The Ohio/Penn Dx PacketCluster
DX Bulletin No. 651
BID: $OPDX.651
March 8, 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, K1NT, K1XN & GoList, W1NK, KA2AEV, W2GI, K3LR, NG3K, W3UR & The Daily DX, N4AA & QRZ DX, WB4UBD, K8YSE, N8CH, CT1END, E21EIC, DL/VE3ZIL & www.contesting.info, DL1EK & The DX News Letter, EA7JX, F5CWU & La Gazette du DX, F5NQL & UFT, I1JQJ/IK1ADH & 425 DX News, JG1OWV, JI6KVR & JA-IOTA Islands News, MM0BQI, SM5BFJ, SP5EWY, VA3RJ & ICPO, VE3EXY, VK6APK, YV4GMG, ZS6EZ and the 5 Star DXers Association for the following DX information.

DXCC COUNTRY/ENTITY REPORT
According to the AR-Cluster Network for the week of Sunday, 29th/February, through Sunday, 7th/March there were 233 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, 9M2, 9M6, 9Q, 9U, 9V, 9Y, A2, A4, A5, A6, A7, A9, AP, BV, BY, C3, C6, C9, CE, CE0A, 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, FJ, FK, FM, FO, FP, FR, FW, FY, G, GD, GI, GJ, GM, GU, GW, H4, HA, HB, HC, HC8, HI, HK, HK0/a, HL, HP, HR, HS, HZ, I, IS, J3, J6, J7, J8, JA, JD/o, JT, JW, JY, K, KG4, KH0, 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, SV/a, SV5, SV9, T32, T7, T9, TA, TF, TG, TI, TK, TL, TR, TT, TU, TY, UA, UA2, UA9, UK, UN, UR, V2, V3, V4, V5, V7, V8, VE, VK, VK9L, VK9N, VP2V, VP5, VP8, VP8/h, VP9, VQ9, VR, VU, XE, XF4, XT, XU, XW, XZ, YA, YB, YI, YK, YL, YN, YO, YS, YU, YV, Z2, Z3, ZA, ZB, ZC4, ZD7, ZD8, ZD9, ZF, ZK1/s, 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).

3B8, MAURITIUS
Jun, OE1ZKC/JH4RHF, will be on the air from 3B8-land on his way to/back from the 3B9C DXpedition, March 14-16th and April 1-3th. His callsign will be decided upon arrival. He will operate from 3B8CF's shack. Jun will probably be on 40-10 meters, SSB, CW, RTTY and SSTV on request. QSL via OE1ZKC.

3B9C UPDATE
Project Star Reach (3B9C) has released "Bulletin No.4" this past week and it can be found on their Web page. Excerpts from the bulletin state "Remember, 3B9C is expected to hit the bands around midnight local (2000 GMT) on Friday 19th March, so not long to go now. The container of equipment has arrived on the island, and a final planning meeting has been held in the UK, attended by 17 of the team members. We are also delighted to announce that Robert, 3B9FR, will join the team as a full member, taking time off work to be a part of 3B9C (he runs the island's radio station). This will probably be the last bulletin before we head out to 3B9, but we will continue to post bulletins from the island, both on our Web page and to the major newsletters." A QSL route has been annouced. The bulletin states, "Arrangements are now in place for QSLing. This is a non-trivial task, with possibly in excess of 100,000 QSL requests to be handled in due course. The QSLing task will therefore be shared by a team of volunteers, centrally co-ordinated through StarQSL, a piece of software developed especially by John, G3WGV, for the purpose. Among other things, StarQSL allows bureau and Web requests to be handled (checked, validated) by any volunteer with Internet access, but with an option for QSL labels to be printed at a central point for handing in to the bureau. Direct cards should be sent to FSDXA, PO Box 73, Church Stretton, SY6 6WF, UK. Bureau cards go via the RSGB bureau. There is also a form on the Web page for requesting bureau cards." Another topic in the bulletin deals with an upcoming 3B9C video (with a D68C video added free to the purchase), as well as the status of AO-40, EME, 6m and RTTY contacts, plus a few words on their contest efforts and trophies. For complete details, go to the Web page at:

