Apr. 5 2004   Developments in Ultra Wide band devices.

While most amateurs are focusing on the BPL threat to our HF bands,  another possible threat is on the horizon at the upper UHF and microwave bands.

Ultra Wide Band  (UWB) devices transmit over bandwidths as wide as 500 MHz, and occupy the same spectrum as existing licensed services in some of the microwave bands. They can be used for short range communications at very high data rates, or for short range radar. Another possible application is for RFID's or Radio Frequency Identification tags, which could, for example, be attached to products in a supermarket, and interrogated at the cash.

In general UWB devices are very low power, and their appeal is that they can be made of few components at potentially very low costs. In many ways they are similar to the spark gap transmitters used by radio amateurs nearly 100 years ago. Most will operate as licence exempt emitters. Many may be built into the electrical consumer products we all use

Of course, existing spectrum users (particularly mobile cell phone providers) are concerned about the possibility of interference generated by UWB devices, and so the ITU is studying compatibility problems.

Dr Salim Hanna of Industry Canada is chairing an ITU International Task Group on UWB compatibility.  Salim recently reported that:

On March 31, 2004, Industry Canada issued an approval in principle for an experimental licence for Rogers Wireless Inc. in Toronto to experiment with an indoor wireless UWB device.

On April 01, 2004, the Australian Communications Authority has granted an interim licence for an ultra-wideband ground penetrating radar system. This is the first time an application using UWB technology has been licensed in Australia.

In the USA, industry has been unable to agree on a proposal for a standard for UWB Wireless Personal Area networks. Two implementation proposals are on the table:

    1. Multi-band Orthogonal Frequency Division Modulation  (OFDM) (supported by the Multiband alliance including Intel, Texas Instruments, etc.), and

    2. Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum UWB (supported by Motorola and Xtremespectrum).

Although the multi-band OFDM has more support within the UWB industry, it still failed to get a majority vote during a recent meeting of the standards committee of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers in Orlando Florida.

The next meeting of Salim's ITU task group will be held in Boston USA (June 9 -18, 2004).

(VE3PU)

(RAC News Service)

============

Apr. 2 2004  Easier Licensing in Kenya

Ted Alleyne, 5Z4NU, the Chairman and Secretary of the Amateur Radio Society of Kenya, ARSK, has informed us that the Communications Commission of Kenya announced on the 2nd of April a new and more relaxed policy towards amateur radio licensing. Until now it was "practically impossible" for most visitors to obtain an amateur radio licence in Kenya. All applicants' countries must have diplomatic relations with Kenya, at any level. The previous stumbling blocks for reciprocal agreements, Security and Police vetting, have been dropped entirely. Ted says that the ARSK will be happy to supply the new licence application forms and further information will be published on the ARSK website as soon as possible: www.qsl.net/arsk

(RSGB)

============

LF News

Amateur stations in New Zealand and Asiatic Russia have claimed a new world low-frequency distance record. ZM2E at Quartz Hill near Wellington and UA0LE near Vladivostok completed a two-way contact during the night of the 20th of March on 137.70kHz. The path length is estimated to be 10,311 kilometres or 6392 miles.

(RSGB)

RAC Bulletin 04-07E - New interim director for Quebec

The RAC Board of Directors has approved Murray Epstein, VE2AUU, as the interim Director for Quebec pending the results of an upcoming election in the next few weeks.  Murray has been an Amateur for more than 55 years, and is very active both on and off the air.  He has been an important innovator both as a Ham and in the business world.

===========

Apr. 10 2004  Trans Provincial Net News

The Trans Provincial Net is please to announce the Niagara Peninsula Amateur Radio Club will be hosting the net Saturday April 24. All amateurs are asked to check in on the TPN during the day with the club members. The TPN management team wishes to thank the Niagara Club and encourage all clubs to make a Saturday on the net a club activity day. The Trans Provincial Net operates daily from 7am to 6pm on 7.055Mhz.

Full details about the net can be found on the web at www.tpn7055.ca

Wes VE3ADU
TPN Net Manager

Atlantic Maritime Section

May 15 2004 Down East Fleamarket

Sponsored by:  The Halifax and Dartmouth ARC's
Location: Halifax Forum Annex Corner of Windsor and Young Avenue Halifax, Nova Scotia
Vendors 6:00am Opens: 10:00am  Price at the door is $3 per person. This includes all buyers and sellers.
Talkin:VE1PSR on 147.27 Mhz + offset

All ham, electronic and computer enthusiasts looking for good deals on new and used Amateur Radio gear and accessories, as well as general computer, electronics items, crafts and baked goods.

There is a coffee shop on site as well as door prizes, draws, demonstrations and presentations. Pick up your QSL cards as well check in at the RAC, NSARA and other club tables. The Flea Market Committee intends to attract and offer table space for computer equipment and crafts.....if you think it will sell, bring it!

Club Website:  www.halifax-arc.org

April 17 2004   Montreal Amateur Radio Club Spring Fleamarket/Hamfest

Sponsored by: The Montreal Amateur Radio Club Inc.
Location: Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 212  7771 Bouvier (corner of Shevchenko) STM bus 109 stops at the door.
Opening: Vendors 0730 AM, Public 0830 AM to Noon
Cost: Admission $4.00, Tables $8.00 Two for $15.00
Talkin:  VE2RED 147.270 (+)
Notes: Amateur Radio Exams to be held 0900 AM - noon.
For more info:  www.marc.qc.ca/fest/fest.html

Apr. 6 2004    Emergency Management Ontario needs your help.

We are looking to assemble a team of Amateur Radio Operators to man the Amateur Radio Station at the Provincial Operations Centre located in downtown Toronto.

In case of an emergency in Ontario, we require a number of Amateurs willing to man the Amateur Radio Station handling emergency communications. You do not have to be a RAC member or current ARES member to register with the Provincial Operation Centre ARES Group.

There are some orientation meetings involved to familiarise operators with the station and operations.

Any amateur living in the Toronto area interested in serving their community and the Province in this important role may contact the Emergency Co-ordinator for full details.

Thank you for you co-operation and support.

Jim Taylor VA3KU
POC-ARES-EC
416 466 9361
va3ku@look.ca

========

April 18th is the day scheduled fot the Scarborough MS Walk

The Scarborough Amateur Radio ARES group shall be helping with communications.As was the case last year this walk follows the "Hart Trail", through Thomson park from Cedarbrea Collegiate lunch room buiding.  Things at Cedarbrea get underway at 9:00 AM.  Amateur radio operators shall be on site before 9:00 AM .  The amateur coordinating station using the call sign VE3NCS, for net control station, traditionally first on, last off station, will be operating from the lunch room building gathering area. The access to the Cedarbrea Collegiate complex is from Markham Rd., in the Cedarbrea area.  The street is called Eastpark Blvd.  The Trail ends at Birkdale Community Centre at Ellesmere, between Midland Ave. and Brimley Rd.

Walkers go along the Trail from Cedarbrea to Birkdale and back to Cedarbrea again.  After the walk there is a social time with hot dogs & pop, etc.  Radio amateurs look for weary walkers, separated kids, dog issues, crosswalk problems and trail supply truck delivery / pickup situations.  Last year we realized that an amateur radio operator should be aboard the delivery truck, as well as the weary walker van.  Basically last year we had a base station, trail blazer amateurs, Birkdale, Thomson, Brimley, Scarborough bridge, site coms;  and, we tried out FRS communications as well.  I think FRS communications shall be more used this year.  Last year the whole event was supported by Scarborough Amateur Radio Club members who acted as base station monitors and traffic handlers for people on their way or testing from Cedarbrea.

Well, operators are still needed.  Please contact me at:  ve3iel@rac.ca

MSSC - Super Cities WALK - Ontario Division:  www.supercitieswalk.com/ontario/scwalk_scarborough.htm

(Bob VE3IEL)

=============

April 19 2004  Guelph Amateur Radio Club Meeting

GARC - the Guelph Amateur Radio Club - meets on the third monday of each month in the VIP Room at Zehrs, located at Imperial and Paisley in Guelph. Meeting starts at 7.30 pm and all are welcome to attend. The next meeting will be on April 19 (Monday).

