The Ohio/Penn Dx PacketCluster
DX Bulletin No. 551
BID: $OPDX.551
February 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, NC1L, W3UR & The Daily DX, KB4UTV, N4AA & QRZ DX, N4CT, N5VL, AD6WL, KH6BZF, AC7DX, K8PT, K8YSE, KU9C, 4L5O, 9K2HN, 9V1YC, CE6TBN, CE4USW, CX3AN, DL1EK & DX News Letter, DL2VFR, DL4TT, FJ5DX & La Gazette du DX, G3XTT, GM4YXI, GU0SUP, ON7SA, OZ6OM & OZ 50 MHz DX Bulletin, and Z36W for the following DX information.

DXCC COUNTRY/ENTITY REPORT
According to the AR-Cluster Network for the week of Sunday, 17/February, through Sunday, 24/February there were 240 countries active. Countries available: 3A, 3B8, 3C, 3V, 3W, 4J, 4L, 4S, 4U1I, 4W, 4X, 5B, 5H, 5N, 5R, 5U, 5V, 5W, 5Z, 6Y, 7Q, 7X, 8P, 8Q, 8R, 9A, 9G, 9H, 9J, 9K, 9L, 9M2, 9M6, 9N, 9Q, 9U, 9V, 9Y, A2, A3, A4, A5, A6, A7, A9, AP, BV, BY, C3, C5, C6, CE, CE0A, CE0X, 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, FP, FR, FW, 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, J5, J6, J7, JA, JD/o, JT, JW, JX, JY, K, KG4, KH0, KH2, KH3, KH6, KH8, KL, KP2, KP4, LA, LU, LX, LY, LZ, OA, OD, OE, OH, OH0, OK, OM, ON, OX, OY, OZ, P4, PA, PJ2, PJ7, PY, PY0T, PZ, S2, S5, S7, S9, SM, SP, ST, SU, SV, SV/a, SV5, SV9, T2, T30, T7, T8, T9, TA, TF, TG, TI, TI9, TK, TL, TR, TT, TU, UA, UA2, UA9, UK, UN, UR, V2, V3, V4, V5, V7, V8, VE, VK, VP2E, VP2M, VP2V, VP5, VP6, VP8, VP8/h, VP8/o, VP9, VQ9, VR, VU, XE, XU, XW, XX9, YA, YB, YI, YJ, YK, YL, YN, YO, YS, YU, YV, Z2, Z3, ZA, ZB, ZC4, ZD7, ZD9, ZF, ZK1/s, ZL, ZP, ZS

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

THE EXCITEMENT AND ACTIVITY OF THE WEEK
PW0, TRINDADE ISLAND
This operation became active on February 18th and will continue until March 2nd. Some 1.5 tons of gear was off-loaded to the island by a Navy helicopter early Monday morning. Currently, the pile-ups are getting smaller and PW0T is getting easlier to work on the usual higher bands CW/SSB. There has been activity by PW0T on the lower bands and RTTY. QSL via KU9C. Check the Web site for continuing updates at:

TI9, COCOS ISLAND
Like the PW0T operation, this DXpedition will continue until March 2nd. Pile-ups are getting smaller, and it is getting easlier to work on the usual higher bands. There is plently of RTTY and 6 meter activity. There has been some activity on the lower bands. QSL via AK0A. Check the Web site for continuing updates at:

3W, VIETNAM
Conny, DL1DA, is expected to be active this week, possibly as 3W9KCS, until March 15th. He will be on holiday so activity may be limited. Look for him to be on 40-10 meters CW. QSL via DL1DA.

6W, SENEGAL
Francois, VE2XO, is expected to be in Dakar from February 27th through March 3rd. The callsign is not known yet. Activity should be like his recent Guinea operation (3XY6A). Watch 20/17/15 meters SSB.

9K, KUWAIT (Special Activity)
Every year on February 25-26th the country of Kuwait celebrates its "National and Liberation Day". To participate in this occasion, the Kuwait Amateur Radio Society will be active using the callsign 9K2NLD on many amateur bands and modes. There will be a special QSL card issued for the occasion. By the time you read this the evet should have started and it is expected to end 2359z on Thursday, February 28th. There is no deadline for submitting applications for the QSL card which should be addressed to: Kuwait Amateur Radio Society, P.O. BOX 5240 Safat, 13053, Kuwait.

D2, ANGOLA
Joao, CT1BFL, is now in Luanda and is signing D2U for the next two years. Activity will be on 160-10 meters CW/SSB. QSL via CT1BFL.

