Apr. 21 2004  New Morse "@" character official as of May 3:  (  .--.-.  )

The International Morse code will officially gain a new character on May 3. That's when the now-familiar "@" symbol is set to join the Morse lexicon as the letters "AC" run together. Known as the "commercial at" or "commat," the @ symbol never rose to the level of usage that demanded a unique Morse character until it gained currency as a critical component of e-mail addresses during the past decade or so. Last December, the International Telecommunication Union Radiocommunication Sector (ITU-R) Study Group 8 agreed on the wording of a Draft New Recommendation ITU-R M.[MORSE] that specifies the international Morse code character set and transmission procedures and includes the new Morse code character. The pending change has attracted some attention in the media, including mentions on National Public Radio's All Things Considered and in The New York Times. The draft new recommendation is completing its circulation to ITU member-states under a new procedure that provides for simultaneous adoption and approval, and there have been no apparent objections. At the suggestion of the International Amateur Radio Union, the new recommendation also calls on ITU-R to define the international Morse code specification after May 3. The Morse specification previously had fallen under the purview of the Telecommunication Standardization Sector (ITU-T), which is responsible for the public telephone and telegraph network.

(ARRL News Service)

========

Apr. 23 2004  Albania....Project Good Will Expands

The success story of Project Goodwill Albania 2003 on boosting ham radio activity in Albania continues.  It has already accounted for some 40 new licensees and integrating amateur radio into the official course offering at the Technical University of Tirana.

Now comes word that two of the projects organizers, Martti Laine, OH2BH and Pertti Simovaara, OH2PM visited Tirana for a week starting on Tuesday, April 20th.  They were there to launch several new Zed-A prefix stations using equipment donated by the worlds ham radio DX community.  They also say that more gear is needed.  You can read about the story and find out how you can help on-line at: www.za1a.com

(OH2BH via N4GN)

=======

Apr. 24 2004 May 17, 2004 declared an "Anti-PLC Day of Protest" in Spain

URE,  the National Amateur radio Society in Spain, has announced that due to the current development of the PLC (Power Line Communications) system in Spain, the URE Board of Directors has decided that the World Telecommunication Day 2004 (May 17) will be declared an "Anti-PLC Day of Protest".

The following actions have been taken by URE:

1) To invite amateurs to carry out activities for pointing out that day.

2) To issue special QSL cards to be used by any URE member for confirming QSO made from special or usual stations.

3) To send to the Spanish media some info about harmful effects of the PLC system to the amateur and other services.

(Thanks to Jose Diaz, EA4BPJ General Secretary URE via IARU News)

(RAC News Service)

=======

Apr. 15 2004  NATO to study potential BPL interference

During a  March 29-31 meeting in Paris, France, the NATO Research Task Group on HF Interference established a work plan for studying the potential effects of BPL and DSL technologies on HF communications.  The Task group is chaired by a Canadian, Dr Arto Chubukjian of the Communications Research Centre in Ottawa.

According to Dr Chubukjian, increase of the natural HF noise floor by widespread use of PLC (BPL) and/or DSL may reduce the signal to noise ratio for tactical and strategic HF Radio as well as for HF Communications Intelligence stations in NATO and Partnership for Peace countries.

(RAC News Service)

Apr. 22 2004   New Treasurer for RAC

The RAC Board of Directors has approved Eric Ferguson, VE3CR, as Treasurer for the term ending Dec 31st, 2005.  Eric comes to us with extensive banking experience at the Executive level of a Canadian major Bank.

( RAC Bulletin 04-10E )

Atlantic Maritime Section

Apr. 18 2004  RAC Board of Directors has approved a new director for the Atlantic Region

The RAC Board of Directors has approved Dave Goodwin, VO1AU, as the Director for Atlantic Region to finish the term of David Nimmo, VE1NN, who resigned in early March. Dave was first licensed in 1975 at the age of 15.  He has been continuously active ever since, primarily in HF Contests and DXing, but also in VHF, UHF and microwave weak-signal contests and DXing.  He has also taken part in numerous public-service activities.  He has resided in and operated from five provinces in his Amateur career: New Brunswick, Quebec, Ontario, Alberta and Newfoundland and Labrador.  He currently holds three call signs: VO1AU, VE9CB and VO2AAA and he has previously held VE2ZP and VE6TG, among others.

(RAC Bulletin 04-08E)

======

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

=======

 May 29 2004 New Brunswick Spring Hamfest and Fleamarket

Sponsored by:  The Loyalist City Amateur Radio Club  (Saturday, May 29, 2004)
Location: Gondola Point Recreation Center, Quispamsis, NB Take exit 141 off of Highway 1 (about 20 km east of Saint John) for Route 119 North. Go approx. 4.5 km north on #119 to Meenan's Cove Rd., turn left (west)and go 1/2 km to Recreation Center Rd., turn left and go about 1/4 km to the Recreation Center.
Opens: Vendors 8 am, Public 9:30 am to 1 pm
Admission:  $3, Tables $2
Talkin:  VE1EE 147.270 (+)
Notes:  There will be door prizes and a grand prize draw. Amateur licencing examinations including code will be available on site, plus DXCC QSL card checking and a transmitter Fox hunt in the afternoon after the flea market. RAC and commercial vendors will be present.
For more info visit: http://www.qsl.net/ve9lc

VE2AUU Appointed Quebec Director

Radio Amateurs of Canada's Board of Directors has approved Murray Epstein, VE2AUU, as the interim Director for Quebec.  This, pending the results of an upcoming election in the next few weeks.

Epstein has been an Amateur for more than 55 years, and is very active both on and off the air.  R-A-C says that Epstein has been an important  innovator both as a radio amateur and in the business world.

(RAC)

=========

Jun. 19 2004   Special Event Call Signs VA2RAQI and VE2RAQI

Authority has been granted to Radio Amateur du Quebec Inc to use the special event call signs VA2RAQI and VE2RAQI on June 19 for the Quebec QSO Party

(RAC)

Apr. 12 2004  Amateur Repeaters co-located with CBC Towers

RAC is currently in negotiations to preserve the arrangements that amateur repeater sponsors have with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) to co-locate amateur repeaters on CBC towers.

In an effort to gather information on the subject in the province of Ontario, RAC would like repeater owners/sponsors who have a CBC co-located repeater to contact Paul Davidson VE3UUM and submit the following information:

• Call sign of the repeater
• Location of the repeater (CBC Tower site location/call sign)
• Length of time the repeater has been at the CBC Tower.
• Any repeater involvement in Emergency/Public service activity while at the CBC site.
• Any concerns in your area about CBC towers access

In addition, general submissions from repeater call signs not located on CBC towers listing their callsign, location and involvement in public service and emergency activities in the recent past would be helpful.

Paul will make every effort to submit this information before April 30,  2004.

Thanks,
Paul Davidson VE3UUM
Ontario Section Emergency Coordinator

========

Apr. 21 2004  RAC Ontario Section News

Congratulations to Gord Hewit VE3GIH who was appointed on April 16 to the Position of District Emergency Coordinator for Scugog, SEC, Paul Davidson VE3UUM looks forward to working with Gord in his new role as DEC for Scugog.

Paul Davidson VE3UUM
Ontario Section Emergency Coordinator

========

May 8 2004  Skywide ARC Annual Spring Hamfest & Fleamarket

Sponsored by: The Skywide Amateur Radio Club (Saturday, May 8, 2004)
Location: The Westway United Church, 8 Templar Drive, Etobicoke
Opens: 9 am till 11.30 am; Vendors 7.30 am
Admission: $5.00; Tables $12.00 (includes one admission)
Talkin: 146.985 MHz or Simplex: 146.520 MHz
Notes:  Door Prises, Special Draws
For more info visit:  www.webhome.idirect.com/~jproc/sarc

========

May 8 2004   20th Annual Smiths Falls Amateur Radio Flea Market

Sponsored by:  The Rideau Lakes Amateur Radio Club inc. (Saturday, May 8, 2004)
Location:  Smiths Falls Youth Arena Corner of Cornelia St. (highway #43) and Elmsley St. Smiths Falls.
Opens:  Vendors 7 am, Public 9 am to noon.
Admission:  $3, Tables $5 in advance, $8 at the door.
Talkin:  VE3RLR 147.210 (+600)
For more info visit: www.falls.igs.net/~rlarc

Apr. 18 2004   New Manitoba Section Manager for RAC

Robert Boux, VE4RRB, of Winnipeg, is the new Manitoba Section Manager for RAC. Boux replaces Manitoba SM Derek Hay, VE4HAY.  Robert was the only nominee in the last election cycle and was declared elected.  His term will begin July 1, 2004.