Mike Peleschak VE3OGE
Secretary, GARC

=============

April 17 2004  Whitby ARC 2nd Annual Hamfest

Sponsored by: The Whitby Amateur Radio Club Whitby Ontario
Location: Jubilee Pavillion, 55 Lake View Park, Oshawa, Simcoe Street south of Hwy 401 on the shores of Lake Ontario. Exit off Hwy 401, Exit #417 Eastbound, Exit  418 Westbound.
Opening: Vendors 7AM. Public 9AM to 1PM.
Cost:  Admission $5. Tables 8' $ 10.00 Tailgaters $ 5.00 + $5.00 Admission
Talkin: VE3WOM 147.150 +
Notes:   New this year the Lunch counter will be serving full breakfasts, along with hot dogs , hamburgers etc.
For more info: http://w.a.r.c.tripod.com

=============

Apr. 2 2004    Ontario students talk to Antarctica via amateur radio

Congratulations to the grades 4 to 7 students in the Shortwave Listening and Amateur Radio Club, at R. Tait McKenzie Public School in Almonte Ontario, for their successful amateur radio contacts this week with scientists at the U.S. Palmer research station in Antarctica. The students in the Tuesday and Thursday groups spoke by amateur radio this week with members of the research team at Palmer Station on the Antarctic Peninsula. The contact was made using IRLP.

Although Palmer Station in Antarctica is 12,348 km from Almonte on the other side of the world, amateur radio made it possible for R. Tait students to speak directly with scientists there, and have all their questions answered. The Club members were surprised to learn that Almonte had colder temperatures this winter than Palmer Station in Antarctica. Through their amateur radio contacts this week, the students also learned what a penguin sounds like, why the Antarctic ice looks blue, and how long it takes by ship to travel all the way to Palmer Station. One of the most remarkable things the Club members learned this week is that an entirely new life form has been discovered in Antarctica by scientists at Palmer Station.

Amateur radio, like shortwave listening, is a great way to reach out and bring the world into the classroom.

(Thanks to teacher Neil Carleton VE3NCE)

(RAC News Service)

=============

July 22-25 2004   Central States VHF Conference

The Ontario VHF Association will be hosting the Central States VHF Conference this year on July 22-25 at the Delta Meadowvale Resort ( 401 & Mississagua Rd. ) and have a planned visit for those arriving on the Thursday, July 22

I know that not everyone will be interested in the conference itself but I can ask Peter, VE3AX if we could be part of the visiting group to the museum. The conference itself is a huge undertaking by this group and I thought a little support from some of the locals might be appreciated. I plan on taking in some of the activities during that weekend since there are speakers from across Canada and the US. ( These guy's are some of the brightest minds in the game )

Some topics are...Broadband over powerlines ( a topic we should all be interested in ), moonbounce, getting started in VHF/UHF, antenna heights for 6 meter Spradic E, and contesting techniques. A hospitality suite will be open on Friday night from 7 PM to midnight and I'm sure Peter will have videos etc. of the visit to the Algonquin radio site for their Moonbounce adventures.

(Paul, VE3EU)

============

Apr. 6 2004 RAC Ontario Section News

1) Congratulations to Jim Taylor VA3KU who on March 26 was appointed to be the RAC ARES Emergency Coordinator for Provincial Operations Centre, Assistant to SEC. Section Emergency Coordinator, Paul Davidson VE3UUM looks forward to working with Jim and his team of volunteer operators at the amateur radio station at the Emergency Management Ontario, Provincial Operations Centre.

2) Congratulations to David Young VE3EAY, Who as of March 29 is the New Emergency Coordinator for the Municipality of Thames Centre and the London City Airport. District Emergency Coordinator, James McCormick ZJM as well as the Section Emergency Coordinator look forward to working with David in his new role.

3) Special Thanks to Dave Flarity VE3DVE who stepped down as District Emergency Coordinator for Niagara Region on March 30, after many years of service to RAC ARES in the DEC role in the Niagara Region.

4) Special Thanks to Norm Bell VE3XRC who on March 31 stepped down as the District Emergency Coordinator EC for North Western Ontario after many years of service to RAC ARES in North Western Ontario.

5) In addition, Congratulations to Fred Lesnick VE3FAL who was appointed on March 31 to the Position of District Emergency Coordinator for North Western Ontario, SEC, Paul Davidson VE3UUM looks forward to working with Fred in his new role as DEC for North Western Ontario.

Paul Davidson VE3UUM
Ontario Section Emergency Coordinator
 

Winnipeg Amateur Radio Club  Meeting

Our meetings consist of a short business portion, a coffee break for socializing, and a presentation normally related to radio.  Every meeting also features a raffle open to all attendees and a door prize for members.

• April 19, 2004: Our "Home Brew Night"
• May 10, 2004: Ed, VE4YU, will be giving a presentation on "Digital Communication"
• June 14, 2004: TBA

Meetings are held on the second Monday of each month. The meeting will be on the third Monday if the second is a statutory holiday. No meetings are held in July & August  Mettings are held in the theatre or cafateria of  Sturgeon Creek Regional Secondary School  Ness Ave. at Thompson Dr. in Winnipeg 7:30 p.m.

All are welcome!

Club Website:  http://ve4.net/warc

America's

Apr. 8, 2004 Tad Cook K7RA Solar Update

This bulletin is going out a day early because ARRL Headquarters will be closed for the Good Friday holiday.

Both solar flux values and sunspot numbers dropped this week. Average daily sunspot numbers declined over 46 points and solar flux was down nearly 20.

Solar flux is expected to rise over the next couple of days. Predicted solar flux for Thursday through Monday, April 8-12, is 105 for Thursday and Friday, and 100 for Saturday through Monday. Flux values and sunspots should rise again for a few days next week.

A coronal mass ejection near sunspot 588 spewed toward earth on April 6. Currently that sunspot is squarely in the center of the solar disk, aimed straight at us. The ejection should hit earth today (April 8). The predicted planetary A index for Thursday through Monday, April 8-12, is 30, 20, 15, 12 and 8.

There was a solar wind a couple of days back that caused geomagnetic instability late on April 5th and through most of April 6th. Another solar wind on April 3rd caused similar conditions.

For more information concerning propagation and an explanation of the numbers used in this bulletin see the Propagation page on the ARRL Web site at:  www.arrl.org/tis/info/propagation.html

Sunspot numbers for April 1 through 7 were 100, 99, 68, 69, 85, 66 and 57 with a mean of 77.7. 10.7 cm flux was 112.8, 108.1, 107.4, 108.9, 108.7, 101.4 and 98.1, with a mean of 106.5. Estimated planetary A indices were 3, 3, 23, 12, 14, 21 and 10, with a mean of 12.3.

(W1AW)

Apr. 6 2004   ARISS Status

1. Saint-Mard Schools Contact Successful
The two schools of Saint-Mard, "College Georges Brassens of Saint Mard" and the "Jacques Prevert School," both located north of Paris, France experienced a successful contact with Mike Foale, KB5UAC, on April 1. The contact took place at 18:27 UTC. The students' teacher, Jocelyn Raffray, F5CAR relayed ten questions of the students to Foale. The students asking the questions, the technical team and the educational team participating in the contact were located in the radio room during the contact, while the contact was relayed via amateur television to the school's main hall for an audience of 150 students, teachers, parents, and media.

2. Sonoran Sky School Contact Successful
The school group contact between Sonoran Sky Elementary, Scottsdale, Arizona and the ISS was a tremendous success. Astronaut Mike Foale, KB5UAC, answered 21 questions (22 asked) during the 10 minute ham radio contact. This contact is the final school group contact for Expedition 8. The contact started as scheduled at 1834 UTC. It was a tremendous horizon-to-horizon pass contact with every second utilized wisely. The contact was broadcast live at the school via amateur television where approximately 500 students participated. The contact will then be replayed to the entire Scottsdale School district, which includes 44 schools, 30 elementary schools and 35,000 students. There was significant press at the contact, including Channel 10--Fox news, Channel 3 KTVK, Channel 12 NBC, and the Arizona Republic and Scottsdale Tribune newspapers.

