The Ohio/Penn Dx PacketCluster
DX Bulletin No. 1047
BID: $OPDX.1047
January 30, 2012
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, K1XN & GoList, NJ1Q & ARRL DX, N2OO, NG3K & ADXO, W3UR & The Daily DX, W3ON, AA4NC, K4ZW, N4AA & QRZ DX, N4JF, KH6BZF, WB6RSE, K8GI, K8YSE, KG8P, W8GEX (60m News), W9ILY, AT International, DK8JB & The DX News Letter, DL1SBF, DxCoffee.com, DX-World.Net, F5NQL, F6AJA & Les Nouvelles DX, F8DVD, G3SXW, HP1AC, I1JQJ/IK1ADH & 425 DX News, IK7JWX, Pete's-DX-Newsdesk, OZ6OM & 50 MHz DX News, RSGB IOTA Web Site, RSGB News, VA3RJ & ICPO, VHF-DX-Portal and VK4FW for the following DX information.

DXCC COUNTRY/ENTITY REPORT
According to the AR-Cluster Network for the week of Sunday, 22nd-January, through Sunday, 29th-January there were 226 countries active. Countries available: 3A, 3B8, 3D2, 3DA, 3V, 3W, 4J, 4L, 4O, 4S, 4U1I, 4W, 4X, 5B, 5H, 5N, 5R, 5V, 5W, 5Z, 6W, 6Y, 7Q, 7X, 8P, 8Q, 8R, 9A, 9H, 9J, 9K, 9L, 9M2, 9M6, 9N, 9Q, 9V, 9Y, A3, A4, A5, A6, A7, A9, AP, BV, BY, C2, C3, C5, C6, C9, CE, CE9, CM, CN, CP, CT, CT3, CU, CX, D2, D4, DL, DU, E5/s, E7, EA, EA6, EA8, EA9, EI, EK, EP, ER, ES, ET, EU, EX, EY, EZ, F, FG, FH, FK, FM, FO, FR, FW, FY, G, GD, GI, GJ, GM, GU, GW, HA, HB, HB0, HC, HC8, HH, HI, HK, HK0/m, HL, HP, HR, HS, HZ, I, IS, J2, J3, J6, J7, JA, JD/o, JT, 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, PJ4, PJ5, PJ7, PY, PZ, S2, S5, SM, SP, ST, SU, SV, SV5, SV9, T2, T32, T5, T7, T8, TA, TF, TG, TI, TJ, TK, TL, TN, TR, TU, UA, UA2, UA9, UK, UN, UR, V3, V4, V5, V6, V8, VE, VK, VK0M, VP2V, VP5, VP6, VP8, VP8/h, VP9, VQ9, VR, VU, XE, XU, XW, XX9, YA, YB, YI, YL, YN, YO, YS, YU, YV, Z2, Z3, ZA, ZB, ZC4, ZD7, ZD8, ZF, 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).

2012 DXU (Update/Press Release)
Roger/G3SXW and Wayne/N7NG provided the following [edited]:
DX University
First Session: The Holiday Inn, Visalia, California
Friday 20 April, 2012

Press Release Nr 2 (25 January 2012)
This all-day program will take place on the Friday of the Visalia International DX Convention, 20th April 2012. Among the lecturers are AA7A, G3SXW, K4UEE, K9LA, N7NG, W3UR, W6OAT, W9KNI, XE1KK, many of whom are inductees of the CQ DX Hall of Fame. Learn the secrets of operating techniques for working DX, optimizing stations & antennas for DXing, about propagation, information sources, awards, ethics, remote operating, QSLing and much more. You will also get the DXpeditioner’s view of how DXers should operate to get into the log.

Over half of the limited student places have already been reserved since Registrations opened only three weeks ago. The fee is only 50 USDs, including lunch and breaks, but this will increase to 55 USDs for places reserved after 1st February. Sign up now at:

http://www.dxuniversity.com Further information from Wayne Mills, N7NG@arrl.net or Roger Western, G3SXW@btinternet.com
Main Sponsor -- Elecraft

According to their Web page they arrive at Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, by the middle of February. (dates to be determined). In Malabo, they will purchase all needed provisions as there are on stores on the island of Annobon. A representative of the Ministry will also be traveling with them to Annobon. If they have free time, they will have a active station on the air on CW or SSB and RTTY using the callsign 3C6A from Malabo, Bioko Island, Equatorial Guinea. Then they will travel to Annobon and be active as 3C0E. Activity will be on 160-6 meters. Suggested frequencies are:
 CW - 1826.5 (*RX), 3504, 7004, 10104, 14024, 18074, 21024, 24894 and 28024
 SSB - 3785, 7075/7145, 14190, 18140, 21295, 24960 and 28480
 RTTY - 3580, 7035, 10140, 14082, 18102, 21082, 24920 and 28080 kHz
 6m - 50.104/CW and 50.145/SSB MHz
  *RX AS/OC 1821.5
 RX EU/NA 1834.0