Joe Craig, VO1NA was recently re-elected Section Manager in Newfoundland/Labrador for a two-year term that will begin on July 1, 2004. Joe ran unopposed eliminating the need for a balloted election.

(RAC Bulletin 04-09E)

==========

May 20 - June 22 2004  Special Event Callsign VC6X

Authority has been granted by Industry Canada to Mr. Bill Metcalfe of Beaumont, AB to use the Special Event Callsign VC6X to celebrate the 150th Anniversary of Lieutenant Alexander Roberts Dunn (1833-1868) who is the the first to receive the Victoria Cross for his military heroism during the Crimean War of 1854-1856.

(RAC)

==========

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.

• 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. 23 , 2004 Tad Cook K7RA Solar Update

Solar flux and sunspot numbers rose this week, and geomagnetic indices were down. Although still headed down the far side of solar cycle 23, rising sunspot counts and lower geomagnetic disturbances are great for HF propagation.

Over the next few days, April 23-25, solar flux should stay around 120. It's expected to drop to around 115, 115 and 110 April 26-27. Planetary A index may rise to around 15 or higher on Saturday and Sunday, April 24-25, due to a solar windstream, especially if the interplanetary magnetic field points south. Currently the field is pointing north, protecting Earth from solar wind. There is a possibility of effects from a coronal hole reaching Earth this Sunday, April 25.

In the longer near-term projection, returning activity as the sun rotates relative to Earth could cause a larger rise in geomagnetic activity around May 3. A holographic helioseismic image of the sun's far side from earlier this week reveals a sunspot group currently out of Earth's view. Of course, this should rotate back into view soon assuming these spots don't fade away entirely. An explanation of helioseismic holography and imaging of the sun's far side is on the SpaceWeather.com
[ http://spaceweather.com/glossary/farside.html ] Web site and a daily picture of Earth's side of the sun is on the Big Bear Solar Observatory Web site [ www.bbso.njit.edu/Images/daily/images/hfullbc.jpg  ]

This week's bulletin has a new index added to the numbers at the end of the bulletin. It follows the planetary A index and weekly average that is always presented, and is an estimate of the middle latitude A index. The planetary A index factors in data from magnetometers worldwide. During periods of greater geomagnetic activity, this number is higher than the middle latitude index because of reporting from higher latitudes, where geomagnetic disturbance tends to become more intense. The middle latitude numbers reflect conditions experienced by the majority of our readers in North America who live below the 50th parallel. Data from both sets of reported numbers come from a NOAA ftp site: www.sec.noaa.gov/ftpdir/indices/DGD.txt

Essays by Carl Luetzelschwab, K9LA, about using free propagation software are now posted on the ARRL web site on the Technical Information Service Propagation page. There's an article about W6ELprop and another about VOACAP. www.arrl.org/tis/info/pdf/Voacap.pdf

We use W6ELprop to establish the path projections we sometimes present in this bulletin. You can have the flexibility of making your own projections between any locations, seasonal variations or solar activity by downloading the free software and plugging in your own values.

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

Sunspot numbers for April 15 through 21 were 60, 53, 55, 92, 108, 96 and 98, with a mean of 80.3. The 10.7 cm flux was 96.7, 96.9, 98.2, 109, 113.4, 110.7 and 112.7, with a mean of 105.4. Estimated planetary A indices were 6, 12, 9, 11, 6, 4 and 5, with a mean of 7.6. Estimated mid-latitude A indices were 3, 10, 6, 6, 4, 4 and 6, with a mean of 5.6.

(W1AW)

Apr. 21 2004  Five hams now aboard ISS

International Space Station (ISS) Expedition 9 crew members Gennady Padalka, RN3DT, and Mike Fincke, KE5AIT, accompanied by European Space Agency astronaut André Kuipers, PI9ISS, arrived at the ISS right on schedule early today (April 21) aboard a Russian Soyuz vehicle. They join Expedition 8 crew members Mike Foale, KB5UAC, and Sasha Kaleri, U8MIR, whom Padalka and Fincke will relieve.

Docking of the Soyuz spacecraft initiated a nine-day handover period. During his visit aboard the space outpost, Kuipers will conduct a couple of Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) school group contacts and carry out scientific experiments under a commercial agreement between the ESA and Russia. He'll return to Earth April 29 with Foale and Kaleri aboard the older Soyuz vehicle now attached to the ISS.

The Expedition 8 crew has so far spent 184 days onboard the station. NASA says Foale and Kaleri will be exercising rigorously this week to condition themselves for the effects of Earth's gravity upon their return. During their six-month tour of duty, Padalka, 45, will serve as Expedition 9 commander and Soyuz commander, while Fincke, 36, will be the NASA ISS science officer and flight engineer.

(ARRL News Service)

=======

Apr. 20 2004 Three Radio Amateurs on their Way to the ISS

Following a successful early-morning launch Monday, April 19 (UTC), three Amateur Radio operators are on their way to the International Space Station (ISS) in a Russian Soyuz vehicle. ISS Expedition 9 crew members Gennady Padalka, RN3DT, and Mike Fincke, KE5AIT, accompanied by European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut Andre Kuipers, PI9ISS, of the Netherlands took off into space from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. The Soyuz is due to dock with the ISS just after 0500 UTC on Wednesday, April 21.

Padalka and Fincke will relieve Expedition 8 crew members Mike Foale, KB5UAC, and Sasha Kaleri, U8MIR. During his nine days aboard the space outpost, Kuipers will conduct a couple of Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) school group contacts and carry out scientific experiments under a commercial agreement between the ESA and Russia. He'll return to Earth April 29 with Foale and Kaleri aboard the Soyuz vehicle now attached to the ISS. Foale and Kaleri have been on the space station since last October.

Padalka, 45, will serve as Expedition 9 commander and Soyuz commander, while Fincke, 36, will be the NASA ISS science officer and flight engineer. They have been training together as a space station crew for nearly two years. This marks Fincke's first space flight and Padalka's second. Padalka lived aboard the Russian Mir space station for 198 days in 1999.

(ARRL News Service)

========

Apr. 21 2004  AMSAT-UK Space Symposium 2004 set:

AMSAT-UK will hold its annual space symposium July 30-August 1 at the University of Surrey in Guildford, England. The three-day event typically attracts radio amateurs from all over Europe as well as from North America, Africa, Asia and the Pacific. In addition to offering a range of forums, it provides an opportunity to rub shoulders with the designers of the latest Amateur satellites and learn the latest news. Beginners' sessions will teach newcomers how to get started in Amateur Radio space communications. An antenna testing range will be available too as well as microwave test gear. In conjunction with the symposium will be guided tours of the Surrey Space Centre. The Radio Society of Great Britain's GB4FUN van, which has a fully equipped satellite station, will be available during the event for visitors to work the satellites.

For more information, contact Jim Heck, G3WGM, (Tel +44 1258 453959) or visit the AMSAT-UK Website: www.uk.amsat.org

(ARRL 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. 22 2004  Grey County ARES MS Walk Report

Volunteers from the Grey County ARES group were out in the rain on Sunday morning, April 18th, helping with communications during the 2004 Owen Sound Super Cities Walk for Multple Sclerosis.  By our estimates, there were between 180 and 190 walkers.  Organizers indicate that they raised $35,800 with more expected to come in as more pledges are turned in.  The event is the MS Society's biggest fundraiser of the year.