3. ARRL Article on Ham Radio Licensed Astronauts' Promotions
On April 2, The ARRL Letter, which is distributed to 165,000 people, published an article about astronauts who are hams who have been promoted to key positions at NASA JSC. See:www.arrl.org/arrlletter/04/0402

4. ARRL Sets up Booth at Science Teachers Association Conference
On March 29, ARRL's Mark Spencer went on travel in order to set up and staff a booth at the National Science Teachers Association national conference. He took handout materials and hands-on items to attract the attention of teachers, and thanks NASA for their support.

5. ARISS Delegates Follow-up Activities from ARISS International Meeting
With the ARISS International Meeting a tremendous success, the ARISS Delegates are following up the meeting with necessary activities and completion of action items. Rosalie White, ARISS Secretary Treasurer, edited the minutes she took at the ARISS International Meeting held at the European Space Agency in the Netherlands. She then debriefed the ARRL Board, her management and ARRL's media branch on news from the meeting. Many of the delegates and committee members are handling action items from the list which was developed at the meetings.

6. Space Tourist Interested in ARISS Program
Dr. Gregory Olsen, a scientist who started his own company, Sensors Unlimited, Inc., headed to Star City, Russia last week to begin training for an eight day flight in space. As the next space tourist to take a ride on the Soyuz, Olsen plans to do some research of his own. He has also expressed an interest in the ARISS program and would like to make some school contacts while aboard the ISS. He would like to train for his Amateur Radio license with Nick Lance of JSC. He is scheduled to launch in April, 2005. For more information, see:www.cnn.com/2004/TECH/space/03/29/space.tourist.ap/index.html

===========

Apr. 7 2004   Astronaut Looking Forward to Returning to Earth, But Not to Gravity

Astronaut Mike Foale, KB5UAC, told a group of students in France April 1 that he's looking forward to returning to Earth at the end of the month. But he was not especially enthusiastic about the prospect of having to reacclimate himself to Earth's gravitational pull. Foale made the comment during an Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) school group contact with youngsters at two schools in Saint Mard, France. Speaking via NA1SS aboard the space outpost, Foale--who's the ISS Expedition 8 commander and NASA ISS science officer--said coming back to Earth is difficult for the first two or three days.

"It feels like I am carrying suitcases all the time," he said. "My body hurts and all the muscles hurt in my body as if I've had influenza." Foale has been living in zero gravity conditions for the past five months.

Participating in the contact were students at the College George Brassens of Saint Mard and the Ecole Jacques Prevert, both located some 28 miles northeast of Paris. Teacher Jocelyn Raffray, F5CAR, posed the questions to Foale on the students' behalf.

Foale also told the pupils that the ISS does sometimes get struck by small meteorite particles. "We can see one or two small holes in the large, large solar arrays that generate our electricity aboard the International Space Station," Foale explained. "We also have one or two small little pits or marks on the windows of the Service Module in the Russian Segment."

Youngsters at an Arizona elementary school that focuses on the theme of flight also enjoyed chatting with Foale on April 5. The contact with KA7SKY at Sonoran Sky Elementary School in Scottsdale marked the final school group contact for the Expedition 8 crew. The school has been following the ISS mission and daily events. As a part of Sonoran Sky's standard curriculum, third graders learn about space exploration beginning with the Apollo missions through the building of the ISS, and sixth graders attend Astrocamp every year.

Among other things, Foale told the Arizona students that being launched from Earth is a surprise and a shock. "The Soyuz provides a smoother ride as compared to the shuttle," he said, "but you are pressed down in your chair."

During the approximately 10-minute contact, teacher Carrie Cunningham, N7NFX, handled control operator duties at the kindergarten through sixth-grade school of some 500 students. The contact was broadcast live through the school as reporters from three TV stations and two newspapers looked on.

Another youngster at Sonoran Sky wanted to know what Foale liked best about being an astronaut.

"I think the best thing about being an astronaut is that you're taking part in an adventure--a human adventure," Foale replied. On the plus side of being in space, he said in response to another question, is that he gets to do something very few other people get to do. On the minus side, he noted, is "being away from my family and missing my children."

Foale won't be in space too much longer now. The Expedition 9 crew of Mike Fincke, KE5AIT, and Gennady Padalka, RN3DT, will launch from Kazakhstan April 19 aboard a Soyuz vehicle to relieve Foale and crewmate Sasha Kaleri, U8MIR. Accompanying Fincke and Padalka will be European Space Agency astronaut André Kuipers of the Netherlands, who is scheduled to handle two ARISS contacts with school groups in his home country during his week or so aboard the ISS.

Foale, Kaleri and Kuipers will return to Earth at the end of the month aboard the Soyuz vehicle now attached to the ISS. Fincke and Padalka will spend approximately six months aboard the ISS. Regular school group contacts will resume sometime in late May.

ARISS is an international educational outreach program with US participation by ARRL, AMSAT and NASA.

(ARRL News Service)

========

Apr. 8 2004 PC-SAT 2 Ready to Fly

PCSAT 2 has passed its final outgassing tests putting it one step closer to launch. These outgassing tests are some of the most stringent in the space program. They are designed to protest crew members from fumes that might arise out of materials used to construct anything going into space.

Commercial manufacturers who spend millions of dollars to develop space safe materials might want to take a lesson from the hams. All the parts in PCSAT 2  are off-the-shelf ham radio items. The new bird uses Kantronics TNC's and Hamtronics transmitter and receiver boards that include all of the original plastic parts.

PCSAT 2  will go into orbit on the first shuttle when they return to flight next year. Additional information about the PCSAT 2 mission is available at:  www.ew.usna.edu/~bruninga/pcsat2.html

(ANS, WB4APR)

========

Apr. 4 2004   Call for Papers for AMSAT Symposium

AMSAT has issued the first call for papers for the 2004  Space Symposium and Annual Meeting to be held October 8-10 in Arlington, Virginia. This symposium will be held in conjunction with the ARISS International Meeting that is planned for October 10-13.

Proposals for papers, symposium presentations, and poster presentations are invited on any topic of interest to the amateur satellite program. An emphasis for this year is AMSAT's educational outreach activities, including our educational outreach efforts with universities and the International Space Station. In particular, papers on the following topics are solicited: Students & Education, ARISS, Echo, Eagle and other satellite-related topics.

We request a one-page abstract by June 1, 2004. Camera ready copy on paper or in electronic form will be due by August 1, 2004 for inclusion in the printed symposium proceedings.

Abstracts and papers should be sent to:

Daniel Schultz N8FGV
14612 Dowling Drive
Burtonsville, MD 20866
or by e-mail to: n8fgv@amsat.org

(Thanks to ANS and Dan, N8FGV) for the above information)

(RAC News Service)

========

Note: For information about Amateur Radio on the International Space Station "ARISS" visit the ARISS English language
web site:  www.rac.ca/ariss

Note: "Hams in Action" is a new area in the bulletin and is in need of articles and stories of events from your local club or ARES Group. Submission to Hams in Action:  Bulletin Editor: va3ku@rac.ca

=============

Apr. 17 2004 Simcoe County Canwarn training. CANWARN 2004

This years CANWARN session in Orillia will take place on Saturday, April 17th at the OPP Headquarters Auditorium, 777 Memorial Ave. in Orillia.
Remember to park in the South parking lot.
The session is scheduled to get underway at 8:00 a.m. and will be over by 12:00 noon.
The price this year is $5.00

Space is limited. If you are planning to attend, please reply via email and I will return confirmation.  Hope to see you there.

Bob Simpson VE3ODR
ve3odr@rac.ca
phone 705 689-6545

(Glenn VE3GNA RAC OBS)

==============

Dufferin County Canwarn Training

April 25th. CANWARN training session at the galaxy Theatre Orangeville. Time to be announced. [tentative 8.30am]  Added attraction, thunder and lightening show by Phil Chadwick. Contact  Paul Chantree, VE3PWZ  519-925-5010

(Glenn VE3GNA RAC OBS)

==============

Apr. 21 2004 Kitchener Waterloo Amateur Radio Club  2004 Canwarn Training

Our annual CANWARN spotter training will be will be held at the University of Waterloo, 7PM in the Engineering Lecture Theatre on Wednesday, April 21st. This is the same location as last year. For 2004, the severe weather program images have been re-worked by Mr. Phil Chadwick, Environment Canada's leading severe weather expert. Usually CANWARN is reserved to ham operators only, but this year Environment Canada officials are asking for anyone who is interested to attend. If you have a friend who isn't a ham, but they're interested in Summer severe weather, please bring them with you.

