The Ohio/Penn Dx PacketCluster
DX Bulletin No. 634
BID: $OPDX.634
November 10, 2003
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, K1XN & GoList, W1CU, W2RE, NG3K, W3UR & The Daily DX, K4UEE, N4AA & QRZ DX, W4WX, N5FG, K8YSE, K0IR, CE6TBN, CO8TW, DL/VE3ZIK & contesting.info, DL1EK/DL7VOA & DX Newsletter, G3SXW, G3XTT, GI0DVU, JA1ELY, JI6KVR & JA-IOTA Islands News, JT1KAA, LA7DFA, LX3DX, LZ3XV, MW0USK/MW3USK, OH2BH, OM3JW, SP9FIH, YL3AD and ZS4BS for the following DX information.

DXCC COUNTRY/ENTITY REPORT
According to the AR-Cluster Network for the week of Sunday, 2nd/November, through Sunday, 9th/November there were 234 countries active. Countries available: 3A, 3B8, 3B9, 3D2, 3DA, 3V, 3W, 3X, 4J, 4L, 4S, 4U1I, 4U1U, 4W, 4X, 5B, 5H, 5N, 5R, 5T, 5V, 5W, 5X, 5Z, 6W, 6Y, 7Q, 7X, 8P, 8R, 9A, 9G, 9H, 9J, 9K, 9L, 9M2, 9M6, 9N, 9Q, 9V, 9Y, A2, A4, A6, A7, AP, BV, BY, C3, C5, C6, CE, CE0A, CE0Y, 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, FJ, FK, FM, FO, FP, FR, FY, G, GD, GI, GJ, GM, GU, GW, H4, HA, HB, HB0, HC, HC8, HH, HI, HK, HK0/a, HL, HP, HR, HS, HV, HZ, I, IS, J3, J6, J8, JA, JD/m, JD/o, JT, JW, JY, K, KH0, KH2, KH3, 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, S9, SM, SP, ST, SU, SV, SV5, SV9, T2, T30, T7, T8, T9, TA, TF, TG, TI, TJ, TK, TL, TR, TT, TU, TY, UA, UA2, UA9, UK, UN, UR, V2, V3, V5, V6, V7, VE, VK, VK9C, VK9N, VK9X, VP2E, VP2M, VP5, VP6, VP9, VQ9, VR, VU, XE, XU, XW, XZ, YA, YB, YI, YK, YL, YN, YO, YU, YV, Z2, Z3, ZA, ZB, ZC4, ZD7, ZD9, ZF, ZK1/n, ZK1/s, ZL, ZP, ZS

