The Ohio/Penn DX PacketCluster
DX Bulletin No. 555
BID: $OPDX.555
March 25, 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, ARRL Letter, NC1L, KF2TI, W3UR & The Daily DX, K4QD, K4ZIN, N4AA & QRZ DX, W6DXO, K8IW, K8YSE, DL1EK & DX News Letter, DL4KQ, EY8MM, F5NOD, F5NQL & UFT, F5PHW, F6AJA & Les Nouvelles DX, FJ5DX & La Gazette du DX, GM4YXI, I2YSB, JF1SQC, JH1KLN, JI6KVR, ON7YX, OZ6OM & OZ 50 MHz DX Bulletin, RN3OA, RN9XA, SP5EWY, UR5EAW, VA3RJ & ICPO, VE3CDP/W9 and XE1KK for the following DX information.
DXCC COUNTRY/ENTITY REPORT: According to the AR-Cluster Network for the week of Sunday, 17/March, through Sunday, 24/March there were 230 countries active. Countries available: 3A, 3B8, 3B9, 3C, 3D2, 3V, 3W, 4J, 4L, 4S, 4U1I, 4U1U, 4W, 4X, 5B, 5H, 5N, 5R, 5U, 5V, 5W, 5Z, 6W, 6Y, 7Q, 7X, 8P, 8R, 9A, 9G, 9H, 9J, 9K, 9L, 9M2, 9M6, 9N, 9Q, 9V, 9Y, A2, A4, A5, A6, A7, A9, AP, BV, BY, C3, C6, CE, CE0A, CE0X, CE0Z, CE9, CM, CN, CP, CT, CT3, CU, CX, D2, D4, DL, DU, EA, EA6, EA8, EA9, EI, EK, EP, ER, ES, ET, EU, EX, EY, EZ, F, FG, FJ, FK, FM, FO, FR, FY, G, GD, GI, GJ, GM, GU, GW, H4, H40, HA, HB, HB0, HC, HI, HK, HK0/a, HL, HM, HP, HR, HS, HZ, I, IS, J2, J3, J6, J7, J8, JA, JD/o, JT, JW, JX, JY, K, KG4, KH0, KH2, KH6, KL, KP2, KP4, LA, LU, LX, LY, LZ, OA, OD, OE, OH, OH0, OK, OM, ON, OX, OY, OZ, P2, P4, PA, PJ2, PJ7, PY, PZ, S2, S5, SM, SP, ST, SU, SV, SV/a, SV5, SV9, T7, T9, TA, TF, TG, TI, TI9, TK, TL, TR, TT, TU, UA, UA2, UA9, UK, UN, UR, V3, V4, V5, V7, V8, VE, VK, VK9N, VP2V, VP5, VP6, VP6D, VP8, VP8/h, VP9, VQ9, VR, VU, XE, XT, XU, XW, YA, YB, YI, YJ, YK, YL, YN, YO, YS, YU, YV, Z2, Z3, ZA, ZB, ZC4, ZD7, ZD8, ZD9, ZF, ZK1/s, ZK3, ZL, ZP, ZS
* PLEASE NOTE: The report "could" contain "Pirate/SLIM" operations. As always, you never know - "Work First Worry Later" (WFWL).
3B9, RODRIGUES ISLAND. Robert, 3B9FR, showed up last week and has been active on 20/17/15/10 meters SSB.
3W, VIETNAM (IOTAs). Jack, F6BUM, was been activating some Vietnam IOTAs over the past two weeks. So far he has activated Tam Island (AS-157) and Cham Island (AS-162). His next stop will be Cat Ba Island (AS-132) from April 3-5th. The callsign he uses for all the islands is 3W3M. Look for him on 7003, 10107, 14004, 18073, 21004, 24897 kHz on CW and 14160 and 21260 kHz on SSB.
5W, SAMOA (Western Samoa). Look for Tommy/VK2IR and Bruce/VK2KLM to be active from Apia, Upolu Island (OC-097), as 5W0IR between March 28th and April 3rd. Activity will be on all bands 80-6 meters, SSB only. QSL to VK2IR (direct only): Tommy Horozakis, PO Box 1, South Bexley, Sydney, NSW 2207, Australia). It is requested that you please include a SAE along with two USDs, or 1 new IRC, for return of your QSL card. They are currently looking for support to help offset the very high cost in running a DXpedition, and any or all donations are very welcome. A web page is available for the updates and log search at: http://www.qsl.net/va3rj/5w0ir.html
8Q, MALDIVES. Igor, RN3OA will be active as 8Q7OA between March 29th and April 10th. Activity will be on 80-10 meters CW/SSB. Look for him to participate in the CQ WW WPX SSB Contest. QSL via RN3OA either through the bureau or direct to: Igor Zakharov, P.O. Box 381, Voronezh, 394000, Russia.
