The Canadian Amateur Radio Bulletin
hfradio.net
(Week of May 30 2004)

May 28 2004  More Countries Have Dropped the HF Bands Morse Requirement

The latest countries, that we know of, to have dropped the Morse code requirement for access to the HF bands are France and Finland. French former Class 2 licensees, with F1 and F4 callsigns, are now being heard on the HF bands. According to the French national amateur radio society, REF [ www.ref-union.org ], the change was implemented on the 16th of May. Finland dropped the Morse requirement on the 1st of November last year and now there are only two classes of amateur licence in Finland. Thanks to Mike Ruttenberg, G7TWC, and Jukka Heikinheimo, OH2BR, for these news stories.

(RSGB)

May 28 2004   Poland is rapidly becoming an Amateur Radio Superpower

After enduring political and economic change, Poland is rapidly becoming an Amateur Radio superpower.

The number of licenses is growing in Poland, and now exceeds 16,000. It is no longer compulsory to belong to an organization, as it was prior to 1989. There were then hundreds of Amateur Radio clubs coordinated by three entities: PZK, the scouts and the National Defense League. Although the overall level of education in theory and practical operating techniques was good, suitable equipment was very difficult to get. After drastic changes of politics and economics in early 1990s, the number of clubs has declined but almost anyone can afford to buy a piece or two of modern equipment. The result is an army of well-trained and well-equipped Amateur Radio operators in Poland.

The full story written by Henryk Kotowski, SM0JHF can be found on the ARRL website at: www.arrl.org/news/features/2004/05/28/2/?nc=1

(ARRL News Service)

National

CAMP X to remember the unsung heroes of WWII on the anniversary of D-DAY

The North Shore Amateur Radio club and the South Pickering Amateur Radio Club in conjunction with the Camp X Historical Society, extend an invitation to all Radio Amateurs to join them in celebrating the contribution that Camp X made to an Allied Victory in Europe.

Camp X will be on the air June 5-6 2004 from Saturday at 10:00am until Sunday at 4:00pm. Amateur Radio Operators will be telling the story of Camp X to the world by way of radio from Camp X Intrepid Park, Whitby Ontario (just east of Toronto). The event will also include displays of vintage World War II radio equipment as well as Military displays and CAMP X Artifacts.

Camp X was where 'Secret Agents' were trained before being sent behind enemy lines in Nazi occupied Europe. These agents not only led resistance movements but gathered and provided valuable intelligence information to invading Allied Armies. Camp X was formed and administered by an integral part of Camp X, Hydra which was the vital short wave link in Sir William Stephenson's cross-Atlantic radio network.

Directions to 'Camp X Intrepid Park':
From Highway 401 east or west, exit at Thickson Road, go south to Wentworth Street, turn left (east) to Boundary Road, turn right (South) about 600 Feet, Intrepid Park is on the right, see you there.

Camp X website: www.campxhistoricalsociety.ca

May 21 2004  RAC Youth Education program experiments with an IRLP school net

School teacher Neil Carlton - VE3NCE, recently sent us a copy of the following e-mail message to Mark Richardson - VA30B0 at the Lester B. Pearson High School in Burlington, Ontario, and Brian Jackson - VE6JBJ at the Chestermere Lake Middle School, Chestermere, Alberta.

The e-mail tells about plans to establish an IRLP network to interconnect schools participating in the RAC Youth Education program.

" Brian and Mark, it was great talking with you today by IRLP after school. After twenty minutes on-air, we had a plan all worked out. Isn't amateur radio wonderful!

Thanks Brian for calling on your way to Calgary. Through the marvel of amateur radio, we were able to talk over a lot of ideas about a school-to-school YEP net. I'm glad that Tom Kelly(sp?) - VE6TDK could join us too from the amateur radio station at the Calgary Aerospace Museum. After our discussion, I reached Mark on his way home from school too.

Mark coordinated the first YEP school-to-school IRLP net earlier this year between his school and mine. Taking part at Lester B. Pearson High School were students Matt - VA3OPO, Paul - VA3OSX, Kristen - VA3KKS, and Brian - VA3BCC. Everyone agreed it was a vey successful experiment, and we talked about doing the next net with Brian and his students in Alberta before the school year ended. When Terrance and the other volunteers from the WARA are back at Central Middle School, in Victoria, perhaps in the fall, our aim is to have all four schools take part.

Now we're all set for Tuesday. Thanks Mark for agreeing to be net control next week.

The plan is to meet on the Raleigh reflector, node 9217, at 3:40 p.m. Eastern, 1:40 p.m. Mountain, this coming Tuesday, May 25. Mark has kindly arranged an open invitation for us to use the reflector for YEP nets. On Tuesday, Mark and/or one of his students will open the net and call for check-ins. Participating will be:

1. Chestermere Lake Middle School, Chestermere,Alberta - Brian and his grade 6 class;
2. Calgary Aerospace Museum, Alberta - Tom and students visiting the Museum;
3. Lester B. Pearson High School, Burlington, Ontario - Mark and his high school students;
4. R. Tait McKenzie Public School, Almonte, Ontario - I'll be here with the grades 4 to 6 students in the Shortwave Listening and Amateur Radio Club.

I look forward to talking with everyone on Tuesday"

(Thanks to Neil Carleton VE3NCE)

(RAC News Service)

Important info for RAC E-Mail Forwarding Service users (callsign@rac.ca) 2004-05-19

Since RAC started offering this service several years ago no attempt has been made to try to determine if any piece of forwarded e-mail was spam.  We felt that spam filtering should be a personal choice and under your own control – either in your own machine, or at your Internet Service Provider, where you could choose the keywords or blocked sources.

 Recently the RAC server has been blacklisted by some ISPs for relaying spam. To prevent ongoing occurrences we regretfully have no choice but to install a spam filter on all e-mail passing through the RAC server. This is the type of filtering used for some time now by Internet Service Providers for filtering all e-mail passing through their servers. What we plan to install does not provide for personal selection of keywords, or the blocking of specific senders. To give you some notice of this, we plan to make the change on June 15, 2004.

 It is unlikely, but possible, that a desired piece of e-mail may be blocked by the filter and would not be forwarded to your real e-mail address. If you do not want to face even that remote possibility, you may wish to discontinue use of the RAC e-mail forwarding service.  Just send an email to rachq@rac.ca  giving the callsign you want removed and the email address it is connected to. For example, if your callsign is VY7AAA and the alias (vy7aaa@rac.ca) is redirected to joe.cool@cool.com, we need to know both pieces of information. If you're a RAC member, please supply your membership number from the label of your latest copy of The Canadian Amateur magazine.

(Thanks to Doug VE3XK, and Ken VE3PU)

Editors Note:  If you decide not to use the @rac.ca re-direct any longer and still wish to receive this bulletin please send your change of e-mail address information to webmaster@hfradio.net

May 25 2004  Trans Provincial Net, News Update

Don VE3DRO, our daily 5pm Net Control Station was hospitalized about three weeks ago, he will not be going back home and awaiting to be moved to a nursing home. For the time being it would appear that his HF days are over but do not count him out as we will do our best to get him back on the air somehow because he misses the radio terribly.

At the present time, he is at the Ottawa General Hospital in room 4215 telephone number (613) 737-8899 Code 76578.

He is doing well and is in good spirit but he gets bored easily. If anyone wants to call him, please ensure that you let the phone ring several times in case he is watching his afternoon soap operas with his ears on or chasing the slow nurses with his walker.

If anyone would like to send Don VE3DRO an e-mail message please send it to Guy A. Ladouceur, VE3WGL at ve3wgl@rogers.com and he will make sure that Don gets them and will reply to those who do. Please indicate on the subject that it is for "DON VE3DRO"

(Guy A. Ladouceur, VE3WGL)

Editor's Note: For more information about the Trans Provincial Net you can visit their website at www.tpn7055.ca
 
 

Atlantic Maritime Section

2004 Callbook Publishing Information

Delivery Date : 15 May 2004 at the Down East Flea Market in Halifax
Price : $12.00 for one , $22.00 for two, $30.00 for three Bulk orders available , price depending on quantity )
Delivery : Pick up at the Flea Market or a mail-out fee for one or two books will be added.

For information on the Down East Flea Market go to: www.halifax-arc.org
Callbook Pre Order Information : Contact Fraser VE1WO ve1wo@rac.ca or via telephone at ( 902 ) 865-4198 to order.

