The Ohio/Penn Dx PacketCluster
DX Bulletin No. 639
BID: $OPDX.639
December 15, 2003
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 Letter, K1XN & GoList, NG3K, W3UR & The Daily DX, N4AA & QRZ DX, N4GN, KB5NJD, N5FG, N7OU, K8YC, K8YSE, WZ8D, AK0A, WD0M, 6Y5/4S7RO, 9V1DX, CE6TBN, DL/VE3ZIK & www.contesting.info, DL1EK/DL7VOA & DX Newsletter, E21EIC, F5CQ, F5CWU & La Gazette du DX, F5OGL, F5NQL & UFT, HG4I, I1JQJ/IK1ADH & 425 DX News, JJ1BDX, JI6KVR & JA-IOTA Islands News, OH2BH, PA9JJ, RW3RN, RW6HS, UA9XC, VA3RJ & ICPO, VK4APG and ZL2HU for the following DX information.

DXCC COUNTRY/ENTITY REPORT
According to the AR-Cluster Network for the week of Sunday, 7th/December, through Sunday, 14th/December there were 231 countries active. Countries available: 3A, 3B8, 3B9, 3D2, 3DA, 3V, 3W, 3X, 4J, 4L, 4S, 4U1I, 4W, 4X, 5A, 5B, 5H, 5N, 5R, 5T, 5U, 5V, 5X, 5Z, 6W, 6Y, 7Q, 7X, 8P, 8Q, 8R, 9A, 9G, 9H, 9J, 9K, 9L, 9M2, 9M6, 9U, 9V, 9X, 9Y, A2, A4, A5, A6, A7, A9, AP, BV, BY, C3, C6, CE, CE9, CM, CN, CP, CT, CT3, CU, CX, D2, D4, DL, DU, EA, EA6, EA8, EA9, EI, EK, EL, EP, ER, ES, ET, EU, EX, EY, EZ, F, FG, FH, FJ, FK, FM, FO, FP, FR, FR/j, FY, G, GD, GI, GJ, GM, GU, GW, HA, HB, HB0, HC, HH, HI, HK, HK0/a, HL, HP, HR, HS, HZ, I, IS, J2, J3, J6, J8, JA, JD/m, JT, JW, JY, K, KG4, 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, PY0F, PY0S, PZ, R1FJ, S2, S5, S9, SM, SP, ST, SU, SV, SV5, SV9, T2, T30, T32, T33, T7, T9, TA, TF, TG, TI, TK, TR, TT, TU, TY, UA, UA2, UA9, UK, UN, UR, V2, V3, V4, V5, V7, VE, VK, VK9C, VK9N, VP2E, VP6, VP8, VP8/h, VP8/o, VP9, VQ9, VR, VU, XE, XU, 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. As always, you never know - "Work First Worry Later" (WFWL).

IMPORTANT NOTICE/REMINDER
The Ohio/Penn DX Bulletin now has a new FAX number. Contributors can now send/fax their DX information to the following number: 1-419-828-7791 ( F A X only! ),P. 6Y, JAMAICA
Ron, 4S7RO, is active as 6Y5/4S7RO and states that he is on 40 meters CW most evenings (between 2300-0500z). Before that time he can be found on 20 meters SSB or CW. QSL via G0IAS.

ARCTIC GRID EXPEDITION
Jeffrey/KG0VL and Justin/K9MU will depart St. Paul, MN, at 11:30 am on January 1st. Beginning January 3rd, the two operators will activate Grids EO16 and EO26 for the next couple of weeks. Operators will sign VE4/K9MU (from EO16) and VE4/KG0VL (from EO26). Their activity will be on HF, 50, 144 and 903 MHz. Liaison frequency is 7268 kHz (Days) and 3958 kHz (Evenings). Because of increased traffic on 7268, they will also monitor 7265 kHz (+/-). Their interesting travel plans and planned operation details can be read on the following Web page at:

CDXA ELECTS NEW OFFICERS
John Scott, K8YC, and Editor for the Carolina DX Association, informs OPDX that at its Annual Meeting/Christmas Party on Saturday, December 6th, the Carolina DX Association elected its officers for 2004. Results of the elections are:

        President:                      Ted Goldthorpe, W4VHF
        Vice President:                 Tom Wright,     N4HN
        Secretary/Treasurer:            Jim Miller,     K4SQR
        Editor:                         John Scott,     K8YC
        Cluster Manager:                Joe Simpkins,   K4MD
        Associate Cluster Mgr.:         Paul Sturpe,    W3GQ
        Webmaster:                      Wayne Setzer,   WB4BXW

HC8, GALAPAGOS ISLANDS
By the time you read this, Mike, G4IUF, should be active from here again as G4IUF/HC8 until January 11th. Activity will be on 160-10 meters CW/SSB.

