Ohio/Penn DX Bulletin No. 482
October 23, 2000

The Ohio/Penn DX PacketCluster
DX Bulletin No. 482
BID: $OPDX.482
October 23, 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, KF2HC, N2OO, W2GR, WB2YQH/WB2RAJ & The 59(9) DX Report, W3LEO, W3UR & The Daily DX, K4VUD, KJ4UY, W4SO, KG6AR/4, W1HIJ/6, K8YSE, 9K2HN, BA1DU, BD7NQ, CE6TBN, CO8LY, CT1EWA, DF6EX, DJ5AV & DX News Letter, DJ5JH, DL5XL, ER1LW, F6AJA & Les Nouvelles DX, FK8GM, FK8HC, G3XTT, GM3WOJ, HA0HW, I4UFH, RN3RQ, RN6AH, SQ9LR, TA3YJ, UK9AA, UR7GG, YO3FWC, YS1RR, ZL1DD and ZS5BBO for the following DX information.

EDITOR'S NOTES: WOW! What a week for DXing. A lot of exciting activity is expected in the coming week and weekend due to the CQ World-Wide DX Phone Contest, October 28-29th. Also, do not forget about the Kingman Reef DXpedition and the German DXpedition to Eritrea. Have fun! P.S. If someone wants to put together for me a nice CQWW SSB Contest List of all the operations (ASCII format, no graphics, keep it under 80 characters wide), I will send it out before next weekend to all OPDX InterNet Subscribers.

3D, FIJI. "The DX News Letter" reports that Ron, ZL1AMO/3D2RW, is once again active until October 30th. He is expected to activate Mana (OC-121) for one week, but this may be over with by the time you read this. QSL via ZL1AMO.

3D2, CONWAY REEF (Update). Another press release by Hrane, YT1AD, was sent out with more details on their DXpedition. The list of operators are as follows so far: Hrane/YT1AD, Rasa/YU1RL, Miki/YU1AU (or Ratko/YU1NR), Rale/YT6A, Dragan/Z32AU, Mome/Z32ZM and Ray/YS1RR (still not confirmed). Earlier in the week, there were some concerns raised on the groups operation during the hurricane season. Hrane reported the following: "This year the huricane season will be starting 10 to 15 of Nov. 2000 and will finsh at about 1 Jan. 2001 so later on, in the middle of January the sea is in calm again. The captain told me that after the Christmas season the weather is ok for dx epedition." Anyway, the press release states that the team will fly from LA to Fiji in the first days of February and expecting to arrive in Fiji earlier in the morning. They will depart in their boat from the Fiji Port "Pacifik Harbour" on the afternoon of February 5th. The team join all together at the airport Nanadi. They will then take a boat trip at sea, which is quite long, for about 40 hours. They expect to arrive on Conway about 4:00 to 6:00 AM (local time) on February 7th in the morning. Hrane states that the boat "is big, 20 meters long and has 10 sleeping places, and we will have profesional kitchen." They will then start to assemble antennas, towers, tents, generators..etc... etc., and will try very quickly to have the first station on the air. They plan to have all 3 station active and working at all times around the clock, until February 15th. After the operation, they will return to Fiji where they will stay for 3 days on the island to operate. They will return to L.A. on February 19th. All the operators, with exception of YU1RL and YT1AD, will go back to Europe from L.A., and YU1RL and YT1AD will go to El Salvador to operate in the ARRL Contest from YS1RR QTH.

4M, VENEZUELA. Scott, W4SO, will be active from here as 4M5X for the CQWW CW Contest as a Single Band 20 meter entry. Hhowever, he states there is a slight chance that it will be a Single Band entry on 15 meters, but he is leaning towards 20. QSL via W4SO.

4U1VIC, VIENNA INTERNATIONAL CENTRE (Austria). In the CQ World Wide DX Contest 2000 (SSB), the Rhein Ruhr DX Association (RRDXA) will again join the competition from 4U1VIC in Vienna, Austria, with a multi-operator team. 4U1VIC is a separate country on the DARC's WAE list, and thus a multiplier in the CQ's contests. QSL cards will be sent via the OE bureau. If you need a direct reply, please send your card with SAE and return postage to: Vienna International Amateur Radio Club (VIARC), Vienna International Centre, P.O. Box 200, A-1400 Vienna, Austria.

9K, KUWAIT. Hamad, 9K2HN, will be signing 9K9X in the CQWW SSB Contest as a Single Op/All Band entry. QSL are "OK" via Bureau.

