The Ohio/Penn Dx PacketCluster
DX Bulletin No. 689
BID: $OPDX.689
December 13, 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, NG3K, N3SL, W3UR & The Daily DX, K4UUE, K4VUD, N4AA & QRZ DX, N4BAA, K8YSE, N8TT, NE8Z, DL1EK & The DX News Letter, EA5RM, EA7JX, EI3IO, F5CWU & La Gazette du DX, F5NQL & UFT, HS0ZAA/W2ZWW, I1JQJ/IK1ADH & 425 DX News, I1HYW, IZ8BRI, JI6KVR & JA-IOTA Islands News, OH2BN, OH9MM, ON4MA, ON5NT, PA7DA, PC0H and VA3RJ & ICPO for the following DX information.
DXCC COUNTRY/ENTITY REPORT
According to the AR-Cluster Network for the
week of Sunday, 5th/December, through Sunday, 12th/December there were
228 countries active. Countries available: 3A, 3B8, 3B9, 3D2, 3DA, 3V,
3W, 4J, 4L, 4S, 4U1I, 4U1U, 4X, 5A, 5B, 5H, 5N, 5R, 5T, 5U, 5V, 5W, 5Z,
6W, 6Y, 7P, 7Q, 7X, 8P, 8R, 9A, 9G, 9H, 9J, 9K, 9L, 9M2, 9N, 9Q, 9U, 9V,
9Y, A2, A3, A4, A5, A6, A7, A9, AP, BV, BY, C3, C5, C6, C9, CE, CE9, CM,
CN, CP, CT, CT3, CU, CX, D2, D4, DL, DU, E3, EA, EA6, EA8, EA9, EI, EK,
EP, ER, ES, ET, EU, EX, EY, EZ, F, FG, FK, FM, FO, FR, FY, G, GD, GI,
GJ, GM, GU, GW, HA, HB, HC, HH, HI, HK, HK0/a, HL, HP, HR, HS, HZ, I,
IS, J2, J3, JA, JD/o, JT, JW, JY, K, KG4, KH0, KH2, KH6, KL, KP2, KP4,
LA, LU, LX, LY, LZ, OA, OD, OE, OH, OH0, OK, OM, ON, OX, OY, OZ, P2, P4,
PA, PJ2, PY, PY0S, PZ, R1FJ, S2, S5, S7, S9, SM, SP, ST, SU, SV, SV5,
SV9, T32, T5, T7, T9, TA, TF, TG, TI, TJ, TK, TN, TR, TT, TU, TY, TZ,
UA, UA2, UA9, UK, UN, UR, V3, V4, V5, V7, V8, VE, VK, VK9N, VK9X, VP2M,
VP5, VP6, VP8, VP9, VQ9, VR, VU, VU4, XE, XT, XU, XW, YA, YB, YI, YK,
YL, YN, YO, YS, YU, YV, Z2, Z3, ZA, ZB, ZC4, ZD7, ZF, ZK1/s, ZK2, 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).
3Y, PETER I ISLAND (Update)
NODXA and OPDX received the following update
(Press Release #8) from Bob/K4UEE and Ralph/K0IR. "Counting the days":
"The Peter I Dxpedition team members are counting down the final 30 days
until their departure from home and their rendezvous with other team members
in Punta Arenas, Chile. The 40 ft. sea container was loaded with the help
of members of the SEDXC and is now just a few days away from arrival in
Valparaiso, Chile. Upon clearing Chilean customs, the container will be
trucked the 1500 miles to the port in Punta Arenas. The team will begin
arriving Jan. 11 for a scheduled departure on Jan. 14th. Here is the
itinerary for the Expedition:
Team Itinerary:
Jan. 12, 2005 Team meets in Punta Arenas, Chile
Jan. 13 Expedition equipment loaded onto the vessel Antarctic Dream
Jan. 14 Depart Punta Arenas goes direct Peter I.
