Ohio/Penn DX Bulletin No. 489
December 11, 2000

The Ohio/Penn DX PacketCluster
DX Bulletin No. 489
BID: $OPDX.489
December 11, 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, AD1C, NB1B, AI2Q, WB2YQH/ WB2RAJ & The 59(9) DX Report, K3BEQ, W3UR & The Daily DX, WB3JFS, K4VUD, KJ4UY, W4WX, AI5P, WA5PAE, K6IPV, K8YSE, CX6VM, DF4SA, DJ2PJ, DJ5AV & DX News Letter, DJ7ZG, F5PBL, G3XTT, IN3QBR, JF2MBF, LA4LN, PA3AXU, SM7CRW, UT5RP, UX2RY and VU2JOS for the following DX information.

1S, SEALAND. As of press time, there is NO sign of 1SL1A on the air from the "Principality of Sealnd". Operation was to begin on December 9th and last until the 12th. Also, 1SL1A was going to be active in the 10 meter contest this past weekend. Stay tuned!

9M6, EAST MALAYSIA. Don/K6IPV and Dave/W6AQ will operate from the Hillview Gardens Resort club station, 9M6AAC, a few days before the ARRL CW DX Contest in February 2001. Their orginal plans were to be active from Layang-Layang in the Spratley Islands (9M0) for the ARRL CW DX Contest (February 17-18th). However, Don, K6IPV, informs OPDX that "Murphy's Law" has struck their operation. He states, "No sooner do we firm up our arrangements and announce our trip to the Spratleys (9M0) but we find that the island has 'been closed for repairs'! It will reopen on March 1st, too late for us. We're rapidly putting together another potential side trip from Hillview Gardens Resort and 9M6AAC. We still intend to operate from there and may operate the contest from there. Further details to follow in the next few days." Stay tuned!

A5, BHUTAN. By the time you read this, Charly's, K4VUD, A52UD operation will be coming to a close (December 12th). Yani, 9M6US, has QRTed his operation as A52AP last week. Earlier in the week Charly reported on some interesting details on his trip to A5. Here is an excerpt from his E-mail message: "Arrived Thimphu Bhutan Ham Center after airplane routing problems from Frankfurt to Bangkok. Someone in India is now using my laptop computer, Heil footswitch, and many other things stolen out of my suitcases while in transit via India! So, hand logging all the way. Also, bags were delayed (to give time to really steal all the good stuff) so I had no earphones for a while... that made pileup management even more difficult. Now, I have my Heil and squeeze key so will be a little bit better for you guys. Was sending with the buttons on the ICOM mic for a while! The Sophun Ham Center in Bhutan is GREAT... several rigs, three linears, and A-3S up 30 ft along with dipoles. Jani (A52AP) and I strung a beverage south, and put up an inverted L resonated in 160m. The WARC A-3W goes up this afternoon. The hotel is supurb with lots of beautiful finished wood and Bhutanese decoration. Food is great, too. Recommended....5 stars!" Remember to QSL A52UD to K4VUD and A52AP to N2OO.

CARIBBEAN TRIP (J6/J7). Tom, LA4LN, will be operating as J6/LA4LN (or a separate J6 callsign) from St. Lucia, December 14-28th, and as J7/LA4LN (or separate J7 callsign) from Dominica, December 28th through January 4th (2001). He states that his licence applications were filed along time ago, but licences will have to be picked upon his arrivals. Tom will be on the radio when time permits, using an Icom IC-706MkII transceiver and wire antennas. He will be equipped to operate all HF bands from 160-10 meters, plus 6 meters. Activity will mainly be on CW with some RTTY possibly. His suggested CW frequencies are: 3505, 7005, 10105, 14025, 18073, 21025, 24895, 28025 and 50105 kHz (all +/- QRM). 160 meters will be tried if the noise conditions make it possible. There will be split frequency operation when needed. Please QSL DIRECT to LA4LN's home address at: Tom V. Segalstad, P.O. Box 15 Kjelsas, N-0411 OSLO, NORWAY.

