The Ohio/Penn Dx PacketCluster
DX Bulletin No. 691
BID: $OPDX.691
December 27, 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, N1NK, W2CE, NG3K, W3HNK, W3UR & The Daily DX, K4VUD, N4AA & QRZ DX, K7ZD, WB7OJV, K8YSE, NW0L, DL1EK & The DX News Letter, DL5EBE, EA5RM, F5CWU & La Gazette du DX, F5NQL & UFT, I1JQJ/IK1ADH & 425 DX News, I1HYW, IV3IYH, IZ8BRI, J6KVR & JA-IOTA Islands News, JH0MGJ, SM7CRW, SQ9FMU, TA3J, TA3YJ, VA3RJ & ICPO, VE7HA, VK4AAR and the ARRL Letter for the following DX information.

SPECIAL EDITOR'S NOTE
It's hard to believe that next week's issue will be in 2005. Where did this year go? Anyway, 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 New Year". 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 over the past week...........

73 and Good Luck in the New Year de Tedd KB8NW

DXCC COUNTRY/ENTITY REPORT
According to the AR-Cluster Network for the week of Sunday, 19th/December, through Sunday, 26th/December there were 209 countries active. Countries available: 3A, 3B8, 3B9, 3D2, 3DA, 3V, 3W, 3X, 4J, 4L, 4S, 4U1U, 4X, 5B, 5H, 5R, 5T, 5U, 5V, 5X, 5Z, 6Y, 7O, 7Q, 7X, 8P, 8R, 9A, 9G, 9H, 9J, 9K, 9L, 9M2, 9M6, 9N, 9V, 9Y, A2, A3, A4, A6, A7, A9, AP, BV, BY, C3, C5, C6, CE, 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, FH, FK, FM, FO, FO/M, FR, G, GD, GI, GM, GU, GW, HA, HB, HC, HC8, HI, HK, HL, HM, HP, HR, HS, HZ, I, IS, J2, J6, JA, JT, JW, JY, K, KH0, KH6, 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, R1FJ, S2, S5, S9, SM, SP, ST, SU, SV, SV5, SV9, T5, T7, T9, TA, TF, TG, TI, TK, TR, TT, TU, TY, UA, UA2, UA9, UK, UN, UR, V2, V3, V4, V5, V7, V8, VE, VK, VP8, VP8/h, VP9, VQ9, VR, VU, VU4, XE, XU, YA, YB, YI, YK, YL, YO, YS, YU, YV, Z2, Z3, ZA, ZB, ZC4, ZD7, ZD8, 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).

8R, GUYANA
Craig, AH8DX, will be active as 8R1/AH8DX during the ARRL DX SSB Contest (March 5-6th) as a Single-Op/All-Band/High-Power entry. QSL via AH8DX.

CQ CELEBRATES ITS 60TH
During the first 60 days of 2005, you will be hearing stations signing "/60". The reason is CQ is celebrating its 60th anniversary with a special "CQ Gang" on-air event (CQ's first issue was published in January, 1945). CQ Amateur Radio Magazine invites all Amateur Radio operators around the world to join in on the celebration and take part in the on the air event between January 1st and March 1st. Who can sign "/60"? Any ham ever associated with CQ as a staff member, contributing editor or author--as well as current subscribers to CQ, CQ VHF and Popular Communications may sign "/60" after their call signs. An endorseable cerificate will be available. Also, a CQ club station, WW2CQ, will be active from various parts of the U.S. during the event. There will be separate certificates available for working WW2CQ in all callsign districts from which it is active. All the complete rules for the "CQ Gang 60th Anniversary" activity appears in the December 2004 issue of CQ Magazine and on the CQ Web site at:

