Ohio/Penn DX Bulletin No. 454
March 27, 2000

The Ohio/Penn DX PacketCluster
DX Bulletin No. 454
BID: $OPDX.454
March 27, 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, W3UR & The Daily DX, N4GN, WP4U, N6RT, AC7DX, K7NO, K8NA, K8YSE, W9ZR, DJ5AV & DX News Letter, EA5KW, F6AJA & Les Nouvelles DX, FM5GU, G3SWH, G3SXW, GM4DZX, GU0SUP, IK2XDE, LA2PA, OH2BVE, OM3LZ, PY5BF, SM3CVM, SM0BFJ, TG9AJR, ZS5BBO and ZS5NK for the following DX information.

4W, EAST TIMOR (New one to work!). More activity is beginning to show up on the bands from this new entity. Your editor's thoughts and fingers were not in sync last week when we stated that the DXCC entities total was 332. It is actually 333. Thor, TF1MM, continues to be active as 4W6MM. QSNs show that he likes 20 meters CW on 14001 kHz between 1130 and 1330z. He was also active this week on 15 meters CW on 21007 kHz after 1845z. QSL 4W6MM via TF1MM. Ross, VK8UN active as 4W6UN, was heard this week on the 14245 DX Net between 1530 and 1700z. QSL 4W6UN via VK3OT. Antonio, CT1EGH, is the newcomer on the air this past week as 4W6GH. His activity has been mainly on 15 and 20 meters SSB. QSNs show activity on 14265 and 14254 kHz anywhere between 1330 and 2000z. Also watch 21223, 21245 and 21286 kHz after 0600z and after (or a hour before) 2000z. This past weekend during the contest he was heard on 21306 kHz between 1430 and 1700z. QSL 4W6GH via CT1EGH. Remember to look for Neville, VK2QF, to be active as 4W6/VK2QF beginning Wednesday, March 29th and active until April 5th. His suggested frequencies are:

• CW - 7010, 14010, 21010 and 28010 kHz
• SSB - 7095, 14195, 21295 and 28495 kHz
• 6 meters - 50090 on CW and 50135 kHz on SSB

QSL direct only to VK2QF, Nev Mattick, Hargraves, NSW 2850, Australia. His Web site was published in OPDX.453.

4W DX NEWS FLASH! Just before going to print a press release from Doug, N6RT, reports that Bernie, W3UR, editor of "The Daily DX", has arrived safely in Dili, East Timor with all equipment intact. Due to a misunderstanding at the licensing authority, Bernie will be signing 4W/W3UR, not 4W6DX as previously announced. Bernie and Thor, TF1MM/4W6MM, will be relocating to Baucau (3 to 4 hours east of Dili) shortly and Jose, CT1EEB/ 4W6EB will join them on Monday, March 27th. Because of this relocation, online logs may not be posted daily as previously hoped. Bernie hopes to come on the air late Sunday or early Monday UTC. It was mentioned earlier in the week that Olli, OH0XX, unfortunately had to cancel out as one of the operators at the last moment due to a work conflict. This was a set back as the other two operators (Jose, CT1EEB, and Bernie, W3UR) had to cram more gear in with their luggage. (A more detailed press release on this will be available to OPDX InterNet Subscribers as an additional bulletin) The planned (updated) operating frequencies are:

• CW - 1826.5 (maybe), 3502, 7002, 10107, 14007, 18070, 21007, 24907, 28007
• SSB - 3799, 7062.5, 14150, 18115, 21200, 24935, 28400
• RTTY - 14087 (possibly near the end of the operation)

QSLs for this operation are still via OH2BN, Jarmo J. Jaakola, Kiilletie 5-C-30, 00710 Helsinki, FINLAND. A web page has been set up at: http://www.dailydx.com/4W6DX.html

7P, LESOTHO. Two South Africian hams Deon/ZS5DCF and Leon/ZS5LS will be active on SSB only from April 23-27th. Their callsign will be 7P8/ZS5DCF and 7P8/ZS5LS, and they will operate from the Maluti hospital in Lesotho. They will be taking a tower, a tri-band beam and an amplifier. Gary, ZS5NK, reports that photocopies of their licences will be sent to the DXCC desk. QSL to the address: PO Box 401219, Redhill 4071, Republic of South Africa. For direct QSLs please send a S.A.S.E. with one IRC or 1 green stamp. Otherwise QSL through the SARL QSL Bureau.