9M6, EAST MALAYSIA (Update). Peter, G4MJS, will be active as 9M6BAA from October 17-31st, from Hillview Gardens Amateur Radio Club, Keningau, Sabah, East Malaysia. IOTA Reference is OC-088, Island of Borneo. The QTH Locator (Grid) is OJ85CH. Operation will be mostly on 50 MHz, with occasional activity on HF as time allows. The 50 MHz operating frequency will be 50.115 MHz, with a CW beacon running when not in QSO. QSL 9M6BAA via G4SHF. More info can be found on the 9M6BAA Web page at: http://www.9m6baa.com

A5, BHUTAN (Update). Both Yani (9M6US, YB0US) and Charly (K4VUD, HS0ZCW, 9N7UD, V26V, XW1UD) have paid all their fees and airplane tickets in advance to travel to and stay in Thimphu, Bhutan arriving December 1st and departing about December 9th. Charly states that he has paid the extra fee for permission to run 1 kw on all bands. The two operators will have a tribander (and maybe 2 more and a WARC-bander depending on repairs) and wire antennas. Charly states, "These are totally self-financed trips, so no web site, no huge 160 meters antennas, no E-mail, and so on, but we plan to have a lot of fun." Charly's callsign will be A52UD (Yani's was not mentioned). Charly will be on SSB and CW, emphasizing the low bands, and Jani plans RTTY. QSL requests for A52UD go to K4VUD (direct with SASE is faster, bureau replies will be very slowt); Jani will announce his separate QSL address and policy. Anyone still wanting to join the group, must act very fast as a month lead time is likely needed for this kind of trip. OPDX InterNet Subscribers will receive Charly's complete press release as an additional bulletin.

A6, U.A.E. Frank, DL2CC, will be active from the United Arab Emirates as A61AJ from October 24th through November 1st. Activity will include an entry in the CQWW SSB Contest on all bands. Activity before and after the contest will include 6 and 160 meters. QSL only via W3UR.

B1, CHINA. A group of hams from "The Beijing DX Club" will participate this upcoming CQWW SSB Contest as Multi-Single category. Their callsign will be B1Z. QSL via JA4HCK.

B7, CHINA. A groups of Hams in the Guangdong Province will be active in the CQWW SSB/CW Contests using the special callsign B7K. QSL via BD7NQ: P.O.Box 599, Foshan GD 58000, P.R. CHINA.

CE0X, SAN AMBROSIO ISLAND. Marco, CE6TBN, Team Leader for the San Ambrosio Island DXpedition 2001, informs OPDX that the following operators will be active from here: CE6NE, CE6SAX, CE3AQI/NP4IW, OH1EB, OH2BH, OH2RF, DJ9ZB, K0EU and himself CE6TBN. They will be on the air as CE0XT from San Ambrosio (IOTA SA-013). CE0X is ranked #34 on the ARRL DXCC Most Needed List. Activity will begin the second full week of Februry 2001 on 160, 80, 40, 30, 20, 17, 15, 12 and 10 meters on SSB, CW, RTTY and PSK. There will be three or four 1kw stations. QSL Managers is CE6TBN: Marco A. Quijada, P.O.Box 1234, Temuco, Chile. Any support is welcome. Please visit the DXpedition's Web site at: http://www.qsl.net/ce0xt/

CO8, CUBA. Eduardo, CO8LY, will participate in the CQWW SSB Contest as Single Op/Multi Band/Low Power entry. QSL direct to his Manager EA7ADH.

CS7, PORTUGAL. Paulo, CT1EWA, states that he will be active in the CQWW DX SSB Contest with the special callsign CS7EWA. QSL via CT1EWA by bureau or direct.

D68, COMOROS. Another bulletin was release this past week on the forthcoming D68C DXpedition to the Comoros. OPDX InterNet Subscribers will receive the complete release as an additional bulletin. In short, you will have heard Don, G3OZF, operating as D68/G3OZF while on a survey trip for the D68C operation., some invaluable work in getting everything lined up for the upcoming operation. Also announced was the D68C Web Page, which is now up and running at: http://www.dxbands.com/comoros/ Yaesu was announced as the a major sponsor, however, further sponsorship is being sought, especially from DX groups and foundations, to help with the high cost of shipping some 3 tons of equipment to D68. Since their last bulletin, the following have joined the DXpedition team: Tim/G4VXE (a technology wizz), Yoichi/JP1NWZ (an all-rounder), and Rob/PE9PE. Rob will be especially welcome to 6 meters, VHF and satellite operators. He will be ensuring that D68C is available via the current range of amateur satellites. Remind, the expedition itself will take place over the period of roughly 8th to 28th February 2001.