Our weather portion speaker will be Rob Kuhn, a severe weather forecaster, teaming with Scott Keddie, VE3IPE, who will address the Net Protocol portion of the program.

If you are interested in becoming a CANWARN spotter, recognizing and reporting summer severe weather events to Net Control, as well as helping your community, please plan to attend.

Thanks goes to Ed Spike VE3TCK for arranging the location at the University of Waterloo (same place as last year) on Wednesday April 21, 7:00pm start time.

Complete detail on the Club Website: www.kwarc.org/canwarn
 

(Ron Gravelle VA3TVS)
CANWARN Manager

==============

Apr. 7 2004  Mississippi amateurs respond following Amtrak accident

Members of Metro-Jackson, Mississippi, Amateur Radio Emergency Service (MJARES) and the Jackson Amateur Radio Club (JARC) responded Tuesday, April 6, after Amtrak's "City of New Orleans" passenger train bound from New Orleans to Chicago derailed. One person died and dozens were injured in the mishap, which occurred at 7 PM near the Madison-Yazoo county line after the train had departed from Jackson with 80 passengers and crew members aboard. The accident's swampy location made access difficult for rescue workers and other emergency personnel and also complicated communication and logistics. Jeff Sykes, K5VU, and other JARC members responded to a request from the Central Mississippi Chapter of the American Red Cross to provide emergency communication. Greg King, KD5HDZ, accompanied the Red Cross Emergency Response Vehicle as it brought water and snacks to emergency workers at the incident command post and the Madison County Sheriff's Office respite center in Flora. Club members Bill White, KC5WYY, and Terry Drake, KD5JPB, staffed the JARC radio station at the Red Cross Chapter, utilizing HF as well as the KA5SBK, W5PPB, W5PFR and N5WDG repeaters. John Jenkins, KD5QQF, and Guy Harrell, KD5QQG, also responded to assist in the relief effort. MJARES Assistant Emergency Coordinator Ed Jones, W5GEJ, and Central Mississippi DEC Ron Brown, AB5WF, activated the Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service on behalf of the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency. Official Relay Station Lew King, W5LEW, stood ready to service NTS traffic and disaster wellness inquiries. MJARES members worked well into the early morning hours of April 7 to support Red Cross relief operations, passing vital messages relating to logistics and essential on-the-scene information. MJARES member and ARES Emergency Coordinator Ben Jones, AC5SU, managed the amateurs' volunteer efforts in conjunction with Red Cross staff and volunteers. "Fortunately, rescue operations quickly turned into a cleanup effort as passengers were transported to area hospitals and overnight accommodations," Jones said. Less than an hour before the train wreck, SKYWARN Coordinator and MJARES AEC Billy Bob Sekul, N5XXX, had put members on alert for severe weather at the request of the National Weather Service. MJARES and JARC members remain on standby for SKYWARN operations.

(ARRL News Service)

Contest News

8th Annual Ontario QSO Party

Would just like to give a "heads up" to readers of the Canadian Amateur Radio Bulletin that Canada's  third largest amateur radio contest....the 8th Annual Ontario QSO Party, sponsored by the Ontario DX Association takes place on the weekend of April 17-18th this year. The contest starts at 1800 UTC on the Saturday and runs till 1800 UTC on the Sunday.

This is a fun and friendly contest where hams in Ontario get on the air in big numbers!

Ontario stations work everybody and stations outside Ontario work Ontario hams.

We include all of the HF bands (except WARC), both SSB and CW, along with the VHF/UHF bands.

There will again be quite a number of "multi-county" mobile and rover stations operating ...along with all kinds of other stations both "big guns" and little folks!

Complete information is available at http://www.odxa.on.ca/oqphome.html

We also have a Yahoogroup where participants can discuss their contest plans. To get on the list, just send a "blank" e-mail to oqp-subscribe@yahoogroups.com or if you have a Yahoo ID just go to  http://groups.yahoo.com/group/oqp

Hope to hear everyone on the air April 17-18th

73
Bob Chandler VE3SRE
Contest Coordinator
Ontario QSO Party
ve3sre@rac.ca

===========

Michigan QSO Party--CW/SSB--sponsored by the Mad River Radio Club, from 1600Z Apr 17-0400Z Apr 18, no time limit. Bands: 80-10 meters. Frequencies: CW--45 kHz from band edge, Phone (MHz)--3.850, 7.225, 14.250, 21.300, 28.450. Work stations once per band and mode, MI-to-MI QSOs allowed, mobiles and portables can be worked from each county. Categories: SO, MO, and Mobile. Exchange: serial number and MI county or S/P/C. QSO Points: CW--2 pts, Phone--1 pt. Multipliers for MI stations are states, provinces and MI counties; multipliers for non-MI stations are MI counties. Multipliers count once per mode. Score: QSO points × multipliers. For more information:www.miqp.org  Logs due 30 days after the contest to logs@miqp.org or Mad River Radio Club, c/o Dave Pruett, 2727 Harris Rd. Ypsilanti, MI 48198.

YU DX Contest--CW/SSB--sponsored by SRJ (Amateur Radio Union of Yugoslavia) and YUDXC (YU DX Club) from 1200Z Apr 17-1200Z Apr 18. Frequencies: 160-10 meters. Categories: SO-CW, SO-SSB, SO-Mixed, MS. Exchange: RST + ITU Zone. QSO Points: with own zone--1 pt, own continent--3 pts, diff cont--5 pts. Score: QSO points × ITU zones + YU prefixes (counted once per band). For more information: http://solair.eunet.yu/~yu1ab/awards/rules.htm  Logs due 30 days after the contest to 2004@yudx.net or Savez radio-amatera Jugoslavije, YU DX Contest, PO Box 48, 11001 Beograd, Yugoslavia.

GACW DX Contest "Mr Samuel Morse Party"--CW--sponsored by the Grupo Argentino de Radiotelegrafia (GACW) from 1200Z Apr 17-1200Z Apr 18. Frequencies: 80-10 meters, everyone works everyone format. Categories: SO-SB and SO-AB (HP, LP and QRP), MS and MM categories, no time limit. MS category subject to 10-min band change rule--see Web site. Exchange: RST and CQ Zone. QSO Points: same continent--1 point, diff cont--3 pts, DX-to-South America add 2 points, own country--0 pts (but counts for zone and country credit). Score is QSO points × DXCC, WAE and GACW countries + CQ Zones from each band. For information and software--http://gacw.no-ip.org  Logs due May 30 to uranito@infovia.com.ar (ASCII text) or GACW DX Contest, PO Box 9, B1875ZAA Wilde, Buenos Aires, Argentina.

TARA Skirmish--Digital Prefix Contest--sponsored by Troy ARA,0000Z-2400Z Apr 17. Frequencies: 160-6 meters, work stations once per band. Categories: High, Low (<100 W), Great (<20 W), QRP (<5 W), SWL. Exchange: Name and Prefix. Score: QSOs × WPX prefixes × power multiplier. (High ×0.5, Low ×1, Great ×2, QRP ×3) Multipliers count once per band. For more information: www.n2ty.org/seasons/tara_dpx_rules.html or skirmish-manager@n2ty.org. Logs due May 15 via the contest score entry form at http://n2ty.org/seasons/tara_dpx_score.html

Holyland DX Contest--CW/SSB--sponsored by the Israel Amateur Radio Club from0000Z-2359Z Apr 17. Frequencies: 160-10 meters according to IARU Region I band plan, work Israeli stations once per band and mode. Categories: SO (Mixed Mode, CW, SSB), MS, MM, SWL. Exchange RST and serial number or Israel district. QSO Points: 1.8 or 3.5 MHz--2 pts; other bands 1 pt. Score: QSO Points × districts counted once per band. For more information: www.iarc.org  Logs due May 31 to 4Z4KX@iarc.org or Contest Manager 4Z4KX , Israel Amateur Radio Club, Box 17600, Tel Aviv, 61176, Israel.

