The Illuminator

Election of Officers

By Bob, K3PH

The same rogues were reelected for another term of office.

SKYWARN Spotter Training Class

For Immediate Release:

Who: NWS, Mt Holly, NJ

What: SKYWARN Spotter Training Class

When: October, 19 2000 (Thursday 7:30 PM Meeting-SKYWARN training to follow)

Where: Carbon County EOC (911 center)

Directions are: follow route 209 south thru Jim Thorpe to Nesquehoning and turn right onto route 93 north. About two miles up the hill look for the sign for COUNTY ANIMAL SHELTER / Carbon County Prison / Emergency Road. Turn right, AT APPROX .3 mile MAKE 1^st left (before kennels and jail) maintain 25 mph and watch for critters. Enter the side of the building nearest you (by the EMA Command Wagon).

SKYWARN is a service of the National Weather Service and relies on the trained SKYWARN Spotters (dedicated amateur weather enthusiasts) who work in conjunction with the National Weather Service by observing and reporting adverse weather conditions to promote public safety and minimize property damage. This class is free and will be conducted by Joe Miketta, Warning Coordination Meteorologist, for the NWS, Mt. Holly, NJ and is open to the residents of Carbon & Monroe counties. The class is free.

For further information, contact Mike Hartman, Carbon County SKYWARN Coordinator @ 570-722-3687 or Robert Hill, Monroe County SKYWARN Coordinator @ 570-643-3900. Or e-mail to [email protected]

Contest Scores

By Glenn, K3PP

This is the time of year when contesters get excited about the upcoming season. Although contests are held all year long, the prime time for the big events is the fall/winter season. You can tell the season is about to begin when QST and CQ publish the results from the prior season. These magazines are now publishing these results and a bunch of CARC members are prominent in the standings. Here are the latest published scores for CARC members:

1999 CQWW DX SSB Contest

Call Score QSOs Zones Countries Category

K3PP 3,443,162 1777 160 546 SOA

K3CT 1,462,844 1037 126 388 SOA

W3MF 3,027,310 1731 144 494 M/S

K3II 3,947,282 2391 142 492 M/M

K3II operation also included K3TEJ

W3MF operation also included K3PH

(published in the September 2000 issue of CQ)

M/M = Multi-op/Multi-transmitter

M/S = Multi-op/Single-transmitter

SOA = Single-Op Assisted (PacketCluster help)

This probably the biggest contest of the year. Tune in on the weekend of October 28 and join the fun! Anyone with a modest station can jump into the fray and pick up a LOT of QSOs! I first participated as a very inexperienced operator, near the sunspot minimum in 1994, with 100W and a low 80m dipole through a tuner. I still picked up almost 400 QSOs and a pile of new DXCC countries! You can do it too!

1999 ARRL RTTY Roundup

Call Score QSOs Mults Category

W3MF 92,759 851 109 SO HP

#2 in Northeast Region!

(published in the September 2000 issue of QST)

SO HP = Single-Op High-Power

Congratulations to W3MF on his outstanding effort! Unlike the big DX contests, the RTTY Roundup puts us in the northeast USA at a big disadvantage. As a result, John couldn’t quite make it into the Top Ten box, but his #2 placement for the northeast is a noteworthy achievement.

This contest is held during the first weekend of the new year. With the growing popularity of digital modes, especially PSK31, this is getting to be a very popular event. To participate, all you need is a transceiver, a PC with a sound card, and the right software. The days of expensive and bulky RTTY hardware are gone. Think about giving this great contest a shot.

1999 ARRL 10m Contest

Call Score QSOs Mults Category

WB3IHF 29,850 199 75 B B

K3VA 10,656 74 36 C B

K3PP 500,308 788 227 D

K3II 373,444 633 178 D

B B = Phone Only, Low Power

C B = CW Only, Low Power

D = Multiop (with packet in both cases)

(published in the September 2000 issue of QST)

Congratulations to WB3IHF on for the top score in PA in the phone-only, low-power category! Bill only put in a limited effort and still won, so we may see him really go for it this year! This marks Bill’s first certificate win in a contest. I suspect he’ll be making many more in the future!

Ten meters was on fire last year and should be even better this year with the sunspot peak. There will be plenty of good DX and loads of domestic stations to work on 10m. Don’t miss out on this opportunity before the solar activity starts dropping again next year.

2000 ARRL DX CW Contest

Call Score QSOs Mults Category

K3PH 1,303,557 1483 293 SO LP

K3VA 73,926 222 111 SO HP

K3II 1,111,824 1103 336 SOA

K3PP 1,071,882 987 362 SOA

K3CT 23,625 125 63 SOA

(to be published in the October 2000 issue of QST)

SO LP = Single-Op Low-Power

SO HP = Single-Op High-Power

SOA = Single-Op Assisted (PacketCluster help)

Take special note of the K3PH score. Once again, Bob shows the rest of us how contesting is done! Operating low power, he creamed those of us running the full legal limit! What more can I say?!

