The Ohio/Penn DX PacketCluster
DX Bulletin No. 638
BID: $OPDX.638
December 8, 2003
Editor Tedd Mirgliotta, KB8NW
Provided by BARF80.ORG (Cleveland, Ohio)
Thanks to the Northern Ohio Amateur Radio Society, Northern Ohio DX Association, Ohio/Penn PacketCluster Network, AB5K & the AR TelNet Clusters Network, ARRL Letter, K1XN & GoList, W2CE, NG3K, W3UR & The Daily DX, N4AA & QRZ DX, N5FG, N5XZ, W5XC, K8YSE, KU9C, 9V1DX, DL/VE3ZIK & www.contesting.info, DL1EK/DL7VOA & DX Newsletter, F5CQ, F5CWU & La Gazette du DX, F5NQL & UFT, G3VMW, I1JQJ/IK1ADH & 425 DX News, JF1LZQ/ JQ2GYU, JI6KVR & JA-IOTA Islands News, JL1UXH, LU3XQ, LU6XTA, M3NJW, OM3JW, OZ4ACK, PP5MQ, VA3RJ & ICPO and VE3EXY for the following DX information.
DXCC COUNTRY/ENTITY REPORT: According to the AR-Cluster Network for the week of Sunday, 30th/November, through Sunday, 7th/December there were 245 countries active. Countries available: 3A, 3B8, 3B9, 3D2, 3DA, 3V, 3W, 3X, 4J, 4L, 4S, 4U1I, 4U1U, 4W, 4X, 5A, 5B, 5H, 5N, 5R, 5T, 5U, 5V, 5W, 5X, 5Z, 6W, 6Y, 7Q, 7X, 8P, 8Q, 8R, 9A, 9G, 9H, 9J, 9K, 9L, 9M2, 9M6, 9N, 9Q, 9U, 9V, 9Y, A3, A4, A5, A6, A7, A9, AP, BV, BY, C2, C3, C9, 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, FH, FJ, FK, FM, FO, FP, FR, FR/j, FY, G, GD, GI, GJ, GM, GU, GW, H4, HA, HB, HC, HC8, HH, HI, HK, HK0/a, HL, HP, HR, HS, HV, HZ, I, IS, J2, J3, J6, J7, J8, JA, JD/m, JD/o, JT, JW, JY, K, KG4, KH0, KH2, KH6, KH8, KH9, 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, PY0F, PY0S, PZ, S2, S5, S7, S9, SM, SP, SU, SV, SV5, SV9, T2, T31, T32, T33, T7, T9, TA, TF, TG, TI, TK, TL, TR, TT, TU, TY, TZ, UA, UA2, UA9, UK, UN, UR, V2, V3, V4, V5, V7, VE, VK, VK9C, VK9N, VP5, VP8, VP8/h, VP9, VQ9, VR, VU, XE, XT, XU, XW, YA, YB, YI, YK, YL, YN, YO, YS, YU, YV, Z2, Z3, ZA, ZB, ZC4, ZD7, ZD8, ZF, ZK1/s, ZK2, ZL, ZP, ZS
* PLEASE NOTE: The report "could" contain "Pirate/SLIM" operations. As always, you never know - "Work First Worry Later" (WFWL).
** IMPORTANT NOTICE ** (ATTENTION WEB MASTERS AND INFORMATION CONTRIBUTORS). Over the past few weeks there have been some changes to the bulletin on the header and on the final credits. The BARF-80 BBS public phone line is no longer available, and the OPDX FAX number has been changed. I have noticed that some Web pages have not yet changed the information. So, Web masters "PLEASE" change your Web pages to the new header and the final credits. Contributors, please notice that OPDX has done away with the VOICE answering machine and now has a NEW fax number to send information. OPDX's new F A X number is: 1-419-828-7791 ( F A X only! ) Thank you for taking note of these changes..... 73 de Tedd KB8NW
3D2, FIJI (Also, T30). Reports indicate that Hrane, YT1AD, is on the move again and heading to Fiji to team-up with Boban, YZ1AU, to operate in the ARRL 10 Meter Contest this weekend. Reportedly, Boban is already there. Their activity outside of the contest will be on 80-6 meters. The duo has one license already available to them (3D2AD), while the other one will be applied for upon arrival (possibly 3D2YU). Following their ARRL Contest operation, they plan to go to West Kiribati (T30). Their callsigns are unknown at this time. LAST MINUTE UPDATE/CHANGE: Boban, YZ1AU, is now operating as 3D2AD. The station on Fiji is fully operational, and will be there for ARRL 10 Meter Contest next weekend. The callsign, 3D2YU, is expected shortly. Meanwhile, Hrane (alone) is moving to West Kiribati (T30) on Tuesday and will be operating from there during the contest.
4L6, GEORGIA. Shota, 4L6AM, will be active in the ARRL 10-Meter Contest (December 13-14th) as a Single-Op SSB entry. QSL via the address on QRZ.com.
