Ohio/Penn DX Bulletin No. 596
January 27, 2003

The Ohio/Penn DX PacketCluster
DX Bulletin No. 596
BID: $OPDX.596
January 27, 2003
Editor Tedd Mirgliotta, KB8NW
Provided by BARF-80 BBS Cleveland, Ohio
Online at 440-237-8208 28.8k-1200 Baud 8/N/1

Thanks to the Northern Ohio Amateur Radio Society, Northern Ohio DX Association, Ohio/Penn PacketCluster Network, AB5K & the AR TelNet Clusters Network, ARRL Letter, WB2YQH, N3ZOM, NG3K, W3CF, W3UR & The Daily DX, N4AA & QRZ DX/The DX Magazine, W4WX, WB6RSE, K8YSE, W8TTS, K9RZ, W9DX, A35RK, DJ7AA, DJ7ZG, DL1EK/DL7VOA & DX Newsletter, F5NQL & UFT, FJ5DX & La Gazette du DX, F5LEN, G0IAS, HK3JJH, I1JQJ & IK1ADH - 425 DX NEWS, JF6DEA, OE 1002419, OH5DX, OK1JR, ONANT, OZ7C, OZ6OM/OZ7M & OZ 50 MHz DX Bulletin, SM7AED, SP5EWY, VA3RJ & ICPO, ZL4HU and ZS4BS for the following DX information.

DXCC COUNTRY/ENTITY REPORT: According to the AR-Cluster Network for the week of Sunday, 19/January, through Sunday, 26/January there were 234 countries active. Countries available: 3A, 3B8, 3B9, 3C, 3D2, 3DA, 3V, 3W, 3X, 4J, 4L, 4S, 4U1I, 4X, 5B, 5H, 5N, 5R, 5U, 5V, 5W, 5Z, 6Y, 7P, 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, C6, CE, CE0Z, 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, FJ, FK, FM, FO, FP, FR, FY, G, GD, GI, GJ, GM, GU, GW, H4, HA, HB, HB0, HC, HI, HK, HK0/a, HL, HP, HR, HS, HV, HZ, I, IS, J6, J7, JA, JD/m, JD/o, JT, JW, JY, K, KG4, KH0, KH6, KH8, KH9, 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, S2, S5, S7, S9, SM, SP, ST, SU, SV, SV/a, SV5, SV9, T30, T31, T7, T9, TA, TF, TG, TI, TJ, TK, TL, TR, TT, TU, TY, UA, UA2, UA9, UK, UN, UR, V2, V3, V4, V5, V7, V8, VE, VK, VK0M, VK9L, VK9N, VP2E, VP2V, VP5, VP8/h, VP8/o, VQ9, VR, VU, XE, XT, XU, XW, XZ, YA, YB, YI, YJ, YK, YL, YN, YO, YS, YU, YV, Z2, Z3, ZA, ZB, ZC4, ZD7, ZD9, 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).

2002 WRTC VIDEO RELEASED. Ari, OH5DX, informs OPDX that the official video of the Amateur Radio Olympics (WRTC 2002) is now available on DVD and VHS. Unlike previous ham radio videos, this one is produced from a 100% "pro-sports" perspective. Watching the extreme effort Finnish hams put into making WRTC 2002 as successful and professional as it was, it is only fitting that the official video reflect these achievements. In order to capture as much of the action as possible, three different camera crews were sent out to film as many teams and events as they could during the actual 24 hour competition. And supporting all this great footage are high-end 3D graphics, intra-competition scoreboards, top-ten boxes, team profiles, and lots of other things that you might expect when watching a professional sports event on television. The entire production is even narrated by one of ESPN's top announcers. Animation, graphics and sound were all posted at some of the best studios in the Asia-Pacific region, and the DVDs were mastered in the same facilities used by Paramount and Sony Entertainment. Total running time is 60 minutes. The DVD version also contains lots of extra features like full score breakdowns for each team, continental line-ups, competitor rulebook, and even all the past WRTC scores dating back to 1990. Copies are now shipping worldwide, and all information on how to obtain one can be found at the following web site: http://home1.pacific.net.sg/~jamesb/