The four ARES operators, Brad VE3RHJ, Glenn VE3GNA, Bob VE3RWZ and Bob VE3LKD, monitored both the 5 km and 10 km portions of the walk, coordinating their activities with the St. John Ambulance volunteers.  Bob VE3RWZ, who was stationed at the Legion, provided net control.  Walkers chose to follow either the 5 km route from the Legion, through Kelso Park to the Library and back to the start, or the 10 km route from the Legion, through Kelso Park, over to Harrison Park and back to the Legion.  There were no emergencies or problems during the walk, and most of the 2m traffic was just keeping track of how many walkers were on which stretch of the walk, and where along the route the St. John Ambulance people could be reached if needed.  We used 146.46 MHz simplex to avoid tying up any repeater.

The rain ended just after the walk began and the weather kept improving all morning.  By the time the last walker completed the course,  the sun was shining brightly.  At the end of the event the MS Society provided a lunch of hotdogs, pizza, fruit and beverages, for the walkers and for those who assisted with the event.  Both the organizers and St. John Ambulance expressed their appreciation and thanks for our help.

2004 is the fourth year that Grey ARES has been assisting with the MS Walk in Owen Sound.

Bob Droine, VE3LKD
Grey County EC

=======

Apr. 19 2004  Changes to the ARES Ontario HF Nets,

After numerous comments and e-mails concerning the Sunday evening ARES Ontario HF Net on 3.743Mhz at 9:00pm it has been decided by popular vote to move this net to Wednesday evenings at 8:00pm on 3.743mhz. This decision has been made to accommodate many that are unable to attend the Sunday nets. With summer around the corner many are away on the weekends and miss the ARES HF Nets altogether.

The net will also follow the Ontario Phone Net protocol, in the event that conditions on 80 meters are poor we will use an alternate 40-meter frequency of 7.070mhz to 7.080mhz. We will use the first available spot within this portion of the band. The frequency of 7.150mhz is on the edge of the American band so splatter could be an issue at this time of the evening. In addition, the TPN frequency is in use by a group in Northern Ontario and Manitoba. The Sandbox Net uses 7.063.5mhz so a distance must be maintained from these two nets.

These changes will be implemented as of April 19, 2004 and we will conduct our first Wednesday Net on April 21 2004. For a brief time the Sunday evening Net will continue as usual until the transition is complete, the Sunday afternoon net will be maintained in its normal time slot.

These changes may not suite everyone's needs but the consensus is that most will be able to check in on either Sunday or Wednesday.

Any ARES member willing to act as Net Control for the Wednesday evening net is asked to contact the Net Manager.

Full details about the ARES Ontario HF Nets can be found on the web at www.hfradio.net/ares

Best regards,
Jim Taylor VA3KU
ARES Ontario HF Net Manager
va3ku@look.ca

=======

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

=========

Apr 22, 2004 Salvation Army offers assistance in North Central Illinois after violent storms rip through the Area

Salvation Army emergency disaster services personnel were on the scene moments after a tornado and violent thunderstorms ripped across north central Illinois causing death and destruction. Three people were reported dead in Utica, Ill., located about 90 miles southwest of Chicago with a population of nearly 2,000, and dozens of homes and business were destroyed. Salvation Army emergency disaster services vehicles (canteens) assisted residents and offered a respite to police, fire officials and emergency response personnel on the scene.

The storms also wreaked havoc on much of the historic district in the Chicago suburb of Joliet, Ill., destroyed one home and severely damaged at least 60 other homes and businesses in the area. Salvation Army canteens roved neighborhoods providing food, beverages and a respite. They also assisted residents with damage assessment and clean-up.

The Home Depot has graciously partnered with The Salvation Army to help residents and business owners rebuild what the storms destroyed.

In all there were more than 40 tornado sightings in Illinois, Indiana and Oklahoma last night.

Rick Shirran
Major
Territorial Coordinator for SATERN
Corps Officer
The Salvation Army Hamilton Citadel

=========

Apr. 21 2004  Ham radio emergency communications symposium planned in Kansas:

A day-long program on Amateur Radio emergency communications will take place Saturday, July 24, 9 AM, at The Salvation Army, 420 E Santa Fe, Olathe, Kansas (15 miles southwest of Kansas City). The day begins with "New Ham Orientation," sponsored by Johnson County, Kansas, Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES). This session will provide an overview of ARES and explain how amateurs can get involved. After lunch--which will be provided--the Kansas Salvation Army Team Emergency Radio Network (SATERN) will sponsor an ARRL Emergency Communications seminar. Geared to all emergency communications volunteers, this four-hour interactive seminar will cover the latest concepts and improvements in Amateur Radio emergency communications, describe the ARRL on-line emergency communications courses, utilize disaster scenarios for group discussions, and offer a self-preparedness examination. Handouts and prizes will be given. Seats are limited. Those planning to attend should contact Dan Miller, K3UFG; k3ufg@arrl.org 860 594-0340 to register. For additional information contact June Jeffers, KB0WEQ, kssatern@att.net 913-856-8674.

(ARRL News Service)

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Apr 22, 2004   Illinois Amateurs Support Tornado Relief, Recovery Efforts

Illinois ARRL Section Emergency Coordinator Pat Ryan, KC6VVT, reports Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) team members and local radio amateurs in LaSalle County--nearly 100 miles southwest of Chicago--are supporting American Red Cross relief and recovery efforts in the wake of tornados April 20 that left at least eight people dead. Illinois Gov Rod Blagojevich surveyed the damage and designated LaSalle, Putnam, Kankakee and Will counties as disaster areas. Especially hard hit was the LaSalle County town of Utica, where the storms devastated the downtown area.

"There was an outstanding turnout by local and nearby hams," Ryan told ARRL. "Many local hams are assisting in recovery efforts and damage assessment." In addition, SKYWARN teams and severe weather spotters "helped greatly throughout the area to spread the word of the approaching tornado tracking across many counties." Ryan said Jim Stefkovich, KD5HLE, the meteorologist in charge at the National Weather Service (NWS) Chicago Forecast Office, expressed gratitude for Amateur Radio's assistance in providing storm information.

Ryan, who lives in LaSalle County, reports that after the N9OUW Tri-County repeater was knocked off the air, owner Rich Grimshaw, N9OUW, and Kurt Clausen, KB9RKU, installed a deep-cycle battery from the Starved Rock Radio Club to get the machine back up. "This essential ham repeater then provided ideal coverage to link the downtown Utica area below the Illinois River bluff for further operation by the many amateurs responding," he noted. "It was the critical link for this area."

The reactivated repeater has been supporting disaster recovery efforts coordinated by the Illinois Valley Red Cross chapter in Peru. Ryan says he has a back-up battery on charge at his home for use as needed. Simplex nets were activated in the Utica area on 2 meters as well, to support shelter operations and disaster assessment. Grundy County amateurs also turned out to assist in LaSalle County.

Ryan reports "outstanding assistance" from Community Emergency Response Teams throughout Northern Illinois. Twisters also hit the town of Granville in Putnam County, where Ryan's brother lives. "Unfortunately, my brother and sister-in-law lost the roof and the use of their house," he said, although no one was injured. Ryan says he's had to take time off from assisting in the local disaster net to help his family with salvage and cleanup efforts and get his relatives resettled.

Ryan said non-amateur community volunteers in the stricken communities have been turning out to help clear streets and board up or cover damaged homes and businesses.

Salvation Army Team Emergency Network National Director Pat McPherson, WW9E, reports Salvation Army canteens have been roving stricken neighborhoods providing food, beverages and respite. Salvation Army volunteers also have assisted with damage assessment and cleanup.

"We used SKYWARN and our SATERN folks to keep us abreast of reports as the weather conditions turned sour, and they turned out to be invaluable assets in determining the course of the tornados," said McPherson, who's headquartered in Chicago. "Amateurs also provided valuable information regarding the circumstances in Utica and pointed me to a state frequency that I could monitor regarding responders' efforts." McPherson said that channel offered accurate information he was able to relay to his own responders so they'd have a better idea of what they'd be facing in the stricken communities.