CX, URUGUAY. Jorge, CX6VM, reports that he is active Monday through Friday on 12 meters (around 24897 kHz) and on 17 meters (around 18073 kHz) between 1030-1200z and between 2130-2330z. During the weekends he will be on more on these bands. Jorge's station uses a Cushcraft R7000 vertical and 100 watts. QSL ONLY DIRECT (please) to W3HNK because he is having trouble getting cards from the bureau. W3HNK's address is: Joseph Arcure Jr., P. O. Box 73, Edgemont, PA 19028 USA

D6, COMOROS. Don, G3XTT, sent out a press release this past week and an update on the forthcoming "Five Star DXers" D68C DXpedition to the Comoros to be active about February 8-28th (Complete press release will be provided to all OPDX InterNet Subscribers as an additional bulletin). In short, they state that they will be the "biggest DXpeditions of all time". Some 3000kg (3 metric tons) of equipment has been shipped and 28 operators are signed up to participate (some will be there for the whole of the period, some for part of the time). Three new members have been added to the team: Jens/DL7AKC, John/N7CQQ and Victor/UT8LL. A container of equipment was shipped on the "Julius Oldendorff" ex-Felixstowe (UK) on November 30th. It's a 20 foot container and is about three-quarters full - there is around 20 cu. meters of kit with a total weight of over 3 tons (3,000 kgs). In the container there are 10 transceivers, 9 linears, 4000 meters of coax, 1600 meters of control cable, 6000 meters of radial wire, 9 Yagi antennas, 11 masts, Four-squares for 40m and 80m, Verticals for 30m and Top Band, 64+ heavy guy stakes, 11 lap-top computers and 1 generator etc etc... Their activity will be on all bands including the WARC bands and also an entry in the ARRL CW DX Contest (February 17-18th). For more details, check the D68C Web Page which continues to be updated with the latest news. The Web address is: http://www.dxbands.com/comoros/

EA8, CANARY ISLANDS. Look for Alan, G3XAQ, to be active as EA8/G3XAQ from December 21-28th. Hie activity will be mainly on CW.

EN23, UKRAINE (Special Event). Just a reminder that on December 15th, the Ukraine Unit-III of Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant (CNPP) will be closing. During December 14-16th a group of Ukraine operators from the town of Slavutich will activate the special callsign EN23RW. A special full colored QSL card will be available for making contacts with EN23RW. QSL direct to UX2RY: Andre Asriyanz, P.O.Box 14, Slavutich-3, Kiev obl., 07100, Ukraine, or through bureau. The log will placed on the following Web page at: http://www.radio.cn.ua

EP, IRAN. Mohsen, EP3SMH, has been very active over the last week on 15 and 20 meters. Activity seems to take place between 1230 and 1800z (with some activity as late as 2000z on 40 meters SSB working JAs). QSL via Box 17665-411, Teheran, Iran.

HB, SWITZERLAND. George, N2APB, will be spending the next week here on business, but will also be bringing along some QRP gear. He will be signing as HB/N2APB. George will be working on the QRP frequencies on 20/30/40 meters. Also, he will be bringing his portable PSK station to work 20 meters PSK. He hopes to be operating on Mon, Tues, Wed and Fri during 0200-0400z. Here is the interesting part as George states, "On Thursday, I'll be taking a train up into the Swiss Alps which will end close to the top of Eiger Mountain. (Remember movie 'The Eiger Sanction' from years ago, starring a young Clint Eastwood?) There's a restaurant up there at 11,000 feet at which most normal people have lunch and look around for a couple of hours. I, however, being of not-quite sound mind and body, will be outside in the sub-sub-zero temperatures and low-oxygen air working my Portable PSK (controller & PSK-20 in a box, no computer) with a St. Louis Vest Pocket Vertical antenna (featured in recent QRPp and QHB). The time for this should be around 1200z on Thursday. Hope to work some of you guys! (Hope I make it back down, unfrozen.)"

