The Ohio/Penn Dx PacketCluster
DX Bulletin No. 889
BID: $OPDX.889
December 22, 2008
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, ARRL DX Bulletin, K1XN & GoList, NJ1Q, N2OO, NG3K, N4AA & QRZ DX, W4VQ, K5ZD, K6EID, K8YC, K8YSE, ND9M, WO0Z, DX-IS News Site, Pete's-DX-Newsdesk, DK8JB, DL5YWM, DL7MAE & The DX News Letter, EA4ATI, F5NQL & UFT, F5PFP, HA9RE, HK3JJH, I1JQJ/IK1ADH & 425 DX News, JE2EHP, PS7AB, RSGB IOTA Web Site, SW1JGW, TA1HZ, TA0U, VA3RJ & ICPO, VK2UA and VK3FM for the following DX information.

SPECIAL NOTE FROM EDITOR (Tedd, KB8NW)
My family (wife/OPDX's chief proof-reader Linda, son Teddy [TJ] and his wife Jessi, daughter Katie and her husband Kevin) and I (KB8NW) would like to wish all DXers, Contesters and OPDX readers a very "Happy Holiday, Merry Christmas and Season's Greetings". Thanks to the individuals who sent holiday wishes to my family and me. I tried to answer all of them this time around.......
73 and Have a Great Holiday de Tedd KB8NW

DXCC COUNTRY/ENTITY REPORT
According to the AR-Cluster Network for the week of Sunday, 14th-December, through Sunday, 21st-December there were 207 countries active. Countries available: 3A, 3B8, 3D2, 3DA, 3V, 3W, 3X, 4J, 4L, 4O, 4S, 4X, 5B, 5N, 5R, 5V, 5W, 5X, 5Z, 6W, 6Y, 7X, 8P, 9A, 9G, 9H, 9J, 9K, 9L, 9M2, 9M6, 9Q, 9V, 9Y, A2, A3, A4, A5, A6, A7, A9, AP, BV, BY, C3, C6, CE, CE9, CM, CN, CP, CT, CT3, CU, CX, D2, D4, DL, DU, E5/s, E7, EA, EA6, EA8, EA9, EI, EK, EL, EP, ER, ES, ET, EU, EX, EY, EZ, F, FG, FK, FM, FO, FR, G, GD, GI, GM, GU, GW, H4, HA, HB, HC, HH, HI, HK, HL, HP, HR, HS, HV, HZ, I, IS, J2, J3, J5, 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, OJ0, OK, OM, ON, OX, OY, OZ, P2, P4, PA, PJ2, PJ7, PY, PY0F, PZ, S5, SM, SP, SU, SV, SV5, SV9, T7, TA, TF, TG, TI, TL, TR, TT, TU, TY, UA, UA2, UA9, UK, UN, UR, V4, V5, V7, V8, VE, VK, VP2E, VP2M, VP2V, VP5, VP6, VP8, VP8/o, VP9, VQ9, VR, VU, XE, XT, XU, YB, YI, YJ, YL, YN, YO, YS, YU, YV, Z2, Z3, ZA, ZB, ZC4, ZD7, ZF, 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).

2009 CQ WPX CONTEST (Rule Changes)
Randy Thompson, K5ZD, Director of the CQ WPX Contest, announced that the rules for the 2009 CQ WPX Contest are now available. See:

4A, MEXICO (Special Event)
Members of the DXXE (Mexican Contest and DX group) will celebrate their 4th anniversary by using the special callsign 4A1DXXE between December 25th and January 6th (2009). Activity will be on 160-6 meters using CW, SSB and RTTY. QSL via N7RO and the LoTW. QSOs with this station are good for the DXXE Award. For more information, visit the DXXE Web page at:

5H, TANZANIA (IOTA Op)
Sigi/DL7DF and his XYL Sabine will be on holiday in Zanzibar (AF-032), February 3-13th. Look for Sigi to sign 5H1DF and be active on 160-10 meters using CW, SSB, RTTY and SSTV as often as possible. His equipment consists of a transceiver, a linear TY900, a 18m Lowband Vertical, a Vertical R7, as well as a laptop computer. QSL via DL7DF, by the German QSL Bureau (DARC) or direct to: Sigi Presch, Wilhelmsmuehlenweg 123, D-12621 Berlin, Germany. For updates and more details, visit:

7P, LESOTHO
Danny, ZS6AW, is expected to be active as 7P8AA this week between December 24-27th. His main activity will be on 20 meters SSB. QSL via his home callsign.

