The Ohio/Penn Dx PacketCluster
DX Bulletin No. 698
BID: $OPDX.698
February 21, 2005
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, ARRL Web Page, K1XN & GoList, KA3QLF, NG3K, W3UR & The Daily DX, N4AA & QRZ DX, W4WX, K5LBU, NA5U, K8YSE, 9K2HN, DK7LX, DL1EK & The DX News Letter, DL0PAF, F5CWU & La Gazette du DX, F5NQL & UFT, G3SWH, I1JQJ/IK1ADH & 425 DX News, I1HYW, IZ8BRI, IZ8CCW, JA1BK, J6KVR & JA-IOTA Islands News, JE2EHP, LU7EH, M5AAV, OE3EPW, VA3RJ & ICPO, VE7SV and VK3DYL for the following DX information.

DXCC COUNTRY/ENTITY REPORT
According to the AR-Cluster Network for the week of Sunday, 13th/February, through Sunday, 20th/February there were 228 countries active. Countries available: 1S, 3B8, 3B9, 3D2, 3D2/r, 3DA, 3V, 3W, 4J, 4L, 4S, 4X, 5B, 5N, 5R, 5T, 5V, 5Z, 6W, 6Y, 7Q, 7X, 8P, 8R, 9A, 9G, 9H, 9J, 9K, 9M2, 9M6, 9N, 9Q, 9V, 9Y, A2, A3, A4, A6, A7, A9, AP, BV, BY, C3, C6, CE, CE0A, CE0Y, CE9, CM, CN, CP, CT, CT3, CU, CX, D2, D4, DL, DU, EA, EA6, EA8, EA9, EI, EK, 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, HA, HB, HB0, HC, HI, HK, HK0/a, HL, HP, HR, HS, HZ, I, IS, J2, J5, J6, J7, J8, JA, JD/m, JD/o, JT, JW, K, 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, PY0F, PZ, S5, S7, S9, SM, SP, ST, SU, SV, SV/a, SV5, SV9, T32, T5, T7, T9, TA, TF, TG, TI, TI9, TJ, TK, TR, TT, TU, TY, UA, UA2, UA9, UK, UN, UR, V2, V3, V4, V5, V7, V8, VE, VK, VK0M, VK9L, VK9N, VK9X, VP2E, VP2M, VP5, VP8, VP8/h, VP9, VQ9, VR, VU, XE, XU, XW, XX9, 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).

NEWS FLASH (Possible New One!)
Members of the American Samoa Amateur Radio Association (ASARA) have announced a DXpedition to Swains Island (IOTA OC-200) to take place March 2-6th.

Operators will be Kan/JA1BK, John/K1ER/KH6, Tet/JH1JGX/AH7C, Yuichi/JR2KDN, Paul/F6EXV, Jim/N9TK and Burt/W0MY (ex-W0RLX). The callsign will be KH8SI. Activity will be on 160-10 meters on the usual DX and IOTA frequencies. Modes will be CW, SSB and RTTY. Pilot base stations are: AH8LG, WA2MOE, JE2EHP and KH6BZF. QSL Manager will be VE3HO. The DXpedition's support team is: Yaesu, Steppir, JH1BUO and WD4NGB.

The original ASARA project team members; JA1BK, AH8LG, K1ER, KH6BZF, K5FUV, W1RU, WA2MOE and AH7C, believe Swain Island, a privately owned island which is part of American Samoa, has a sufficient distance from Tutuila (where Pago Pago is located) to qualify as a new DXCC entity - per the original DXCC2000 Criteria. They also believe the island falls into the same category as Chesterfield, Ducie, and the Australes and Marquesas. The American Samoa's Amateur Radio Association had applied for membership in the IARU under Article II, paragraph 2. of the IARU Constitution, which states, "There shall be only one Member-Society representing a country or separate territory." American Samoa, is in fact, a separate territory of the United States, and is thus eligible. However, the ARRL Board of Directors in January 2004 removed paragraph 1.c) from the DXCC criteria for determining a DXCC Entity. This provision, implemented in 1998 as part of the DXCC 2000 Program, had provided that "An Entity will be added to the DXCC List as a Political Entity if it ...has a separate IARU Member Society." For more details, maps and pictures, we "highly" suggest that DXers visit the following Web page:

3DA, SWAZILAND (Update)
Frosty, K5LBU, reports that he is still looking for anyone who would like to join with him on another trip to Swaziland. He plans on arriving on the 8th of July at Johannesburg. Daniel, ZS6JR, will meet him there, and along with anyone else who would like to be a part of this trip. The 9th and 10 will be the weekend of the IARU Contest. If 6 more operators will join him, they will be able to put up 2 stations (one on CW and one on SSB). There is also a great demand for 6 meter signals from there. The only thing a person would need to bring is their paddle as there are 2 HF rigs there (one is a MP1000 the other is a IC765).