DXCC NEWS
Bill Moore, NC1L, DXCC Manager, reports the following: "9Q0AR (Democratic Republic of Congo) has been on hold awaiting supporting documentation. This has been received and upon review it is now being accepted for DXCC credit. Anyone who had this rejected during a recent submission can contact DXCC at dxcc@arrl.org for an update to their record. Or, it can be sent with the next submission for credit."

DAWG X-RAY CLUB (The only DX-Club you don't want to belong to!)
Fritz, DL4TT, wants DXers to visit the following Web site. He is looking for your feedback. Check out the URL at:

FIVE STAR DXERS ASSOCIATION (Update)
Don Field, G3XTT, D68C Publicity Officer, informs OPDX of the following: "Phil G3SWH reports that around 85% of the direct requests for D68C QSLs have now been processed and that around 42,500 QSOs have been confirmed to date. Our thanks again to Phil. The team is now starting to think about the perennial question, 'Where do we go next?'. The Five Star DXers Association, with its expeditions to 9M0C and D68C, now has considerable experience in mounting large-scale operations to 'top 100' DXCC entities, with the ability to cover all bands and modes to fill those missing slots, and is looking to mount its next operation in late-2003 or early 2004. We are not planning to head for Peter 1 or Bouvet, but the sort of DX entity where you may have a 20m QSO, but are finding those low band, WARC or data slots hard to fill. To this end, we would be interested in your 9-band, 3-mode 'wanted' lists, so we can gain some idea of which these entities might be. E-mail your needs to Don, G3XTT, at: g3xtt@lineone.net Being mainly a European group our preference would be for an African location for reasons of cost, propagation and travel time. (We have of course already reviewed the various 'most-wanted' surveys.) If there are enough responses, we will make the analysis public, for the benefit of other would-be DXpeditioners."

GJ, JERSEY
Pete/K8PT and Craig/K3PLV will make their 3rd annual trek to the Channel Islands and activate Jersey from March 13-19th. The emphasis will be on CW and RTTY, however, Craig will try RS-12/13 for evening (USA time) passes. Concentration will be on WARC bands during daylight and 30/40/80 meters during the evenings. Callsigns will be MJ/K8PT and MJ/K3PLV. QSLs go via their home callsigns.

IOTA NEWS
RARE IOTA ACTIVATED. If you worked CV1F over the past weekend, it was activity from San Gabriel Island (SA-057). Operators CX1SI, CX1CV, CX2AM, CX2FR, CX2RU/A, CX3AN, CX3BV, CX4AAJ, CX4CR, CX4AAE, CX4SS, CX6FK and CX8FB were transported to the island by the Uruguayan Navy. They were to have 5 stations active on all bands 160-2 meters. QSL via EA5KB.

EU-129. The Crew of DL0FTL will be active from April 12-20th, from the Island of Usedom (German Island Award O- 13). Operators will be DF3UFW, DL8DZL, DK5NOA, DL2DSL, DL2DRO, DL2LCE, DM4WL and DL1DWR. ADDED NOTES: On, Sunday April 14th, they plan the activation of a new island for the German Island Award called "Grosse Wotig" (not IOTA), GIA O-35. Operators will be: DF3UFW, DL8DZL and DK5NOA. At the same time, the rest of the group will be active from the "Wolgaster Schlossinsel" (not IOTA), GIA O-031. Operators will be DL2DSL, DL2DRO, DL2LCE, DM4WL and DL1DWR.

SA-018, SA-043 and SA-064.
Mark, CE6TBN, will be on the air as CE6TBN/7 from Chiloe Island (SA-018, ICE-701) between March 7- 10th and from Acencion Island (SA-043, ICE-704) between March 11-14th. Activity will be on 20/17/15/12/10 meters, only SSB. QSL via N1IBM. Both island are valid for new Chilean Island Award. He may also be going to Las Huinchas Island (SA-064) to the CE7AOY's QTH.

KG4, GUANTANAMO BAY
Vance, N5VL, will be active as KG4VL from March 1-6th. This will include an entry in the ARRL International DX Contest. Look for some 160 meters operations on CW and SSB. QSL to N5VL.

P4, ARUBA
John, KK9A, who was active as P40A this past weekend in the 160 contest, will be here until March 9th. Look for activity on 160-10 meters CW/SSB during his stay. QSL via KK9A.

