Feb. 27 2004  No Reciprocal 5Mhz. Operations

A reminder that holders of United Kingdom 5 MHz operating permits are reminded that CEPT international operating rules does not apply to 5 Mhz.  The only countries currently allowing 5 MHz operation by individual stations are the United Kingdom and the United States.  Only club stations are presently being allowed to use 5 MHz in Finland and operations by stations in Norway and New Zealand are for internal emergency communications purposes only.  Stations in Canada may use 5 MHz frequencies at agreed specified times but activity from Germany is not currently permitted.

(GB2RS)

==========

Feb. 27 2004  Hagal International Report

Hagal International says that equipment for the networking of computers over the A C power mains being sold in the country was found to be causing interference to High Frequency  spectrum users.  As a result, Israel's Ministry of Communications requested an explanation from the distributor of this equipment on how to remedy the problem.  The distributor did one better.  The company replied that it had discontinued the sales of the interfering devices.

(Hagal International)

==========

Feb. 29 2004  South African Radio League News

SKA is the acronym for the Square Kilometre Array, a massive radio telescope designed to probe the gaseous component of the early universe.  The search is on for the right area to build the array.  The Northern Cape has been tipped as one of the possible areas and was recently visited by a group of international experts who spent a week in South Africa to evaluate the various support infrastructures that South Africa has to offer.  The Government has appointed Dr Bernie Fanaroff as project manager for the bid group.

Should South Africa be awarded the project it would create realistic and global business opportunities for the construction, defence, software, communication, electronics and steel industries.

(SARL)

W. Ross Macdonald School Reunion Announcement

Notice to all alumni Association members:

Dear fellow Alumni.

It is with great pleasure that I wish to announce that the next scheduled Alumni Association meeting of the W. Ross Macdonald School for the blind (WRMS) will be held this coming summer 2004 during the last weekend of June, the 25th, 26th and 27th. Invitation notices with additional information will be either emailed or sent out by regular mail as the time approaches and will also be available on the school's website for your convenience. In addition, please help us to lower our administration costs BY forwarding on your current email address to us. And also if your email address has changed since the last reunion, please email us with your new email address by clicking on the following link to help us keep our email list up to date in order that we may email out reunion announcements and invitation notices to you more quickly.

Please note: your email address will be kept strictly confidential and will not be shared or given out to anyone and will be used for our records only. Forward your email address to Gladys Borowski - secretary: glady@braille.uwo.ca

Registration will begin on Friday afternoon the 25th at 2:00 P.M. in the foyer located at the back of the auditorium. The registration fee of $60.00 per person includes your accommidation, meals and all scheduled events and is payable upon your arrival and should not be sent with your confirmation letter. Former students of the (WRMS) or The Ontario School for the Blind are eligible to attend the reunion. If you know of some one who would be interested in attending, please pass the word along.

Scheduled events include, the traditional Friday evening concert and of course the Saturday evening banquet with guest speaker. If you would like to participate in the Friday evening concert or would like to obtain further general information regarding the reunion, please contact Mark Zillmann, the president of the Alumni Association.
Phone: 416-544-9741.

Thank you.
Gladys Borowski - Secretary

Society Of Newfoundland Radio Amateurs

The next general meeting of SONRA will be held on Wednesday, Mar 10, 2004 at the Elk's Club on Carpasian Rd.. The meeting will get underway at 7:30 pm. This date is not the regular one as we are taking advantage of a visit by Rick Lindquist N1RL so he can join us.

Mar. 27 2004  Hamfest 2004 du Club Radio Amateur Laval Laurentides

Sponsored by VE2CRL

Location: Polyvalente George-Vanier 3995, boul. Lévesque Est, Laval (Qc) Près de l'autoroute 25 ( à l'ouest )

Opening:  Ouvert aux exposants à 7h00 Ouvert au public à 9h00

Cost: Entrée 5 $ Table 10 $

Talkin: Radioguidage sur VE2CRL 147.315 (+)

For more info: www.ve2crl.qc.ca/hamfest.htm

Mar. 20 2004  HAM-EX 2004 Hamfest

Sponsored by  The Brampton and Mississauga Amateur Radio Clubs

Location:  Brampton Fall Fairgrounds Located on Heart Lake Rd at Old School Rd Brampton, Ontario, Canada

Opening: Vendors:7AM Public Fleamarket:9AM to 1PM Exhibits, Demos & Seminars:9AM to 5PM Banquet:6PM

Cost:  Entrance fee to public: $6CDN Raffle tickets: $2CDN each, 3 for $5CDN Tables: 8'- $30CDN ea, 6' - $25CDN ea Banquet cost: $18CDN each

Talkin:  PARC Repeater: 146.880 MHz(-),103.5 Hz; MARC Repeater: 145.430MHz(-), 103.5 Hz

Notes:  Speaker will be spokesperson from IC talking on AMateur Radio related topic(s)

Full Details:  www.peelarc.org  or   www.marc.on.ca

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

February 23, 2004  Canadian Guide Dogs for the Blind Requires Foster Families for Puppies

Canadian Guide Dogs for the Blind requires foster families to host a puppy-in-training for up to an 18-month period. These puppies must be welcome as a member of the family, learning basic obedience and be introduced to a multitude of situations that will aid them in eventually becoming working guide dogs for the blind. Applicants must have a fenced relief area for the dog, and someone must be home during the day. Canadian Guide Dogs for the Blind provides all food for the puppy and is responsible for all veterinary expenses.

Established in 1984, Canadian Guide Dogs for the Blind provides professionally trained guide dogs to visually impaired Canadians. Our National Training Centre is located in Manotick, Ontario, just south of Ottawa.

Interview opportunities (by telephone) or further info: Canadian Guide Dogs for the Blind  (613) 692-7777

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

RAC Ontario Section News

Feb. 26 2004    District Emergency Coordinator Appointment / Eastern Ontario
First, Many thanks to George Sansom VE3GWS, for his many years service to ARES, most recently as DEC for Eastern Ontario. George has decided to step down from the DEC position. I'm sure most of you know George as the writer for the Public Service/ARES column in The Canadian Amateur magazine.

Secondly, welcome to Norm Hagan VE3VY, to the position of DEC for Eastern Ontario. SEC Paul Davidson looks forward to working with Norm in his upcoming term as DEC.

Paul, extends his thanks to Norm for continued service in the RAC ARES program and congratulates Norm for his appointment to the DEC positon.

(Paul VE3UUM, Ontario SEC)

==========

Feb. 23 2004   Event calendar for Dufferin County ARES
CANWARN TRAINING. To be held on the big screen at the Galaxy Theatre, 85 Fifth Ave., Orangeville, SUNDAY APRIL 25. Time to be announced. Lots of good things happening in Dufferin. The golf tournament planned for end of April will probably be pushed forward to the first week of May.

Confrimation of exercise Operation Blewnose
Please be advised that the emergency exercise is set to begin Saturday 6th March. [time to be announced] This date does not conflict with School Break. Sorry, this exercise is a complete surprise to all. The only thing the group is a aware of is that there will be a fanout on March 6th. and be prepared for the unexpected, I mean the unexpected. Sorry no details. Perhaps a little closer to the date I will announce a time. Ensure your Emergency Kit is ready!

(Paul, VE3PWZ)

==========

Feb. 22 2004  District Emergency Coordinator Appointment / Mid-Western Ontario
Welcome to Rod Pears VA3RP, Official Emergency Station (GreyCounty and area), to the position of DEC for Mid-Western Ontario. SEC Paul Davidson looks forward to working with Rod in his upcoming term as DEC.

Paul, extends his thanks to Rod VA3RP for continued service in the RAC ARES program and congratulates him for his most recent appointment to RAC ARES.

(Paul Davidson VE3UUM, SEC Ontario)

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.

• March 8, 2004: Bruce, VE4KQ, will be giving a presentation on "How To Work DX, 144 Mhz and above"
• 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

==========

Mar. 7 2004   Burnaby ARC Amateur Radio Flea Market

Sponsor by the Burnaby Amateur Radio Club
Location: Royal Westminster Regiment Armories, 530 Queens Ave. New Westminster, B.C. ( Corner of Queens Ave. and Sixth street )

Opening:  Sellers set up 8:30 AM, Public 10 AM to 2:30 PM
Admission: $5 per person. Vendors: $20 per table, plus admission.