3B8, MAURITIUS. Herman, ON4AME, is expected to be active as 3B8/ON4AME from Mauritius (grid square LG89) from March 9-22nd. Activity will be on CW/SSB and digimodes (SSTV-RTTY-PSK31-JT44... anything that is soundblaster compatible) using a TS2000X fitted with 160m-23cm. The antennas will be verticals and beams. More details will be forthcoming.

5X, UGANDA. QSL Manager Bob, WB2YQH, informs OPDX that Graham, 5X1GS, has been semi-active this month due to work related travels away from Kampala to the north part of the country. He is now traveling to 5Z4 (no operation there) and back to 5X for a day before departing for the UK on January 30th. He will return to Uganda February 15th. He is looking into a WARC beam for a better signal. Bob also mentions that the logs are up-to-date. QSL via WB2YQH.

6W, SENEGAL. Norbert/F6AXX and Anne Marie will be vacationing here now through February 7th, in the Saly Area. The callsign to be used will be 6W7/F6AXX. Look for Norbert every morning and evening mainly on CW around the following suggested frequencies: 14035, 18090, 21035, 24105 and 28035 kHz (+/- QRM). QSL via F6AXX, either direct (SASE) or via the French REF Bureau. Some more information about Saly and amateur radio in Senegal can be found (in French) at: http://www.pleinsud.online.fr/ra.htm

6Y, JAMAICA. John, K3TEJ, plans to be active in the ARRL DX CW Contest (February 15-16th) as 6Y0T. During activity outside of the contest, he will operate as 6Y5/K3TEJ. He will be active from here between February 11-18th. Operations will be on 160-10 meters CW ONLY. QSL both callsigns via K3TEJ.

7Q, MALAWI. QSL Manager, Allan, G0IAS, informs OPDX that Les, 7Q7LA, has landed in Malawi, but a week late. He also states that by the time the OPDX readers read this, Harry/7Q7HB and Les/7Q7LA should be active and providing some "new ones" from the Lake shore (of Malawi) for plenty of people this time around. Allan states not to hesitate to ASK the guys if they can QSY to other modes or bands if you need them, but please not in the middle of a pile up..! QSL info is as usual via DIRECT only to G0IAS. NO BUREAU cards via RSGB (They will NEVER be answered.) Also, there is NO 7Q7 BUREAU.

8P, BARBADOS. Tom, W2SC, will be active as 8P5A in the ARRL International DX SSB Contest (March 1-2nd) as a Single-Op/High Power entry. QSL via NT1N.

9L, SIERRA LEONE (Top Band!). Zbig, SP7BTB, has returned from a holiday in Poland and is now back and active as 9L1BTB. He has been heard on 160 meters lately, so watch between 1828-1831 kHz after 2130z. His activity depends mainly on whether there is power (electricity) in the town. He is using a dipole 13 meters above the ground, an IC-706 and a Emtron DX-1b. Also, look for him to be active on 6 meters with a 5 element Yagi.

DXER'S MOST WANTED COUNTRIES (ENTITIES). Over the past week, DXers (new and old) got to see where their most wanted entities are listed/ranked thanks to "The DX Magazine's" release of the results of its "2002 Most Wanted Conuntries" survey. Also released this past week were the results of the "425 DX News 2003 Most Wanted Survey". This is actually interesting because DXers from the Americas can compare what the rest of world (Asia, Africa, Europe and the Pacific) needs. The top 10 mosted wanted are:

    "The DX Magazine"                  "425 DX News"
    -----------------                  -------------
    1) VU4 - Andaman                   1) VU4 - Andaman
    2) BS7 - Scarborough               2) BS7 - Scarborough
    3) VU7 - Lakshadweep               3) VU7 - Lakshadweep
    4) P5 - North Korea                4) 3Y/P - Peter I Island
    5) 7O - Yemen                      5) FR/J - Juan de Nova & Europa
    6) FR/J - Juan de Nova & Europa    6) KP5 - Desecheo Island
    7) 3Y/P - Peter I Island           7) KP1 - Navassa Island
    8) KP5 - Desecheo Island           8) YV0 - Aves Island
    9) KP1 - Navassa Island            9) 7O - Yemen
   10) YV0 - Aves Island              10) FT8X - Kerguelen Islands

As you can see, the top three entities are the same, however, the other seven are very different. OPDX would like to thank both DX publications for providing the DX Community for these results. For more details and complete results on these surveys, please visit the following Web pages at: http://www.dxpub.com/dx_news.html (The DX Magazine) and http://www.425dxn.org/surv2003/ (425 DX News)

IOTA NEWS.................

LIMITED "LOGBOOK OF THE WORLD" TESTING IS A HIT, states the ARRL Letter (Vol. 22, No. 04) dated January 24, 2003. An excerpt from the "ARRL Letter" states: "The long-anticipated "Logbook of the World" (LoTW)--the ARRL's secure electronic contact-confirmation system--took a major leap toward public release this month with several weeks of limited-- or "alpha" -- testing. Dozens of Amateur Radio operators checked out a preliminary version of the LoTW software, which is still under development. Once it's ready, LoTW will provide a means for participants to qualify for awards such as DXCC or WAS without having to first collect hard-copy QSL cards. ............ LoTW beta testing for the general Amateur Radio public is expected to begin soon. The ARRL has not announced a specific inauguration date for Logbook of the World. To read the complete press release, go to the ARRL Web page at: http://www.arrl.org

KH0, MARIANA ISLANDS. Looks like this one will be active over the next few months by a few JA operators:

NEW OFFICERS FOR 2003. The Texas DX Society (TDXS) is pleased to announce its officers for 2003:

   President       Madison Jones - W5MJ    Secretary     Ed Gerber - W5GCX
   Vice President  Charles Frost - K5LBU   Treasurer     Dave Topp - W5BXX

P4, ARUBA. Bob, W6FRH, is once again active as P40RH through January 29th. Activity will be on 160-6 meters, SSB and some CW. Over the past weekend Bob has been heard on 80/40/20/15 meters as well as plenty of 10 meter activity. QSL via W6FRH.

PIRATE ALERT. Bill, K9RZ, reports that Roger, WA0ETE, QSL Manager for V31KQ, informs him that the callsign V31KQ is not presently active and recent operations on 15m CW are the work of a PIRATE. The only valid dates for operation from V31KQ in 2002 were from April 24th through May 2nd. At present, there are no firm plans to return to V31 in 2003, but that is subject to change. He will inform Bill if that happens.

PJ5, ST. EUSTATIUS. Jim, K1NA, will be active as PJ5/K1NA (or possibly PJ5NA) in the ARRL International DX SSB Contest (March 1-2nd) as a Single-Op/All Band entry (This will be a casual effort). QSL via his home callsign.

PY0F, FERNANDO DE NORONHA. Bill, W9VA, will be active as PY0ZFO from February 12-18th. His activity will include the ARRL CW DX Contest using a special callsign. Contest category and callsign will be announced later. QSL via W9VA.

QSL INFO AND NEWS....................

T31, CANTON ISLAND. Paul, A35RK, informed OPDX that Mike Young, KM9D, got his new callsign, T31MY, on January 24th. Over the past weekend, Mike has been heard on 17 meters CW (check 18094 kHz after 1700), 10 meters CW/SSB (check 28005 and 28450 kHz after 2000z) and on 12 meters CW (check 24916 kHz after 2300z). Activity was also reported on 40/30/20 meters. Mike's length of stay may be three to four weeks. QSL via OM2SA.