D. Howard Dickson - VE1DHD
11346 Peggys Cove Rd.,
Seabright N.S.
B3Z 3A7
Email: dhdickson@hfx.eastlink.ca
Phone: 902-823-2024

Quebec Section

May 30 2004   Hamfest du Québec 2004, 22ième édition

Sponsored by:  Club radio amateur Sorel-Tracy Inc
Location:  Au Curling Aurèle Racine et au Centre culturel de Sorel-Tracy, Place du Centre Civique, sortie 181 autoroute 30
Opens:  Vendeurs 06.30hres Visiteurs 09.00hres
Cost:  Entrée $5.00 tables $15.00 intérieur $7.00 extérieur
Talkin:  VE2RBS 145.370- tone 103.5
Notes:  Démonstration APRS, Forces Armées Canadiennes, Expositions de radios anciens
Full Details: www.ve2cbs.qc.ca

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)

Ontario Section

Jun. 5-6 2004  Amherstburg Radio Club Special Event Station

The Amherstburg Radio Club will be on the air 1600z Jun 5 -2359 Jun 6 , from Windsor Ontario commemorating CKLW radio station on the air since 1932. Frequencies 28.460  14.260  7.160   Certificate.

Terry Greenwood  VE3TMG
2210 Janette Ave. Windsor, ON. N8X 1Z8

Jun 5-6 2004 Annual Streetsville Bread & Honey Festival

The Mississauga Amateur Radio Club would like to announce the Annual Streetsville Bread & Honey Festival. They will be on the air using callsign VE3MIS June 5th and 6th 1400 to 2000z. Operating frequencies will be 28.480, 21.315, 14.240 and 7.227mhz. Certificates will be issued for contacts send info to:

MARC, c/o Michael Brickell,
2801 Bucklepost Cres,
Mississauga, ON, Canada L5L 1M6.

Include $1 US, 2 IRCs or 2 green stamps for postage.

For more details visit the Mississauga Amateur Radio Club website at: www.marc.on.ca

June 12 2004  Central Ontario Amateur Radio Hamfest

Sponsored by: the Guelph and the Kitchener-Waterloo Amateur Radio Clubs.
Place: Community Centre, Fergus ON.
Admission: $5; Vendors: Inside 8' tables $10, Outside tailgater spaces $5, both plus admission.
Notes: Our 30th year. Free draws for many items, including Grand Prize Gift Certificates.
Information: E-mail: info@hamfest.on.caWebsite: www.hamfest.on.ca

(Mike VE3OGE, CoOrdinator)

Jun 12 2004  TechNet Breakfast/Foxhunt/Fleamarket

The TechNet Breakfast, Foxhunt and Fleamarket will be held this year June 12th on the mountain, at the 12th concession and Mud Street in Grimsby Ontario. The event starts at 8:00 am for breakfast, 9:30 for the two fox hunts, and the rest of the day for the fleamarket, admission is free but you pay for your own breakfast.

The talkin frequency will be 146.550 simplex as well as VE3WIK repeaters VHF 147.105 with a tone of 131.8 and UHF 443.675 with a tone of 131.8,  this repeater is also linked to the St. Catherines machine 442.425 with a tone of 107.3

This event is sponsored by Reg Bagshaw VE3BQQ, host for the TechNet

For more information visit the Tech Net webite at  www.hamtechnet.com

Western Provinces

Jun. 6 2004 Maple Ridge ARC Giant Ham & Computer Swap Meet
Sponsored by: The Maple Ridge Amateur Radio Club
Date:  Sunday June 6 2004
Location:  The Old Rec Center 12460 Harris Road Pitt Meadows 1 Block South of the Lougheed Hwy on Harris Road. Pitt Meadows BC
Opens: Vendors 7 am, Public 9 am to 1
Cost: $3, Tables $20
Talkin: VE7RMR 147.800 (-) 600 Tone 156.7
Notes:  Pancake Breakfast between 8:am and 9:am includes 2 Pancakes 3 sausages and Beverage of choice Tea, Coffee, or Juice. Concession will have Donuts and Coffee Lots of room for vendors. Plenty of space for public to move around.
Club website:  www.qsl.net/ve7rmr

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)

Jun. 18 2004   34th Annual Red Deer Picnic and Hamfest

Sponsored by: Central Alberta Amateur Radio Club (formerly C.A.R.L.)
Date:  Friday June 18 2004
Location: Red Deer Alberta Pine Lake Agricultural Society Campground... Go south of Red Deer AB on Highway #2 to Highway #42, go east towards Pine Lake to secondary highway #815, turn south 1 km to Crossroads Ag Society and Hub Community Center. Watch for CAARC and /or CARL signs.
Opens: Friday afternoon June 18th
Talkin: VE6QE 147.150 +600 and /or 146.520 simplex

Notes: The Red Deer Picnic and Hamfest has moved from the Burbank Campground at Blackfalds to the Pine Lake Ag Campground at Pine Lake,AB. This facility is located close to Pine Lake and features a beautiful dining hall and new lounge area with fireplace and lots of room to socialise. The campground has many camping areas complete with picnic tables and some firepits. The fleamarket Sat. morning and afternoon has a covered roof area for lots of bargain hunters and displays.

For more information visit:www.carlclub.ca

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.

• 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

Propagation Report

America's

May 28  2004 Tad Cook K7RA Solar Update

Conditions weren't bad this week. Average daily sunspot numbers were down about 13 points and average daily solar flux was off about 6 points. There were no major geomagnetic disruptions. Last Friday, May 21, we were within a solar wind stream, but this was not enough to cause any geomagnetic storms.

Sunspot group 618 was just emerging from the sun's eastern limb. 618 continued to grow, and was in the center of the solar disk on Wednesday, May 26. Eventually it grew to about 120,000 km (almost 75,000 miles) across. There is a small chance it may cause a geomagnetic disturbance, but day by day it will rotate off the sun's western limb.

This weekend is the CQ World Wide WPX CW Contest. I had a lot more fun in this contest back when I held KT7H, a far less common prefix than K7RA, the current call sign. This weekend shouldn't be too bad. Solar flux is expected to remain around 100. The predicted planetary A index for Friday through Monday, May 28-31 is 10, 10, 12 and 15. Predicted solar flux for the same days is 100, 100, 105 and 105. Currently holographic helioseismic imaging reveals another sunspot group on the sun's far side, so perhaps activity will remain at the current moderate levels.

One cautionary note from the Australian Space Weather Agency was issued at 2236z on May 27. It warns of possible increased geomagnetic activity due to a solar wind stream from a coronal hole around Jun 1-3. Of course, HF operators want lots of sunspots and quiet geomagnetic conditions, which often don't appear at the same time.

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

Sunspot numbers for May 20 through 26 were 109, 82, 79, 127, 118, 101 and 89 with a mean of 100.7. 10.7 cm flux was 104.6, 106.9, 102.4, 104, 105.2, 102.4 and 103.3, with a mean of 104.1. Estimated planetary A indices were 13, 10, 11, 12, 11, 8 and 6, with a mean of 10.1. Estimated mid-latitude A indices were 11, 6, 7, 9, 8, 5 and 3, with a mean of 7.

(W1AW)

May 30 2004  Solar data and forecast from Neil Clarke, G0CAS, and Martin Harrison, G3USF

Once again solar flare activity has been mostly low or very low, with no substantial flares. The solar flux showed little daily variation, averaging 103 over the week, 7 points down on the previous week. The 90-day average was unchanged at 105. X-ray flux levels also varied little, averaging an unchanged B2.0. The geomagnetic field was slightly active last weekend, but subsequently it has been predominantly quiet-to-unsettled, with the Ap index in single figures during the last few days. The ACE spacecraft recorded solar wind speeds of between 559km/sec on the 25th, due to a high- speed coronal stream, and 330km/sec on the 27th. The spacecraft's orbit will bring it almost in line with the Sun from about May 30th to June 2nd. During that period solar radio noise is expected to interfere with the telemetry, leading to the loss of solar wind, magnetic field and particle data.

F-layer propagation on the HF bands has been very much in line with what we have experienced in recent weeks, with the best propagation around breakfast time or during the evening when absorption is lower. For example, on the morning of the 29th there was an opening between Europe and the West Coast of North America. However, the most notable feature of the past week was strong sporadic-E, though openings remained patchy and erratic. Good 4-metre signals from Slovenia and Croatia were reported on several days and the Cyprus beacon, 5B4CY, was copied in the UK by double-hop on the 27th. Also on the 27th there was an opening between the UK and the former Yugoslavia on 144MHz, between approximately 1539 and 1555UTC.

During the coming week we can expect to have the quieter side of the sun looking towards us. Flare activity will remain low or very low, with only a small likelihood of a substantial flare. The geomagnetic field should be mostly quiet-to-slightly-unsettled until midweek, when it may increase, due to a small recurring coronal hole. MUFs at equal latitudes should be around 22MHz for the south and 19MHz in the north. Darkness hour lows will remain around 13MHz. Paths to the Middle East should have a maximum usable frequency of about 25MHz. The optimum working frequency, at which there should be something like a 90 per cent chance of a contact, should be around 18MHz. However, it is worth noting that, occasionally, openings to that area at 50MHz do occur by way of double-hop sporadic-E around this time of year. This is also known to have happened at least once on 144MHz. That is always a very long shot. That said, sporadic-E will probably become more frequent and more intense, with areas south of east the more likely to provide openings.