E3, ERITREA. Chris/DL5NAM and Dieter/DF4RD are now active as E30TA through November 1st. Activity is all over the bands with nice signals. QSL to DL5NAM.

EA8, CANARY ISLANDS. Look for Pekka, OH1RY, to be active from the EA8AH/EA8BH contest station through the CQWW SSB Contest.

EM3/EN5, UKRAINE. OPDX was informed of the following stations will be active in next weeks CQWW DX SSB Contest. Look for EM3J to be active as a Single-Op operation and EN5J will be activated by the Crimea Contest Club as a Multi-Single operation. QSL both to KG6AR/4: Chris Williams, 220 Woods Landing Ln., Callaway, VA. 24067.

ER, MOLDOVA. Slawa, ER1LW, will be using the callsign ER6A in the CQWW SSB/CW/RTTY Contests. Please send QSL cards to his home address at: P.O.Box 112, Chisinau, MD-2012, Moldova.

EZ, TURKMENISTAN. Alex, EZ8CQ, will start being active on RTTY in early November. He has also begin to be active on 160 meters. Look for him around 1830 kHz at 2000z. Skeds are welcome, send E-mail to: ez8cq@qsl.net QSL via W0FS (USA only) or I2JSB (rest of the world, direct only).

FK, NEW CALEDONIA. Franck, FK8HC, informs OPDX that he will be active in the CQWW DX SSB Contest this month on 80 meters and a Mono Operator/Mono Band as FK8HC. He hope this band will run well during this contest weekend. QSL via VK4FW, P.O. Box 929, Gympie 4570 QLD, AUSTRALIA. Also, look for Eric, FK8GM, to be active on 40 meters as a Single Op/Single band entry in next week's CQWW SSB DX Contest.

FM, MARTINIQUE. The "Les Nouvelles DX" reports that after some delay, Gerard, F2JD, is in Martinique. He will stay there for 6 months, at least. Look for him to be active FM/F2JD.

FO0, AUSTRAL ISLAND. Look for FO0WEG to be operated by Janusz/SP9FIH and Rafai/SQ9LR will be active from Tubuai Island in the Austral Island group (IOTA OC-152) from now until November 4th. Activity will be on 80-6 meters. They will be active on SSB and probably RTTY near the usual DXpedition and IOTA frequencies or 10 kHz down, for example (14185, 21285, 28485) using two 100w transceivers and vertical + 3 element tribander + 5 element on 6 meters. Their minimum plan is 20000 QSOs. A possible longer operation or an operation on another country if they receive additional donation. For donations and QSLs, send to SP9FIH: Box 480, 44-100 Gliwice, Poland.

FO0, FRENCH POLYNESIA. Bill, W1HIJ/6, will be active as FO0SCH from the Mai Moana Resort at Bora Bora (OC-067) between October 31st and November 8th. Plans are for mostly CW operations with some phone and PSK31/MFSK, assuming that the computer stays in operation. There will definitely be activity on 20/15/10 meters, but he will try 40 meters if the wire gods cooperate (he hopes to be on 80/75 meters as well). QSL via W6UFT either CBA or via the bureau.

FS, FRENCH ST. MARTIN. Members of the North Jersey DX Association (NJDXA), Brass Pounders Club of Bucks County, and the West Essex Amateur Radio Club (WEARC) will be on the air from French St. Martin December 5-12th. They will operate Multi-Op/Mixed Mode in the ARRL 10 Meter Contest using the call sign FS/W2JJ. Operators Mike/WA2VUN, Jay/WB2BHC, Gene/K2KJI, Maryann/K2RVH, Bob/W5GJ, Ann/W2AZK, and Brian/KF2HC should be on the air by 2300z on December 5th. Plans are to have 2 stations covering SSB and CW on all HF bands as well as a station for 2 and 6 meters. A 6 meter beacon and satellite activity may also be part of the operation, if conditions at their QTH allow. Efforts will be made to operate in the U.S. general bands as pileups and conditions permit. Individual callsigns may be used at times but the majority of the operating will be with the callsign FS/W2JJ. QSL via the callsign worked.