P5, NORTH KOREA (P5/4L4FN Status)
It was reported this past week, Bruce, KK5DO, (QSL Manager for Ed, P5/4L4FN) was heard saying he has a good feeling that all of the P5/4L4FN contacts will count for DXCC. However, this is not official yet. He mentioned North Korea dosn't issue any license so any written permission to operate will suffice. Government officials have checked his station on a few occasions and the North Korean government obviously knows he is operateing there. His current contract with the United Nations World Food Program is good until June and if it is renewed he will be there for another year. Ed continues to be active on 15 meters SSB. However, he has been practicing some RTTY and CW and should be on those modes soon.

QSL INFO AND NEWS
Omari, 4L5O, informs OPDX that his QSL card can be obtained from K1WY for QSOs between the year 2000 and now.

Ron, AC7DX, informs OPDX that he will be the new QSL Manager for Corliss, AL1G, in Alaska.

Keith, GM4YXI, informs OPDX that he now has a QSL Manager. Steve/N3SL and his daughter Kimberly are now managers for GM4YXI, and also for all past and future 9M2/GM4YXI expeditions. All HF logs from Keith's home station and the 9M2 expeditions [April 1998:AS-097, May 1998:AS-072, May 1999:AS-097, June 9-10th 2000:AS-097 and June 17-18th 2000:AS-074] are with Steve and can be viewed on his homepage at:

Phil, GU0SUP, President of the Guernsey ARS, informs OPDX that the following Web site has an updated callbook listing for all known GU/MU callsigns. The list includes known operations by visitors, and as much QSL info as possible. The URL is:

The OT2H Contest Crew now has a website where you can read about their adventures in contesting. There are pictures of the crew and the club station (ON7SA), but also there is a log search function for all contests they entered. The page is also valid for OT0H and OT1H. The OT-prefix is issued to Belgian contest stations, and it allows the use of high power on the HF bands. QSL for OTxH is 100% via bureau to ON5YR (x = last digit of the year, OT0H in 2000, OT1H in 2001...). You can find the club's website at:

Gerard, ex-PA3AXU and now ON4AXU (he states, "soldiers sometimes have to change their QTH...), reports that all "PA3AXU 2001 Pacific Trip" QSL cards received up through February 5th have been answered.

Logs for the Southern Cross DX Group's (SCDXG) XR5SM DXpeditions (January and February), as well as the ARRL DX CW Contest log, are now on-line at:

Another team of members of the Southern Cross DX Group, SCDXG, has activated Damas Island which is located in Choros Archipelago belonging to Coquimbo Province Group (SA-086) this past weekend. The callsign was XR2D. The team was formed by CE4USW (Team Leader), XQ1IDM, CE4PBB and XQ1ZW (ex XQ3ZW). QSL via CE4USW, P.O. Box 128, Talca, Chile, or via Bureau. There is an informative Web page at:

Venco, Z36W (ex-Z31JA, Z32JA, 4N5JA..), informs OPDX that his QSL Manager Mike, NN6C, is currently recovering from a serious heart attack and may be out of action for some time. If you need a QSL card from Venco, please send direct to his address on QRZ.com. The adddress for his old callsign Z31JA is also still good. QSL MANAGER FOUND! Charlie, N4CT, now active as HS0ZDR, thanked OPDX for the announcement he was looking for a QSL Manager. Charlie states, "WOW, I was really surprised at all the volunteers who E-mailed me replies for my asking for a QSL MGR for my HS0ZDR call. Thanks and I responded to each one. The first offer was from my old friend, Tony, W4FOA, who is retired and an avid DX'er. So I said 'OK Tony, you are my MGR.' Tony prefers QSLs direct to him at his CBA: Tony Martin, W4FOA, 1801 Grand Center Road, Chickamauga, GA 30707-1878. Tony replies immediately to QSLs sent direct (SASE, IRCs or green stamps please). Bureau cards will be answered, of course, but not sent out that often. Again thanks to all who volunteered...some very nice E-mails... 73-DX DE CHARLIE N4CT HS0ZDR"

NEED A QSL MANAGER? John Pate, KB4UTV, is interested in becoming a QSL Manager. He is a General class licensed amateur and reside in New Hampshire. He is very eager to serve the DX community with his help. If anyone is intrested, please contact him at: lighthousedx@hotmail.com

Steve Wheatley, KU9C, states that the logs for YA5T have been updated online through about 0400z on February 17th. You can check them out at:

SOUTH SANDWICH/SOUTH GEORGIA POST EXPEDITION REPORT
James, 9V1YC, provided OPDX with a post report on this DXpedition. The complete report will be sent to all OPDX InterNet Subscribers as an additional. In short, the DXpedition achieved all its goals, and results were absolutely outstanding. The expedition made 70,428 QSOs in total using SSB, CW and RTTY. On-air time was 80 hours at VP8THU, and 7 days, 10 hours at VP8GEO. Operators were EI5IQ, EI6FR, HB9ASZ, K0IR, K4UEE, K5TR, N5KO, PA3FQA, VE3EJ, W3WL, W7EW and 9V1YC. QSL routes are as follows: VP8THU is via VE3XN; and VP8GEO is via VE3GCO Logs are with the managers, QSL's have already been printed, and cards are now rolling out. At this time they do not have a Web site or an on-line log check. A full write up will appear in the usual magazines, and stay tuned for two really cool videos coming out soon.