9G, GHANA. QSL Manager Miro, OM3LZ, informs OPDX that Zdeno, OK2ZW, will be finishing his activity in Ghana as 9G5ZW very soon. He planned to stay in Accra (Czech Embassy) for 3 years, but situations have rapidly changed around him during the last few days (details may come later). Zdeno has decided to return to OK-land in the beginning of April 2000. So this may be the last week to work him. Zdeno has worked 30,000 QSOs as of the end of February. More details on his activity will be forthcoming. QSL via OM3LZ, he prefers direct; delivery time for return on QSLs are now 30 - 50 days. Cards via bureau later.

BQ9P, PRATAS ISLAND (Update, please refer to OPDX.453). Randy, W9ZR, informs OPDX that he will be joining the team of 13 experienced DXers from Taiwan, Japan and the USA to the return to Tung-Sha Dao (Pratas Island) during the April 5-12th BQ9P operation. He mentions that he hopes to concentrate on the low bands, propagation permitting. Also, he will bring with him amps, a 2 element beam for 40 meters and Titanex verticals for 80 and 160 meters. QSL cards for this operation can be obtained from KU9C: Steve Wheatley, PO Box 5953, Parsippany NJ 07054-6953 U.S.A.

BY, CHINA. Jari, OH2BVE, has informed OPDX that he has started a two year contract in Beijing. He will use the club callsign BY1DX (and he may activate other club stations, too). He plans to activate the WARC bands after he has found a good solution to repair the R7 antenna at the station or find a new antenna. Jari will also activate the low bands 160-80 meters during the next season. He will operate 160-10 meters on CW/SSB. The noise level is high on low bands, so please be patient. Most often Jari will start on Sundays at 0800z on 21325 kHz to work OH stations and Europeans but will work other parts of world, too. Jari suggests to send QSLs through the bureau system to OH2BVE or direct cards to Jukka Klemola, Aarontie 5, 31400 SOMERO, FINLAND. Jukka will act as a maildrop and deliver the cards to Jari through other routes. Jari will reply to direct QSL and send them them back direct. He states that he will auto- matically QSL each QSO via the bureau system, so there is really no need to send a QSL to him unless you need it directly or you are not a member of bureau system or some other reason.

DXCC ENTITIES LIST AVAILABLE. Dean, K7NO, has an Excel file showing all current DXCC entites (including East Timor) and which, when you enter your long/lat in the proper cell, will provide heading/reciprocal and distance for each entity. Anyone wanting this Excel spreadsheet can send an E-mail to Dean at: dnorris@k7no.com He will then send a zipped attachment file unless otherwise specified. This file is an Excel 97 and 2000 series .xls file.

FO0, AUSTRAL ISLANDS. Denise, F6WHU, is now active as FO0HWU from Tubuai Island (IOTA OC-152) in the Australes. She will be there until April 12th, and she is mostly active on CW (5 kHz from the bottom of the band) and also RTTY. QSNs show to watch 14005 kHz after 0400z as late as 0730z. Also, watch 7005 kHz after 1230z.

FT5W, CROZET ISLAND. The "LNDX" reports that Alain, FT5WI, has been here since last November and will be here for one year. He is not familiar with DX and pile-ups, so please be patient! OPDX has tried to find some current QSN reports, but had no luck - just older ones. QSL via F6KDF. Please be patient also for your QSL card because the logs will go back with Alain when he returns home.