Talkin: VE7RBY 145.35 -

Notes: Western Canada's Largest Amateur Radio Flea Market. Door prizes, major equipment raffles, commercial exhibits, food and refreshments.More than 60 tables of amateur radio and electronic equipment bargains.Free parking nearby.

For more info contact: Bob Kungl VE7KW 604-524-9177 ve7kw@rac.ca

America's

Feb 27, 2004  K7RA Solar Update

A large sunspot emerged over the past week. On February 21, sunspot 564 began to appear around the east limb of the visible solar disk. By February 23, it was five times as large as Earth. The sunspot was rotating across the upper hemisphere of the sun, so it was never aimed squarely toward earth, but it was most directed toward us on February 25.

Average daily sunspot numbers were slightly higher this week than last. Average daily solar flux was lower by 0.2 point. Solar activity is rising, and solar flux should peak between February 28 to March 1 at around 130. A sunspot currently is forming on the far side of the sun, and it may cause a slight rise in solar flux around March 8.

Geomagnetic conditions have been very quiet this week. This weekend is the CQ World Wide 160-Meter SSB Contest. The quality of 160-meter propagation should depend on how quiet and stable geomagnetic conditions are. Sunspot 563 released two solar flares on February 26. Earth is expected to encounter a solar wind stream on February 29 or March 1. Planetary A index predictions for February 27 through March 2 are 12, 12, 15, 20 and 20. Conditions during the contest might be unsettled, especially for stations in the northern latitudes of North America.

Dave Deatrick, WA8OLD, of Sault Ste Marie, Michigan, reminded us of a Canadian Web site that offers information on geomagnetic disturbances in the northern latitudes. This is part of Space Weather Canada. The link that WA8OLD sent shows a map with a forecast for geomagnetic disturbances in the Northern US and across Canada, through the auroral zone and into the Arctic.  www.spaceweather.gc.ca/forecastmap_e.shtml

During this week one year ago, conditions were nearly identical to this year's. Average sunspot number was 54.9 and solar flux was 108.8. Going back two years, the numbers were quite a bit higher, with sunspot numbers at 189.7 and solar flux at 198.7. Archived propagation bulletins from 1995 through the present are available on the ARRL Web site:  www.arrl.org/w1aw/prop

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

Sunspot numbers for February 19 through 25 were 33, 34, 52, 58, 68, 85 and 107, with a mean of 62.4. The 10.7 cm flux was 96.4, 95.4, 98.2, 103.9, 104.3, 105.5 and 118.5, with a mean of 103.2. Estimated planetary A indices were 5, 4, 7, 8, 8, 11 and 8, with a mean of 7.3.

(W1AW)

Feb 27, 2004  Spacewalk ends early

 Russian space officials this week cut short Expedition 8's spacewalk due to a cooling system problem in one of the Russian Orlan space suits. The "extravehicular activity" or EVA ended February 27 at 0112 UTC. Unlike previous spacewalks by ISS crews, there was not a crew member inside the station as the spacewalkers worked outside. Despite the early end to the EVA, Crew commander Mike Foale, KB5UAC, and Flight Engineer Sasha Kaleri, U8MIR, were able to complete nearly two-thirds of their scheduled work. Initial indications are that a kink in a tube in Kaleri's liquid cooling garment was preventing the flow of water through the suit. The spacewalk began February 26 at 2117 UTC and lasted 3 hours 55 minutes. During the EVA, the NA1SS ham gear aboard the ISS remained shut down for safety reasons. There's more information on the NASA Web site--NASA   http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/spacenews/reports/issreports/2004/iss04-11.html

(ARRL News Service)

===========

Feb 26, 2004   ARISS ham gear to be shut down during space walk

For safety reasons, the Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) station equipment will be shut down during the space walk Thursday, February 26, by Expedition 8 crew members Mike Foale, KB5UAC, and Sasha Kaleri, U8MIR. The "extra-vehicular activity" or EVA--as NASA calls it--is scheduled to begin at 2100 UTC. This will mark the first time that the entire ISS crew will be working outside the station. In the past, when three-member crews were aboard, at least one of the three crew members would remain aboard to monitor the activity. The ARISS NA1SS and RS0ISS equipment will be shut off prior to the EVA, and it will not be turned on again until some time after the EVA is completed. Among other tasks, the crew will install new experiments and replace and remove parts for existing experiments on the exterior of the ISS. There's more information on the space walk on the NASA Web site: http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/station

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

(ARRL News Service)

===========

Feb 26, 2004   UO-11 to mark 20 years in space

UO-11 (also known as UOSAT-2) will turn 20 years old on March 1. To mark the event, AMSAT-UK will issue a commemorative QSL card in exchange for listener reports from stations monitoring the satellite's signal during the month of March 2004. The reports must be posted via the reporting page on the AMSAT-UK Web site, and QSL cards will be in the form of a downloadable E-QSL. UO-11 was the second satellite to be launched by the University of Surrey group headed by Martin Sweeting, G3YJO. Its telemetry beacon can be heard on 145.825 MHz FM using just a handheld radio. UO-11 also has a 2401.5 MHz beacon, although hearing the 2.4 GHz signal could present a challenge. "Depending on the status of the satellite, it sometimes goes into 'safe' mode, and the beacon transmitters are not active for days at a time," said Trevor, M5AKA. "The University of Surrey Ground station staff will attempt to maximize the number of days the transmitters are active during March." More information is available on the AMSAT-UK Web site:  www.uk.amsat.org/uo-11/default.php

(ARRL News Service)

===========

Successful Ohio ISS Contact

Friday, February 20th was a great day for youngsters at Ohio's  Glenwood Elementary School.  That's when International Space Station Commander Mike Foale, KB5UAC successfully answered questions from a number of students.

In all, sixteen students got to question KB5UAC about life on-orbit.  According to the AMSAT News Service preliminary reports indicate the space station side of the conversation was heard as far East as Boston and Baltimore.

(AMSAT)

========

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

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

Feb 26, 2004  SATERN net assisting with Haiti traffic

The Salvation Army Team Emergency Radio Network (SATERN) Net has activitated on 20 meters to assist with health-and-welfare traffic for the troubled nation of Haiti. The net convenes on or near 14.265 MHz. Jim Adams, WA0LSB, is coordinating net control operators for the activation, while Quent Nelson, WA4BZY, is the health-and-welfare team leader. SATERN National Director Pat McPherson, WW9E, says SATERN members are being encouraged to monitor the net frequency and to assist in relaying traffic as needed. SATERN also offers a health-and-welfare link on its Web site, for use by those seeking information on family and friends who may be affected by the crisis in Haiti.  http://qso.com/satern/emailfrm.htm

(ARRL News Service)

A little bit of prose that may be considered radically different info but it is apropos to our hobby.

-Stay well. Stay happy. Stay the course
-When all else fails, try the Morse
-Digital modes all seem the rage
-But CW is still center stage
-When satellites, modems and TNC’s
-Either fail or are sabotaged if you please
-One can always rely on good old faithful
-Morse code is so simple, effective - -
-And I am grateful

(Jim Baldwin VA3WIN)

==========

The QCWA 2004 HamVention Dinner

The Quarter Century Wireless Association will  hold its 2004 Hamvention Banquet at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, May 14th. Hosted by hosted by South West Ohio Chapter 9 the location this year is Alex's Continental Restaurant near the Dayton suburb of Miamisburg. Cost per person is $ 17.00 and advance reservations are required. Send requests and payment to Jerry Ragland, 409 Park Avenue, Franklin, Ohio, 45005.

(QCWA)

Contest News

REF French Contest-- sponsored by the Reseau des Emetteurs Francais, Feb 21-22. Contact French stations including Corsica, Overseas Territories and EU Council station TP2CE. Frequencies: 80-10 meters. Categories: SOAB, MS and SWL. Exchange: non-French stations send RST and serial number, French send RST and department number or prefix. QSO points: different continent--3 pts, 1 pt otherwise. Score: QSO points × departments and prefixes counted once per band. For more information:www.ref-union.org/concours. Logs are due Mar 15 (CW) or April 15 (SSB) to cdfcw@ref-union.org or Reseau des Emetteurs Francais, REF Contest, BP 7429, 37074 Tours Cedex, France.

