The Ohio/Penn Dx PacketCluster
DX Bulletin No. 653
BID: $OPDX.653
March 22, 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, K1XN & GoList, NC1L, W2CE, N3SL, NG3K, W3HC, W3UR & The Daily DX, N4AA & QRZ DX, W5UE, K6SRZ, KB6NAN, N7NG, K8YSE, WD9EWK, 9A6XX, CE6TBN, DL/VE3ZIK & www.contesting.info, DL1EK & The DX News Letter, DL5EBE, EI8IC, F5CWU & La Gazette du DX, F5NQL & UFT, F6AJA & Les Nouvelles DX, G3SXW, I1JQJ/IK1ADH & 425 DX News, JI6KVR & JA-IOTA Islands News, LA5IIA, MM0DFV, OK1DOT, PA7FM, PY2TV, VA3RJ & ICPO, Z32XX and ZK1CG for the following DX information.

DXCC COUNTRY/ENTITY REPORT
According to the AR-Cluster Network for the week of Sunday, 14th/March, through Sunday, 21st/March there were 237 countries active. Countries available: 3A, 3B8, 3B9, 3D2, 3DA, 3V, 3W, 3X, 4J, 4L, 4S, 4U1I, 4W, 4X, 5A, 5B, 5H, 5N, 5R, 5T, 5V, 5W, 5X, 5Z, 6W, 6Y, 7Q, 7X, 8P, 8Q, 8R, 9A, 9G, 9H, 9J, 9K, 9L, 9M2, 9M6, 9Q, 9U, 9V, 9Y, A2, A3, A4, A6, A7, A9, AP, BV, BY, C3, C5, C6, C9, CE, CE0Y, CE9, CM, CN, CP, CT, CT3, CU, CX, D2, 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, H2, H4, HA, HB, HB0, HC, HI, HK, HK0/a, HL, HP, HR, HS, HV, HZ, I, IS, J3, J6, J7, J8, JA, JD/m, JD/o, JT, JW, JY, K, KG4, KH0, KH2, KH6, KH8, KL, KP2, KP4, LA, LU, LX, LY, LZ, OA, OD, OE, OH, OH0, OK, OM, ON, OX, OY, OZ, P2, P4, PA, PJ2, PJ7, PY, PZ, R1FJ, S2, S5, S7, S9, SM, SP, ST, SU, SV, SV5, SV9, T30, T7, T9, TA, TF, TG, TI, TK, TL, TR, TT, TU, TY, TZ, UA, UA2, UA9, UK, UN, UR, V2, V3, V4, V5, V7, V8, VE, VK, VK9N, VP2E, VP2M, VP5, VP8, VP8/h, VP9, VQ9, VR, VU, XE, XF4, XT, XU, XW, YA, YB, YI, YK, YL, YN, YO, YS, YU, YV, Z2, Z3, ZA, ZB, ZC4, ZD7, 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).

3B9, RODRIGUES ISLAND
The Mega DXpedition, 3B9C, is now active until April 13th. Direct QSLs go via: FSDXA, P.O. Box 73, Church Stretton, SY6 6WF, UK. Bureau cards go via RSGB Bureau. Remember, Bureau QSLs can be requested via their Web page. For updates and more details, visit their Web page at:

3D2, FIJI
Brian, N6IZ, will be active again as 3D2IZ from Namotu Island (IOTA OC-121) in Fiji from March 28th until April 3rd. In between surfing and taking in the sun, look for him on 80/40/30/20/15/10 meters SSB or CW. Details from his last visit (in 2003) are available via the following Web page (soon to be updated) at:

3Z, POLAND
Krzysztol, SP6DVP, will be active using the special callsign 3Z6V in the CQ WPX SSB Contest (March 27-28th). QSL via SP6DVP.

9A50, CROATIA (Attention Prefix Hunters!)
Look for special event station 9A50EZA to be active until the end of year in honor of 50th anniversary of the Radio Club "Ludbreg". Activity during the past week was on 14187 kHz after 2000z. QSL via 9A1EZA: Radio Club "Ludbreg", P.O. Box 9, HR-42230 Ludbreg, CROATIA.