McPherson said he would personally serve as incident commander for Salvation Army relief operations in Utica this weekend and planned to use Amateur Radio to support operations if possible. He expected the Salvation Army's Utica operation to last at least two weeks.

Near Chicago, Will County ARES Emergency Coordinator Rob Sobkoviak, K9NYO, singled out the efforts of Bolingbrook AEC Toni Hamilton, WX9WRN, who coordinates her county's ARES Severe Weather Net as well as the numerous weather spotters. "All of those spotters who sat watching the skies, often in harm's way, are definitely the heroes," Sobkoviak said. Other Will County amateurs staffed ARES stations at a Bolingbrook fire station and at emergency operations centers in Plainfield and in Joliet, where the county's EOC is located.

"Hams at the Will County EOC can instantly get reports from the Will County ARES Net and NWS into the hands of county emergency management personnel to disseminate over the county-wide 'WILLWARN' system," Sobkoviak said. Other amateurs staffed the amateur station at the National Weather Service Chicago Forecast Office.

"These guys are true heroes," Sobkoviak said of his ARES team members.

ARRL Illinois Section Manager Shari Harlan, N9SH, said radio amateurs in her section "are on top of things" in the affected communities. "We are on standby so that when and if they need additional help because of fatigue and so forth, we can move in," she added.

(ARRL News Service)

=========

Apr. 21 2004  New York City SATERN, ARES cooperate in major disaster drill:

With the help of local Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) operators, New York City Salvation Army Team Emergency Radio Network (SATERN) members on March 14 participated in the largest NYC Office Of Emergency Management drill in the city's history. "This was a multi-agency drill involving almost every agency in the metropolitan area, along with 50 hospitals," said SATERN Liaison for Greater New York Jeff Schneller, N2HPO. "The scenario was an explosion and fire in Shea Stadium while a ballgame was in progress, resulting in multiple casualties and a power failure." Schneller said some of the "injured" had been instructed to purposely obstruct rescuers to make the drill seem as realistic as possible. "The stadium parking lot looked like a used emergency vehicle lot with over 100 emergency vehicles, mostly large trucks," he said. Calling in ARES members as operators allowed SATERN and ARES teams to get to know each other better, Schneller explained. Salvation Army Emergency Disaster Services was active with two canteens and two support vehicles throughout the day-long drill. "We always simulate a communications problem and use Amateur Radio for drills as the main source of communication," he said. Schneller thanked NYC ARES for its support and the Electchester VHF Club for the use of its repeater. Seven ARES and two SATERN operators participated in the drill.

(ARRL News Service)

Apr. 23 2004   A Cell Phone with Worldwide Capability

A cell phone that can be used most places in the world will be offered by Motorola during the second half of this year.  The handset is compatible with the GSM networks used throughout Europe, as well as the CDMA standard that is popular in the United States and across Asia.  More info at:  http://tinyurl.com/3bqh5

(CGC)

========

Apr 23 2004   Fascinated by the work of the famed inventor Nikola Tesla?

Are you one of the many that is fascinated by the work of the famed inventor Nikola Tesla?  Then Bert Hickman's Teslamania website is just what you have been looking for.

According to the CGC Communicator, Teslamania is probably the only web address featuring Tesla coils, levitating Mendocino motors, frozen lightning bolts, magnetic coin shrinkers and can crushers.  Its also real easy to find: www.teslamania.com

(CGC)

=======

Apr. 23 2004 Swiss Radio International Going QRT

And after 70 years on the air, Swiss Radio International has reached the final phase of its retreat from international radio broadcasting. As of April 13th there are no more daily radio programs in English, and at the end of October the shortwave transmissions will close down completely.

Radio Netherlands has prepared an investigative report on why, along with a look back at Swiss international broadcasting 40 years ago.  You will find it at:  www.rnw.nl/realradio/features/html/sri040408.html

(Media Network)

Contest News

Florida QSO Party--sponsored by the Florida Contest Group from 1600Z April 24-0159Z April 25 and 1200Z-2159Z April 25, 20 hours max, work FL stations. Frequencies (MHz): CW--35 kHz from band edges, Phone--7.260, 14.260, 21.335, and 28.485, no 160 or 80 meters, VHF/UHF. Categories: SO, MS, MM (one signal per band), Mobile (SO and SO+driver), School Club, SWL, all categories can enter as HP/LP (150 W) or QRP (5 W) and Mixed Mode/CW/SSB (except MM and SWL). Exchange: RST and FL county or S/P/C. QSO Points: CW--2 pts, SSB--1 pt. Score: FL stations--QSO points × S/P/C (W/VE/KH6/KL7 do not count as DXCC entities) × power multiplier; non-FL stations--QSO points × FL counties × power multiplier. All multipliers count once per mode. Power multiplier--HP ×1, LP ×2, QRP ×3. For more information: www.floridaqsoparty.org. Logs due May 25 via the Web log entry page at http://www.b4h.net/cabforms/flqp_cab.php or to logs@floridaqsoparty.org (ASCII text or Cabrillo format) or Florida QSO Party, c/o Ron Wetjen, WD4AHZ, 5362 Castleman Dr, Sarasota, FL 34232.

Nebraska QSO Party--CW/SSB--sponsored by the Heartland DX Association 1700Z Apr 24-1700Z Apr 25. Frequencies (MHz): 160-2 meters; CW--1.805 and 35 kHz above band edge; Phone--1.915, 3.865, 7.265, 14.265, 21.365, 28.465, 146.460; Novices/Technicians--10 kHz above band edge and 28.460. Categories: SO, MS, Mobile. Work stations once per band/mode and NE mobile stations can be worked again in each county. County lines count as one QSO. Exchange: RST and NE county or S/P/C. QSO Points: CW--2 pts, Phone--1 pt. Score is QSO Points × S/P/C for NE stations or NE counties (multipliers count once only) × Power Multiplier (QRP ×3, LP ×2, HP ×1). For more information: www.qsl.net/hdxa. Logs due May 31 to NEQP2004@alltel.net (ASCII text) or Nebraska QSO Party, PO Box 375, Elkhorn, NE 68022-0375.

Kentucky QSO Party--CW/SSB/RTTY/PSK31 --sponsored by Bullitt Amateur Radio Society from 1600Z Apr 24-0400Z Apr 25. Frequencies (MHz): SSB: ±20 kHz above General class band edge; CW: 3.55, 7.05, 14.05, 21.05 and 28.05. Categories: Entries will be SO-Single Mode (SSB, CW, Digital), SO-Mixed, Rover. Work stations once on each mode and band (RTTY and PSK31 are considered separate QSOs). Work Rover stations in each county. Exchange: Name and KY county or S/P/C. QSO Points: SSB--1 pt, CW/Digital/Rover--2 pts. Score: QSO Points × KY counties (KY stations count S/P/C) + QSO with KY4KY. For more information: www.qsl.net/ky4ky/kyqsopartyrules.html. Logs due 10 days following the contest to kc4wq@arrl.net or KY QSO Party, c/o KC4WQ, 1229 Zoneton Rd, Shepherdsville, KY 40165.

Helvetia Contest--CW/SSB/Digital--sponsored by Union of Swiss Short Wave Amateurs (USKA) from 1300Z Apr 24-1300Z Apr 25. Frequencies: 160-10 meters. Categories: SO-Mixed, SO-QRP, SO-Digital, MO-Digital, MO-Mixed, SWL. Exchange: RST and serial number (Swiss stations add canton abbreviation). QSO Points: 3 pts/QSO. Score: QSO points × Swiss cantons (Swiss stations also count DXCC entities). For more information:www.uska.ch/html/en/index_e.htm. Logs due 31 days after the contest to contest@uska.ch or USKA HF Traffic Manager, Hermann Stein, HB9CRV, Brüelmatten 13, 4410 Liestal BL, Switzerland.

