The Ohio/Penn Dx PacketCluster
DX Bulletin No. 649
BID: $OPDX.649
February 23, 2004
Editor Tedd Mirgliotta, KB8NW
Provided by BARF-80 BBS Cleveland, Ohio

Thanks to the Northern Ohio Amateur Radio Society, Northern Ohio DX Association, Ohio/Penn PacketCluster Network, AB5K & the AR TelNet Clusters Network, K1NU, K1XN & GoList, N2KI, W2GD, KK3S, N3SL, NG3K, W3HC, W3UR & The Daily DX, AA4NC, K4JRB, N4AA & QRZ DX, W4WX, K5LBU, WW5L, K6SRZ, K8YSE, NE8Z, W8UVZ, K9UVK, 9K2HN, CO2QQ, DL/VE3ZIK & www.contesting.info, DL1EK & The DX News Letter, DL2VFR, DL5SBA, F5CWU & La Gazette du DX, F5NQL & UFT, G3CWV, I1JQJ/IK1ADH & 425 DX News, JI6KVR & JA-IOTA Islands News, LU5FF, LZ1OT, ON5DRE, ON5NT, PA7FM, RW6HS, UT5RP, VA3RJ & ICPO, VE3RGG, XE1GRR and ZP5AZL for the following DX information.

DXCC COUNTRY/ENTITY REPORT
According to the AR-Cluster Network for the week of Sunday, 15th/February, through Sunday, 22nd/February there were 235 countries active. Countries available: 3A, 3B8, 3B9, 3D2, 3DA, 3V, 3W, 4J, 4L, 4S, 4U1I, 4W, 4X, 5B, 5H, 5N, 5R, 5U, 5V, 5W, 5X, 5Z, 6W, 6Y, 7Q, 7X, 8P, 8Q, 8R, 9A, 9G, 9H, 9J, 9K, 9L, 9M2, 9M6, 9Q, 9U, 9V, 9Y, A2, A4, A6, A7, AP, BV, BY, C3, C5, C6, CE, CE0Z, CE9, CM, CN, CP, CT, CT3, CU, CX, D2, D4, DL, DU, EA, EA6, EA8, EA9, EI, EK, EL, EP, ER, ES, ET, EU, EX, EY, EZ, F, FG, FH, FJ, FK, FM, FO, FR, 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, 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, S7, S9, SM, SP, ST, SU, SV, SV9, T2, T30, T7, T8, T9, TA, TF, TG, TI, TJ, TK, TR, TT, TU, TY, UA, UA2, UA9, UK, UN, UR, V2, V3, V4, V5, V7, VE, VK, VK9L, VK9N, VP2E, VP2M, VP2V, VP5, VP6, VP8, VP8/h, VP8/o, VP9, VQ9, VR, VU, XE, YA, YB, YI, YJ, YK, YL, YN, YO, YS, YU, YV, Z2, Z3, ZA, ZB, ZC4, ZD7, ZD8, ZD9, ZF, ZK1/s, ZK2, ZK3, ZL, ZP, ZS

* PLEASE NOTE: The report "could" contain "Pirate/SLIM" operations or more likely a "BUSTED CALLSIGN". As always, you never know - "Work First Worry Later" (WFWL).

4N200, SERBIA AND MONTENEGRO (Attention Prefix Hunters!)
Look for radio club "Novi Beograd", YU1FJK, to be active with special callsign 4N200A. They will be also use this callsign during some contests. QSL via YU1FJK or 4N1A.

5H, TANZANIA
Hans-Peter, HB9BXE, who states that it has taken a long time to receive a license from here, will be active as 5H1BP from March 1-6th. He received his license on February 19th. Activity will be on 80-10 meters on CW/SSB/PSK31 using a FT-857 with only 100 watts into a wire antenna. On Monday (February 23rd), Hans-Peter will start to climb on Kilimandscharo and hope to arrive on top of the highest mountain of Africa at an altitude of 5896m ASL on Friday, February 27th at 0815z. He plans to be active for about 20 minutes on 21.222 kHz +/- QRM. There will be a list taken beforehand by Sigi, HB9DLE, via E-mail of interested amateurs in order to minimize the pile up and to speed up the traffic.
Sigi's E-mail address is: hb9dle@uska.ch
During the second week, Hans-Peter will be active from Zanzibar Island (AF-032). QSL via his home callsign HB9BXE.