9L, SIERRA LEONE (Update). Jerry, K4ZIN, informs OPDX on more details of his 9L1JT operation. He expects to have some limited operation time April 9-16th, but has full time operations on April 20-22nd. Activity will be on 40-10 meters CW and SSB. QSL via K4ZIN.
9M6, EAST MALAYSIA. Taka, JL1CHV, will operate from Kotakinabalu, East Malaysia, in the upcoming weekend from March 29-31st. Activity will be on the HF bands. Also, he will be an entry in the CQ WPX SSB Contest (only for one and a half days because of his return flight). His callsign is not clear at the present time, but he may sign 9M6/homecall. QSL via his home call, JL1CHV, direct or via Bureau.
D4, CAPE VERDE. Nodir, EY8MM, informed OPDX from Cape Verde that he and Al, 4L5A, are now active as D44AC. Their activity will be centered on CW, RTTY and Low Bands. The CW operation has already started; their RTTY operations have began on the past weekend, and the 160 meter operation is expected to start around March 25th (When their Titanex antenna will be cleared from customs). Activity will last until April 3rd. Nodir states operations on the WARC bands are not planned but possible. Al, 4L5A, is planning to operate as a Single Band entry on 10 meters during the CQ WPX Contest, possibly with a personal callsign. QSL via IK3HHX.
DXCC NEWS...............
EM11, UKRAINIAN ISLANDS (IOTA). Alexander, UR5EAW, informs OPDX to look for some activity from Ukrainian islands to qualify for the "Islands of Ukraine on Air" and "IOTA" Award Program. The special expedition callsign, EM11E, will be used between May 1st through August 31st. The expedition will cover the Dniper - River islands, and the islands of the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov. QSL Manager is UR5EAW: Shevchenko Alexander, Pelina str. 29, Dnepropetrovsk 49107 UA, Ukraine.
F3, FRANCE (Rare prefix). Maurice, F5NQL, DX editor for the UFT, informs OPDX that he will be in the next CQ WPX CW Contest as F3GJ using the F3 prefix which is rare. Look for him two hours before the beginning of the contest, extra op only on CW. QSL via F3GJ CBA or via French Bureau.
FG, GUADELOUPE (IOTA activity). Dany, F5CW, will be in Guadeloupe from June 22nd to July 12th. He will be jointed by F8CMT from July 5-25th. Both will be active from Saintes Islands (NA-114) from July 4-9th with the callsign TO8CW.
FJ, ST. BARTHELEMY ISLAND. Remember to look for Bert, PA3GIO, to be active as FJ/PA3GIO/m or /p now through March 28th. Operation will be on SSB only with operations on 80/40/20/17/15/12/10 meters. QSL via PA3GIO either direct or (preferably) through the bureau. The Web page for this operation is at: http://www.pa3gio.nl/FJ/
FO, FRENCH POLYNESIA. Sei, JF1SQC/KH0DQ, informs OPDX that he will be active from Bora Bora (OC-067) as FO8DX in the CQWPX SSB Contest. He mentioned that he may be active as FO0(something) outside of the contest. QSL via JF1SQC (JA bureau).
GM, SCOTLAND. Keith, GM4YXI, informs OPDX that he will be active during the CQ WPX SSB Contest as a Single Band/10m/High Power/Unassisted entry. He will use the "North of Scotland Contest" group's callsign, GM7V. As with all other QSOs with this callsign, QSL is via Edwin, ZS5BBO. Check out the Web page: http://www.gm7v.com
H40, TEMOTU PROVINCE (Also H44). Nick Hacko, VK1AA (aka VK2ICV/VK9LX), reports that all of the equipment went through custom clearance OK (thanks to Greg Pearson, H44GR!) and is stored safely in Honiara. Unfortunately, Ranko, YT6A, is NOT going, and Nick has yet to figure out how he is going to manage 125 kg of equipment. Nick states, "Obviously, something will need to stay in H44 therefore only the most important stuff will be taken to H40. This includes an FT920, MLA2500 amplifier, tribander, antenna mast and lowband vertical. No WARC antenna; RTTY is also under question. Also, I would need to cut the coax (heavy RG8), therefore, I can only have one antenna at the time - either vertical or tribander. There will be no activity from Honiara BEFORE departure to Temotu, only later, April 7-9th." His callsign will be H44TL for Honiara, and for Temotu the callsign will be H40XX. Nick appeared on the air (Sunday morning Zulu time) on 10 meters CW (around 28008 kHz at 0113z) as this was being written. The web site for the operation is at: http://www.qsl.net/vk1aa/temotu/
HC8, GALAPAGOS ISLAND. Ramon, XE1KK, will join Trey, N5KO/HC8N, during the CQ WW WPX SSB Contest. Before and after the contest he will be active on HF, 50 MHz and FM satellites as HC8/XE1KK and/or HC8N. QSL for XE1KK via his homecall; bureau OK. QSLs for HC8N via AA5BT.