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

3B9, RODRIGUES ISLAND
In a press release by Don, G3XTT, the following are excerpts from that announcement: "The Five Star DXers Association (FSDXA) is pleased to announce 'Project Star Reach', a large-scale DXpedition to Rodrigues Island, 3B9. FSDXA, closely linked to CDXC (Chiltern DX Club), the UK DX Foundation, is the group which brought you the very successful 9M0C DXpedition to the Spratly Islands in February 1998 and the subsequent record-breaking D68C DXpedition to the Comoros in February 2001. Yaesu have kindly agreed to be Principal Sponsor, and will be providing ten complete state-of-art stations consisting of FT-1000MP MkV Field transceivers and Quadra VL-1000 linears. The centrepiece of Project Star Reach will be a major DXpedition to Rodrigues Island, to take place next March/April..... The callsign 3B9C has already been assigned, and the plan is for an operation encompassing over three weeks of operation, including four weekends. The first members of the team will arrive in 3B9 on Tuesday, March 16th, 2004, and expect to spend the first two to three days installing antennas and equipment. Operations will commence before the weekend. Station breakdown will start on Monday, April 12th, though operations may continue for a further day or two after that......." They state there are two main and several subsidiary objectives. Their main goals are to provide the possibility for every amateur radio station in the world - even those running QRP or a very simple antenna - to make at least one contact with 3B9C; and to enable top DXers to put 3B9C in their log on as many bands and modes as possible. It should be possible for top DXers active on all bands and on all main modes to work 3B9C on at least 20 band / mode slots! One of the subidiary goals is to be one of the first major DXpeditions to link fully with the ARRL's "Logbook of the World" initiative. The 3B9C also announces that the operation will have up to fifteen high-power HF stations active simultaneously when band conditions allow. Activities will encompass SSB, CW, RTTY, PSK31 and, as appropriate, FM. There will also be satellite activity and possible EME. Large monoband antennas will be used on all bands, including a full-size two-element Yagi for 30m. There will be capability for working simultaneously on more than one mode on 10, 15, 20 and 80 meters when these bands are open. On LF they will use two phased pairs of Titanex verticals on 80m, one pair for CW and one for SSB. 40m will rely on their tried and tested 4-square array. 160m operation will utilize the well-known Titanex verticals, with various loops and Beverages for receive. Full details of the equipment and antennas will be given in a subsequent bulletin. The multinational team is still being formed, but already includes many well-known callsigns, as well as some up-and-coming DXpedition operators. So far, team members include DL7AKC (Jens), EI5DI (Paul), G0MRF (Dave), G0OPB (Tony), G3NUG (Neville), G3BJ (Don), G3IZD (Ivan), G3NHL (Chris), G3RAU (Derek), G3SED (Mike), G3WGV (John), G3WKL (John), G3XTT (Don), G4FRE/WW2R (Dave), G4JKS (Hilary), G4KIU (Nigel), G4TSH (Justin), G4VXE (Tim), GU4YOX(Bob), JA1RJU(Kazu), JH4RHF (Jun), KF7E (Jim), M0DXR (Mark), M0GMT (Daniel), N7CQQ (John), NK7C (Pat), and W3EF (Maury). They are seeking donations and contributions from sponsors to help defray the very significant logistics costs of this DXpedition. Details for donating funds and the complete press release can be found on the 3B9C Web page at:

3Y0/P, PETER I ISLAND (DXpedition Postponed!)
In a press release by Bob/K4UEE and Ralph/K0IR dated November 7th, the following announcement was released: "The Peter I DXpedition team has decided to postpone their DXpedition to Peter I Island, Antarctica until January 2005. A last minute glitch developed in the transportation plan, even as the team was preparing to meet in Atlanta to train and to pack the sea container for shipment. Weather windows precluded a rescheduling for 2004. No one is more disappointed than we are, but the 2005 expedition will be bigger and better! Our team is intact, our permissions are not a problem, and the expedition equipment including 6 Arctic shelters, flooring, antennas, masts, kitchen equipment, power cables and generators, coax, etc. are all in storage in Atlanta. We wish to thank all of our sponsors for their support; look for additional updates in the spring....."
For the team, Bob, K4UEE and Ralph, K0IR

4X/4Z, ISRAEL
On November 15th, operators Eliyahu/4Z5NB, Dov/4Z4DX and Shlomo/4X6ZK will operate a whole day activating different regions of Israel for the Holyland program. They will start around 0400z from G-11-HS and will go through the following regions: HS, HD, JN, YZ, KT, HG, ZF, AK, HF. Main activity will be at the HG region but they will activate different regions while driving from one region to another. Frequency will be 14265 kHz and probably 40 meters for local stations. They hope conditions will cooperate.

4U1, UNITED NATIONS HQ
Ray/W2RE and Frank/W2IX were active from 4U1UN this past Sunday, November 9th. Activity was on both CW and SSB on all HF bands including WARC bands (if time permits). Hope you had a chance to work them.

5U, NIGER
Roger, G3SXW, informs OPDX that the VooDoo Contest Group will be active this year from Niamey, Niger in the CQ World-Wide DX CW Contest on November 29th-30th. Their callsign will be 5U5Z. This will again be a large Multi-Multi effort, field-day style, with seven 1KW stations and many antennas, covering 160-10 meters. The operation will be CW only. QSL cards should go to G3SXW. The operators will be Lee/G0MTN, Don/G3XTT, Fred/G4BWP/5U7WP, Cook/G4PIQ, Vince/K5VT/5U7VT, Mike/KC7V/5U7MF and Lee/ KY7M/5U7LF. Operators will be active before the contest using their own with personal callsign while testing antennas. They will be active on the WARC bands if time permits. There will also be short operations from Burkina Faso (XT2) while in transit. QSLs for all contacts other than 5U5Z should be sent to the home callsign of the operator.

