The Ohio/Penn Dx PacketCluster
DX Bulletin No. 591
BID: $OPDX.591
December 23, 2002
Editor Tedd Mirgliotta, KB8NW
Provided by BARF-80 BBS Cleveland, Ohio
Online at 440-237-8208 28.8k-1200 Baud 8/N/1

SPECIAL NOTE FROM YOUR EDITOR
I guess many of you were very surprised (as were my family, friends and myself) when you first heard your editor was going to have unexpected open heart surgery on December 7th. This actually all began during the first full week of November (Friday the 8th) with a simple "stress test" which finally lead to a heart catheterization. During the time between my operation and the stress test I learned one very important health fact: Diabetics (which I am) usually do not feel heart pain. Also, between the time of my stress test and operation, I have been asked by several doctors the question: "DO YOU FEEL ANY HEART PAIN OR HAVE YOU EVER FELT HEART PAIN?" My answer was always NO! However, the heart catheterization showed something that I was not feeling. I had four blockages in the left anterior descending artery (some 70-80% and some 80-90%), however, the heart muscle and the other two arteries were in good shape. Four stents could have been put in but the doctor felt they would not last and my best option was bypass surgery. A rare Saturday morning operation was done on me to correct the problem. I had a double bypass on the one artery (a vein taken from my left leg and an antery from by chest area). The impression before and after the operation I received from all the doctors and nurses was that I was a walking time bomb. Just think, the week before the operation I was shoveling show, climbing my tower and working hard at work unloading and climbing railroad cars (I work at a lumberyard).

Let me say that I am fine now. I have lost some 22 pounds and naturally I am weak and tired, but I am recovering very well (because I am 50 years young) according to the doctor. This operation has done a lot to me phyically, mentally and emotionally. My wife (Linda) was especially a real big help and strong during all this, as my brother-in-law and his wife. I also want to thank the MANY who E-mailed me get well wishes, cards and flowers. Believe me the E-mail was overwhelming (over 12 meg when I returned home) which included some 300 get well wishes. It took me four days to catch-up on all the E-mail. It was truly touching, and I did not realize how many friends I have throughout the ham community. Thank you all. Also, a special to John/K8YSE, Carl/K8AV and Dave/WB8APD for keeping the DX community informed about my condition.

Finally, my family (wife/OPDX's chief proof-reader Linda, Teddy [TJ], Katie) and I (KB8NW) would like to wish all DXers, Contesters and OPDX readers a very "Happy Holiday and Season's Greetings". Also, we would like thank the many who have contributed information over the year (there are too many to list). REMEMBER, without them there would not be an OPDX Bulletin. I would also like to thank the many who sent holiday greetings. I tried to answer some and wished I could answer each one of them individually, but it would take a huge amount of time.....

P.S. Now for a little DX. I hope to be in the full swing of things next week..........

DXCC COUNTRY/ENTITY REPORT
According to the AR-Cluster Network for the week of Sunday, 15/December, through Sunday, 22/December there were 225 countries active. Countries available: 3A, 3B8, 3DA, 3V, 3W, 4J, 4L, 4S, 4U1I, 4W, 4X, 5B, 5H, 5N, 5R, 5U, 5V, 5W, 5X, 5Z, 6W, 6Y, 7P, 7Q, 7X, 8P, 8R, 9A, 9G, 9H, 9J, 9K, 9L, 9M2, 9M6, 9N, 9Q, 9V, 9Y, A2, A3, A4, A6, A7, A9, AP, BV, BY, C6, CE, CE0A, CE9, CM, CN, CP, CT, CT3, CU, CX, D2, D4, D6, 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, H4, HA, HB, HC, HH, HI, HK, HK0/a, HL, HP, HR, HS, HZ, I, IS, J3, J6, J7, JA, JT, JW, JY, K, KG4, KH0, KH2, KH3, KH6, KH8, KL, KP2, KP4, LA, LU, LX, LY, LZ, OA, OD, OE, OH, OH0, OK, OM, ON, OY, OZ, P4, PA, PJ2, PJ7, PY, PY0F, PZ, S2, S5, S9, SM, SP, ST, SU, SV, SV5, SV9, T7, T8, T9, TA, TF, TG, TI, TI9, TK, TN, TR, TT, TU, TY, UA, UA2, UA9, UK, UN, UR, V2, V3, V4, V5, V7, V8, VE, VK, VK9N, VP2E, VP2M, VP2V, VP5, VP8/h, VP8/o, VQ9, VR, VU, XE, XT, XU, XW, XX9, YA, YB, 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. As always, you never know - "Work First Worry Later" (WFWL).