5V7, TOGO
The 5V7C team is now active as of late Friday. Activity should last until March 13th. The complete list of pilot stations were announced this past week. They are: Bruno/F5AGB (for the Europe and French speaking countries), Floyd/N5FG (NA - SA and Central), Mike/UA0MF (AS), Toshi/JA1ELY (JA) and Lee/ZL2AL (VK). QSL via F5TVG: Franck Savoldi, P.O. Box 92, 94223 Charenton Cedex, France. For more information, visit their Web page at:

9Q, DEM. REP. OF CONGO
After a few problems in the start, Gus, SM5DIC, is now active as 9Q0AR until about March 20th. He was heard this past week on 20/17/15/10 meters. Modes vary from CW, SSB, RTTY and PSK31. Gus's QSL Manager Leif, SM5BFJ, told OPDX this week that Gus is active from the Radio Club in Kinshasa. Leif would also like OPDX to remind everyone when sending a QSL request to him, please include 2 USD or 1 IRC (this is because of the high Swedish postage cost) for the return postage.

A5, BHUTAN (Also 9N)
Jim Wise, W4PRO, leaves for Bhutan on March 19th. He will be on the air around March 22nd or 23rd as A52PRO. Jim will operate until April 3rd from Thimphu, Bhutan, and then will travel to Tibet where he will not operate. However, he will be in Khatmandu, Nepal, from April 10-13th where he has asked for the 9N7PRO callsign.

BOOK REVIEW (by Tedd, KB8NW)
Reading "THE COMPLETE DX'ER" (3rd Edition), I would have to say that this is the "Complete Package" for a new DXer, as well as for an older DXer (to polish up their DXing skills). Author Bob Locher, W9KNI, has put together a text book diary (an Elmer in a book) on how to achieve good DXing skills and what is needed to work DX. Individuals who bought Bob's 1st and 2nd Editions (published 1983 and 1989) may want to add this updated 3rd Edition. Bob was inspired to come out with a 3rd Edition due to the major changes in DXing (InterNet, PacketCluster, etc..), and his new found interest in QRP operations (after building an Elecraft K2 QRP transceiver). The book deals with "How to Listen" (going through the bands or listening to pile-ups), "What is Needed" (or not needed -- the bare essentials), QSLing, and "What Equipment and Accessories are Needed" to get the job done. These are just a few items in the book. Early in the book, Bob brings out the importance of good listening skills. Probably a skill many newer DXers do not have or older DXers lost with the age of the DXClusters. This 223 page book is worth reading and have in a DXer's library. The book lists for 19.95 USD (plus shipping). For more reviews and details on purchasing the book, go to the Web page at:

C56, THE GAMBIA (Update to OPDX.658
Jan, PA9JJ, will be active as C56JJ from Banjul, March 29th to April 5th. Remember that most of his activity will be on 80/40 meters and the WARC bands SSB. However, he may be on some other bands and do some CW. There will be an online log after his return on his home page at:

CT HISTORICAL COLLECTION (Help Needed)
Carlos Nora, CT1END, reports that he is involved in an organization in Portugal which is devoted to documenting and preserving the history of Amateur Radio in Portugal from the early days to the present. If you have Portuguese QSL cards prior to 1960, Portuguese QSL cards from DXpeditions or Portugueses DX Magazines and other special events, they would appreciate receiving them as a donation to their collection, or as an alternative, send a digital image of QSL card. The Web page of the "Historical Archive of the Portuguese Amateur Radio" can be viewed at:

D2, ANGOLA
Rod, EA7JX, informs OPDX that Joao/CT1BFL and Durval/CU3BW will be working in Luanda, capital city of Angola, during the next 6 month and be active as D2U and D2DB, respectively. They are now using a G5RV, but by the end of this month or the next April, they will have a tribander on the air. CT1BFL will operate on all modes, including PSK, RTTY and SSTV. CU3BW will operate on all modes, but not CW. QSL is via EA7JX: Rodrigo Herrera, P.O. Box. 47, 41310, Brenes, Sevilla, Spain. ADDED NOTE: QSL Manager EA7JX is also manager for LW9EOC (L59EOC), LU5FF (LQ0F, L45FF, AY5FF, L24FF, L73F), YV1DIG (YW1D, YX1DIG), CO3JO, YN9HAU, VK3FY/DU8, VK3FY and YW6P.