9M2, WEST MALAYSIA
Dani, EA4ATI, informed OPDX that he is working now in Malaysia. He has been issued the callsign 9M2TI and will be operating from Kuala Lumpur city. Using a vertical antenna with 400 watts, look for Dani to be active on 40/20/15/10 meters using CW and SSB. He also mentions that he will participate in the main international contests (like the CQ WPX) from a different location with a better station (yagi antennas and also dipole for 80m). Dani will stay in Malaysia for at least one year. QSL via his home callsign.

ASIAN TRIP (Update)
By the time you read this Frank, I2DMI, should be active from Thimphu, Bhutan, as A52RY between December 22-31st. Frank informed OPDX on Friday that he will be using his own vertical antenna because the yagi at the HAM CENTRE has been broken by wind. He also mentioned that he still does not know his callsign for Nepal, but he will get a 9N7 (RY? or DMI?) callsign after his arrival in Kathmandu.

Please remember he will only be active during his spare time as A52RY. Activity will only be RTTY. He thinks his operating periods will likely be in the ranges of 0100-0300z and 1200-1900z. Suggested target frequencies will be 3582, 7040, 10142, 14082, 18102, 21082, 24922 and 28082 kHz, listening up 2 or spread 2-10 kHz depending on the pileup. He will concentrate his activity on the opened bands.

QSOs will be put on LoTW and e-QSL the second week of January. Bureau cards will go out the fourth week of March. You can QSL direct to I2DMI: P.O. Box 55 - 22063 CANTU, Italy. Include a self addressed envelope (SAE) and sufficient return postage. Please QSL only to his P.O. Box # 55 - 22063 Cantu (not his home address).

BLACK SEA CUP INTERNATIONAL
The members of the Ukrainian Black Sea Contest Club (BSCC) invite all amateurs to participate in the 2009 Black Sea Cup International which is held during the first full weekend of February beginning 12:00 UTC Saturday and ending 00:00 UTC Sunday (February 7-8th). The object is to contact as many other amateurs, BSCC members, amateurs of Black Sea countries, especially IARU member society HQ stations around the world as possible using the 160/80/40/20/15/10 meter bands using CW and SSB. For complete details, visit the BSCC Web page at:

CTU 2009 DAYTON REGISTRATION
Tim, K3LR, CTU Chairman, reports, "I am pleased to announce that 'early bird' registration for Dayton ConTest University ("CTU") 2009 is now OPEN. The CTU staff is working hard to prepare an interesting and informative curriculum for 2009. CTU will be held in Dayton, Ohio, on Thursday, May 14th, 2009 (classes last all day). This is the day before the big 3 day Dayton event! CTU 2009 will feature some of the best Radio Contest operators and station builders (CTU Professors). They will present state of the art contesting topics that will increase your knowledge and fun. Thanks to our flagship Sponsor - Icom America for their continued support of CTU 2009 and our contesting radio sport. Also thanks to CQ Magazine, DX Engineering, Comtek Systems, Dave, W9ZRX and SuperBertha for helping make CTU a success. For CTU 2009 details and registration, 2008 CTU wrap up and more information, go to:

ELECTED OFFICICERS FOR 2009
At its annual meeting held on Thursday, December 11th, the Carolina DX Association elected the following officers to serve for 2009:

        President:            Ted Goldthorpe, W4VHF
        Vice President:       Paul Ponak,     AD4IE
        Secretary-Treasurer:  Cliff Wagoner,  W3ZL
        Newsletter Editor:    John Scott,     K8YC
        Contest Manager:      Dick Williams,  W3OA
        Cluster Managers:     Joe Simpkins,   K4MD
                              Paul Sturpe,    W3GQ
        Webmaster:            Wayne Setzer,   WB4BXW