5U, NIGER
Bull, 5U7JB, hopes to be active during the CQ 160 Meters SSB Contest (February 28-29th). He is currently busy putting up an inverted L antenna. Bull has been active during the past week on 75/40/17/12 meters SSB. Watch around 3793 kHz between 0318-0500z, 7080 kHz around 0530z, 17 meters after 0930z and 12 meters between 1045-1630z. QSL via ON5NT.

8P, BARBADOS
Tom, W2SC, will be active as 8P1A in the ARRL DX Phone Contest (March 6-7th) as a Single-Op/All Band/High Power entry. QSL via NN1N.

8P, BARBADOS
Will/AA4NC (W4MR) and Jim/K4MA, who were active as 8P9JA in the ARRL DX CW Contest this past weekend (QSL via K4MA), will be active for a few more days as 8P9JB. They will go QRT February 24th.

8Q, MALDIVES
Hardy, DL5SBA, will be active as 8Q7BA from about March 4-20th from Athuruga Island (AS-013). Activity will be on 20 meters, possibly 30 and 17 meters as well, on RTTY/PSK only. He will use a TS-50 with 50 watts into a wire quad antenna for 20 meters - possibly 17/30m with the tuner. Hardy tells OPDX that he will be there on vacation not an expedition, so activity will be sporadic. QSL via bureau (preferred) to DL5SBA.

9K2, KUWAIT
Faisal, 9K2RR, will be active in the Russian DX Contest (March 20-21st) as a Single-Op/All Band/CW entry. QSL via the bureau.

9K43, KUWAIT
Hamad, 9K2HN, informs OPDX that they will be celebrating their "National and Liberation Day" in Kuwait on February 25th and 26th. For this event they will be using the special event callsign 9K43NLD. Activity will start on February 25th and last until the 29th. QSL cards go via 9K2RR.

9U, BURUNDI
Michael, PA5M, has finally received his license and will be active as 9U5M until he leaves on March 17th. He is in Bujumbura for work, so activity will mainly be in the evening hours from his hotel starting around 1600 to 1700z. His activity will be on 40-10 meters CW and SSB, including the WARC bands using 100 watts to a vertical. If it is possible for him to stay longer at the office, he "might" be active on 80 meters, too. However, this is not very likely to happen very often due to the local situation as he has to get back to his hotel. This past week he was active on 30 and 20 meters CW between 2000-2130z. There is a Web site which will be updated regularly with info and also an online log search is expected soon at:

A3 & ZL, TONGA AND NEW ZEALAND (IOTA and Lighthouse Op)
Operators Wolfgang/DH3WO, Christoph/DL5DAN and Mathais/DJ2HD will be active from Fafa Island (OC-049), March 15-29th. Look for A35DH (QSL via DH3WO), A35DJ (QSL via DJ2HD) and A35DA (QSL via DL5DAN) to be active on on 80/40/20/17/15/12/10 meters on SSB, PSK31 and RTTY. After March 29th, the trio will be active as ZL/DH3WO, ZL/DL5DAN and ZL/DJ2HD from the Northern Island of New Zealand (OC-036) and possibly from other Islands/Lighthouses there for the next two weeks. QSL via their home callsigns via the bureau.

A6, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
Robert, S53R, who was active as A61AJ this past weekend during the ARRL DX CW Contest (February 21-22nd), will be active this coming weekend (using the same callsign) in the CQ 160-Meter SSB Contest (February 28-29th) as a Single-Op/High Power entry. Please remember to QSL as follows: K2UO for North/South America and all the U.S. possessions; and DJ2MX for the rest of the world.