3C, EQUATORIAL GUINEA
Alan, G3XAQ, informs OPDX that he will be visiting Malabo between January 9-21st. He expects to operate 160-10 meters (especially LF CW) with a K2/100 and wire antennas. Callsign 3C5XA has been requested. QSL direct to G3XAQ CBA.

4W, EAST TIMOR
Earlier announcements of Dan Holloway, VK8AN, planning to be active as 4W6AN have been put on hold. Alan, VK4AAR, informs OPDX a new operation is planned, and he will advise us later on the details. He is sorry for the inconvenience.

5R8, MADAGASCAR
Ake, 5R8FU, has recently been active on top band as well as 80 meters. Watch 1834 or 1836 kHz after 0150z through his sunrise and then he will move to 80 meters (around 3513 kHz until about 0245z). QSL via SM5DJZ.

9G, GHANA
Arno/DL1CW and Andy/DL3GA plan to be active from Cape Coast from February 5-18th. The requested callsigns are 9G5AP (DL1CW) and 9G5GA (DL3GA), there is no confirmation for these callsign yet. Activity will be on 80-10 meters, including the WARC bands, and hopefully 6m, on modes CW, RTTY and some SSB. Participation in the contests WPX (RTTY) and ARRL-DX (CW) is also planned.

9N, NEPAL
Hugo, LA5YJ, is now active as 9N7YJ and is staying in Kathmandu. He is expected to stay through February. He was heard on 30 meters usually after 0100z. QSL via LA5YJ, direct ONLY.

9N, NEPAL
Just a reminder! By the time you read this Kiyo, JH3PAS, should be back in Katmandu and active as 9N7AS until December 30th. Also, look for Kazu, JA8MWU, to be active from the capital city as 9N7WU between December 30th and January 6th. Both operators plan to be active on 160-6 meters. 9N7AS will operate SSB, CW, RTTY and PSK31, and 9N7WU will be mainly on SSB only. QSL direct to their home callsigns or to the JARL QSL Bureau.

JH3PAS - Kiyotaka Ichikawa, 1-74-3 Issiki-Nishi Hiraoka, Kakogawa, 675-0117 Japan
JA8MWU - Kazunori Abe, 12-5-9, 7-Jyo, Kagura, Asahikawa, 070-8007 Japan.

ANTARCTIC TRIP
Reports indicate that Martin, G3ZAY, is currently in route to be on a 3 week trip to the Falklands, South Georgia, South Orkneys, South Shetlands and Antarctic Peninsula. The exact landing dates and spots/bases will be determined by weather and ice conditions. No special callsigns were mentioned, but you may hear him from time to time signing VP8DFK.

DXCC NEWS
Bill Moore, NC1L, ARRL DXCC Manager, reports that the following operations are approved for DXCC credit:
BQ9P - Pratas Island (June 2002 operation). Please Note: Some may have had this rejected in a recent submission. If so, send an E-mail to dxcc@arrl.org to have your record updated.
3XY7C - Guinea (2002 Operation)

HG03, HUNGARY (Special Prefix)
Tibor, HG4I, informs OPDX that he will be using the special callsign HG03HNY between December 20th and January 12th. The special event callsign HG03HNY stands for: the 03 is the call area and the HNY suffix is the abbreviation of the phrase Happy New Year. Activity will be on all HF bands (including WARC bands) and 2 meters on the following modes: CW, RTTY, BPSK, SSB, (FM on 29 MHz and 2m). He will try to take a part in all HF contests during the activity period. The stations are valid as a separate multiplier in the HA-HNY activity contest (rules see on SM3CER contest sevice web site: http://www.sk3bg.se ) QSL via only direct (SASE) to HG4I: Mr Tibor Szabo, A.R.S. HG4I, H-2465 Rackeresztur, Budai u. 6., Hungary. ADDED NOTE: The special QSLs are ready to send. Please send the QSLs for former HG01HNY and HG02HNY to the same address above.

