

YA, AFGHANISTAN (YA5T Update). Robert, S53R/YA5T, reports the following dated March 7th: "YA5T has not been much on the air during the past week due to work commintments. It really is hard to get on the radio after working for 18 hours and you have to be up at 7 o'clock in the morning - day after day. However, since our last report we have hit over 17,000 QSOs. First U.S. contact on 80 meters also came through. I bet you know who that was! Bob, W6RJ - and it was on SSB long path. Bob serves as a beacon every day, hi! In following days N7UA and W6KW were also worked CW with very good sigs. Don't forget we are using 100W and a piece of wire. 160 meters is going well with some 400 Qs, but no U.S. so far. ICOM America is sponsoring a PW1 kilowatt amplifier, so I hope we are getting closer and closer to YA - North America contact! Mark, ON4WW, left Kabul today and will do some ground work for WFP in the next weeks in northern part of the country. Peter, ON6TT, was here for 2 days, but just too busy to do any radio. I stay for another 3 weeks and promise to be on bands as much as possible. So, CU in the next days from 160-10..... 73 Robert, S53R / YA5T"

ZD8, ASCENCION ISLAND. By the time you read this, Jim, N6TJ, should be on the air again as ZD8Z until March 21st. Activity will be on all bands on CW and SSB, with an emphasis on 160 meters and the WARC bands. QSL via VE3HO, direct only.

ZK3, TOKELAU ISLANDS. Station signing ZK3HC has been active over the past weekend on 20 meters CW. Activity has been on 14025 kHz after 0400z up to 0900z. There was one QSN SSB report stating ZK3HC was on 21280 kHz around 1850z. QSL via DL9HCU.


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