OPDX Bulletin 891 January 5, 2009

The Ohio/Penn Dx PacketCluster
DX Bulletin No. 891
BID: $OPDX.891
January 5, 2009
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, K1XN & GoList, NE1B, NJ1Q, WV2B, NG3K, N4AA & QRZ DX, K5XK, KH6BZF, AA8LL, K8CX, K8YSE, N8OFS, K9EL, DX-IS News Site, Pete's- DX-Newsdesk, A35RK, CX3AN, DK8JB, DL6KAC, DL7MAE & The DX News Letter, F5NQL & UFT, F5PFP, I1JQJ/IK1ADH & 425 DX News, RSGB IOTA Web Site, VA3RJ & ICPO and ZL3JT for the following DX information.

DXCC COUNTRY/ENTITY REPORT
According to the AR-Cluster Network for the week of Sunday, 28th/December, through Sunday, 4th/January there were 216 countries active. Countries available: 3A, 3B8, 3D2, 3DA, 3V, 3W, 4J, 4L, 4O, 4S, 4U1U, 4X, 5B, 5N, 5R, 5U, 5V, 5X, 5Z, 6W, 6Y, 7P, 7X, 8P, 8R, 9A, 9H, 9J, 9K, 9L, 9M2, 9M6, 9Q, 9V, 9X, 9Y, A3, A4, A5, A6, A7, A9, AP, BV, BY, C3, C6, C9, CE, CE9, CM, CN, CP, CT, CT3, CU, CX, D2, D4, DL, DU, E4, E5/s, E7, EA, EA6, EA8, EA9, EI, EK, EL, EP, ER, ES, ET, EU, EX, EY, F, FG, FK, FM, FO, FR, FW, G, GD, GI, GJ, GM, GU, GW, HA, HB, HB0, HC, HI, HK, HK0/a, HL, HP, HR, HS, HZ, I, IS, J2, J3, J5, J6, J7, JA, JD/m, 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, PZ, S2, S5, SM, SP, ST, SU, SV, SV/a, SV5, SV9, T32, T7, T8, TA, TF, TG, TI, TJ, TK, TL, TR, TT, TU, TY, UA, UA2, UA9, UK, UN, UR, V2, V4, V5, V7, V8, VE, VK, VK9N, VP2V, VP6, VP8, VP8/o, VP9, VQ9, VR, VU, XE, XU, XW, YA, YB, YI, YJ, YL, YN, YO, YS, YU, YV, Z2, Z3, ZB, ZC4, ZD7, ZD8, 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).

2008 A SPOTLESS YEAR!
Lee, KH6BZF/7J1AAP, propagation guru, informed OPDX that "We have experienced some very Sunspot lacking days during 2008." There were 272 spotless days out of the 366 days (Leap Year) or 74.37% of the year's days! August and December were the worst months with 31 and 28 spotless days, respectively. June and November were the best months with 19 and 15 spotless days, respectively. The rest of the months (of the year) were all in the twenties.

2008 DX SOUND BITES!
\Tom, K8CX, has done it again. He has provided DXers with 120 memorable DX sound clips from 2008. Visit Tom's famous "HAM GALLERY" Web at:

http://hamgallery.com/dx2008 While there also check out some of his other features on his Web page, such as: Rare DX Sound Clips of the past, QSL Card Museum, Dayton Photo Galleries and Tribute to Silent Key Ham Operators.

2009 DX MARATHON (Now Underway!)
John, K9EL, Program Manager of the CQ DX Marathon, reports:

"The 2009 edition of CQ Magazine's 2009 edition of the DX Marathon is now underway! Each year from January 1 to December 31, CQ Magazine sponsors a challenge to work as many countries and zones as possible in the calendar year. For complete rules and submission information, please see our web site at: www.dxmarathon.com. The 2009 official DX Marathon score sheet is now available for download. Remember to submit your 2008 scores by January 31, 2009."