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

• EU-098. Look for DH3ZK to be active now through December 17th from Poel Island. DX stations please listen on 14260 and 21260 kHz, and Europe on 7095 kHz. JA stations listen between 0900-1000z on 21260 kHz.
• NA-140. Look for K3RE to be active from Smith Island, Maryland (in Cheasapeake Bay). The reference number for the USIA is MD-030S. This activity will be from December 16-17th, (1700-1700z, 24 hour operation). Suggested frequencies are: 7260, 3860, 14260, 21260 and 28460 on SSB and .040 on CW. QSL to K3RE (USA stations SASE and stations outside the USA - SAE, 1 Greenstamp or appropriate number of IRCs.).

JT, MONGOLIA. Naranbaatar (Naran), JT1BV, informs OPDX that he has been active around 28475 (+/-10 kHz) at about 0100-0300z for the USA and at about 0800-1130z for Europe. QSL via direct only to: Mr. Naranbaatar T, C.P.O Box 820, Ulaanbaatar-13, MONGOLIA (via JAPAN).

KG4, GUANTANAMO BAY. Bill, W4WX, a member of the Florida DXPedition Group, will operate from GTMO as KG4GC from December 12-18th. Bill will concentrate on RTTY and 6 meters. QSL via bureau or direct to his home callsign W4WX.

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

• Dennis, NB1B, a USPS Postmaster, reported on some more postal increases this week. He was able to verify that the cost of IRCs will go from 1.05 USD to 1.75 USD on January 7th. The 1.05 USD sounds like a bargain right now! Dennis was also able to verify that, as of that date, IRCs can be exchanged for 80 cents worth of stamps or other postal products - no cash refunds. For an airmail letter, 1 ounce to anywhere in the world will be 80 cents (except Canada and Mexico which is 60 cents). A 2 ounce airmail letter, however, will cost as follows:
  • 1.60 USD for Rate Group 3 which is mainly Western Europe, but not totally.
  • 1.70 USD for Rate Group 4 which is Japan, Australia, and New Zealand.
  • 1.55 USD for Rate Group 5 which is the rest of the world.
  More details on the U.S. postal increase can also be found on the web at: http://www.usps.gov/news/2001rate.htm The rates are at the bottom of the page.
• Manu/3DA0AE and Norby/3DA0AD are the callsigns that were granted for these two to be active from Swaziland. They participated in the ARRL 10 Meter Contest this past weekend. QSL to LX1NO.
• John, SM7CRW, was active in the ARRL 10 Meters Contest this past weekend from Oland Island (EU-037 for IOTA awards) as 8S7A. The Island is new for the "World Heritage List" (001112). QSL via W3HNK.
• Con, DF4SA, who was active as 9H3MM in Malta during the CQWW CW Contest informs OPDX that all QSOs will be confirmed through the bureau via DF4SA. If somebody still wants to send direct, please only QSL to the following address: Cornelius Paul, Adelberger Weg 3, D-73104 Breech, Germany. QSL cards will be printed next month (January/2001).
• LOG STILL OPEN! Fred, K4MPI, who operated from Taiwan as BV1US from July 1959 and June 1961, and made about 20,000 QSOs, states that folks can still request QSLs from his current CBA address.
• Please take note! There is a new QSL Manager for CO8DM. QSL now via DL9US. CO8DM's former QSL Manager, DL5DSH, has become a "Silent Key" last week at the age of 37 leaving behind a family with two young children... OPDX sends out our deepest sympathy to DL5DSH's family.
• Rick, AI5P, announced this past week that the AI5P/CY9 and FP/AI5P QSLs have arrived, and he is currently sending out the direct cards. All bureau cards will be answered via the bureau.
• The recent operation of GJ2A during the CQWW CW Contest should be QSLed to: JARS, PO Box 338, Jersey, United Kingdom, JE4 9YG. Some sources are stating to QSL via MJ0BJU (Anne). This is OK, but may take longer due to Anne not being on the island for the next month.
• Nob, JF2MBF, informs OPDX that the ZK1NDK (Penrhyn Atoll, N. Cook Island) log is now available on-line log at: http://www.jm1szy.com/zk1n/index.htm He also mentions that both ZK1NDK and ZK1NJC QSLs (5 kinds of full color QSLs) will be ready very soon.

