The Ohio/Penn DX PacketCluster
DX Bulletin No. 453
BID: $OPDX.453
March 20, 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, WB2YQH/WB2RAJ & The 59(9) DXReport, W3HC, W3UR & The Daily DX, N4GN, W5WP, N6DE, AA7X, K8YSE, NE8Z, KU9C, NZ9Z, A41KG, CT1END, DJ5AV & DX News Letter, DJ7IK, EA2JG, ER1LW, HB9BCK, I0MWI, JA3MZB, JH8KYU, LU1BCE, LY1FW, OH2BMH, PA3AXU, PA5ET, PS7AB, PT2BW, RA3SL, RA0FF, SM6CAS, SM0DJZ, SM0AGD, TI2DLL, UA0SJ, VK4ZEK, VK9NS, Z31JA, Z37GBC and I1JQJ & 425 DX News for the following DX information.
3V8, TOUZER, TUNISIA AND KERKENNAH ISLAND (Rare IOTA). Thanks for the update by the 425 DX News. Giovanni/I5JHW, and his group (I5NSR, I5OYY, IK5EKB, IK5FTQ, IK5JAN, IK5SQX and IK5ZTW) have received permission to be active from Touzer (mainland) and Kerkennah Island (IOTA AF-073) using the callsign 3V8BT from both locations. By the time you read this, the team of operators should be active from Touzer until March 21st. They will move onto Kerkennah Islands and be active March 24-26th. So look for 3V8BT on 40/15/20/10 meters. QSL via I5JHW either direct (Giovanni Bini, Via Santini 30, 51031 Agliana - PT, Italy) or through the bureau.
4S, SRI LANKA. John, NZ9Z, will be visiting here April 1-23rd. He plans to operate SSB and CW, and perhaps some RTTY on all bands from 80 through 10 meters. He is hoping to get the callsign 4S7NZG (the "G" is for guest operators). He will be using the NCDXF/IARU beacons to spot openings to North America on the higher bands. (The 10-meter 4S7B beacon has been heard shortpath in the Midwest about 1530Z.) QSL via W9DXA, the NorthEast Wisconsin Dx Association (NEWDXA).
4W, EAST TIMOR (New one to work!). If you are not one of OPDX's InterNet Subscribers you may have missed the announcement that East Timor is now a new DXCC entity. This brings the DXCC entities total to 332. The 4W prefix may confuse some old timers in DXing because this prefix used to belong to the Yemen Arab Republic before the North and South Yemen reunited as one country (Democratic Republic of Yemen, prefix "7O") in May 1990. For DXCC purposes, UN Temporary Administration of East Timor will be added to the DXCC List with the effective date of March 1, 2000. QSL cards for QSOs made after that date will be accepted starting October 1, 2000. Currently, there are a few stations active from here. Look for Ross, VK8UN, to be active as 4W6UN. He has been spotted on 40, 20 and 10 meters CW/SSB. QSL 4W6UN via VK3OT. Also, look for Thor, TF1MM, to be active as 4W6MM. He has been very active on 20 and 10 meters CW (usually after 1100z for a few hours and again after 0230z). QSL 4W6MM via TF1MM. Also, the UN Amateur Radio Club station, 4U1ET, is supposed to be active, but we have not seen any QSN reports yet. In the upcoming weeks, look for Neville, VK2QF, to be active as 4W6/VK2QF from March 29th to April 5th. Details of this operation can be found on the Web page: http://www.winsoft.net.au/~vk2qf/4w6un/4w6_vk2qf.html
4W DX NEWS FLASH! Just before going to print, Bernie, W3UR, editor of "The Daily DX", announced the following (edited excerpts): "An International team from Finland, Portugal and the United States has been formed to help celebrate the birth of a new DXCC entity, East Timor. Members of the team will arrive late this week for a 7 to 10 day operation. The group has been invited to stay in the home of Thor Stefansson, 4W6MM. His QTH is a DXers dream location including ten (10) 150-foot towers, which will be utilized by the group. The team will include Olli/OH0XX/4W6xx, Jose/CT1EEB/4W6EB; and Bernie/W3UR/4W6DX and Pertti/OH2RF/4W6RF who will join in the middle of the operation after finishing up at TX0DX. Several UN personnel stationed in East Timor may also join in on the operation depending on their work duties including Ross, 4W6UN; Thor, 4W6MM; and Antonio, CT1EGH. In order to work as many of the Deserving as possible the group will use the callsign 4W6DX on all bands from 10 to 160 meters on CW, SSB and possibly RTTY. The 4W6DX group will be working closely with the TX0DX team in the Chesterfield Islands in order to minimize interference and confusion. For the first several days of operation concentration will be given to CW and SSB on a few bands that will be open around the clock. Planned operating frequencies are:
4W6DX QSL via OH2BN, Jarmo J. Jaakola, Kiilletie 5-C-30, 00710 Helsinki, FINLAND." OPDX InterNet Subscribers will receive the complete unedited announcement as an additional bulletin.