And that is all for another week from the propagation team.

Space News

May 27 2004   ARISS School Group Contact a First for Astronaut, Expedition 9

NASA Expedition 9 International Space Station Science Officer and Flight Engineer Mike Fincke, KE5AIT, logged what's believed to be his first-ever Amateur Radio contact May 25 from the spacecraft's NA1SS. The QSO also marked the first Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) school group contact for the Expedition 9 crew. The US astronaut and Russian cosmonaut and Expedition 9 Commander Gennady Padalka, RN3DT, arrived aboard the ISS in late April and have been settling in. Fincke advised a dozen youngsters gathered at Erie Planetarium in Pennsylvania, that one of the first tasks he and Padalka must undertake is a space walk. The crew needs to replace a failed remote power controller module for one of the four ISS control moment gyroscopes, or CMGs.

Full Story: www.arrl.org/news/stories/2004/05/27/8/?nc=1

May 27 2004   NASA Space Station Status Report

An unmanned Russian resupply ship smoothly linked up to the International Space Station this morning, delivering two and a half tons of food, water, fuel, spare parts and supplies to the two residents on board.

With Expedition 9 Commander Gennady Padalka and NASA Science Officer and Flight Engineer Mike Fincke looking on, the ISS Progress 14 docked to the aft port of the Zvezda Service Module at 8:55 a.m. CDT (1355 GMT) as the two craft flew 230 statute miles above Central Asia.

Padalka and Fincke were in Zvezda, prepared to take over manual control of the operation if it had been necessary, but the Progress craft automatically docked to the module through pre-programmed computer command with no problem.

The Progress was launched Tuesday from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan and chased the Station for two days, using its engine to conduct rendezvous maneuvers in fine-tuning its course for today?s docking.

The Progress was the first ship to arrive at the ISS since Padalka and Fincke took over Station operations last month. The next Progress is scheduled to launch to the Station in late July.

After leak checks are completed to insure a tight seal between Progress and Zvezda, Padalka will open up the ship?s hatch later today so he and Fincke can begin unloading its cargo Friday.

Next week, Padalka and Fincke will turn their attention to preparations for a spacewalk no earlier than June 16, Moscow time, in Russian Orlan spacesuits out of the Pirs Docking Compartment to replace a power controller on the Station?s truss that failed April 21, resulting in the temporary loss of one of the four Control Moment Gyros (CMGs) that govern the orientation of the complex.

On Wednesday, Fincke and Padalka took turns maneuvering the Station?s Canadarm2 robotic arm to a position along the S0 Truss for camera views of the spacewalk worksite and downlink television of the spacewalk tasks as they are conducted during the planned 4-½ hour excursion. The two crewmembers will begin checking out their Orlan spacesuits next Thursday and are expected to climb into the suits June 11 in a dress rehearsal of the suit up and a thorough checkout of the suit systems that will clear the way for the spacewalk.

The spacewalk will be under the control of both U.S. and Russian mission personnel. Russian flight controllers will be directing Padalka and Fincke as they exit the Pirs and climb onto the telescoping Russian Strela cargo crane to be transported some 50 feet to the intersection of the U.S. and Russian segments of the Station. Once they dismount from the Strela, Padalka and Fincke will be under the direction of U.S. flight controllers as they move to the S0 Truss via handrails and tethers to swap out the failed Remote Power Control Module (RPCM) that rendered CMG 2 inoperable.

After power is restored to the CMG, the spacewalkers will make their way back to the Strela crane and, under the direction of Russian flight controllers once again, will swing back to the Pirs to reenter the Russian airlock and end the spacewalk.

Padalka and Fincke also conducted biomedical experiments and routine housekeeping tasks this week as they set their sights on the start of spacewalk preparations.

Information on the crew's activities aboard the Space Station, future launch dates, as well as Station sighting opportunities from anywhere on the Earth, is available on the Internet at: http://spaceflight.nasa.gov

Details on Station science operations can be found on an Internet site administered by the Payload Operations Center at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala., at: http://scipoc.msfc.nasa.gov

(SpaceRef.com)

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

May 28 2004  Scarborough ARES Report.....more D Day Parade information,

All I can say at this point is Scarborough ARES members & Area ARES members get ready. We are very close to getting a special invitation to participate in the D Day parade communications June 6th.

(1)  Appropriate contacts have been established.
(2) Higher approval almost at this time seems certain.
(3) The event is planned from 2:30 PM Sunday to at least 4:00 PM Sunday June 6th,  60th Anniversary of D Day Parade & Ceremonies.
(4) There are 4 areas to be covered in priority fashion.
(5)  We may cover, or be asked to cover other areas beside these main 4 priority locations.
(6)  Location 1 is Sunnybrook Hospital Area.
(7)  Location 2 is Ramsden Park near the Rosedale Subway Station.
(8)  Location 3 is Nathan Phillips Square.
(9) Location 4 is Queens park.
(10) Orderly communications shall have to coordinate the moves from priority locations to Queens Park (Front Area).
(11)  None of these organizers have worked with Radio Amateurs before.
(12) 1000 Soldiers are expected at Sunnybrook.
(13) 1000 Cadets expected at Ramsden Park.
(14) Nathan Phillips Group shall also move to Queens Park.
(15) Lead time I am sorry to say is getting very short so please be in a position to respond quickly if possible.
(16)  Emergency and other groups such as police of course shall also be involved.
(17) We shall also use FRS radios as well as our Amateur Radio equipment.
(18) A go or no go committment shall be known before 2nd of June.
(19) Expect a go committment.

I would like to invite any Amateur Radio operator or like minded person to volunteer for this exercise.

Please Contact me:  Bob Chrysler VE3IEL, Scarborough ARES EC, e-mail ve3iel@rac.ca  or  chrysler@tvo.org

I think, due to past experience (recent past experience) intercession for good weather is a good idea. More Information and our involvement shall be made available as soon as possible.

PS:  If the weather should just happen to be good, please do not forget your own water supply, along with our usual equipment.  After our last outing with the rainy MS Walk experience this point might be easily overlooked.

Bob Chrysler VE3IEL,
Scarborough ARES EC

May 28 2004   Amateurs aid as Tornados devastate Nebraska Communities

From storm spotting through recovery support, Amateur Radio operators were on duty this week, aiding tornado-stricken communities in Nebraska and elsewhere in the Midwest. A May 22 tornado virtually destroyed most structures and was blamed for one death in Hallam, a town of approximately 300 some 20 miles south of Lincoln. ARRL Nebraska Section Emergency Coordinator Reynolds Davis, K0GND, said Lancaster County ARES/SKYWARN spotters activated the evening of May 22 in response to a report of an approaching front. Within a half-hour, W0NWS at the National Weather Service office in Valley already was receiving tornado damage reports via the Lincoln Amateur Radio Club K0KKV repeater.

"When the system moved into Lancaster County shortly after 8:30 PM, it destroyed almost every structure in the town of Hallam," Davis said, leaving the residents homeless. The NWS rated the tornado that struck Hallam as an F-4 on the five-point Fujita Scale--207 to 260 MPH.

The storm also severely damaged the high school in Norris and plucked the tower supporting the K0RPT repeater's south receiver from the ground. The tower remains missing. The tornado went on to destroy additional homes to the northeast, and its path of destruction finally ended south of Bennet, he said.

More than 50 amateurs participated in the SKYWARN net, said Davis, who also serves as Lancaster County Emergency Coordinator. The National Weather Service Omaha office logged dozens of weather and storm-damage reports from radio amateurs in several Nebraska counties on May 22.

Once the SKYWARN Nets closed, the K0RPT VHF repeater was put into service to support Red Cross communications among the tornado scene, the chapter house and a shelter set up in a Lincoln high school for residents displaced by the storm. Two ARES nets activated May 23 to coordinate damage survey and assessment, and reports logged via K0EOC at the Lancaster County Emergency Operations Center.

Davis said that by the time both damage survey nets shut down, 41 operators had driven nearly 2200 miles and surveyed 100 square miles. Gov Mike Johanns declared a state of emergency after more than a dozen tornados swept several southern Nebraska counties.

In Missouri, Grundy County EC Glen Briggs, KB0RPJ, reports that Amateur Radio groups in the northern part of the state relayed severe weather reports to the National Weather Service and to local emergency management and law enforcement officials May 22. Hardest hit areas were near Chillicothe and Brookfield. After one repeater was knocked off the air, amateurs switched to backup repeaters and simplex. Some 18 operators in nine Missouri counties participated, he said.

(ARRL News Service)

May 27 2004 National Hurricane Center's WX4NHC sets annual test

A reminder: Amateur Radio station WX4NHC at the National Hurricane Center (NHC) in Miami will conduct its 2004 on-the-air station test Sunday, May 30, 1300-2200 UTC.