DAYTON CONTEST DINNER
The North Coast Contesters are pleased to announce: The 12th Annual Dayton Contest Dinner. Tickets are on sale as of Thursday morning, March 4th. Master of Ceremonies is Tim Duffy, K3LR. The 2004 Contest Hall of Fame Inductions will be formally announced by the CQ WorldWide Contest Director and CQ Contest Hall of Fame member, Bob Cox, K3EST. As part of the dinner program, they will honor recent silent key and contester ambassador, James White, K4OJ. The dinner will be held on Saturday night, May 15th, at 6:30 PM: Cash bar opens at 5:30 PM. The dinner will be held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel (Official Contest Hotel) 5th and Jefferson Streets (Next to the Convention Center) Dayton (Downtown), Ohio in the VAN CLEVE BALLROOM. Menu: Prime Rib of Beef, Potato, vegetables, rolls, chocolate fudge cake, choice of beverage, coffee, tea or iced tea. Vegetarian menu is available by request at the dinner. Price is 33.00 USD per person. (They try to have the price as low as possible, so we are sorry for the price increase this year!) SEATING IS LIMITED TO 300, SO ORDER YOUR TICKETS EARLY. Seating is random and is not reserved. Tables are set in rounds of 8. All dinner ticket orders are handled exclusively by Craig Clark, K1QX at: Radioware and Radio Bookstore, PO Box 209, Rindge, NH 03461

GH0, JERSEY
Ron/G4DIY (GP0STH), and Lee/G0DBE will be active from here, March 15-20th, as GH0STH. Their bands and modes of activity were not provided. QSL via G4DIY.

GITMO WEB SITE
Chuck Harding, N8CH, informs OPDX that he has been asked to put up a Web page for the Guantanamo Bay Amateur Radio Club. Bill, W4WV, has donated his Web site which he doesn't use. More data is being compiled by the guys on GITMO. The site is available at:

HK0, SAN ANDRES AND PROVIDENCIA
Gerd, DL7VOG, will make his third trip to San Andres & Providencia. The reason for going this time is for his 25th wedding anniversary. He expects to spend most of his time on Providencia Island (which he says "is a tranquil place, far away from mass tourism") at the hotel "Deep Blue". He is scheduled to be in Bogota, March 13th, then stay on Isla Palma (SA-078) from March 14-17th. He will operate as HK0GU/1 from Isla Palma, Colombia. Then look for him to be active as HK0GU from Providencia (NA-049) starting March 19th; he will depart April 5th. During his stay he will be active in the BARTG Spring RTTY Contest and the EA-RTTY Contest. Look for updates to be posted on a regular basis at:

HS, THAILAND
Champ, E21EIC (XW1IC, 9M2/E21EIC), informs OPDX that the PTD has renewed the 80/160m license in Thailand for all HS hams during the contest ONLY. The license will be expire on December 31, 2004.

IOTA NEWS
AF-014. Look for Rosel/DL3KWR and Hardy/DL3KWF to sign CT3/homecall now through March 18th from Ilha da Madeira (DIP MA-001). Their activity will be mainly CW on the WARC bands (generally during their late afternoon and evening hours). QSL via their home callsigns. E-mail requests for bureau cards are welcome at:

AS-155. Operators BV8BC, BV8BM, BV8BQ, BV8CM, BX8AAA and BM8BTM will be active as BV9O from Orchid Island, March 11-15th. Their bands/modes of activity were not provided. QSL ONLY direct to BV8BC.

EU-108. Look for Jim, MM0BQI, to sign MM0BQI/P from the uninhabited Treshnish Islands off the west coast of Scotland, scheduled for the first week in May. EU-108 is currently number 32 on the list of most wanted European IOTAs. The operation will take place from the island of Lunga, the largest in the Treshnish group. (Islands Of Scotland Award reference NH07). Activity will be on all bands 80-6 meters, SSB, CW, RTTY, using IC706g and IC7400 transceivers. Antennas will be Butternut verticals and wire dipoles. QSL via the bureau or direct to: Jim Martin, MM0BQI, 3 Lismore Avenue, Edinburgh, EH8 7DW, SCOTLAND. All surplus money from direct QSLs will be donated to the Hebridean Trust, who owns and works to preserve the islands and whose permission to land and operate is gratefully acknowledged. For up-to-date information, see the Web page at:

EU-128. Look for Andy, DL4OK, to sign homecall/p from the Staberhuk Lighthouse (ARLHS reference FED-226) located on Fehmarn Island (DID O-01 for the German Islands Award), March 18-25th. His activity will be on 80-10 meter CW/SSB. QSL via the DARC Bureau to DL4OK.