DAYTON 2004 TOPBAND GATHERING
All 160 meter enthusiasts are cordially invited to the Topband dinner on Friday night of the 2004 Dayton Hamvention. This annual event brings together 160 meter fans from around the world for food, drink and camaraderie. Here are the particulars:

    Date:      May 14, 2004
    Time:      6:30 PM Social Hour with Cash Bar - 8:00 PM Dinner
    QTH:       Neil's Heritage House Restaurant, 2323 Schantz Avenue, Dayton
    Fare:      Salad, rolls and butter, dinner entree, dessert & beverage
    Cost:      28.00 USD each which includes complete dinner, taxes and
               gratuity. Choose Roast Sirloin of Beef, Broiled Salmon,
               Breast of Chicken Supreme.

F5, FRANCE (Castle Activity)
Maurice, F5IYU, plans to activate two castles in the Province Champagne Ardennes. Look for him between February 23-27th, to sign F5IYU/p on CW only on 7010 kHz +/- QRM from the Castle of Saint Thierry (References: DFCF 51007) and between March 1-12th from the Castle of Merfy (References: DFCF 51009). For both operations the daily schedule will be from 1900-2130z and sometimes from 1200-1300z. QSL via the French REF Bureau only. Please no direct cards. SWL cards are welcome too.

HD8, GALAPAGOS ISLAND (A Rare Prefix To Be Activated!)
Alfredo, HC1HC, will be active as HD8A from Santa Cruz Island, Galapagos, from March 2-9th. During the ARRL DX Phone Contest (March 6-7th), he will sign HD8A/QRP. He may also sign HC1HC/HC8 before and after the contest. His activity will be on 160-10 meters, mostly SSB, some CW. HD8 is a rare prefix which counts for the "HC8/HD8 DX Diploma". View the colorful awards at:

IARU TEAM NEEDED
Frosty, K5LBU, is trying to put together a team for the IARU contest this July to operate from Botswana (A22). The contest is on July 10th and 11th. He currently is not sure of the cost, but the team will arrive in Johannesburg on the 7th so they can have a day to unwind before taking a 6 hour drive to Botswana. They plan to be in the country for 10 days. Everyone could have their own A2 callsign to use before and after the contest. Frosty also states their visit includes a visit to one of the game parks to see the big lions, elephants and such. If interested, contact Frosty at:

IOTA NEWS
AF-004. Terry, M0CLH, is expected to be active as EA8/M0CLH/P from Tenerife Island in the Canary Island group between February 23rd and March 1st. This is a holiday style operation, and he will be using dipoles for 20, 17, 15 and 12 meters. QSL via his home callsign, direct or by the bureau.

AS-015. Rich, PA0RRS, is now active as 9M2/PA0RRS from Penang Island until March 2nd. He was spotted this past weekend on 30 and 20 meters CW. QSL via PA0RRS, direct or via the bureau.

EU-129. Operators Axel/DL8RL, Klaus/DL8DZL, Falk/DF3UFW and Jorg/DL2DSL will be active from Usedom Island, April 23-30th. The team will also activate for the German Island Award the counters O-13, 31 and 35. QSL via the DARC Bureau.

IS0, SARDINIA
Two members of the Florida DXPedition Group, William/N2WB and Bill/W4WX, will be in Sardinia, March 22-27th. They will operate using the callsigns IS0/N2WB and IS0/W4WX Look for them on the HF bands on CW, SSB and RTTY. QSL IS0/N2WB via N2OO and IS0/W4WX direct or LoTW.

JT, MONGOLIA
Igor, JT1FDD, is expected to be active from Mongolia bewteen now and February 29th. The bands/modes of activity were not provided. He was, however, active in the ARRL DX Contest this past weekend. QSL via RW6HS, direct.