WX4NHC Amateur Radio Coordinator John McHugh, KU4GY, says the test provides an opportunity to test all of the station's radio gear prior to the official start of the 2004 hurricane season June 1. The WX4NHC event will be just an equipment and operator test, and no nets will be activated.

WX4NHC will be on the air on HF, VHF and UHF as well as on APRS. HF operation will center on 7.268, 14.325, 21.325 and 28.525 MHz on SSB; 14.035, 21.035 and 28.035 MHz on CW; and 14.070 MHz on PSK31. WX4NHC will also be on IRLP and EchoLink South Florida-area VHF and UHF repeaters as well as 146.52 MHz FM simplex and 144.200 MHz SSB.

Participating stations report call sign, signal report, location and a brief weather report ("sunny," "rain," etc). Include an SASE with QSL requests to W4VBQ. No visitors will be allowed at NHC during this test.

For more information, visit the National Hurricane Center WX4NHC Web page: www.wx4nhc.org

(ARRL News Service)

Haliburton Forest Ultra Marathon Sept. 10 & 11 2004

The Minden club needs help to support the runners in a 100 mile, cross country race.  We start our shift work after the runners have been going for twelve straight hours. We keep track of their locations after sundown, and on to the end of the race at noon the next day.  It's a great opportunity to use your equipment, batteries and skill to assist this group in a forest area that has no cell phone or telephone service.

Further information is posted at: www3.sympatico.ca/ghewit/ve3gih/ultramarathon

To volunteer for this great event, or get answers to specific questions, email Len Foster VE3LGF lfos@sympatico.ca

Gord VE3GIH
District Emergency Coordinator Scugog

June 4-6 2004 Rochester Hamfest in June

The Rochester Hamfest takes place the weekend of June 4th through the 6th at the Monroe County Fairgrounds and is combined with the ARRL Atlantic Division Convention.

Features over 100 inside exhibitors, 1200 flea market spaces and that very much coveted on site free parking. Hotels can be found  in the area for $69 a night or less.

For more information visit: www.rochesterhamfest.org or call the hamfest office at 584-424-7184 during business hours Eastern Daylight Time.

(Rochester Hamfest)

May 28 2004  New TNC Software Wizard

Creative Services Software has announced the release of version 1.0 of the Kantronics and Timewave TNC Wizard.  This program searches for your TNC and sound card on both serial ports and TCP/IP networks.

Creative's Rick Ruhl, W4PC, says that the TNC wizard works with built in serial ports in the TNC, USB to serial adapters and TCP/IP to serial interfaces.  It also has an option to detect the soundcard in the computer and add that information to the PacTerm or PkTerm startup files without any additional setup needed at install time.

The TNC Wizard requires Windows 98 or later, with TCP/IP installed. There is no cost for the TNC wizard and it can be downloaded from the CSS website at:  www.cssincorp.com

(CSS)

Contest News

CQ WW WPX Contest--CW--sponsored by CQ Magazine from 0000Z May 29-2400Z May 30 For More Information: http://home.woh.rr.com/wpx

Great Lakes QSO Party--Phone/CW/RTTY/PSK31--sponsored by the Michigan DX Association from 0000Z May 29--2359 May 30, SO stations work 36 hours max. Frequencies (MHz): 160-2 meters, no repeater or satellite, CW--3.560, 3.720, 7.090, 7.135, 14.075, Phone--3.870, 7.260, 14.270, 21.370, 28.450. Categories: A (>100 W), B (5-100 W), C (<5 W), D (Club and MO), E (CW only), F (Mobile), G (Digital, one of RTTY or PSK31). Great Lakes are MI, IL, IN, WI, MN, OH, PA, NY, VE2, VE3. Exchange: Name, S/P/C, Great Lakes stations also send county. QSO points: Phone--1 pt, CW/Digital--2 pts, QRP or mobile--3 pts. Score: QSO points × Great Lakes counties (counted only once). Bonus points: 500 pts for QSO with W8DXI (once only), mobiles add 100 pts for each county with at least 10 QSOs. For more information: www.mdxa1.org/1aglqp.html  Logs to bripaw@yahoo.com (Cabrillo format) or Brian Pawloski, W8BRI, PO Box 140012, Grand Rapids, MI 49514-0012.

QRP ARCI Hootowl Sprint--CW--sponsored by the QRP ARC International from 2000-2400 local May 30. For rules visit: http://2hams.net/ARCI/index.htm

MI QRP Memorial Day CW Sprint--sponsored by the MI QRP Club from 2300Z May 30- 0300Z May 31 www.qsl.net/miqrpclub

(ARRL)

Special Event Stations
 

May 25 2004  Indy 500 Special Event Station on the Air

The Indianapolis Motor Speedway Amateur Radio Club (W9IMS) has been designated the official Amateur Radio club of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway--the first time a ham radio club has received this distinction.  A W9IMS special event operation continues through Sunday, May 30, the day of the Indy 500.  Operation will center around 1,840, 3,840, 7,240, 14,070 (PSK31), 14,240, 21,340, 28,340, 50,140 and 144,240 MHz.

W9IMS also will operate special event stations for the other two races in the Indianapolis Motor Speedway's Triple Crown--the United States Grand Prix (Formula One) June 20 and the Brickyard 400 (NASCAR) August 8.  Those operations will begin about three weeks before each race and end on the respective race days.

Stations working or monitoring W9IMS are eligible for an official W9IMS Indianapolis Motor Speedway QSL card.  Stations outside the US may QSL via the bureau.  For more information, contact David Spoelstra, N9KT, with email address n9kt@arrl.net

(ARRL Newsletter)

July 10-11 2004 The Morris Canal Special Event

July 10th and 11th are the dates when New Jersey's Nutley Amateur Radio Society activates station W2GLQ. This, for the first ever Historic Morris Canal Special Event. Stations will operate from various locations along the 109 miles route of he canal from 1300 to 2200 U-T-C.  Operations will continue thru 2005.

More information is on the Nutley Amateur Radio Society website at: www.hometown.aol.com/kc2aup

(Press release)

Belleville, MI: Yankee Air Force Museum, W8YAF. 1200Z-2000Z May 31. Observing Memorial Day at the Yankee Air Museum at Willow Run Airport. 7.270. Certificate. Frank A. Nagy, N8BIB, 24315 Waltz Rd, New Boston, MI 48164-9167.

Fall River, MA: Radio Operators for Missing Children, KB1HGK. 1300Z-1900Z May 31. From the USS Massachusetts, the 4th annual special event for missing children. 14.250 14.075 7.125 3.700. Certificate. Sheree Greenwood, K1SQ, PO Box 649, Warren, MA 01083. www.lyceumpress.com/ham_radio.htm

Fort Monmouth, NJ: Robert D. Grant United Labor Amateur Radio Association, N2UL. 1200Z-2200Z May 31. Remembering those who made the supreme sacrifice for our freedom. 449.975 28.460 14.260. Certificate. RDGULARA, c/o WA2VJA, 112 Prospect St, Nutley, NJ 07110-0716.

Sainte Marie du Mont, France: Reseau des Emetteurs Francais, TM6JUN. May 31-Jun 13. 60th anniversary of Allied disembarkment at Utah Beach. SSB and CW 80, 40, 20, 17, 15, 12 and 10 meter bands. QSL. Denis Villemion, F5RJM, Le Flaquet, 50470 Tollevast, France.

Ponca City, OK: Kay County Amateur Radio Club, K5P. 2100Z Jun 4-2000Z Jun 5. Ponca City Oklahoma's Annual Jumpin in June celebration. 28.360 21.360 14.260 7.260. QSL or certificate. Joseph Widner, 3644 Ashbury Rd, Ponca City, OK 74604.

Willow Run, MI: Yankee Air Museum, W8YAF/AM. 1300-1600Z Jun 4 and 2100-000Z Jun 6. Celebrating the restoration of WWII B-25D Mitchell bomber Yankee Warrior-aeronautical-mobile enroute to and from Reading, PA, Airshow. 146.55. . Yankee Air Museum, Mr Sevim Ablay, PO Box 590, Belleville, MI 48112-0590. www.yankeeairmuseum.org/YAFFly.html.

Boston Harbor area, MA: USS LST-325 Amateur Radio Club, W2T. Jun 4-Jun 14. USS LST-325 46-day, 4119 mile trip up the east coast of the United States. All amateur bands. QSL. Robert Wilder, AF2HD, 6032 Idlemoore Ct, Theodore, AL 36582-4036. Trip begins May 24; WW2LST/MM will also be used.

Badin, NC: Montgomery Amateur Radio Society, NC4MC. 1400Z-2100Z Jun 5. 60th Anniversary US Navy B-25 lost in Badin Lake, NC. 28.480 21.360 14.260 7.235. Certificate. Jim Aderholt, KI4DH, 128 Northwood Ln, Robbins, NC 27325.