OC-142. The members of the Lockyer Valley Radio Club will be active as VK4FRI from Fraser Island, March 15-19th. Activity will be on all HF bands using CW, SSB, PSK and SSTV. QSL direct only to: P.O. Box 101, Laidley, QLD 4341, Australia.

OC-170. The members of the VK6 DX Chasers Club announced that they will conduct an expedition to Woody Island from around 0600z on March 21st to around 1600z on March 27th. This is their second visit to this island which is part of the Recherche Archipelago, located 15 km from the town of Esperance and some 600km South East of Perth. They plan to have up to 3 stations that will be active on 40-10 meters including 12m and 17m. There may be some 80/75m operation if conditions and static levels permit. The callsign is yet to be advised. Operators will be, Neil/VK6NE, John/VK6NU, Alek/VK6APK, David/VK6YEL, Gerald/VK6KTN and Phil/VK6ZPP. All requests for QSLs are to go to Neil, VK6NE.

KP4, PUERTO RICO
Alfredo, WP3C, will be active as KP4AH in the CQ WPX SSB Contest (March 27-28th) as a Single-Op/Single-Band (10m)/Low-Power entry. QSL KP4AH via direct.

P4, ARUBA
Operator Andrius/LY2TA and Jurgis/LY2CY will be on Aruba from May 23-31st and will be active as P40X for the CQ WPX CW Contest (May 29-30th, Operation class TBA). QSL via LY2TA CBA.

PJ2, NETHERLANDS ANTILLES
Martin, W1MD, will be active as PJ2T from Curacao in the CQ WPX SSB Contest (March 27-28th) as a Single-Op/Single- Band entry. QSL PJ2T via N9AG.

QSL INFO AND NEWS
QSL information from the latest CQWW 160M SSB Contest is now available at: http://www.contesting.info

QSL RW2F via DK4VW. Operators were the Kaliningradsk UA2 Contest Club in the ARRL DX Phone Contest (March 6-7th) as a Multi-Multi entry. V26R QSL STATUS. Mike, KA2AEV, announced this past week that as of March 5th, all the QSLs from the USA/VE for the 2003 and past V26B operations have been answered and are in the mail. He is still working on the DX requests. If you are in the USA or Canada and are awaiting a QSL from V26B, and you do not receive it within the next 2-3 weeks (Depending on the USPS!!!), please drop Mike another request with an SAE and return postage for your request. Please be advised that QSLs are not required. Please put your QSO info on a piece of paper. Mike states, "That will work for us!" He also states, "Sorry for the Inconvience of past QSLing practices. We seem to have our act together now."

QSL MANAGER Nenad, VE3EXY, reports that the QSLs for VK1AA/2, VK1AA/4 and VK9LX/9 are still not printed. DO NOT SEND A SECOND REQUEST. He also mentions, "I am still receiving lots of requests with insufficient funds. One U.S. dollar is not enough for an overseas letter from Canada, especially when you send several QSL cards. All those requests are processed IMMEDIATELY, but will be sent via the BUREAU."

NOT THE QSL MANAGER. Jim, WB4UBD, is NOT the QSL Manager for VK0IR. He was only assisting W4FRU, the QSL Manager at that time. He has no logs and no cards. The QSL Manager for the 1997 VK0IR operation is N2OO.

Rusty, W6OAT, announced this past week that he will be handling the QSLs for Jerry, YI9MD. Cards are "OK" either direct (Rusty Epps W6OAT, 651 Handley Trail, Redwood City, CA 94062, USA) or via the bureau. Wayne, W4MPY, is donating the cards for Jerry (K6MD at home), and they are still working with Jerry to get the exact wording he wants printed on them. Rusty states that it will be a few weeks before he actually receives any QSLs from Wayne, so please be patient with them as they may be a bit slow in the beginning.