Jan. 19-21* Arrive Peter I, move ashore via helicopter
Jan. 21-Feb. 4* Radio operations, ship stands offshore during entire operation
Feb. 5* Depart Peter I
Feb 10 Arrive Punta Arenas
The Expedition website has been expanded and now includes pages with basic information for the non-ham viewer, information such as 'What is a Dxpedition', 'Prior Dxpeditions to Peter I', 'Tell me about Peter I Island', etc.. The idea is to help inform and interest others, outside the ham community, in our hobby and adventure. All the members of the team ask you to assist them in this regard: Talk to your local school, Boy or Girl Scout troop, Kiwanis Club, Rotary, the local press, etc. about the Peter I website. Encourage them to follow along as the Dxpedition unfolds - to the most isolated island on Earth. The website can be found at:
This is a huge undertaking and very, very expensive. The team members are funding 74% of the total cost and need your help with the remaining expenses. Your contribution will be very much appreciated. Send contributions to either: K4UUE, F2JD, JA1ELY or ZL2AL. Check the website for an easy to use donation form."
A6, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES (IOTA Activity)
Ghis, ON5NT, informs OPDX that
after their A61AV/p operation (QSL via ON5NT) to AS-124 (which netted
3000 QSOs) in the beginning of December, they will be on the road again.
Look for A61Q/p to be active from Jazirat Al Siniyah off the coast of
the Emirate of Umm Al Qaywayn in the United Arab Emirates. This island
has been approved for IOTA and counts for AS-021. With Abu Dhabi Island
being deleted from the IOTA directory on February 1, 2005, AS-021 would
become very rare. Only a handful of IOTA chasers worked A6XT in the 70's
from Das Island. The operators will be Abdullah/A61Q, Mohammed/A61AV,
Alex/RV6LNA and Ghis/ON5NT. Operators Abdullah/A61Q, Mohammed/A61AV and
Alex/RV6LNA will arrive on Al Siniyah Island in the (local) afternoon of
December 17th. Ghis, ON5NT, will join them in the (local) morning of
December 18th. They will stay on the island until December 20th, around
1600 local time. The UAE/A61 is at GMT+4. They will be active mainly on
21260, 14260 and 7060 khz. Also look for CW on 21040, 14040, +/- 10103
and +/- 7003 kHz. QSLs for the A61Q/p operation from AS-021 are via ON5NT:
Ghis Penny, P.O. Box 93, BE-9700 Oudenaarde, Belgium. Regular QSL cards
for A61Q from his home still go via EA7FTR.
ANTARCTIC NEWS
Due to some changes in the schedule, operator VU3BPZ is flying from
Mumbai on December 11th to South Africa and from there to India's Maitri
Base (WAP IND-03). This will cause a delay in his activity.
2nd Antarctic Activity Week. The WAP (Worldwide Antarctic Program) has announced their "2nd Antarctic Activity Week" which will be held from February 21-27th, 2005. The WW stations wishing to participate in this "2nd AAW" event just have to apply through their Ham organization, according to their country's rules, for a special callsign with ANT in their suffix, and try to be active during the above mentioned week. Operators in Argentina for many years now, have celebrated their "Dia de la Antartida Argentina", which is normally held every year on the 22nd of February, so this year the WAP 2nd AAW will fall within that date. The WAP's aim is to stay close to the researchers and personnel who are spending their time away from home and away from the families studing the Antarctic life and its secrets. Last year the participation was great with several ANT station such as IR1ANT, IR0ANT, TM0ANT, II7ANT, IO8ANT as well as others that were active for that week. This year the WAP has more time to prepare, and they hope that more stations will participate. For any question, please feel free to write to WAP (Worldwide Antarctic Program) @ I1HYW or IZ8BRI. Address and E-mails are OK on (QRZ.com). Also, visit the WAP Web site for updates at:
THE BIG GUY TO BE ACTIVE
Yep, the word from our Finnish friend is that
the real Santa Claus is to be active in December as OH9SCL (Santa Claus
Land) before he makes his world-wide tour. Activity will take place from
the Finnish Lappland, Arctic Circle, on all bands and modes. The "BIG GUY"
will be active from the VERY NORTH! Special activity will take place
December 17-19th. It is known that Santa is busy before Christmas, so he
has N7NG, OH2BH, OH3BHL, OH9KL, OH9MDV, OH9MM, OH9RJ and OH9VC handling
the radio traffic part of the preparatory activities! QSL via OH9UV.