HG04, HUNGARY (Special Prefix)
Tibor, HG4I, informs OPDX that he will be using the special callsign HG04HNY between December 10th and January 12th. The special event callsign, HG04HNY, stands for: The 04 as a call area is the last two numbers of newcoming year and the HNY suffix is the abbreviation of the phrase "Happy New Year". Activity will be on all HF bands (including the WARC bands) on the following modes: CW, RTTY, BPSK, SSB, (FM on 29 MHz). 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. See the rules on SM3CER's contest sevice Web site:

HI8,DOMINICAN REPUBLIC (Update from OPDX.635)
Hiro, JA6WFM, who will be working in the Dominican Republic for the next year, has been authorized to operate as JA6WFM/HI8. He did not receive the requested callsign HI8J. More details and QSL route will be announced later.

HI9, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC (Update from OPDX.638)
Bill, N7OU, informs OPDX that he will be in HI9-land from February 17-26th. Bill will be active on 160-10 meters before and after the contest, CW only. QSL via N7OU.

IOTA NEWS
EU-047. Juergen "Jo", DL1AB, will be active as DL1AB/p from Baltrum Island (N-06 for the German Island Award) between December 25th and January 2nd. Activity will be on 80 and 40 meters SSB. QSL via his homecall to the bureau.

OC-137. Steve, G0UIH, is expected to be active again this week as VK2IAY/4 from Lamb Island between December 16-18th. QSL via G0UIH either direct or through the bureau.

OC-265. Operators David/VK4GL and Peter/VK4APG have announced a possible activation of Cato Island using the callsign VK4GL/P between December 14-17th. Activity will be on 20 meters SSB. This is a low key single antenna station operation. Fishing may take precedence. QSL to VK4APG.

SA-032
SA-091. Marco, CE6TBN, will be active from Riesco Island (SA-091) January 12-15th and Wellington Island (SA-032) January 17-20th. Activity will be on 40/20/17/15/12/10 meters SSB. QSL via N1IBM. For more info, visit the Web page at:

LIGHTHOUSE ACTIVITY
Jim, K9BIG, will be activating a few lighthouses for the ARLHS Christmas Lights QSO party that runs from December 20th to January 5th. Look for Jim to sign K9BIG/p on 40-10 meters on or around the following suggested frequencies: 7270, 14270, 21370 and 28370 (+/- depending on QRM, nets, other activations etc.). He is also going to bring his portable 6-meter beam just for fun. Jim plans to activate the following lighthouses:
December 20th - Kenosha Southport Light, Kenosha, WI (ARLHS USA-912)
December 21st - Kenosha Pierhead, Kenosha, WI (ARLHS USA-416)
January 3rd - Windpoint Light, Racine WI (ARLHS USA-894)
January 4th - North Breakwater Racine, WI (ARLHS USA-682)
QSL via his home callsign (QRZ.com).

Deacon Dave, W1MCE, will be activating the Portsmouth Harbor New Hampshire Lighthouse (ARLHS USA-662) during the Lighthouse Christmas Lights QSO Party. Specific date is unknown, but he will be on 40 then 20 meters from the mobile. So, look for him to sign W1MCE/m. His total operating schedule is hoped to be 3 hours each day on 2 different days. He has a 1 1/2 hour commute to get there. All QSOs will be QSLed automatically. Please don't send Deacon Dave any QSL cards.

Jim, K5JIM, is expected or has plans to activate two Louisiana lighthouses located in the New Orleans area on the opening day of Lighthouse Christmas Lights QSO Party. The pair includes New Canal Lighthouse (ARLHS USA-536) and Port Ponchartrain (ARLHS USA-650). These will mark the 13th and 14th activations of 2003 for Jim. The tentative time of operation for New Canal is 1500z on Saturday, December 20th for two hours. This means his activity from Port Ponchartrain will start about 1800z. Both lighthouses are on Lake Ponchartrain. QSL cards will be available via K5JIM (QRZ.com address) with a SASE.