HS0, THAILAND
Charly, K4VUD, is once again here visiting his wife's mother and father near Bangkkok. He is signing HS0ZCW and will stay until Janaury 3rd. He has been heard on 15 and 40 meters over the past week.

IOTA NEWS
AS-079. Takeshi (TAKE), JI3DST, will be active as JI3DST/6 from Miyako Island from December 28th through January 5th. Activity will be on 40/17/15/12/10/6 meters SSB. Take likes you to QSL via the JARL Bureau. For direct cards, send to: Takeshi Funaki, 2-18-26 Hannan-cho Abeno-ku Osaka-city, OSAKA 545-0021 JAPAN.

AS-084. Han, HL1VAU informs OPDX that a group of HL operators (PDXC members who activated AS-093 on Apr.2002) are planning their 3rd IOTA activity from Chu'Ja Islands. Activity is expected around the 4th weekend of March. More details are forthcoming.

EU-004. Christian, DL6KAC, will be active as EA6/DL6KAC from Mallorca Island (DIE: E-021) starting December 25th until January 9th. Activity will be on 80-10 meters mainly on SSB. He will use dipoles on the high bands and an Inverted L for 40/80 meters using only 350 watts. This will be a holiday style operation. QSL via DARC bureau or direct to the address on QRZ.com.

OC-203. Steve, G4EDG, will be activating one of the more rarer New Zealand IOTA numbers in January 2003. He will be active from Stewart Island as ZL4/G4EDG from late January 17th for approximately 4 full days. Steve will be active on CW only and running only 100w with a YAESU FT900 (kindly donated by YAESU to ZL4HU some years back for this type of operation). Steve will be active mostly on 20 meters. Steve is a noted operator and one of the ZL7 team. QSL via his home callsign G4EDG, either direct or through the G4 bureau.

KH0, MARIANA ISLANDS
Nozomu, JE8KKX, will be active from Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands (OC-086) as AH2K/KH0 from December 28-30th. Activity will be on 40-6 meters, RTTY. QSL via JE8KKX direct with a SASE (or JARL Bureau is OK) to: Nozomu Takahashi, 2-5 5-chome 18-jo Toko, Asahikawa, Hokkaido, 078-8358 JAPAN. NOTICE!! Please DO NOT send QSL to KH2 BUREAU or the Guam address!!

KP2, U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS
John Walker, WZ8D, informs OPDX that he and Joe Pater, W8GEX, are heading back to the Caribbean December 30th through January 8th. They are staying at Windwood on St. Croix (IOTA NA-106 and Grid Sq. FK-77). They have been issued the call N8Z. They will operate 160-6 meters on CW, SSB and PSK. QSL to WZ8D (SASE PSE or IRC and SAE).

LIGHTHOUSE ACTIVITY
The Central Texas Contest Group, WA5DTK, will be active between 0001 December 21st and 1159z December 31st from various lighthouses located in Texas. No other specifics were given. Look for them on 7260, 14270 and 21310 kHz. QSL via Barry Brewer, 603 Broken Bow Drive, Round Rock, Texas 78681, USA.