FT5W, CROZET ISLAND
Nicolas/F4EGX and Jean Paul/F5BU will take part in a job related mission on Crozet Archipelago at the beginning of 2005. They are hoping to do some ham activity during their spare time. They expect to depart (via a ship) on January 9th and are scheduled to arrive on Possession Island (AF-008 and DIFO FT-009) around February 5th. They expect to begin their activity on the 12th. They will stay on the island until the end of March, and their return to Metropolitan France is expected between the beginning of April and no later than the 15th. At this time (December 21th), they are awaiting for their callsigns. Nicolas, F4EGX, will not be active on HF bands. The reason given is that the CMR03 directives about the possibility of using the HF Bands without Morse code proof exam has not yet been put into effect in the French overseas territories; one being Amsterdam Archipelago. Without this permission, he will be only on 6, 2 and 70cm bands QRP, using FM mode. QSL via F6APU. Nicolas does have a Web page at:

HI OPERATION CHANGE
Curt, W3HQ, reports that due to the malaria situation in the Dominican Republic, he has been forced to reconsider his HI tour during the 160 meter contest in January. However, he is considering other islands such as VP2 Tortola, instead. More details are forthcoming as he gets confirmation of travel arrangements.

IOTA/USI/LIGHTHOUSE ACTIVITY
Look for W5TLH to activate several islands and lighthouses between December 27th and January 2nd. Here are the following lighthouses to be activated:

Halfmoon Reef Lighthouse (ARLHS reference USA-363)
Aransas Pass Lighthouse (USA-018)
Matagorda Island Lighthouse (WLH K-096, ARLHS USA-482)

* If time and weather permits they will activate the following historical locations at:
Corpus Christi Lighthouse (USA-1137)
Saluria Lighthouse (USA-1139)
Swash Lighthouse (USA-1182).

San Jose Island (USI TX-005, Refugio county Texas)
Matagorda Island (USI TX-010S, Calhoun county Texas)
Mustang Island (USI TX-011S, Nueces county Texas).

IOTA NEWS
EU-166. Operators IT9SSI, IZ8CGS, IZ8FWN, IZ8CCW and possibly others will be active as IO9TA, January 7-9th, from Lunga Island (IIA TP-021 and MIA MI-055). Activity will be on all bands SSB and CW with 2 stations 24 hours a day. For more info, please visit the Web page at: http://www.mdxc.org/io9ta/

EU-175. Ulf, DL5AXX, will be active as CU7/DL5AXX from Ilha do Faial now through January 3rd. He is on holiday with his family here. He will try not to disturb his family's peace and will try to listen for Asia on CW on the lowbands every evening. QSL via his home callsign, direct or by the bureau.

SA-039. (Update) Members from the "Radio Grupo Sur of Montevideo" will be on the air as CW5R from Lobos Island from January 7-11th. Dates may be changed depending on weather conditions. Operators include Lupo/CX2ABC, Pedro/CX5BW and Orestes/WQ4O together with Javi/EA5KM and Toni/EA5RM who are travelling from Spain especially for this DXpedition. They expect to use monoband antennas on the high bands and dipoles on the lower bands which will be installed on the top of Lobos lighthouse (ARLHS URU-002 and WLOTA LH-0799). They will be active on all modes including digital. QSL Manager will be CX2ABC. There will be online logs available after their operation on the following Web page. For updates and more information, please visit the Web page at: http://www.dx-men.com

KP2, U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS
John, KP2/KL7JR, continues to be active as KP2/KL7JR on St. Croix (NA-106). He checks into the 247 DX Net (14.247 kHz, Mon-Fri) most days at 2100z. John informs OPDX that he will try to concentrate on 12 and 17 meters SSB until April 2005. For E-mail skeds, send message to: kl7jr@aol.com QSL with SASE to (QRZ.com) address.

LIGHTHOUSE ACTIVITY
Tom, G0PSE, plans to activate the Anvil Point Lighthouse (ARLHS ENG-001) on Wednesday, December 29th, or Thursday, December 30th. The special event callsign GB2APL has been applied for. If the special callsign is not granted in time, the callsigns G0PSE/P and M0AOD/P will be used. Activity will be on 40-10 meters SSB and CW.