There are 2 amplifiers (a TL922 and a Tokyo High Power HL1K). Also, there are beams and vertical antennas, even one for 160 and 80 meters. The cost for the land part is 225.00 USD per day which covers the transportation from the airport and back, 3 meals a day and your room. They will leave Johannesburg on the 18th of July, so this is a 10 day trip. Frosty will be in Visalia with Andre, ZS6WPX, if you would like to talk to him about the trip. His E-mail address is: frosty1@pdq.net His Web pages are: http://www.k5lbu.com

3Y0X, PETER I ISLAND (Op Postponed until 2006!)
The following press release was sent out February 27th by Team co-leaders Ralph Fedor/K0IR and Bob Allphin/K4UEE:

"PRESS RELEASE #14 - I am afraid we have bad news. At 1 AM local time today we learned that our charter vessel, the Cavendish Sea, had not yet sailed from the port of Comodoro Rivadavia. The Cavendish Sea was to sail to Ushuaia to pick up the Dxpedtion team and their equipment on Friday, Feb 18th. We were to sail before noon.

Because they have delayed their arrival until Sunday, and with a projected Monday departure, we have simply run out time. This latest delay on top of numerous previous delays, simply makes it impossible for us to spend a sufficient amount of time on Peter I to justify the DXpedition this year.

So, we have no choice but to postpone the DXpedition until 2006. We believe it is essential to allow enough time on Peter I to justify the monetary investment made by the team members, our sponsors, individual contributors, DX Clubs, DX Foundations.

After having the first vessel, the Antarctic Dream, default on their contract with us, then the helicopter company default on their contract and then after putting everything back together with an new boat and helicopter on this past Tuesday, the team has been on quite an emotional rollercoaster. Our sincerest thanks to everyone for the encouragement and support you offered us during this time....."

5T0, MAURITANIA
Operators Phil/G3SWH, Jim/G3RTE, Jean/ON8RA, Harry/ON4HVO and Nicolas/5T5SN will be active as 5T0CW from Nuachachott, between February 24th and March 4th. Activity will be on CW and SSB on all bands 160-6 meters. Propagation permitting, they plan to have at least one station on the air on a 24 hours a day basis. QSL via G3SWH, either direct with SAE and return postage, via E-mail for a bureau reply or via the bureau. Phil's E-mail address is: phil@g3swh.demon.co.uk

9K44, KUWAIT (Special Event)
Every year on February 25-26th, the state of Kuwait celebrates its "National and Liberation Day". The Kuwait Amateur Radio Society (KARS) will celebrate this occasion by using the special callsign 9K44NLD. Operation will be from KARS's HQs. Contacts may be conducted on any amateur band and on any mode. The event will start at 0000z on February 25th and will end at 2359z on Monday, February 28th. Special QSL cards will be issued. QSL via 9K2RR: Faisal Al-Ajmi, P.O.BOX 1124, 80000 AL-FARWANIA, KUWAIT.

ANTARCTICA NEWS
The 2nd ANTARCTIC ACTIVITY WEEK will start this week and will take place between February 21-27th. Details and a list of stations to be active are available at: http://www.ddxc.net/wap

Bhagwathi, VU3BPZ, is now active from Maiti Base (WAP IND-03). Listen for him between 1830-1930z on 14150 kHz.

W.A.P. Antarctic News and Bulletins are available on the WAP Web site at: http://www.ddxc.net/wap/boll_anno.php

C6, BAHAMAS
Dave, G4WFQ, will be active as C6AWF from Treasure Cay, Abaco Island (NA-080), April 15-29th. Activity will be on 80-10 meters, including the WARC bands, mostly CW and RTTY, with some SSB. Online logs and a log upload to LoTW will be available after the operation. QSL via G3SWH, direct or by the bureau.