Cobb Island, MD: Charles County Amateur Radio Club, K3SMD. 1200Z-2100Z Jun 5. Celebration of Cobb Island Day 2004. 28.345 21.345 14.245 7.245. QSL. CCARC, PO Box 73, Accokeek, MD 20607.

Tylertown, MS: Southwest Mississippi Amateur Radio Club, KD5QNC. 1500Z-2200Z Jun 5. Walthall County Dairy Festival. 14.270 7.270. QSL. Southwest Mississippi ARC/KD5QNC, 1545 Friendship Ln NW, Brookhaven, MS 39601. www.swmarc.cjb.net

Union, IL: Illinois Railway Museum, W9T. 1400Z-2100Z Jun 5. 51st Anniversary of the Museum. 145.390 28.350 21.350 14.250. Certificate. Larry Zacharias, 1031 Pershing Dr, Wauconda, IL 60084.

Camden, NJ: Battleship New Jersey Amateur Radio Station, NJ2BB. 1200Z Jun 5-2359Z Jun 6. 50th anniversary of the four Iowa Class battleships sailing together. 14.250 14.050 7.250 7.050. Certificate. Margaret Burgess, KB2BRR, 150 Schooner Ave, Barnegat, NJ 08055.

Green River, WY: Sweetwater Amateur Radio Club, WY7U. 1800Z Jun 5-1800Z Jun 6. Butch Cassidy and the Wild Bunch UPRR train robberies. 21.365 14.265 7.265 3.915. QSL. Sweetwater Amateur Radio Club, 1000 South Dakota, Green River, WY 82935. www.qsl.net/wy7u -- special certificate for working both Jun and Aug events.

Linthicum, MD: Historical Electronics Museum ARC, W3HEM. 1300Z Jun 5-2200Z Jun 6. The contributions of electronics to D-Day invasion. 14.244 7.244 14.044 7.044. Certificate. HEMARC, PO Box 746 MS4015, Baltimore, MD 21203. www.qsl.net/w3gr

Streetsville, ON: Mississauga Amateur Radio Club, VE3MIS. 1400-2000Z daily Jun 5 and Jun 6. Annual Streetsville Bread & Honey Festival. 28.480 21.315 14.240 7.227. Certificate. MARC, c/o Michael Brickell, 2801 Bucklepost Cres, Mississauga, ON, Canada L5L 1M6. Include $1 US, 2 IRCs or 2 green stamps for postage. www.marc.on.ca

Windsor, Ontario: Amherstburg Radio Club, VE3TMG. 1600Z Jun 5-2359Z Jun 6. Commemorating CKLW radio station on the air since 1932. 28.460 14.260 7.260. Certificate. Terry Greenwood, 2210 Janette Ave, Windsor, ON, Canada N8X 1Z8. Include $1 US for postage.

Birmingham, AL: D&G Amateur Radio Association, W4V. 1500Z Jun 5-2400Z Jun 13. Celebrating the restoration of the Vulcan statue. 14.260. QSL. W4DAI, PO Box 51, Alton, AL 35015-0051. www.valcanpark.org

Atkinson, NH: Atkinson Amateur Radio Club, K1D. 0401Z Jun 5-0400Z Jun 20. Celebrating Kid's Day and Amateur Radio Awareness. 28.370 21.370 14.270 7.230. Certificate. Peter Schipelliti, 7 Dearborn Ridge Rd, Atkinson, NH 03811.

New Orleans, LA: Jefferson Amateur Radio Club, W5D. 1400Z-2200Z Jun 6. 60th anniversary of D-Day from New Orleans. 14.250. Certificate. W5GAD, PO Box 73665, Metairie, LA 70033. www.qsl.net/w5gad

West Chester (Cincinnati area), OH: West Chester Amateur Radio Association, WC8VOA. 1200Z Jun 6-0500Z Jun 7. 60th Anniversary of the Normandy Invasion. 28.305 21.305 14.275 7.275 CW up 35 kHz 10 15 20 40 m. QSL. WC8VOA, PO Box 913, West Chester, OH 45071. www.wc8voa.org .

Various, England, Royal Signals Amateur Radio Society, GB6OL. 0700Z Jun 6-2359Z July 3. 60th Anniversary of Operation Overlord 1944. 21.070 21.056 14.070 14.056. QSL. Mike Humphrey, GØSWY/KF4OFR, 4 Bluebell Rd, Bassett Southhampton, Hampshire, England SO16 3LQ. www.rsars.org.uk .

(ARRL)

01/06/2004:  Special event station OE80XRW will be activated on all bands and modes from 1 June to 31 December to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the broadcasting service from Austria, started by RAVAG on 25 October 1924. The web page for the operation is at:  www.qsl.at/oe80 . [Tnx 425DXN]

Aug. 21-22 2004  International Lighthouse/Lightship Weekend 2004

This highly popular annual August event attracts hundreds of amateur radio stations at lighthouses and lightships (369 in 48 countries for the 2003 weekend .)world-wide.  It is organised by Mike, GM4SUC, and Kevin, VK2CE is the web-master.  This year the period of the event is from 0001 UTC on Saturday 21 August until 2359 UTC on Sunday 22 August 2004.

The event is NOT a contest.  It is a special event weekend when amateur radio stations are established at lighthouses or lightships, they do not have to be adjacent to salt water, and each group decides how it will operate the station with regard to modes and bands.  Participants are not committed to being on the air during the entire period - operate as much as you can.  There are no restrictions on aerials or power.  We wish operators to enjoy themselves and have fun while making contact with as many stations as possible whilst giving priority to other lighthouse/lightship stations. Please take some time to work the slow operator, the newly licensed and QRP stations.

As available space in many lighthouses is filled to capacity, participation in this activity does not have to take place inside the tower itself.  Field day type set-up at the light or other buildings next to the light or adjacent field is OK.  Permission MUST be obtained from any interested parties.

The International Lighthouse/Lightship Weekend is used to obtain maximum exposure for our hobby. We invite the press and, QTH permitting, also the public and try to underline the parallel between the international aspects in lighthouses, lightships, and amateur radio. As from last year, the World Lighthouse Day is held on the Sunday of the event and lighthouse keepers/managers/caretakers all around the world open their lighthouses to the public. www.lighthouse.fsnet.co.uk/events/intlighthouseday.html

We use the event segment of the 5 Classic bands, consider the following as a range of suggested frequencies.

CW
80m: 3.510 - 3.540 kHz
40m: 7.005 - 7.035 kHz
20m: 14.010 - 14.040 kHz
15m: 21.010 - 21.040 kHz
10m: 28.010 - 28.040 kHz

PHONE
*80m: 3.650 - 3.750 kHz
*40m: 7.040 - 7.100 kHz
20m: 14.150 - 14.290 kHz
15m: 21.150 - 21.250 kHz
10m: 28.300 - 28.400 kHz

* Some of the frequency ranges listed above are NOT legal in the United States of America. As a substitute, USA operators should consider these alternatives.

USA PHONE
80m: 3.950 - 3.990 kHz
40m: 7.250 - 7.290 kHz

However because the ILLW is NOT a contest, you can operate on any authorised QRGs as per your licence, including the WARC bands.  Please be sure to observe band limits for your class of licence and your country.

To assist other stations in the identification of lighthouse/lightship stations, we request that participating stations using CW add LS after their callsign at a lightship and LT at a lighthouse. SSB and other modes should use LIGHT, LGT, LIGHTHOUSE or LIGHTSHIP after their call.  UK stations normally obtain a GB callsign with the letter L in the suffix and USA stations can request a Special Event callsign from the ARRL.

A list of the lighthouses/lightships of the world, currently 10,764 in 209 DXCC countries, plus their Amateur Radio Lighthouse Society (ARLHS) Number can be found at http://arlhs.com/awards/arlhs-numbers.html  The list is constantly being updating and added to as more data become available. You can help: If you see a correction or an addition needs to be made, please send an e-mail with the information to K2JXW@arrl.net

If you decide to join us, please register on-line at  http://illw.net/index.html  with details of your name, callsign to be used, lighthouse/lightship, Country, qsl route etc.  Although registration is not compulsory, doing so enables us to maintain a detailed list of participants at http://illw.net/2004.htm showing QSL address, web site and any special event calls they may be using.   E-mail addresses will be modified with unicode to minimise harvesting by spammers.

So come and join us in the fun of the weekend, already 78 stations have confirmed their participation, establish a station at a lighthouse, lightship or maritime beacon. If you are unable to find a lighthouse/ship you can still join in the fun by contacting the special lighthouse/ship stations. The more the merrier.