FO/M, MARQUESAS ISLANDS
By the time you read this, operators Michel/F6COW,
Dominique/F6EPY and Radi/F6GNZ should be active as FO/F6COW, FO/F6EPY
and FO/F6GNZ, respectively from Hiva Hoa, Marquesas (OC-027), until
December 23rd. They should have two stations active and are expected
to operate mostly CW and SSB with some digital modes (PSK31, RTTY, SSTV).
Activity will be on 80-10 meters, with some 160m if conditions allow,
with a priority on the lower bands. For more details visit the following
Web page at: http://perso.wanadoo.fr/dominique.auprince
QSL via their home callsigns. Suggested frequencies are:
CW - 3515, 7015, 10118, 14015, 18095, 21015, 24905 and 28015 kHz
SSB - 3780, 7075, 14215, 18135, 21215, 24985 and 28465 kHz
Digital - 7035, 10145, 14085, 21085 and 28085 kHz.
IOTA NEWS
AS-140. Manjurul/S21AM and Dave/EI3IO will operate from Char Dakhin
Shahbazpur (Bhola Island), from February 4-th, 2005. A special
callsign is being sought from the Bangladesh licensing authority.
There will be two 100 watt CW/SSB MF/HF stations operational,
and activity on all bands is planned, subject to antenna
availability. A 30m communications tower is on-site and half
slopers are being considered for 160 meters and 80/30 meters.
QSL via EI3IO. Logs will be uploaded to LoTW and eQSL.
EU-016. (IOTA/LH Activity) Fredy, DE0MST, will lead a team of operators to activate the Lighthouse Struga (LH-0815) on Lastovo Island, May 14-21st. The callsign will be 9A0CI (IOCA group). Operators mentioned will be 9A6AA, 9A2WJ, 9A3KB, DJ3XG, DF9MV, DJ1MHS, DL5MFL, DL9CHR and DE0MST. More details are forthcoming.
SA-039. A team of operators from the Southern Group of Montevideo which includes CX2ABC, CX5BW and WQ4O (with EA5KM and EA5RM coming from Spain for this DXpedition), will be active with the callsign CW5R from the Island of Lobo, between January 5-11th (dates could be changed due to weather conditions). They will use directional monobander antennas for 40-10 meters and dipoles for 30, 80 and 160 meters. Activity will be on all modes, including digital. The antennas for the low bands will be installed on the lighthouse of the island. Lighthouse reference numbers are: WLOTA LH-0799 and ARLHS URU-002. The QSL Manager will be announced later. There will be online logs after the operation at: http://webs.ono.com/cw5r
OC-137. Steve, G0UIH, finished-up his activity as 3D2FI from Viti Levu (OC-016) and will head further south to North Stradbroke Island. He will be active as VK2IAY/4 from December 14-17th. Activity will be SSB only on or around the IOTA frequencies on 20/17/15 meters. QSL via G0UIH, direct or by the bureau. More details can be found on the Web page at:
KG4, GUANTANAMO BAY (Update)
Jose Castillo, N4BAA, updates OPDX that
the three member group from the VADXCC (VA DX Club) will activate KG4
(Guantanamo Bay, Cuba), January 15-22nd. Callsigns will be as follows:
KG4SB - Jose - QSL to N4BAAActivity will be on 160-6 meters operating on ALL modes. Jose will have SSTV for those who desire it!
