The Ohio/Penn Dx PacketCluster
DX Bulletin No. 747
BID: $OPDX.747
February 13, 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, K1XN & GoList, N1DG, NC1L, K3LP, K3RV, KA3QLF, NG3K, W3UR & The Daily DX, K4ZLE, N4AA & QRZ DX, W4ZV, K5LBU, ND5S, N7NG/1, K8PT, K8YSE, NE0P, DL1EK & The DX News Letter, DL3DXX, F5NQL & UFT, G0IAS, I1HYW, I1JQJ/IK1ADH & 425 DX News, IN3QBR, IZ8CCW, OH3JR, OK1JR, and VA3RJ & ICPO for the following DX information.

DXCC COUNTRY/ENTITY REPORT
According to the AR-Cluster Network for the week of Sunday, 5th/February, through Sunday, 12th/February there were 216 countries active. Countries available: 3A, 3B8, 3B9, 3V, 3W, 3X, 3Y/p, 4J, 4L, 4S, 4U1I, 4X, 5A, 5B, 5H, 5N, 5R, 5T, 5U, 5V, 5W, 5X, 5Z, 6W, 6Y, 7Q, 7X, 8P, 8R, 9A, 9G, 9H, 9J, 9K, 9L, 9M2, 9M6, 9N, 9V, A2, A3, A4, A6, A7, A9, AP, BV, BY, C3, C6, CE, CE9, CM, CN, CP, CT, CT3, CU, CX, D2, DL, DU, EA, EA6, EA8, EA9, EI, EK, EL, EP, ER, ES, ET, EU, EX, EY, F, FG, FH, FJ, FK, FM, FO, FR, FY, G, GD, GI, GJ, GM, GU, GW, HA, HB, HB0, HC, HI, HK, HL, HP, HR, HS, HZ, I, IS, J3, J6, J8, 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, P4, PA, PJ2, PJ7, PY, PZ, S5, S7, S9, SM, SP, ST, SU, SV, SV/a, SV5, SV9, T32, T7, T9, TA, TF, TG, TI, TK, TR, TU, TY, TZ, UA, UA2, UA9, UK, UN, UR, V3, V4, V5, V7, V8, VE, VK, VK9N, VP2V, VP8, VP8/h, VP8/o, VP9, VQ9, VR, VU, XE, XT, XU, 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 or more likely a "BUSTED CALLSIGN". As always, you never know - "Work First Worry Later" (WFWL).

3W, VIETNAM
Stan, OK1JR (ex-5N0MSV, D2FGC, YB0AJR, ZA/OK1JR......etc.), as been in Vietnam for 4 months and has finally received the callsign 3W9JR. He informs OPDX that the licence is limited, and he can only operate on 14, 18, 21 and 24 MHz CW/SSB only. The licence is for 1 year, and he expects to stay in Hanoi approx. 2 years. Stan hopes he will get permmision to operate on the low bands, 6m and the digi modes soon. He can only operate during his spare time. So, look for him during the weekdays after his working hours around 1000-1600z. However, he is planning more activities during weekends and contests. His equipment is an FT-1000MP MKV Field w/100w into a 12 element LPD 10-30MHz (LW, dipoles later). QSL via OK1JN ONLY (It's his dad and the address is on (QRZ.com)). A Web page will be available soon; more details are forthcoming.

3Y0X, PETER I ISLAND NEWS
The 3Y0X team is now active. The ship reached the island early February 6th around 0135z. The first helicopter load landed on Peter I Island at 1830z on February 7th. All but three members of the Team went ashore; the last helicopter trip for the day was at 0230z. Only 80% of the gear was transferred that day, and the remaining three Team members stayed on the ship. On February 11th, around 0230z, the weather cooperated and they were (finally) able to get the other three Team members ashore along with all of the remaining supplies and gear. By the time you read this, the team plan (as this was being written) is to have 8 stations active on Monday. According to the 3Y0X Web page, the Team will always be transmitting on/near the indicated frequency below and listening up the band (spread to be announced by the operator). Please do NOT call on their transmitting frequency!