KH6, HAWAII
Len, K1NU, will be signing K1NU/KH6 from the SeaQMaui resort

OPEN UKRAINE RTTY CHAMPIONSHIP 2004
Dima, UT5RP, Editor of UT5RP PSK31 DX Notes, wants to remind everyone that this contest starts March 6-7th. George, UT1HT, is the organizer of the Championship. The CONTEST consist of two parts:
1) LOW BAND (1.8 and 3.5 MHz)
2) HIGH BAND (7, 14, 21 and 28 MHz).
The LOW BAND part includes two rounds: the First round is from 2200-2359z (March 6th), and the Second round from 0000-0159z (March 7th). The HIGH BAND part: from 0800-1159z (March 7th). See full rules on "SM3CER CONTEST SERVICE" at:

OY, FAROE ISLANDS
Kevin/ON5DRE and Erwin/ON4QJ are expected to be active from here between May 3-13th. Callsign will be announced at a later date. Activity will be on 160-2 meters. However, they will be mostly active on 80, 40, 17 and 2 meters. Also, if AO-40 survives and gets fixed by then, they will also be active on it. For 2 meters, they will be active on phone as well as some digital modes to compromise the somewhat low power.

P4, ARUBA
Tony, N2KI, will be active as P40KI from May 15-22nd. His activity will be SSB and RTTY on 20, 17, 15, 12 and 10 meters. QSL via his home callsign.

P4, ARUBA (Update)
John, W2GD, who was active as P40W in the ARRL DX CW Contest this past weekend, will be active this coming weeknd in the CQ 160-Meter SSB Contest (February 28-29th). His operating class has not been decided, and it will not be decided until contest time (possibly Single-Op or Multi-Op). John will be here until March 1st. Last week before the contest John was quite active on 160/80/40 meters CW. There were some 15 and 10 meters during the day. QSL via N2MM.

QSL INFO AND NEWS
Vladimir, LZ1OT, informs OPDX that he is the QSL Manager for Vladimir, 4L1GW. QSLs are already printed, and he will answer them via the bureau or direct.

Tom, WW5L, reports that all received direct cards for his 7P8TA Dxpedition last July as of February 21st have been mailed. A mailing for bureau received cards (there aren't that many) is being prepared.

Mac, W3HC, reports, "Anybody that sent a card to W3HC for a BI3H 2000 card and had it returned unverified.......please resubmit, Mac has finally got the 2000 logs in order."

QSL FM5BH via W3HNK. Operator Laurent, FM5BH, was active this past weekend in the ARRL DX CW Contest (February 21-22nd) as a SOABHP entry.

QSL GJ2A via GJ3DVC. Operator Rich Gelber, K2WR, was active this past weekend in the ARRL DX CW Contest (February 21-22nd) as a SOAB entry.

QSLs for Hiro, JA6WFM/HI8, should ONLY be sent directly to the address of JA6VU in a SAE. Please do not send it to the JARL Bureau. JA6VU's address is: Kano Masaaki, 712 Kagami-Machi, Yatsushirogun Kumamoto 869-4203, JAPAN.

QSL JY9QJ via DL5MBY. Operator George, JY9QJ, was active this past weekend in the ARRL DX CW Contest (February 21-22nd) as a SOAB entry.

QSL LU5FF via EA7JX. Javi, LU5FF, participated in the ARRL DX CW Contest this past weekend as a SOABLP entry.

QSL Manager OM2SA's correct mailing address is:
George Sipos
93013 Trhova Hradska 550
Republic of Slovakia
Europe

NOT THE MANAGER. Koos, KK3S, reports that he is still receiving QSL cards for V51E, V26DX and TU2XZ. He is not the QSL Manager for these stations. QSL V51E direct with a SASE. QSL V26DX to KU9C (direct or bureau). QSL TU2XZ via W3HC (direct only + SASE).

RX3, EUROPEAN RUSSIAN (Island Activity)
Alex, RX3AJL, will try to activate some islands in the White Sea (some RRA NEW ONEs, Kamostrov, Chernetskiy, Kislukhi, Vodokhebikha, Dvinskaya Luda and possibly some others...) during the period of February 23rd and March 6th. Operations will be on 20 meters with 5 watts. QSL via RX3AJL.