CQ WW 160-meter SSB Contest, sponsored by CQ Magazine Feb 21-22. Exchange: RST and SPC. Categories: SO-QRP (<5 W) -LP(<150 W) -HP, MO categories. Enter as MO if packet or spotting nets are used. QSO points: own entity--2 pts, same continent--5 pts, diff cont--10 pts, /MM stations count 5 points, but no multiplier. Score: QSO points × states + VE call areas (VY0 added this year) + DXCC entities (KH6 and KL7 count as DXCC only). For more information:www.cq-amateur-radio.com/infoc.html. Logs due by Feb 28 to cq160cw@kkn.net (Cabrillo format only) or CQ 160 Contest, 25 Newbridge Rd, Hicksville, NY 11801.

UBA Contest--(CW is Feb 28-29). Frequencies: 80-10 meters, according to the IARU band plan. Categories: SOAB, SOAB-QRP, SOSB, MS, packet is allowed for all classes. Exchange: RST and serial number, ON stations add their province abbr. QSO points: QSOs with ON stations--10 pts, with other EU--3 pts, outside EU--1 pt. Score: QSO points × ON provinces + ON prefixes + European DXCC entities counted once per band. For more information: www.uba.be. Logs due 30 days after the contest to berger@cyc.ucl.ac.be or Michel Le Bon, ON4GO, UBA HF Contest Manager, Chée de Wavre 1349, B-1160 Bruxelles, Belgium.

North Carolina QSO Party--CW/Phone--sponsored by the Forsyth Amateur Radio Club, 1700Z Feb 29-0300Z Mar 1. Frequencies (MHz): CW--3.540, 3.740, 7.040, 7.140, 14.040, 21.040, 21.140, 28.040, 28.140, Phone--3.860, 7.260, 14.260, 21.360, 28.360 and any VHF/UHF, note no 160 meter QSOs. Categories: SO, Mobile, Club, all stations 100 W max output. Mobiles may be worked again as they change counties. Exchange: RST and NC county, ARRL/RAC section, or DX prefix. QSO Points: phone--2 pts, CW--3 pts, NC mobile--3 pts (either mode). Score: NC stations--QSO points × NC counties + ARRL/RAC sections + 1 DXCC entity, others--QSO points × NC counties (max 100). 50 bonus points for working Cherokee or Dare counties (150 for working both) and 50 points for working W4NC or W4WS (150 points for both). Mobiles add 100 bonus points for each NC county activated. For more information: www.w4nc.com/. Logs due April 1 to henry@summitschool.com or NC QSO Party, c/o W2DZO, 934 Franklin St, Winston-Salem, NC 27101.

Mississippi QSO Party--CW/Phone--sponsored by the Vicksburg Amateur Radio Club, 1500Z Feb 28-0300Z Feb 29. Frequencies (MHz): CW--3.545, 7.045, 14.045, 21.045, 28.045; Phone--3.862, 7.238, 14.275, 21.375, 28.375. Work stations once per mode. Categories: Fixed Station, Mobile. Mobiles may be worked again as they change counties. Exchange: RST and MS county or S/P/C. QSO Points: phone--1 pt, CW--2 pts. Score: QSO points × MS counties or S/P/C. For more information: w5xx@vicksburg.com. Logs due Apr 27 to Vicksburg ARC, 14 Lake Circle Dr, Vicksburg, MS 39180.

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

CLARA and Family HF Contest March 2004

This year’s HF Contest, sponsored by the Canadian Ladies Amateur Radio Association (CLARA), will be held over the weekend of March 20th and 21st, 2004. Commencing at 1700Z March 20th and continuing until 1700Z March 21st, 2004. The Contest is open to all CLARA members and their families and also to all Amateurs.

These are suggested frequencies only for easier location of contacts: Call “CQ CLARA”.
FREQUENCIES:
• CW 14.033, 21.033, 7.033, 3.688
• Phone 28.300, 21.225, 14.120, 14.285, 7033, 7.200, 3.750, 3.900
Can work stations once per band/mode. Cross-mode contacts count as phone for both stations.

LOGS: Logs must include the date, time (GMT), mode, call sign of contact, contact name, contact QTH (city, town, etc.) and whether the contact is a CLARA member, family member, non-member YL, or OM. Logs are to be received by the Contest Manager no later than April 24th, 2004 and must include call sign, address and claimed score. Because we are in the age of computerization, electronic logs are encouraged. You can also e-mail your logs to me in Plain Text, MS Word or MS Excel format. For the white cane operators, other arrangements can be made for transmitting your logs. Please contact me, or Helen VA1YL at hfarchibald@ns.sympatico.ca in advance.

SCORING:
• Contact with CLARA member (includes CLARA to CLARA) – 5 points
• Contact with CLARA family member, (OM’s, sons, daughters, in-laws, etc.) – 2 points
• Contact with non CLARA member YL – 3 points
• Contact with OM (includes OM to OM) – 1 point MULTIPLIERS:
• 1 for each Canadian call area (14 possible)
• 1 for each ARRL DX Country contacted if the op was a YL
• No multipliers for DX OM’s
Points claimed – (Contact Points) x Multiplier

PRIZES:
• Mini prize draw from all logs submitted
• Trophy – Highest scoring CLARA member
• Certificate – 2nd highest scoring CLARA member
• Certificate – 3rd highest scoring CLARA member
• Certificate – Highest scoring DX YL
• Certificate – Highest scoring OM

Contest Manager:
Paulette Schouten, VE7VPE
c/o VECTOR, 3301 East Pender Street, Vancouver, B.C. V5K 5J3 Canada
e-mail: ve7vpe@rac.ca

Rapid City, SD: QCWA Dakota Chapter 102, W0DAK. 1500Z Feb 28-0300Z Feb 29. Commemorating the Chapter's 27th anniversary, from home station in North Dakota and South Dakota. 28.400 21.350 14.250 7.255. Certificate. Frank Shaw, NU0F/W0DAK, 118 E Van Buren, Rapid City, SD 57701.

Arlington Heights, IL: US Peace Corps ARC, KA9NLX. 1700Z Mar 1-2200Z Mar 7. 43rd Anniversary of founding of United States Peace Corps. 28.500 21.375 14.325 7.283. Certificate. John Paskevicz, 1423 North Ridge Ave, Arlington Heights, IL 60004.

Various, England: Royal Signals Amateur Radio Society, GB6OT. 0700Z Mar 5-2359Z Apr 1. 60th Anniversary of Op Thursday Burma 1944. 21.070 21.056 14.070 14.056. QSL. Mike Humphrey, G0SWY/KF4OFR, 4 Bluebell Rd, Bassett Southhampton, Hampshire, England SO16 3LQ. http://www.rsars.org.uk/. Amateurs outside the UK, please send 1€ dollar or $1 US to cover postage.

Weeki Wachee, FL: Spring Hill Amateur Radio Club, W4W. 1000Z Mar 5 and 2400Z Mar 7. Celebrating the 11th Annual Weeki Wachee Swamp Fest. 14.260 7.260 7.040. QSL. W4W/Spring Hill ARC, PO Box 6083, Spring Hill, FL 34611. http://www.kf4ixu.com/.

Chesapeake, VA: Chesapeake Amateur Radio Service, W4CAR. 1500Z-2100Z Mar 6. 142nd Anniversary, Monitor-Merrimac Battle of the Ironclads. 28.362 21.362 7.262 146.82. Certificate. W4CAR, PO Box 6867, Chesapeake, VA 23323. http://www.qsl.net/cars.

Naples, FL: Amateur Radio Association of Southwest Florida, K4YHB. 1400Z Mar 6-2000Z Mar 7. Annual Spring Swamp Buggy Races. 12 m 17 m. Certificate. Mark Kennedy, K4SWF, 1241 12th St N, Naples, FL 34102. www.araswf.org/.

Feb. 26  2004  ARLD008 DX News

This week's bulletin was made possible with information provided by N0HJZ, XE1GRR, the OPDX Bulletin, The Daily DX, 425DXnews, DXNL, WA7BNM and Contest Corral from QST.  Thanks to all.