QSL both callsigns via EA5BYP: Elmo Bernabé Coll, P.O.Box 3097, 03080 Alicante, Spain. They are looking for sponsors for this very expensive operation. For more details and updates, watch the Web pge at:

9Q, DEM. REPUBLIC OF CONGO
Barney, ZS6TQ/ZS4U, will once again be active from here, but this time as 9Q6/ZS4U between March 10th and April 5th. Activity will be limited, probably mainly on the weekends and some days during the week between 1200-1600z because of his work duties. Operations will be on 40/20/15/10/6 meters using CW, SSB and PSK31. QSL via his home callsign.

EE8, CANARY ISLANDS
Operator Felipe, NP4Z, will be active as EE8Z from the Los Chachos Contest Club during the CQ WW WPX SSB Contest (March 24-25th) as Single-Op/All-Band entry. QSL via EA8AY.

FP, ST. PIERRE AND MIQUELON
Allan, W6HGF, will be active as FP/W6HGF from Miquelon Island (NA-032,DIFO FP-002, WLOTA 1417) between February 10-20th, depending on transportation and weather. Activity will be on 160-10 meters but focused on the Digital modes, mostly RTTY, including an entry into the CQWW WPX RTTY Contest (February 11-12th) and ARRL CW Contest (February 18-19th). QSL via LoTW (Uploaded every night) or to W6HGF, direct or by the Bureau. For updates, watch:

FW0/TW0, WALLIS & FUTUNA (Update)
Laci, HA0NAR, and his wife Susanne, HA0SR, will be active as FW0NAR from Uvea Island (aka Wallis, OC-054, DIFO FW-001, WLOTA 0389, WW Loc. AH16VS) between January 28th and February 20th. Operator Steve, HA0DU, (their third operator) could not make the trip. The plans were to have two stations active on 160-6 meters using CW, SSB and RTTY, with a focus on the lower bands. However, this may change since they lost an operator. There are also plans for a week long side trip to Futuna Island (OC-118) as TW0F. Laci will also take part in the ARRL CW Contest. QSL for both FW0NAR and TW0F via Laci HA0NAR. For updates, watch the FW0NAR Blog page at:

HK0, MALPELO ISLAND (Update)
Bob, N2OO, QSL Manager for HK0NA reports:

"Be advised that Op A logs from the top of the mountain arrive late and some QSOs therefore may not be in the current online log until the next upload. Overall, logs are uploaded about once a day. If you notice that your QSO is not showing up before the 'last' QSO in the database date/time posted here, wait for the next upload. If still not there, you may want to work them again. We do realize that there are some log gaps, and the team is doing everything they can to correct the situation. The gaps seem to be related to a software issue with their logging program. These gaps should not reoccur since the log collection process has been changed. At this time we cannot guarantee that we can recover the missing log data. We hope that this is not the case. But we probably will not know for sure until well after the DXpedition is over. If you have any missing QSOs from before January 27, we suggest that you try to work them again. The HK0NA team apologizes for the inconvenience. If anyone has any inquiries for any QSOs made AFTER Jan 27, and you waited one log upload past the last QSO date, please drop an email to me and I will research for you.n2oo@arrl.net will work.

NOTE: I will not make any corrections to the log until I process QSL cards. If you think that there was a busted call, include a note with your QSL request."

IOTA NEWS
NA-085. Dennis, WA2USA, will be active as WA2USA/4 from St. George Island (USI FL007S, Franklin county, Florida) between February 1-27th. Activity will be on all HF bands. QSL via WA2USA, direct or by the Bureau. Visit his Web site at:

SA-024/
SA-071. (Correction/Update) A team consisting of Italian and Brazilian operators will activate the Brazilian Islands - Comprida (SA-024) and Peruhibe (SA-071) between January 30th and February 9th. The callsign to be used will be PR2I. Operators mentioned are Leopoldo/I8LWL, Paki/IZ8GDO, Vespe/IW8EZV, Angelo/ PY2VA and Bruno/PY2EN (NOT Toni/PY2YW as mentioned earlier). QSL via IK7JWX. The team needs sponsors, supporters, and individual contributions. For more info and online log, see:

SA-064. Marco, CE1TBN, will be active as CE1TBN/7 from Huichas Island between February 18-20th. Activity will be on 20/15/10 meters mainly on SSB with some CW. QSL via his home callsign.