4X, ISRAEL. David, W5WP, will be traveling here July 2nd and stay until the 20th. He will visit with Shimon, 4X6RD, and use his station (with his transceiver - IC-706MKII with filters and DSP) on CW, SSB and RTTY.
5I, TANZANIA (New IOTA DXpedition). Nasser, A41KG, informs OPDX that the members of the Royal Omani Amateur Radio Society are intend to go for IOTA DXpeditions to activate the Toten Island (Group of Tanga Islands) in Tanzania from July 2-12th. The Tanzania Authority has allocated the special callsigns 5I3A and 5I3B. They are planning to establish three stations on the island and operate all bands on (SSB, CW and Digital). There will be more details forthcoming. Organizers are Nasser/A41KG and Salim/A41JV.
9M6, EASTERN MALAYSIA. The "DX News Letter" reports that members of the Blacksheep Contest and DX Group (M0BAA) are going to the Hillview Gardens on Sabah (OC-088) from Mar 17-27th. They plan to be active as 9M6AA on CW/SSB on 160-6 meters and as 9M6AAC during the CQ WPX SSB Contest. QSL 9M6BAA via G4SHF and 9M6AC via N2OO. Their Web page is at: http://www.9m6baa.com
BQ9P, PRATAS ISLAND. Excerpts from a press release provided by Jimmy, BVAS, states that the Chinese Taipei Amateur Radio League (CTARL) has announced that a team of 13 experienced DXers from Taiwan, Japan and the USA will be returning to Tung-Sha Dao (Pratas Island) in April to reactivate BQ9P. The operation is expected to begin with the first station on the air at approximately 0500z, April 5th, and continue until 2100z on April 12th. They plan to have six or seven operating positions from two locations on the island. Activity will be on 160-10 meters CW/SSB/RTTY and SSTV. Suggested operating frequencies are:
Operators for this DXpedition included: Bolin/BV5AF (President of CTARL), Kenny/BV2EW, Johnson/BV4DP, William/BV2VA, Bruce/BV2KI, Jimmy/BV4AS, Paul/ BV4FH, Chung/BV4ME, Wang/BV5CR, Sky/BV8BC, Teruji/JA1JKG, Leo/K8PYD and Paul/WT8S. QSL cards for this operation can be obtained from KU9C: Steve Wheatley, PO Box 5953, Parsippany NJ 07054-6953 U.S.A. Web logs will be available after the operation is completed and the logs are compiled. The address is to be announced later. OPDX InterNet Subscribers will receive the complete press release as an additional bulletin.