TANZANIA, 5H.  Hans, HB9BXE will be QRV as 5H1BP from Zanzibar, IOTA AF-032, from March 1 to 6.  He plans to be active on 80 to 10 meters using CW, SSB and PSK31.  QSL to home call.

NIGER, 5U.  Bull, 5U7JB will be QRV in the CQ 160 Meter SSB contest. Of late, he has been active on 80, 40, 17 and 12 meters at various times. QSL via ON5NT.

WEST MALAYSIA, 9M2.  Rich, PA0RRS is QRV as 9M2/PA0RRS from Penang Island, IOTA AS-015, until March 2.  He has been active on 20 and 30 meters using CW.  QSL to home call.

BURUNDI, 9U.  Michael, PA5M is QRV as 9U5M in Bujumbura until March 17. He is active on 40 to 10 meters using CW and SSB in his spare time, usually after 1600z.  QSL via PA7FM.

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES, A6.  Robert, S53R will be QRV as A61AJ in the CQ 160 Meter SSB contest as a Single-Op/High Power entry.  QSL via operator's instructions.

BAHAMAS, C6.  Bill, NE1B is QRV as C6AWB.  Both he and Tom, C6ANM are active from the islands of Eleuthera, IOTA NA-001, and New Providence, IOTA NA-001, until March 8.  This includes an entry in the CQ 160 Meter SSB contest and the upcoming ARRL DX contest.  They may make a side trip to the Berry Islands, IOTA NA-054.  QSL both calls via WA2IYO.

MOROCCO, CN.  Jim, W7EJ will be QRV as CN2R in the CQ 160 Meter SSB contest.  He also plans to be active in the upcoming ARRL DX contest as well as the upcoming WPX SSB contest.  QSL to home call.

HONDURAS, HR.  Rich, N0HJZ will be QRV as HR9/N0HJZ from Roatan Island, IOTA NA-057, from March 3 to 9.  Activity will be on all HF band.  This includes an entry in the upcoming ARRL DX contest.  QSL to home call.

MONACO, T7.  IV3JVJ, IV3TDM and IV3OWC will be QRV as T77C in the CQ 160 Meter SSB contest as a Multi Op entry.  QSL via T77C.

EUROPEAN RUSSIA, UA.  Alex, RX3AJL is QRV as RX3AJL/1 from several White Sea islands until March 6.  He is active on 20 meter QRP.  QSL to home call.

NAMIBIA, V5.  Klaus, DJ4SO is QRV as V51/DJ4SO until March 15. Activity is on 160 to 6 meters, using mostly CW with some SSB, RTTY and PSK31. QSL to home call.  Meanwhile, look for V51/DL5XL and V51/DH3FBS to be QRV until mid April.  QSL to home calls.

REVILLAGIGEDO, XE4.  A number of amateurs will be QRV as XF4IH from Socorro Island, IOTA NA-030, from March 3 to 20.  Activity will be on all HF bands, including 6 and 2 meters, 70 cm and a number of satellites, using CW, SSB, RTTY, SSTV, PSK31 and JT44.  QSL via XE1IH.

BURMA, XZ.  Conny, DL1DA and Abo, DK6ST are QRV as XZ1DA and XZ6ST, respectively.  Of late, they have been active on 30, 20 and 17 meters. QSL to home calls.

SYRIA, YK.  Omar, YK1AO is generally QRV on 40 meters between 0330 and 0500z.  He has also been active on 160 meters using CW just before 0400z.  QSL direct.

SOUTH AFRICA, ZS.  Etienne, ZS6Y is QRV with the special callsign ZS10RSA until mid May.  QSL via KK3S.

THIS WEEKEND ON THE RADIO.  The CQ World Wide 160-Meter SSB Contest, UBA DX CW Contest, North Carolina QSO Party, North American RTTY QSO Party, REF SSB Contest, High Speed Club CW Contest, Mississippi QSO Party and the FYBO Winter QRP Field Day will certainly keep contesters busy this weekend.  Please see February QST, page 104 and the ARRL and WA7BNM contest websites for details.

(W1AW)

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

Feb.  28 2004  4 2 5  DX  News

The 425DXN survey  for the best DXpedition in 2003  (to be chosen among 14 selected operations) will be closing down on 1 March. More than 1200 people have participated so far (http://www.425dxn.org/trophy_2003/Votes.htm) and you are still in time to cast your vote at http://www.425dxn.org/trophy_2003/ (no dupes, please!).

3B8 === Walter, DL3LBP  (http://www.dl3lbp.de)  will operate  as  3B8/DL3LBP from Mauritius  (AF-049) on  1-21 May.  Look for  activity on  40-10 metres SSB, CW and RTTY. QSL via homecall. [TNX DL3LBP]

5V === Franck/F5TVG and John/F5VHQ will arrive in  Togo on 4 March to  pick up the licence and start setting up the stations. 5V7C might hit the airwaves earlier than  6 March, when  the rest of  the team  [425DXN 661] will join the first two operators for a 7-day all band all mode activity. QRT time is expected to be  not earlier than 12 UTC on  13 March. The pilot  stations will  be Bruno/F5AGB  (Europe and  French speaking countries) and Floyd/N5FG (North  America), plus other two pilots TBA from Australia and Japan. The web site for the  operation is at http://5v7c.free.fr/le_togo.htm. QSL via F5TVG. [TNX F5NQL]

8Q === Hardy, DL5SBA  will  be active  as  8Q7BA  from  Athuruga,  Maldives (AS-013) on 4-20  March. He will  operate RTTY  and PSK  only on  20 metres (possibly on 17 and 30 metres as well) with 50 watts. QSL via home call, preferably through the DARC bureau. [TNX DL5SBA]

A6 === Robert, S53R will  participate in  this weekend's  CQ 160-Meter  SSB Contest as  A61AJ from  Dubai, United  Arab Emirates.  QSL via  K2UO (Americas) and DJ2MX (rest of the world). [TNX NG3K]

BV === BV8BC, BV8BM, BV8BQ, BV8CM, BX8AAA and  BM8BTM will operate as  BV9O from Orchid  Island (AS-155)  on 11-15  March. QSL  direct to  BV8BC (Bill-Chen, P.O. Box 222, Taitung 950, Taiwan). [TNX BV8BC]

CO === Don, VE3ESE and members of the Santiago de Cuba University and  City Club will operate as T48RAC from Santiago de Cuba during the ARRL DX SSB Contest (6-7 March). Look for activity on 40 and 20 metres. QSL direct to VE3ESE (Don Fisher, 48 Lucerne Dr., Kitchener, Ontario N2E 1B3, Canada). [TNX VE3RGG]

CT3 === Look for Rosel, CT3/DL3KWR and Hardy, CT3/DL3KWF to be active from Madeira (AF-014) on 4-18 March. They  will operate CW mainly on the WARC bands, typically in their late afternoon and evening hours. QSL via home calls. E-mail requests for bureau cards will be welcome  at dl3kwr@darc.de and dl3kwf@darc.de [TNX DL3KWF]

EA6 === Christian, DL6KAC will be active again  (on 10-40 metres mainly SSB with some digital  mode) as EA6/DL6KAC from  Mallorca (DIE  E-021), Balearic Islands (EU-004) from 25 February to 26 March. QSL via home call either direct or through the DARC bureau. [TNX DL6KAC]

EA8 === Piero, W1NA (I8CZW) reports he will participate in this weekend's CQ 160-Meter SSB Contest as EA8AK from the Canary Islands.