       BAND      SSB      CW      Digital
       ----     -----    -----    -------
        10      28475    28023     28092 (Listening up!)
        12      24987    24893     24928 (Listening down only!)
        15      21295    21023     21102 (Listening down!)
        17      18145    18073     18108 (listening down only!)
        20      14190    14023     14084 (Listening up!)
        30       N/A     10103     10135 (Listening up!)
        40       7093     7023
        80       3750     3523
       160     1842.5   1822.5

7Q, MALAWI
QSL Manager Allan, G0IAS, informed OPDX that Harry, 7Q7HB, is back in Malawi (he set off on Saturday morning, February 4th, for the 30 hour journey) and will be in 7Q-land for not less than 12 weeks. This time he has taken with him software to be active on the Digital modes. He was heard this past weekend on 15 meters SSB around 21325 kHz after 1420z. As usual, the QSL route is via G0IAS DIRECT only. Allan is good in any callbook, or on QRZ.com. If anyone has a question, they can E-mail Allan, for scheds etc.. (he cannot guarantee anything, but Harry will try...) at:

"Also the clock is winding down for outstanding QSL cards for ZD6RM and 7Q7RM. I will close the logs on the anniversary of Rons death in September. I have ALL his hand written logs covering more than 50 years of operating from NYASALAND (ZD6) / MALAWI, and the log of GM3EAK from 1947 if there is anybody out there that still needs one of those cards....! This should be of special interest to the 50 MHz Gang. Most of the avid Dxers on that band will have worked Ron for a first or ONLY 7Q on 6 meters. Regards and best wishes, Allan."

C6, BAHAMAS (Topband/IOTA Op)
Bill, NE1B, will once again be operating as C6ANM from the Bahamas for the CQWW 160 SSB Contest (February 24-26th). He states, "We should have a good signal from our salt water Quarter Wave Vertical a few feet from the beach." Bill will be on the air starting February 23rd through March 6th. This will include IOTA activity from Chubb Cay, Berry Island Group (NA-054) on March 1st and the ARRL DX SSB Contest on New Providence (NA-001), March 3-5th.

C9, MOZAMBIQUE (Ops Needed!)
Frosty, K5LBU, reports that he has lost 3 of his operators who were going with him to Mozambique in June for the IARU Contest (See OPDX.738). If any of you would like to join him, send him an E-mail or check out his Web page at:

DAYTON HAMVENTION NEWS (SWODXA Dinner)
The SouthWest Ohio DX Association (SWODXA) is pleased to sponsor the 21st annual DX Dinner to be held in conjunction with the 2006 Dayton HamVention ®. The dinner will be Friday evening, 19th May, at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, located in Dayton city center. This is the same venue as in years past. They expect to have another interesting program at the dinner and expect it to be a bit different than those in recent years. In addition, there will be some nice attendance prizes - last year the main prize was an Icom IC-756 Pro III! Tickets are 34.00 USD per meal, payable in U.S. funds to SWODXA. (Sorry, they do not process PayPal or Credit Card payments.) You may order from Jay Slough, K4ZLE, at his CBA. SASE would be appreciated. They attempt to honor group seating requests when tickets are ordered together. In an attempt to provide a better view of the speaker, they are changing the seating this year. There are ten seats per table and space is limited. Come join them for an evening of fun and fellowship where some of the best DXers gather during HamVention ®. Further information may be obtained from Jay at: k4zle {at} arrl {dot} net. His CBA is 8183 Woodward Dr., West Chester, OH 45069

DXCC (ARRL) NEWS
*Bill Moore, NC1L, ARRL DXCC Branch Manager, informs OPDX that the following operation is approved for DXCC credit:

K7C - Kure Island; Operation from September 25th-October 5th (2005)

*2005 DeSoto Cup Winners! Bill Moore, NC1L, ARRL DXCC Branch Manager, informs OPDX that the DXCC is pleased to announce the winners of the 2005 DeSoto Cup competition. Top honors go to Bob Eshleman, W4DR, who for 6 straight year has won the DeSoto Cup Gold Medal. In second and third place, winning the Silver and Bronze Medals are Ken Bolin, W1NG, and Fausto Minardi, I4EAT. The remainder of the Top Ten competitors are listed below. Congratulations to all!

   1  W4DR    Bob Eshleman       3095     6  K5UR   Rick Roderick      3066
   2  W1NG    Kenneth Bolin      3082     7  W9ZR   Randy Schaaf       3053
   3  I4EAT   Fausto Minardi     3077     8  DJ6RX  Klaus Heintzenberg 3042
   4  SP5EW   Ryszard Tymkiewicz 3072     9  K8MFO  Donald Karvonen    3041
   5  OZ1LO   Leif Ottosen       3070    10  W1JR   Joseph Reisert Jr. 3041

*NEW DXCC FAX NUMBER. The DXCC desk now has a direct Fax machine for all DXCC, Awards Branch and Contest Branch issues. The number is (860) 594-0346. The old number (860) 594-0259 is still active, but it is not in the immediate DXCC area. PLEASE NOTE: This number generally pertains to items such as documentation, plaque orders and special requests as requested by the DXCC Manager. This does not include field checked applications. Field checked applications still must be sent to DXCC by the traditional means through the postal system or other select methods.