That’s it for this month’s scores. Next month, we’ll know the results of the CQWW DX CW and ARRL DX SSB Contests. In the mean time, get ready for the Pennsylvania QSO Party and the CQWW DX SSB Contest in October. September will have the ARRL VHF QSO Party and the Worked All Europe SSB Contest. Both are a lot of fun with good activity. You can participate in the VHF contest regardless of your license class, so it is a good time to try your hand at contesting.

If you have any score reports, questions, or comments, please contact me. Email is best, so send your correspondence to k3pp@arrl.net.

VY 73 de Glenn K3PP

Small World

By Goody, K3NG

This past weekend I was tending to my garden and decided to drop off some juicy, ripe tomatoes to some of my neighbors. Since I’m the only person on the block who has a garden, I’ve become the local fresh vegetable provider in recent years, giving away more produce that I keep. I visited my neighbor to the north with four good tomatoes. This particular neighbor I didn’t see too often as this is their vacation home. They greeted me and I offered the tomatoes which they enthusiastically accepted.

“I see you have a new antenna,” they said pointing at my newly installed two element quad.

“Oh no,” I thought. The antenna, which is gigantic compared to my measly 40 meter dipole that I’ve had up for awhile, almost dwarfs my house. I figured someone in the neighborhood would get upset over the beastly antenna, which for some neighbors is within the view of the lake near my home.

“Is that CB or ham ?” they asked.

“Ham” I replied.

“Is that 20 meters ?”

“Ahhh…well, it’s actually 20, 17, 15, 12, and 10.” I paused. “Do you know a ham radio operator ?”

“Oh yea ! I had my novice license several years ago ! Ham radio is still around ?”

Carbon Amateur Radio Club

Regular Meeting Minutes

August 17, 2000

By Bob, K3PH

President Larry Lilly, N3CR, called a regular meeting of the Carbon Amateur Radio Club to order at 7:44 p.m. on Thursday, August 17, 2000. Ten people attended.

The minutes were read by Bob, K3PH, and approved by the members in attendance.

John, W3MF, gave the treasurer’s report. At the last meeting, we had a balance of $748.55. We received $15 for dues and had expenses of $5.94 for mailing the newsletter, leaving a balance of $757.61. The members in attendance approved the Treasurer’s report.

The members in attendance elected the same officers for another term.

Larry, N3CR, reported that SKYWARN training is on “for sure” at the October meeting. The training will take about one hour. Note that the meeting will start promptly at 7:30.

Regarding the September meeting, Glenn, K3PP, volunteered to talk about either QSLing or the use of digital signal processing, if he can get to the meeting. Bob, K3PH, also volunteered to get a video from the Northern California DX Foundation.

Larry, N3CR, reported that ESPN’s Athlete of the Century award presentation to Jim Thorpe’s family is scheduled for Tuesday, September 5, and asked if we wanted to have a special event station. Rob, KB3BYT, volunteered to set up a station, provided we could find out the location. The parade is scheduled to being at 9:30 a.m.

The CARC picnic at the home of Lydia and Jim, K3II, is scheduled for Sunday, August 20, at 2:00 p.m. The solar flux is 211, the A index is 11, and the K index is 0, with expected good propagation for the picnic, so we expect Jim’s station to get a workout.

Goody, K3NG, has an antenna party scheduled for the morning of Sunday, August 20, at 9:30 a.m., including lowering the present tower, adding one tower section, and installing a 2-element quad and rotator. Strong backs and weak minds would be appreciated.

The ARRL Handbooks that are to be donated to the Lehighton library in memory of Amy, KD3TI, and to the Lansford library in memory of Ted, W3COW, are now ready to go. Bert, W3OWP, volunteered to get these books to the libraries.

Glenn, K3PP, reports that the North American QSO Party phone contest is scheduled for the weekend of August 19 and 20. Power is limited to 100 watts or less. See www.ncjweb.com for rules. He also noted there is a VHF contest upcoming on the weekend of September 9, a RTTY contest at the end of September, Pennsylvania QSO Party the weekend of October 14, and CQ Worldwide DX phone contest the weekend of October 28. Larry, N3CR, volunteered to bring Harry, KM3D’s Pennsylvania QSO Party to the September meeting.

The meeting adjourned at 8:31 p.m.

DX News

Provided by Bob, K3PH

The Ohio/Penn Dx PacketCluster

DX Bulletin No. 474

August 28, 2000

Editor Tedd Mirgliotta, KB8NW

Provided by BARF-80 BBS Cleveland, Ohio

Online at 440-237-8208 28.8k-1200 Baud 8/N/1

Thanks to the Northern Ohio Amateur Radio Society, Northern Ohio DX Association, Ohio/Penn PacketCluster Network, K2KW, N2VW, WB2YQH/WB2RAJ & THE 59(9) DX Report, W3UR & The Daily DX, K4VUD, W5BOS, WP4Q, N6RT, AC7DX, K7BV, K8YSE, 9M2TO, BA1DU, CO2QQ, DF3CB, DJ2MX, DJ5AV & DX News Letter, DJ7UC, DL4MCF, DL5ME, EA4DX, EA5EYJ, EA5RM, EA5XX, G0IAS, GW0VSW, JA1ELY, OH1EH, PA1AW, PA3BIZ, PY2HN, RA0FF, SQ6ELF, SQ8BGJ, SV1IW and VK4FW for the following DX information.

