The Ohio/Penn Dx PacketCluster
DX Bulletin No. 1075.1
BID: $OPDX.1075.1
August 21, 2012
Editor Tedd Mirgliotta, KB8NW
Provided by BARF80.ORG (Cleveland, Ohio)

Thanks to the Northern Ohio Amateur Radio Society, Northern Ohio DX Association, Ohio/Penn PacketCluster Network, AB5K & the AR TelNet Clusters Network, Craig/K9CT, Joe/W8GEX and ZL9HR team for the following DX information.

NH8, SWAINS ISLAND (Press Release)
The following press release was sent out on August 22ndt [edited]:

" Swains press release # 3 Aug. 22 2012 -- The leaders are happy to report that the DXpedition cargo has arrived in American Samoa. The international team of 20 operators are excited about this tent and generator operation. The island ranks number 31 in the DX Magazine most wanted list. Swains is about one mile in circumference has only five permanent residents and no infrastructure.

The team will be running seven stations from 6 to 160 including 60m. They will be on CW, SSB and RTTY around the clock for 14 days. Great emphasis will be in working European stations. Plans are to update logs on a daily basis by satellite phone. Because there is no regular internet service, the team will have two pilot stations. Valerie, NV9L, will be the North American pilot while Col, MM0NDX, will do the honors for Europe. They and John/K6MM, the webmaster, will be the only contact to the team for their 14 day stay.

Due to changes in airline flights, they are now scheduled to depart American Samoa on Sept. 4th, for the 23 hour boat ride to Swains. Every- thing will then be off loaded and taken ashore by a small boat. Along with the radio equipment, antennas, food, and tents, are 19 drums of gasoline for the seven generators.

The team of highly experienced DXers, contesters and Dxpeditioners are 9V1FJ, AA4NN, DJ2VO, DL3DXX, K5AB, K9CS, K9CT, K9NW, N2TU, N4HH, N6HC, N6HD, NA6M, ND2T, SM5AQD, W6KK, W8GEX, W8HC, W8TN and WB9Z. There have been several requests to listen into the general band, so please listen to the operator's instructions.

We are most grateful to NCDXF, INDEXA, and all clubs and individuals who have supported us. Like all major DXpeditions today, this is a very expensive trip. Total costs are estimated to be 200,000 USDs. Each member has paid 8000 USDs, plus his cost to get to American Samoa. Anyone who wants to help, can go to our website, and click on the donations link. We are most appreciative to any and all DXers that contribute to help defray the cost of the trip.

OQSL is available on the website for your convenience. QSL manager for cards is Joe Blackwell, AA4NN, and requests should be sent to him at:
Swains Island DXpedition
P.O. Box 5005
Lake Wylie, SC 29710
USA

LoTW will be posted six months following the DXpedition.

We would like to give special thanks to our support crew who has worked very hard for us. They include DL9RCF, I8NHJ, K6MM, MM0NDX, N1DG, N4XP, N7CQQ, NV9L, W6XA, W8AEF, W8CAA and Margarett Blackwell XYL of AA4NN.

The website www.nh8s.org provides more details.

Craig, K9CT
Joe, W8GEX
Co-Leaders"

"Thanks for your interest in the upcoming ZL9HR DX-pedition to Campbell Island.

At this writing we are on schedule and the project planning is well underway. The team is busily working on all aspects of the DX-pedition. As you may know, we have the landing permit in-hand and also the radio license / call sign.

Some examples of what’s happening behind the curtain at the moment include:
- Station location (as defined by the permit)
- Antenna placement planning (as defined by the permit)
- Discussions on propagation behavior and how we will adjust for conditions
- Operator mode preference
- Equipment testing and preparation for sea shipment
- Contract finalization with the boat that will take us to Campbell Island
- Generator testing (state-of-the-art Yamaha machines) and their preparation for shipment
- Petrol estimates (for generators), procurement, and planning for sea transit
- Preparation and submission of the required DX Team Safety and Communic- ations plans to the New Zealand Department of Conservation (DoC)
- Coordination of team arrival in NZ, hotels and local transportation to and from boat at Bluff, NZ
- A DoC requirement for landing on Campbell Island is each team member must have emergency medical evacuation insurance (purchased by the individual team members)
- Up-front payments and deposits
- Scheduled the quarantine inspection (All of our gear must be unpacked (then repacked) for inspection before departing NZ)
- We're beginning to receive donations from the major DX Foundations, DX Clubs and individuals from around the world.

With the individual operators funding the up-front cost of the DX- pedition and their personal travel / living and while in NZ we will continue to seek assistance from the global DX-community.

We appreciate the interest and support from the global amateur community and especially from the:
• Northern California DX Foundation;
• The American Radio Relay League’s Colvin Award Committee;
• The German DX Foundation, and
• The Lone Star (Texas) DX Association

Each who have made significant contributions, and the other clubs and individuals who provided financial support.

Our major corporate sponsor, to date, is Spiderbeam.

Of course, the overall sponsor of this DX-pedition is the Hellenic Amateur Radio Association of Australia who is providing nearly all of the equipment that will be used on Campbell Island.

We'd be remiss if we didn't recognize the New Zealand Department of Conservation for their support of this DX-pedition. The DoC is permitting us to use several of the existing buildings which will provide shelter from the weather which we expect to be cool, windy and wet.

Our QSL policy, as described on the QSL Page, should satisfy the DX community:
• On-line uploads via satellite phone to ClubLog
• LoTW upload shortly after the DX-pedition
• LoTW confirmations at no charge for all contacts, no restrictions
• OQRS will be available at a reasonable donation to cover mailing expenses
• Direct QSLs with envelope $2USD, (1 IRC + 1 USD) or 1 Euro for all destinations
• Buro cards to EB7DX at no charge

QSLing doesn't get any better than this!

Our goal is to give out as many All Time New Ones as humanly possible and to fill as many band slots as we can.

Thanks again for your interest and support. We’ll update you again next month.

73, ZL9HR team"

PLEASE NOTICE (as of February 12, 2007), NEW ADDRESS CHANGES FOR THE OPDX INTERNET HELP/SUBSCRIBE/UNSUBSCRIBE REQUEST:

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ALSO VISIT THE NORTERN OHIO DX ASSOCIATION'S WEB HOME PAGE:
http://www.nodxa.org

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