73 Mike GM4SUC
gm4suc@compuserve.com
gm4suc@btinternet.com

July 24 2004  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

DX News (QRV....I am ready)

May 27 2004   ARLD021 DX News

This week's bulletin was made possible with information provided by UT3UZ, QRZ DX, the OPDX Bulletin, The Daily DX, 425DXnews, DXNL, WA7BNM and Contest Corral from QST.  Thanks to all.

SENEGAL, 6W.  Conrad, 6W8CK is QRV from here for the next few years. QSL via DH7WW.

MALTA, 9H.  Con, DF4SA will be QRV as 9H3MM in the CQ WPX CW contest.  He will be a Single Op/All Band/Low Power entry.  Activity will be on 40 to 10 meters.  QSL to home call.

CHILE, CE.  Carlos, NP4IW/6 and Bob, K4UEE plan to be QRV as CE3AQI as a Multi/Single entry in the CQ WPX CW contest.  QSL via operators' instructions.

CUBA, CO.  Juan, CO8TW will be QRV in the CQ WPX CW contest as a Single Band/Low Power entry on 20 meters.  QSL via IZ8CCW.

GERMANY, DA.  Look for DG1RUG/p, DL2SWW/p and DL2VFR/p to be QRV from May 29 to 31 from Usedom Island, IOTA EU-129.  They will use CW and SSB.  Weather permitting, they will make a side trip to one of the three lighthouses near Peenemuende.  QSL via bureau.

SOUTH KOREA, HL.  Members of the Korea Keymen's Club will be QRV as D80HQ/3 in the CQ WPX CW contest.  QSL via DS1KVP.

SAUDI ARABIA, HZ.  Thomas, SM0CXU will operate from the HZ1AB club station during the CQ WPX CW contest as a Single Op/Single Band entry on 15 meters.  QSL via K8PYD.

ITALY, I.  A number of Italian operators will be QRV June 2 from Turin with the special event callsign IO1PDT to celebrate
Paralympics Day.  QSL via IZ1CCE.

SARDINIA, IS0.  Look for Franc, S59AA to be active as IS0/S52A in the CQ WPX CW contest as a Single Op/All Band entry.  Outside of the contest, he will operate as IS0/S59AA.  QSL to home call.

NORWAY, LA.  Hardy, DL3KWF is QRV as LG5LG from the Norwegian side of Morokulia.  He will participate in the CQ WPX CW contest.  QSL via SM5DJZ.

ALAND ISLANDS, OH0.  Ari, OH5DX is QRV as OH0Z until June 4 on all HF bands.  This includes being a Single Band entry in the CQ WPX CW contest.  QSL to home call.  Meanwhile, Marcus, DL1EKC is QRV as OH0EC from Finstrom until June 4.  Activity is mainly using CW on 80 to 10 meters.  This includes being a Single Op/Low Power entry in the CQ WPX CW contest.  QSL to home call.

ARUBA, P4.  Andrius, LY2TA and Jurgis, LY2CY will sign P40X in the CQ WPX CW contest.  QSL direct via LY2TA.

SWEDEN, SM.  Rosel, DL3KWR is QRV as SJ9WL from the Swedish side of Morokulia.  He will participate in the CQ WPX CW contest.  QSL via SM5DJZ.

SUDAN, ST.  Michael, PA5M is QRV as ST2DX from Khartoum on 40 to 10 meters using CW and SSB.  His operating times depend on his workload.  QSL via PA7FM.

UKRAINE, UR.  The Ukrainian State Centre of Radio Frequencies club station EM0U is QRV on all HF bands.  QSL via UT3UZ.

TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS, VP5.  David, W5AO and Kirk, K4RO will be QRV as VP5/W5AO and VP5/K4RO, respectively, until June 1.  QSL to home calls.  They will also participate in the CQ WPX CW contest as VQ5V.  QSL the contest call via the Oklahoma DXA.

CAMBODIA, XU.  Pete, SM5GMZ plans to participate in the CQ WPX CW contest as XU7ADI.  QSL to home call.

UK SOVEREIGN BASE AREAS ON CYPRUS, ZC4.  Andy, G3AB will be active as ZC4/G3AB from the Eastern Base Area during the CQ WPX CW contest. QSL to home call.

THIS WEEKEND ON THE RADIO.  The CQ World Wide WPX CW Contest, Great Lakes QSO Party, MI QRP Memorial Day CW Sprint and the QRP ARCI Hootowl Sprint will certainly keep contesters busy this weekend. Please see May QST, page 99 and the ARRL and WA7BNM contest websites for details.

(W1AW)

May  29 2004  425 DX News

CT      A multi-national  team  (CT1APE,  CT1CJJ,  CT1EEB,  CT1ILT,  CT2GLO, EA1CA, EA1DKV, EA4ABE, EA4ST,  plus possibly  ON5NT and others) will participate in the IOTA Contest as CS7T from Ilha da Berlenga (EU-040). On-line logs and further information will be available at http://www.qsl.net/cs7t (currently under construction). [TNX CT1EEB]

DL     Look for DG1RUG/p, DL2SWW/p and DL2VFR/p to operate CW and SSB from Usedom Island (EU-129, O-013 for the German Islands Award) on  29-31 May. Weather permitting, they plan to go and operate also from one of the three lighthouses near Peenemuende/Usedom that count for the WLH Award. QSL via bureau. [TNX DL2VFR]

EA    Special stations  EG1FAS, EG2FAS,  EG3FAS, EG4FAS,  EG5FAS,  EG6FAS, EG7FAS, EG8FAS and  EG9FAS will be active on 30 May for the Armed Forces Day. QSL via EA4FAS. [TNX EA7HBC]

EI      The WestNet DX Group will be active (on the HF bands and 6 metres as EJ7NET from Inis Mor in the Aran Islands (EU-006) on18-22 June. QSL via EI6FR. [TNX EI6FR]

EI     The East Cork Radio Group (EI7M) will join forces with the  Bristol Contest Group and participate in the IOTA contest as EJ2MT from the Martello Tower on Bere Island (EU-121). QSL via bureau or direct to EI6HB. [TNX EI7M]

EL      Pat, EI5IF reports he plans to operate as EL/EI5IF from Monrovia, Liberia from June until November or December. He will try to be active as much as he can during his spare time.

F        La Gazette du DX reports  that, commemorating the  war events of  60 years ago, the  following special  stations will  be activated  from France:
          TM6JUN     31 May-13 June     Utah Beach Museum   QSL via F5RJM
          TM6OGM   3-7 June                 Sarthe                         QSL via F5NLX
          TM6BMC   5-6 June                 Mont Canisy
          TM6OVS    6 June                    Vassieu en Vercors      QSL via F5RPB
          TM6SME    6-20 June               Sainte Mere Eglise       QSL via F6IPS
          TM6OCH   19 June - 2 July                                          QSL via F6KFW

G        The Royal Signals Amateur Radio Society's web site (http://www.rsars.org.uk/specevts.htm) reports the following special stations to be activated in the next weeks to commemorate the war events of 60 years ago:
          GB6DD  (D-Day)                      1-28 June
          GB60OL (Operation Overlord)  1-7 June
          GB4OL  (Operation Overlord)   3-7 June
          GB6OL  (Operation Overlord)   from 6 June for four weeks
          GB4OL  (Operation Overlord)   1-28 July
          GB6LOG (Liberation of Guam)  from 21 July for four weeks
          GB6LOP (Liberation of Paris)    from 25 August for four weeks

HL     Han/DS2GOO, Son/DS3HWS, Chae/DS5BSX, Choi/6K2CLF and others will be active from Kadok Island (AS-081) on 18-20 June. They will operate as homecall/5 (QSL via home call) or D90HE/5 (QSL via DS2GOO) with 100w transceivers, a vertical and various wire antennas. [TNX DS2GOO]

I         Alfio, IT9EJW reports that the IF9RGE operation from Favignana [425DXN 680], originally scheduled to take place from 29 May to 2 June, has been postponed to a later date.

I         Simone, IV3NVN is currently active as IG9/IV3NVN from Lampedusa (AF-019, IIA AG-001) and will participate in the CQ WPX CW Contest as IG9B.  QSL for both calls via N1IBM,  direct or bureau.  [TNX IV3NVN]

I         Special station II5LDV will be activated (on all bands, 6 metres included, SSB and CW) on 29-30 May from  Leonardo da Vinci's birthplace. All of the QSOs will be confirmed automatically  via bureau. [TNX IK5AFJ]

I         Special event station IO1PDT  will be activated (by  I1HYW, I1RB, I1YRL, IK1JNP, IK1MJG,  IK1QLD, IK1ZNN, IW1FYN,  IZ1CCE, IZ1CQY  and IZ1ESH) from Torino on 2 June for the Paralympic Day (http://www./paralympicday.it). Operations are expected to start around 7 UTC. QSL direct to IZ1CCE. [TNX IZ1CCE]

I         The IR1PL operation from Portofino Lighthouse  [425DXN 681] is now scheduled to take place on 19 and 20 June. QSL via IW1RHG, direct or bureau. [TNX IW1RHG]

I         Vanni, IK4RUX reports he will operate (HF bands SSB) as IF9/IK4RUX from Favignana (EU-054,  IIA TP-011) on  19-26 June. Side trips to other islands in the Egadis as well as lighthouse operations are also possible. QSL via home call, direct or bureau.

