The Ohio/Penn Dx PacketCluster
DX Bulletin No. 745
BID: $OPDX.745
January 30, 2006
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, W2LO, NG3K, W3UR & The Daily DX, N4AA & QRZ DX, K6VVA, K6WR, K8YSE, KU8E, DL1EK & The DX News Letter, F5NQL & UFT, F6AJA & Les Nouvelles DX, G3SWH, HA5X, HS0ZDX, I1HYW, I1JQJ/IK1ADH & 425 DX News, PY7RP, VA3RJ & ICPO and Pete Rayer for the following DX information.

DXCC COUNTRY/ENTITY REPORT
According to the AR-Cluster Network for the week of Sunday, 22nd/January, through Sunday, 29th/January there were 222 countries active. Countries available: 3A, 3B8, 3B9, 3DA, 3V, 3W, 4J, 4L, 4S, 4U1I, 4X, 5B, 5H, 5N, 5R, 5T, 5U, 5V, 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, C3, C6, CE, CE0Y, CE0Z, CE9, CM, CN, CP, CT, CT3, CU, CX, D2, DL, DU, EA, EA6, EA8, EA9, EI, EK, EL, ER, ES, ET, EU, EX, EY, EZ, F, FG, FH, FK, FM, FO, FP, FR, FY, G, GD, GI, GJ, GM, GU, GW, H4, HA, HB, HB0, HC, HC8, HI, HK, HL, HP, HR, HS, HV, HZ, I, IS, J6, JA, JD/o, JT, JW, JY, K, KG4, KH0, KH2, 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, PY0S, PZ, S2, S5, S7, S9, SM, SP, ST, SU, SV, SV5, SV9, T5, T7, T8, T9, TA, TF, TG, TI, TJ, TK, TR, TT, TU, TY, TZ, UA, UA2, UA9, UK, UN, UR, V2, V3, V4, V5, V7, V8, VE, VK, VP2E, VP2V, VP5, VP8, VP9, VQ9, VR, VU, XE, XT, XU, XX9, YA, YB, YI, YK, YL, YN, YO, YS, YU, YV, Z2, Z3, ZA, ZB, ZC4, ZD7, ZD9, ZF, ZK1/s, 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).

4L, GEORGIA
David, 4L1DA, will be active in the CQ WW RTTY WPX Contest (February 11-12th) as a Single-Op/Single-Band (20m) entry. QSL via W7LPF.

8N, JAPAN (Special Event)
To celebrate the ARISS contact with the Yoneda-nishi Elementary School in Takasago, Japan, look for special event station 8N3Y to be aired February 1-28th. QSL via JARL bureau.

9A, CROATIA
Chris, HA5X, will try to be active as 9A8XA between June 7-20th. His main QTH will be Mlini, near Dubrovnik, but he is expected to occasionally do some IOTA/IOCA activity depending on the weather, mood and family. QSL via HA5X.

ANTARCTIC NEWS
ANTARCTIC SPECIAL EVENT. To celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Ukrainian Antarctic station, the "Academic Vernadsky Base" (WAP UKR-01), several special callsigns have been issued by the Ukrainian authorities to some of the operators who were active in the past years from the Ukrainian Base. Look for activity between February 3-12th, by the following operators: EM10KY by UT1KY - QSL via IK1QFM

EM10UA by UT7UA - QSL via home callsign
EM10LV by UR8LV - QSL via home callsign
EM10HO by UX2HO - QSL via home callsign
EM10KGG by UR5KGG - QSL via home callsign

3RD AAW NEWS. The Worldwide Antarctic Program (WAP) 3rd Antarctic Activity Week (AAW) will take place between February 20-26th. The annual event is to promote world-wide interest in the Antarctic and to protect this continent. The following stations have announced they will be operating from various Antarctic bases, as well as special event stations, in this year's AAW:

   4O3ANT (WAP-22)    II8ANT (WAP-18)    IU0ANT (WAP-19)    TM7ANT (WAP-34)
   AT3ANT (WAP-21)    IO2MET (WAP-23)    TM0TAF (WAP-43)    TM8ANT (WAP-14)
   II0ANT (WAP-16)    IO6ANT (WAP-28)    TM1ANT (WAP-37)    TM8TAF (WAP-42)
   II1ANT (WAP-32)    IO8ANT (WAP-13)    TM2ANT (WAP-40)    TM9ANT (WAP-39)
   II2ANT (WAP-30)    IO0ANT (WAP-35)    TM3ANT (WAP-38)    TM0ANT (WAP-08)
   II4ANT (WAP-17)    IR0ANT (WAP-10)    TM4ANT (WAP-41)    TO2ANT (WAP-26)
   II5ANT (WAP-25)    IR1ANT (WAP-02)    TM5ANT (WAP-29)    UE6ANT (WAP-24)
   II7ANT (WAP-12)    IR8ANT (WAP-05)    TM6ANT (WAP-31)

CN, MOROCCO
Jim, W7EJ, will be active as CN2R between March 16-29th. He will be active in the CQ WW WPX SSB Contest (March 25-26th) as Single-Op/ Single-Band (80m) entry. His activity outside the contest will be on the WARC bands and 6 meters EME. QSL via W7EJ.