(ARRL)

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

===========

Millville, NJ: Millville Army Airfield Museum, N2M. 0800Z Apr 30-1900Z May 2. 2004 AmExpo and Wheels & Wings Air Show. 448.525 146.655 14.275 3.925. QSL. MAAFM/AmExpo, 1 Leddon St, Millville Airport, Millville, NJ 08332. www.p47millville.org

Conway, AR: Faulkner County Amateur Radio Club, W5AUU. 1800Z-2400Z May 1. Toad Suck Daze Festival. 21.350 14.250. Certificate. W5AUU, PO Box 324, Conway, AR 72032.

Toms River, NJ: Holiday City Amateur Radio Club, W2H. May 1-May 15. Commemorating the crash of the Hindenburg Airship at Lakehurst, NJ. Lower General HF bands, 145.170. QSL. Holiday City Amateur Radio Club W2HC, 9 Tahoe Ct, Toms River, NJ 08757.

Homewood, IL: Tri-Town Radio Amateur Club, W9H. 1600Z-2300Z May 2. Homewood Railroad Heritage Day. 28.340 14.270 14.040 7.270 146.49. Certificate. Gene Backlin, 26811 Greenbriar Dr, Monee, IL 60449.

Franconia, NH: Old Man Radio Club, N1H. 1500Z May 2-0100Z May 3. First anniversary of the collapse of New Hampshire's Old Man of the Mountain rock formation. 14.247 7.247. Certificate. Jim Cluett, W1PID, 1241 New Hampton Rd, Sanbornton, NH 03269. www.qsl.net/oldman

(ARRL)

Apr. 22 2004   ARLD016 DX news

This week's bulletin was made possible with information provided by KJ4UY, QRZ DX, the OPDX Bulletin, The Daily DX, 425DXnews, DXNL, WA7BNM and Contest Corral from QST.  Thanks to all.

GUINEA, 3X.  Sebastian, 3XDQZ/p has been QRV on 12 meters between 1230 and 1915z.  He has also been active on 20 meters SSB around 2030z.  QSL via F8DQZ.

QATAR, A7.  Ali, A71BX has been QRV on 20 meters CW between 2300 and 0000z.  QSL direct.

FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY, DA.  Stations DL8RL, DL8DZL, DF3UFW and DL2DSL are active from Usedom Island, IOTA EU-129, until April 30. They also plan to operate from Schlossinsel and Grosser Wotig.  QSL via bureau.

PHILIPPINES, DU.  Stations 4F1OZ, 4F1FZ, 4F1EAA, 4F2XX, 4F2KWT and DY1PDO plan to operate from Fuga Island, IOTA OC-092, from April 24 to 26.  Activity will be on 40, 20, 15 and 10 meters using CW and SSB.  QSL via operators' instructions.

BELARUS, EW.  Andrei, NP3D is QRV as EW1AR on all bands and modes until April 27 while here visiting.  He will also be a Single Op/All Band/Low Power entry in the SP DX RTTY Contest.  QSL via W3HNK.

ENGLAND, G.  To celebrate the birth of Guglielmo Marconi, members of the Cornish Radio Amateur Club will be active April 24 and 25 as GB4IMD during the International Marconi Day event.  QSL via operators' instructions.

ITALY, I.  Special event station IY5PIS will be activated from Coltano on April 24 during the International Marconi Day event.  QSL via IZ5DMC.

JAPAN, JA.  Joe, JA4PXE and Kou, JH4WVX will be QRV as homecalls/6 from Uji Island, IOTA AS-067, from April 29 to May 2.  Activity will be on 160 to 6 meters using CW and SSB.  QSL to home calls.

LEBANON, OD.  Abdul, OD5UR has been QRV on 20 meters SSB around 1800z.  QSL via LZ1YE.

POLAND, SP.  Special event station SP0EURO will be active on all bands and modes from April 28 to May 3 to celebrate the accession of Poland to the European Union.  QSL via SP9PKZ.

EGYPT, SU.  Alan, SU9BN has been QRV on 30 meters around 0330 to 0500z.  QSL via EA7FTR.

CORSICA, TK.  Romek, SQ5RK will participate in the SP DX RTTY Contest as TK/SQ5RK.  QSL to home call.

UZBEKISTAN, UK.  Ravil, UK8OAR has been QRV using RTTY on 20 meters around 0300z.  QSL direct.  Meanwhile, Radik, UK8UWG has been QRV on 17 meters using CW around 0930 to 1300z.  QSL direct.

ST. KITTS AND NEVIS, V4.  Larry, KJ4UY is QRV as V47UY from Nevis until April 30.  Activity is on 160 to 6 meters using CW, SSB, with some RTTY and PSK.  QSL to home call.

AUSTRALIA, VK.  Wally, VK6YS, Dan, VK8AN, Bruce, KD6WW and Ron, VK8NRI will be QRV as VK6AN from Viney Island, IOTA OC-071, from April 27 to May 2.  They will also be active from Long Island as VK6LL.  QSL both calls direct via VK4AAR.

PRINCE EDWARD AND MARION ISLANDS, ZS8.  Station ZS8MI is QRV until April 30.  Activity is on 80 to 10 meters using CW and SSB.  QSL direct via ZS6M.

THIS WEEKEND ON THE RADIO.  The 432 MHz Spring Sprint, Harry Angel Memorial Sprint, SP DX RTTY Contest, Helvetia Contest, QRP to the Field, the Florida, Kentucky and Nebraska QSO Parties, CQC PSK31 Kontest and the EUCW/FISTS QRS Party will certainly keep contesters busy this weekend.  Please see April QST, page 107 and the ARRL and WA7BNM contest websites for details.

(W1AW)

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

Apr. 24 2004  425 DX News

8Q === Tadao, JA1WPX will be active as 8Q7WP from the Maldives (AS-013) on 4-9 May. He plans to operate on  10-40 metres SSB, CW and RTTY  (if possible also on 80m and PSK31).  QSL via home call, either  direct (with 1 new IRC or 2 USD)  or through the bureau (provided that he gets them in time, as he says that his last batch of cards will  be sent to the JARL outgoing bureau in December 2005). [TNX JA1WPX]

BV === Paul, BV4FH reports  that BX2AE, BV2OO  and BV2QB  will operate as BO0D from Dong  Yin Island (AS-113)  on 8-14 May.  QSL via  bureau. [TNX JI6KVR]

DL === DL1APR, DL1APW,  DL1NUF,  DL5AOJ, DL6AMA,  DL9NDS and DM3BJ will operate on all  bands CW, SSB, RTTY and PSK31 from Ummanz  Island (EU-057, O-06 for the German Islands Award) on 17-23 May. QSL  via home calls. [TNX DL8AAM]

DL === Look for Fred, DL8DXL/p to be active from the following islands and lighthouses in May:

DATE        ISLAND       IOTA     GIA   GLHA   WLH      ARLHS
    -------------------------------------------------------------
16-19 May   Baltrum      EU-047   N-06    -     -        -
20-23 May   Neuwerk      EU-127   N-12   038   2311   FED-165
22 May      Scharhoern   EU-127   N-11    -     -        -
24-27 May   Oland        EU-042   N-20   new   0712   FED-174
27-29 May   Langeness    EU-042   N-19    -     -        -
29 May      Langeness    EU-042   N-19   new   1245   FED-134
Fred will  be joined  by DL/LX9EG/p  while on  Neuwerk Island. [TNX DL8DXL]

EA === Marc,  ON5FP  and  Jose,  ON4CJK  [425DXN  675]  will operate as EA1/ON5FP/P and EA1/ON4CJK/P duirng their 23-25 July activity from Mouro Island (EU-142), including at least one entry in the IOTA Contest. On 27-29 July they will be active from Gibraltar (ZB2) and from 30 July to 1 August  from Ceuta & Melilla  (EA9). QSL for all activities via ON4ADN either direct (Geert Decru, St. Laurentiusstraat 18, 8710  Wielsbeke, Belgium) or through the UBA bureau. [TNX ON5FP]