4W, TIMOR LESTE. Michal, OM2AQ, is now active as 4W2AQ from Timor Leste (East Timor) until December 18th. Steve, OM3JW, suggests/states to look for him everyday at 0900z on 28480 kHz. However, we spotted Michal on 15 meters on 21299 kHz between 1130-1330z. QSL via OM2AQ.
9V0 & VP8, ANTARCTICA. Alan, 9V1DX (aka VK0LD and ex-VK0MM Macquarie Island 2000), informs OPDX that he will be active from a temporary base camp in the remote Ellsworth Mountains in the Antarctic interior (approx. 2000 km due South of Peter First Island). He is there supporting a team of scientists and mountainteers climbing Mt. Vinson (highest mountain in the Antartic) from approx. December 15th to around January 10th (exact dates depend on the weather for the long, non-commercial flight in & out). His old callsign VP8PJ has been re-issued for life by the Falkland Islands Govt., and he will use it exclusively on PSK-31. The Singapore licencing authority has also issued him the special callsign 9V0A which he will use for CW and SSB. Alan will be as active as his work schedule permits. QSL route will be announced later. For more details, please visit the following two Web pages at: http://www.sarts.org.sg http://www.geocities.com/vk0ld/2003.html
D2, ANGOLA. Ed Giorgadze, 4L4FN (aka P5/4L4FN), is now active as D2PFN. Activity will be on SSB and RTTY. He was spotted this past weekend on 15 meters RTTY (on around 21080 kHz between 1430-2030z) and SSB (on 21235 kHz after 1000z). QSL Manager is Bruce Paige, KK5DO. More information and an on-line log will be available on Paige's Web site at: http://www.amsatnet.com (click on D2 Angola)
CO8, CUBA. Raul, CO8ZZ, who was active in this past weekend's ARRL 160m Contest, states he will be active in this weekend's ARRL 10m Contest (December 13-14th) as a Single-Op/CW only/Low Power entry. QSL for both contests are via DK1WI.
E3, ERITREA (2004 DXpedition Cancelled!). Steve Wilson, G3VMW, has sadly informed the Northern Ohio DX Association (NODXA) and OPDX that he will be writing to all their sponsors very soon to advise them of the current situation in Eritrea. He states: "We have been told very recently by the Eritrean PTT that 'ALL amateur radio operation in Eritrea is temporarily suspended and that we should not be optimistic about a radio licence in February.' As you can imagine, we were devastated by this news and it has taken a couple of weeks to find out why the ban on amateur radio has happened. One of our crew has been in Eritrea for three weeks trying to sort out a licence and the place is crawling with UN staff. There is an ongoing border dispute between Eritrea and Ethiopia about a contested village, which may easily erupt into a full-blown war once again. The situation is very serious and the UN is trying to avert another war. All personal communications, including the GSM Cellfone system have been turned off. No amateur radio will be allowed in the foreseeable future. Regrettably, I have no choice but to cancel our planned operation for February 2004 and return all our sponsor's money. I would not be right to hang on to money that has been sent in good faith indefinitely in the hope that the situation might change. We may get the OK to proceed later in 2004, but there is no guarantee and we are faced with looking at an alternative location. I will return your check (NODXA's) and advise all our other sponsors in the next few days. You are the first group I have informed and it hurts!"
EY8, TAJIKISTAN. Nodir, EY8MM, will be active in the CQ 160 Meter CW Contest (January 24-25th) as a Single-Op entry. QSL via K1BV.
FO/A, AUSTRAL ISLANDS. By the time you read this, Vladimir, UA4WHX, will be finishing up his FO/AC4LN/m operation to Marquesas Islands (QRT December 9th) and will move on to Rurutu Island in the Austral Islands (IOTA OC-050) between December 10-12th. He will probably sign FO/AC4LN/a. He seems to favor 40 and 30 meters CW (There was some SSB reported on 40m). QSL to his home callsign.
HI9, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC. William, N7OU, will be active as N7OU/HI9 in the ARRL DX CW Contest (February 21-22nd) as Single-Op/All Band/Low Power entry. QSL via N7OU.
IOTA NEWS................
KH2, GUAM. Setsu, JL1UXH/KK2H, and his XYL Maki, 7L4FSR, will be again on the air from Guam from December 16-23rd as KK2H/KH2. Setsu will focus on working Europe and USA East Coast stations. He will be active on all HF bands on CW and SSB. Online logs will be available during the operation and will be updated on a daily basis at: http://kk2h.4th.jp QSL via JL1UXH either via the JA Bureau or direct to his JA callsign. Please do not send anything to the U.S. address of KK2H. All the direct QSLs for the last November operation of KK2H/KH2 have been answered. The bureau cards will be sent in the early part of 2004 in order to wait for some more direct requests. Also, the log has been uploaded to the LoTW (Logbook of The World) and already 38 QSOs have been matched out of 2,500 contacts.