KG4WV - Bill - QSL to W4WV
KG4AS - Tip - QSL to N4SIA
OH0, ALAND ISLAND
An international team of operators will activate OH0I
in the CQ WW RTTY WPX Contest (February 12-13th) as a Multi-Multi entry.
QSL via OH3BHL.
OO, BELGIUM
Marc, ON4MA, informs OPDX that in the year 2005, look for
Belgium operators to use the "OO" prefix during the entire year. This
prefix is being used in celebration of 175th anniversary of Belgium's
existence.
PJ4, NETHERLANDS ANTILLES
Dr. Rick, NE8Z, will be active as PJ4/NE8Z
from Bonaire, February 4-13th. Activity will be mostly CW/SSB on the
WARC bands and 6 meters. Rick mentions that he will use a Kenwood TS680s
with an Ameritron AL-84 Amp into a Cushcraft R-7 Vertical (40-10m). He
will also use a Yaesu FT-857 into a Cushcraft 3 element yagi on 50 mHz.
QSL via NE8Z: Dr. Rick Dorsch, P.O. Box 616, Hamburg, MI 48139 USA.
QSL INFO AND NEWS
D2U QSLS. Rod, EA7JX, QSL Manager for D2U, informs OPDX that he has
not heard from Joao, D2U, for 6 months. He mentions that Joao told
him he sent logs via E-mails, but it seems Rod did not receive them.
Rod states that he is sorry for the delay for all the DX stations that
sent him envelopes, and he is sure once Joao sends him the logs, he'll
answer them quickly. Rod is also QSL Manager for: LU5FF, LQ0F, L45FF,
L25FF, L73F, AY5FF, L59EOC, LW9EOC, YN9HAU, D2U, YX1DIG, YV1DIG, YW1D,
YW6P, CO3JO, VK3FY and VK3FY/DU8.
NOT THE MANAGER. Tom, N6BP, states that he is not the QSL Manager for C6AKQ. He also mentions that he will no longer return any cards, but instead throw them in the trash. The correct QSL route for C6AKQ is via N4BP.
TOP 5 QSL MANAGER NOMINATIONS (Update). John, K1XN, of the "Go-List" informs us that nominations of the "TOP 5 MANAGERS" has been brisk. He states, "If this rate of response remains level, we will have a record number of nominations again this year. Please remember this is just an opinion survey based upon the responses to your QSL requests for this year 2004 only." John states, "We have several hundred nominations to date, but only 28 different managers nominated." The survey continues until February 1st, 2005. To see the list of those QSL Managers nominated in 2003 to the TOP 5 list and the TOP 5 of the Top 5, visit the GOLIST Web site at this URL:
VK4UC QSL MANAGER CHANGE. Kim, daughter of N3SL, is assuming the duties of QSL Manager for John, VK4UC. Cards are on order and expected in early January. John has forwarded nearly 4 pounds of cards received via the VK Bureau to N3SL for processing. About 50 direct cards also were included and will be answered at the same time. They ask that those awaiting cards to please not send another until the bureau system has had a chance to work. John's logs have already been uploaded into LoTW, and a log search will be available at:
S9A & S9BB WRAP-UP
The following is an excerpt from a press release
received by Jarmo, OH2BN. It has been edited to fit this week's bulletin.
The press release states:
"OH2BH and OH2PM now safely back home from Sao Tome, Africa, are busy changing their suntanned outfits to those that will be needed on the Antarctic Peter I expedition (3Y0X) within the next few weeks.Sao Tome was fun, and with limited manpower they were able to push the QSO total to nearly 25,000. Conditions turned out surprisingly unstable, varying from day to day. The tropical noise came lower at times, allowing the team to make a number of 160M/80M contacts. In particular, 80M CW signals were easier to copy with sharp filters regardless of the noise. Congratulations to those who made it thru. The log search is up and running at:
http://www.df3cb.com/logsearch/s9bb/ The statistics show reasonable results on all bands, probably providing at least one contact for those in need. See the log search website and judge for yourself whether Sao Tome might be your potential destination when spinning the globe in search of new adventures.