FW, WALLIS ISLAND. Guy (ex-FR7ZL/T/G/J) has been signing FW5ZL since January 7th. He is mostly active on 15 to 20 meters (watch 14195, 14015, and 21240) after 0700z and again at 1100z. QSL route: Guy Petit de la Rhodiere, B.P. 2, Mata-Utu, Wallis Island 98600 via France.

IOTA NEWS......

• AF-NEW. Operators Barry/ZS1FJ, Bud/ZS1B, Ron/ZS1RON, Gerald/ZS1GRM and Edwin/ZS5BBO will activate Elephant Rock Island as ZS31ER from March 31st through April 9th. Elephant Rock is situated on the west coast of South Africa about 25Km west of Vredendal and 4 miles North of the Olifants River mouth. It is about 100 to 150 metres long and about 50 to 75 metres wide with the highest point about 50ft above sea level. It lies 200 to 250 metres off shore. It used to be called Morrel's Rock many years ago and is locally known as Robeiland (Seal Island) and is located near De Punt Mine. They suck up alluvial diamonds with large boats operating out of the river mouth. The co-ordinates are 31 degrees 38 minutes South and and 18 degrees 03 minutes East. This island is also a Nature Reserve, having plenty of seals and birds. They will use the IOTA frequencies. Frequencies are as follows:
  • SSB - 28460, 24950, 21260, 18128, 14260 (main), 7055, 3755
  • CW - 28040, 24920 21040, 18098, 14040, 10115, 7025, 3530
  They anticipate to have a station running 24 hours a day. QSL to Barry Fletcher (ZS1FJ), P.O. Box 53319, Kenilworth, 7745, South Africa or via the bureau. News on the Elephant Rock Island Dxpedition will be updated on the following Web site: http://www.qsl.net/zs5ham/ This Web is provided courtesy of ZS5BP the webmaster of the Highway Amateur Radio Club in Durban South Africa.
• AF-067. WRAP-UP. Phil, G3SWH, reports that the team of 5Z4WI made a total of 18,435 QSOs from Wasini Island with a roughly even split between CW (9,493) and SSB (8,942). The log can be searched and is on-line at: http://dx.qsl.net/logs QSL via G3SWH (QTHR). Donations towards the cost of the expedition are invited and will be gratefully received.
• EU-004. Operators EA5KW, EA5AKM, EA5FKT, EA5SS, EA5GOR, EB5BQC and EA5GMA will be going to Ibiza Island between April 14-17th. The group plans to be active on all modes and the operators will sign EA6/homecall. EA5KW and EA5AKM will mainly be on PSK31, RTTY and CW, and try to work as many Americans and Asiatics stations as possible. The other operators will work on SSB mainly. QSL is via EA5KW but they prefer to receive them via the bureau. Direct QSLs are not a problem, send to: Jose Maria Martinez Juan, Poeta Zorrilla, 52-1-IZQ, 03600 Elda, Spain.
• EU-009. Operators GM3POI, GM4DZX, GM0HTH and GM0HTT will activate the Orkney Island of "Copinsay" on Saturday, April 1st and Sunday, April 2nd. The callsign will be GB5RO. Other reference numbers for Copinsay are OR19 for the Islands of Scotland Award and and HY60 for WAB. QSL via GM4DZX QTHR. Please note: This operation is weather-dependant! If bad weather makes the sea trip impossible on the 1st, they will automatically re-schedule for each successive weekend until they get lucky to operate.
• OC-058. Dany/FK8VHY (CW) and Patrice/FK8HA (SSB) "MAY" be active from Entrecateaux Island for 48 hours. They plan to land on the island April 2nd around 0000z. They will use a IC-751 and FT-757 with verticals. They will use FK8KAB/P callsign. Suggested frequencies are:
  • CW - 7007, 10105, 14040, 18098, 21040, 24920, 28040
  • SSB - 7065, 14260, 18128, 21260, 24950, 28460/560
  The QSL route is to FK8KAB: ARANC, PO BOX 3956, 98846 Noumea Cedex, Nouvelle Caledonie.