9U5M QRT
Dennis, PA7FM, informed OPDX that Michael, PA5M, active as 9U5M, went QRT on the evening of the 16th of March. He hasn't been as active as he wanted to.....but the main reason being in Burundi was his work for the World Food program of the UN. Over the past weekend Michael was in A6 but will go to 9L Monday, March 22nd. Due to the very busy work there, he won't apply for a licence this time. His next DX activity may be about 2 months from now when he will go to some other place (not known yet). Meanwhile, the complete 9U5M and YI/PA5M logs are online at:

CU, AZORES
Arlindo, CT1EGW, will be active as CT1EGW/CU2 from April 7-11th, from Sao Miguel (EU-003). During his free time he plans to operate on RTTY. QSL via direct or via the bureau.

D2, ANGOLA (6 meters)
Ed, D2PFN, travelled to Johannesburg over the past weekend to pick-up a 6 meter 4 element beam. He will install it on his tower, and it will be operational in 7-10 days.

DA0, GERMANY
Look for the following operators to be active using the special callsign, DA0WPX, in the CQ WPX SSB Contest this weekend. Operators are Klaus, DB9JP; Marion, DF4UM; Luer, DF5TP; Peter, DH4JQ; Gerhard/DH4JU, Harald/DH9KR, Diethelm/DJ2YE, Guenter/DK1RI, Alexander/DK5VZ, Karlfried/ DL1EK, Marion/DL1SDJ, Stefan/DL7AOS, Lars/DL9LR and possibly some others. They will set up a special station for this contest. They will use 4 running and one multiplierstation during the contest. All radios are YAESU FT-1000 Mark V. They have monobander beams for 10, 15 and 20m, a 4-square for 40 and 80, verticals for 80 and 160m, two dipoles each for 40, 80 and 160, and beverages and a multiband-beam for the multiplierstation. QSLs are "prefered" by the DARC bureau or by DL1EK. No e-QSLs!

DXCC NEWS
Bill Moore, NC1L, ARRL DXCC Manager, announced that the following operations are approved for DXCC credit:

Uganda - 5X1X (November 11, 2003 to December 17, 2003)
Iraq - YI/NG5L (From April 10, 2003 to June 9, 2003)
YI9L (formerly YI/NG5L) (From June 10, 2003 to February 27, 2004)
YI9LEK (Current operation beginning January 25, 2004)
YI/PA5M (Current operation beginning August 14, 2003)
Togo - Pascal, F5JSD, has commuicated with Bill, NC1L, and he reports that the 5V7C operation (March 5-13th) is good for DXCC.

ADDED REMINDER: Do you have questions regarding DXCC program issues? Visit the DXCC Web site. Here you will find the program rules, the current and deleted DXCC lists and all of the forms needed to participate. If, after reading the information here, you still have questions regarding the DXCC Program, contact the DXCC Desk. The DXCC Web page is at:

FM, MARTINIQUE (Also V2)
Koh/JA1ADT, Taka/JA7AGO and Aki/JA7ZP are going to attend the Caribbean Hamboree

FO, CLIPPERTON ISLAND
It looks like the April DXpedition to Clipperton Island has once again been postponed until 2005. Reports indicate that weather may have played a factor in the decision, but the delay will give the organizers time to gather more operators for the trip. If you are interested in joining the team going to Clipperton in 2005, please contact Dave, K4SV, via E-mail at: K4SV2@Charter.net

FY, FRENCH GUIANA
Didier, FY5FY, will be active in the CQ WPX SSB Contest (March 27-28th) as Single-Op/All-Band/High-Power entry. QSL via FY5FY, by the bureau or CBA. By the way, his activity will also include 160m.

HR5, HONDURAS
Gerard, F2JD, will again be active as HR5/F2JD from March 18th to May 14th. He will be active on all bands on SSB, CW and RTTY. QSL via F6AJA and the logs will be online on the Web site at:

IOTA NEWS

NEW TOOL! Tim, EI8IC, has provided DXers with a new tool on his Web for IOTA chasers. Enter your 6-digit Grid Locator code, and the Web page will generate a short path, long path and distance list from your QTH to each of the current IOTA reference numbers. Visit his Web pages at the following URLs:

AF-NEW. Possible new IOTA to be activated. See TJ3 below.

AF-NEW. Sebastien, F8DQZ, will be in Guinea from April 18th to May 2nd. One of his main goals is to activate Tristao Islands located in the Guinee-Maritime Province North Group. What is interesting is the callsign he will use to operate, 3XDQZ (Three X-Ray Delta Quebec Zulu). QSL via F8DQZ. Activity will be on 80-10 meters. Visit his Web page at:

EU-057. Jens, DD0VD, will active as DD0VD/p from Ruegen Island (GIA O-07), March 27-28th. Activity will be mainly on 40-10 meters SSB (w/100 watts into a ground plane antenna). He is expected to also try 17 and 12 meters. QSL via his home call (QRZ.com).