3B7, ST. BRANDON ISLAND (Update - Also 3B6 and 3B9)
Ron, K5XK, updates OPDX that Rachid, 3B8FQ, reports that his working trip to St. Brandon Island (3B7), may be rescheduled for February. His earlier 3B7FQ operation was cancelled due to transportation problems. He is also planning a personal holiday with ham gear to Rodriguez Island (3B9), in July, and a return trip to Agalega Island (3B6) in November. The callsigns will be 3B7FQ, 3B9FQ, and 3B6FQ. QSL all three operations via K5XK at his new address per instructions on QRZ.com. More details will be provided as they become available. Meanwhile, Rachid is often active on all bands, 40-10 meters using CW and SSB (from Mauritius).

8Q, MALDIVES
Just a reminder that Andy, G7COD, will be operational for his fifth time from the Island of Embudu in the Kaafu Atoll (AS-013) using the callsign 8Q7AK between January 11-27th (2009). Activity will be CW and SSB on 40-10 meters including 30/17/12 meters. He plans to be operational every day from approximately 0730-0830z, 0900-1030z, 1300-1500z and 1730-1800z. Suggested frequencies are:
CW - 7003, 10103, 14003, 18073, 21003 and 24893 kHz (+/- for QRM)
SSB - 7063, 14147, 18133, 21253 and 24953 kHz (+/- 10 kHz)
For comprehensive details on QSL information etc, please check 8Q7AK on (QRZ.com).

A35, TONGA (6m History Continues)
Paul, A35RK, continues to be active on 6m enjoying the sporadic E season in the South Pacific. As well as making the first A3/VK 6m digital QSOs on December 26th and the 27th, Paul made the first 6m A3/ZL digital QSO with Duncan, ZL3JT, followed on the 28th with John, ZL3AAU. A35RK to ZL3JT on RTTY is another 6m "first" in amateur radio milestones.

A35, TONGA
World traveller and Uruguay DX Group member Bert, CX3AN, will be active as A35HA from Tonga's main island, Tongatapu (OC-049) for one week starting February 14th. He informs OPDX that he will be active on 40-6 meters with a special emphasis on 30/17 meters using CW and SSB, and only 100 watts from his Icom 706 into dipole antennas. His activity will be limited because he will be on a family holiday trip. Bert will be operating alone this time, not like other trips where his good friend Mario, CX4CR, usually would join him. QSL via CX3AN.

ANTARCTICA/POLAR WEB INFORMATION
Members of the "French Polar Team" have been putting together some interesting information/pictures (with music) of the different polar and sub-Antarctic regions. The Web page also has details on how to achieve their "Polar Trophy". They have created the Polar Trophy with the aim to stimulate the radio contacts with these regions as well as with the polar ships. This challenge is also sub- divided into the Antarctic Challenge and the Arctic Challenge. Visit this interesting Web page at: http://www.french-polar-team.fr/index.php Also, view the following polar ships/stations/islands at:
Rothera (Station R) on Adelaide Island --
http://www.french-polar-team.fr/VP8_Rothera_Station_R_Adelaide_Island.php
Base H on Signy Island (South Orkney archipelago) --
http://www.french-polar-team.fr/VP8_Signy_Station_H_Signy_Island_South_Orkney.php
Marion Dufresne II (Polar Ship) --
http://www.french-polar-team.fr/Polar_Ship_Marion_Dufresne_II.php
Marambio base on Seymour Island --
http://www.french-polar-team.fr/LU_Marambio_Station_Seymour_Island.php
Juan Carlos I Station on Livingston Island --
http://www.french-polar-team.fr/EA0_Juan_Carlos_I_Station_Livingston_Island.php

ASIAN TRIP (Update)
Frank, I2DMI, has ended his A52RY operation from Thimphu, Bhutan, on December 30th. However, he has announced that his 9N7DMI activity from Nepal must be cancelled. He returned to Italy on January 1st. No other details were provided. Remember, A52RY QSOs will be put on the 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).