E2, THAILAND
Operator Tony, E21IZC, to be active from Thailand in the CQ WPX SSB Contest (March 25-26th) as a Single-Op/All-Band entry. QSL via E21IZC (QRZ.com).

FO & FO/M, FRENCH POLYNESIA AND MARQUESAS ISLANDS
By the time you read this, Ely, HA9RE, is expected to be active from Nuku Hiva, Marquesas Islands (OC-027 and DIFO FO-023), between January 28th and February 18th. His callsign for this operation will be FO/HA9G. He will also be active for about ten days from Ahe Atoll, Tuamutu Archipelago (OC-131 and DIFO FO-028), French Polynesia, starting February 20th. Activity is planned for 160-10 meters CW, SSB and RTTY. QSL via HA8IB: Szabo Karoly, Aradi u. 42, H-5525 Fuzesgyarmat, Hungary.

FT5W, CROZET ISLAND (Update)
Gildas, TU5KG, who is now back in the Austral Sea (in Southern Indian Ocean) on a fishing boat, has received the callsign FT5WL for his upcoming Crozet activity. Start looking for him possibly after February 3rd. He is expected to travel around the Crozet Island area until early March before heading back around Kerguelen area again until the end of March.

HAM IN SPACE NEWS
Congratulations to International Space Station (ISS) Commander Bill McArthur, KC5ACR, for achieving "Worked All States" (WAS) and "Worked All Continents" (WAC)from NA1SS. He contines to work on his DXCC as well. On Sunday afternoon, January 29th, just as this was being written, your editor heard Bill state he now has 95 countries.

ADDED NOTE: Your editor would like to thank Bill for the QSO on Tuesday morning, January 24th.

PLEASE NOTE: An interesting event will be taking place this week. OPDX readers may want to drag out the old 2 meter HT for this event. Bill McArthur and his crewmate, Valery Tokarev, are scheduled to do a space walk on February 3rd and will release "SuitSat-1". As the "ARRL Letter" states, "--quite possibly the most unusual Earth satellite ever. SuitSat consists of a surplus Russian Orlan space suit converted into a transmit-only satellite with an FM downlink frequency of 145.990 MHz. Using the callsign RS0RS, it will transmit voice messages, telemetry and an SSTV image on a nine-minute cycle as it orbits Earth. The batteries powering the satellite are expected to last about a week, and SuitSat's free-floating, decaying orbit should cause it to re-enter Earth's atmosphere after some six weeks in space. The SuitSat signal should be strong enough to hear using a VHF transceiver or scanner and a simple antenna." For more details on this event and pictures of SuitSat, please visit the following Web pages (Plenty of interesting reading!):

HB0, LIECHTENSTEIN
Kasimir, DL2SBY, will be active again as HB0/DL2SBY from February 25th through March 4th. Activity will be on 160-10 meters, CW, SSB, RTTY and PSK31.

IOTA NEWS
EU-125. Operators Jef/ON4ACA, Francis/ON6LY, Marcel/ON6UQ and possibly others will be active from Roemoe Island (DIA NS-001 for the Danish Islands Award) from July 29th to August 5th. They will be signing OZ/homecall and hope to have a Danish callsign for the IOTA Contest (July 29-30th). QSL via their home callsigns. More information is forthcoming.

NA-062. Operator Jeff, VA3QSL, will be active as VA3QSL/W4 from Key West (USI FL-040S, Monroe county, Florida), February 13-16th. His activity will be near the IOTA frequencies on 20-10 meters SSB. QSL via his home callsign, direct with SASE/SAE + postage, or through the bureau.