8P5, BARBADOS
Tom, W2SC, will make a short contest trip to here between November 28th and December 1st. He plans to be active as 8P5A in the CQ World Wide DX CW Contest (November 29-30th) as a Single-Op/All Band/Low Power entry. QSL via NN1N.

9N, NEPAL
Three JA operators will be active from Katmandu, Nepal, between November 16-22nd. They are Noboru/JA2AAU/9N7AU, Takashi/JA2ALN/9N7LN and Yasu/JA9LSZ/9N7SZ. They will operate on 40-6 meters. A 6m beacon will be on 50.100 MHz. They will have two HF rigs with FL-2100B and a 6m rig. Their antennas are: Dipoles for 40m and 30m, a 5 element beam for 20-10m, and a 5 elemnet beam for 6m. QSL via their home callsign to the JARL Bureau or direct to the addresses below:
JA2AAU - Kanno Noboru; 1785-61 Shikata, Shikatsu, 481-0004 JAPAN
JA2ALN - Takashi Yamada; 1-90 Nishishiga, Kita-ku, Nagoya, 462-0058 JAPAN
JA9LSZ - Yasuhiro Yahara; P.O.Box 111, Fukui, 910-8691 JAPAN

9N, NEPAL
Janusz, SP9FIH, will be in Kathmandu from November 13th until December 6th. He hopes to get a licence for the 40, 20, 17 and 15 meter bands. QSL via SP9FIH: Janusz Wegrzyn, box 480, 44-100 Gliwice, Poland.

9Y, TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
Members of the Bavarian Contest Club (BCC), Mike/DL1HCM and Heye/DJ9RR will be active as 9Y4ZC in the CQ World Wide DX CW Contest (November 29-30th) as a Multi-2 category. QSL via DL1HCM (QSL via the bureau is preffered). Outside of the contest, they will focus on the low bands and the WARC bands on CW, and depending on their preferences other modes (RTTY, PSK).

BQ9P DVD/VIDEO AVAILABLE
Yuki, JI6KVR, informs OPDX that a BQ9P video is now available (DVD or VHS [PAL/NTSC]) showing the "Major challenges" the BQ9P team went through just to air this rare entity. The video also shows some of the beauty of the island as well as some historical information. This video makes you appreciate the BQ9P team's hard work as operators and their devotion to DXing. The DVD/VHS video is available for 25 USD (plus shipping - different in each region) at the following Web site at:

BW4, TAIWAN
Artyom, UA3VCS, will be active as BW4/UA3VCS in the CQ World Wide DX CW Contest (November 29-30th) as a Single-Op/Single Band (15m)/ Low Power entry. QSL via home callsign; CBA or Bureau.

CO, CUBA
Look for Eduardo, CO8LY, to be in the next CQWW CW Contest as a Single-Op/All Band/Low Power entry. QSL is via EA7ADH. Also, look for Juan, CO8TW, in the contest as a Single-Op/Single Band (160m)/Low Power entry. QSL is via IZ8CCW, and the log will be available after the contest at:

CN, MOROCCO
Jim, W7EJ, will be active as CN2R in the CQ World Wide DX CW Contest (November 29-30th) as a possible a Single-Op/All Band/High Power entry (or maybe a Single-Band 80 or 40 meters depending on conditions). QSL via W7EJ.

E2/HS, THAILAND
Look for the following Thai stations to be active in the CQ WW DX CW Contest:
HS4BPQ/9 - Single-Op/Single Band (20m)/Low Power. QSL via E21EIC
E20HHK - Single-Op/All Band/Low Power. QSL via E21EIC

EA6, BALEARIC ISLANDS
Once again a group of Spanish operators will activate EA6IB during the CQ World Wide DX CW Contest (November 29-30th) as a Multi/Single entry. QSL via CBA.

