Ohio/Penn DX Bulletin No. 591
December 22, 2002

The Ohio/Penn DX PacketCluster
DX Bulletin No. 591
BID: $OPDX.591
December 23, 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 DX Bulletin, NC1L, W2SN, W3UR & The Daily DX, K4VUD, N4AA & QRZ DX, AA7UC, K8AV, K8YSE, WZ8D, W9MDP, NW0L, DL1EK/DL7VOA & DX Newsletter, DL3GA, DL6KAC, F5NQL & UFT, FJ5DX & La Gazette du DX, G3AB, G3NKC, G3OAG, G3XAQ, HG4I, HL1VAU, I1JQJ & IK1ADH - 425 DX NEWS, IZ8BRI, JE8KKX, JI3DST, JI6KVR, JJ1BDX/3, LU6XQ, OM3JW, OZ6OM/OZ7M & OZ 50 MHz DX Bulletin, PS7AB, SQ9MZ, UT3UY, VA3RJ & ICPO, VK4AAR and ZL4HU for the following DX information.

SPECIAL NOTE FROM YOUR EDITOR. I guess many of you were very surprised (as were my family, friends and myself) when you first heard your editor was going to have unexpected open heart surgery on December 7th. This actually all began during the first full week of November (Friday the 8th) with a simple "stress test" which finally lead to a heart catheterization. During the time between my operation and the stress test I learned one very important health fact: Diabetics (which I am) usually do not feel heart pain. Also, between the time of my stress test and operation, I have been asked by several doctors the question: "DO YOU FEEL ANY HEART PAIN OR HAVE YOU EVER FELT HEART PAIN?" My answer was always NO! However, the heart catheterization showed something that I was not feeling. I had four blockages in the left anterior descending artery (some 70-80% and some 80-90%), however, the heart muscle and the other two arteries were in good shape. Four stents could have been put in but the doctor felt they would not last and my best option was bypass surgery. A rare Saturday morning operation was done on me to correct the problem. I had a double bypass on the one artery (a vein taken from my left leg and an antery from by chest area). The impression before and after the operation I received from all the doctors and nurses was that I was a walking time bomb. Just think, the week before the operation I was shoveling show, climbing my tower and working hard at work unloading and climbing railroad cars (I work at a lumberyard).

Let me say that I am fine now. I have lost some 22 pounds and naturally I am weak and tired, but I am recovering very well (because I am 50 years young) according to the doctor. This operation has done a lot to me phyically, mentally and emotionally. My wife (Linda) was especially a real big help and strong during all this, as my brother-in-law and his wife. I also want to thank the MANY who E-mailed me get well wishes, cards and flowers. Believe me the E-mail was overwhelming (over 12 meg when I returned home) which included some 300 get well wishes. It took me four days to catch-up on all the E-mail. It was truly touching, and I did not realize how many friends I have throughout the ham community. Thank you all. Also, a special to John/K8YSE, Carl/K8AV and Dave/WB8APD for keeping the DX community informed about my condition.

Finally, my family (wife/OPDX's chief proof-reader Linda, Teddy [TJ], Katie) and I (KB8NW) would like to wish all DXers, Contesters and OPDX readers a very "Happy Holiday and Season's Greetings". Also, we would like thank the many who have contributed information over the year (there are too many to list). REMEMBER, without them there would not be an OPDX Bulletin. I would also like to thank the many who sent holiday greetings. I tried to answer some and wished I could answer each one of them individually, but it would take a huge amount of time.....

73 and Have a Great Holiday de Tedd KB8NW

P.S. Now for a little DX. I hope to be in the full swing of things next week..........