EU-123. Three operators Jurij/MMODFV, John/GMOWRR and Mike/GM-SWL, were expected to activate four islands of the North Berwick Harbour:

Fidra Island - Reference numbers are: IOSA FF04, SCOTIA CS04, WAB NT58, ARLHS SCO-080 and WLH LH-0313. Co-ordinates are: 56.07N and 02.78W.
Lamb Island - Reference numbers are: IOSA FF08 and WAB NT58. Co-ordinates are: 56.07N and 02.75W.
Craigleith Island - Reference numbers are: IOSA FF03, SCOTIA CS03 and WAB NT58. Co-ordinates are: 56.07N and 02.71W)
Bass Rock - Reference numbers are: IOSA FF02, SCOTIA CS02, WAB NT68, ARLHS SCO-018 and WLH LH-0764. Co-ordinates are: 56.08N and 02.64W.

The expedition will use special callsign MSODGR/p from March 20-23rd. Administratively the islands are in East Lothian Council Area (CAOSA: EL). Pertinent equipment available to the group are two Icom transceivers, IC-706 and IC-735, and a number of portable antennas. Contacts will be carried out on all HF bands, CW, SSB and Digital Modes. It is also planned to take numerous pictures of the islands including their fauna and flora. All the pictures and further information will be presented as an addition to the publications on the Scottish HAM Portal at:

JW, SVALBARD
Francois, F8DVD, will once again be active from here between April 4-10th. He will operate from the town of Longyearbyen located on the 78 Deg Lat North (IOTA EU-026, WAZ 40, Grid Loc JQ78TF). For this second expedition, Francois will use the callsign JW/F8DVD. Activity will be on all bands between 80-10 meters. Francois will be especially active for Asia and all Pacifc aera. He will often operate number by number to give a chance to all stations, especially the QRP ones. QSL via the French Bureau or Direct to: Francois Bergez, 6, Rue de la Liberte, F- 71000 MACON, France (SAE + IRC or USD - 1 USD for EU, 2 USD for others).

LIGHTHOUSE ACTIVITY
Operators XQ1IDM, CE2WUI, CE1RQB, CE1BPY, CE1VLY, CE1LXT, CE1POT, CE1LYF and CA1WJB will be on the air as 3G1E from Peninsula del Alacran Lighthouse (CHI- 061) starting 0000z June 5th to 1600z June 6th. The suggested frequencies are:
SSB - 3970, 7050, 14270, 18145, 21270, 24930 and 28370
CW - 3530, 7030, 10010, 14030, 18070, 21030, 24895 and 28030 kHz
Also, look for activity on 6 meters and PSK31. QSL via CE1FA: P.O. BOX 71, Arica, CHILE. Checkout their Web page at:

LU, ARGENTINA (IOTA Activity)
Patrick, WD9EWK, will be heading to Argentina next month, leaving Phoenix on April 14th and returning on April 24th. He will spend about 3 days in and around Buenos Aires followed by almost 6 days on Tierra del Fuego (IOTA SA-008) - staying in Ushuaia. His callsign will be LU/WD9EWK. Patrick stated his activity will be casual while there, and this is not a DXpedition. He also mentioned he will take at least one small HF radio with him - an FT-817, IC-703, or possibly both - and hopes to get on the air with one of those radios and/or from the stations of other hams down there. His operations will be SSB and CW, but there could be some RTTY/PSK31 activity if he operates from a station equipped for those modes. QSL via WD9EWK, either direct or through the QSL bureaus. He will design the card after the trip using photos he takes while he is down there. Patrick has started a Web page with information about the trip and will update it as needed before and during the trip at:

LUXEMBOURG
Philippe, LX2AJ, will be active as LX7I in the CQ WPX SSB Contest (March 27-28th) as Single-Op/Single-Band (80m) entry. QSL via LX2AJ. Visit his Web site at:

P4, ARUBA
Andy, AE6Y, will once again be active from here. Look for him to sign as P40Y from March 24-30th. He will also be active in the CQ WPX SSB Contest. QSL to his home callsign.