HI8, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
Hiro, JA6WFH, will be here on business for the next year. He expects to receive his license and operate as JA6WFH/HI8, possibly starting between the end of November and December. More details are forthcoming.

IOTA NEWS
AF-073. A large scale DXpedition with international operators will activate the Tunisian Island of Kerkennah Island between November 19th and December 2nd. Look for twenty operators with five stations on the air to sign TS7N. Activity will be CW/SSB/RTTY/PSK31/JT6M/JT44 on 160-6 meters. They will feature one station that will be operated by XYLs ONLY! TS7N is the only Tunisian station with a license for 6m and the digital modes! They also plan to participate in the CQ WWDX CW Contest as Multi-2 entry. QSL via DL9USA. The DXpedition's main objective is the further development of amateur radio in Tunisia. Two transceivers and several antennas will be given to the Tunisian amateurs as a donation. Further information can be found on their website: http://ts7n.tk

EU-048. Francois, F5JNE, will be active from Belle Ile en Mer Island (DIFM AT15) from November 17-24th. His activity will also include SSB activity on 40 meters from two Forts which count towards the French Castles Award as follows:
November 22nd - Fort of Port Maria (DFCF 56015)
November 23rd - Fort des Kerdonis (DFCF56016).
His activity between the 17-24th will be CW on 40 and 20 meters in the afternoon, starting about 1300z. Other reference numbers are: French Departments Award (Morbihan, 56) and French Provinces (Britanny). QSL via the bureau or direct CBA.

OC-201. Jonathan, W1CU, will be on vacation and will be active as as ZL/W1CU from Waiheke Island from November 30th through December 2nd. This will include "Day 2" of the CQWW DX CW Contest. He will operate from ZL1DD's QTH and activity will be on all bands CW/SSB (whatever is open). Unfortunately, Jonathan's operating time will be limited.

OC-235. A disappointed Jon, DU9/N0NM, reports that he will not be able to use his callsign 4D71NM from the Mindanao's Coastal Islands during the CQWW DX CW Contest. Instead, he will use 4D71/N0NM. His operating entry was not mentioned.

SA-086. The Atacama Desert DX group (Operators XQ1IDM, XQ4ZW, CE1URH, CA2WUI, CD0906 and CE6TBN) will be on the air as 3G2D from Damas Island (DICE ICE-201), November 26-28th. Activity will be on 160-6 meters on CW, SSB and RTTY and BPSK31. They will try to have 3 stations on 24 hours a day. QSL Manager is CA2WUI (P.O.Box 1037, La Serena, Chile). More info is available at:

JW, SVALBARD
Erling, LA5RIA, is going to be active as JW5RIA from Bear Island (EU-027) from the end of November until June 2004. He will be active on 160-6 meters CW/SSB and the Digital modes. QSL is preferred via the bureau. JW5RIA's Web site can be found at:

KP2, U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS
Daniel, T93M, will be active as KP2/N4EXA in the CQ World Wide DX CW Contest (November 29-30th) as a Single-Op/Single Band (15m)/Low Power entry. QSL via DJ2MX.

KP2, U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS
Curt, W3HQ, will be active as W3HQ/KP2 between December 3-11th. Activity will be CW only on 40/30//20/15 meters. QRP operation for all station; will accept SKED with DX (non-UA) especially Asia and Oceania. Curt's E-mail address is: fclambert@infonale.com QSL via W3 Bureau.

OH0, ALAND ISLAND
Team OH2U < http://www.oh2u.com > will activate OH0Z during the CQ World Wide DX CW Contest (November 29-30th) as a Multi-Multi entry. QSL via OH5DX. The OH0Z station's Web page is at:

P4, ARUBA
Jose, CT1BOH, will be active as P40E in the CQ World Wide DX CW Contest (November 29-30th) as a Single-Op/All Band entry. QSL via W3HNK. Visit the Web page at:

QSL INFO AND NEWS
Bill, W4WX, from the Florida DXPedition Group, reports that the team made it back from San Andres where they were 5J0X in contest. He states, "We want to thank everyone that worked us during our stay on the island. Thanks for all the support received. Elli Print has donated QSL cards. They will be in color and we should receive them in three months or so. They will go out as soon as received."