ES Open HF Championship--CW/SSB--sponsored by the Estonian Radio Amateurs Union from0500Z-0859Z Apr 17. Frequencies: 80 and 40 meters. Categories: SO (SSB, CW, Mixed), MS, SWL. Exchange: RST and serial numbers, Duplicate QSOs allowed once per hour (see Web site). QSO Points: SSB--1 pt, CW--2 pts. Score: QSO Points × ES prefixes counted once per band and mode. For more information:www.erau.ee/index.php?newlang=eng Logs due Jun 1 to esopen@erau.ee or Toomas Soomets, ES5RY, PO Box 177, Tartu, 50002 Estonia.

Ontario QSO Party--CW/Phone--sponsored by the Ontario DX Association from 1800Z Apr 17-1800Z Apr 18. Frequencies (MHz): SSB--1.870, 3.735, 3.860, 7.070, 7.260, 14.130, 14.265, 21.260, 28.360; CW--30 kHz above band edges; VHF-SSB: 50.130, 144.205, 432.105; VHF-FM 52.540, 146.550, 446.1, no repeater QSOs. Categories: SOAB and SOSB (HP, LP <150 W HF and 50 W VHF, QRP <5 W) in CW, Phone, and Mixed Modes, SO VHF FM QRP (<5 W), MS, SWL, Mobile, Rover. Exchange: RS(T) and S/P/C or Ontario QTH. QSO Points: HF SSB--1 pt, HF CW--2 pts, VHF--5 pts (work stations once per VHF band), 10 bonus pts for each QSO with VE3ODX and VA3RAC. Score is QSO Points × Ontario QTHs (non-VE3 stations) or S/P/C + Ontario QTHs (mults count once per band). For more information: www.odxa.on.ca/oqphome.html Logs due May 31 to ve3agc@rac.ca or Ontario QSO Party, Ontario DX Association, PO Box 161, Station "A," Willowdale, ON M2N 5S8, Canada.

EA QRP Contest--CW, sponsored by the EA QRP Club from 1700Z Apr 17-1300Z Apr 18. Frequencies: 80-10-meters (see Web site for operating periods). Categories: QRP (< 5 W) and QRPp (<1 W). Exchange: RST and EA province or EA QRP number or serial number. QSO Points: QRP--1 pt, QRPp--2 pts. Score: QSO points × EA provinces + EA QRP members + DXCC entities on each band. For more information: www.eaqrp.com Logs due 30 days after the contest to ea1bp@yahoo.es or Vocalia de concursos (Concurso CW), PO Box 73, E-46182, La Canada (Valencia), Spain.

Apr. 24 & 25  2004  QCWA Special Event

The Fred Hammond Chapter 73 of the Quarter Century Wireless Association will be celebrating the 30th anniversary of the Chapter with a Special Event station on April 24 & 25th, 2004 1300Z to 2100Z each day.

Operation will be from the Hammond Museum of Radio using the call  VE3HC starting on the following frequencies as conditions permit.  3762.5  3890   7244   14262   21365   28325

QSL to
Hammond Museum of Radio VE3BJ
595 Southgate Dr. Guelph, ON
N1G 3W6

For more info visite their website at  www.qcwa.ca  or contact Harold VE3DWH at  ve3dwh@rac.ca

(Harold VE3DWH)

===========

Special Event station VE3BPQ

Celebrating the 10th Anniversary of the Elvis Festival In Collingwood Ontario Canada on Saturday July 24 2004. The Collingwood Elective Radio Teaching School and Collingwood Amateur Radio Club would like you to contact us on: 7.180 and 14.180 or alternate Frequencies of 3.780 and 28.360, between  8am and 6pm local time. Certificates are available by sending your QSL Card and a SASE - Prepaid 9x11 envelope to address below.

VE3BPQ
248 Birch Street
Collingwood Ontario
Canada
L9Y 2V6
Larry, VE3SPQ

=============

Bellevue, NE: Bellevue Amateur Radio Club, W0WYV. 1300Z Apr 10-0500Z Apr 11. Celebrating 45 years of service to Bellevue and Sarpy County. 28.345 21.345 14.245 3.945 147.39 50.125. QSL. Tom Huber, WD0BFO, 7518 Chandler Hills Dr, Bellevue, NE 68147.

Indianapolis, IN: RCA Amateur Radio Club, W9RCA. 1300Z Apr 10-2200Z Apr 11. 50th Anniversary of 1st production RCA color TV set. 28.450 21.350 14.250 7.250. QSL. RCA Amateur Radio Club, 624 Lexington Blvd, Carmel, IN 46032.

Indian Orchard, MA: Titanic Historical Society, Inc, W1MGY. 1330Z Apr 10-0527Z Apr 15. Commemorating the 92nd anniversary of the Titanic disaster. 14.260 14.033 7.260 7.033. QSL. W1MGY/Titanic Historical Society, Inc, PO Box 51053, 208 Main St, Indian Orchard, MA 01151-0053. www.titanichistoricalsociety.org

San Juan, PR: Puerto Rico Amateur Radio League, KP4ES/SKP. 1800Z Apr 11-0200Z Apr 12. 1st Puerto Rico Straight Key Party. 28.030 21.030 14.030 7.030. QSL. Puerto Rico Amateur Radio League, PO Box 191917, San Juan, PR 00919-1917. www.prarl.org/actividades.html

Senigallia/Ancona, Italy: Ancona and Senigallia Amateur Radio Clubs, II6CC. 0600Z Apr 15-2200Z Apr 18. XV Annual Meeting of the National Association of Carabinieri. HF/VHF/UHF SSB/CW/RTTY. QSL. Via IZ6FUQ (bureau); or for QSL with special postmark: ARI Associazione Radioamatori Italiani, PO Box 122, 60100 Ancona Italy (send 1 Euro or $1 US to cover postage), by May 14, 2004. For more information: iz6fuq@tiscali.it.

Ames, IA: Cyclone Amateur Radio Club, W0ISU. 0600Z Apr 15-0600Z Apr 19. VEISHEA Celebration at Iowa State. 28.460 14.260. QSL. Skip Walter, AD0H, 132 Broadmoor Cir, Ames, IA 50010-4851.

Lexington, KY: Aviation Museum of Kentucky, KY4AMK. 0300Z Apr 16-2200Z Apr 17. Scoutworld 2004. 28.450 21.070 14.070 7.070. QSL. Aviation Museum of Kentucky, PO Box 4118, Lexington, KY 40544. www.aviationky.org

Ashland, OH: Ashland Area Amateur Radio Club, W8O. 1200Z-1900Z Apr 17. Ashland County Earth Day 2004. 7.300 7.025 4.000 3.525. Certificate. AAARC/W8RPS, 834 CR 30A, Ashland, OH 44805.

Jacksonville, TX: Cherokee County Amateur Radio Club, K5JVL. 1500Z Apr 17-0500Z Apr 18. 3rd Annual Drakes on the Lake Special Event Station. 21.375 14.275 7.275 3.875. Certificate. Cherokee County ARC, 840 Henderson St, Jacksonville, TX 75766. www.k5jvl.org

Hawthorne, NJ: Bergen Amateur Radio Association, K2BAR. 1300Z-2000Z Apr 17. 11th Annual Earth Day Celebration. 28.350 21.350 14.250. Certificate. Fred Buchner, 202 10th Ave, Hawthorne, NJ 07506.

Piscataway, NJ: Piscataway Amateur Radio Club, K2VOA. 0000Z-2400Z Apr 18. Former Voice of America relay station WBOU. 28.370 21.370 14.270 7.270. Certificate. Bill Toth, 6 Rivercrest Dr, Piscataway, NJ 08854.

(ARRL News Service)

Apr. 8 2004   ARLD014 DX news

This week's bulletin was made possible with information provided by NC1L, QRZ DX, the OPDX Bulletin, The Daily DX, 425DXnews, DXNL, WA7BNM and Contest Corral from QST.  Thanks to all.