QSL INFO AND NEWS
5V7C LOGS. The logs have been uploaded to the following Web site at:

QSL 9M2/GM4YXI via N3SL. Steve, N3SL, states, "Logs will be E-mailed and cards are on hand, so QSLs should be immediate (if direct) to Kim Larson, daughter of N3SL (use N3SL QRZ/callbook address)."

Randy, W5UE, now acting QSL Manager for HC8L for all past and future activity, reports that new cards are being ordered, so expect a slight delay in processing your requests. As with other stations he manages, direct requests with SASE or SAE with 1 USD or IRC will be answered directly; others will be answered via the bureau system. QSL status for HC8L and other stations Randy manages can be found on his Web page at:

AY1ZA QSLS. Dominik, DL5EBE, reports that Henry, LU4DXU, who just returned from his AY1ZA DXpedition to Laurie Island (South Orkneys), has received lots of direct QSL requests during his absence. Unfortunately, many of the requests didn't contain enough return postage. In order to get your card back in the same way received, please make sure that your SASE contains 2 IRCs or 2 USD to cover the high postage from Argentina to overseas.

NEW QSL MANAGER. Petr, OK1DOT, reports that he is the new QSL Manager for Bob, 9V1GO. OK1DOT direct address is: Petr Gustab, P.O.Box 52, Cesky Brod, 282 01 CZECH REPUBLIC / EUROPE.

NEW QSL MANAGER. Mac, W3HC, informed OPDX that he is now the QSL Manager for the contest station PS2T. He adds that he just found out after sending many cards back.

TO4E QSLS. Jean Michel, F6AJA, reports that a sample of the TO4E QSL is on the following Web site (follow the link "articles parus" and choose "Europa") at:

SCOTTISH HAM PORTAL
Jurij, MM0DFV, invites OPDX readers to visit the following new Web site at:

SILENT KEYS
OPDX and its readers would like to send out our deepest sympathy to the family and friends of the following "Silent Keys"(SK).

Ivo, 9A5I - Hrvoje, 9A6XX, reports that Ivo, 9A5I, was one of the most active contesters and a big award chaser in their region.

LESLIE, G6XN - Leslie "Les", G6XN, of Surrey, England, became a "Silent Key" on March 3rd. He was 95 and among the oldest Amateur Radio operators in the UK. Licensed in 1928, Les was well-known among the amateur community for his writings on antennas.

Vane, Z31RC - After a short illness, Vane, Z31RC, became a Silent Key on March 16th at the age of 48. He was an active DXer and Contester plus he was one of the founders of the Z30M (Z37M) Contest Club.

T33C -- BANABA AWARD
Alan, K6SRZ, sent out the following press release:

"The Banaba Award is meant to encourage stations Worldwide to make as many contacts as possible with the T33C Expedition between 4 and 16 April 2004. We would like to encourage all amateurs no matter how modest their stations to contact us. We will be on all bands from 160m through to 6m and all the main modes, CW, SB, RTTY, FM, PSK, and even SSTV. You can find more about this DXpedition at our Web page:

"BANABA CERTIFICATES OF MERIT"-- In parallel, we intend to operate an Awards Scheme, where a very colourful Certificate can be obtained. The rules are very simple: again try to make contact with us on as many of the above band slots as possible:

THE BANABA BRONZE AWARD - Is for stations who make contact with us on a minimum of 5 band/slots
THE BANABA SILVER AWARD - Is for stations who make contact with us on a minimum of 10 band/slots
THE BANABA GOLD AWARD - Is for stations who make contact with us on a minimum of 15 band/slots

We will issue one certificate per person, based on the highest number of band-mode QSOs. For example, if you make 12 band-mode QSOs, you will qualify for the Silver Award only (not both Bronze and Silver).

Certificates will cost 5 (USD) each plus 2 (USD) post and package. Proceeds of the Certificates will go into the Expedition Fund. Applications for the Certificates should be made to GM4FDM: Tom Wylie, 3 Kings Crescent, Elderslie, Renfrewshire, Scotland PA5 9AD. Please include funds to cover the certificate and postage. Applications should also include a QSO list for the specific Award. Should any QSOs be found to be 'not in the log', these QSOs will NOT count for either a Certificate or indeed the Trophy. When in doubt, check our on-line log and work us again if necessary! We will not enter into any correspondence regarding the Certificates and the decision of the Expedition members shall be final. We're sorry, but we cannot accept E-mailed applications...... Thank You......" Alan Eshleman/K6SRZ for the T33C DXpedition

TJ3, CAMEROON
Roger/G3SXW and Nigel/G3TXF will be operating as TJ3G from Kribi in Cameroon from approximately Tuesday, March 23rd to Thursday, April 1st. This will be a 80-10 meters CW only operation. The suggested frequencies will be: 3513, 7013, 10113, 14033, 18083, 21033, 24903 and 28033 kHz. [These frequencies are higher than usual in order to avoid any conflict with 3B9C]. Although they will be using the same callsign TJ3G, Roger/G3SXW will be operating the traditional HF bands while Nigel/G3TXF will be looking after the WARC bands. QSL via G3TXF.