The group is grateful to Mike, K7IR at SteppIR for their support and to Charles, S9SS and Lesley, S9YL for their on-site patronage. Also, the crew at S9A & S9BB (OH2BH-OH2PM-OH2TA) wish the DX community a merry Christmas and good luck in contacting the ongoing VU4 expedition."
S9BB & S9A Total QSOs 24617
NORTH AMERICA Total QSOs 9115
EUROPE Total QSOs 12686
ASIA Total QSOs 1637
SPECIAL DUTCH ACTIVITY
Look for the following Dutch stations to be
active during the last 2 weeks of 2004 from The Netherlands:
PA6EU - Amsterdam PE6EU - Valkenburg - Maastricht
PB6EU - The Haque and Scheveningen PF6EU - reserved for Groningen
PC6EU - Rotterdam PG6UE - Noordwijk
All these stations will be active because of the last final weeks of
the Dutch EU-Presidency. QSL Manager is PA7DA.
SPECIAL EVENT
Look for special event station PC100H (Papa Charlie One
Zero Zero Hotel) to be activated from 0700z, December 18th until 1900z
December 19th, to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the founding of
the Dutch Coastal Radio Station PCH/Scheveningen Radio. Activity will
be on 160-10 meters including some WARC bands on CW/SSB/RTTY/PSK31. Also,
2 meters SSB/FM. Suggested frequencies are:
2m - 144.250 (SSB) and 145.250 (FM) MHzQSL via PA1HR. Further information (frequencies, modes and operating hours) will be available via:
CW - 1830, 3530, 7030, 10130, 14030, 18090, 21030 and 28030 kHz
SSB - 1850, 3650, 7050, 14250, 18150, 21250 and 28250 kHz
RTTY - 10145
VU4, ANDAMAN ISLANDS (Update)
Early last week rumors were flying around
stating that officials stopped the VU4RBI and VU4NRO operation. Naturally,
these turned out to be just rumors. Jim, N8TT, was informed by Jose,
VU2JOS, that "Our VU4 Dxpedition will continue till 31 Dec 2004 and there
is no truth to the rumour that it has been stopped by officals." Meanwhile,
the activity continues and John, HS0ZAA/W2ZWW, in Minburi, Thailand,
states that he talked to Bharthi, VU2RBI, and was told there are 2 separate
stations operating with 5 operators, and they are on the air 24 hours per
day on the following frequencies:
VU4RBI - 7075, 14250, 21240, 18130, 24930 and 28430 kHz
VU4NRO - 14190 kHz
Only the 5 operators are licensed to operate on these bands, and they will be listening up 5 or 10 kHz on each band. These above frequencies are still not written in stone, and it is recommanded to also watch QSNs on your local/telnet cluster. Reportedly, the team has one beam installed without a rotor.
Charles Harpole, K4VUD, will be traveling to Andaman Isalnds and should be there on December 14th. However, he states that he will be there as a tourist to photograph and video the VU4 Dxpedition. As a non-India citizen, Charles does not have an operating permit for that location. He does hold a one-year India license, VU3CHE, but it is licensed for operations in New Delhi ONLY. Charles does state that he will carry all the advice (he has received) on operating practices and propagation openings to the team." He will be there for 2 weeks. Charles also mentioned this past week that the reason the team is not using the announced frequencies has to do with "unusual odd noise QRM" on these intended operating frequencies. Remember, the NIAR is the ultimate source for news of this operation. Their Web is:
ZF2, CAYMAN ISLANDS
Jim, N6TJ, will be active as ZF2TJ in the ARRL DX
CW Contest (February 19-20th) as a Single-Op/All-Band/High-Power entry.
Activity will be from ZF2NT's QTH. QSL via VE3HO.
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