SPECIAL EVENT
The unique callsign GB50 has been issued by the United Kingdom Radiocommunications Agency for a special event station to be established at Windsor Castle to celebrate the Queen's Jubilee (50th Anniversary of her succession to the throne) from May 29th through June 9th. The station will be run by Cray Valley Radio Society (CVRS), in association with Burnham Beeches Radio Society (BBRC), and with the support of the Radio Society of Great Britain (RSGB). Activity will be on daily between 0700-2200z on all bands from 80-6 meters on CW, SSB, PSK31 and RTTY. A 144 MHz station will also be active on CW, SSB and FM. The station will be open to the public. The QSL Manager will be Owen, G4DFI. A Web site is now up and running and will be kept updated with the latest news at:

WWV/WWVH TO CHANGE FORMAT
Propagation guru Lee, KH6BZF, informs OPDX that "SEC/NOAA has announced that a WWV/WWVH format change will occur on March 12, 2002, radio day." Stay tuned to 2.5, 5.0, 10, 15, 20 MHz for details.

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

OPDX INTERNET HELP/SUBSCRIBE/UNSUBSCRIBE REQUEST:

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

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

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

Excerpts and distribution of The OPDX Bulletin are granted as long as KB8NW/OPDX/BARF80 receive credit. To contribute DX info, call BARF-80 BBS online at 440-237-8208 28.8k/14400/9600/2400/1200 and leave a message with the Sysop or send via InterNet Mail to:

Additional Bulletins for OPDX InterNet Subscribers

Date: Mon, 18 Feb 2002 00:21:56 +0000
To: editors@n4gn.com
From: James 9V1YC {jamesb@pacific.net.sg}
Subject: South Sandwich / South Georgia Post Expedition report

17 Feb 2002

The 2002 South Sandwich - South Georgia DXpedition is now officially over, and all operators are back home safe and sound. The DXpedition achieved all its goals, and results were absolutely outstanding.

For those that may be interested, here are some facts:

1. The expedition made 70,428 QSO's in total using SSB, CW and RTTY.

2. On-air time was 80 hours at VP8THU, and 7 days, 10 hours at VP8GEO.

3. Operators were EI5IQ, EI6FR, HB9ASZ, K0IR, K4UEE, K5TR, N5KO, PA3FQA, VE3EJ, W3WL, W7EW and 9V1YC.

4. At Southern Thule Island, South Sandwich, VP8THU (59'27" S, 27'25" W) station location was at the Hewison Point Peninsula. Stations consisted of four Kenwood TS50's and Force 12 vertical dipoles (single element only - not dual) for each band 10m-20m. The lower bands of 30m and 40m were simple 1/4 wave verticals with two elevated radials each. There was no 80m or 160m operation, and we had no amplifiers. Power for radios and heat was provided by six tiny Honda 1KW generators - model EU10i, and logging was by four old Dell Pentium 133 laptops.

5. Weather at South Sandwich was as expected, with high wind, snow, rain and temperatures hovering around 0 deg C all the time. Access to the island was rather dramatic and was accomplished by jumping one by one from a heaving zodiac onto a slippery, penguin covered rockface. This was followed by a steep, and rather dangerous 40 foot climb up a cliff. A human chain then ferried all equipment up the cliff-face to the peninsula summit. Departure 4 days later was the reverse, and was accomplished by jumping (one by one) off the cliff face into the zodiac during a 55-knot snowstorm and an 8-foot swell. 'Terrifying' is the best word to describe our departure.

6. At South Georgia, VP8GEO (54'10"S, 36'45"W) we were active for exactly 7 days and 10 hours using six Kenwood TS50's stations and the same single element vertical antennas. One AL-811 amplifier was brought ashore to provide 400w on 80m and 160m, but all other bands were at 100w. Station location was at Husvik Bay where we were assigned the manager's house at the old whaling station. As planned, a few of those 7 'active' days were spent off the air enjoying the island and hiking through some of the most beautiful Antarctic scenery on Earth. The return voyage from South Georgia to the Falklands was rough and unpleasant, with 25 foot seas and a very 'green' team of DXpeditioners.