SA-088. Operators Marcelo/PP5BK, Fabio/PP5BZ, Ed/PP5VK, Roni/PP5ZB, Jose/PU5ATX and Claudio/PY3OZ will be active as PS5F from Santana de Fora (DIB SC-10) between February 3-6th. QSL via PP5BZ, by the Bureau or direct.

ISWL CALLSIGNS (For February)
The following ISWL club callsigns will be used throughout the month of February:

GX4BJC/A - Operated from Tewkesbury, in Gloucestershire, by Walt, G3NYY. ( /A WAB Square = SO83 - England & IOTA = EU-005).
MX1SWL/A - Operated from Dagenham, in Essex by John, M0HEM. ( /A WAB Square = TQ48 - England & IOTA = EU-005).

For more information, see or (QRZ.com) and eQSL.cc

JX, JAN MAYEN (Limited future activity!)
The "DX-World.net" reports:

"Recently the Norwegian government declared most of Jan Mayen a Nature Reserve and banned landings and camping on most of the island. This means that tour operators can no longer visit since the main landing area is part of the Reserve. The only places left on the island which could be used as landing and camp sites are in Kvalross-bukta and in Båtvika, in the very extreme (weather-wise) southern part of Jan Mayen. This will mean that most visits to the north part of the island (where previous landings occurred) will soon be impossible. Whilst radio amateur oper- ations may still be possible from these two locations, which are difficult to get to (rough landing, very strong winds with sand storms, no access to any shelters or resources etc), it now appears JX5O was probably the last major expedition to Jan Mayen and may well be for the coming years. It also seems that only professional, licensed staff members at the Olonkin base will be able to activate the island, with that in itself a rare occurrence."

KH6BZF PROPAGATION FORECAST/REPORT (January 30th-February 5th)

 Jan/30th  AN      Feb/02nd  AN      Feb/04th  AN
 Jan/31st  AN      Feb/03rd  AN      Feb/05th  AN
 Feb/01st  AN

   SOLAR REFERENCE KEYS/INDEXES AND GEOMAGNETIC REFERENCE
   ======================================================
    NORMALITY               GEOMAG       K Values    Alpha
   -----------------        ------       --------    ------
   AN  - Above Normal       Quiet        K=0-1       0-7
   HN  - High Normal        Unsettled    K=2         8-15
   LN  - Low Normal         Active       K=3         16-29
   BN  - Below Normal       Minor Storm  K=4         30-49
   DIS - Disturbed          Major Storm  K=5         50-99
   VRY DIS - Very Disturbed Severe Storm K=6-9       100-400

NH0, MARIANA ISLANDS
Operators Hal/W1NN and Joe/JA1LZR will be active as NH0J and NH0Z, respectively, from Tinian, Northern Marianas, until February 4th. Activity will be focused on the lower bands including this past weekend's CQWW 160 Contest. They will be using a K3 into 1.5 kW amp and a 1/4 wave verticals and RX antennas.

PZ, SURINAME
Operators Redd/AI2N, Ken/N2ZN and Dave/WJ2O will be active as PZ5RO between February 16-21st. The trio will staying at Ramon's (PZ5RA) QTH. Activity will include the ARRL DX CW Contest (February 18-19th) as a Multi-Single/High-Power entry. QSL via AI2N. For more details, see:

QSL INFO AND NEWS
NEW QSL MANAGER. Patrice "Pat", 3B8FA, has been inactive for a long time and is now QRV again. He has chosen Buzz, NI5DX, as his QSL Manager. Pat has only begun using a computer about a month ago, and Buzz has recommended a few logging programs for Pat to use. There will be a learning curve for computer logging, but Pat will master it quickly. Buzz will be able to confirm only those contacts made with 3B8FA from January 23, 2012, forward. Buzz will be designing a card and having it printed. It will take about 5 weeks for Buzz to receive the cards from the printer.

NEW QSL MANAGER. It was announced that as of January 23rd, Rene, NP3O, would be the QSL Manager for WP3A, KP2B, NP3X and NQ2A. Please follow the instruction on (QRZ.com).