FO0_cl === The DXpedition to Clipperton Island [425DXN 667] has been rescheduled for April. Transportation on another  boat has been arranged, but 5-7 more operators are needed to join the original team to pay for the trip. The boat should be leaving on or about 10 April. The license and landing permission are in hand. There will be five full time stations and the team will place special emphasis on working Europe and the low bands. If you would like to join the team please contact Dave, K4SV (K4SV2@Charter.net) for more information. [TNX K4SV]

GJ === Ken, G3OCA  and  Peter, G6KUI will operate as GH8KGC from Les Minquiers Islands (EU-099) on 25-29 June.  QSL via G3OCA, direct or bureau. [TNX G3OCA]

HC8 === Alfredo Caviedes, HC1HC will be active (on 160-10 metres mostly SSB with some CW) as HD8A from Santa Cruz Island, Galapagos (SA-004) on 2-9 March, ARRL DX SSB Contest included. He may also sign HC1HC/HC8 before and after the contest. QSLs  via NE8Z (Rick Dorsch, P.O.  Box 616, Hamburg, MI 48139, USA). [TNX NE8Z]

HI ==== Bert, PA3GIO will be active as PA3GIO/HI9 from the Dominica Republic (Hispaniola, NA-096) on 11-18 March. He plans to operate on 80, 40, 20, 17, 15, 12 and 10 metres SSB. The web site for the operation is at http://www.pa3gio.nl/HI9/ [TNX PA3GIO]

I === ARI Pompei club station will be active as IQ8BI/P on 28-29 February. ARI Pompei (http://www.aripompei.it) sponsors the newly born Italian Towns Award (I.T.A.); information can be obtained from the Award Manager Tina Spano', IZ8DPN (tinaspano@iz8dpn.it).

I ==== Gaetano/I8IHG,   Nello/IK8HVJ,   Salvatore/IK8NTN,  Achille/IZ8CKS, Luigi/IZ8ENR and Andrea/IK8GDA will operate (on 10-80 metres plus 6 metres SSB) as IC8/homecall from Vivara Island (EU-031, IIA  NA-005) on 13 March. QSLs via home calls, direct or bureau.

KH6 ==== Len,  K1NU will be signing K1NU/KH6  from the SeaQMaui resort (www.seaqmaui.com), Hawaii on 4-9 March.  Plans include a low-power entry in the ARRL DX Phone contest, some WARC band operation (mostly CW) before and after, and possibly some 60m operation if he can get an antenna up. QSL via home call, direct or bureau. Logs will be uploaded to LOTW. [TNX K1NU]

LX === LX1AQ, LX1ER, LX1RQ and DK2OY will participate in this weekend's  CQ 160-Meter SSB Contest  as LX5A (Multi-Single).  QSL via LX1RQ.  [TNX NG3K]

OE === Special call OE1W/IARU will be aired on all bands on 28-29  February for the interim meeting of the  IARU VH/UHF/MW Committee in Vienna. QSL via bureau. [TNX OE1TKW]

ON === Look for ON6UM/L, ON4LO/L and ON4BAG/L to operate from three Belgian lighthouses (BEL 001, BEL 005 and BEL 006) on 6 March. QSL via home calls. [TNX ON6UM]

R1F === Moscow Contest Club  members RD3AF, RN3AZ,  RU3AV, RZ3DU, UA3DX  and UA3AKO will operate as R1FJ from Franz Josef Land (EU-019) on  17-25 March. They will operate on all  bands CW, SSB  and RTTY, and will participate in the Russian DX Contest (20-21 March). QSL via  DL6ZFG (Rolf Rahne, P.O. Box 15. 39241 Gommern, Germany) or, For Russia and CIS countries, via UA3AKO (Victor Slabodchikov, P.O Box 867, Moscow, 119334, Russia). Financial  support will be appreciated via either DL6ZFG (dl6zfg@dl6zfg.de) or UA3AKO (ua3ako@mail.ru). [TNX UA3AKO]

SV === Look for SV1ELF to  participate in this  weekend's CQ 160-Meter  SSB Contest as SX3Z. QSl via home call, direct or bureau. [TNX SV1ELF]

V3 === Robin, K4VU and Lori, K0LAA will be active as V31RG from Belize on 7-24 April. They will operate on 160-6 metres CW, SSB and RTTY. QSL via K4VU. [TNX K4VU]

V4 === Look for W2OX to participate in this weekend's CQ 160-Meter SSB Contest as V47KP from St.Kitts. QSL via K2SB. [TNX NG3K]

V5 === Felix, DL5XL (aka DP1POL) and Christine, DH3FBS will be active as V51/homecalls from Namibia while visiting that country until mid April. QSL via home calls. [TNX DX News Letter]

VK === Wally, VK6YS  - of  Browse Island (OC-234) and Breaksea Island (OC-243) fame - has announced that an operation from an IOTA new one in Western Australia (VK6) is schedule to begin on 22 April through 2 May. The trip will also include the reactivation of a pretty rare and most wanted group. The plan is  to take a team of five  members, but two have had to pull out due to other committments. If you think you could participate in a  "pretty rugged and rough outing to a rather difficult to get to and isolated place", please contact Wally at vk6ys@iinet.net.au [TNX www.islandchaser.com]

VK9_xms === Charlie, W0YG  (VK9XG)  will return to Christmas Island from 22 November to 9 December, CQ WW  DX CW Contest  included. He plans to operate on as many bands as he can, with an emphasis on the lower bands and RTTY. QSL via W0YG (direct only). [TNX W0YG]

VP5 === WE3C, N3FTI and KQ3V will participate in the ARRL DX SSB Contest (6-7 March) as VQ5A (Multi-Multi).  QSL via KQ3V. This will be the first Victor Quebec  Five prefix from  the Turks  & Caicos  Islands. [TNX NG3K]

VP9 === David,  M0CNP (http://www.qsl.net/m0cnp) will operate (on 10-80 metres SSB, CW and maybe RTTY  and PSK31 as well) as M0CNP/VP9  from Bermuda (NA-005) on 10-22 March. QSL via home call. [TNX M0CNP]

XF4 === The XF4IH team expects to start operations  from Socorro, Revilla Gigedo (NA-030) [425DXN 665] around 18 UTC on 3 March. They will be active on all bands and modes through the 20th. The web page for the expedition is at  http://xf4ih.xedx.net/. QSl  via  XE1IH  (Enrique Garcia Munive, P.O. Box 118-481, 07051 Mexico - D.F., Mexico).

YI === Ramon Gomez de Salazar, YN1GSR (3C1GS) is active as YI9GS from Iraq for the next five months. QSL direct to EA5BYP. [TNX EA5YN]

YU === Michele, IN3IZT is active in his spare time on10-40 metres as YU8/IN3IZT from Kosovo until mid May. [TNX IN3IZT]

ZK3 === Silvano, I2YSB reports from Tokelau that the current ZK3SB operation [425dxn 667] will close down on 29 February, not on the 25th as previously planned and announced. QSL via I2YSB (direct only) or M5AAV (bureau only).

Good to Know:

CORRECTIONS ==== The correct QSL route for Nodir, EY8MM is via K1BV (not K1TT as mentioned in  425DXN #668). UA1RJ  is the  QSL manager  for UE1SAP/3  (not UE3SAP/3  as  reported  in 425DXN #668).  We apologize for  any inconvenience this may  have caused our readers.

ECUADOR  AWARDS ==== The  DX-TA-SEA  DX  Club  (WW8DX)  issues  two  awards (available to either licenced amateurs and SWLs) for working/listening to HC stations. The "HC8/HD8 DX Diploma" is for  contacts made with a minimum of  3 different HC8 or HD8 stations in the Galapagos Islands; the "Equatorial  Line Diploma" is for contacts made with  the different Ecuadorean HC & HD prefix areas. For further information please contact Rick Dorsch, NE8Z (ne8z@yahoo.com) or visit http://www.octavia.com/QSL/awards.htm

PIRATE ==== Peter, VY0PW (formerly known as VE8PW) reports he is receiving a fair number of cards for contacts made with TA4/VE8PW on 40 and 80 metres CW. Please note that Peter's VE8PW call  expired in April 1999  and has not  been
reassigned so far; TA4/VE8PW is a pirate.

QSL CX4TO ==== Antonello, IK2DUW reports that all of  the direct cards for CX4TO received so far have been processed and mailed.