I        Giovanni/IK8MRA, Enzo/IK8YTG,  Oreste/IZ8EDJ and Luigi/IW8EQS will participate in the IOTA Contest as IC8M from Licosa Island  (EU-031, IIA SA-001, ARLHS ITA-89).  QSL via IZ8EDJ,  direct or bureau.  [TNX IZ8EDJ]

OZ     Herb, OZ7SM will  be active from Bornholm Island  (EU-030) on  1-18 June. QSL via home call. [TNX The Daily DX]

PY     Jim, PY7XC will be active on SSB, CW and digital modes as  PY7XC/p from Itamaraca Island (SA-046,  DIB-18) for the month of June. QSL via home call. [TNX VA3RJ]

ST     Michael, PA5M is now in Sudan and  will be active in his spare time as ST2DX  for about one  month.  He will use 100 watts into his vertical from the hotel or a 10-element log periodic from his work QTH. QSL via PA7FM. Further information,  on-line logs included, at http://www.pa7fm.nl [TNX PA7FM]

VK    Bill, VK4FW  has had to postpone his announced VK4FW/p activity [425DXN 677] from Cumberland Island (OC-160). The operation has been rescheduled to take place on 5-6 June. QSL direct only via home call (Bill Horner, P.O. Box 513, Nambour, 4560, Australia). [TNX VK4FW]

VK9L  The Oceania Amateur Radio DX Group (http://www.odxg.org)  is organizing a DXpedition to Lord Howe (OC-004) to take place for two weeks between 25 September and 16 October (dates to be finalized soon). Seven operators will  be QRV on  SSB, CW and RTTY on all HF bands and 6  metres from "a very good operating site with a large open paddock available to erect antennae". Plans  are to have four stations on air (two around the clock and two as often as possible). Two operators (one CW operator and one YL operator) are still needed; if  interested in joining the team, please contact  Bill Horner, VK4FW (vk4fw@westnet.com.au) for further details. [TNX VK4FW]

W      W9IMS, the official Amateur Radio Club of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway,  is conducting a special event operation  on various frequencies and modes through 30 May. They will also operate special event stations for the other two races that complete the Indianapolis Motor Speedway's Triple Crown, namely the United States Grand Prix (Formula One) on 20  June and the Brickyard 400 (NASCAR) on 8 August.  Operations will start about three weeks before each race and end the  respective Race Days.  QSL direct to Indianapolis Motor Speedway ARC, P.O. Box 18495, Indianapolis, IN 46218-0495, USA (stations outside the US may QSL via the bureau).

W       Peter, W1DAD and Jeanne, K1MOM will operate as K1D between 5 and 20 June celebrate Kid's  Day (4 January)  and Amateur Radio  Awareness. Look for them on 28370, 21370,  14270, and 7230 kHz. QSL via  W1DAD, direct (Peter Schipelliti, 7 Dearborn Ridge Rd, Atkinson, NH  03811, USA) or bureau. [TNX W1DAD]
 

CQ WPX  CW  CONTEST  --->  The  following stations have announced their participation in this year's event (29-30 May):

6Y  - Felipe, NP4Z as 6Y4OJ (Single operator QRP) from Jamaica. QSL via WC4E.

9H  - Con, DF4SA  as 9H3MM  (on 10-40  metres low  power) from  Gozo  Island, Malta. QSL via DF4SA (cards will  be sent automatically via the  bureau after the contest).

9M6 - Toivo, ES2RR as 9M6A (SOAB) from East Malaysia. QSL via N2OO.

9M8 - Mirek, VK6DXI as  9M8DX (probably SOSB  Low Power)  from Kuching,  East Malaysia. QSL via DL4DBR.

A4  - Alex, YO9HP as A45WD (SOSB 20m) from Oman. QSL via YO9HP.

A6  - G3SXW, K1ZZ,  K3EST,  PY5EG,  S50A,  S53R,  SM0CXU,  W6OAT,  W6OSP and possibly others as A61AJ (Multi-Multi) from the United Arab  Emirates. QSL via  K2UO (Americas) or DJ2MX (others).

CE  - Carlos, NP4IW/6 and Bob, K4UEE as XR0F from Chile.

CO  - Juan Carlos, CO8TW as SOSB (20  metres) Low Power from Cuba. QSL via IZ8CCW; logs will be available at http://www.qsl.net/co8tw/

D4  - Al, 4L5A as D4B (SOAB High Power) from Cape Verde. QSL via K1BV.

EA6 - Announced operations from the Balearic Islands include:
       * Julio/EA3AIR, Wolf/OE2VEL and Juan/EA5BM as ED6IB (or AM6IB or AN6IB) in the Multi-Single category. QSL via EA6IB.
       * Jukka, OH2BR as EA6/OH2BR/P (SOAB Low Power). QSL via home call.

ET  - Michal, OK1HWB as ET3TK (SOSB 40 m) from Ethiopia. QSL via OK1CU.

HL  - HL2UOK, DS3DGA  and  DS5EVU/3 as  D80HQ/3  from South  Korea.  QSL  via DS1KVP.

I0S    Franc, S59AA as IS0/S52A (SOAB) from Sardinia. QSL via home call.

JW  - LA5LJA as JW3R from Svalbard. QSL via LA3R, direct or bureau.

KP2 - N4ES and N4ESS as WP2Z from the Virgin Islands. QSL via KU9C.

LA  - Rosel, DL3KWR as SJ9WL from the Morokulien station on the border between Sweden and Norway. QSL via SM5DJZ.

OH0 - Announced operations from the Aland Islands include:
       * OH5DX as OH0Z, probably as  a SOSB entry on either  20 or 40  metres. QSL via OH5DX.
       * Toni, OH2UA as OH0B (SOAB High Power). QSL via OH2BH.

OJ0 - SM5AJV, SM0GNS, SM5HJZ and SM0HPL  as OJ0SM from  Market Reef. QSL  via SM5HJZ.

P4  - LY2CY and LY2TA as P40X from Aruba. QSL via LY2TA.

PJ4 - YL2KL, YL3CW, YL2GM, YL2GQT, YL2VW and K7GEX as PJ4U (Multi-Two) from Bonaire. QSL via YL2KL.

SM  - Hardy, DL3KWF as LG5LG from the Morokulien station on the border between Sweden and Norway. QSL via SM5DJZ.

SV  - Announced operations from Greece include:
       * Tomi/HA4DX, Laci/HA0HW and Geza/HA4XG as J47DX, J47HW and J47XG. QSL via home calls, bureau or direct.
       * The  Northern  Greece Contest  Team  (http://www.qsl.net/sv2ngct) as J42T. QSL via SV2BFN.

SV9 - HB9IQB as J49PM (SOSB 15m Low Power) from Crete. QSL via home call.

T9  - T93M,  T93Y,  T94DX  (DJ2MX), T97M  and possibly others as T93M (Multi-Single) from Bosnia. QSL via DJ2MX.

UR  - Nikolay, UX0FF as EN35F from Ukraine. QSL via home call, direct or bureau.

VP5 - W5AO and K4RO as VQ5V (Multi-Single)  from the Turks & Caicos  Islands. QSL to P.O. Box 88, Morris, OK 74445-0088, USA.

VP9 - Lou, K1YR as VP9/K1YR (SOAB Low Power) from Bermuda. QSL via home call.

YI  - Kaspars, YI9ZF (YL1ZF)  as HN0Z  (SOAB Low  Power) from  Iraq. QSL via SM1TDE.

YU  - Rodja, YZ1AA as YZ200A (the special callsign he will be using through the end of the year). QSL via home call, direct (Rodoljub  Rankovic,  P.O. Box 17, 11550 Lazarevac,  Serbia and Montemegro) or bureau.

Z3  - Venci, Z32AF as SOSB from Macedonia. QSL via N8RKA.

ZC4 - Andy, G3AB as ZC4/G3AB from the Eastern Sovereign Base Area of  Cyprus. QSL via home call.

Give a look to the Announced  Operations listing maintained by Bill, NG3K  at http://www.ng3k.com/Misc/wpxc2004.html
and visit http://www.cq-amateur-radio.com for the rules.