QATAR, A7.  Ali, A71BX is usually QRV on 30 meters around 2300z. QSL direct.

TAJIKISTAN, EY.  Edi, EY7AF has been QRV on 40 meters CW usually around 0100z.  QSL direct.

GUADELOUPE, FG.  Antonio, IK8SUT and Maurizio, IK8YTN are QRV as FG/homecalls until April 20.  QSL to home calls.

AMERICAN SAMOA, KH8.  Volkmar, DF2SS is QRV as KH8/DF2SS and has been active using RTTY on 20 meters between 0240 and 0840z.  He has also been active on 40 meters around 1900z.  QSL via DL2MDZ.

ARGENTINA, LU.  A number of Argentinean operators will be QRV as homecalls/D from Wood Island, IOTA SA-021, from April 9 to 11. Activity will be on all HF bands, including the newer ones, using all modes.  QSL via operators' instructions.

BANGLADESH, S2.  Rashid, S21AR has been QRV on 15 meters usually around 1400z.  QSL direct.

GABON, TR.  Alain, TR8CA has been QRV on 80 meters around 0015z. QSL via F6CBC.

CHAD, TT.  Philippe, TT8PK has been QRV on 15 meters around 2200z. QSL via F4EGS.

SOUTH GEORGIA ISLAND.  Mike, GM0HCQ may be QRV as VP8SGK from Bird Island Station from April 14 to 19.  QSL to home call.

SOUTH ORKNEY ISLAND.  Mike, GM0HCQ may be QRV as VP8SIG from Signy Base from April 10 to 12.  QSL to home call.

INDONESIA, YB.  Stan, OK1JR will be QRV as YB0AJR/4 from Bangka Island, IOTA OC-144, from April 9 to 12.  Activity will be on 40, 15 and 10 meters using CW and SSB.  He may also be active in the JIDX contest.  QSL to home call.

IRAQ, YI.  Kaspar, YI9ZF has been QRV using RTTY on 20 meters around 1630z and then on 30 meters.  QSL via SM1TDE.

SOUTH COOK ISLANDS, ZK1.  Harald, LA5UF will be QRV as ZK1UFF from April 11 to 16 while vacationing on Rarotonga.  QSL to home call.

The following operation is approved for DXCC credit:  YI9MD, effective February 17, 2004.

THIS WEEKEND ON THE RADIO.  The JIDX CW Contest, QRP ARCI Spring QSO Party, EU Spring SSB Sprint, Georgia QSO Party, UBA Spring SSB Contest and the Low Power Spring Sprint will certainly keep contesters busy this weekend.  The YLRL DX to NA YL SSB Contest is scheduled for April 14 to 16.  Please see April QST, page 106 and
the ARRL and WA7BNM contest websites for details.

============

Apr. 10 2004  425 DX News

Extraordinary maintenance at 425DXN is still in progress and hopefully it will finish early next week. When the new sofware works at full capacity, we will be able to offer better services, but for the time being the web site, the mailing  lists, etc. are down. Please note that messages sent to i1jqj@425dxn.org may be undeliverable for a few days.

The 425 DX News monthly edition (March issue) has been prepared regularly by Maurizio Bertolino (I1-21171/IZ1CRR).  It includes the full results of the 425DXN "DXpedition of the Year" survey, with a picture of the Trophy  itself (which will be presented to the  ST0RY team at Friedrichshafen in late  June) and the voters' listing. The monthly edition will be available for  free downloading at www.425dxn.org/monthly when the web site is again up and running. Thank you for your patience!

7Q === 7Q7MM will be  the callsign  to be used by  G4AXX, GU4CHY,  G4EDG, G4JVG and M5RIC during their 18  April-1 May operation from Malawi [425DXN 670]. They will be active on 160-10 metres CW, SSB,  RTTY, PSK, and  possibly on 10 metres FM (subject to demand and propagation). Activity is likely to be limited on 18 and 19 April while the stations and antennas are being built. Plans are to have two high-power stations on the air as close to 24hrs/day as possible; a third station (100W) will be in use during peak hours of propagation. Regularly updated on-line logs will be available at http://www.malawi.digital-crocus.com. QSL via QSL via G3LQP either direct (Roger Brown, 262 Fir Tree Road, Epsom KT17 3NL, England) or through the bureau. [TNX G4JVG]

8Q === Pierre, HB9QQ will be active as 8Q7QQ from the Maldives (AS-013) on 13-27 April. He plans to operate on  30, 17 and 12 metres. QSL via home call. [TNX OPDX Bulletin]

DL === Look for DL0IH to be active from Helgoland Island (EU-127, N-15 for the German Islands Award)  and lighthouse  (ARLHS FED-102) on 25 April. QSL via operator's instructions. [TNX VA3RJ]

EA === Marc, ON5FP and  Jose,  ON4CJK will operate from Mouro Island (EU-142) on 23-25 July.  Their activity will  include at least one entry in  the  IOTA  Contest. Callsigns and QSL routes will be announced later. [TNX ON5FP]

ES === Vello, ES1QD and  Oleg, ES1RA expect to operate from Muhu Island (EU-034) on 15-19  April. QSLs via  home calls, direct or bureau. [TNX The Daily DX]

FO_mar === Hiro, JA0SC will be active  from  Nuku  Hiva,  Marquesas Islands (OC-027) on 13-18 April. He will collect his licence upon arrival at  Papeete.  Plans are to concentrate on the digital modes, especially on SSTV on 10-20 metres. QSL direct only via JA0SC. [TNX The Daily DX]

HS === The Radio Amateur Society of Thailand  (RAST) has been granted permission to operate (also on the  WARC bands) as HS72B until the end of the year to celebrate Her Majesty the Queen's 72nd birthday. The use of the this licence and this call-sign has to be strictly controlled by RAST, and will not be available for general use. The first event will be an operation from Koh Chang (AS-125), in about a week's time and will be followed by operations from the new club station HS0AC and  for use by SEANET Control,  and  the  SEANE convention in November.  Details on the QSL route and on the Koh Chang operation will be announced soon. [TNX HS0ZDZ/G3NOM]

JA === Look for JA1KJW/6, JJ1JGI/6 and others to operate SSB and CW from Tsushima (AS-036, JIIA  AS-036-022) on  16-18 April.  QSL via home calls, direct or bureau. [TNX JI6KVR]

JT  === Baatar, JT1BG will  operate as JV45D from 10 April to 10 May to celebrate the 45th Anniversary of the Dornod  Radio Club. QSL via home call.Another special event station (JU45D) will be active from Choibalsan, Eastern Mongolia. [TNX The Daily DX]

KH4 === Jeff, KA1GJ (V73GJ) expects to operate as KA1GJ/KH4 from Midway on 23-25  April.  If the local club antennas are still up and operational, he will be active on all bands that he can. Otherwise he will use a vertical antenna for 10, 12, 15, 17 and 20 metres. QSL via V73GJ (Jeff  Parker, P.O. Box  1050, APO AP  96555, USA). [TNX OPDX Bulletin]

KH6 === AH6NF and AH6RH will operate in their spare time (most likely during their evening and night hours) from the rare Kalawao County, Hawaii on 13-18 April. Planned frequencies  are 7088, 14200, 21250 and 28495 kHz. [TNX QRZ-COM]

LU === Bahia Blanca DX Group (www.geocities.com/bbdxgroup) members Osmar/LU8DWR, Carlos/LU7DSY, Carlos/LU4ETN,  Gabriel/LU8EBJ, Dario/LU4DRH, Walter/LU5DRV, Hugo/LW9EVA, Gabriel/LW9EAG and Emmanuel/LU9ESD  were unable to reach Wood Island as previously announced. They will operate as homecall/D on all bands and  modes from Bermejo Island (SA-021) on 9-11 April. QSL via LU7DSY  (Carlos Almiron, P.O. Box 709, 8000 Bahia Blanca, Argentina). [TNX LU9ESD]

LU === Patrick, WD9EWK plans to "casual  operate" as LU/WD9EWK from Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego (SA-008) for about six days approximately between 17 and 23 April. QSL via WD9EWK, direct or bureau. The web page for the trip can be found at http://lu.wd9ewk.net/ [TNX WD9EWK]

SM === Leif, SM0FWW reports he will operate as SM0FWW/6 from Kloeveroen Island (EU-043) until 11 April. QSL via home call.