NA-178. Rick/K6VVA and Mike/K9AJ will be active as homecall/6 from SouthEast Farallon Island, February 14-16th. Activity will be on 40-10 meters CW/SSB. QSL via N6AWD, by the bureau or direct to: Fred Stenger, 6000 Hesketh Dr., Bakersfield, CA, 93309 USA. Visit their Web page at:

SA-070. Operators Mario/CE6NE and Marco/CE6TBN will be active as CE5S from Santa Maria Island (DICE reference ICE-502 for the Chilian Islands Award), February 8-10th. Activity will be on 40/20/17/15 meters SSB with some CW. QSL via CE6NE: Mario Aranguiz, P.O. Box 866, Temuco, Chile. More information is available at:

J7, DOMINICA
Operators George/K5KG (J75KG), Ron/KK9K (J79RV), Jim/WI9WI (J79WI), John/W4IX (J79**) and Charles/K1XX (J79**) will be active from February 11-21st. The group plans to be active as J7OJ in ARRL DX CW Contest (February 18-19th) as a Multi-? entry. QSL J7OJ and J75KG via KU9C. QSL all others via their home callsigns.

JW, SVALBARD
Mathias, JW5NM, will be active from Spitsbergen Island (EU-026 and WLOTA LH-0125) in the ARRL DX CW Contest (February 18-19th) as a Single-Op entry. QSL via the information at (QRZ.com).

JW, SVALBARD
Francois, F8DVD, is getting ready for his 10th DXpedition to the Arctic. Look for him between March 24-31st, to be active as JW/F8DVD from the Longyearbyen ARC, located on the Spitsbergen Island, 78° North, and about a thousand kilometers far from the geographic North Pole (EU-026, WAZ 40 and Grid Square JQ78TF). His activity will be on all HF bands both CW and SSB. Francois will also enter the CQ WPX SSB Contest (March 25-26th) as a Single-Op/Single-Band (20m)/High-Power entry. His equipment consists of an ICOM 751 and a 500 watts PA, into a 5 elements yagi on a 30 meters high tower. QSL via his home callsign, through the French REF-Union Bureau or direct, w/SAE + 1 IRC (or 1 USD for EU, and 2 USD for elsewhere) to: Francois Bergez, 6, Rue de la Liberte, F-71000 MACON, France.

NP2/WP2, U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS
Tony, N2TK, will be at the Windwood, WP2Z, contest station on St. Croix from February 22nd through March 8th. He will be active in the ARRL DX SSB Contest (March 4-5th). QSLs for WP2Z go to KU9C. Tony mentioned that he will probably also make some contacts during the previous weekend on the CQWW 160M SSB Contest (February 25-26th). Before and after the contests he will use the N2TK/NP2 callsign. QSL this call to his home callsign. Tony mentions that this may be the last contest from Windwood as it is to be sold by the end of March.

OM, SLOVAK REPUBLIC
Members of the LBCC will be active as OM7M in the ARRL DX CW Contest (February 18-19th) as a Multi-2 entry. QSL via OM3PA.

PJ4, NETHERLANDS ANTILLES
Operators John/K4BAI and Jeff/KU8E will be active from Bonaire (SA-006) as PJ4/homecall from February 14-21st. They will be operating the in the ARRL DX CW Contest (February 18-19th) as PJ4R. Please QSL PJ4R via K4BAI.

PY0S, ST. PETER AND ST PAUL ROCKS
Joca, PY0S/PS7JN, is now active from the scientific Brasilian base on St. Peter and St. Paul Rocks until the end of the first week in February. The base is composed of a small house that does not support more than 4 people. Joca's friend Renner, PY7RP, was informed that due to a big storm on the rocks this past weekend, Joca's PC has gotten wet and stopped working. During the day, the sea waves often collide with the rocks making a big spray of salt water all over the rocks. Fortunately, Joca's radio was in a safe place during the storm (under the radio table), and it seems the radio has not suffered any kind of damage. Joca will keep working on SSB with just 100w using a 160m dipole tuned for on all other bands. However, he is now logging on paper and there will be no more digital mode activity until he repairs his PC. INTERESTING NOTE: Joca has made a QSO with the International Space Station (ISS) on Saturday, using a portable VHF radio with just some watts of power.