QSL TIP FOR OD5NH QSLS. Chuck, W3ON, informs [edited]:

"I have recently received a reply from Puzant Azirain, OD5NH, about what is required to obtain a QSL card from him. Puzant stated that it now costs 3 USDs for him to send a QSL card from his home in Lebanon to the U.S.A.. Puzant further stated that he sends reply QSL cards as post cards, so that his outgoing mail does not get intercepted and opened. A friend of mine has twice in 2011 sent QSL card requests to Puzant and received a reply sent to him as a post card. Puzant also stated that if you want to be sure that he gets your QSL card, request to send it as registered mail. Just be sure that you print his name on the envelope, as he has to sign for it. If his name is not on the envelope, then he can not sign for it. He also stated that he frequently changes his P.O. Box to try and thwart those who want to open his mail and steal any enclosed monies. You still cannot send IRCs, as they can't be used in Lebanon. His current address as seen on www.qrz.com is: PUZANT AZIRIAN, BOX 80431, BOURJ HAMMOUD, BEIRUT, LEBANON. As usual, do not enter any callsigns on the envelope. Some folks have suggested using nested envelopes, to ensure delivery. On a personal note, it seems that sending an SAE is not useful to Puzant as he sends reply QSL cards as post cards."

QSL RECEIVED VIA LoTW: HG6N, HH2/PY1ZV, IK0LZR, JA1FNO, KH7Y, ON4IQ, PV8ADI, PY1KN, RA2FF, RV6ALI, S58N, SV1CQN, V5/DJ4SO, VA7ST and VP6T

QSLS RECEIVED VIA MAIL: 4U1UN, 5N7M, 9A2AA, 9N7MD, BV100, C5A, C50C, CY0AA, E51PDX, EK7DX, EX2A, HC1MD/HC4, HH4/K4QD, HL2DC, HS0ZBS, J6/W0MU, JI1LET/JD1, K8LEE/CY0, KG4AS, N0TG/CY0, OH0Z, P49X, PJ2T, PJ4/W9NJY, PJ4T, PJ7E, PV8ADI, PY2FN/p, RC0F, RI1FJA, S50A, SP200BCA, TF/K5NA, T30OU, T30YA, TA3X, TU2T, UN7QX, UA0LSG, UA0ZS, UK8OM, V25RV, V63QQ, V63RR, V85NL, VP2MTA, VP2MWG, VR2XLN, WH0AU, XF1C, YN2CC, YS3/I2JIN, Z2/K0YY, ZF1A, ZL4LI, ZL7V and ZS2DL

QSLS RECEIVED VIA THE BUREAU: H40FN, J5V, OD5/DL6SN, V5/DK1CE and V63YT

T8 PALAU
Operators Kiyoshi/JA0EKI and Kazue/JJ0LUH will be active as T88XH and T88XG between February 26th and March 1st. Activity will be on 160-10 meters using CW, SSB, RTTY, PSK31 and JT65. They will have 1k amp, yagi and dipole antennas. QSL both callsign via JA0EKI.

TO2, REUNION ISLAND
Stephane "Stef", F5UOW, will be once again be active as TO2R from Reunion Island (AF-016) between March 26th and April 9th. QSL via his home callsign.

TO3, ST. BARTHELEMY
Operators Takayuki/JA1MZL and Yutaka/JJ1LIB will be active as TO3J from St. Barthelemy (NA-146) between February 1-7th. Activity will be on 80-6 meters using CW, SSB and RTTY. Online log will be available via ClubLog. QSL via JA1HGY. QSL cards will be avail- able four ways:
 OQRS DIRECT (ClubLOG) after the DXpedition
 OQRS BUREAU (ClubLOG) after the DXpedition
 DIRECT MAIL WITH SASE/GS/IRC(s)
 QSL BUREAU via JA1HGY

TM9, FRANCE (Special Event)
Look for special event station TM9AAW to be on the air between February 10-26th. Activity is to celebrate the 9th Antarctic Activity Week (AAW). Operations will be made by François, F8DVD, from his QTH of Mâcon in the east part of France. The WAP reference number for TM9AAW is 220. Operations will be on 40-10 meters mostly SSB. QSL via F8DVD, by the Bureau or direct (w/SAE + 1 IRC or 2 USDs to: François Bergez, 6, Rue de la Liberté, F-71000 MACON, FRANCE. For more details, see

V3, BELIZE (Update)
Will, AA4NC (W4MR), will be active as V31RR between February 16-25th. Operation will include all-band entries in the ARRL DX CW Contest and the NAQP RTTY Contest. Emphasis will be on RTTY, lowbands and 6 meters if propagation allows. QSL via LoTW or AI4U (direct only).