JT1KAA reports that the JT QSL Bureau address has changed. Please send QSL to: MRSF, P.O.Box 830, Ulaanbaatar-24, Mongolia.

Per-Einar, JX7DFA, has recently sent over 4000 QSLs for Russia and the Ukraine via Bureau. Anyone still needing a QSL card from JX7DFA can get one back via the bureau by sending E-mail (with the QSO's data to: la7dfa@qsl.net
JX7DFA's Web site is at:

OUCH! Stephane, LX3DX, informs OPDX and its readers that his harddrive crashed and all QSOs during the DOK and CQWW Contest, as well as his 6 meter QSOs during the Aurora last week are "LOST". His last backup was on October 17, 2003.

NOT THE MANAGER! Jim, GI0DVU, informs OPDX that he has once again started to receive QSL cards via GI4GTY for YO5TP. He states, "Whilst I am the QSL Manager for GI4GTY (a club station) neither I nor GI4GTY have any relationship with YO5TP. Could you please advise OPDX readers that QSL cards for this station should not be sent to GI4GTY or GI0DVU."

Steve, OM3JW, informs OPDX that he received the simple YI9X QSLs from the printer, but they are not too good. So, he will wait for the full color QSL that is expected to be received at the end of November. Be patient please!

T32, EASTERN KIRIBATI
Gary/KH6GMP and Tuck/KH6DFW will be active as T32I and T32BI from here between March 1-8th. During their time there, they will also be active as T32I in the ARRL DX Phone Contest (March 6-7th) as a Multi-Single entry. Activity outside of the contest will be on SSB and as much RTTY as possible during the precontest time. QSL T32I via direct to KH6GMP (QRZ.com address is OK) and QSL T32BI via direct to KH6DFW (also, QRZ.com address is OK).

TK, CORSICA
Ted, S51TA, will be active as TK9A in the CQ World Wide DX CW Contest (November 29-30th) as a Single-Op/All Band entry. Before the contest he will be active as TK/S51TA or possibly another TK callsign.

TO4, EUROPA (Last Update)
Dany, F5CW, reports that the operation is still a go, and on November 3rd, he shipped 250 Kg of equipments from Roissy CDG Airport to St. Denis, Reunion Island. The Europa team will leave Paris late November 15th and arrive in St. Denis, Reunion, at about 1030 AM (local time) on the 16th. The Europa team consists of: Dany/F5CW (CW), Eric/F5JKK (6 meters), Jean-Louis/F5NHJ (digimodes, 6 meters, SSB), Freddy/ F5IRO (SSB) and Pascal/F5PTM (CW). ADDED NOTE TO CONTESTERS: Please keep in mind to add in your CTY file that TO4WW and TO4E are for FR/E or FR/J (Europa/Juan de Nova).

TO6, MARTINIQUE (Also J7). Serge, F6AUS, is on vacation from here and is active with the special callsign TO6M for the next few weeks before going to Dominica (J7) for the CQWW CW Contest. QSL via F6AUS.

SPECIAL EVENT
Look for the special callsign 4N25K to be activated to celebrate 25 years of activity from the radio club "Novi Beograd", "Radio-section KOZARA". Look for them on all HF bands. QSL via YU1SB.

SPECIAL EVENT
A group of amateurs from the Boland Amateur Radio Club are going to operate a special event station over the weekend of November 21-23rd from the Sutherland Observatory in the Northern Cape Province of South Africa. The purpose is to make amateurs aware of the largest Telescope in the Southern Hemisphere. The station will be identified by the callsign ZS1SALT (acronym South African Large Telescope) and will operate from approx. 1100z Friday, November 21st until 1000z Sunday, November 23rd. All HF frequencies will be used, and the station can be worked on Phone, CW and digital modes. A special QSL card will be sent to all amateurs who have made contact. Only direct QSL cards will be accepted to: P.O. Box 273, STRAND, 7140, Republic of South Africa. For additional information on the project, please visit the website:

TY, BENIN
By the time you read this, Vladi, LZ3XV (aka 5N0EVR), should be active as TY/LZ3XV in Cotonou, Republic of Benin. His activity will mainly be the AO-40 satellite, and we are not sure if he will be on HF. The length of his stay is also unknown. His grid locater will be JJ16fi.