NH2, GUAM
Kuro, JH0MGJ, will be active as AL5A/NH2 from March 18-20th. Activity will be on 40-10 meters CW/SSB. Kuro informs OPDX that he will be listening for weak stations in NA and EU. QSL is "OK" via the JARL Bureau.

PACIFIC ACTIVITY
Look for Aki, JA1KAJ, to be active as YJ0AKA from Efate (OC-035) on the Island of Vanuatu now through January 2nd. Activity should be on 80-10 meters CW/SSB/RTTY/SSTV. He will head to New Caledonia after this operation and be active as FK/JA1KAJ from January 3-9th. QSL via his home callsign, direct or by the Bureau.

PY0, FERNANDO DE NORONHA
Look for Bill, W9VA, to be active as PY0FF during the ARRL DX CW Contest (February 19-20th). His operating class is to be announced later. Bill will be on Fernando de Noronha, February 16-22nd. Before and after the contest, he will be mostly on the WARC bands and 6 meters using his personal callsign PY0ZFO. QSL all via W9VA.

QSL INFO AND NEWS
Roberto, IV3IYH/9N7CQ (also DJ5CQ, NQ5W, VE3MXQ), informs that Bureau QSL cards for 9N7CQ can be requested online at the following URL:

The log book of the recent A52CDX Buthan expedition by the members of Clipperton DX Club (in October/November 2004), is now online at:

AY1ZA QSLS. Rick, NE8Z, reports on QSLs for AY1ZA: "I am NOT the QSL Manager for AY1ZA or LU1ZA. I do not have blank QSLs nor the logs. Henry, LU4DXU, sends me registered/airmail packages of 100 QSLs/SAEs per package to mail out from the USA. The postal rates in LU has risen so high, he can not afford to mail individual SAEs from Argentina. I receive the packages and then send out the SAEs via airmail from Michigan the same day received. As of 12-12-04 I have mailed out about 800 AY1ZA and LU/Z QSLs. More SAEs are on their way to me now. Please be patient. You will receive your card via me if it was sent and received by LU4DXU in Argentina."

Sergey (Jack), RA3SL, informs that Andrej, RW3VZ, states that all the logs for BW3/UA3VCS and BW4/UA3VCS are lost. Artyom, UA3VCS, became a "Silent Key" in July 2004.

NOT THE QSL MANAGER. Marty, NW0L, reports that somehow NW0L has been INCORRECTLY listed as the QSL Manager for PJ2T in one or more QSL Manager lists. The correct QSL Manager for PJ2T is N9AG.

Nilay, TA3YJ (QSL Manager for TC2K4J), states that all TC2K4J QSL cards and TA40SK awards have been mailed. Details are on the Web page at:

VP8 LOGS ONLINE. The logs for VP8WWW, VP8WFW, VP8WPF, VP8WMJ and VP8DXL are all online at:

The logbook for VQ9M's operations in 2002 has been uploaded to eQSL and LoTW. Direct requests (green stamp or sase, no IRCs please) may still be mailed to WB7OJV.

SPECIAL EVENT
Look for special event station, HA200CVM, to be active during January. Activity is dedicated in remembrance of the poet Csokonai Vitez Mihaly. QSL via HA0NAR; Bureau cards are "OK".

SPECIAL EVENT
John, SM7CRW, will be using the special callsign SF50A between January 1, 2005, and December 31, 2005. He is celebrating his 50th year of hamming and promises an exclusive QSL for everyone who works him and requests it.

SPECIAL EVENT
Look for special event station SQ75FMU to be active between January 1-20th and February 15 to March 15th. Activity is to celebrate the 75th anniversary of Polish Amateur Radio Union "PZK". QSL via SQ9FMU, by the bureau or direct to: Robert Prorok, P.O. Box 113, 41-800 Zabrze. QSL cards will be sent to all after March 15th, 2005.