QSL FM5WE ==== Tony, WF1N can confirm contacts made from October 1985 through 31 December 2001 only (cards for contacts from 1 January 2002 on should go to K3PD). Recently Tony returned many bureau cards for December 2001 contacts as "Not In Log" because the log he had ended on 23 December at 22.02 UTC. He has just received two additional log sheets for the rest of December 2001; please resubmit your QSL if your contact with FM5WE was from December 23 to December 31, 2001. [TNX WF1N]

QSL PJ6/PA0VDV === Joeke expects the cards to be ready in a couple of weeks. He logged about 4400 CW  only QSOs during  his 4-week stay  on Saba. QSL  via PA0VDV, direct (Joeke van der Velde,  Delleburen 1, 8421 RP Oldeberkoop,  The Netherlands) or bureau. [TNX PA0VDV]

QSL YI1FLY === Koos, KK3S is no longer  the QSL manager for YI1FLY, who  has decided to do his own QSLling. [TNX K1XN and The Golist]

STRAIGHT KEY PARTY === The Puerto Rico Amateur Radio League sponsors the Puerto Rico Straight Key Party, to be held from 18 UTC on 11 April through 2 UTC on the 12th (8 hours). For further information on this event, as well as on the  relevant awards, please visit  http://www.prarl.org or e-mail prarl@prarl.org [TNX WP4F]

TOP QSL MANAGER OFFERED ==== Kim Larson - Steve's (N3SL) daughter and one of the five Top QSL Managers for the  year 2003  [425DXN 667]  - is currently looking to do more work. If anyone is interested, please e-mail n3sl@arrl.net
for more information.

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

Feb 27 - Mar 10, 2004   I.C.P.O. Bulletin Islands, Castles & Portable Operations - I.C.P.O.

27/02/2004:  Rolf, DK2ZF will be touring the Pacific between February 27th and April 21st. His trip will start from Fiji and end on Guam, "with four or five islands in between." He plans to operate 95% CW mainly on 40, 30 and 20 meters, plus 80 meters on his sunset/sunrise times. Rolf would like to receive real RST reports, not the standard 599. QSL direct via home call. [Tnx 425DXN]

27/02/2004:  Look for Igor, RU0UQ, and Svetlana, RA0UBR, to be QRV February 27th and 28th from Ulety, Chita region (RDA reference CT-30, for the Russian Districts Award). Activity will be on all bands, using CW, SSB and PSK-31. QSL via operator's instructions. [Tnx RK0UK]

28/02/2004:  6Y, JAMAICA. Kevin, WN9O, reports that WO9Z (Mike), W9IU (Don) and himself will be active as 6Y5/homecall from Jamaica (NA-096) between February 28th and March 14th. Activity will be on 160-10 meters, including the WARC bands. The group will also be active as 6Y8Z during the ARRL SSB Contest. QSL via W9IU (direct). [Tnx OPDX]

28/02/2004:  Look for Glenn, K6NA, to be QRV again as ZD8A from Ascension Island (AF-003) from February 28th to March 2nd. He will operate on on all HF bands, mostly CW. QSL via N6CW. [Tnx 425DXN]

28/02/2004:  Bob, K3UL, will be QRV between February 28th and March 4th as ZF2UL from Grand Cayman (NA-016). He plans to operate as time permits on the low bands CW. QSL via home call. [Tnx 425DXN]

29/02/2004:  Chad, WE9V, will be QRV as 9Y4/WE9V (QSL via home call) from Tobago Island (SA-009) between February 29th and March 10th. Plans are to operate on all HF bands on CW, SSB and RTTY, and to participate in the ARRL DX SSB Contest as 9Y4ZC (SOAB HP). QSL 9Y4ZC (for this operation only) via WE9V. [Tnx 425DXN]

29/02/2004:  Leo, W3LEO, reports that he will once again be active as MM0LEO from Portpatrick in southwest Scotland (EU-005) between February 29th and April 3rd. He plans to participate in the ARRL DX SSB and CQ WPX SSB contests. QSL via W3LEO. [Tnx 425DXN]

29/02/2004:  Babs, DL7AFS, and Lot, DJ7ZG, will be active from Norfolk Island (OC-005), February 29th through March 13th. The call sign will be VK9NB. Activity will be on 80-6 meters on SSB, RTTY and PSK. QSL via DL7AFS (direct to: Baerbel Linge, Eichwaldstrasse 86, D-34123 Kassel, Germany) or via the DARC Bureau. [Tnx OPDX]

01/03/2004:  Hans-Peter, HB9BXE will be QRV March 1st to 6th as 5H1BP from Zanzibar (AF-032), Tanzania. He plans to operate on 80 through 10 meter CW, SSB and PSK31. QSL via home call. [Tnx 425DXN]

01/03/2004:  Maurice, F5IYU, plans to activate the Castle of Merfy (reference: DFCF 51009), in the Province Champagne Ardennes, between March 1st and 12th. The daily schedule will be from 19:00 to 21:30z and sometimes from 12:00 to 13:00z. QSL via the French REF Bureau only. Please no direct cards. SWL cards are welcome too. [Tnx OPDX]

01/03/2004:  Tom, W0GLG, will operate as HR3/W0GLG from Cayos Cochinos (NA-160) bsetween March 1st and 6th. Look for him around 14260, 21260 and 28460 kHz. Tom will be in Honduras from 13 February, working as a radio operator for the International Health Service of Minnesota. QSL via home call. [Tnx 425DXN]

01/03/2004:  Operators JA6PSE and JA6PSI will be active for about one week beginning of March 2004 from Tokara Arc, in the Takara Islands (IOTA AS-049, JIIA-049-012), and Takara Shima Araki Sake lighthouse (WLA LH-0884, ARLHS JAP-618). He will be on 160-10 meters CW and SSB. He might try some RTTY and PSK31. They will use the callsigns JA6PSE (for SSB and RTTY) and JA6PSI (CW only). QSL via home calls. [Tnx OPDX]

01/03/2004:  John, KK9A, will be active from the Iguana Villa, Aruba (SA-036) between March 1st and 30th. His activity will include two contests. Look for John to be active as P40A in the ARRL DX Phone Contest (March 6-7th) as a Single-Op/Single Band (20m) entry. Also, look for him as P40A in the CQ WPX SSB Contest March 27-28th) as a Single-Op/All Band entry. QSL both operations to WD9DZA. [Tnx OPDX]

01/03/2004:  KH6GMP (Gary) and KH6DFW (Tuck) will be active as T32I and T32BI from Eastern Kiribati (OC-024) between March 1st and 8th. During their time there, they will also be active as T32I in the ARRL DX Phone Contest (March 6-7th) as a Multi-Single entry. Activity outside of the contest will be on SSB and as much RTTY as possible during the precontest time. QSL T32I via direct to KH6GMP (QRZ.com address is OK) and QSL T32BI via direct to KH6DFW (also, QRZ.com address is OK). [Tnx OPDX]

02/03/2004:  Bill, NE1B (C6AWB) and Tom, C6ANM will be active from the Berry Islands (NA-054) between March 2nd and 4th. QSLs via WA2IYO. [Tnx 425DXN]

02/03/2004:  (A Rare Prefix To Be Activated!). Alfredo, HC1HC, will be active as HD8A from Santa Cruz Island, Galapagos (SA-004), from March 2nd to 9th. During the ARRL DX Phone Contest (March 6-7th), he will sign HD8A/QRP. He may also sign HC1HC/HC8 before and after the contest. His activity will be on 160-10 meters, mostly SSB, some CW. HD8 is a rare prefix which counts for the HC8/HD8 DX Diploma. View the colorful awards at: www.octavia.com/QSL/awards.htm. QSL HC1HC/HC8 and HD8A via NE8Z: Rick Dorsch, P.O. Box 616, Hamburg, MI 48139 USA. [Tnx OPDX]

02/03/2004:  CENTRAL AMERICA TOUR - Heikki "Henry" Tamminen, OH3JF, will operate as HR5/OH3JF from Honduras between March 2nd and 10th. He will run 800 watts and will concentrate on 30-160 meters. Suggested frequencies are 1827, 3507, 7007, 10103/10108, 14007, 18077, 21007, 24897 and 28007 kHz for CW; 1840, 3789, 7045, 14195, 18145, 21295, 24945 and 28495 kHz for SSB. QSL via OH3OJ. [Tnx 425DXN]