V6, MICRONESIA
William, V63YWR, is a new operator on Federai Island, Ulithi Atoll (OC-078), in the state of Yap, Micronesia. However, he mainly uses amateur radio for family phone patches with Rich, AH7G, in Hawaii, but will gladly exchange reports after (0900z) he is done with his phone patch which starts at 0730z on 14245 kHz. There are apparently no telephone lines on the island and local inhabitants cannot afford to use satellite phones. John, KH6DLK, is also/may be on frequency during the phone patches. John holds the callsign V63JB and is helping them install an HF radio system on Federai. William is currently using an IC-718 and longwire, but will soon have a Hexbeam sent from Hawaii. It was also mentioned that William is not much into pile-ups. AH7G will be getting QSL cards printed for V63YWR later.

VISALIA DX CONVENTION NEWS (Top-Band Dinner)
During the 2012 Visali DX Convention, look for the Top-Band Dinner Banquet to take place on Friday, April 20th, at the Convention Hotel, Holiday Inn, Visalia, CA, in the Birch Room. Check-in and no-host bar starting at 6:30 PM. The program is by Bob Alphin, K4UEE, - "HKØNA, Top Band from Malpelo." There will be door prizes. Menu is - Miner 49er BBQ self-serve buffet dinner.

COST: 37 (USDs)/person. If you wish to attend, please send an E-mail to Steve, WB6RSE, at his (QRZ.com) address, with the number of reservations you would like along with CALL (or XYL/guest), FIRST and LAST NAME, and contact E-MAIL address for each person. You will receive a return E-mail confirming availability along with payment information. THIS DINNER SELLS OUT IN ADVANCE. FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED!

VP6, PITCAIRN ISLAND
On Friday, January 27th, Nigel, G3TXF, released the following VP6T statement:

"We are now about half way through the VP6T Pitcairn operation. The exact close-down time will depend on the weather forecast for the three-day sail from Pitcairn back to Mangareva in French Polynesia. But at a guess, we'll probably be starting to pack up in the morning (local time, i.e around 1700z) on Thursday Feb 2. The 34,800 VP6T QSOs made so far have all been up-loaded regularly to both ClubLog and LoTW. It's interesting to see that the 'QSL' percentage on LoTW is well over 25% within a few hours of each up-load. The LoTW up-load process itself has speeded up massively of late. It now only takes a minute or so for our daily batch of 5,000 QSOs to up-load. Jacques/F6BEE, Michel/ FM5CD, Vincent/F4BKV and Gilles/VE2TZT are all making huge efforts on both 80m and 160m. However, sadly (apart from the first night) Top Band has been very frustrating with only a handful of European QSOs. But they will keep trying every night!"

"There is no fixed plan, VP6T is just on the air with up to four stations around the clock. Just keep checking our published frequencies. We use them whenever we can. Otherwise check the Cluster. As I sit here sorting out the daily VP6T up-loads to both ClubLog and LoTW, the other four operators are currently on 28035-CW, 24960-SSB, 21035-CW and 18083-CW. They are each knee-deep in pile-ups. During our night (our sunset is 0330z) we are usually on 160m, 80m, 40m and 30m all at the same time. Once the LF bands close to Europe, we then typically operate 20m, 17m, 15m and 12m in parallel. Just to show that you don't need to be a colossal signal to get through, I was pleased to work George GM3OXX on 40m CW this morning (Saturday). George, I believe, typically only ever runs 1 watt. However as Laurie, G3UML, mentioned we do expect to be on 30m CW tomorrow (Sunday) morning. The excellent graphs on ClubLog show there's a significant peak in propaga- tion to England at 0800z, with good sigs up to 1000z or beyond. You ask for the 'best times' on the HF bands. Look at the (real) Propagation graphs on ClubLog. There's no better source!"

PLEASE NOTICE (as of February 12, 2007), NEW ADDRESS CHANGES FOR THE OPDX INTERNET HELP/SUBSCRIBE/UNSUBSCRIBE REQUEST:

Help: opdx-request@barf80.org Subject:help
Subscribe: opdx-request@barf80.org Subject:subscribe
Unsubscribe: opdx-request@barf80.org Subject:unsubscribe

OPDX WORLD-WIDE WEB HOME (provided by John, K8YSE (k8yse@papays.com):
http://www.papays.com/opdx.html

ALSO VISIT THE NORTERN OHIO DX ASSOCIATION'S WEB HOME PAGE:
http://www.papays.com/nodxa.html