NEW OFFICERS FOR 2003
Members of the NorthEast Wisconsin DX Association serving NorthEast Wisconsin and Upper Michigan elected the following officers for 2003:

  George Croy, W9MDP     - President
  Mark Michel, W9OP      - Vice President
  Tom Prust, N9WI        - Secretary
  Robert Schrader, AA9GZ - Treasurer
  Gerry Radke, WA9GON    - Ass't Treasurer
  John Meyer, NZ9Z       - Membership Coordinator
  Skip Caswell, KE9L     - at large board member
  Mike Lawrence, N9UA    - at large board member
  David Jaeger, WN9Q     - at large board member

QSL INFO AND NEWS
OOOPPPS. A slight typo was in OPDX.589. We said,"Edwin Musto, ZS5BBO, informs OPDX that he is not the QSL Manager for Ian, ZS9IL, anymore." It should have been ZD9IL, not ZS9IL.

Toly, UT3UY, QSL Manager for 4K5CW, 4J6ZZ and 4J10TX, reports that finally all cards were printed and he will try to send out all direct requests during December. QSL via UT3UY: Anatoly Kirilenko, P.O.Box 439/3, Kiev-151, 03151, Ukraine.

Andy, G3AB arrived back in the UK on December 6th after 26 days of activity (single op) from Freetown, Sierra Leone as 9L1AB. A total of 40362 QSOs were logged on CW/SSB/RTTY on all bands 6m - 160m with 959 QSOs on 6m and 1265 QSOs on 160m. Only a dipole and an inverted L antenna were used. A full report with statistics and photos will appear on the website soon at: http://www.g3ab.net/9l1ab.htm Direct QSL cards are already being mailed out. G3AB's address is: Andy Chadwick, 5 Thorpe Chase, Ripon, North Yorkshire HG4 1UA UK

Dave, G3NKC, informs OPDX that he will be handling cards for MD6VL, in addition to MD4K, but only for HF contest. The MD6V cards are on order MD4K cards have arrived. All direct cards are up-to-date. Check the Web site for further announcements and also remote QSL requests at: http://www.md4k.com

The JARL Bureau. Joe, JJ1BDX/3, informs OPDX that the "JARL QSL Bureau will mandate all JARL members to pay JPY 3600 (approx. USD 28 to 30) each year for handling *each and all* non-JA callsigns including a JA callsign with foreign prefixes, such as KH2/JJ1BDX or F/JJ1BDX/P, effective July 7th, 2003. The bureau also enforces this policy to all QSL card traffics for non-JA callsigns through a JA QSL manager. This policy change has been announced on the JARL News December 2002 issue. Please contact JARL HQ Member dept. (email: kaiin@jarl.or.jp) for the further details."

Alberto, LU6XQ, informs OPDX that he has chosen Patrick, WD9EWK, as his QSL Manager. Please send QSL cards for LU6XQ via WD9EWK (direct or through the QSL bureau). More information is available at his web page at: http://www.qsl.net/wd9ewk/qsl-mgr.html

NOT THE QSL MANAGER. Steve, G3OAG, informs OPDX that he has been receiving a few QSL cards for 5H3RK via the Bureau. He is NOT the QSL Manager for 5H3RK. He hopes this does not turn into a flood of QSLs. The correct route for 5H3RK is direct.

NOT THE QSL MANAGER. Ben, PA3EPG, reports that he still received a lot of QSL card requests for 4K5CW, 4K9CW and 4J4K. However, he is not the QSL Manager for these stations anymore (for about the last 2 years now). He was only the QSL Manager for a couple of months, so here are the details:
4K5CW - between August 16, 2000 through March 11, 2001
4K9CW - between October 30, 2000 through January 26, 2001
4J4K - between November 3, 2000 through January 30, 2001
Before and after those dates, he does not have any logs. He receives a lot of request, for cards before and after those dates and has sent all the cards to 4KCW directly. Ben hopes you get a card back via the bueau or directly from him, or his father. If you needed a card from one of these stations, please send it directly to the station via Callbook address or via http://www.qrz.com

Activity by PV7G this past weekend was from Itamaraca Island (SA-046, DIB-018). QSL via the Bureau or direct to PY7XC at: Jemesson Faria, Rua Dhalia 228, AP-401, Recife-PE, 51020-290, Brasil.