QSL INFO AND NEWS
Zik, DL/VE3ZIK (4N1DX), reports that the latest ARRL 10m Contest QSL routes will be published on Thursday, December 18th on the Web page at:

The logs for the November 3G2D DXpedition to Damas Island (IOTA SA-086, DICE-201) are now available on the Mediterraneo DX Club Web site at:

The correct QSL route for A7/G0MKT is NM7H. You can send QSL cards either via the RSGB or ARRL bureau.

Champ, E21EIC/XW1IC, reports that he is no longer the QSL Manager for E20NTS. Champ was his manager for long time, but now E20NTS wants to handle his QSL cards by himself. So, send all direct QSLs for E20NTS, E20NTS/8 and E20NTS/P to E20NTS's address (Supote Saripan, 19/65 Moo 5, Soi Thensoun, Klong Thanon, Saimai, Bangkok, 10220 THAILAND) or via the Bureau. Champ also states that many people have been sending QSLs for HS9IFG/P and HS1CKC/P to him, but he is not the QSL Manager for them.

Vasil, RW6HS, states to QSL I1XJP to: Pietro Corradi, via Dante Alighieri 18, Ventimiglia, IM 18039 ITALY.

POSTAGE INCREASE FOR JA. Joe, JJ1BDX, informs OPDX that the postage for a letter or a card in an envelope up to 25-grams in weight costs 110 Japanese Yen for US/Canada, Europe, and Oceania (90 Yen for Asia, 130 Yen for Africa). Due to the recent exchange rate change, 1 U.S. Dollar or a Greenstamp is no longer sufficient to compensate the postage. (As of December 8, 2003, 1 U.S. dollar has a little bit lower rate than 108 Japanese Yen.) If you send a SASE from abroad, 1 IRC is strongly suggested rather than 1 U.S. dollar since it covers the highest price for a letter, namely 130 Yen. If you have no choice but to send U.S. dollars, include TWO Greenstamps instead of one.

Ken, K6LA, was active in the ARRL 10 Meter Contest this past weekend as VY2TT from Prince Edward Island. QSL via K6LA.

NOT THE QSL MANAGER. Roger, W3SZ, has been receiving a bunch of inquiries and even some QSLs for C6ALZ (who was active in the CQWW SSB DX Contest), and he states that he IS NOT the QSL Manager for this station. He has no idea where that information came from. He doesn't even operate HF and has never been out of the country. OPDX has tried to find the manager, but NO LUCK!

Alex, RW3RN, informs OPDX that he is now the QSL Manager for C4M (in the CQ WW DX Contest 2003). He is also now the new QSL Manager for R3ARC/1 (July 26-29th, 2000) and R1NWS (July 29-31st, 2000) for activity from Vorony Island and Nemetsky Kuzov Island (both EU-147). Alex has received the logs from former QSL Manager (UA3BZ) and about 2500 QSLs (from bureau) + 200 envelopes. QSL via RW3RN, Alex Kuznetsov, Box 57, Tambov-23,392023 Russia. His E-mail address is:
arw3rn@tmb.ru
Alex's (RW3RN-QSL-Service) Web page is at:

TI9M QSL STATUS. Bill, AK0A, reports that all cards received via direct and from the Bureau have been answered as of December 10th and mailed. So, if you're looking for a card, please resend to AK0A direct only. Stations who have sent via the Bureau wait a while and U.S. stations who have sent via the Bureau will have to resend direct.

NEW BUREAU QSL ROUTE FOR TX4PG. Silvano, I2YSB, reports that there is a new Bureau QSL for the TX4PG operation (and the next DXpedition to Tokelau ZK3). The QSL Managers of these two DXpeditions are now: I2YSB, directed QSL ONLY and M5AAV, QSL Bureau ONLY.

Photos of the recent V8AQZ DXpedition to Brunei are now available online at:

QSL MANAGER/ROUTE CHANGE. Please QSL WL7M via WD0M. Joe, WD0M (ex-WL7M), has moved from Alaska to Colorado, and will be happy to provide a QSL for all the fine folks who need one. Address is OK on QRZ.com.