V26, ANTIGUA (Update)
As mentioned in OPDX.633, Paul/WY7I and K7LXC will be active as V26DX during the CQWW CW Contest. QSL via KU9C. Paul informs OPDX that their activity outside the contest will be on 80-10 meters for sure and possibly the WARC bands as well as 6 meters. Operations will "probably" be all CW.

VK9C, COCOS-KEELING ISLAND (Update)
Members of Yamato ARC (JA1ZEK) Sasi/ JA1KJW and Kuni/JA8VE will be active between November 27th and December 7th. JA1KJW will be VK9CJ and JA8VE will be VK9CV. They will operate on all HF frequencies 160-10 meters, CW/SSB/RTTY. JA1KJW/VK9CJ hopes to participate in the CQ WWDX CW Contest and the ARRL 160M Contest. During the contest, JA8VE/VK9CV will be active on SSB/RTTY. Their equipment is: Two K2/100 and two ALS500 amplifiers. Antennas are: HEX beam for 20m to 10m and DP/LW for 160m to 30m. QSLs via JA1KJW to the JARL bureau or direct to:
Nakayama Hisashi; 1-17-8 Shibuya, Yamato, 242-0023 JAPAN

VK9X, CHRISTMAS ISLAND
A very disappointed Charlie, W0YG (VK9XG), is now QRT. He has been on the 160/80m bands every night/morning, but the QRN has been terrific and the conditions abysmal - making QSOs also hopeless. Steve, VK6VZ, who has kept the "Top-Banders" informed states, "It should be noted that Charlie probably had the largest 160/80m collection of antennas used on Christmas Island since the DL expedition to the islands in the mid-late 1990s, employing inverted vee dipoles at 50 meteres on top of a crane, a 60'-plus Force 12 vertical antenna and phased pennants for reception...... As Charlie is essentially a single man low-band DXpedition, just imagine how much effort this operation has taken and if you feel disappointed, just imagine how he feels." Charlie writes: "If anyone else wants to try their hand out here, be my guest. I have almost a complete station here less amplifier and transceiver. Hopefully someone will hit it here when this antipodal QTH will produce results back to the States. However, I want to warn anyone coming this way, be prepared for heat, humidity, solar flares, crabs and sweat. Nothing here comes easy. That only formula - energy input equals results achieved - certainly does not apply on Christmas Island." The VK9XG Web page with news, online log search and pictures can be found at:

WP4, PUERTO RICO
Operators Aris/WP4DX, Angel/NP4CQ, Pedro/KP4SQ, Trabert/ NP4Y and possibly others will be active from Rio Grande as WP4DX during the ARRL 10-Meter Contest (December 13-14th) as a Multi-Single entry. QSL via WP4F.

XU, CAMBODIA
A group of Slovak operators Jaroslav/OM3TZZ (ex-SU9ZZ), Robert/OM1KW, Jaroslav/OM3TA and Milan/OM1ATT will be active November 26th through December 3rd, as XU7ACZ, XU7ADC, XU7ADA and XU7ADB. Their activity will be CW/SSB/RTTY on 160-10 meters. QSL via his their home callsigns. They will be active in the CQWW DX CW Contest as XU7ACZ. QSL via OM3TZZ.

XU, CAMBODIA
Jack/ON4AJT and Wim/ON6TZG are currently active as XU7AJT and XU7TZG, respectively. Their length of activity is unknown. The two operators did activate Koh Poah (AS-133) this past week. Over the past weekend, activity from them seems to be centered on 20 meters CW/SSB. Watch around 14195 kHz around 1430z. QSL for both stations via ON4AJV.