TA, TURKEY
Berkin, TA3J, will be active as TA3J/60 from Antalya between 0000z January 1st and 2359z March 1st. Special callsign is for the "CQ/60 Operating Activity" and the "CQ Gang Award" (See "CQ CELEBRATES ITS 60TH" above). Activity will be on 160/80/40/20/15/10/2 meters, 70cm and the WARC bands, on all modes. QSL via Nilay, TA3YJ, direct (only SASE and 1 IRC, no green stamps please) or by the bureau. No eQSL. SWL QSL cards are "OK". Homepage for this activity is:

V4, NEVIS
Just a reminder that Larry, KJ4UY, is expected/should be active now as V47UY from Nevis Island (NA-104) until January 2nd. As this was being typed, no QSNs were reported yet. Activity should be 160-6 meters. QSL via his home callsign.

VP8, ANTARCTICA (Change of plans)
There is a good chance that Mike, VP8CMH/mm, will become active from Rothera "T" Base on Adelaide Island (IOTA AN-001 and WAP GBR-20) signing VP8ROT despite previous announcements. Here is a short note from Mike: "I hope to be back in Rothera in around January 25-27th. Our itinerary has just been changed, so I will be going there in a few weeks time..... ice willing."

VU4, ANDAMAN ISLANDS (Update)
As this was being typed Sunday morning, December 26th, word came out that a major earthquake (8.9 magnitude) hit the Indonesia area from the eastern Indian Ocean. Reports of many deaths and severe injuries are reported. The effects of the earthquake were very strong in India and tsunami waves have caused problems on the Andamanns. Charles Harpole, K4VUD, who usually provides updates on the VU4 operations daily, did not Sunday. However, on the air reports and InterNet sources indicate that the VU4 team is fine. Reports also state VU4RBI is now on low power and providing emergency communciations. There is an interesting Web page to view the current earthquakes. Please visit:

In Charle's updates on the VU4 operations this past week, he mentioned that the team is using paper logs. However, a SWL volunteer is taking the logs and typing the QSOs into a computer. The hand logs will be kept to solve any questions that may come up as QSL requests come in. Charles did mention he will explain to the VU4 team the possible use of the LoTW and hope later that all logs can be loaded there. On Thursday, December 23rd, Charles stated that the "team has now passed the 30,000 QSO mark and has mounted HF signals on SSB, CW, Slowscan TV, RTTY, and PSK on all bands -- including all 3 WARC -- from 160-6 meters."

YA, AFGHANISTAN
Look for YA5Y to be active in the CQ WW 160m CW Contest (January 29-30th) as a Single-Op/Low-Power entry. Activity will be 100 watts with a dipole up 15m. QSL via DL5SE by the DARC Bureau.

ZB2, GIBRALTAR
Operators Wolf/DL4WK, Frank,DL7UFR, and Rolf/DL7VEE will be active as ZB2/homecall from December 29th to January 4th. They plan to have two stations active on CW/SSB/RTTY on all bands from 160-6 meters. QSL via their home callsigns; the Bureau is "OK".

ZF2, CAYMAN ISLANDS
Pete, N2LM, will be active from the Grand Cayman Island (NA-016) this week as ZF2PD until January 4th. Activity will be on 80-10 meters SSB and RTTY. QSL via his home callsign.

ZK2, NIUE
Murray, VE7HA, and his wife Konomi, have plans to head to Niue next year; probably the February through March timeframe. He informs OPDX that he has spoken with the Telecom in Niue this past week, and they indicated getting a licence is no problem. He has asked for a special callsign or prefix for contest work, but is not sure if he will get it. Otherwise, hopefully his request for ZK2HA will be met. He will be using a standard 100 watt transceiver with a Steppir BiggIR vertical antenna which covers 40- 6 meters continuously. Expected time on the island is about two months. With no active locals, it seems he is on his own as far as making plans to get on the air there. Planned operation will probably be mostly SSB, but he states that it would be fun to try other modes. However, Murray states, "I have no experience or equipment for newer digital modes, so that is unlikely." More details are forthcoming once he has more concrete information.

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