DXCC COUNTRY/ENTITY REPORT: According to the AR-Cluster Network for the week of Sunday, 15/December, through Sunday, 22/December there were 225 countries active. Countries available: 3A, 3B8, 3DA, 3V, 3W, 4J, 4L, 4S, 4U1I, 4W, 4X, 5B, 5H, 5N, 5R, 5U, 5V, 5W, 5X, 5Z, 6W, 6Y, 7P, 7Q, 7X, 8P, 8R, 9A, 9G, 9H, 9J, 9K, 9L, 9M2, 9M6, 9N, 9Q, 9V, 9Y, A2, A3, A4, A6, A7, A9, AP, BV, BY, C6, CE, CE0A, CE9, CM, CN, CP, CT, CT3, CU, CX, D2, D4, D6, DL, DU, EA, EA6, EA8, EA9, EI, EK, EL, EP, ER, ES, ET, EU, EX, EY, EZ, F, FG, FJ, FK, FM, FO, FP, FR, FY, G, GD, GI, GJ, GM, GU, GW, H4, HA, HB, HC, HH, HI, HK, HK0/a, HL, HP, HR, HS, HZ, I, IS, J3, J6, J7, JA, JT, JW, JY, K, KG4, KH0, KH2, KH3, KH6, KH8, KL, KP2, KP4, LA, LU, LX, LY, LZ, OA, OD, OE, OH, OH0, OK, OM, ON, OY, OZ, P4, PA, PJ2, PJ7, PY, PY0F, PZ, S2, S5, S9, SM, SP, ST, SU, SV, SV5, SV9, T7, T8, T9, TA, TF, TG, TI, TI9, TK, TN, TR, TT, TU, TY, UA, UA2, UA9, UK, UN, UR, V2, V3, V4, V5, V7, V8, VE, VK, VK9N, VP2E, VP2M, VP2V, VP5, VP8/h, VP8/o, VQ9, VR, VU, XE, XT, XU, XW, XX9, YA, YB, 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).

3C, EQUATORIAL GUINEA. Alan, G3XAQ, informs OPDX that he will be visiting Malabo between January 9-21st. He expects to operate 160-10 meters (especially LF CW) with a K2/100 and wire antennas. Callsign 3C5XA has been requested. QSL direct to G3XAQ CBA.

4W, EAST TIMOR. Earlier announcements of Dan Holloway, VK8AN, planning to be active as 4W6AN have been put on hold. Alan, VK4AAR, informs OPDX a new operation is planned, and he will advise us later on the details. He is sorry for the inconvenience.

5R8, MADAGASCAR. Ake, 5R8FU, has recently been active on top band as well as 80 meters. Watch 1834 or 1836 kHz after 0150z through his sunrise and then he will move to 80 meters (around 3513 kHz until about 0245z). QSL vi SM5DJZ.

9G, GHANA. Arno/DL1CW and Andy/DL3GA plan to be active from Cape Coast from February 5-18th. The requested callsigns are 9G5AP (DL1CW) and 9G5GA (DL3GA), there is no confirmation for these callsign yet. Activity will be on 80-10 meters, including the WARC bands, and hopefully 6m, on modes CW, RTTY and some SSB. Participation in the contests WPX (RTTY) and ARRL-DX (CW) is also planned.

9N, NEPAL. Hugo, LA5YJ, is now active as 9N7YJ and is staying in Kathmandu. He is expected to stay through February. He was heard on 30 meters usually after 0100z. QSL via LA5YJ, direct ONLY.

9N, NEPAL. Just a reminder! By the time you read this Kiyo, JH3PAS, should be back in Katmandu and active as 9N7AS until December 30th. Also, look for Kazu, JA8MWU, to be active from the capital city as 9N7WU between December 30th and January 6th. Both operators plan to be active on 160-6 meters. 9N7AS will operate SSB, CW, RTTY and PSK31, and 9N7WU will be mainly on SSB only. QSL direct to their home callsigns or to the JARL QSL Bureau.

ANTARCTIC TRIP. Reports indicate that Martin, G3ZAY, is currently in route to be on a 3 week trip to the Falklands, South Georgia, South Orkneys, South Shetlands and Antarctic Peninsula. The exact landing dates and spots/bases will be determined by weather and ice conditions. No special callsigns were mentioned, but you may hear him from time to time signing VP8DFK.