YI, IRAQ
Curtis, MW0USK/MW3USK, from Usk, Wales, informs OPDX that he just received a quick note from Darran, M1DAZ, who is on active duty with the British Forces Broadcast Services in Iraq, and he has obtained official authority to operate with the callsign YI9DAZ. Darran will be active around the bands for the next couple of weeks using a Yaesu FT-100 and an Atas aerial from South Iraq. Most operations will be PSK31. PSK31 is being used so Darren does not disturb his roommate who is the presenter of the early morning radio show. He should occasionally be able to put in some time on other modes though! QSL info at this time is via Darran's homecall M1DAZ. It is quite possible Darran will be one of the first U.K. amateurs from YI active on PSK31...

YL85, LATVIA
Janis Vanags, YL3AD, Chairman on the Board of LRAL, informs OPDX that more than 20 Latvian stations are using the special prefix YL85 during the month of November to celebrate the Republic of Latvia's 85th anniversary. A special award is available to celebrate this anniversary by making QSOs on the HF bands as follows:
10 contacts for YL stations * QSOs can be made with the same
5 contacts for EU stations event station, but must be on
3 contacts for DX stations. different band or mode.
Respectively, on VHF/UHF and SAT: 5 contacts for YL stations
3 contacts for DX stations.
Copies of the LOG are welcomed by Mail to: LRAL, Box 164 LV1010, Riga, Latvia. Award Managers are: YL2HA and YL2NS. Stations who request the award will receive a special marked "YL85 Award" on the envelope. The cost of the award is: 5 IRCs or equal in Euros or USDs.

ZA1, ALBANIA
Martti Laine, OH2BH, sent out a press release this past week titled "UNIQUE AMATEUR RADIO PROGRAM OPENS IN TIRANA, ALBANIA". The complete press release will be sent to all OPDX InterNet Subscribers as an additional bulletin, but here are a few short excerpts (edited) for non-subscribers: "This coming Sunday (November 8th), an International Amateur Radio (IARU) Region 1 supported course in Albania will commence under the sponsorship of Mr. Spartak Poci, the Minister of Telecommunications and in cooperation with the Polytechnic University of Tirana. Thirty-four third and fourth year students will begin a five-week course of study culminating in a CEPT license examination. A unique part of this program is that Amateur Radio is being integrated into the regular University course offerings using an advanced Radio Society of Great Britain study package as a reference. Each week of this program in Tirana will benefit from the efforts of invited professional educators from the amateur radio community of specific countries. The countries involved in this five-week program will be Albania, Finland, Germany, Hungary, Israel, Japan, Macedonia, Spain, Sweden and the United States. In total, some fifty amateur radio operators, drawn mainly the DX and contesting communities, will travel to ZA-land. The core organizing team consists of 4X6KJ, DL6LAU, EA1QF, G3LQP, I2MQP, K7WX, OH2BH, OH2PM, and ZA1B. During this five-week period, ZA1A will be active on many bands and in a variety of modes while demonstrating amateur radio to local telecom and education administrators, as well as to the students. Multiple locations will be used and several Yaesu donated stations may be active at the same time. After the course, all equipment will be serving the amateur community. During the first week, you will find in Tirana: I2KMG, I2MQP, EA1QF, OH2BE, OH2BH, DL6LAU, DL7AJA, G3OKA, G3LQP and Z35M." The progress of the entire project can be followed on the Internet at: http://www.za1a.com QSL ZA1A via OH2BH.

ZC4, UK SOV. BASE AREAS ON CYPRUS
Geoff, ZC4CW, will be going contest crazy over the next few months. He will be active in the CQ World Wide DX CW Contest (November 29-30th) as a Single-Op/Single Band (160m) entry from CQ Zone 20. Also, Geoff will be active in the ARRL 10 Meter Contest (December 13-14th) and the ARRL 160 Meter Contest (December 5-7th) as a Single-Op/High Power/Mixed Mode entry. QSL all operations via G3AB.