CORRECTIONS TO OPDX.697
We have a few corrections to report in last week's bulletin. Under the three headings "9Y4, TRINDADE AND TOBAGO" the correct spelling for the header should have been "9Y4, TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO". Also, under the heading "P4, ARUBA", John's, KK9A, correct QSL route for his P40A contest operations is WD9DZV (not WD9DZU as listed).

IOTA NEWS

EU-042. Georg, DK7LX, will be active as DK7LX/P from Pellworm Island, March 6-10th (possibly longer). Activity will be mainly on 80/40/30/20 on CW, possibly some SSB too. He will be looking for NA on 80/40 meters during the evenings. He hopes to have picture QSLs available as soon as possible after his return back home. QSL via the bureau is "OK" or direct. If you QSL direct, please use 1 USD for EU and 2 USD for outside EU. If sending IRCs, please make sure to use "NEW" IRCs only.

NA-062. Bodo, DL3OCH, will be active as W4/DL3OCH from Key West (USI FL-040S, Monroe County), Florida, between February 25th and March 6th. Activity will be on 40-10 meters CW only. Bodo also hopes to activate some other Florida islands during his stay. QSL via his home callsign, direct or by the bureau.

OC-220. Operators Peter/VK3QI, Keith/VK3FT, Jack/VK3WWW and Max/VK3WT are expected to activate the South Australia West Group, St. Peter Island, Nuyts Archipelago, commencing early Thursday, April 7th and concluding at 2100z Monday, April 11th. This will be a special event commemorating the 350th anniversary of the death of Pieter Nuyts, the Dutch East India Company man and sometime explorer, who died in 1655. St. Peter Island is part of a closely protected Conservation Park and also part of a greater Ecological Restoration of Endangered Species Program by South Australia Parks and Wildlife. A permit has been obtained for 4 operators to land and operate for a limited period. Operating dates/times are dependant on weather conditions which can be unpredictable at any time of the year. Activity will be on CW/SSB on the usual IOTA frequencies. Emphasis will be on 30 and 40 meters CW and 20, 17 and 15 meters SSB. A special commemorative callsign has been applied for, and they are particularly interested in having contacts with as many Dutch stations as possible. QSL via VK3QI, direct (any callbook) or via VK3 QSL bureau.

KH6, HAWAII
Yoshi, JE2EHP, will be active as K1HP/KH6 from Oahu between March 25-28th. Activity will be on 80-6 meters CW/SSB. QSL via the Bureau to JE2EHP.

KP1/KP5 - PROJECT NEWS
The following was received from Mike, NA5U:

"DXers, contesters, and other interested hams, The KP1/5 Project Team in conjunction with the Lone Star DX Association wants to let you know that the effort to gain access to Navassa and Desecheo Islands has begun again. You will recall that Representative Nick Rahall(D-W.Va.) introduced H.R. 5361 in the 108th Congress. The bill has now been introduced in the 109th Congress and its number is H.R. 298. Fortunately, it is again a bipartisan bill with co-sponsorship by Representative Richard Pombo (R-Calif.). This bill requires the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to allow public access to the islands, which would open the door to Amateur Radio expeditions. As before and even more now, we need your help to ensure passage of this Bill in the House of Representatives. You can help by contacting your representative and encourage them to support H.R. 298 and become a co-sponsor. If you are not sure who or how to contact your representative, go to http://www.house.gov/writerep/. Be sure to use your 9-digit zip code to ensure that you find the right representative.

It is very important to use that same 9-digit zip code in your correspondence so that your representative knows that you are their constituent. You can find your 9-digit zip code by going to http://zip4.usps.com/zip4/welcome.jsp. Also, remember that emails are fine and please follow-up with a telephone call to ensure your request is being acted on. Insist on a point of contact for you to follow-up with. If you need assistance determining who your Congressman is or your correct 9-digit zip code, contact us at KP1-5@DXer.org.

There is another very important date coming in April. The KP1/5 Team will be traveling to Washington, D.C. to make a presentation on Capitol Hill. The purpose of the presentation is to educate our legislators about the Amateur Radio Service, highlight the importance of Amateur Radio and the vital role it plays in national and worldwide communications, and of course focus on the facts surrounding the Fish and Wildlife Service's unjustified closure of Desecheo and Navassa to Amateur Radio DXers and contesters. The presentation will take place on April 8th in the Longworth House Office Building. Your representative can contact Representative Rahall and Pombo's offices for the exact time and location. In summary, we are asking that you contact your Representative as soon as possible and ask them to support H.R. 298, co-sponsor the Bill, and finally encourage them or their staff to attend the briefing on Capitol Hill on April 8th. A sample letter to legislators, news updates and information about the KP1/5 Project can be found at www.KP1-5.com. Please feel free to pass this information on to anyone who does not have electronic access and may be interested or can help."