V2, ANTIGUA. Doug, W3CF/V26DX, and a group of Team Antigua operators will activate V26DX as a Multi-Two entry for the 2003 ARRL International DX SSB Contest (March 1-2nd) from the Royal Antiguan Hotel. The other operators include Jay/WX0B, Jim/N2EA, Irwin/KD3TB and Sharon/N5CK. Doug states, "This is a shake down of the new hotel station. This is more vacation for some fun and sun in the sand than DXpedition. But will be on the air a lot." They will be running a 100 watts into a tribander and wires from the 8th story roof. They expect to have something on the air by Wednesday, February 26th during the evening. Activity on 6 meters will be possible but only with a wire antenna. QSL V26DX via KU9C. QSL the other operators as directed. Doug states he will also load the log into the eQSL database upon his return.

V2, ANTIGUA. Members of the Florida DXPedition Group, Bill/W4WX (V25WX) and Larry/W1LR (V2/W1LR - applied for V26LR) are planning a trip to Antigua, February 17-25th. They will be traveling "Space A" via military aircraft out of Patrick AFB, Cocoa, FL. They will be taking one small Mini-beam for 10/15/20 meters, Force 12 Sigma 5 Vertical for 10/12/15/17/20 meters, and a dipole for 6 meters. They will be on SSB, MMTTY, PSK-31 (no brags please) and Flashing Light on request for small ships. The pilot station will be Clarence, W9AAZ ( kx8nlaf@bellsouth.net ). QSL via home calls.

V31, BELIZE. Paul/K1XM and Charlotte/KQ1F plan to be active from here in a "light" Multi-Single effort in the ARRL DX SSB Contest (March 1-2nd). The callsigns, bands/modes and length of stay was not provided.

VK9, CHRISTMAS ISLAND. Steve, VK3OT (ex-VE3SIX), informs OPDX that he will be active as VK9XI from April 7-21st. The VK9XI licence will be granted on February 10th, and it will be the first time that this callsign has been used on 6 meters since February 28, 1980. Activity will be on 160-6 meters using an Icom 706, Kenwood TS690SAT and Yaesu FT650. The antennas will be a 5 element M2 for 6m, Mosley Tri-bander for HF, Hidaka Vertical for 80/40/30 meters and a Sloper for 160 meters. Look for him mainly on 50.115 MHz between 1000-1500z and at 2400z. Steve will listen to 28.885 MHZ during all daylight hours (if propagation exisits or 21.205 MHz). He will also be active on the Lower Bands; 2300z (sunrise) and 1000z (sunset). Pilot stations announced so far are VK2QF and VK3AKK. QSL via VK3OT (Direct ONLY) to: Steve Gregory, Post Office Box 622 Hamilton, Victoria 3300, AUSTRALIA. For more up-to-date details and information, please visit the Web site at: http://members.datafast.net.au/electronics/vk9x.htm

VP8, FALKLAND ISLANDS. Mark, VP8CSA, will once again be active from here between now and February 11th. QSL via DL1SDN.

XY, MYANMAR (Late Update). Hiroo, JA2EZD, continues to be active as XY2A until January 29th. Activity has been on CW mostly with some SSB. Operations have been on 40/20/15 meters. He was expected to be joined by Kai/JH6VZS and Shirow/JF6DEA/KE1EO over the past weekend for a short operation (January 25-27th). The two operators were hoping to use the callsigns XY5D and XY6J. They plan to operate mainly on the low bands and 6m. As this was being written no QSNs (of XY5D and XY6J) were reported. There is further infomation at Shirow's Web site, "JA 6m Companion", at: http://www.ham-net.net/vu-dx/ If callsigns XY5D and XY6J were permitted, both QSLs will be handled by JH6QIL: Shin-Ichi KUSUMOTO, 1777-289, Nishi-Mochida, Aira-cho, Aira-Gun, KAGOSHIMA, 899-5431 JAPAN (Direct only with SASE).

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