*Wayne Mills, N7NG/1, Manager Membership Services Department, sent out the following press release:

ARRL advisory committees to consider contesting, DXCC changes: The ARRL Programs and Services Committee (PSC) has asked its Contest Advisory Committee (CAC) to consider whether the current method of scoring ARRL Affiliated Club competition is adequate or whether is should be revised to better "reward a combination of activity, effort and achievement." The PSC also wants the CAC to determine whether a return to the policy of assessing a three QSO per error penalty in electronic logs--as currently assessed for hard-copy logs--is in the best interest of the ARRL contesting program. Both CAC assignments followed presentations to the PSC on both topics by ARRL Southwestern Division Director Dick Norton, N6AA. The PSC also has asked the DX Advisory Committee (DXAC) to study the impact of amending the DXCC "political entities" rule. The change under consideration would revise Section II, "DXCC List Criteria," under "1. Political Entities," to add a Paragraph c) reading, "The Entity contains a permanent population, is administered by a local government and is located at least 800 km from its parent." The CAC will seek public input in completing work on its tasks, and a progress report is due June 19. The PSC has asked the DXAC to report back by March 15.

FS & PJ7, ST. MARTIN AND ST MAARTEN ISLANDS (Update/Reminder)
Operators David/K3LP and Clint/W3ARS will arrive on St. Martin on February 15th and will depart on February 22nd. Both will use the following callsigns:

FS/K3LP St. Martin, PJ7/K3LP St. Maarten
FS/W3ARS St. Martin, PJ7/W3ARS St. Maarten

HQ9, HONDURAS
Operators Heikki/OH3JF and Henri/OH3JR will be going here for an operation between February 23rd and March 17th. They have received their license and callsign HQ9F. They will be equipped with two HF rigs, two amplifiers, and antennas for 160-10 meters, including low band verticals, a "jungle beam" for 30/17m, and a "spider beam" for 20-10m including the WARC bands. They will be on CW, SSB and RTTY targeting Europe and Japan on the low bands. QSL via OH3MKH. Look for them on:

CW - 1827, 3507, 7007, 10107, 14007, 18077, 21007, 24897 and 28007
SSB - 1840, 3795, 7045, 14195, 18145, 21295 and 28495
RTTY - 14077, 18097 and 21077 kHz.

AS-076. Look for operator JA5BEX/5 to be active February 25th from Debajima Island (JIIA AS-076-New), JA5 Tokushima Prefecture, Shikoku Islands Group. QSL via his home callsign, direct or by the bureau.

AS-169. Operators Basappa/VU2NXM, Mickey/VU2IZO and Sarla/VU2SWS (YL) will operate with the special callsign AT0EI from Elephanta Island, off the coast of Mumbai, from now through February 14th. See QSL information for AT0EI on (QRZ.com).

IS0, SARDINIA
Mauro, IN3QBR, will be active as IS0/K7QB between February 15-21st. His activity will include the ARRL DX CW Contest (February 18-19th) as Single-Op/Single-Band(?) entry. QSL via IN3QBR (via the bureau is preferred). Look for activity before the contest on the WARC and Low Bands. Mauro also mentions to OPDX to look for SSB activity from IS0/IN3SAU. QSL via his home callsign.

J3, GRENADA
Harry/AC8G and Will/VE3EBN will be active as J37K from March 1-6th and be active in the ARRL DX SSB Contest (March 4-5th). QSL to AC8G, Stateside direct with SASE. For others sending by the bureau, please clearly mark for QSLs to go to AC8G.

LX, LUXEMBURG
Heinrich, DL2OBF, will be active as LX/DL2OBF in the CQ WW WPX CW Contest (May 27-28th) as Single-Op/All-Band/Low-Power entry. QSL via DL2OBF (via the bureau).

MJ, JERSEY
Pete/K8PT and Craig/K3PLV will be taking what has become their annual DXpedition to the Channel Islands and will be operating as MJ/homecall from the Island of Jersey (EU-013) from March 8th-15th. This year Tom/W8JWN and Jim/N1NK will accompany them allowing for two stations to operate 24 hours per day with a third station as needed. Operations will cover 160-6 meters (SSB, CW, RTTY & PSK) with an emphasis on the low bands. QSL via their home callsign. Please refer to the following Web page (which is presently under construction) for further information at:

NP2, U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS
Operators Frederick/K9VV, John/NP2B, Bruce/W4OV and Julio/WD4R will be active a NP2B in the ARRL DX SSB Contest (March 4-5th) as a Multi-Single entry. QSL via NP2B.

OH0, ALAND ISLAND
Operators Juha/OH1JT, Jouko/OH1RX, Ari/OH5DX and possibly others will be active as OH0Z during the ARRL DX SSB Contest (March 4-5th) as a Multi-Single or Multi-2 entry. QSL via W0MM.