A Photo gallery has been put on the Web for the recent operation from FO/JA4GXS on Rangiroa Island. Check it out at:

A Photo gallery has been put on the Web for the recent operation from Western Sahara (S07L). Check it out at:

You can now view the QSL cards for the V63RE/V63WN operations from Nomwin and Ta Island (OC-253/254) at: http://www.ddxc.net Cards are ready for sending out through the Bureau or direct from IT9YRE: Nando Rubino, P.O.Box:30, I-96012 Avola (SR), Italy

RTTY NEWS
Marty, NW0L, informs OPDX that barring any major blizzards, the state of North Dakota will be activated during the ARRL RTTY Roundup Contest, January 4-5th, in a portable operation by the team of NW0L, AE9B, K0LW and W0ZAP. Contest callsign will be NW0L. QSL direct (with SASE) or via bureau.

S2, BANGLADESH
Eric, VA7DZ, will be active as S21/VA7DZ from St. Martin's Island (AS-127), January 3-4th. Activity will be QRP with an Elecraft K2, Sigma-5 vertical. QSL are 100% via VA7DZ with green stamp.

SPECIAL PREFIXES
Henry, SQ9MZ, informs OPDX readers to look for the following twelve special event station, to be active from Poland between December 15th and March 15th. Activity is to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the breaking of the Enigma machine code by the Polish cryptoanalysts and mathematicians. More details on the Enigma Code and a special "Enigma Award" (sponsored by the SP DX Club) visit the following Web pages at:

TI9, COCOS ISLAND
You only have a few more days to work Jose, TI2JJP, as TI9JJP. He will be active through December 25th. There was not much activity by him over the weekend, but watch 14195, 21295 and 28495 kHz. QSL via PO Box 2048-2050, San Pedro Montes Oca, San Jose, Costa Rica.

V6, MICRONESIA
Bert, V73GOD, Bert, will be active as V63USA from Kosrae Island (OC-059) between December 26th and January 1st. Activity will be mostly on 17/12/10/6 meters SSB, and possibly PSK. Bert will be active in his spare time as this is a vacation. QSL via V63USA: P.O. Box 1480, APO AP 96555, USA.

VP6, PITCAIRN ISLAND
Ed, W2SN, informs OPDX that he is scheduled to operate as VP6EM from Pitcairn Island on February 4, 2003, between 1700 and 2359z. His length of stay was not mentioned. Activity will be on 10, 15 and/or 20 meters SSB, depending on propagation. QSL to home call.

VP6/D, DUCIE ISLAND
Information released on the Central Arizona DX Associations mailing list stated that Meralda, VP6MW, was confirmed by Kan, JA1BK, to be the CW operator on 18 and 24 meters for the 2nd Ducie trip happening in March. They leave Pitcairn Island around the 6th and will arrive the 8th on Ducie. The ship will be the Braveheart again. Operators mentioned will be Dave/VP6DB, Cookie/VP6AZ and Meralda/ VP6MW, 3 Japanese operators (one of them being Kan/JA1BK) and a French operator. Length of stay was not mentioned. Many details should be forthcoming.

XU, CAMBODIA
Look for Jaak, ES1FB, to be active as XU7ACE from the city of Sihanoukville now through December 27th. His operations will be limited. Activity will be on all bands on SSB. He was spotted this past weekend on 7060, 21270 and 24950 kHz. QSL to home call.

YI, IRAQ
Steve, OM3JW, informs OPDX that his son Mike, OM2DX, is the newest operator at the Slovak Embassy in Baghdad. He will use the YI9OM callsign a few weeks, then he will try to get other callsign (probably YI9DX). He is using a TS-850SAT and IC-706, Logperiodic antenna on 10-30 MHz, a dipole, an Inverted Vee on 40 and 80 meters and a long wire on 160 meters. He does have an amplifier (1kW), but it does not work on 160m. Mike will be active on CW/SSB/RTTY/PSK31, and he is active every day after 2030z on 1832-1833 kHz. His stay in Baghdad will be 2-4 years. The QSL Manager for YI9OM beginning November 28, 2002, is his father OM3JW.

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