03/03/2004:  A group of the LARC (Lufthansa Amateur Radio Club) will be in Sri Lanka (AS-003) from March 3rd to 8th. They will be QRV all bands in SSB and CW. If possible, Rudi DK7PE will try some 160m, depending on the antennas possible. Operators will be Frank (DJ3FK), Bernd (DK7TF), Karl (DL4FP) and (Rudi) DK7PE. Rudi reports that the call signs are not known yet, but they should be: DK7PE (4S7PEG), DK7TF (4S7DLG), DL4FP (4S7**G not known) and DJ3FK (4S7**G not known). [Tnx 425DXN / OPDX]

03/03/2004:  Rich, N0HJZ, will be QRV March 3rd to 9th as HR9/N0HJZ from Roatan Island (NA-057), Honduras, including an entry in the ARRL DX SSB Contest. QSL via home call, direct or bureau. [Tnx 425DXN]

03/03/2004:  The FMRE (Federacion Mexicana de Radioexperimentadores) has announced a DXpedition to Socorro Island (IOTA NA-030, Grid Locator: DK48), Revilla Gigedo, to start on March 3rd and end March 20th. The operators XE1IH, XE1J, XE1AVM, XE1GRR, XE1KOF, XE1XR, XE1GLL and XE2ML are expected to be active as XF4IH on all bands and modes. QSL via XE1IH (Enrique Garcia, P.O. Box 118-481, Mexico, D.F 07051). [Tnx 425DXN / OPDX]

04/03/2004:  Hardy, DL5SBA, will be active as 8Q7BA from about March 4th to 20th from Athuruga Island (AS-013). Activity will be on 20 meters, possibly 30 and 17 meters as well, on RTTY/PSK only. He will use a TS-50 with 50 watts into a wire quad antenna for 20 meters - possibly 17/30m with the tuner. Hardy reports that he will be there on vacation not an expedition, so activity will be sporadic. QSL via bureau (preferred) to DL5SBA. [Tnx OPDX]

04/03/2004:  Len, K1NU, will be signing K1NU/KH6 from the SeaQMaui resort, Hawaii (OC-019)from March 4th to 9th. Plans include a low-power entry in the ARRL DX Phone Contest, some WARC band operation (mostly CW) before and after the contest, and possibly some 60m operation, if he can get an antenna up. All operating will be casual - vacation mode. Logs will be uploaded to LOTW upon his return home. QSL is also OK via the bureau or direct via his home callsign. [Tnx OPDX]

05/03/2004:  Members of the F6KOP ARS of Provins (near Paris) plan to be active as 5V7C from Lome (Grid Loc. JJ06PD, WAZ 35, ITU 46), Togo, between March 5 and 13, 2004. The crew will consist of Dany, F5CW (one of the last TO4E gang); Franck, F4AJQ; Pascal, F5TVG; Pascal, F5JSD; Romain, F8BUI; and Guenther, F5VHQ/OE5TGL. Activity will be on all bands 160 through 6 meter CW, SSB and digital modes. QSL via F5TVG (Franck Savoldi, P.O. Box 92, F94223 Charenton Cedex France). [Tnx F5NQL]

06/03/2004:  Ian, G3TMA, will be will be QRV as 9M2/G3TMA from Pulau Ketam (AS-074) March 6th to 7th and 13th to 14th. Activity will be mostly on CW. QSL to Ian Buffham, Bekay Court, Lorong Enau, 55000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. [Tnx 425DXN]

06/03/2004:  John, KK9A, will be active from the Iguana Villa, Aruba (SA-036) as P40A in the ARRL DX Phone Contest (March 6-7th) as a Single-Op/Single Band (20m) entry. QSL via WD9DZA. [Tnx OPDX]

06/03/2004:  Operators Martin (NW0L), Tom (AE9B), Geoff (W0CG), Jeff (K8ND) and Jerry (WB9Z) will activate the PJ2T contest station on Curacao during the ARRL DX Phone Contest (March 6-7th) as a Multi/2 entry. QSL via N9AG. [Tnx OPDX]

06/03/2004:  Albert, NH7A, will be active from Martinique (NA-107) as TO5A during the ARRL DX Phone Contest (March 6-7th) as a Single-Op/All Band entry. QSL via F5VHJ. [Tnx OPDX]

06/03/2004:  Operators John (WE3C), Steven (N3FTI) and Robert (KQ3V) will activate, for the first time, the prefix "VQ5" during the ARRL DX Phone Contest (March 6-7th) from the Turks and Caicos Islands. Look for them to be active as VQ5A, a Multi/Multi entry in the contest. QSL via KQ3V. [Tnx OPDX]

07/03/2004:  Look for Don Fisher, VE3ESE, and members of the Santiago de Cuba University and City Club to activate T48RAC during the ARRL DX Phone Contest (March 7-8th) from Santiago de Cuba, Cuba (NA-015). They will be operating 40 and 20 meters. QSL via VE3ESE: Don Fisher, 48 Lucerne Dr., Kitchener, Ontario, Canada N2E-1B3 (SASE, with IRC or G/S -- Note Canadian postage only). [Tnx OPDX]

07/03/2004:  Gerhard, DL3NBL, will be QRV as TA/DL3NBL/p from Ucadalar Island (AS-115) between March 7th and 14th. He plans to operate on all bands mainly SSB. QSL via home call. [Tnx 425DXN]

08/03/2004:  Jim, G3RTE; Phil, G3SWH and Ray, HS0ZDZ (aka G3NOM), who are all members of FOC and CDXC, in association with Greg, V85GD will be mounting a multi-band, multi-mode DX-pedition to Negara Brunei Darussalam (Brunei) between 8th and 15th March 2004. The main operation will take place from the QTH of Greg, V85GD under the special callsign of V8JIM. A single operator entry will also be made in the RSGB's Commonwealth Contest using the special callsign of V8NOM. Brunei is #82 in the 2003 Most Wanted survey by the 425 DX News. The January 2003 ARRL listing shows Brunei at #129. In addition, Brunei counts as OC-088 for the Islands on the Air (IOTA) award. Activity is planned for all bands from 160 to 10 meters and will include CW, SSB and digital modes. Propagation permitting, they plan to have three stations on the air for as many hours every day as is possible. Their main objective is to work as many European, North American and ROTW stations on as many bands as possible. They have set an expedition target of 12,000 QSOs, with an approximately equal split between CW, SSB and digital modes. The QSL manager for V8JIM will be G3SWH and for V8NOM will be GM4FDM. [Tnx G3SWH]

09/03/2004:  Nicola, I0SNY, plans to be QRV March 9th to 27th as CO/I0SNY from Caibarien, Cuba (NA-015). He plans to concentrate on 17, 12 and 6 meters. QSL via home call. [Tnx 425DXN]

10/03/2004:  Pete (K8PT) and Craig (K3PLV) are off to the Channel Islands again. This is their 4th year in a row. They will be operating from Jersey (EU-013) between March 10th and 17th courtesy of the Jersey Amateur Radio Society. Callsigns will be MJ/K8PT and MJ/K3PLV. They should have 2 amplifiers operating this year which will help them during cycle 23 propagation. They will be operating all HF bands and modes of SSB, CW, RTTY, and will concentrate on the lower bands during darkness.
QSL via individual home callsigns. [Tnx OPDX]

NEW ISLAND AWARD -

The Mediterranean Islands Award (MIA) is available to either licensed amateur radio operators and SWLs. It is issued on presentation of evidence of contact with (or, for SWLs, reception of) a minimum number of stations operating from islands located in the Mediterranean Sea. For a complete list of rules, checkpoints, directory and bulletins please visit the MDXC website at: http://www.mdxc.org/mia/ . [Tnx ON4CAS/N1TOI]

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

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

Feb 26, 2004   NTIA Initiates Spectrum Management Inquiry

Apparently not to be outdone by the FCC's Spectrum Policy Task Force (SPTF) and resulting proceedings, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) has initiated its own spectrum management Notice of Inquiry. The NTIA administers spectrum used by the federal government and advises the White House in telecommunications matters. Comments on the NOI--which carries the somewhat unwieldy Docket No 040127027-4027-01--are due by March 18. Some in the amateur community believe the NOI represents a threat to Amateur Radio. ARRL Chief Technology Officer Paul Rinaldo, W4RI, says the League is taking a hard look at the NTIA NOI and its potential impact on the Amateur Radio Service and will comment formally by the filing deadline.