QSL YA1BV via JA1PBV: Sadao Ito, 3-8-12 Baraki, Ishioka-city, Ibaraki, 315-0042 JAPAN

ZL7C QSL STATUS. Ken Holdom, ZL2HU (ZL4HU), Group Organizer/Team Leader/ QSL Manager, provides an update on the processing of QSL cards for the ZL7C Chatham Islands DXpedition in October 2002: "We began processing cards approximately one year ago and to date there have been 23384 QSOs replied to directly with a further 9267 via the bureau. This gives us a total of 32651 QSOs which have been replied to out of a total of 72,213. A 45% QSL rate in the first year. As of this coming Monday, December 15th, 2003, there will be NO unanswered QSLs on hand. Please do not flood me with E-mails about QSL cards sent via the bureau as we are all only too well aware that this system takes considerably longer than the direct method. If you have any questions regarding direct QSL'ing, I am only too willing to answer these. At the pesent time there is a 24 hour turn-around for direct QSLs for all of our three DXpeditions, ZL8RI in May 1996 (not for the pirate operations at later dates), ZL9CI in January 1999 and ZL7C in October 2002. Any other enquiries, comments etc. are most welcome. The Kermadec DX Association would like to take this opportunity of wishing you all a very merry Christmas and a very happy and enjoyable DXing 2004. Regards to all....
..... Ken Holdom ZL2HU and ZL4HU

S9, SAO TOME
Charles, S9SS, also Station Manager for Voice of America's IBB Sao Tome transmitting station, has been trying to work North American stations on topband (160m). He states that this band is just too noisy. However, he will try again this coming Friday night (starting possibly around 1900z), conditions permitting. If you need him on the other bands, try 20 meters CW (after 0030z) or 10 meters SSB between 1900-2100z. Also, visit the following Web page at:

SPECIAL EVENT
Andrey, UA9XC, informs OPDX that several stations will be active between 2100z, December 18th to 2100z December 21st, to celebrate 100th anniversary of Soviet Polar Explorer/Radio Operator Ernest Krenkel (RAEM). The following memorial stations will be active:

      R1AEM - QTH Murmansk               R6AEM - QTH Krasnodar
      R3AEM - QTH Kolomna, nr Moscow     R9AEM - QTH Vorkuta
      R4AEM - QTH Votkinsk, nr Izhevsk   R0AEM - QTH Norilsk

TA1, TURKEY
Martin, PA4WM, is now active as TA1/PA4WM. His temporary work QTH is near Istanbul. Look for his activity to be mainly on the WARC bands and 40/80 meters on CW, RTTY and SSB. There is no operating schedule (due to his work), but look for him on most days in the early morning (0430z) and in the afternoon around 1500z (ed. We spotted him as early as 1330z). His equipment is a FT-100 and a G5RV antenna. QSL info can be found at QRZ.com.

TO4, EUROPA (Update)
An announcement on Sunday states that the T04E Europa team will not be shutting down on December 15th, but will be active until December 18th. The team will continue to have four stations on the air as much as possible working the low bands and modes that is needed. The team does have a concern. A tropical depression is moving their way and may hit the island on Wednesday or Thursday. It was reported on December 10th that the TO4E team had logged 21851 QSOs (50% on CW, 39% on SSB and 11% on RTTY). The band totals are as follows: 3264 on 10m, 2239 on 12m, 6584 on 15m, 3203 on 17m, 2847 on 20m, 1825 on 30m, 1412 on 40m, 351 on 80m and 126 on 160m. They also mentioned that 4108 QSOs were made by TO4WW during the CQWW DX CW Contest. The Europa Web site is:

VK0, HEARD ISLAND (Update/Disappointing News)
Last week we mentioned that Jim, VK9NS, is reporting that a "scientific multi-interest team of fifteen expeditioners" is preparing to leave for Heard Island in the coming days. However, Jim did not know if there was an amateur radio operator with this team. Alan, 9V1DX (aka VK0LD and ex-VK0MM Macquarie Island 2000), informs OPDX that he is on the Australian Govt. "permanent pool" of Communcation Engineers for expeditions to Antarctica. He has confirmed that he was originally slated to be the Communication Guy on the upcoming Heard Island short expedition; however, he could not make the start date this time around due to other commitments. The Communication Guy going to Heard Island instead does not hold a radio amateur licence and is NOT interested in Amateur Radio. None of the other people on the expedition are licenced amateurs either, and nobody going to Heard knows Morse Code. They are due to depart for Heard Island just about around the time this was written. Allan states that there are only 3 VK0 licences active at the moment (himself, Rob. Sutton - who is not on the expedition and Finn Olsen - who is the Communication Guy going to Davis Station on the Antarctic mainland for 2004). If there is any "VK0 Heard Island" station on the air over the period of the expedition, it is almost certainly going to be a pirate, especially if it is operating CW. Allan states you can obtain info on the Heard Expedition and info on Australian Govt. Antarctic activities at:

ZA PRESS RELEASE (PROJECT GOODWILL ALBANIA 2003 - NEWS FROM THE 5th WEEK
From Martti, OH2BH: Press Release, December 12, 2003
Cold winter weather was approaching Albania when this unique program reached its final day on December 12 amid numerous ceremonies and with warm memories from the past weeks. The program was unique in many ways - taking amateur radio to a university setting as another recognized subject while also staging an international operating event with thousands of QSOs on a variety of bands and modes providing university students, those soon-to-be hams of Albania, with a remarkable experience of seeing amateur radio in action and getting their hands on while studying the subject of amateur radio. Indeed, Friday finally saw these fine students of the Polytechnic University of Tirana taking their full license (CEPT A) exam under the watchful eye of the licensing authority ERT, Enti Regulatory I Telekomunikaciove of Albania. With these extremely capable 4th and 5th year students, the required CEPT passing grade of 65% was met and well exceeded by 95% of the students resulting in 39 new licensees in Albania and doubling the amateur radio population of this what once was a much sought-after country on radio.

While participating in the graduation ceremony, Ole Garpestadt, LA2RR, IARU Region 1 Chairman, congratulated the new licensees, welcomed them to the bands and credited the University and the program organizers with their success in conducting the program at Albania's leading university and succeeding in something that the IARU itself may have had only limited results with in similar undertakings. LA2RR also participated in final negotiations with Albanian authorities for their entry to CEPT and for the integration of the Albanian licensing regime to bring it into line with the rest of the CEPT world. This would provide visiting amateurs in Albania and Albanians abroad with CEPT based treatment, thus giving ZA operating privileges with no paperwork at all. No one could have expected such a scenario ten years ago when Albania stood at the top of all wanted lists the world over.

The Rector, Professor Perparim Hoxha, thanked the course organizers for bringing this extraordinary experience to the University and affirmed continuation of the program through Professor Sonila Agago, a local teacher associated with this program, who also passed the exam. The Dean of the faculty, Professor Gezim Karapichi, was in tears with emotion while assuring that the University Club station (ZA1UT) would have their best facilities with a new Yaesu donated lineup of FT1000MP Field and Quadra System. The lead teacher, Ulrich Weiss, DJ2YA, presented a Yaesu FT847 to his best student, Eugelent Kola, with a passing grade of 94, and described this course as a highlight of his entire professional teaching career. With his final remarks, the Project organizer, Martti Laine, OH2BH, thanked all for their 5-week serious effort and warm friendships that had affected him personally in his long journey of activating ZA-land initially in 1970, breaking through with a full ZA1A combined training course and DXpedition in 1991 and now establishing amateur radio as another subject as part of the University curriculum. Martti was awarded with a "Senior Fellow of Polytechnic University of Tirana" honor at the graduation ceremony.

On radio, a big bang event will be conducted this weekend to say good-bye to those who followed the program during the past weeks and now want to wish the program participants a safe journey back home. The activity will be on many bands including the ARRL 10M contest with four stations at multiple locations, operated by DJ2YA, G3LQP, LA2RR, OH2BH, OH2PM, Z35M, Z36W, Z31GX and several local ZA operators. The program is set to be closed on Monday, December 15th, when all participants will be flying home to their missed families and a well deserved Christmas holiday. Albania is a Muslim country and Christmas decorations now dominate the scene to bring the Yuletide message to ZA-land. Merry Christmas to all the Deserving from downtown Tirana."

ZD8, ASCENSION ISLAND
Jim, N6TJ, will be active as ZD8Z in the ARRL DX CW Contest as a Single-Op/ALL Band entry. QSL via VE3HO.

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