C5, THE GAMBIA
Niels, OZ8KR, will be active as C56KR from Bakuto between January 9-14th. Activity will be on 40-10 meters SSB. His equipment is a FT-857 and wire antennas. After travling in Senegal (6W - no activity planned) he will be active again between January 23rd and February 4th. QSL via his home callsign.

C6, BAHAMAS
Operators Karney/W2AFC, Dave/N1EMC and Bill/NE1B (C6AWB) will operate from Nassau (NA-001, Grid Square FL15) with Tom/C6ANM during the following contests: CQ WW 160 CW (January 23-25th), ARRL DX CW (February 21-22nd), CQ WW 160 SSB (February 27th-March 1st) and ARRL DX SSB (March 6-8th). Additional C6ANM DX activity will be on 160-6 meters between January 1st and April 1st. QSL via LOTW.

CY0, SABLE ISLAND (DXpedition Postponed)
Duane Traver, WV2B, the CY0 DXpedition Team Leader, sent out a press release on January 1st, that states the following (edited):

"Dear Fellow DXers,
Reluctantly, due to the current U.S. economic situation, the DXpedition team has decided to postpone the CY0 DXpedition planned for 2009. While we are hopeful to reorganize the DXpedition {possibly for 2010}, we have decided that rather than tie up the funds so graciously made available by our sponsors, we will return donations received so the sponsorship may be available to other DXpeditions for this year. Any sponsoring organization may feel free to contact me with any questions regarding the matter. We are hopeful that our kind sponsors will be willing to renew their sponsorship when the Dxpedition is able to be reorganized in the future. The sabledx.com website will remain functional for the time being. Wishing all good DX and 73.
Sincerely, Duane Traver, WV2B Team Leader"

E4, PALESTINE (Update)
The E44M is now active until January 11th. Activity will be on 160-2 meters using CW, SSB, RTTY and all the digital modes with a maximum power of 1KW. They will have 3 stations on the air active with beams, verticals and wire antennas. The E44M arrived late on January 1st, but did not start setting up until the next day. Arturo, IK7JWY, has been named as their pilot station for their activity. They state,
"The function of the pilot station will be to collect requests and suggestions relating to the DXpedition, and then forward them to the team, and communicate to the public any instructions or information from the team." The pilot station will be only using the forum at http://www.hamradioweb.org/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=39 to receive messages from users in the special area of discussion.
The E44M Web page is at: http://www.dxcoffee.com/e44m

FO, FRENCH POLYNESIA
Phil, F5PHW, has received a 2 year assignment in Tahiti which will begin during the summer of 2009. He intends to be active on all HF bands from 80-10 meters using only 100 watts into a few different antennas composed of a doublet or a HF6VX vertical, and a Spiderbeam. Modes of activity will be mainly CW and Digital with very little SSB. QSL will be by LoTW, and there may be a QSL Manager who will be chosen later. More information is forthcoming, especially about his callsign.

GB40, ENGLAND (Special Event)
Look for special event station GB40WAB to be aired between January 1st and December 31st to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Worked All Britain Awards Group (WAB). Activity will not be at a permanant location and may be used from any of the 7 UK countries. The GB40WAB callsign will be running for the entire year, but other GB*WAB callsigns will also be on the air along with their club callsigns of G4WAB and G7WAB, using the club identifier prefixes of GX, GC, GS, GN, GP, GT and GH. Working these stations is an integral part of the WAB award. The WAB does NOT require QSL cards to be sent to them, but all contacts made by GB40WAB will be QSLed by them via the bureau. For more details, please see their Web site at:

http://www.worked-all-britain.co.uk ADDED WAB NOTE: The special event callsign GX4KPT (by the Keep People Talking CASHOTA Club), used during the "Three Castles In One Day" operation in December, has a new WAB book number of 18222. QSL via M0DOL, direct or by the bureau.