ZL1, NORTH COOK ISLANDS
By the time you read this, Vladimir, UA4WHX (aka AC4LN, H44VV and T20VB), should be active on Penryhn Atoll (OC-082) in the North Cooks until November 15th. Victor, ZK1CG (aka ZK1USA), was expected to pickup Vladimir at the airport in Raro on Friday, November 7th, and then take him to the airport Saturday morning for his flight to Penryhn. Victor states, "He will be staying with Warwick, ZK1WL, so should have a good signal from North Cooks. I think his callsign will be ZK1/AC4LN. Do not know why he got this callsign but will ask tomorrow when I pickup his license in town. Normally visitors get a 3 letter suffix." ADDED NOTE: OPDX checked before going to print and found Vladimir is now active as ZK1/AC4LN. Activity has been on CW on 40/30/20/17 meters.

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This press-release can be made public at 0100 UTC Thursday morning European time:

PRESS RELEASE NUMBER 1, NOVEMBER THE 5TH, 2003.

UNIQUE AMATEUR RADIO PROGRAM OPENS IN TIRANA, ALBANIA

It has long been thought that systematically integrating different age groups and educational levels into an amateur radio course with modern training concepts is the key to regaining a positive intake of new hams. Amateur radio has much to offer today's youth, but it first becomes necessary to correctly tune into the a world constantly competing for young people's attention.

This coming Sunday, an International Amateur Radio (IARU) Region 1 supported course in Albania will commence under the sponsorship of Mr. Spartak Poci, the Minister of Telecommunications and in cooperation with the Polytechnic University of Tirana. Thirty-four third and fourth year students will begin a five-week course of study culminating in a CEPT license examination. A unique part of this program is that Amateur Radio is being integrated into the regular University course offerings using an advanced Radio Society of Great Britain study package as a reference.

Each week of this program in Tirana will benefit from the efforts of invited professional educators from the amateur radio community of specific countries. The countries involved in this five-week program will be Albania, Finland, Germany, Hungary, Israel, Japan, Macedonia, Spain, Sweden and the United States. In total, some fifty amateur radio operators, drawn mainly the DX and contesting communities, will travel to ZA-land. The core organizing team consists of 4X6KJ, DL6LAU, EA1QF, G3LQP, I2MQP, K7WX, OH2BH, OH2PM, and ZA1B.

The first week will feature Italy and the United Kingdom. It will be taught by Professor Giorgio Goggi, I2KMG and Professor John Share, G3OKA, representing the University of Pavia and the University of Liverpool as well as Italy's ARI and the UK's RSGB. John Share, G3OKA will serve as a lead-teacher for the first three-weeks and be succeeded by Uli Weiss, DJ2YA from Germany.

The second week segment of the course will feature the United States. It will be lead by Dr. Warren Hill, K7WX and taught under the supervision of Carl Luetzelschwab K9LA. Representing the ARRL, team members Dan Brown N7DB, Rich Chatelain, K7ZV, Robin Critchel WA6CDR, Dr. Paul Rubenfeld WF5T and Professor Don Wilson K6RKE will hands-on operating practices and cover the topics of the Earth's magnetic field, the mysteries of radio propagation, practical antennas, the role of amateur radio in society, FCC/CEPT examinations, transmitter interference, QSL practices and successful DXpeditioning.

During this five-week period, ZA1A will be active on many bands and in a variety of modes while demonstrating amateur radio to local telecom and education administrators, as well as to the students. Multiple locations will be used and several Yaesu donated stations may be active at the same time. After the course, all equipment will be serving the amateur community. During the first week, you will find in Tirana: I2KMG, I2MQP, EA1QF, OH2BE, OH2BH, DL6LAU, DL7AJA, G3OKA, G3LQP and Z35M.

The progress of the entire project can be followed on the Internet at

This educational program is supported by the International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) Region 1 with additional support from the ARI, ARRL, RSGB, IARC, URE and the Northern California DX Foundation (NCDXF), Vertex Standard Co. Ltd (Yaesu), Fluidmotion Inc. (SteppIR beams), Malev Airlines and Rogner Europark Hotel in Tirana.

ZA1A QSL via OH2BH.

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