"A number of members have been indicated concern about this NOI as a potential threat to the Amateur Radio Service and have asked the League's views," Rinaldo said this week. "In a nutshell, there is no specific threat to the Amateur Radio Service in this proceeding unless one considers opening spectrum management to scrutiny as the US government does every so often."

As it did with the FCC's SPTF, the League's Washington office is participating in meetings related to the NOI. On February 12 Rinaldo delivered a presentation on Amateur Radio spectrum management at an NTIA Forum on Spectrum Management Policy Reform, sponsored by the Computer Science and Telecommunications Board of The National Academies.

Among other things, Rinaldo told the forum that, in general, there is no conflict between Amateur Radio and federal government uses of shared bands. "There is a longstanding complementary sharing record, which is rooted in geographical, time and frequency separation (including dynamic frequency selection--the normal method in the Amateur Services)," he told the gathering. "These are enhanced by interference mitigation techniques including digital signal processing."

Rinaldo noted that amateurs are concerned about potential interference from unlicensed Part 15 devices, "particularly those that are broadband and distributed throughout residential areas." He asserted in his presentation that such devices should have "globally harmonized bands and standards" designed to preserve a low-noise environment needed for scientific uses and to avoid power escalation in radio services as the noise level rises.

The NTIA released the NOI February 2 in response to a May 29, 2003, executive memorandum from President George W. Bush called "United States Spectrum Policy for the 21st Century." The NTIA NOI now is being viewed as a counterweight to the FCC's SPTF.

FCC Chairman Michael Powell established the SPTF in June 2002 to seek ways to open the spectrum to new uses by moving away from the so-called "command and control" model for spectrum management and toward more unlicensed devices. Since the issuance of the SPTF, the Commission has taken steps to consider receiver immunity standards, cognitive radio, and a new "interference temperature" metric.

Rinaldo says the NTIA has been reviewing the results of the SPTF with a view to possible effects on federal spectrum. The NTIA proceeding is broader than the FCC's SPTF initiative, however, and it poses some fundamental questions--including whether the FCC and NTIA spectrum management functions should be combined in a single entity.

"The League sees this NOI as a healthy opportunity for the airing of views on spectrum management and not a threat aimed at the Amateur Radio Service," Rinaldo concluded.

The NTIA already has turned down a request by ARRL member Nick Leggett, N3NL, to extend the filing deadline. ARRL is developing its own response to the NTIA NOI in time for consideration by the League's Executive Committee and the March 18 filing deadline. "Meanwhile, we appreciate an opportunity to hear members' views," Rinaldo said.

The NTIA is posting comments on its spectrum reform Web site:  http://spectrumreform.ntia.doc.gov/responses/index.htm

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Feb 25, 2004   FCC Proposes Rules for BPL Systems

The FCC this week released its Notice of Proposed Rule Making (NPRM) on Broadband over Power Line (BPL) systems. The 38-page NPRM--in ET Dockets 03-104 and 04-37--proposes amendments to FCC Part 15 rules to define so-called "access BPL," make rules specific to BPL systems and provide measurement guidelines for BPL devices and systems. It would make no changes to Part 15 emission limits for unintentional radiators, however. ARRL CEO David Sumner, K1ZZ, says that while Part 15's current limits on unintentional radiators on HF may be appropriate for short-duration, narrowband emissions, they are inappropriate for the sort of long-duration, broadband emissions BPL would employ. He compared short-duration, narrowband emissions at the Part 15 radiated emission limit to a helicopter flying overhead.

"The noise is deafening, but is tolerable because it doesn't happen very often nor last very long," he observed. "To a radio user, having BPL in the neighborhood would be like having the helicopter hovering constantly overhead."

ARRL Lab Manager Ed Hare, W1RFI, offered an example that most hams can relate to. "The limit for an unintentional emitter on HF is 30 uV/m at 30 meters from the source," he said. "If you take a dipole cut for 3.5 MHz and put it in a 30 uV/m field, you'll have a noise reading of S9 plus 16 dB at your transceiver."

Access BPL, a form of carrier current or power line carrier (PLC) communication, would apply RF in the HF to low-VHF range to existing low and medium-voltage exterior power lines to distribute Internet and broadband services. It was the aspect of feeding RF signals into outdoor power lines that initially raised Amateur Radio concerns regarding potential interference. Such carrier current or PLC systems are subject to the FCC's Part 15 rules governing unlicensed devices.

In its proposal, the FCC took a broader view of interference issues. "There is significant disagreement among the commenting parties regarding the interference potential of Access BPL," the NPRM declares. "Amateur operators and amateur organizations in general are opposed to Access BPL and advocate emission limits that are lower than the existing Part 15 limits."

In a statement attached to the NPRM, however, FCC Chairman Michael Powell expressed confidence that the new requirements it spells out balance BPL's potential benefits with concerns of potential interference "by establishing new requirements that will help minimize harmful interference that may occur and guidelines for measurement of radio frequency emissions from carrier current systems."

Still, the NPRM concedes, Amateur Radio operations "are likely to present a difficult challenge in the deployment of Access BPL in cases where amateurs use high-gain outdoor antennas that are located near power lines." Noting that power line noise already presents a significant problem for hams, the FCC said, "we therefore would expect that, in practice, many amateurs already orient their antennas to minimize the reception of emissions from nearby electric power lines."

The NPRM goes on to point out that because BPL has the capability to stay clear of specific frequencies, BPL providers can simply "avoid the use of amateur frequencies when in close proximity to amateur outdoor antennas." The NPRM also briefly mentions the possibility of interference to BPL systems from Amateur Radio, an issue ARRL and others raised in their comments on last April's Notice of Inquiry on BPL.

The NPRM emphasizes that under the proposed rules, operators of Access BPL systems would be responsible for eliminating any harmful interference that may occur. "Furthermore, we believe that the current Part 15 emission limits for carrier current systems in conjunction with certain additional requirements specific to Access BPL operations will be adequate to ensure that existing radio operations are protected against harmful interference from such operations," the FCC said.

The NPRM proposes changes to Part 15 that would "facilitate the deployment of Access BPL technology while protecting licensed users of the spectrum." If ultimately adopted as proposed, the NPRM would:

    * define Access BPL for the purposes of its rules

    * maintain the existing Part 15 emission limits for BPL

    * require that Access BPL devices employ "adaptive interference-mitigation techniques"

    * require that Access BPL providers maintain a database of installation locations and technical information

    * adopt specific measurement guidelines for both Access BPL and other carrier current systems to ensure that measurements are made in a consistent manner and provide for repeatable results in determining compliance with its rules.

Sumner suggested that, with licensed services and government users taking up large portions of the HF spectrum, protecting all licensed HF users could prove to be a nightmare for BPL providers. He noted, too, that while the FCC maintains that licensed services must be protected, the proposed rules place the burden of initiating corrective action on the shoulders of the licensed services. "And as a practical matter, the FCC's proposed rules offer no protection at all to mobile and portable stations," he added.

Sumner further stated that ARRL would continue to combat the "misconception" that BPL systems are viable as a "last mile" broadband technology for rural dwellers. "In low-density areas, the economics just don't work," he said. "A potential investor who understands the constraints under which BPL must operate won't touch such an investment."

While conceding "significant concerns" from HF users--including the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, which regulates federal government radio use--and the Federal Emergency Management Administration, the Commission said it believes the NPRM adequately addresses interference concerns.

The FCC was unanimous in its approval of the BPL proposal. Commissioner Michael Copps offered a partial dissent that had more to do with competition protections and the potential for cross-subsidization between regulated power companies and unregulated communications businesses, not with interference issues.

The NPRM can be viewed on the FCC Web site:  www.fcc.gov

More than 5000 comments were filed in the wake of the FCC's Notice of Inquiry on BPL. Interested parties may file detailed comments on the NPRM via the main FCC's Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS). The comment deadline is 45 days after the NPRM has been published in The Federal Register, and that is not expected to happen for another week or two. The FCC also is accepting brief comments on the NPRM via its ECFS Express page. http://gullfoss2.fcc.gov/ecfs/Upload/

Additional information about BPL and Amateur Radio is on the ARRL Web site. To support the League's efforts in this area, visit the ARRL's secure BPL Web site. https://www.arrl.org/forms/development/donations/bpl

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