CARIBBEAN OPERATION. The Low Land DXpedition Team (LLDXT) is proud to announce this year's "Caribbean Tour 2000" which will take place in August from the beautiful islands of Antigua and Barbados. This year's team members are Ronald/PA3EWP, Peter/PA4EA, Rob/PA5ET and Dennis/PA7FM. Their schedule is as follows:
They plan to have two HF stations on 160-10 meters with activity around the clock on the modes CW, SSB, RTTY and PSK. Like other years an on-line log will be available during the tour as well as a tour diary and digital photos. The guestbook will be forwarded to the team on a daily basis. A tour Web site has been set up on the LLDXT Home Site at: http://www.qsl.net/lldxt/ Their aim is to focus again on Europe and Japan, and especially on the WARC bands. They state that because they will be operating from two ex- cellent sites they also expect to work a lot on topband. The QSL manager for this tour will be Rob, PA5ET (ex PA3ERC): Rob Snieder, Van Leeuwenstraat 137, 2273 VS, Voorburg, The Netherlands.
CE0Z, JUAN FERNANDEZ. Anne/OH2MXS, Oiva/OH2NSM and Heikki/OH3JF will be active from March 17th to April 8th. They will operate on all bands on CW, RTTY and SSB. Their callsigns will be CE0Z/homecall. QSL via OH2BOZ. The homepage for this operation can be found at: http://www.ce0z-ohteam.artic.net.
EP, IRAN. Mac, W3HC, reports that Abdulah, EP2FM, states he is active most days, SSB, CW and RTTY usually around 0230-0400z or a little later on his working days, and quite longer on Fridays. He is also active again during the afternoons from around 1500z. It was also mentioned that station EP3PTT, which was set up by the administration, currently operates on 20 meters SSB from around 1200z up to 1700z on the weekdays (however, they are closed on Fridays and holidays). Look for Massoud, EP2ES, operating EP3PTT on Sundays and Mondays, who usually joins the LAZY-DX-NET on 14183 kHz from 1300z on Sundays. The Net Control is Bandi, HA5CQ, from Budapest.
ER6, MOLDOVA. Slawa, ER1LW, informs OPDX that he will use the callsign ER6A in this upcoming CQ WW WPX SSB Contest. Please send QSL cards to: P.O.Box 112, Chisinau, MD-2012, Moldova.
HC, ECUADOR. Alfredo, HC1HC, will sign his regular HC1HC callsign in the CQ WPX SSB Contest. QSL via NE8Z: Rick Dorsch, Box 616, Hamburg, MI 48139 USA.
HC8, GALAPAGOS ISLANDS. Pedro, HC1OT, will be active from San Cristobal Island in the Galapagos Islands during the CQ WPX SSB Contest as HD8Z. Look for him to be active before and after the contest as HC1OT/HC8. QSL HD8Z and HC1OT/HC8 via NE8Z.
IOTA NEWS.......
KC4, ANTARCTICA. The operator from Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station KC4AAA is Dave, who will be there until November. He has been active on 14243 kHz between 0230 and 0500z. Also, look for him to show up sometimes on 18111 kHz after 0100z. QSL K1IED, Larry F.Skilton, 72 Brook Street, South Windsor, CT 06074, USA.
KH0, MARIANA ISLANDS. Hidetoshi, JH8KYU, informs OPDX that he is planning to be active as KH0/JH8KYU from Saipan in the upcoming CQ WPX Phone Contest. He mentions that he will not have an external amplifier, but a beem antenna will be used on the high bands. He also mentions that this is his first operation abroad, and he hopes he can get many contacts in this contest on 75-10 meters.
KP2, U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS. Chet/W6XK, Mike/W7MH and Dean/N6DE will be active from St. Croix on March 23-30th. During the CQ WPX SSB contest, they will use the callsign WP2Z. However, they will also operate before and after the contest on 160-10 meters SSB and CW, including the WARC bands, signing the callsigns W6XK/KP2, KP2/W7MH, and KP2/N6DE. QSL WP2Z contacts via KU9C, and non-contest QSOs via the operator's home callsign.