Dave, W2GI, reports that the YI9ZF logs have been updated through February 27th at: http://dx.qsl.net/logs/

QSL MANAGER ZS6EZ. Excerpts from an E-mail received from Chris Burger, ZS6EZ, states that his QSLing policy is published at:

SPECIAL EVENT
Lee/K1NT and Marvin/AG5I will be operating special event stations K5O and K5K mobile during Oklahoma's QSO Party, "Just for the fun of it", March 13th and 14th. A special QSL card will be available for working either station. A certificate for 1 USD is available for working both stations. QSL via KW5DX.

SKP 2004
Danny, WP4F, informed OPDX and its readers that this year there will be several activities in Puerto Rico. One event will be in April where they will celebrate the First Puerto Rico Straight Key Party. The party will start the second Sunday of April (April 11th) between 1800z to 0200z (Monday). The 8 hour party will be CW only. Station KP4ES will be on the air as the "Official Party Station: from the Puerto Rico Amateur Radio League". Look for KP4ES to operate on the following frequencies: 28030, 28130, 21030, 21130, 14030, 7030, 7130, 3530 and 3705 kHz. Stations located in Puerto Rico archipelago will be signing /SKP. There are no band and/or frequency restrictions. Any amateur radio frequency may be used for a valid contact (Suggested frequencies: 30khz above the CW lower sub-band limit). For more complete details, please visit the following Web page at:

VP2M, MONTSERRAT
Keith, VP2MEG, wrote to OPDX last week wondering why "VP2M" was not listed in the "DXCC COUNTRY/ENTITY REPORT" for the week of February 22-29th, stating "VP2M" is active. Believe it or not, there were NO cluster reports for "VP2M" for that week. Information is taken from the world-wide AB5K AR TelNet Clusters Network. Goes to show NOT all stations are reported. Keith, VP2MEG, did mention to OPDX that a new batch of hams (locals) are operating from the island, and they are training some more. Come guys/gals, let's see some VP2M QSNs reported (ed. As this was being written - still NO cluster QSNs for VP2M!!).

XE, MEXICO
Bela, N8SHZ, was expected to leave for Mexico on the 5th of March to return about the 28th of April. Look for him to probably sign XE1/N8SHZ and is expected to be working 12 and 17 meters mostly. QSL is guaranteed direct with a SASE for US and 1 Green Stamp for others.

XF4, REVILLA GIGEDO
The XF4IH operation from Socorro Island is now active and will continue until March 20th. Some of their announced suggested operating frequencies are:
SSB - 3795, 7050/7080, 14195, 21295 and 28495
CW - 3503, 7003, 10102, 14003, 18077, 21003, 24897 and 28003/28025
Activity will be on 160m-70cm on SSB/CW/RTTY/PSK31/SSTV and satellites. QSL via XE1IH: Enrique Garcia Munive, P.O. Box 118-481, 07051 Mexico - D.F., Mexico. Check their Web site for more information at:

XV, VIETNAM
Operators JP3AZA (XV3AZA) and JA9BV (XV3BV) will be active now through March 14th. Activity will be on the HF bands 80-15 meters (Not including WARC bands) CW/SSB. QSL via the bureau or direct to JA3DYU.

YA, AFGHANISTAN
Masa, JG1OWV, informs OPDX that Afghanistan hams are now planning to operate club station YA0J for the upcoming CQ WPX SSB Contest (March 27-28th). Their activity will be limited, and they will try to be on as much as possible within their work schedules. This will be the first Multi-Operator entry from that country.

YV4, VENEZUELA
Dario, YV4GMG, in Santa Cruz, informs OPDX that he is active on 20/15/10 meters. Also, active from the same station is Hector/ YV4GMH and Maria/YV4GMB. All three operators have been found recently on PSK31. QSL via their home callsigns.

YA, AFGHANISTAN
Rene, DL2JRM, is on a business trip in Afghanistan until March 19th. He is currently active as YA/DL2JRM and plans to be active on 160-10 meters. Over the past week, he was heard on 160/40/17/15 meters CW.

ZX7, BRAZIL
Look for Mor, CT1AHU/PT7ZXU, to participate in the CQ WPX SSB Contest (March 27-28th) as ZX7U as a Single-Op/All-Band entry. QSL via CT1AHU (QRZ.com), direct or the REP Bureau. Visit the Web page (under construction) at:

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