7. QSL routes are as follows:

VP8THU is via VE3XN
VP8GEO is via VE3GCO

Logs are with the manager, QSL's have already been printed, and cards are now rolling out. At this time we do not have a website or an on-line log check.

8. As mentioned in our only press release in December, this DXpedition was meant to be a challenge - to both to DXers at home, and to us. For DXers at home it was a challenge to work harder and figure out just how to bust a pileup from such a weak-signal operation. For us it was an experiment in low-power lightweight DXpeditioning from environmentally tough location, and to see if 'mega-expedition' results could be achieved with 'micro-light' equipment. Over 70,000 QSO's with all parts of the planet (and to ALL levels of stations) prove that its good operators on both sides of a pileup - not fancy equipment - that really count.

9. Many thanks to the Northern California DX Foundation for making this DXpedition possible. Thanks also to the incredibly talented crew of the R/V Braveheart, whose skill at handling rough seas and dangerous landings was simply astounding.

And of course, from all of us on the "Micro-Lite Penguins DXpedition Team" thanks to all the DXers at home who made the extra effort to work us.

(Full writeup will appear in the usual magazines, and stay tuned for two really cool videos coming out soon).

73

James, 9V1YC

From: "Donald Field" {g3xtt@lineone.net}
To: kb8nw@barf80.nshore.org
Subject: Announcing GB50
Date: Mon, 18 Feb 2002 10:40:32 -0000
MIME-Version: 1.0

CELEBRATING THE QUEEN'S JUBILEE BY AMATEUR RADIO

The unique callsign GB50 (yes, Golf Bravo Fifty) has been issued by the UK Radiocommunications Agency for a special event station to be established at Windsor Castle to celebrate the Queen's Jubilee (50th Anniversary of her succession to the throne) from 29th May to 9th June 2002. The station will be run by Cray Valley Radio Society (CVRS), in association with Burnham Beeches Radio Society (BBRC), and with the support of the Radio Society of Great Britain (RSGB).

Activity will be on all bands from 3.5 - 50MHz on CW, SSB, PSK31 and RTTY. A 144MHz station will also be active on CW, SSB and FM.

The organising team hopes to make many QSOs with radio amateurs around the world, especially the British Commonwealth. The station will be operational from 0700 - 2200z daily, and will be well equipped to allow simultaneous operation on several bands. Icom have kindly agreed to provide equipment for GB50, as they did for M2000A.

The station will be open to the public.

A Web site is now up and running and will be kept updated with the latest news: www.gb50.com

The QSL Manager will be Owen G4DFI who did such a great job as QSL Manager for M2000A. An attractive commemorative card will be produced. Cards may be sent via the bureau, or direct to Owen Cross, G4DFI, 28 Garden Avenue, Bexleyheath, Kent DA7 4LF, England

Publicity is being handled by Don Field G3XTT (who was also Publicity Officer for 9M0C and D68C), who will be providing further details as they come available. This will include an Awards programme based around the Jubilee. Don can be reached by e-mail at: g3xtt@lineone.net

Background

Windsor Castle is the perfect location for this high profile, prestigious event. Not only will it celebrate a landmark in British history, it will provide an opportunity to establish an amateur radio station that is of national and international importance - one that will raise the profile of amateur radio in the British Isles, and will attract young people to the hobby.

Both societies are well qualified to undertake this project. BBRC operated from the Castle in 1977 during the Queen's Silver Jubilee celebrations and, in January and February 2000, CVRS organised the M2000A station at Greenwich (www.qsl.net/m2000a) to celebrate the Millennium. This was done in conjunction with English Heritage and the London Borough of Greenwich and was the most successful UK special event station of all time: in the two months of operation 48,000 contacts were made with 202 countries.

Organising Committee

Bob Treacher BRS32525 (Team Leader)
Dave Lawley G4BUO (HF Manager)
Chris Whitmarsh G0FDZ (VHF Manager)
Paul Lethbridge G3SXE (Project Manager)
Bernard Harrad G8LDV (Treasurer)
Nigel Peacock G4KIU (Webmaster)
Tim Kirby G4VXE (Station Manager, Specialist Modes)
Dave Chislett G4XDU
Owen Cross G4DFI (QSL Manager)
Don Field G3XTT (Publicity)
Miss C Treacher RS102891 (Awards)

Back to the OPDX Index
Back to the NODXA
Back to the EIDX Network