LU, ARGENTINA (Special Prefixes). Celebrating the 75th Anniversary of the foundation of the IARU, all LU stations will be on the air from April 15th to April 23rd, using the following special prefixes:
LU4AA, Station of the Radio Club Argentino will be on the air using the special callsign AY1ARU. The Radio Club Argentino, National Member Society of IARU will issue two awards:
Additional information can be found at the RCA Web page: http://www.lu4aa.org
LY10, LITHUANIA. There are currently many stations on the air signing with the special prefix "LY10" and will be active until March 31st. The special prefix is in celebration of the 10th anniversary of restoration of the independece in Lithuania. There is a special award available for 3 QSOs with different stations or on 3 different band with a station using the LY10 prefix. Please send your GCR list and 5 USD or 10 IRC to the LRMD Award Manager to LY1FW: Giedrius Bartaska, Box 2018, Kaunas 3042, Lithuania
PJ4, BONAIRE. Albert, HB9BCK, will be active as PJ4/HB9BCK from April 9-22nd. Activity will be on 80-6 meters on CW/SSB/RTTY using an IC-706 and a G5RV/GP or Loop Antennas. QSL via home callsign, direct or bureau.
PT2, BRAZIL. Ari, PT2BW, will be using the special callsign PW2A during the BARTG Spring RTTY Contest. QSL via PT2BW, bureau OK.
PZ, SURINAME. "The 59(9) DXReport" reports that Ramon, PZ5RA, is active on 20 meters RTTY after 0400z.
QSL INFO AND NEWS.............
S05, WESTERN SAHARA (New Prefix). Operators Naama/S01A, Mehdi/S0RASD and Arseli/EA2JG will activate the new prefix S05R, April 17-23rd. There is a S0 Web page and it can be accessed at: http://personales.jet.es/rasd/s08r.htm
SJ9, SWEDEN. John, SM0DJZ, will try to go to Morokulien for the CQ WPX Contest next weekend and activate the SJ9WL callsign for all prefix hunters. He hopes to arrive during midday, Friday, March 24th, and will depart on Monday the 27th. QSL via SM0DJZ: Jan Hallenberg, Siriusgatan 106, SE-195 55 MERSTA Sweden. By the way, before and after the contest he will activate his other callsign LG5LG on RTTY, and the WARC bands. QSL via SM0DJZ.
SPECIAL EVENT STATION. Look for IR0MA to be active to commemorate the birthday of "Roma". It will be active on all bands between April 21-30th. It also counts for five points towards the "Natale di Roma Award". QSL via I0MWI only direct with SASE. SPECIAL NOTE: OPDX InterNet Subscribers will receive complete details of the "Natale di Roma Award" as a special additional bulletin.
TI0, COSTA RICA. For the first time in several years, the Radio Club of Costa Rica will be active as TI0R in the CQ WPX Contest next weekend. Operators will be Carlos/TI2CDA, Mario/TI2DLL and Peter/TI2KI. Activity will be on 80-10 meters during the contest. QSL via TI0RC.
TS7, KERKENNAH ISLAND, TUNISIA (Rare IOTA and New Prefix). Kerkennah (IOTA AF-073) is one of the most wanted islands for the IOTA program. It belongs to Tunisia (3V8) and has not been active in over 25 years. The DXpedition is scheduled to be on the air from November 15-30th, using the callsign TS7N. The goals of the Dxpedition are the following:
Look for further details about the team, etc.... on a Web page (to be published) in the coming few weeks.
TX0DX, NEW CALEDONIA'S CHESTERFIELD ISLANDS (IOTA OC-176). By the time you read this, the The TX8CI/TX0DX team should be on their way to the Chesterfield Islands (158 deg 19 min East, 19 deg 52 min South). They are expected to arrive mid-day Tuesday and begin the process of determining the best operating sites. They plan to have the equipment set up on Wednesday, and to be fully operational well before the magic hour of 0000z, March 23rd. Excerpts from a press release by Tim Totten, N4GN, indicate that "the team was expected to gather in Koumac, New Caledonia's northern port city, and load supplies and equipment on the ship. The last of the operators were expected to arrive in Koumac on Saturday, March 18th, New Caledonia time. The team was expected to depart for the Chesterfield Islands early Sunday morning. While the early TX8CI IOTA phase of the trip will be shortened slightly from the original plan, the DXpedition team should be in place and ready to go well in advance of 0000Z 23 March. Pending the IARU vote, this is expected to be the magic hour when the TX0DX callsign will hit the air, and QSOs will be valid for the new DXCC entity of the Chesterfield Islands." Your editor has been trying to find out what the status is from the ARRL DXAC (whether there has been a vote taken or one scheduled for the acceptance of Chesterfield Island as a new entity). OPDX InterNet Subscribers will receive the latest press release by Tim, N4GN, as an additional bulletin.