QSL INFO AND NEWS
QSL BUREAU ACTIVITY ON A DECLINE? Jay Slough, K4ZLE, W8 Incoming QSL Bureau Manager, provided OPDX with his annual report on the ARRL's 8th Area Bureau (2005) activities. The ARRL Central 8th Area Incoming QSL Bureau received approximately 110,905 QSL cards in 2005 for redistribution. This is down almost 20% compared to 138,236 handled in 2004. They handled 154,054 cards in 2003. From these numbers and trends, you can see that LoTW and decreasing sunspots are affecting QSL volumes. (Could it also be a decreasing population of active DXers?) The monthly breakout is as follows:

            Jan. ­ 6,361    May  ­ 16,102     Sep. ­ 4,676
            Feb. ­ 8,083    Jun. ­ 5,417      Oct. ­ 4,387
            Mar. ­ 10,401   Jul. ­ 11,321     Nov. ­ 18,773
            Apr. ­ 8,947    Aug. ­ 10,891     Dec. ­ 5,5466

Phil, G3SWH, is pleased to announce that he has taken over the QSLing duties for 9G5XA and 3C5XA effective immediately. He has copies of all the past logs and is awaiting delivery of cards from the operator, G3XAQ. Direct requests with SAE and adequate return postage is preferred, but E-mail and bureau requests will also be processed, but please be aware that the bureau system takes a very long time! Phil's E-mail address is:

7Q7RM LOG CLOSING. Allan, G0IAS, QSL Manager for Ron MacFarlane, 7Q7RM, who died last year, has announced that he will permanently close the logs on Ron's many years of operation from Malawi later this year. If you need a card, it is suggested that you contact him soon.

QSL HS0ZDJ via W2YR. John, W2YR, was operating as HS0ZDJ in the CQ WW 160 Meters Contest this past weekend from Pattaya Beach, Thailand, about 180 km south of Bangkok as Single-Operator/High-Power entry. ADDED NOTE: Permission was applied for and was received from Thailand's National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) on Monday, January 23rd, for operations on 160 meters during the CQ Worldwide 160 Meters CW Contest last weekend (January 28-29th) with a frequency allocation of 1800-1825 kHz. Several Thailand-based stations were expected to be active during this contest, including RAST club station HS0AC (QRZ.com address) and HS0ZGL (QSL via G3TMA).

Logs for Gildas, TU5KG, last activity from Gabon as TR8CR are now available at:

SA3/SM3, SWEDEN
Operators Ulf/SM3RAB and Tomas/SM3WMU will be active as SM3D in the ARRL DX CW Contest (February 18-19th) as a Multi-Single/High- Power entry. Both operators will also be active as SA3D in the ARRL DX SSB Contest (March 4-5th) as a Multi-Single entry. QSL both activities via SM3WMU; bureau is preferred.

SPECIAL EVENT
Pete Rayer, ISWL Life Vice President, wants to remind everyone that the International Shortwave League (ISWL) continues with their 60th (Diamond) Anniversary celebrations throughout the year. If you missed the "GB6SWL" activity this past weekend, look for it to be active again on February 4-5th and 11-12th. Herbie, G6XOU, will be the main operator from Walton on the Naze, Essex. Other February GB6SWL activities are scheduled as follows:

February 18-19th - Dick, M5DIK, will be the main operator from Watford, Hertfordshire.

February 25-26th - Phil, G4DMS, will be the main operator from Towcester, Northamptonshire.

TI, COSTA RICA
Operators Mike/W9RE, Mark/N5OT, Mike/NT6X and Hal/N4GG will be active as TI5N for ARRL DX CW Contest (February 18-19th) as a Multi-2 entry. QSL via W3HNK. The team will also be active as TI5/homecall on all bands from February 14-25th. QSL via the operator's home callsign.

V3, BELIZE (IOTA Op)
Gerd/DJ4KW and Gisela/DK9GG currently in Belize as V31YN and V31GW, respectively, will activate Southwater Caye (NA-180), February 1-8th as V31YN/P and V31GW/P. Activity will be on 40 meters and higher on CW and RTTY. QSL via their home callsigns.

V4, ST. KITTS AND NEVIS

Operatots Bob/AA1M and Mike/W1USN will be active as V44/homecall from the island of St. Kitts between March 2-10th. Activity will be on all bands 80-10 meters CW, SSB and PSK31. All QSLs go to their home callsigns.

WP3, PUERTO RICO
Alfredo, WP3C, will be active in the CQ WW RTTY WPX Contest (February 11-12th) as a Single-Op/All-Band/Low-Power entry. His activity will also count for the WLOTA as LH-2802. QSL via W3HNK.

YI, IRAQ (Remote Station)
Brad, K6WR, informs OPDX the W7DXX InterNet Remote Base Group now has an InterNet Remote Base system operating in Baghdad, Iraq, under the callsign YI9DXX. It is active on 75 meters in the DX window about 23 kHz and on 20 meters with 13-16 kHz. For more details on the operation, please visit:

ZK1, SOUTH COOK ISLANDS
Jim, W1EMT, has comfirmed dates to be here between April 29th through May 20th. No other details were provided.

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