T2, TUVALU (also possibly 3D2). The "DX Newletter" reports that Albert, HB9BCK, intends to be active as T20CK from December 28 through January 8th. Activity will be on 40-10 meters on CW/SSB (perhaps RTTY/PSK31) running an IC-706 into wire antennas. Perhaps he will show up also from Fiji operating as 3D2BCK two days prior/after the T2 operation. QSL via bureau to HB9BCK or CBA (Europe: 1USD/IRC, outside EU 2USD/IRC).

V4, ST. KITTS. Larry, KJ4UY, will be operating as V47UY from December 10-18th. Using an Icom IC-756 with an R-7 and A-3, he will be active on 10 meters through 40 meters. He states that he may use a dipole for 80 meters but NO 160 meter activity on this trip. The IOTA number for St. Kitts is NA-104. QSL to his home callsign, KJ4UY, at: Larry Wolf, 3528 Oak Grove Court, Haines City, Florida 33844-9298.

VK0, MACQUARIE ISLAND. This will be the last week to work Alan, VK0MM. He will be QRT on or around December 17th. Activity lately seems to be mainly on 30 meters CW and 20 meters CW/SSB. Check these bands after 0630z and again after 1100z. NO QSL ROUTE IS AVAILABLE YET.

VP8, FALKLAND ISLANDS. Rees, VP8DCD, has been quite active recently on 15 and 20 meters. He seems to frequent 21263 and 14260 kHz after or around 2300z. There seems to be some confusion on the QSL route for this one. Most sources say QSL via G0JLE, however, Rees has been stating on the air to QSL via P.O. Box 260, MPA, Falkland Islands.

VU, INDIA (Special Callsign). Jose, VU2JOS, mentioned this past week that the "Ham Radio 2000 Millenium" meeting is to be held in Hyderabad, India, on December 22, 23 and 24th. The station, using the special callsign VU2HR2000, will be operational during that time.

WHERE TO GO NEXT? Gerard, PA3AXU, states/informs OPDX the following: After my A3, 5W, ZK1/S and ZK1/N activities, I am looking for inputs from the DX community for my next years' stop in the South Pacific. Please submit your "wishes" through my home page at: http://www.qsl.net/pa3axu/2001.htm

XW, LAOS (Also possibly XU). Mauro, IN3QBR, informs OPDX that he and Fabry, IN3ZNR, have received amateur radio licenses from the Laotian MPTC and will be active with the callsigns XW3QBR and XW3ZNR. Mauro will travel to Vientiane on December 18th and Fabry will follow him on the 24th. They plan to be on air the afternoon of the 27th. They will operate on CW and SSB mode, and possibly RTTY. Activity will be on all HF bands including the WARC bands. They will be looking for stateside stations, and will transmit in the "general class" portion of the bands. XW3ZNR will QRT on January 5th and XW3QBR on the 8th. They hope to have a good signal on the air, but their power is limited at only 100 watts. Antennas are a tribander and dipoles. QSL cards are sure via direct or bureau via QSL Manager IN3ZNR: Fabrizio Vedovelli, Via Gramsci, 38100 Trento, ITALY. Mauro also informs us that he will travel to Phnom Pen after his Laos operation and will stay for four days. He states that he holds the XU7AAZ callsign, and it is possible that he will be on the air January 10th or 11th. More details are forthcoming about the first few days of the new year.

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
OPDX INTERNET HELP/SUBSCRIBE/UNSUBSCRIBE REQUESTS:
   Help:        <mailto:opdx-request@nshore.org?subject=help>
   Subscribe:   <mailto:opdx-request@nshore.org?subject=subscribe>
   Unsubscribe: <mailto:opdx-request@nshore.org?subject=unsubscribe>
OPDX WORLD-WIDE WEB HOME PAGE (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 28.8k/14400/9600/2400/1200 and leave a message with
the Sysop or send via InterNet Mail to:      kb8nw@barf80.nshore.org
                              - 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.