DXCC NEWS. Bill Moore, NC1L, ARRL DXCC Manager, reports that the following operations are approved for DXCC credit:

HG03, HUNGARY (Special Prefix). Tibor, HG4I, informs OPDX that he will be using the special callsign HG03HNY between December 20th and January 12th. The special event callsign HG03HNY stands for: the 03 is the call area and the HNY suffix is the abbreviation of the phrase Happy New Year. Activity will be on all HF bands (including WARC bands) and 2 meters on the following modes: CW, RTTY, BPSK, SSB, (FM on 29 MHz and 2m). He will try to take a part in all HF contests during the activity period. The stations are valid as a separate multiplier in the HA-HNY activity contest (rules see on SM3CER contest sevice web site: http://www.sk3bg.se ) QSL via only direct (SASE) to HG4I: Mr Tibor Szabo, A.R.S. HG4I, H-2465 Rackeresztur, Budai u. 6., Hungary. ADDED NOTE: The special QSLs are ready to send. Please send the QSLs for former HG01HNY and HG02HNY to the same address above.

HS0, THAILAND. Charly, K4VUD, is once again here visiting his wife's mother and father near Bangkkok. He is signing HS0ZCW and will stay until January 3rd. He has been heard on 15 and 40 meters over the past week.

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

KH0, MARIANA ISLANDS. Nozomu, JE8KKX, will be active from Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands (OC-086) as AH2K/KH0 from December 28-30th. Activity will be on 40-6 meters, RTTY. QSL via JE8KKX direct with a SASE (or JARL Bureau is OK) to: Nozomu Takahashi, 2-5 5-chome 18-jo Toko, Asahikawa, Hokkaido, 078-8358 JAPAN. NOTICE!! Please DO NOT send QSL to KH2 BUREAU or the Guam address!!

KP2, U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS. John Walker, WZ8D, informs OPDX that he and Joe Pater, W8GEX, are heading back to the Caribbean December 30th through January 8th. They are staying at Windwood on St. Croix (IOTA NA-106 and Grid Sq. FK-77). They have been issued the call N8Z. They will operate 160-6 meters on CW, SSB and PSK. QSL to WZ8D (SASE PSE or IRC and SAE).

LIGHTHOUSE ACTIVITY................ The Central Texas Contest Group, WA5DTK, will be active between 0001 December 21st and 1159z December 31st from various lighthouses located in Texas. No other specifics were given. Look for them on 7260, 14270 and 21310 kHz. QSL via Barry Brewer, 603 Broken Bow Drive, Round Rock, Texas 78681, USA.

NEW OFFICERS FOR 2003. Members of the NorthEast Wisconsin DX Association serving NorthEast Wisconsin and Upper Michigan elected the following officers for 2003:

  George Croy, W9MDP     - President
  Mark Michel, W9OP      - Vice President
  Tom Prust, N9WI        - Secretary
  Robert Schrader, AA9GZ - Treasurer
  Gerry Radke, WA9GON    - Ass't Treasurer
  John Meyer, NZ9Z       - Membership Coordinator
  Skip Caswell, KE9L     - at large board member
  Mike Lawrence, N9UA    - at large board member
  David Jaeger, WN9Q     - at large board member

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

RTTY NEWS. Marty, NW0L, informs OPDX that barring any major blizzards, the state of North Dakota will be activated during the ARRL RTTY Roundup Contest, January 4-5th, in a portable operation by the team of NW0L, AE9B, K0LW and W0ZAP. Contest callsign will be NW0L. QSL direct (with SASE) or via bureau.

S2, BANGLADESH. Eric, VA7DZ, will be active as S21/VA7DZ from St. Martin's Island (AS-127), January 3-4th. Activity will be QRP with an Elecraft K2, Sigma-5 vertical. QSL are 100% via VA7DZ with green stamp.