F === The last valid operations for the Council of Europe Radio Club Challenge will take place on 5  May (RTTY) and  7-9 May (RTTY,  SSB and  CW) with the call TP7CE. Rules are available at http://ewwa.free.fr [TNX F6FQK]

FP === Look for  Paul,  FP/K9OT and Peg,  FP/KB9LIE  to be active from Miquelon (NA-032)  from the  evening of  2 July until noon (local time) on the 11th. They will operate on 160-6 metres (breakable beacon on 50120 kHz) with 100 watts, with an emphasis on 6, 12  and 17m SSB for Peg and 30-160m CW for Paul. They expect to participate in the IARU HF Championship as two separate entries (CW and SSB). QSL  via  K9OT,  direct or bureau. Their web page is at http://www.mhtc.net/~k9ot [TNX K9OT]

G === Members of the North Wakefield Radio Club (http://www.g4nok.org) plan to operate again as  GX4NOK/P from the  island of Inner Farne (EU-109) over the weekend of 24-25 April.  The team activated the island on 17 April, but bad weather conditions prevented them from operating also on the 18th as previously announced. [TNX 2E0NJW]

GJ === Johannes, DF5AU will operate (on 160-10  metres CW and SSB, WARC bands excluded) as either MJ/DF5AU (QSL  via home call) and  GJ3DVC during the CQ-MIR-DX-Contest (QSL via bureau or direct) from Jersey (EU-013) on 8-9 May. [TNX DF5AU]

I === Luigi, IV3KAS will participate in the ARI International DX Contest (1-2 May) as II3L (SO SSB). QSl via home call. [TNX IV3KAS]

I === Marco,  IZ6ASI and Stefano,  IK6VGO will be active from the lighthouse at Senigallia (WAIL MA-004) on 15-16 May. [TNX IZ6ASI]

JA === Look for Takeshi, JI3DST/6 to be active from Miyako Island (AS-079) from 29 April to 9 May. [TNX The Daily DX]

JA === Hiroaki, JK1FNN and his wife Mie, 7L1MKM will operate (on  10-40 metres CW, SSB and RTTY) from Ishigaki Island (AS-024) on 2-4  May. QSL via JK1FNN. [TNX The Daily DX]

JD1_oga === Look for Taka, JO2JDJ/JD1 and  Hide, JM1LJS/JD1 (JD1BLK) to be active from Ogasawara (AS-031) on 2-5 May. They plan to operate on 40-10 metres SSB and CW. QSL JO2JDJ/JD1 and JM1LJS/JD1 via home calls, QSL JD1BLK via JM1LJS. [TNX JM1LJS, http://radio-dream.com/jd1blk/e/]

JW === Marq, CT1BWW (one  of the operators of S05X) plans to operate as JW/CT1BWW from Svalbard on 7-14 June.  He may be joined by other operators, and in that case they will have up to three stations active on 160-6 metres CW, SSB,  RTTY, PSK31 and SSTV.  QSL via CT1BWW.  His  web pages are at http://www.ct1bww.4t.com and http://www.geocities.com/ok8bww [TNX CT1BWW]

KP2 === Look for Ann, W2AZK/KP2 and Brian, KF2HC/KP2  to operate on 160-6 metres SSB and CW from St Croix, Virgin Islands (NA-106) on  5-12 June. QSL via home calls, direct or bureau. Confirmed QSOs with Ann and Brian are good towards the North Jersey DX Association's "NJDXA Award" (see www.njdxa.org for details). [TNX KF2HC]

LX === ON4LO, ON6QX and ON6UM will operate as LX/homecall from Luxembourg on 15-17 May. They plan to be active on 160-6 metres SSB, CW,  RTTY and FM. QSL via home calls, bureau or direct. [TNX ON6UM]

LZ === Special event station LZ04KM will be active on all bands and modes on 1-31 May to celebrate St.Cyril and Methodius'  Day. QSL via bureau or direct to  LZ1BFR (P.O. Box  830, 1000 Sofia, Bulgaria). [TNX LZ1BJ]

OE === The annual Austrian Emergency Communications Training test will be run during the All Austrian Contest on 1 May  between 5-8 UTC and 14-17 UTC on 80 and 30 metres SSB and CW. State Department (prefix OEC), Red Cross (OEH), Customs  (OEN), Police (OEP) and Military (OEY) operators are are licenced to work OE radioamateurs in order to get  trained for possible interaction QSOs in case of an emergency/disaster. They are not allowed to contact stations outside Austria, but SWL reports can be sent via the OE QSL bureau. [TNX DL8AAM]

OM === Zsolt, HA6PS and Laci, HA6NL will operate as OM/homecall/p (QSL via home calls) from  Ruzsina, Slovakia from  30 April to 3 May. They will participate in the AGCW QRP Contest as OM/HA5RT/P (QSL via HA6NL) and in the ARI  International  DX Contest  (OM/HA6PS/P on digital modes, OM/HA6NL/P as SOAB CW). [TNX HA6NL]

PJ === Carlo, I4ALU reports he will  be active on 10-40 metres CW from Bonaire (SA-006) on 11-24 August. QSL via home call, either direct (Carlo Amorati, Via Battistelli 10, 40122  Bologna - BO, Italy) or through the bureau.

SV === Mike, GW3UOF will operate as SV8/GW3UOF/P  from  Kavos, Corfu (EU-052) on 3-17 May. Expect activity on CW, SSB and digital modes. QSL via home call. [TNX GW3UOF]

TA === TC89GP is  the call expected to be used during a special event operation organized on  23-25 April by  the Turkish Radio Amateurs Club (TRAC) and the Turkish Federation of Scouts to commemorate the 89th anniversary of the Battle of  Gallipoli. Look for activity on 10-80 metres all modes. QSL via bureau. [TNX TA1DX]

UA === Alan, UA1PAC and Serge, UA1PAO plan  to be active (on 30-10  metres CW and SSB) as RK1PWA/P from  Storozhevoy Island (RRA RR-06-30) on 28-30 April.  QSL  via UA1PAC  (Alan  V. Kuz'menko,  P.O. Box  88, Amderma, Nenets oblast, 166744 Russia). [TNX UA1PAC]

UA === Victor, RV3YR and other operators from the Fifth Ocean Flight Amateur Radio Club  (http://www.qsl.net/5ocean) will  operate  (on 10-160 metres SSB, CW and digital modes) special station RP3YGA from Brjansk  region on  5-12 May,  CQ-M International  DX  Contest included. QSL direct  only to RV3YR  (Victor Borodin,  P.O. Box 1, Bryansk-27, 241027 Russia). [TNX RV3YR]

VK === Bill, VK4FW expects  to operate as  VK4FW/P from Cumberland Island (OC-160) for three days starting around 4 May. [TNX K4WLS]

ZS === The Adventure Radio Club of  Cape Town, South Africa (http://www.qsl.net/zs1arc) will operate special event station ZS3BLUE on  23-27  April from Verneukpan, the land speed record attempt site of Sir Malcolm Campbell, 75 years ago. They expect to be active on 160, 80, 40, 20, 15 and 10 metres SSB and on 20 metres SSTV (RTTY on request). Look for them  on 1840 kHz at 17.30 UTC on 24 April and at 3.00  UTC on the 25th. QSL to P.O. Box 180, Milnerton 7435, South Africa. [TNX ZS1ZL]

Good to Know

@ & CW === Effective 3 May, an A and C run together (.__._.) will become the official Morse character for the @ symbol (the so-called "commat", a shortened version of "commercial at").

425DXN - PORTUGUESE VERSION === Welcome back to Paulo Pinto, CT1ETE who, after a long hiatus due to his business commitments, has resumed his contribution to 425 DX News as translator into Portuguese language.

AMATEUR RADIO ON TELETEXT === The new page number for the DX and Contest information featured by RTV Slovenija [425DXN 671] is 726. RTV Slovenija can be found on Eutelsat Hot Bird (12.303 GHz, Pol. V, SR 2750, FEC 3/4).