FT5W, CROZET ISLAND (Update)
No QSNs reported yet for Florentin, F4DYW, as FT5WO. He was expected to be on the air around December 10th or 15th. Florentin will be active on 40-10 meters SSB (and possibly 80m). He will stay there until end of November 2009, and will return back home in early 2010. QSL via F4DYW, direct or by the bureau after he returns back home.
Look for updates on:

FW, WALLIS & FUTUNA ISLANDS (Update)
Eli, HA9RE, and a team of operators will be active from Wallis Island as FW5RE (not FW0RE as first reported). Eli informs OPDX that they will be leaving Budapest on January 23rd, and travel via London and Los Angeles were they will arrive on Fiji early in the morning on January 26th. The group is expected to arrive on Wallis Island during the afternoon also on the January 26th. Eli states, "Provided all our baggage arrives in due time then we can begin the operation on January 28-29th." They are expected to be there for about a month. Activity will be on 160-10 meters, including 30/17/12 meters, using CW, SSB and RTTY. Two stations will be on the air. Antennas to be used are: a 24m vertical on 160/80/40m, Spiderbeam for 20/17/15/10m, HB9CV for 20-15m and a 8-band Butternut. QSL Manager will be HA8IB. Eli and his team are now looking for sponsorship. To help, contact Eli via E-mail at:

HI, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
Tino, HI3CCP, will be active during the CQWW WPX RTTY Contest (February 14-15th) from Lomas del Toro in Santiago (the Lomadeltoro Contest Team's HI3CCP station):

HQ9, HONDURAS
Ray, WQ7R, will be active as HQ9R during the CQ 160-Meter CW Contest (Janaury 23-24th) as Single-Op/High-Power entry. QSL via K5WW.

IOTA NEWS
EU-092. Jim, MM0BQI, will be active as MM0Q from Tanera Mor, Scotland, during the RSGB IOTA Contest (July 25-26th, 2009). QSL via the LoTW. QSL are also OK via MM0BQI, by the Bureau or direct.

JD1, MINAMI TORISHIMA
Masa, JA6GXK, will once again be active as JD1BMM starting around December 23rd through January 6th. His activity will be on the low bands. QSL via his home callsign.

KH2, GUAM (OC-026)
Yoshi, JE2EHP, will be active as K1HP/KH2 from here between January 16-19th (2009). Activity will be on all HF bands and 6m, using CW, SSB and RTTY. QSL is via Bureau to his home callsign JE2EHP.

KP2, U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS
Operators Kunio/JA1CJA (KP2/AE6XY), Takeo/JA3BZO (KP2/AE6YQ) and Masumi/JA3AVO (KP2/W3AVO) will be active from Brad's (K9BZ) rental shack (RADIO REEF) between Janaury 17-22nd. The trio will arrive on St.Croix, January 16th, but spend 22 days at Radio Reef before returning to St.Croix on the 23rd for departure. Activity will be on 160-6 meters using CW, SSB and the Digital modes.

LIGHTHOUSE ACTIVITIES
*Members of the "Old Barney Aamateur Radio Club (OBARC) will be active as N2OB/150 (or N2OB/LH) starting at 0000z, on December 27th, through 2359z, January 4th (2009). Operations will be on all bands and modes available. Activity is to celebrate the relighting and the 150th anni- versary of the "Barnegat Lighthouse" (nicknamed "Old Barney"). Yes, "Old Barney" will officially be relit on January 1, 2009, which is the 150th anniversary of its original lighting on January 1st, 1859. The lighthouse was officially shut down in 1944 and became a state park in 1957. Since that time only a 250 watt light was lit for aesthetics only. On January 1st, a new light with a new fresnel lens will be lit and "Old Barney" will once again be an official (private) navigational aid. For more info on the relighting, visit the following Web page at:

*Members of the Turkish group called TCSWAT (Special Wireless Activity Team) will activate a series of lighthouses during the following five months from the historical lighthouses around Istanbul. In collaboration with the Directorate General of Coastal Safety, TCSWAT is organizing the "Istanbul Lighthouses On The Air" activities which will take place from Karaburun (TUR 036), Sile (TUR 046), Anadolu (TUR 014), Ahirkapi (TUR 056), Rumeli/Turkeli (TUR 053) and Fenerbahce (TUR 021) Lighthouses during the last two weekends of December 2008. The dates, locations and callsigns are as the following:
December 20-21st - Karaburun Lighthouse (TUR 036) as TC1KLH
       27-28th - Karaburun Lighthouse (TUR 036) as TC1KLH
January 17-18th - Sile Lighthouse (TUR 046) as TC2SLH
January 24-25th - Anadolu Lighthouse (TUR 014) as TC2ALH
February 21-22nd - Ahirkapi Burnu Lighthouse (TUR 056) as TC1ALH
March 21-22nd - Rumeli/Turkeli Lighthouse (TUR 053) as TC1RLH
April 4-5th - Fenerbahce Lighthouse (TUR 021) as TC2FLH
Stations contacting four or more of the lighthouses will receive an "Istanbul Lighthouses On The Air Award". Details will be announced later on the following Web sites at:

* Operators Ron/WB3AAL, Jim/KA3UNQ and Stan/N2US will be active as homecall/p during the ARLHS Lighthouse Christmas Lights QSO Party (between December 20th and January 4th) from the lighthouse (ARLHS USA-857) in Turkey Point, Maryland. Activity will be on all bands and modes. QSL via the station's home callsign with a SASE or by the Bureau. N2US uses the LoTW. For details on the Lighthouse Christmas Lights QSO Party (LCL), see:

OA4, PERU
Fred, DL1NL, is currently active from Lima as OA4/DL1NL. His activity is CW only. QSNs show that he has been on 40 and 20 meters. Look for him to stay here until the end of the month. QSL via his home callsign, direct (QRZ.com) or by the bureau.

PJ4, NETHERLANDS ANTILLES
Larry, WO0Z (Whiskey Oscar Zero Zulu) will be active as PJ4/WO0Z from Bonaire (IOTA SA-006) between December 26th and January 4th. He intends to concentrate on 17 and 30 meters in this holiday style DXpedition using all modes. QSL via WO0Z (Whiskey Oscar Zero Zulu). PLEASE NOTE: Larry reuests to PLEASE leave the phonetics in the above announcement as it spares W0OZ (Whiskey Zero Oscar Zulu) many QSLs!

QSL INFO AND NEWS
5X1AB PIRATE ALERT. Phil, K6EID, who is the QSL Manager for Arik, 5X1AB, states that Arik was active on October 9th, 2008, until 1740z when he then QRTed. Someone apparently used his callsign working many USA boys after that until 2100 or 2200z. Phil states, "I've received loads of cards and had to return them as NIL. Arik confirmed that he did not make these QSOs. Anyone working a station signing 5X1AB after 1740z on October 9th, 2008, you worked a pirate, save your postage."

NA-132/NA-133 QSL REQUEST. Pedro, HK3JJH, informs OPDX that he is receiving lot of QSL cards for the recent expedition (NA-132/NA-133) from the USA with only a 42 cent stamp only on the envelope. These cards will not be answerd directly because his post office box in Miami is a mail drop-off (to make it easier/safer for him to retrieve the cards). The QSLs will be mailed to Colombia and then sent back to the U.S. for mailing; the expenses are over one USD for each envelope.

Rony, PS7AB, informs OPDX that he is now the new Manager of the "Islanders Expeditionaries Association" (AEI), the Awards and Certifi- cates of the "DIB" (Brazilian Islands Award), "DFB" (Brazilian Light- houses Award), and "DFH" (Brazilian Historical Fortifications), in substitution to the old manger, Pedro Sirzanink, PP5SZ. The "Islanders Expeditionaries Association" (AEI) is a civilian society that was founded on October, 27, 1993, in Florianopolis City, by Pedro Sirzanink, PP5SZ. For more information about "AEI", please read the following link:

QSLs for TC12AKUT, which was active between Decemeber 1-15th, 2008, to celebrate the 12th anniversary of AKUT Search & Rescue Association by the AKUT DXpedition Team from Kartepe and Karaburun, will be out before the end of January 2009. More than 15k QSOs were made during this period. Check out the following links for pictures at:

QSLS VIA LOTW: 3X5A, D4C, H44MY and OX5AA

QSLS RECEIVED VIA MAIL: 3C7Y, 3V8BB, 5H3VB, 7Q7VB, 9J2VB, 9M6XRO/P, 9Y4W, A25/DL7DF, A35ZS, BU2AI, CE0Y/JJ2NYT, D20VB, E73M, EI3O, EL2DX, FM5CD, HQ9R, J20VB, J88DR, LU4DXU/mm, OJ0B, P29NI, PZ5Z, R1ANR, S79UH, T05DX, TY5ZR, UN7/JH4RHF, V44KAI, V51VV, VQ9LA, XU7MDY, YL2KO, Z2/UA4WHX, ZL7/DL2AH and ZS6CCY

QSLS RECEIVED VIA THE BUREAU: 3A/F4CQA, 3DA0CW, 4Z5PG, 6K2AVL, 7Z1HL, 8R1PW, C91CW, C93DY, CE0Z/DL2AH, DO1KGA, EA7TV/P, EC7ABV, EL2DX, EU1PA, F4ELJ/P, F6HQP/P, FJ/G3TXF, J6/DL7AFS, JW/F8DVD, LY80A, LZ130LO, LZ1JZ, MD0LON, OH0X, OH3OJ/P, OH9SCL, OY9R, PJ7/DG5JX, R50KP, RZ3DH, SU8BHI, SX7W, TI9KK, TX5C, UA6YW, UE1OKI, UR4Z, V5/DJ8VC, VP6PR, YI9CW, YO2LXW, YO8RIJ, YV5AJ, YV5EAH and ZL7/SP9PT

S7, SEYCHELLES
Jan, DL7JAN, will be active as S79JF from Praslin Island (AF-024) between Februrary 22nd and March 6th (2009). Activity will be on 40-10 meters using CW, SSB, RTTY and possibly PSK31. QSL via DL7JAN, direct or by the Bureau.

V5, NAMIBIA (Satellites, VHF, UHF and EME)
Operators Hal/ZS6WB, Pine/ ZS6OB, Dick/ZS6BUG, Sarel/ZS6AC, Dave/N7BHC and Dan/HB9CRQ will be active from the moonrise on January 7th to moonset on January 16th (2009). Their QTH will be in Luderitz, Namibia (Grid Locator JG73NI). Activity will be mainly on 50, 144, 432 and 1296 MHz EME. At the same time, they will be active for transatlantic Tropo on 144 and 432 and on the satellites (AO-7, FO-29 and AO-51). For more details and updates, watch the following Web page at:

VI2, AUSTRALIA (Att. PFX Hunters - Special Event Update)
For those amateurs keen on collecting unusual callsigns, the Waverley Amateur Radio Society, a radio club in suburban Sydney, Australia, and claiming to be the oldest continuously licensed radio club in Australia, will be activating the special event callsign VI2BV90 between January 24th and February 1st (2009). Activity is to celebrate the 90th anniversary of the club. Operation will be SSB mode, on or near 3590, 7090, 14190, 21190 and 28490 kHz, as well as IRLP node 6250 and Echolink node 305559. Times of operation will depend on operator availability. Up-to-date information may be found on the Club's Web site at:

VQ9(8), CHAGOS ISLANDS
Jim, ND9M, informed OPDX on Friday that he has just arrived back on Diego Garcia for another four month tour (He is an electronics officer onboard the M/V Sgt William R Button). His VQ9JC license was renewed without difficulty, and as a plus, Jim has requested and was issued a two week license to operate as VQ98JC between December 18-31st. He was heard this past weekend on the air using this special callsign on 30/20/17/15 meters CW. He also mentions that his QSLs for his VQ98JC operation will not be printed until after his return to the states in April 2009. Jim states,

"My operating times are typically during my local evening from 1200-1630z on Sunday through Thursday and 1200-1730z on Friday and Saturday. (Local time is GMT +6 all year.) There will be occasional overnight operating (usually on weekends). This will allow me to remain QRV until 0100z when I must return to my ship for the day's business. I'll be QRV on all bands and modes plus satellite (AO-51, SO-50, etc.). As usual, QSL via the home callsign, ND9M."

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