PY0, FERNANDO DE NORONHA. Tony, PY0FT, will be active from December 15-26th. No bands or modes of activity were provided (Last year he was active mainly on the digital modes). QSL via JA1ELY.
QSL INFO AND NEWS..............
TO4, EUROPA. The Europa T04E team is still active despite the rumor stating they are QRT. It is only a rumor, and they are expected to be active until December 16th. The team was a little tired during the first part of the week because of their participation in the CQWW DX CW Contest. Many have complained about the teams operating schedule. They want everyone to know that their activity would not be possible without the help of the French Army, and they must respect their order while on the island. Also, the generators on the island are under the control of the Military. The team does have a new operating schedule: 0600-0700z and 1515-1945z (They are trying to increase the length or split these periods.) The 5 operators are trying to have 4 stations active as much as possible during their operating times. A report (dated December 5th) from Rafik, F5CQ, states: "Since their arrival on the island, the team has completed 15300 QSOs with TO4E callsign: 5800 on SSB, 7700 on CW, 1800 on RTTY, 6 on 50 MHz (with ZS), plus 4000 contacts during the CW CQ WW Contest, as TO4WW." INTERESTING NOTE: Rafik, F5CQ, also reports that protected sea turtles have been a nuisance for the TO4E operation. Lowband antennas are installed on the beach, and each night the turtles knock them over and destroy the radials on their way from the ocean to the top of the beach to rest during the night. This means the team must then repair and reinstall the antenna systems on a daily basis. The Europa Web site is: http://europa2003.free.fr
TT8, CHAD. Allen, N5XZ, informs OPDX that it has take about a month after his arrival to receive a license in hand. However, he has received the callsign TT8XZ, thanks to the efforts of Dennis Carter, KE3TD, and Christian Berdjugin, TT8CB. He now has a HF radio in his room, but as of yet, no antenna. He is still working on that. They are going to try to set up a mobile antenna on a mast with some radials. Allen will be on HF SSB only because the Motorola radio lent to him by the Security Manager, Christian, TT8CB, only has SSB. It will do CW with an accessory that they do not have. Allen told OPDX that if he comes back next year, he will be there longer and probably bring his IC-706, a keyer and maybe some sort of antenna. Keep your fingers crossed! He also mentioned that he is going to try real hard to spend at least a few hours in the 10 meter contest. Allen will be in Chad until December 19th. QSL via N5XZ.
VK DROPS CW AND CELEBRATES WITH QSO PARTY. On New Year's Day, Australian radio amateurs will gain access to the High Frequency (HF) bands using licenses that don't require the passing of Morse code telegraphy tests. The Wireless Institute of Australia (WIA) invites the world's amateur radio fraternity to join an on-air celebration of this special occasion. To celebrate the event, there will be a "WIA Welcome to HF QSO Party" beginning at 0001 Australian Eastern Daylight Time and conclude at 2400 UTC on New Year's Day - a total of 35 hours. The VK radio amateurs appearing on HF bands for the first time can be identified by three-letter VK callsign suffixes that begin with the letters H, T, U, X, Y and Z. Also, WIA amateur stations will be on air to join the HF QSO Party, and these stations will have a two-letter callsign suffixes "WI" or three letter suffixes starting with "WI." Listen for the call "CQ WIA Welcome to HF QSO Party".
VK9C, COCOS KEELING ISLAND. Look for Ken, JA1CMD (N4XJ), to be active as VK9CA from December 28th to January 2nd. Activity will be on 80-10 meters CW/SSB using only a 100 watts. QSL via JA1CMD or K4ST.
VK9L, LORD HOWE ISLAND. Look for Mark, VK2GND, to be active as VK9LD from December 25-31st. Suggested frequencies are (on or around): 14273 and 14195 kHz. QSL via VK2GND.
VK0, HEARD ISLAND. Reports indicate that Jim, VK9NS, is reporting that a "scientific multi-interest team of fifteen expeditioners" is preparing to leave for Heard Island in the coming days. Jim does not know if there is an amateur radio operator with this team. He also mentioned that there are plans to visit Heard Island on a regular basis every three year to study the island. Jim also mentioned that it has been 21 years since the HIDXA group has been to Heard Island (ed. WOW, has it been that long. Boy am I getting old fast!).
XU7, CAMBODIA. Peter, NO2R, informs the DX community that he will be active from Hiroo's (XU7ACY) shack in Sihanoukville, Cambodia, the first week of Februay 2004. He states he will be concentrating his activity on 160 meters. Meanwhile, Dick, N6FF, is now active as XU7ACB from here. However, Dick has lost his Kenwood transceiver which had a full set of CW filters and is now using an IC-706 which has NO CW FILTERS. He had to makeup an interface cable for the IC-706, and must key the amplifier separately with a foot switch. He should be active on the low bands. Dick will try to alternate between 80 and 160 meters every other day. On the higher bands you will find him on CW or RTTY, as time permits.
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