T8 === Look for  T88KJ (JA1KJW),  T88JY  (JA1JQY), T88MC  (JA3MCA), T88PO (JI1FPO) and T88xx  (JR1LVB) to be active from the Palau Islands (OC-009) from 29 April  to 2 May.  They plan to operate on the HF bands CW  and SSB.  QSL  via home  calls,  direct or  bureau.  [TNX JI6KVR]

V8 & 9M === The dates for the Borneo IOTA DXpedition by Ian (9M2/G3TMA),  Derek (G3KHZ) and Maury (IZ1CRR) [425DXN 670] are 23-27 April from  Muara Besar (OC-184, Brunei) and 30 April  - 4  May from Satang Besar (OC-165, East Malaysia). They plan to be QRV with two transceivers, beam, vertical and dipole antennas, both SSB and CW. The V8 and 9M8 callsigns will be announced later.  QSL via G3KHZ, either direct (Derek Cox, 18  Station Road, Castle  Bytham, Grantham, Lincs  NG33 4SB, United Kingdom) or through the bureau. The web site for the expedition is at http://www.425dxn.org/dxped/borneo/

W === Mark, KB2MS/p will operate from Block Island (NA-031) on 12-13 April. QSL direct. [TNX The Daily DX]

W === WA6LUT and K0NW have had to cancel their 30 April-2 May operation from St. Georges Reef (NA-184)  [425DXN 671] because  "coordination with the lighthouse administration is very difficult". They may try again next year. [TNX K0NW]

YB === Stan, YB0AJR (OK1JR)  will operate as YB0AJR/4 from Bangka Island (OC-144) on 9-12  April. Look for  him on SSB (7055, 21260,  28560 kHz) and CW (7025, 21040, 28040 kHz). Stan expects some activity during the Japan International DX CW  Contest. QSL via OK1JN.  [TNX YB0AJR]

ZK1_sc === Harald, LA5UF will operate as ZK1UFF from Rarotonga (OC-013), South Cooks on 11-16 April. QSL via home call. [TNX QRZ-DX]

GOOD TO KNOW  (Edited by  I1JQJ & IK1ADH)

ALBANIA DX CONVENTION === "Meet your ZA contact and help new ZA amateurs get operational. Share your views with them and enjoy amateur radio at its best. Operate ZA and be part of a great fun weekend in this sunny Balkan  country":
the first Albania DX Convention will be held in Tirana on 19-20 June. Details will be available at www.za1a.com or from either  Geni Mema, ZA1B  (Albanian Amateur  Radio  Association's  Foreign  Liaison,  genimema@atnet.com.al)  and Martti Laine, OH2BH (oh2bh@sral.fi).

CIA === Kresimir Juratovic, 9A7K reports that the Croatian Islands Award is now available also to activators.  For further  information please visit http://www.qsl.net/9a7k

CIS DX SSB CONTEST  === The Scottish-Russian ARS (srars@srars.org) sponsors the CIS DX SSB Contest, which will be held from 19 UTC on 10 April to 19 UTC on the 11th. The objective of  the contest is to establish as many SSB contacts as  possible between radio amateurs  around the  world  and  radio amateurs in the Commonwealth of Independent  States. Rules can be downloaded at http://www.srars.org/cisdxc.doc

DXCC NEWS === YI9MD (operation effective 17 February 2004) has been approved for DXCC credit.

HOLYLAND CONTEST  === This year's Holyland Contest will be held from 00.00 UTC through 23.59 UTC on 17 April. Further information can be found on the Israel Amateur Radio Club's website at http://www.iarc.org/ [TNX 4Z4KX]

QSL AT0BI  === The QSL route for the recent IOTA operation from Elephanta Island (AS-169)  is: P.O.  Box 6073,  Bangalore 560060,  India. Arasu, VU2UR advises that all envelopes be sealed properly and sellotaped on the gummed
joints to prevent tampering. [TNX VU2UR & G3KMA]

QSL F9IE === Bernard, F9IE will be moving from Linas to Noirmoutier (EU-064) at the end of July.  Direct QSL cards should be  sent to:  Bernard Chereau, B.P. 211, 85330 Noirmoutier en l'Ile, France. [TNX The Golist]

QSL GX4NOK/P === All of the QSOs made by the North Wakefield Radio Club on their 17-18 April GX4NOK/P operation from  Inner Farne (EU-109) [425DXN  657] will be confirmed via the bureau within one month.  Direct cards should be sent to 2E0NJW  (Nigel Wears,  25 Topcliffe  Mews, Morley,  Leeds, LS27  8UL, England). The web page for the operation is at http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/g4nok/iota.htm

QSL KH6/I0TWA === Cards will be ready in 40 days at the earliest.  Requests should be sent to I0MWI (direct or bureau). [TNX I0MWI]

QSL VIA EA4BQ === The QSL route for ED8EW  (CQ WPX SSB), 8R1RPN amd 8R1K  is vi EA4BQ (aka OH0XX), whose current address is: Olli Rissanen, Calle  Ciguela 331, 28729 Venturada, Madrid, Spain. [TNX EA4BQ]

QSL VIA K4BAI  === John,  K4BAI has answered QSL cards for the late Bill Fisher, W4AN (KM9P and K4AAA) for  years, and will continue doing so to the extent that he has the logs. Those who want one of Bill's cards are invited to contact John (k4bai@worldnett.att.net) and check whether he con confim the QSO(s). [TNX The Daily DX]

QSL VIA OH3RB === Kari, OH3RB reports that the VP5X (CQ WW  DX CW  2003), VP5/KY1V and  VP5/OH3RB  cards are ready and direct requests are being processed right now. Some delay might occur with VP5/KY1V cards as he has not received all logs yet.

VISALIA  2004 === The 2004 International  DX  Convention  (23-25  April) programme schedule is now available at  http://www.scdxc.org/visalia [TNX N6DHZ]

Z2 QSL BUREAU === The Daily DX reports that on 5 April the Zimbabwe Amateur Radio Society voted to close the local QSL Bureau. Outgoing Z2 cards that are presently on file in Zimbabwe will be returned to the local Z2 operators.

+ SILENT KEYS + The DX and Contest community mourns the loss of Janez  "Ivan" Hren (S51ZY), George  Graikos (SV1NA), Milton  "Uncle Milty" Haines  (W5QCB), Joseph Blahunka (W9RCJ),  John Sklepkowyca (VE3IPR,  the last  editor of  the Canadian DX  newsletter  "Long Skip")  and  Bill Fisher,  W4AN  (unexpectedly passed away at only 42 years  of age, Bill -  aka KM9P and  K4AAA - was well known in the Internet amateur radio circles as his server supports the contesting reflectors and other services). [TNX  QRZ-DX, S51RU, The Daily  DX and XE1L]

============

Apr 10 - 17 , 2004   I.C.P.O. Bulletin Islands, Castles & Portable Operations - I.C.P.O.