BARTG AWARDS === With immediate effect, Phil Cooper (GU0SUP) is the new Awards Manager for the British Amateur Radio Teledata Group (BARTG). Further details on the BARTG awards, which include the well-known QCA (Quarter Century Award) plus the various Continental awards, can be found at www.bartg.demon.co.uk [TNX GU0SUP]

DX CLUSTER WEB INTERFACE === The DX cluster of the Araucaria DX Group can be reached at http://www.baependi.com.br/dxcluster [TNX PY3NZ]

EI5DI CONTEST LOGGER === Paul, EI5DI advises that all his contest loggers are now freeware and can be downloaded at www.ei5di.com (please sign-up to the SD-User mailing list to receive setup information for upcoming contests, and to give Paul feedback and suggestions). They are SD and SDV (many HF and VHF contests respectively), SDI (IOTA Contest), SDX (DXpeditions & Special Events), SDC (Commonwealth Contest) and SDU (UBA Contest). The Windows programs run in text-mode, on any PC and all versions of Windows; Paul is replacing the remaining DOS programs with Windows text-mode versions.

EP3PTT === The Daily DX reports that Lada, OK1LO was able to guest operate from the club station EP3PTT on 21 April. He was active on 15 metres CW from 9.30 to 16.30 UTC. QSL for this operation via OK1LO.

EURADIO === The  European Union Radio Amateur Celebration is an event sponsored by the Irish Radio Transmitters Society (IRTS) on 1 and 2 May to celebrate the accession of ten new states to the European Union [425DXN 671]. Details of the award available for working the special event stations (EI25CY, EI25ES, EI25HA, EI25LY, EI25ML, EI25OK, EI25OM, EI25SL, EI25SP, EI25YL plus the IRTS HQ station EI25EU) are available on the IRTS website (www.irts.ie) or from Paul EI2CA (paul@lotm.ie). [TNX EI4GK]

EUROPE DAY 2004 AWARD === Sponsored by the Polish MK QTC Magazine and PZK Zwiazek Krotkofalowcow, this award is available to either licenced amateurs and SWLs for contacts made with stations located in the European Union member states between 00.00  and 23.59 UTC on 9 May 2004. For further information please e-mail Sylwester Jarkiewicz, SP2FAP (qtc@post.pl) [TNX SP2FAP]

QRS WEEK PARTY === To encourage newcomers to Morse code operating, under the sponsoring of the EUCW Society, the FISTS invites all licenced amateurs to participate in the annual QRS Week Party, which will take place from 25 April to 1 May. The complete rules are available at http://www.asel.demon.co.uk/fists-hq/keynote/kn.pdf [TNX F5NQL]

QSL FJ5IF === F5TJP is still awaiting the cards for FJ5IF to arrive from the printers. Please be patient and refrain from sending second requests. [TNX DK7LX]

QSL IQ9MY === This club call was used on 21-23 April from the lighthouse at Capo Milazzo (WAIL SI-033). QSL via IT9FCC. [TNX IT9FCC]

QSL T33C === The team arrived safely back on Tarawa on 17 April after a successful eleven day operation (75,000 QSOs) from Banaba Island. Direct QSL requests should go to F5CWU. As for bureau cards, the team encourages such requests to be submitted by the O(nline) Q(sl) R (equest) system. OQRS information is available on the expedition web site (www.dx-pedition.de/banaba2004).

QSL T49C === Please note that Al Bailey, K8SIX is the QSL manager for T49C only for contacts made in 2004. Cards for QSOs made in 1997 should go to SM5KCO. [TNX K8SIX]

QSL VIA PA0RRS === Richard, PA0RRS says he expects to receive the cards for his recent 9M6 and 9M2 operations around mid May.

WAIL === For information on the Worked All Italian Lighthouses Award please visit http://www.425dxn.org/awards/wail/ or
http://www.ari.it/wail.html, or contact the Award Manager Paolo Garavaglia, IK1NLZ.

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

Apr 24 to May 01 2004   I.C.P.O. Bulletin Islands, Castles & Portable Operations - I.C.P.O.

24/04/2004:  Look for DL8DZL/p (Klaus)DL2DSL/p (Jorg), DF3UFW/p (Falk) and DL8RL/p (Axel) to be QRV April 24th from Schlossinsel Island (GIA O-13 for the German Islands Award, not IOTA) and Grosser Wotig Island (GIA O-35, not IOTA). QSL card via home calls. [Tnx DE0MST]

24/04/2004:  Stations 4F1OZ, 4F1FZ, 4F1EAA, 4F2XX, 4F2KWT and DY1PDO plan to be QRV April 24th to 26th from Fuga Island (IOTA OC-092). Activity will be on 40, 20, 15 and 10 meters using CW and SSB. QSL via operators' instructions. [Tnx ARRL DX News]

24/04/2004:  Francois, F5JNE and Gerard F6ICG will be QRV April 24th as F5JNE/p from the castle of Moissy-Moulinot (DFCF 58057, Canton of Tannay DDCF 5824, Zip code for 10 millions: 58190) in Nievre department/58. Activity will be on 40 meter CW and SSB, starting around 06:30 UTC. QSL via home call, direct or bureau. [Tnx F5NQL]

24/04/2004:  Look for Les, G3VQO, to be QRV April 24th as F/G3VQO/p from the Meesemacker Mill (59031, for the French Mills Award). Activity will be on 40 meter SSB between 10:30 and 15:00 UTC. QSL via home call, direct or bureau. [Tnx F5NQL]

24/04/2004:  Look for IC8/IZ8DDG, IC8/IZ8DQH, IC8/IZ8FAV, IC8/IZ8FDH, IC8/IW8DON, IC8/IZ7ATL to be QRV April 24th and 25th from Procida Island (EU-031). Activity will be on all HF bands, including 6 and 2 meters, using CW and SSB. QSL via home calls. [Tnx ARRL DX News]

24/04/2004:  Gianni IK6CGO/p and Zeno IK6COX/p will be QRV April 24th from the Porta Marina di Penna San Giovanni [Marine door of Saint Pen Giovanni] (DCI reference MC-048, for the Italian Castle Award) and from the Torre della Comunità di Penna San Giovanni [Tower of the Saint Community of Pen Giovanni] (DCI MC-049). Activity will be on 40 and 20 meter SSB. These DCI references are located in the Region of Marche, Province of Macerata (MC), WW Loc. JN63RB. QSL via home calls, direct or bureau. [Tnx IK6CGO]

24/04/2004:  Saturday afternoon (April 24, 2004), time allowing, Giuseppe IZ5BSB/p will activate the Tower Lookout of Montecarlo (DCI reference LU-064, for the Italian Castles Award). Torre Belvedere di Montecarlo is located in the Region of Toscana, Province of Lucca (LU). QSL via home call, direct or via the bureau. [Tnx IZ5BSB]

24/04/2004:  Look for Les, G3VQO, to be QRV April 24th as ON/G3VQO/p from Sint Karelsmolen (WIM-8012, for the Belgian Mills Award). Activity will be on 40 meter SSB between 09:00 and 10:00 UTC. QSL via home call, direct or bureau. [Tnx F5NQL]

24/04/2004:  Look for Peter, VE9CLH/p, to be QRV April 24th from Cape Enrage Lighthouse, New Brunswick. QSL via home call, direct or bureau. [Tnx VE9CLH]

25/04/2004:  Look for DL0IH to be QRV April 25th from Helgoland Duene (IOTA EU-127, GIA reference N-15 for the German Islands Award) and lighthouse (GLHA 26, ARLHS reference FED-102). Contacts will also be good for the Helgoland Award and the German Nordsea Island Award. QSL via operator's instructions. [Tnx DE0MST]

25/04/2004:  Look for DL8DZL/p (Klaus), DL2DSL/p (Jorg), DF3UFW/p (Falk) and DL8RL/p (Axel) to be QRV April 25th from Ruden Island (IOTA EU-057, GIA O-11). QSL card via home calls. [Tnx DE0MST]