TJ3, CAMEROON (Possible New IOTA)
Jack, F6BUM, announced he is going to Cameroon April 2nd. His length of stay was not mentioned. Also, he is thinking of activating Mondoleh Island while there from April 10-11th between 0700-1600z. However, night operations from the island are not possible because he can not stay on the island at night! Activity on CW will take place on April 10th and SSB operations will be on the 11th. Look for him to use the callsign TJ3MC. QSL via the address on QRZ.com.

YA8, AFGHANISTAN
Johnny, YA8G (LA5IIA), informed OPDX that he is now active on all nine HF bands at the momen, and has put some effort in working NA on 80m CW and 20m RTTY, both SP as well as LP. Johnny states, "My noise level is still tremendously high, but sometimes I can copy signals from EU, AS, NA and SA at the same time. I beg each and every DX'er to respect when I'm calling certain areas." QSL cards are being handled as soon as they are received by his manager, LA4YW. You will be able to watch the QSL layout on Johnny's Web site, as well. Johnny also mentions that the logs for YA8G are now updated 2-3 times a week at the following Web site:

ZD8, ASCENSION ISLAND
Ian, G8WVW, and his family are now new residents of Ascension Island and will be there until the end of March 2006. He has been allocated the callsign ZD8I and will be active using SSB on the bands from 80-6 meters (except 30m). An Icom IC-2KL will be arriving on the island in May together with an Optibeam OB9-5E for HF and a 6 element Tonna for 6 meters. His suggested frequencies are: 3737, 7077, 14237, 18137, 21337, 24937 and 28537 kHz. Operating times are when work and family commitments permits. The QSL Manager is G4LTI. Further information can be found on the Web page at:

ZK1, SOUTH COOK ISLANDS
Victor, ZK1CG (ZK1USA), from Rarotonga Island (OC-013) in the South Cook Islands, will be active in the CQ WPX SSB Contest as a All-Bands entry as ZK1CG. He informs OPDX that there are only 2 active operators on ZK1 at the moment. Jim, ZK1JD, is the other operator. Victor will see if he can get Jim, ZK1JD, to get on during the contest to help out. Remember, Victor's shack is in his workshop, so he may get called away at times for work during the contest.

ZL7, CHATHAM ISLANDS
Chris, ZL1CT (GM3WOJ), is planning to be active as ZL7V, July 5-15th (Callsign and dates to be confirmed). Activity will be on 80/40/30/20 meters CW/SSB. QSL via N3SL. ADDED NOTE: There "may" be some activity from Chatham Island during the Easter vacation/holidays by another operator (announcement will not come until his arrangements are all in place).

ZS8, MARION ISLAND
A reort from the "425 DX News" states Ludwig/ZS6WLC and Pieter/ZR6PSR, two staff members of the Hartebeesthoek Radio Astronomy Observatory Space Geodesy Programme, will conduct a scientific expedition from Marion Island (AF-021) in April. The two operators are to depart on April 1st from Cape Town, and depending on off loading of equipment and other work load, amateur radio operations as ZS8MI will commence on April 7th until around the 30th. Plans are to operate CW/SSB. The following are suggested frequencies from the below Web page:
SSB - 3750, 7080, 14195, 21295 and 28495 kHz
CW - 3505, 7010, 14020, 21025 and 28060 kHz
* Please note that they will listen 5-10 kHz up (except on CW). CW will be slow, about 15 WPM. If you send anything faster than 15 WPM you will be ingored!

They are expect to leave the island on May 2nd. QSL via ZS6M: Bernardus Roode, P.O. Box 158, Kempton Park 1620, South Africa. For updates and more detailed information (including on-line logs and direct QSLing policy), please visit the following Web page at:

ZW2, BRAZIL
Sergio, PY2TV, from Sao Paulo, activated the special callsign ZW2TV during the Russian Contest this past weekend. He plans to use this special callsign during the next 2 contests weekends.

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