10/04/2004:  Francois, F5JNE, and Gerard F6ICG will be QRV April 10th as F5JNE/p from the Castle of Reveillon (DFCF 58055, Zip code 58410. The castle is located in the Canton of Varsy (DDCF 5825), Department Nievre (58), Province of Burgundy. QSL via F5JNE, direct or bureau. [Tnx F5NQL]

10/04/2004:  Michel, F5PRR, and Patrick, F5MQW, will be QRV April 10th as F5PRR/p from the Saint Bernanrd Castle (DFCF 83055, Zipe code 83400, Canton DDCF 8343). The castle is located in Department Var (43), Province of Alpes Provence Coted'Azur. Activity will be on 40 meter SSB, 20 meter CW, then around 08:30 UTC 20 meter SSB. QSL via home call, direct or bureau. [Tnx F5NQL]

10/04/2004:  Marc, DL1VKE, and Volkmar, DF2SS, will be active as KH8/homecall from American Samoa (OC-045) between April 10th and 15th. They plan to operate SSB, CW and RTTY on all the HF bands. QSL via DL2MDZ. [Tnx 425DXN]

10/04/2004:  Jack, F6BUM, has been issued the call TJ3MC for his April activity from Cameroon. He will be leaving France on 2 April and he plans to operate from Mondoleh Island (AF-???) on the 10th and the 11th, between 07:00 UTC and 16:00 UTC only, because he will not be able to stay overnight on the island. In order to maximise the number of IOTA chasers logged he will operate CW the first day and SSB the second day, on the usual IOTA frequencies. [Tnx 425DXN]

12/04/2004:  Look for Pierre, F5JFU, to be QRV April 12th as F5JFU/p from the Castle of Fraifontaine (DFCF 58056, Zip code 58140, Canton 5815). The castle is located in Department Nievre (58), Province of Burgundy. Activity will be on 40 meter SSB, starting 06:30 UTC. QSL via home call through the REF bureau. [Tnx F5NQL]

13/04/2004:  Pierre, HB9QQ, will again air 8Q7QQ from Velighoo (North Atoll) (IOTA AS-013) between April 13th and 27th. Operations will take place on 30, 17 and 12 meters with full size loops. QSL via his home callsign. [Tnx OPDX]

13/04/2004:  For county hunters, Kalawao County (Kalaupapa, Molokai Island (USI HI-015S), in Hawaii OC-019) is a rare one. People are allowed in by invitation ONLY. There will be a limited HF operation on SSB from Tuesday, April 13 to early Sunday, April 18. AH6NF and AH6RH will activate this rare county as time allows, fitting radio around a daily work schedule. Most operation will likely be evening and nighttime (Hawaii time). Planned frequencies will be 7088 (split), 14200, 21250 and 28495. No QSL information was provided with the announcement so ask the operator if you work them. [Tnx QRZ-DX]

15/04/2004:  Patrick, WD9EWK, will be in and around Buenos Aires, Argentina, between April 15th and 17th. He will be using the call LU/WD9EWK. He will then be QRV from Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego (SA-008), between April 17th and 23rd. Patrick plans to take at least one small HF radio with him - an FT-817, IC-703, or possibly both and hopes to get on the air with one of these radios and/or from the stations of other hams in the area. This is not a DXpedition, so his radio time will be casual operating. He plans to work SSB and CW, but there could be some RTTY and PSK31 activity if he operates from a station equipped for those modes. The QSL route for contacts with LU/WD9EWK is WD9EWK, either direct or through the QSL bureaus. Patrick will design the card after the trip, using photos he takes while he is down there. [Tnx WD9EWK]

15/04/2004:  Koh/JA1ADT (JA7KAC), Taka/JA7AGO and Aki/JA7ZP will visit Antigua (V2) between April 15th and 20th. Activity will be on all bands and modes (callsigns not known so far, but QSL via homecalls). [Tnx 425DXN]

16/04/2004:  Hisashi JA1KJW/6, Shoji JJ1JGI/6 and another 9 operators will be QRV April 16 to 18th from Tsushima Island (AS-036, JIIA AS-036-022). Activity will be on HF, VHF and UHF, CW and SSB. QSL to their home calls direct or via the bureau. [Tnx F5NQL]

16/04/2004:  Jeffrey, KA1GJ/V73GJ, reports that he will be operating as KA1GJ/mm from April 16th through May 12th, and is expected to be on Midway Island (OC-030) from April 23-25th. He will be active as KA1GJ/KH4. QSL via V73GJ: P.O. Box 1050, APO AP 96555 USA. [Tnx OPDX]

17/04/2004:  Members of the North Wakefield Radio Club will be operate as GX4NOK/P from the Island of Inner Farne (EU-109) between April 17th and 18th, hopefully on multiple modes and bands. This activity will also count for Farne Island (Old) lighthouse (ARLHS ENG-040) and Farne Island (New) lighthouse (ARLHS ENG-060). WAB is NU-23, Northumberland. QSL via operator's instructions. [Tnx 425DXN]

73 and Good Hunting!
Dave Raycroft - VA3RJ

Home of ICPO: www.qsl.net/va3rj
Mirror: http://webhome.idirect.com/~va3rj
Join ICPO e-Group:  www.qsl.net/va3rj/icpo.html
E-mail: va3rj@rac.ca

===============

THE 2004 SIX METER MARATHON

The Rientola Radio Amateur Club, operators of station OH3AG is inviting hams world wide to participate into the first Global Six Meter  Marathon.  The objective of the contest is to work as many DXCC countries as possible between May 8th at 0000 UTC and August 8th at 2400 UTC, doing so on six meters band. The results of this contest will be published during Tampere Six Meters Forum on August 14th when the Magic Band enthusiasts abroad will meet.

For more information:  www.50mc.tk

(RSGB)

===============

Note: A complete list of  Prefixes assigned by International Telecommunications Union can be found on the Trans Provincial Website: www.tpn7055.ca/callsign.html

W1AW 2004 Spring/Summer Operating Schedule

Morning Schedule:

Time                               Mode         Days
-------------------           ----        ---------
1300 UTC (9 AM ET)    CWs      Wed, Fri
1300 UTC (9 AM ET)   CWf       Tue, Thu

Daily Visitor Operating Hours:

1400 UTC to 1600 UTC - (10 AM to 12 PM ET)
1700 UTC to 1945 UTC - (1 PM to 3:45 PM ET)

(Station closed 1600 to 1700 UTC (12 PM to 1 PM ET))

Afternoon/Evening Schedule:

2000 UTC (4 PM ET)      CWf      Mon, Wed, Fri
2000  "      "                      CWs      Tue, Thu
2100  "  (5 PM ET)           CWb     Daily
2200  "  (6 PM ET)           RTTY    Daily
2300  "  (7 PM ET)           CWs     Mon, Wed, Fri
2300  "      "                      CWf      Tue, Thu
0000  "  (8 PM ET)          CWb      Daily
0100  "  (9 PM ET)          RTTY     Daily
0145  "  (9:45 PM ET)     VOICE   Daily
0200  "  (10 PM ET)        CWf       Mon, Wed, Fri
0200  "      "                     CWs       Tue, Thu
0300  "  (11 PM ET)        CWb      Daily
 

                    Frequencies (MHz)
                         -----------------
CW:    1.8175 3.5815 7.0475 14.0475  18.0975 21.0675 28.0675 147.555
RTTY:     -   3.625  7.095  14.095   18.1025 21.095  28.095  147.555
VOICE:  1.855 3.990  7.290  14.290   18.160  21.390  28.590  147.555

Notes:

CWs = Morse Code practice (slow) = 5, 7.5, 10, 13 and 15 WPM
CWf = Morse Code practice (fast) = 35, 30, 25, 20, 15, 13 and 10 WPM
CWb = Morse Code Bulletins = 18 WPM

CW frequencies include code practices, Qualifying Runs and CW bulletins.

RTTY = Teleprinter Bulletins = BAUDOT (45.45 baud) and AMTOR-FEC (100 Baud). ASCII (110 Baud) is sent only as time allows.

Code practice texts are from QST, and the source of each practice is given at the beginning of each practice and at the beginning of alternate speeds.

On Tuesdays and Fridays at 2230 UTC (6:30 PM ET), Keplerian Elements for active amateur satellites are sent on the regular teleprinter frequencies.

A DX bulletin replaces or is added to the regular bulletins between 0000 UTC (8 PM ET) Thursdays and 0000 UTC (8 PM ET) Fridays.

In a communications emergency, monitor W1AW for special bulletins as follows: Voice on the hour, Teleprinter at 15 minutes past the hour, and CW on the half hour.

FCC licensed amateurs may operate the station from 1400 UTC to 1600 UTC (10 AM to 12 PM ET), and then from 1700 UTC to 1945 UTC (1 PM to 3:45 PM ET) Monday through Friday.  Be sure to bring your current FCC amateur license or a photocopy.

The complete W1AW Operating Schedule may be found on page 101 in the April 2004 issue of QST or on the web at,
http://www.arrl.org/w1aw.html

(ARRL Bulletin)

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