GZ, SHETLAND ISLAND (SCOTLAND). The North of Scotland Contest Group are proud to announce that they will be using a new prefix in next weekend's CQWW SSB Contest. They will be signing GZ7V (not GS2MP as previously announced). Thanks to the RSGB and the UK Licensing Authority, the R.A., holders of UK Special Contest Callsigns, they can now use the prefix GZ or MZ when operating from Shetland in major contests. The 'Z' refers to the old name for Shetland which is "Zetland". For more information, send E-mail to: gm3woj@talk21.com Or visit their Web site at: http://www.gm7v.com

HB0, LIECHTENSTEIN (QRP). A group HA ops will be active from here from November 1-8th and take part in the HA-QRP Contest which is organized by "The RADIOTECHNIKA and its publisher The RADIOVILAG Ltd." The members of the group are Laci/HA6NL, Zsolt/HA6PS, Csaba/HA6PX and Tibor/HA6ZV. The operators will work on all other bands, CW and SSB with their own HBo callsigns, however, during the contest they will use HB0/HA5RT/p. Look for them to be on 3511 kHz (+/- QRM) with a QRP transmitter. QSL HB0/HA5RT/p via HA6NL, all others, please send via the operators own callsign via HA bureau or direct.

IG9, ITALY. Fabio, I4UFH, states that the IG9A crew will be active from Italian (African Island group, IOTA AF-019) in next week's contest, but BEFORE and AFTER the contest for the IG9A crew will be read their E-mail at the follow address: ig9a2000@libero.it For any information, update please check their Web site at: http://www.mcc-italy.it/ig9y2k.htm

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

J2, DJBOUTI. The "Les Nouvelles DX" reports that David, F5THR, is signing J28EX and has been here since May 2000. He will be here for 2 years. We could not find any QSNs on this station to report.

J4, GREECE. Wolff, DJ5JH, informs OPDX that he will once again be active from here during the CQWW SSB Contest using the special callsign J43J.

KH5K, KINGMAN REEF. As this was being written Sunday morning, the KRPDXG team is active as "K5K". The team arrived on Palmyra October 19th to pickup Mike, KH6ND, and some equipment that was left from visits by various team members earlier this year.. They decided to stay a few hours and operate on Palmyra before heading to Kingman Reef on October 20th. The team arrived at Kingman Reef, have transferred all equipment safely to the reef but high winds did hampered their efforts. Look for them to be active until November 1st.

MM0, SCOTLAND. Leo, W3LEO, will once again be active from Portpatrick in southwest Scotland from about October 24th through November 16th. However, Leo states that this is again a vacation and not a DXpedition and "time on the air will depend on the antennas, on propagation, and on when the nearby pubs are open, HI..." He will use his new Scottish callsign MM0LEO and plans to be in the CQWW SSB Contest. He will use an Icom 706 (100 watts), an R-5 vertical [10, 12, 15, 17, 20 meters], and a Cheltenham Communications HFV-1 helical wound vertical for 40 & 80 with Slinky radials. He "may" try and get on PSK-31. QSL to W3LEO via his CBA (with SASE) or via the U.S. bureau. ADDED NOTES BY W3LEO: IOTA: EU-005 [Great Britain]; CQ Zone: 14; ITU Zone: 27; Grid Square: IO-74ku; Worked All Britain [WAB] Square: NW-95. WEB NOTES: The nearby pub is 27 steps from the front door of the cottage. Some URLs to check:

OH2BH CQWW SSB DX CONTEST NEWS..................... An excerpt of a press release from Martti, OH2BH, provided/sent out by Tim, N4GN, reports a lot of activity will take place by OH operators during next week's contest. (OPDX InterNet Subscribers will receive the complete OH2BH press release as an additional bulletin.) Martti is calling this year's operators approach to the CQWW DX Contest as a "FINLAND FORMULA ONE RACING TEAM". The team has been working hard to build competitive sites for the current racing season. Ilkka Korpela, OH1WZ, will be piloting the OH0BH site on Aland Islands, targeting a new European all-band record, while Timo Klimoff, OH1NOA is going to be at the controls at OH2BH, aiming for an all-time high from mainland Finland. However, due to a cancelled Far East operation, both Martti, OH2BH, and Pekka, OH2TA, will be participating in the CQWW SSB contest by joining the JW5E team on Svalbard and making a double multiplier available for this year's event together with Mathias, LA5NM/JW5NM, and Ragnar, LA7FD/JW7FD, and their team.