H7/YN7, NICARAGUA
Operators Stan/AC8W, Hank/K8DD, Jim/KB8TXZ and Lee/ N8LJ will be active for one week starting February 14th. Their activity will include the ARRL DX CW Contest (February 21-22nd). Emphasis will be on 160/80 meters and 30/17/12 meters. Their callsigns (TBA later) will be either be H7/homecall or YN2 callsigns. QSL via info on (QRZ.com).

IOTA NEWS
NA-076. Wade, AA8LL, will be active as AA8LL/4 from Cedar Key, FL, between 2200z, January 17th and 1700z, January 20th. Activity will be holiday style on 80-17 meters, mostly CW on the IOTA frequencies and RTTY using only 100 watts and wire antennas. This operation also counts for USI: FL041S as Way Key. QSL direct or by the bureau to AA8LL. Logs will also be uploaded to the LoTW.

P4, ARUBA (SA-036)
Peter, EA5GVH, will be active as P40PZ and on holiday between January 12-28th. Activity will be on 80-6 meters using SSB and the digimodes (PSK, Olivia, FeldHell, SSTV, RTTY and possibly others). QSL via EA5GVH. Visit his P40PZ Web page at:

http://www.mydarc.de/df7dq/aruba2009.htm

PJ2, NETHERLANDS ANTILLES
Members of the Caribbean Contesting Consortium (CCC) will activate Signal Point Station on Curacao (SA-006, WLOTA LH-0942) as PJ2/homecall during the end of February. Operators mentioned are Dan/N1ZZ, Geoff/W0CG, Jim/WI9WI, Mark/N5OT, Mal/NP2L, Jim/K6ZH and Charles/WA9S. Their main goal is the ARRL DX CW Contest (February 21-22nd) as a Multi-? entry using the callsign PJ2T. QSL PJ2T via N9AG or LoTW. QSL all others via their home callsigns. Visit the CCC Web site at:

http://www.pj2t.org

QSL INFO AND NEWS
QSL ROUTES by Johannes, DK8JB:
3Z0HNY via SP2FAP
KZ6C/KH2 via JA1CGH
RQ9I via RW9IM
YB8XM direct (PO BOX 151 AMBON 97001)

LOG ONLINE. The log for the special event station 4A1DXXE is now available online at:

http://www.dxxe.org/logsearch/index.php?cmd=preselect&log=4A1DXXE It is planned to update the online log once a day until activity ends. QSL for 4A1DXXE is via N7RO or LoTW.

NO LONGER THE QSL MANAGER FOR CT3BX. Hermann, HB9CRV, announced that as of December 31st, 2008, he is no longer the QSL manager of CT3BX. No new QSL Manager has been nominated and the logs are closed.

QSL UPDATES FOR HC8N and K5S (NA-082). Randy, W5UE, reports that all direct requests received for HC8N as of December 19th, have been answered and are in the mail. The remaining incoming QSLs of 2008 for HC8N should be in the mail by January 5th. QSL cards for K5S/K5Z, East Ship Island, MS (IOTA NA-082) activity in October have been received from the printer and direct requests have started going out. The K5S team was expected to have a "QSL Party" on January 3rd and the remaining direct requests received to date should be answered then. Randy states, "I have also started accepting online requests for direct cards for stations I manage. The process is fairly simple. Make an online donation via PayPal to cover my postage/card costs and send me QSO data via E-mail. My hope is that this method will be more cost effective and efficient for both you and me as manager. Please see my Web page for details at:

http://w5ue.net/qsl-w5ue.html I welcome any feedback you might have on this process. Bureau requests are now being answered via the GlobalQSL service. Several thousand backlogged HC8N requests have already been entered and should be finding their way into the bureau system soon. I apologize for my lack of bureau responses since hurricane Katrina... this should put me back on track."

HAVE PATIENCE! QSL cards are still being received for the many UA4WHX operations. Vlad is still sending them out.