OFFICERS FOR 2005
The following were elected on February 11th to be the new 2005 executives of the British Columbia DX Club (VE7RX/VE7RDX):

        President....................Steve Wright, VE7CT
        Vice President...............Jason Timmis, VE7AG
        Secretary....................Gordon Hamilton, VE7ON
        Treasurer....................Jim Sillet, VE7WG

QSL INFO AND NEWS
NEED A QSL MANAGER? Scott, KA3QLF, is interested in volunteering to become a QSL Manager. He states, "I have no special requests or conditions, I just want to lend a QSLing hand to all." His E-mail address is: petty@teisprint.net

NEED A QSL MANAGER? Graham, M5AAV, would like to offer his services as QSL Manager. He is currently the QSL Manager for G6PZ, GB6MD, Z21KF, TX4PG, ZK3SB and 6O0CW. If interested, please E-mail him at: m5aav@zetnet.co.uk

NOT THE QSL MANAGER. Maurice, F5NQL, reports that he continues to receive QSL cards for the following stations which he is not the QSL Manager for. Here are the stations which he receives cards for with the correct QSL routes:

   5V7C     via F5TVG     HW6SIA   via F5SM     TM5SM     via F5SM
   9Q/F5LTB via F5LTB     HY3SIA   via F5SM     TM5SRA    via F5SM
   F5KCC    via F5LBR     HY5SIA   via F5SM     TM60SA    via F6GXL
   F8UFT    via F6ICG     TM5AUX   via F5SM     TM6BFY    via F5NII
   HW1SIA   via F5SM      TM5SIA   via F2WS     TM7OXR    via F2WS
   HW5SIA   via F5SM      TM5SIR   via F5SM     TM9AF     via F5SM

ADDED NOTES: Maurice, F5NQL, does have a QSL Manager. QSLs for his current callsign, his previous callsigns (FB1NQL, F89/FB1NQL, FD1NQL, F1NQL, FBC1NQL) and all of his portable operations go via F3GJ. Also, QSL cards for F5MCC, and his previous callsigns (FA1MCC, F1MCC, F89/FD1MCC, FD1MCC, FBC5MCC) and his portable IOTA operations from Corsica should go via F3GJ.

PLEASE REMOVE QSL MANAGER. Bill, W4WX, reports that he received a call from Mrs. Vance LePierre, and she has asked him to pass along her thanks for the sympathy cards received. He also mentions, "Maybe you guys can pass this along in your bulletins, magazine, etc. For those that maintain QSL manager list please delete N5VL as any manger." Vance, N5VL, became a Silent Key on January 25th.

Fabio, LU7EH, in San Pedro, Buenos Aires, Argentina, informs OPDX that starting February QSL cards for him should be sent via EA7FTR.

QSL ZL1V via N3SL. Activity was by Chris, ZL1CT, during the ARRL DX CW Contest.

SHORTWAVE DX HANDBOOK
Last week we mentioned that the highly successful "Kurzwellen DX-Handbuch" by Enrico Stumpf-Siering, DL2VFR, originally published in German in June 2003, is now available in English. Several have asked "Where can I get the book?". We recommand checking out the following Web page at:

SPECIAL EVENT
Peter, OE3EPW, President of the Austrian Military Radio Society "AMRS" (the local HAM radio organization within the Austrian Armed Forces), informs OPDX that the AMRS will use a special callsign during the Biathlon World Championship in March from Hochfilzen in Tirol. Look for OE7XBH/WM05 to be on the air from 2300z, March 3rd to 2300z March 13th. Activity will be on all bands 160-2 meters, SSB, CW, FM and some SSTV. QSL via the bureau to OE7SPI. ADDED NOTES: The station itself is located at a military training range of the Austrian Armed Forces in HOCHFILZEN and located at the HQ of the Biathlon organization. The "WM" in the callsign is the abbreviation of the German word "WELTMEISTERSCHAFT" (in English "World Championship").