UA0, ASIATIC RUSSIA. Yuri, UA0SJ, states to look for him in the CQ WW WPX SSB Contest this coming weekend (and all other contest in 2000). He is located in the city of Bratsk which is 600 kilometers north from Lake Baikal. QSL via direct to: Yuri A. Maltsev, P.O. Box 2304, Bratsk-city, 665700, Russia.
VK9WI, WILLIS ISLAND (Update). David, VK4ZEK (VK9WI skipper), reports that they are pleased to announce that Nick, VK2ICV, from Sydney, Australia will be join the team to go to Willis Island in May 2000. Nick has extensive knowledge and equipment for 160 meters, so they are really pleased that he has managed to join the Willis team. Also, due to many requests and since Nick VK2ICV (ex-VK9LX) has joined the Willis Team, they will be active on RTTY from Willis Island. The team would like to thank HAL Communications for supplying a HAL DXP TNC box, (see the Web page http://www.halcomm.com/ ), and Ray Ortgiesen, WF1B, for excellent RTTY software (see http://www.wf1b.com ). The team is well aware of the difficult paths to Europe and the East Coast of U.S., therefore they will pay special attention to those areas. Please check the Web site for more details at: http://www.qsl.net/vk9wi/
VP2, BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS. Bill, AA7X, informs OPDX that he will be operating from Virgin Gorda, B.V.I, from March 25th through April 1st. His callsign will be VP2V/AA7X. He will operate with 100 watts on 40-10 meters SSB and CW. QSL to home call.
Z3, MACEDONIA (Activity and News From The Z37GBC Info Service)....... Mike Jakiela, NN6C, will be guest operator from Z30M's Qth now through April 4th. He will operate all bands, CW, SSB and RTTY. His callsign will be Z38/NN6C. QSL via his home call. Mike's address is: Mike Jakiela, P.O. Box 286, Poway CA 92074, USA. By the way, Mike is the QSL Manager for Z30M, Z37GBC, Z31GB, Z31JA, Z32XA and Z32XX, all stations from Stip city.
In the upcoming CQ WW WPX SSB Contest, the Z30M crew will be active as a Multi OP/Multi TX entry. Operators will be: Z31GX, Z31GB, Z31JA, Z31MM, Z32XX, Z32XA, Z32PT, Z33GOK, Z33ZOD, Boki, Igor and Mike/NN6C. QSL via NN6C.
After long time of being QRT, Z31MM has become active again on the radio. He made some activity effort in the ARRL CW Contest. QSL via: Milosev Momcilo, Borko Talev 19, 2000 Stip, Macedonia.
There are some changes in the callsigns for Macedonia. It was reported that "First class operators" can change their callsigns using a one letter suffix and the following prefixes: Z31, Z32, Z33, Z34, Z35, Z36 and Z37. The following callsigns/licences have been changed: Z31A (ex-Z31AA), Z33Z (ex-Z31RB), Z34A (ex-Z31ET), Z35A (ex-Z31RU), Z35M (ex-Z32KV) and Z36A (ex-Z31VP).
ZK1, NORTH AND SOUTH COOK ISLANDS (ZK2, Niue Cancelled). Gerard, PA3AXU, informs OPDX that he had to cancel his planned trip to Niue, as travel arrangements were uncertain from the Netherlands. His new schedule is now:
For more details, check his Web site at: http://www.qsl.net/pa3axu/zk.htm Gerard states "Any support is welcome !!!"
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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
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