HH, HAITI. Jan, K4QD, will operate from Haiti as HH4/K4QD during the period of April 8-19th. Jan, a member of the Florida DXPedition Group (FDXPG), is going as a volunteer to the Northwest Haiti Christian Mission, and he will operate in any spare time available. Operation will be 100W on SSB and CW with a beam on 20-10 meters and a 40/80 meter dipole. QSL K4QD via his CBA or via the bureau.
HV, VATICAN. Don, VE3CDP/W9, from Edwardsville, Illinois, informed OPDX that Francesco, HV0A, who has been active 15/12/10 meters CW/SSB, is a cousin to his wife. Next year Don and his wife plan to visit him in Rome where he lives and practices law. Also, Don has been invited to operate HV0A. Don mentions that Francesco plans to visit them in Illinois this summer.
IOTA NEWS.............
JW8, SVALBARD. Ooperators Torfinn/LA4OFA, Magnus/LA4PHA, Morten/LA9GY and Bjoern/LA9IY will be active from March 28th and April 1st. The group will participate in the CQWW WPX SSB Contest this coming weekend as JW8G. Look for activity outside the contest as they operate as JW4OFA, JW4PHA, JW9GY and JW9IY, respectively. QSL JW8G via LA9GY, and the others via home their home callsign.
NODXA OFFICERS RE-ELECTED. The following amateurs have been re-elected to serve as Northern Ohio DX Association officers for the year 2002-2003:
P5, NORTH KOREA. Ed, P5/4L4FN, showed up over the weekend on 15 meters SSB (21225 kHz after 2230z). Really no new detail to report this week.
QSL INFO AND NEWS.............
S7, SEYCHELLES. Look for Kurt, HB9MX, to be active as S79MX for about one month starting March 25th. Activity will be on CW/SSB and probably on all bands. QSL via HB9MX.
SPECIAL EVENT. Look for the special callsign TM5PDG to be activated on Sunday, April 7th, from 0900-1900z. French hams will operate from "LE PONT DU GARD" (Bridge of Gard, dated from Roman period). TM5PDG will be active on 40-15 meters on CW/SSB/SSTV and PSK31. QSL via F6KQK by the bureau.
T9, BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA. Bernard, F5LPY, is active as T9/F5LPY until the end of May. Look for him every evening around 2030z, on 20 meters CW. He may possibly QSY to 80 meters. When working on 40 meters, Bernard must use a very sharp filter because of a violent local QRM so you may have to change your frequency. Bernard also works SSB each Sunday morning between 0700-1030z on 20 meters. QSL via the French bureau (please no cards to T9 bureau). Bernard will answer 100%, after he comes back home. SWL cards are also very welcome.
TOP 50 DXPEDITIONS. Gil, F5NOD, has put together an interesting Web page that you might want to check out at: http://www.qsl.net/f5nod/top50expe.html
U.S.A. POSTAGE TO GO UP. It was announced (officially) this past week that stateside 1st class mail postage is going up 3 cents, possibly around June 30th.
VK0, MACQUARIE ISLAND. "QRZ DX" reported this past week that another ham will be active from here. It has been reported that Peter Andrew Pokorny, VK0MQI, will be working as a member of the 2002 Australian National Antarctic Research Expedition to Macquarie Island. Peter is 43 years old and has worked on contract with ANARE as a supervising communications technical officer for one year. He had operated as VK0AC from Davis Base, Antarctica in 1998. Peter has already departed for VK0 on March 11th, so he may have already arrived on the island. He will be staying on the island until December of this year. He will only be on the air in his spare time. His operating site will be the same house which Tom, VK0TS, used in 1997. Peter is expected to operate on all bands including 6 meters. However, he does not have much experience in DXing, so please be patient in the early part of his operation. QSL Managers will be Masa, JE1LET, for his JA QSOs and Toshi, JA1ELY, for other DX QSOs.