SPECIAL EVENT
Gwen, VK3DYL, informs OPDX that a special event station will be active to celebrate the 10th annual running of the Australian Formula 1 Grand Prix in Melbourne, and it will be on the air March 4-7th. This station will be activated by members of the Eastern and Mountain District Radio Club Inc. using the club's callsign, VK3ER. QSL direct to the callbook address (P.O. Box 87, Mitcham, Vic. 3132, Australia) with self addressed envelope and sufficient return postage (no old IRCs accepted) or via the VK3 Bureau. No e-QSLs.

T49, CUBA
Members of the Federacion de Radioaficionados de Cuba (FRC) will be active as T49C during the ARRL DX SSB Contest (March 5-6th) as a Multi-Multi entry. Operators mentioned are: CO2OJ, CO2WF, CO2II, CO2UG, CM2OY, CM2CE, CM2KL and OK1DTP. QSL via K8SIX. For more info, visit the Web page at:

TP1, FRANCE (Special Event)
The Council of Europe Radio Club in Strasbourg will be activate by four YLs using the callsign TP1CE from March 4-6th. Activity is to celebrate "International Woman Day" (March 8th). The four YLs are all from Germany. The group received an invitation to operate as TP1CE on all bands on SSB, CW and RTTY. Operators Annemarie/DJ0FR, Erna/DL1PT and Thea/DH4TS will be the SSB-operators and Anni/DL3DBY will work also on CW. PLEASE be patient - not all of them have real pile-up experience. QSL via F5LGF, direct or by the bureau.

V26, ANTIGUA
Ed, N2ED, a member of Team Antigua, is now active as V26G until February 25th. He was also active this past week in the ARRL DX CW Contest. Look for activity on the WARC Bands. QSL V26G via N2ED.

V47, ST. KITTS (Additional)
John/K3TEJ will be active as V4/K3TEJ until February 22nd. Activity will be on CW on 160 meters and the WARC bands. QSL via K3TEJ. He also participated in the ARRL DX CW Contest this past weekend as V47KP in the Multi-2 category. QSL via K2SB for V47KP.

WRTC-2006 NEWS (Web site open!)
The ARRL Web page reports:

"World Radiosport Team Championship 2006 (WRTC-2006), which will take place in Brazil in conjunction with the Liga de Amadores de Radio Emissao (LABRE) and the Araucaria DX Group (GADX), now has an official Web site. Although some sections remain under construction, the site does include draft rules, still subject to final approval. Following in the footsteps of previous WRTC competitions held in Seattle, San Francisco, Slovenia, and Finland, the WRTC showcases Amateur Radio competition at its highest level, pitting two-person teams of the world's top operators for the gold, silver and bronze. WRTC 2006 will take place July 7-10 in the vicinity of Florianopolis, the capital of Santa Catarina State in Southern Brazil. Atilano de Oms, PY5EG, heads the WRTC 2006 Steering Committee. The WRTC brings competitors together in a single geographical area. The on-the-air portion of the event is held in conjunction with the International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) HF World Championship, although WRTC rules differ in some respects from those of the IARU event, and scoring is done separately. WRTC stations run 100 W and have comparably modest antenna systems-- typically a dipole for the low bands and a triband Yagi for the higher bands. The idea is to minimize the variables associated with radio contesting, thereby emphasizing each team's operating skills. The contesting duo of Jeff Steinman, N5TJ, and Dan Street, K1TO, took home the WRTC gold for the third time in the 2002 event in Finland. Teams have not yet been announced for the 2006 event."

ZD8, ASCENSION ISLAND
Andy, G0JLX, will be leaving for ZD8-land on February 24th for 3 and a half weeks. He will be there until the March 21st. He has requested the callsign ZD8AD (his initials). His operating time will be limited to a couple of hours in the evenings during week days, and he states that the weekends are a whole different matter..... Andy will be using a FT-897D (running 100w) and a G5RV on HF and 50 MHz. QSL via his home callsign and by the bureau.

ZK1, NORTH COOK ISLANDS (Op Cancelled)
The team of operators on South Cook Island have cancelled their February 17-24th operation to Manihiki Atoll due to cyclone activity. The team is very disappointed in the decision but safety comes first. Operators will stay on Aitutaki (South Cook Islands) and will continue to operate as ZK1SDE, ZK1SDZ, ZK1WET and ZK1XMY until March 3rd.

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