PJ7, ST. MAARTEN
Ron/ND5S and Sue/KF5LG, will be active as PJ7/homecall from February 14-25th. Ron will work the ARRL CW DX Contest as Single-Op/ All-Band. Outside of the ARRL Contest they will work on CW/RTTY/SSB (this order) on 160-10 meters. More details can be found on their Web site at:

PJ7, ST. MAARTEN
Bil/W8EB and his wife Dorothy/W8DVC, will be on the Island of St. Maarten from February 21st through March 26th as PJ7/homecall. They will be on the air 160 meters and up on CW/SSB/RTTY and PSK31. Bil will operate in the ARRL DX SSB Contest as PJ7B or PJ7/W8EB, depending on getting the contest callsign, as Low-Power/Single-Operator. All QSLs go to the home callsign.

QSL INFO AND NEWS
RESULTS OF TOP 5 QSL MANAGERS! John, K1XN, from the GoList, has announced the "Best of the Top 5 QSL Managers". John states, "These are the managers you, the DX community, have indicated to be your favorite managers by a wide margin for 2005. Just a note, there were very few people that sent in nominations that did not list W3HNK. Joe was listed on more than 100 messages more than the next nominee. Joe also has been selected by you each and every year that the survey has been active and has been the most votes getter each year...." Here are the Best of the Top 5:

The 5H1C online logs are now available at: http://5h1c.free.fr/log_uk.php

The 6O0N online logs are now available at: http://www.i2ysb.com/6o0n/log.htm

Request for bureau QSLs can be obtained via the following Web page at:

The G4WFQ/6W online log is now available at: http://www.g4wfq.dsl.pipex.com/search.htm

NEED A QSL MANAGER? Scott, KA3QLF, is interested in volunteering to become a QSL Manager. Scott states, "Whether it is a contest station, a home call, a DXpedition, or an IOTA expedition..it matters not. I can be contacted through my information on (QRZ.com)." He told OPDX a while back, "I have no special requests or conditions, I just want to lend a QSLing hand to all." His E-mail address is: petty@teisprint.net

QSL TR0A (ONLY for the past week) via IZ8CLM, by the bureau or direct. Operator was Salvatore, IZ8CLM, from RADIO CLUB AGRA.

V3, BELIZE
Operators Carl/K3RV and Doug/W3NO will be here between March 21-28th. They plan to be active as V31RV in the CQ WW WPX SSB Contest (March 25-26th) as a Multi-Single entry. Outside the contest (before and after), they will use the callsign V31NO on all bands 160-10 meters on CW and SSB. QSL both callsigns via W3NO.

VQ9, CHAGOS (Top-bander Take Note!)
Larry, VQ9LA (aka WD0HSP), on Diego Garcia has been quite active on 160 meters. Look for him on/or above 1814 kHz between 1130-1530z and 2200-0100z. Larry has just added another beverage antenna toward North America. He will be looking for NA stations he has not been able to hear before. Bill, W4ZV, suggests that

"if you have VQ9, PLEASE do not add to the QRM. He normally listens up 1-2 kHz. EU please give NA guys a chance for this very long haul DX from here."

WP3, PUERTO RICO
Joachim, WP3F, will be active in the CQ WW 160 SSB Contest (February 25-26th) as Single-Op/Low-Power entry. QSL via OK1DOT.

WP3, PUERTO RICO
Alfredo, WP3C, will be active in the CQ WW WPX CW Contest May 27-28th) as a Single-Op/All-Band/Low-Power entry. QSL via W3HNK. Visit his Web page at:

YJ, VANUATU
Operators Markus/DJ7EO, Dietmar/DL3DXX, Tom/DL5LYM and Uwe/DL9NDS are planning a DXpedition to Vanuatu. They will leave Germany on February 22nd, 2006, and will arrive in Port Vila on February 24th. The team expects to possibly be on the air the same day. They'll receive their licenses and callsigns upon arrival. Their location will be the Worawia Holiday Haven in Port Vila. The team will have two complete stations, a Titanex V80E lowband vertical, a Spiderbeam, a Butternut HF9, a K9AY loop plus possibly other antennas depending on the transport capacities. Their activity will have an emphasis on the low bands 160/80/40 meters - mainly CW - plus RTTY, WARC and some SSB. An online log search will be available here if they have Internet access at the hotel. The team plans to QRT on March 11th and travel back on March 12th. They are looking for sponsors to cover at least some of the transportation costs. Please contact Dietmar if you like to help in the expenses via: DL3DXX@darc.de A Web site was established by Bernd, DF3CB, who will stay in touch with the operators during their stay. Please visit:

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