VP6/D, DUCIE ISLAND. Pilot stations Stu/WA2MOE, Yoshi/JE2EHP and Jay/AF2C have been keeping the DX community well informed over the past week on the activity and status of VP6DI. As this was being typed, reports indicate that the team is tired but in good spirits. Over the past weekend there has been some activity on 80/40/17 meters. On 160 they make no promises. The operator N9TK (VP6DI) reported that the vertical antenna intended for use on 160 and 80 is giving the operators trouble. They are trying to repair it. Also, there is word that there is something wrong with the RTTY equipment. The VP6DI team is scheduled to cease operation on March 27th and leave the island that evening (their time). They intend to arrive on Henderson Island (OC-056) on March 28th. This is a rare IOTA. They will only stay for one day and depart Henderson on March 29th. On March 30th, they will arrive at Pitcairn (long enough to eat lunch). On April 1st, they are expected to arrive back in Gambier, and all should be back home by April 3rd. Remember, QSL Manager is Garth Hamilton, VE3HO, for all HF operations only. QSL Manager for all 6 meter QSOs is Kan, JA1BK. A log search is or will be available at: http://www.big.or.jp/~ham/dx.html
WIND/WATERMILLS ACTIVITY. OPDX was informed that "National Mills Weekend" will take place on May 11-12th. The Denby Dale Amateur Radio Society (DDARS) is once again co-ordinating the "Mills On The Air". The "Society for the Protection of Ancient Building" (S.P.A.B.) runs the mills event every year on or around the second weekend in May; however, amateur radio is another part of the many attractions that take place. Certificates this year will be issued like last year by working 10 stations or more on 1 or both days, send 3-00 pounds or more payable to DDARS via Sue, G0WFE. Currently, S.P.A.B has not decided what mill to activate during this event, but details are forthcoming. Watch for up-to-date info via Internet, Packet, RSGB news and the following Web pages: http://www.spab.org.uk/mills/ and http://www.qsl.net/g4cdd/mills.htm
ADDED NOTE: This event is not a contest. They just want to have a good time promoting the wonders of amateur radio while helping to remind "Joe Public" that there are still a few individuals left who enjoy preserving our heritage, and why not. The above group would like to see more Wind/WaterMills active during this event.
XR0, SAN FELIX ISLAND. The USA pilot station Dr. Bill, K6GNX, has been keeping the DX community well informed over the past week on the activity and status of XR0X. As this was being written, XR0X was operating 3 SSB stations (one shared with RTTY), 3 CW stations and 6 meters. One CW generator failed and was replaced with a spare. The piles are thinning out. The XR0X team expects to go QTH sometime during March 26th to have everything loaded aboard ship to weight anchor at 1200z (local) on the March 27th. QSL via John Kennon, N7CQQ, P. O. Box 31553, Laughlin, Nevada 89028 USA. The San Felix Expedition Web site has up-to-date news and a log search available at: http://www.cordell.org/SFX/
XV9, SPRATLY ISLAND. Reports indicate that the Vietnam Amateur Radio Club (VARC) plan to be on from here during April. They will use the callsign XV9TH, however, specific dates are unknown. More details are forthcoming.
XY, MYANMAR. Frank, DL4KQ, informs OPDX that 9 operators will be active from here August 4-22nd. Operators include: DF2IC, DF7KP, DL4KQ, DL5OAB, DL8KBJ, IN3QBR, IN3ZNR, XW0X, and YB0US. They will use the callsigns XY3C for CW, XY5T for SSB and XY7V for the digital modes. They plan to have three stations (w/amlifiers) active at all times on 160-6 meters. Yagis will be used between 30-6 meters. The lower bands will use horizontal and vertical systems. They plan to travel and operate (possibly) from three different locations. There will be limited operation between August 4-8th from Yangon (on 40-6 meters). Then between August 9-22nd, they will operate from Ngapal, near Thandwe (earlier known as Sandoway) at Arrakan coast. There is a small chance, for a short period, that they may activate a new IOTA in the Arrakan Group. QSL Managers are as follows: XY3C via DL4KQ, XY5T via IN3ZNR and XY7V via DL8KBJ (direct or bureau). They have as Web page at: http://www.dx-pedition.de
XX9, MACAO. Pertti, OH2PM, is expected to be active as XX9TRR from here between March 26th and April 1st. Activity will be on 80-10 meters CW/SSB. He will concentrate on 80 and 30 meters. Look for him before and after his sunrise and sunset. QSL via N6XJ.
YA, AFGHANISTAN. Look for Mark, VK4KMT, to join the YA5T team. He is expected to fly to Dubai on March 25th and then into YA-land in about 5 days. His mode of preference is SSB, so this will help the guys waiting for SSB action.
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