SPECIAL PREFIXES. Henry, SQ9MZ, informs OPDX readers to look for the following twelve special event station, to be active from Poland between December 15th and March 15th. Activity is to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the breaking of the Enigma machine code by the Polish cryptoanalysts and mathematicians. More details on the Enigma Code and a special "Enigma Award" (sponsored by the SP DX Club) visit the following Web pages at: http://www.sp5zcc.waw.pl/en/enigma.html http://www.enigmahistory.org/enigma.html Look for the following stations to be active:

          HF70E - QSL via SQ9AOJ      SN70E - QSL via SP6CDP
          HF70N - QSL via SP7CVW      SN70N - QSL via SP6JKH
          HF70I - QSL via SP6IHE      SN70I - QSL via SP5PPK
          HF70G - QSL via SP2DNI      SN70G - QSL via SP1PBT
          HF70M - QSL via SP2PI       SN70M - QSL via SP5ZCC
          HF70A - QSL via SP9PRO      SN70A - QSL via SP9EVP

TI9, COCOS ISLAND. You only have a few more days to work Jose, TI2JJP, as TI9JJP. He will be active through December 25th. There was not much activity by him over the weekend, but watch 14195, 21295 and 28495 kHz. QSL via PO Box 2048-2050, San Pedro Montes Oca, San Jose, Costa Rica.

V6, MICRONESIA. Bert, V73GOD, Bert, will be active as V63USA from Kosrae Island (OC-059) between December 26th and January 1st. Activity will be mostly on 17/12/10/6 meters SSB, and possibly PSK. Bert will be active in his spare time as this is a vacation. QSL via V63USA: P.O. Box 1480, APO AP 96555, USA.

VP6, PITCAIRN ISLAND. Ed, W2SN, informs OPDX that he is scheduled to operate as VP6EM from Pitcairn Island on February 4, 2003, between 1700 and 2359z. His length of stay was not mentioned. Activity will be on 10, 15 and/or 20 meters SSB, depending on propagation. QSL to home call.

VP6/D, DUCIE ISLAND. Information released on the Central Arizona DX Associations mailing list stated that Meralda, VP6MW, was confirmed by Kan, JA1BK, to be the CW operator on 18 and 24 meters for the 2nd Ducie trip happening in March. They leave Pitcairn Island around the 6th and will arrive the 8th on Ducie. The ship will be the Braveheart again. Operators mentioned will be Dave/VP6DB, Cookie/VP6AZ and Meralda/ VP6MW, 3 Japanese operators (one of them being Kan/JA1BK) and a French operator. Length of stay was not mentioned. Many details should be forthcoming.

XU, CAMBODIA. Look for Jaak, ES1FB, to be active as XU7ACE from the city of Sihanoukville now through December 27th. His operations will be limited. Activity will be on all bands on SSB. He was spotted this past weekend on 7060, 21270 and 24950 kHz. QSL to home call.

YI, IRAQ. Steve, OM3JW, informs OPDX that his son Mike, OM2DX, is the newest operator at the Slovak Embassy in Baghdad. He will use the YI9OM callsign a few weeks, then he will try to get other callsign (probably YI9DX). He is using a TS-850SAT and IC-706, Logperiodic antenna on 10-30 MHz, a dipole, an Inverted Vee on 40 and 80 meters and a long wire on 160 meters. He does have an amplifier (1kW), but it does not work on 160m. Mike will be active on CW/SSB/RTTY/PSK31, and he is active every day after 2030z on 1832-1833 kHz. His stay in Baghdad will be 2-4 years. The QSL Manager for YI9OM beginning November 28, 2002, is his father OM3JW.

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SPECIAL NOTE BY EDITOR: If you are having a problem receiving bounced mail
by sending mail to me via " kb8nw@barf80.nshore.org ", please send mail to
me via " kb8nw@arrl.net "...... TNX de Tedd KB8NW
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