28/04/2004:  Look for Hiro JI1JKW and Ari JI1WTF to be active as FO/JI1JKW and FO/JI1WTF, respectively, from Hiva Oa (OC-027), Marquesas Islands, between April 28th and May 2nd. Activity is planned for 160 through 6 meter CW, SSB and RTTY. A 6 meter beacon will be on 50110 kHz. QSL via their home callsigns, direct or by the bureau. [Tnx OPDX]

28/04/2004:  Look for Joe JA4PXE/6 and Kou JH4WXV/6 to be active on Uji Island(Ieshima) (IOTA AS-067, JIIA-067-009) in Uji Archipelago from April 28th 21:00 UTC until May 1st 15:00 UTC. They will try to QRV on all HF bands and 6m and on may be both SSB and CW. They listen on 50.140MHz at all times. They may cancel their plan to AS-067 by bad weather because of the departure of a ship to uninhabited island. The weather will make them to shorten their operations. The captain of a ship will decide to cancel or shorten this expedition. He will refer to a weather report on the noon of 28th in Japan(Japan Standard Time = UTC + 9 hours). The ship will leave for Uji Island at about 16:00 UTC April 28th. They want to start the operations from Uji Island at 21:00 UTC on April 28th at the latest. QSL via home calls, both bureau and direct.
[Tnx JE2QYZ]

28/04/2004:  Wally (VK6YS), Dan (VK8AN) and Bruce (KD6WW) will be QRV from Long Island (OC-071) beginning April 28th, for about four days. They are still looking for two more operators to join the team; if interested please contact Wally at vk6ys@iinet.net.au . [Tnx 425DXN]

29/04/2004:  Look for T88KJ (Sasi JA1KJW), T88JY (Shigeo JA1JQY), T88MC (Kaoru JA3MCA), T88VB (Hisayoshi JR1LVB) and T88PO (JI1FPO) to be QRV April 29th to May 2nd from Palau Island (OC-009). Activity will be on all HF bands, CW and SSB. QSL to their home calls direct or via the bureau. [Tnx F5NQL]

30/04/2004:  Ian (9M2/G3TMA), Derek (G3KHZ) and Maury (IZ1CRR) will be active from Pulau Satang Besar (OC-165, East Malaysia, 9M8) April 30th to May 4th. They plan to be QRV using two transceivers, beam, vertical and dipole antennas, both SSB and CW. The callsign will be 9M8PSB. QSL via bureau or direct (and donations) to: G3KHZ (Derek Cox, 18 Station Road, Castle Bytham, Grantham, LINCS NG33 4SB, United Kingdom) [Tnx 425DXN]

30/04/2004:  Look for Dan VK8AN, Bruce KD6WW, Ron VK8NRI, and Wally VK6YS to be QRV April 30th to May 2nd from Long Island (OC-071) as VK6LI. Listen loud and keep it clean because they will be running just IC706's into verticals and working hard. QSL direct to VK4AAR with USD, AUD or IRC and self addressed envelope. [Tnx VK6YS]

30/04/2004:  WA6LUT and K0NW will activate St. Georges Reef (NA-184) and Lighthouse (ARLHS USA-793) from April 30th to May 2nd. The call sign will be WA6LUT and plans are to operate primarily on SSB on the usual IOTA frequencies. QSL to WA6LUT. [Tnx 425DXN]

01/05/2004:  Walter, DL3LBP, will be QRV May 1st to 21st as 3B8/DL3LBP from Flic en Flac, Mauritius (IOTA AF-049, Grid Loc. LG89). Look for activity on 40 through 10 meter SSB, CW and RTTY. QSL via homecall. [Tnx 425DXN]

01/05/2004:  Francois, F5JNE and Maurice, F5IYU will be QRV May 1st as F5JNE/p from the castle of Pancy Courtecon (DFCF 02022, Canton Laon: 0212, Department: Aisne/02, Province: Picardie), near the town of Chamouille. Activity will be on 40 meter CW and SSB, starting around 06:30 UTC. QSL via home call, direct or bureau. [Tnx F5NQL]

01/05/2004:  Jim, MM0BQI, plans an IOTA expedition to the uninhabited Treshnish Islands off the west coast of Scotland is scheduled for the first week in May, 2004. He will operate as MM0BQI/P from the island of Lunga (IOTA EU-108, IOSA NH17, SCOTIA DI09), the largest in the Treshnish group. Activity will be on all bands 80-6m, SSB, CW, RTTY using IC706g and IC7400 transceivers. Antennas will be Butternut verticals and wire dipoles. QSL via the bureau or direct to Jim Martin, MM0BQI, 3 Lismore Avenue, Edinburgh, EH8 7DW, SCOTLAND. All surplus money from direct QSLs will be donated to the Hebridean Trust, who own and work to preserve the islands and whose permission to land and operate is gratefully acknowledged. [Tnx MM0BQI]

01/05/2004:  Look for Len VE9MY and Linda VE9GLF to be operating /VE2 for the first two weeks of May. They plan to activate some of the islands around Montreal. The islands they are looking at are Ile Sainte Helene / Expo (CIsA QC-011), Ile Notre-Dame (CIsA QC-031), Ile des Soeurs / Nuns island (CIsA QC-023), Ile Charron (CIsA QC-048), Ile Jesus - Laval (CIsA QC-014) and Ile de Montreal (CIsA QC-008). They will operate on the usual IOTA frequency (14260 kHz +/-) and also 40 meters for those too close to work them on 20 meters. QSL via home calls. [Tnx VE3TPZ]

LOOKING AHEAD -

15/05/2004:  Francois, F5JNE will be QRV May 15th to 25th as F5JNE/p from Belle Ile en Mer (IOTA EU-048, DIFM AT-015). Activity will be on 40 and 20 meter CW and SSB. QSL via home call, direct or bureau. [Tnx F5NQL]

16/05/2004:  Francois, F5JNE will be QRV May 16th as F5JNE/p from the Fort du Bugul (DFCF 56017) as an entry in the European Castles day. QSL via home call, direct or bureau. [Tnx F5NQL]

19/05/2004:  Francois, F5JNE will be QRV May 19th as F5JNE/p from the Palais Lighthouse (south pier) (PB-269). QSL via home call, direct or bureau. [Tnx F5NQL]

20/05/2004:  Look for DL/LX9EG/p to be QRV May 20th to 23rd from the Neuwerk Lighthouse (WLA LH-2311, GLA 38, ARLHS FED-165). QSL via home call, direct or bureau. [Tnx F5NQL]

22/05/2004:  Francois, F5JNE will be QRV May 22nd as F5JNE/p from the Fort Larron (DFCF 56018). Activity will be on 40 meter CW and SSB. QSL via home call, direct or bureau. [Tnx F5NQL]

19/06/2004:  Mauro, IW1RHG, reports that he will be QRV June 19th and 20th from inside the Portofino lighthouse (WAIL reference LI-008, ARLHS reference ITA-131, WW Loc. JN44OG) using the special call IR1PL. QSL via IW1RHG, direct or bureau. [Tnx IW1RHG]

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

Apr. 21 2004  FCC establishes Office of Intergovernmental Affairs:

The FCC has established an Office of Intergovernmental Affairs (IGA) within its Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau (CGB). Sue McNeil, currently CGB's Special Counsel for Intergovernmental Affairs, has been named to head the new office. IGA will be a liaison to state, local, and tribal governments as well as to other federal regulatory agencies. Its aim will be to foster a better understanding of FCC programs, policies, rules and decisions. In addition, the IGA oversee the activities of the Commission's Intergovernmental Advisory Committee.--FCC

(ARRL News Service)

=======

Apr 15 2004  FCC Proposes Wide-Ranging Changes to Amateur Service Rules--Not Restructuring

 The FCC has released an "omnibus" Notice of Proposed Rule Making (NPRM) that seeks comments on a wide range of proposed Amateur Service (Part 97) rules changes. The NPRM is not related to the three amateur licensing restructuring petitions--including one from ARRL.

Full Story: www.arrl.org/news/stories/2004/04/15/102/?nc=1

(ARRL News Service)

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