JT, MONGOLIA. "The 59(9) DXReport" reports to look for Flo, GM4DMA, to possibly be active as JT1FCR on the HF bands from April 18-30th. QSL via GM4DMA.

JW, SVALBARD. Leif/LA2PA and Oystein/LA7QI will be signing JW2PA and JW7QI respectively from May 1st to May 8th. If propagation permits, they will concentrate on 12 and 10 meters SSB and CW.

PIRATE STATION. Phil, GU0SUP, RSGB QSL Sub-Manager for the GU/MU series callsign, informs OPDX that he has been getting quite a number of cards for three callsign that have been pirated.

• First is GU4GMW, and he has got over 100 cards for this callsign, and all operations seem to have been in the CQWW CW Contests of 1998 and 1999. This callsign belongs to a Mr. Weaver, G4GMW, who states that he has NEVER operated from Guernsey, and is not likely to go there in the foreseeable future.
• Second is GU2ENK. This call has never been issued, so the user is definitely a pirate. This callsign has turned up in the ARI CW Contests in April over the last two years.
• Third is MU0AWR. K2WR was actually licenced as MJ0AWR and was active in the 1999 CQWW CW Contest. The MU0AWR callsign was spotted on various clusters before, during and after the contest, and Phil knows that he has not operated this callsign from Guernsey.

Phil states that he now has such a large number of cards for these callsigns that it is not practical for him to return them to the sender, as its postage costs would be outrageous.

QSL INFO AND NEWS......

• A group of Indonesian operators were active as 7A0A as a Multi-Single entry in the CQ WPX SSB Contest. Send QSLs direct to YB0FMT.
• 9U5D Reminder! QSL Manager Leif, SM0BFJ, reports that in spite of the fact that Gus, 9U5D, announces during his QSOs to QSL "only direct via SM0BFJ", Leif still receives QSL cards via the bureau. Leif states, "QSLs via the bureau will not be answered!"
• QSL JI3DST/3, active in this past weekend's contest from Honshu's Coastal Island (Awajishima Hyogo), to JI3DST: Takeshi Funaki, 2-18-26 Hannan-cho Abeno-ku Osaka-city, OSAKA 545-0021 JAPAN
• NOT THE QSL MANAGER! Ron, AC7DX, reports that he is NOT the QSL Manager for XF4LWY. He has been receiving a lot of cards for this station and he is not sure where people got this info...
• Denis, FM5GU, reports that his QSL Manager is now KU9C. Also, KU9C is his QSL Manager for all his QSOs from Italy, signing as FM5GU/I. All details, station description, schedule of operation, contest programs, etc... can be found on his web site at: http://www.qsl.net/fm5gu/
• OPDX was told to mention to subscribers to "Please" QSL OK8ANM via OK1MD.
• Roger, G3SXW, informs OPDX that all QSL requests have been answered for the January/February CW operation by FH/G3SXW, FH/G3TXF, S79SXW and S79TXF. About 3,000 cards have been sent, including several hundred via the bureau in reply to E-mail requests. Roger adds that a recent experience with C21SX E-mail requests for the bureau cards suggests that one year delivery is not unusual, eventhough this is only one-way.
• Now available online is the "Italy Callbook" at: http://go.to/hamlinks/ Other source are available on the Web site are: Italian OM/SWL E-mail Server, Italian OM/SWL Home Page, Managers On Line, DX Bulletin, Contest Log Server, Ham Programs, A.R.I. Radio Club, DX Expedition Home Page, Internet WEB Cluster, Awards and DX Expedition Log Server......etc
• QSL PQ1S, operated by PY1KS and PY1NX in the CQ WPX Contest last weekend, to PY1KS via the Bureau or direct to: P.O.BOX 18123, Rio de Janeiro-RJ, 20722-970 Brazil
• SZ3PTR was active as a Multi-Single entry in the CQ WPX SSB Contest this past weelend. QSL via SV3BSF.
• QSL information for TG0AA which was operated by IK2NCJ during the last ARRL International DX SSB Contest (March 4-5th) is direct to: CRAG/TG0AA, P.O. Box 115, Guatemala 01001, Guatemala, Central America By the way, TG9AJR is NOT the QSL Manager for TG0AA.
• ZW5UF was operated by Fox, PY5BF, from the official station of the "Federal University of Parana". QSL Manager is PY5ZT. There is no problem to QSL by the Bureau. There is a 100% response. If you want to send direct, you can use P.O.Box 373 Curitiba, PR, Brasil, zipcode 80.011-970.
• CORRECTION AND UPDATE.
  • CT4NH/p via CT4NH, Luis Teixeira, Rua Visconde Moreira Rey 1, 2795-545 Carnaxide, Portugal
  • CT1EEN/p via CT1EEN, Samuel Pimenta Rua da Milharada, Edificio Iberopa, 8A Bloco A, Massama, 2745-822 Queluz, Portugal.