Good to Know

NOT THE MANAGER  ---> DL5NAM is not the QSL manager for  ST2BSS, cards are being returned to the sender. [TNX OPDX Bulletin]

QSL 3D2CC --->  Fred, 3D2CC is no longer QRV  from OC-121, but Russ, VE6VK still has a few of his old cards. QSL  direct only (with 1 USD for North American stations, 2 USD or 1 new IRC for overseas) to Russ. A. Wilson, 1235 Richland Road N.E., Calgary, AB T2E 5M5, Canada. [TNX VE6VK]

QSL AH8A  ---> Ron,  AC7DX reports that cannot confirm QSOs made after 24 October 2002 because he has been unable  to secure AH8A's logs for 19 months now.

QSL VIA N1DG ---> Don Greenbaum, N1DG will no longer reply to bureau requests for the following stations: A61X, A61AO, A61AQ and A61AD. "Since 1989 I have answered over  55,000 bureau cards for  these stations at a personal cost
exceeding $2,000.00", he says. "The  advent of  LOTW  now  makes this an unnecessary expense". If a paper QSL is still required,  send your request direct with SAE and return postage.

QSL VIA VK4AAR ---> Alan, VK4AAR  reports that the QSL cards for the  recent IOTA operations from Viney (VK6AN, OC-0266) and Pasco (VK6LI, OC-071) islands have been printed. Requests received so far are being processed and will  all
be in the mail very shortly. QSL direct only to Alan Roocroft, P.O. Box  421, Gatton, 4343, Australia. [TNX VK4AAR]

+ SILENT KEY + The Portuguese amateur radio community mourns the loss of Raul Costa, CT1BBR, who has passed away  at 83 years of age.  A keen CW  operator, "he was a mentor for many of us", Manuel Marques, CT1BWW says.

May 29 - Jun. 5 2004   I.C.P.O. Bulletin Islands, Castles & Portable Operations - I.C.P.O.

29/05/2004:  Alexander, 4L5A, plans to activate the D4B contest station, Sao Vicente Island (AF-086), again in the following contest. Look for D4B during the CQ WPX CW Contest (May 29-30th) as Single-Op/All Band/High Power entry. QSL both operations to K1BV. [Tnx OPDX]

29/05/2004:  Look for DG1RUG/p, DL2SWW/p and DL2VFR/p to be QRV May 29th to 31st from Usedom Island (IOTA EU-129, GIA O-13). They will use CW and SSB. Weather permitting, they will make a side trip to one of the three lighthouses near Peenemuende. QSL to home calls via bureau. [Tnx ARRL DX News]

29/05/2004:  Patrick, F5MQW, will be QRV May 29th as F5MQW/p from Le Chateau de Trigance (DFCF reference 83067 for the French Castles Award, 10 millions references DDCF 8308 CP83840). QSL via home call, direct or bureau. [Tnx IK1AWV]

29/05/2004:  Look for Jean Michel, F5PRR/p, to be QRV May 29th from Le Chateau de Saint Pre (DFCF reference 83066, for the French Castles Award). This activation also counts as DDCF 8320 CP 83136, for the 10 million award. QSL via home call, direct or bureau. [Tnx IK1AWV]

29/05/2004:  IT9AAK, IT9EJW, IT9GAC, IT9TPJ, IT9VKY, IW9BCW, IW9BDV and IW9FY will operate as IF9RGE from Favignana Island (IOTA EU-054, IIA TP-011, MIA MI-025) between May 29th and June 2nd. They plan to operate on HF (CW and SSB), 6 and 2 metres and to be active during the CQ WPX CW Contest. QSL via IT9EJW either direct (Alfio Bonanno, P.O. Box 18, 95028 Valverde - CT, Italy) or through the bureau. [Tnx 425DXN]

29/05/2004:  Operators SM5AJV (Ingo), SM0GNS (Peder), SM5HJZ (Jonas) and SM0HPL (Anders) will be QRV during the CQ WPX CW Contest (May 29-30th) as OJ0SM from Market Reef (EU-053) as a Multi-Single entry. QSL via SM5HJZ. [Tnx OPDX]

29/05/2004:  Operator Andrius (LY2TA) and Jurgis (LY2CY) will be on Aruba (SA-036) from May 23rd to 31st and will be active as P40X for the CQ WPX CW Contest (May 29-30th, operation class TBA). QSL via LY2TA CBA. [Tnx OPDX]

30/05/2004:  Kevin MW3AFR/p and Melfyn GW1AKT/p will be QRV May 30th from the Holyhead Breakwater Lighthouse (ARLHS reference WAL-011). QSL via home calls, direct or bureau. [Tnx MW3AFR]

30/05/2004:  Salvatore, IK1AWV, will be QRV May 30th as IK1AWV/p from Torre di Boscomare a Pietrabruna (DCI reference IM-043, for the Italian Castles Award). Activity will be on 40 and 20 meter SSB. QSL via home call, direct or bureau. [Tnx IK1AWV]

31/05/2004:  Nigel, 2E0NJW reports he will be QRV May 31st to June 5th from St Mary's, Isles of Scilly (EU-011). QSL via home call. [Tnx 425DXN]

01/06/2004:  During the whole month of June, look for Jean F1PNR, to be active from Corsica (IOTA EU-014) as TK/F1PNR from the grid square JN42NO. Jean will be QRV every morning on 144.265, between 04:00 and 07:00 UTC. QSL via F1PNR when back home in JN17. [Tnx F5NQL]

01/06/2004:  Fred, K2FRD, plans a mini-DXpedition to Zone Two, VO2 Labrador, from June 1, 2004 until September 7, 2004. He will use the call VO2/K2FRD. Activity will be on all bands, and he will also participate in the IARU (July) contest and the Canada Day contest (July 1, 2004). QSL via home call, direct (Fred Stevens K2FRD, 263 Keach Rd, Guilford, NY 13780) or via the bureau. [Tnx K2FRD]

01/06/2004:  Aru (JA0KNM), Jun (JJ1EQW) and Kai (JE3NJZ) will be QRV June 4th to 7th as homecall/JR6 from Yonaguni (AS-024, the westernmost Japanese island). Activity will be on 40 through 2 meter CW, SSB, AM (6m) and RTTY. QSL via home calls, direct or bureau. [Tnx 425DXN]

01/06/2004:  Herb, OZ7SM, will spend his holidays on Bornholm Island (EU-030) between June 1st and 18th. QSL via home call, direct or bureau. [Tnx DXNL]

01/06/2004:  Jim, PY7XC, will be QRV for the month of June as PY7XC/p from Itamarac&aacute; Island (IOTA SA-046, DIB-18 for the Brazilian Island Award). Activity will be on CW, SSB and digimodes. QSL via home call (QRZ.com). [Tnx PY7XC]

05/06/2004:  Members of the North Jersey DX Association (NJDXA), Ann W2AZK and Brian KF2HC will be active as W2AZK/KP2 and KF2HC/KP2, from the island of St Croix, between June 5th and 12th. Look for them on 160 through 6 meter SSB and CW. QSL to their home callsigns direct or via the bureau. Confirmed QSOs with Ann and Brian are good towards the North Jersey DX Association's "NJDXA Award". For more details, visit the NJDXA web page at: http://www.njdxa.org . [Tnx OPDX]

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

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

May 25 2004  FCC chairman responds to request to support ARRL restructuring Plan

FCC Chairman Michael K. Powell has assured US representatives Greg Walden, W7EQI (R-OR), and Mike Ross, WD5DVR (D-AR), that the Commission will act ''as expeditiously as possible'' on Amateur Radio restructuring. Walden and Ross wrote Powell a month ago to urge adoption of the ARRL's restructuring Petition for Rule Making (RM-10867) ''in its entirety'' along with rules changes needed to put it into place. Powell said the League's petition was one of many.

''At this time, the Commission staff is reviewing and analyzing carefully all of the petitions, comments and proposed rule changes
in this area,'' Powell responded May 21. ''Because this matter is of great importance to you and the almost 700,000 amateur radio operators nationwide, the staff is working diligently to create a comprehensive solution to address the proposals the petitioners have submitted.'' The next step in the process, he said, will be to prepare a notice of proposed rule making for the Commission's consideration.

In addition to the League's filing, Powell pointed out, the Commission received 17 other petitions for rule making that address
examination requirements and operating privileges for Amateur Service licensees. The various proposals attracted more than 5000 comments, he noted--more than 800 of them on the ARRL's petition alone.

In their letter to Powell, Walden and Ross expressed their belief that the ARRL's plan ''will encourage the development, refinement and use of new technologies; increase the number of young people involved in Amateur Radio; and provide incentives for Amateur Radio licensees to pursue technical self-training and opportunities for volunteerism in the best traditions of our country.''

Other restructuring plans were filed by the Radio Amateur Foundation, RM-10868, and by the National Conference of Volunteer Examiner Coordinators, RM-10870.

Fifteen other petitions for rule making came down on one side or the other of retaining the Amateur Radio Morse code examination requirement to operate on HF. Judging from Powell's letter to Walden and Ross, the FCC plans to address all 18 petitions within the framework of a single rule making proceeding.

(ARRL Bulletin ARLB018)

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