QSLS VIA LOTW: 5Z1A, 5Z4DX, ER0WW, H44MY, PZ5RA, SJ2W and XV4BM QSLS RECEIVED VIA MAIL: 5N/LZ1QK, 9L0W, 9L1X, 9M6XRO/p, 9Q1D, C6AKX, C6ATA, C91R, CN2B, CU2X, ER0WW, HB0/PA3FGA, OA4BHY/2, OJ0B, OJ0J, PJ7/K1XM, S79NS/P, TO4X, UA9MA, V73NS, VK1ANU/5, VU4MY and YU8/OH2R QSLS RECEIVED VIA THE BUREAU: 6W1SJ, 9A73AA, DR1A, HB9LH, HB10DX, J48IO, J48YL, LY4L, LY2FN/P, OX3MC, PA20NAFRAS, R375I, SO9R, TA2DS/0, TC0SV, TK/ON4AXU, V31FG/P and YI9RKB QSL.NET & QTH.NET ANNOUNCEMENT.
Al Waller, K3TKJ, announced on December 31st (2008) the following (edited):

Dear fellow hams,
After 13 years of providing hams with no cost web space, e-mail forwarding and mailing list services through QSL.net and QTH.net, I have decided to retire. All QSL.net and QTH.net servers and Internet connections at my home QTH are being turned down.
Scott, KA9FOX, has graciously decided to pick up where I left off, and he is in the process of migrating all services to new hardware. See below (on http://www.qsl.net/index.html) for an update on the status of the migration.
I want to thank all of you for all of your support over the years,
and I hope that you will support Scott as he takes over the reigns. See you on the air! 73 - Al Waller, K3TKJ"

TS7, TUNISIA (Update/IOTA Op)
Members of the France Provins ARC (F6KOP) and some international operators will activate Kerkennah Island (AF-073) using the callsign TS7C between January 8-19th (2009). This 12 day operation would not be possible without the help of Mustapha, DL1BDF. According to the latest press release (edited) by Maurice, F5NQL: "All the luggage is packed and sorted by 25kg parcels (one per operator). Mustapha, DL1BDF, team member, was a great help to so we could obtain the use of the special callsign TS7C.

As indicated in "Press Release No.1, some new comers in the DXpedition have been included in the team, to permit them to get some more skill, operating side by side with long time experienced DXpeditioners. They are the future operators of F6KOP next expeditions. We ask your indulgence for them; they are learning what to do in the pile-ups, and for some of them, TS7C will be their first DXpedition. We will stay on Chergui Island (IOTA AF-073 and WLOTA 3459), in the Kerkennah Group. Their departure is scheduled from Paris, on January 8th, in the early morning. The team will begin to set-up the first station immediately when they arrive at the Kerkennah Hotel. So, the first signals are expected the same day at the end of the afternoon or early in the evening.

The departure from Kerkennah is scheduled very early in the morning of the 19th. So the operation end will happen sometime around 1800 or 1900z, in the evening of the 18th. As usual, one station will continue to be on the air in the evening as late as possible. For the new bands and/or modes hunters, we will be operating on the HF bands, 160-10m, using CW, SSB, FM, and the Digital modes (RTTY, PSK31, BPSK, SSTV). We will pay special attention on the lower bands, 160/80m. Of course you'll find operators on the other bands and modes.

Six stations will operate at the same time, 24 hours a day. Sometimes it will be possible to hear TS7C on the same band but different modes. The antenna farm will consist of vertical and wire antennas for the lower bands and Spiderbeams for 40-10m. Since the first press release the team had to be changed a little. The complete team going to Tunisia has been finalized and the team consists of the following:

Frank/F4AJQ - SSB and Digimodes; Team leader and former leader of all the past F6KOP DXpeditions
Mustapha/DL1BDF - SSB and Digimodes; Public relation with Tunisian authorities Bernard/F9IE - CW traffic leader
Bob/N6OX - SSB traffic leader
Jean-Paul/F8BJI - Digital traffic leader
Sylvain/F4EGD - SSB and Digimodes; He is also the QSL Manager of the DXpedition.
Gerard/F2VX - SSB
Bill/N2WB - CW and SSB
Michel/FM5CD - CW, SSB and Digimodes
Sabastien/F5UFX - CW and SSB
Sabastien/F8IJV - SSB
Jean-Luc/F6BIV - SSB and Digimodes
Norbert/F6AXX - CW
Alain/F6ENO - CW
Dieter/OE8KDK - SSB and Digimodes
Stefan/OE8SKQ - CW
Mathieu/F5PED - CW
Eric/ON7RN - CW and SSB
Henri/F1HRE - SSB
Franco/F4EVR - SSB
Michel/F5EOT - SSB
Arno/OE9AMJ - CW and SSB
Joseph/F6CTT - SSB and Digimodes
Tony/G0OPB - CW and SSB
Gabriele/I2VGW - CW, SSB and Digimodes
XYL Anne Marie LAURENT, Photo reporter

BACK OFFICE (still the same):
Pilot Stations: Pascal/F5JSD, Ser
ge/F6AML, Thierry/F4TTR and Bruno/F5AGB.
Webmaster: Vincent, F5MJV. Internet Communications: Maurice/F5NQL (UFT mailing list) for TS7C. To receive TS7C news/updates directly via your E-mail address both in English and French, send E-mail to: f5nql@aol.com

QSL via Sylvain, F4EGD, either direct or by the REF-Union Bureau (Please only via this bureau). Details are available on the DXpedition's Web site on how to QSL. Support and donations are welcome. Those who want to sponsor us can see how to do so on the sponsor's page on the TS7C Web site."
The TS7C Web page is:

http://www.ts7c.net

V6, MICRONESIA
Paul, A35RK, informs OPDX that Mike/KM9D and Jan/KF4TUG are on the move again. The "SV Don Henry" is now enroute to Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia. Their ETA is currently unknown, operation plans unknown, possible callsigns unknown, and their possible length of stay unknown.

V8, BRUNEI DARUSSALAM
Sam, G4OHX, reports that he expects to fly into Brunei on February 11th (from Singapore where he will be on holiday for a day or two) and will be active as V8FHX until February 23rd. When he leaves, he will fly to Kuala Lumpur, the capital of Malaysia, and fly home on the 25th of February.

ZM1, NEW ZEALAND
Operators Jacky/ZL3CW, Akinori/ZL1GO, Romeo/ZL2RU and Robert/ZL1AIH will be active as ZM1A during the ARRL DX SSB Contest (March 7-8th) and ARRL DX CW Contest (February 21-22nd) as a Multi-Single entries. QSL via ZL1AMO.

** 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! )

SPECIAL NOTE BY EDITOR: If you are having a problem receiving bounced mail by sending mail to me via " kb8nw@barf80.nshore.org ", please send mail to me via " kb8nw@arrl.net "...... TNX de Tedd KB8NW

PLEASE NOTICE (as of February 12, 2007), NEW ADDRESS CHANGES FOR THE OPDX INTERNET HELP/SUBSCRIBE/UNSUBSCRIBE REQUEST:

Help: opdx-request@barf80.org Subject:help
Subscribe: opdx-request@barf80.org Subject:subscribe
Unsubscribe: opdx-request@barf80.org Subject:unsubscribe

OPDX WORLD-WIDE WEB HOME (provided by John, K8YSE (k8yse@papays.com):
http://www.papays.com/opdx.html

ALSO VISIT THE NORTERN OHIO DX ASSOCIATION'S WEB HOME PAGE:
http://www.papays.com/nodxa.html

Excerpts and distribution of The OPDX Bulletin are granted as long as KB8NW/OPDX/BARF80 receive credit. To contribute DX info, please send via InterNet Mail to: kb8nw@barf80.nshore.org - OR - kb8nw@arrl.net

Information can now be faxed to the following "NEW" phone line at: 1-419-828-7791 (F A X only!)

Additional Bulletins for OPDX InterNet Subscribers

No Bulletins This Week

Back to the OPDX Index
Back to the NODXA
Back to the EIDX Network