SPECIAL ACTIVITY. The "King Chulalongkorn Memorial Amateur Radio Society", SI9AM, will be active from Utanede, Sweden, next weekend starting March 31st, in the afternoon local time ending at Sunday noon. Activity will be on all bands CW/SSB. The station is located near the Thai Pavillion. QSL via SM3CVM bureau or direct CBA.

TX0DX, CHESTERFIELD ISLANDS (Possible New Entity, IOTA OC-176). Press releases by Tim Totten, N4GN, has kept the DX community well informed on the progress of this operation. TX0DX hit the airwaves from the Chesterfield Islands at exactly 0000z, March 23rd, signaling the start of what is expected to be the newest DXCC entity. From one of the press releases by Tim, the following was reported: "The International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) has officialy announced that Association des Radio-Amateurs de Nouvelle-Caledonie (ARANC) has been confirmed as the newest IARU member society, effective 22 March 2000. Due to the timing of the voting process, the first full UTC date for ARANC's membership was 23 March, making this the effective "event date" for DXCC purposes. The result is that QSOs with the Chesterfield Islands on or after 0000 UTC, 23 March 2000, are expected to count toward the new DXCC entity. This corresponds to the date and time when the TX0DX operation began." The full text of the IARU news release can be found at: http://www.iaru.org/rel000323.html An excerpt from the latest press release indicates that the operators at TX0DX continue to rack up impressive QSO totals, despite frequent rain showers. As they approach the end of the third day of operations, nearly 35,000 QSOs are in the log--an average rate of approximately 500 per hour! For low band enthusiasts, operations on 80 and 160 will also begin in earnest on Monday, March 27th. The TX0DX operation is expected to continue operating "at full force" until 0500z, March 29th, when the team will begin disassembling some antennas. At least two stations will continue operating until approximately 2200z, March 29th. OPDX InterNet Subscribers will receive the complete and latest bulletin as an additional bulletin. Regular bulletins will be posted throughout the operation on the TX0DX web site at: http://www.n4gn.com/tx0dx/ Lastly, the DXAC is in the process of studying the Chesterfield Island maps and other data. The vote hasn't been scheduled yet, but probably very soon.

WP4, ISLAND OF MONA. Carlos, WP4U, has planned a DXpedition here (IOTA NA-99) now through March 31st. He will sign WP4U/M. Mona Island is one of the five islands needed to get the certificate "Work Puerto Rico Island Award". A special QSL card will be issued. QSL direct or via bureau to WP4U.

OPDX INTERNET SUBSCRIBE/UNSUBSCRIBE REQUEST: opdx-request@nshore.org
OPDX WORLD-WIDE WEB HOME (provided by John, K8YSE):
http://www.en.com/users/k8yse/opdx.html
ALSO VISIT THE NORTHERN OHIO DX ASSOCIATION'S WEB HOME PAGE:
http://www.en.com/users/k8yse/nodxa.html

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
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