SATELLITE NEWS
OSCAR-11 was launched on March 1, 1984. After nearly 20 years in orbit it is still transmitting useful data. To commemorate its 20th birthday, AMSAT-UK is issuing a special QSL for reports of reception during March. There will be special endorsements for hearing the satellite on its birthday, and for mode-S reception. For full details visit the AMSAT-UK Web site at:

SILENT KEY
OPDX has been informed that well-known DXer, CE7ZK, Percy Raurich, from Port Montt, Chile, has become a Silent Key (SK) last weekend (February 14th). OPDX and its readers would like to send out our deepest sympathy to his family and friends.

T33, BANABA (DXpedition Update)
Alan, K6SRZ, sent out the following press release this past week: "The T33C Banaba Dxpedition remains on schedule for starting operations on April 4th or 5th and continuing for at least eleven days. This is a major DXpedition, covering all modes and all bands from 160 through 6 meters. Our container of equipment has arrived in Fiji and will shortly be on its way to Tarawa where we will load it aboard the vessel Te Taobe that will take us to Banaba. The expeditioners extend their thanks to all the sponsors, organizations and individuals who have contributed to the expedition. Banaba is not a tourist destination: everything we need, including food and clean drinking water needs to be shipped to the island. Shipping costs have been very high. We still welcome any and all contributions. You can find details of the trip, including the on-line logbook and QSL information at our Web site at:

T48, CUBA
Look for Don Fisher, VE3ESE, and members of the Santiago de Cuba University and City Club to activate T48RAC during the ARRL DX Phone Contest (March 7-8th) from Santiago de Cuba. They will be operating 40 and 20 meters. QSL via VE3ESE: Don Fisher, 48 Lucerne Dr., Kitchener, Ontario, Canada N2E-1B3 (SASE, with IRC or G/S -- Note Canadian postage only).

T98, BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA (Correction)
Jose, CT1FKN, informs OPDX that he has made a mistake in his announcement of his T98FKN operation (refer to OPDX.648). He does "NOT" have authorization to use 6 meters, but only HF, 144 and 440 MHz.

V47, ST. KITTS
Stephen, K2SB, who was active as V47KP this past weekend in the ARRL DX CW Contest (February 21-22nd), will be active again in two more contests coming up. Look for him to be active this weekend as V47KP in the CQ 160-Meter SSB Contest (February 28-29th). Operating class is to be decided yet. Also, look for Joe/K3NM to join Stephen (using the same V47KP callsign) in the ARRL DX Phone Contest (March 6-7th) as a Multi-2 entry. QSL all three contests via K2SB.

XF4, REVILLA GIGEDO (Update)
Rafael Antonio ("Tony"), XE1GRR, informs OPDX that next month (in March) a team of eight operators will activate Socorro Island (IOTA NA-030, Grid Locator: DK48), in the Revillagigedo Island Group. They will use the callsign XF4IH between March 3-20th. Operators mentioned are: Jose/XE1J, Enrique/XE1IH, David/XE1XR, Ismael/ XE1AVM, Javier/XE1KOF, Luis/XE1GLL, Martin/XE2ML and Tony/XE1GRR. Activity will be on all the bands and modes HF/VHF/UHF including 50 MHz, CW/SSB/ RTTY/SSTV/PSK31/JT44 and the Satellites: AO-40/AO-7/FO-29/AO-27/SO-50. QSL Manager is XE1IH: Enrique Garcia, P.O. Box 118-481, Mexico, D.F. 07051, MEXICO.

ZD8, ASCENSION ISLAND
Glenn, K6NA, will once again be active as ZD8A from February 28th to March 2nd. He is expected to be operating on all HF bands, mostly CW. QSL via N6CW.

ZP5, PARAGUAY
Tom, ZP5AZL, will be active as ZP6Y in the ARRL DX SSB Contest. He informs OPDX that it will probably be an all band operation, but he is not sure about high or low power. QSL via W3HNK or ZP5MAL.

ZS10, SOUTH AFRICA
Look for ZS10RSA to be active to celebrate 10 years of democracy in South Africa. Activity over the past weekend was on 20 meters SSB. QSL via KK3S, direct or via the bureau.

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