OH0, ALAND ISLAND. Jukka, OH6LI, will be active in both the CW and SSB CQWW DX Contests as OH0V on 10 meters. QSL via Jukka Klemola, Aarontie 5, 31400 Somero, FINLAND.

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

RW3, EUROPEAN RUSSIA. Andy, RW3RQ, will be active as Single OP/All Band entry in the CQWW SSB Contest from Zone 16. All stations who work RW3RQ on 6 bands (Europe) or 5 bands (DX) will be presented by the "Michurinsk Contest Groupe" a medal/trophy free of charge. However, please, send 2 IRCs for postal expenses. Other information is available via E-mail: mcg@pub.tmb.ru Send QSLs via Jack Yatskiv, RN3RQ, P.O.Box 30, Michurinsk 393760, Russia

SPECIAL EVENT (Extinguishing of "Last Oil Well"). On August 2, 1990, the Iraqi forces brutally occupied the state of Kuwait. Baghdad refused all worldwide appeals to withdraw. Consequently, the world waged a just war against Iraq. Upon their overwhelming defeat and retreating from Kuwait, the Iraqi forces set fire intentionally over 600 Kuwaiti oil wells. After several months of firefighting, day and night, the catastrophe came to an end leaving behind an environmental devastation from which Kuwait is still suffering. The extinguinshing of the last oil well marked a great event for which the nation celebrated in November 1991. On November 4-6th, the State of Kuwait will celebrate in commemoration of this national event. KARS will participate by operating actively during these three days and it is pleased to invite all licensed radio amateurs around the world to take part. The callsign allocated for this event is 9K2LOW (LOW: Last Oil Well). Contacts will be made on any band and any mode. There will be special QSL cards, the requests of which should be addressed directly to 9K2RA.

SPECIAL EVENT. Look for special event station from Yugoslavia using the callsign YU130Z to be active until November 20th to celebrate the 130th Anniversary of Fire Brigade "Matica". QSL via YU1AVQ.

TA, TURKEY. There will be plently of activity from here durin the CQWW SSB Contest. Look the following station on the following bands:

TT8, CHAD. Christian (ex-6W1QV, D2SA, FH/TU5AX, TT8SA, TR8SA etc... ) is now active for the next 16 months as TT8DX from Moundou (south of the country) close to Cameroun and Centrafrique. Activity will be 80-6 meters SSB. He will use a TS690s (all bands HF w/6m) with a 1500 watts linear for HF and 400 watts for 6m, HF2V and 7 element beam for the upper bands. QSL via F5OGL bureau or direct.

UK0, UZBEKISTAN. Fedor, UK9AA, states that he may be only station active from Uzbekistan in the CQWW SSB Contest. He will use the callsign UK0A as a Single Op/All bands entry in the contest. QSL via UK9AA: P.O. Box 58, Tashkent, 700000, Uzbekistan.

V47, ST. KITTS. Larry, KJ4UY, be going to St. Kitts. His daughter will be going to Ross Vet. School in St. Kitts starting next year. He will be arriving December 10th in the afternoon and leaving the afternoon of the 18th. Karl, V44NK is loaning Larry an A3 tribander and he is taking a R-7 vertical with an Icom IC-706. His callsign will be V47UY. QSL via KJ4UY.

V7, MARSHALL ISLANDS. Look for Bruce, AC4G, will sign V73CW once again from Kwajalein Island, the club station, from Oct 23-28th. The QSL via AC4G.

VP2, BERMUDA. Mark, AA1AC, will operate as AA1AC/VP9 from Hamilton Parish, Bermuda, from December 8-12th. Operations will include 10-80 meters CW/SSB, with an emphasis on the ARRL 10-meter Contest. QSL to CBA: 15 Coral Lane, Tiverton, RI 02878.

XE, MEXICO. Doug, W0AH, will be operating the CQWW Phone Contest as XE3/W0AH as a Single Op/All Band entry, either QRP or LP. He will use an IC-706 and old Hygain 18AVQ on a small dock over the Carribean Sea plus some loop antennas for 10 and 15 meters. There will be some 6 and 2 meters operations as time permits. QSL via W2GR direct or Bureau. Send direct with SASE or SAE and GS or IRC to: Mike Benjamin, 1064-99th Street, Niagara Falls NY 14304.

ZF2, CAYMAN ISLANDS. Steve, K3SA will be active as ZF2SA for the CQWW CW Contest and the ARRL 160 Meter Contests. Also, look for him (on CW) on all bands between contests. QSL via homecall.

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