3B8, MAURITIUS

Look for DL7DF and DL7BO to be active from November 3-17th. No callsigns were mentioned, but they will operate from 3B8 with one station, a beam and a vertical for 80 and 160m. QSL via the German QSL bureau DARC to DL7DF or direct to: Sigi Presch, DL7DF, Wilhelmsmuehlenweg 123, D-12621 Berlin, Germany.

4W, EAST TIMOR

The 4W/K7BV East Timor DXpedition website has been updated with additional information. The website can be view at:

http://www.qth.com/k7bv/timor/

5B4, CYPRUS

Look for Dez, 5B4/G0DEZ, to be active until 2003. He seems to like 17 meters CW/SSB. Check between 1830 and 0300z (sometimes as early as 1430z). He is hoping to obtain a 5B4 and ZC4 callsign. QSL via G0DEZ.

5V7, TOGO

A German team consisting of DJ7UC, DL4WK, DL7BO, DL7DF and DL7UFR will be here October 3-9th before heading to Burkina Faso (see XT2 below). Activity will be on all HF bands plus 6 meters CW/SSB/RTTY with an emphasis on the low bands. Their equipment consists of 4 transceivers, 2 linear amplifiers, 2 beams, a vertical, a 21m high vertical for 160 and 80m and a 5 element beam for 6m. QSL via DL7DF. For more details and updated information, visit their Web page at:

http://www.qsl.net/DL7DF/

7Q, MALAWI

Allan, G0IAS, informs OPDX that Les/7Q7LA will be teaming up with Harry/7Q7HB. Harry at the moment is sending the first ever SSTV pictures out of Malawi from the "Club Makakola" on the South West shore of the lake. There is a possibility of a "get together" of ALL the hams currently

operating from Malawi (7Q7DC, 7Q7JL, 7Q7BW, 7Q7BX and perhaps 7Q7RM.... if he is up to it) because they are all heading to the lakeshore. More details are supposed to be forthcoming.

9A & T9, CROATIA AND BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA (IOTAs to be activated too!)

Mario, DJ2MX, informed OPDX that he will be on holiday in Bosnia and Croatia. He will be active as T94DX between September 3-13th from Sarajevo on 80-10 meters CW/SSB/RTTY. After that he will go to Croatia and be active as 9A/N0MX from Brac Island (EU-016, CI-010) on 80-10 meters CW/SSB between September 14-28th. He has also planned to be active (if possible, only for a few hours) from some another islands (Solta Island EU-016 CI-126; Ciovo Island CI-013 NOT IOTA). PLEAE NOTE: QSL cards are only via his German callsign DJ2MX, through the DARC Bureau or direct to: Mario Lovric, Am Oelberg 11, D-61231 Bad Nauheim, Germany. Bureau QSL request is also available on his home Web page at:

http://www.qsl.net/dj2mx

9H, MALTA

Once more a large group of Dutch amateurs will be leaving for Malta Island (IOTA EU-023) in order to have their holiday combined with a radio DXpedition. They managed to get the callsign 9H0VRZ for the three weeks of operation together with all their individual 9H3 callsigns. The first group will arrive on September 15th to build up the site. Their operations will start on September 16th and last until October 8th. The QSL Manager for 9H0VRZ is: Andre van den Bos, PA0JR, Olof Palmelaan 5, 9649 BH MUNTENDAM., The Netherlands. QSLs for all indivdual 9H3 callsigns are via CBA or QSL bureau. The team will be active on 80-6 meters CW/SSB, and in case of good

propagation also 2 mtr. They will try to arrange a daily updated online log on their home page at:

http://www.vrza.org

The home page will have further information on the starting date. E-mails during the operation can be sent to: [email protected] Or from now until Septrmber 14th to: [email protected] Participants will be as follows:

Frits PA0BEA 9H3IE (SSB/CW)

Francis PA1FR 9H3AAH (CW)

Bill PA3BIZ 9H3ON (SSB/CW)

Sietse PA1XA 9H3AAG (SSB/CW)

Ger PA0OI 9H3OI (CW)

Jim PA2SWL 9H3SWL (SSB)

Sjirk PE1OFJ 9H3YM (SSB)

Harry PA0QBS 9H3AAJ (SSB/CW)

Wilko PA3BWK 9H3R (CW)

Jan PA0LD 9H3AAI (SSB/CW)

Andre PA3HGP 9H3S (SSB/CW)

Louis PA0LRK 9H3LRK (SSB)

Renee PE1CAJ 9H3V (SSB)

Hans PA3FYG 9H3AAL (SSB/CW)

Maarten PE1MQI 9H3W (SSB)

Allart PE1RVQ 9H3AAK (SSB)

Jaap PE1NGF 9H3X (SSB)

CE/CE0Z, CHILE AND JUAN FERNANDEZ

"The 59(9) DX Report" states that in mid-September, Rick, PY1VOY, will begin a 2 month job in Chile and hopes to be active. He will try to get to CE0Z on his days off for a 4 or 5 day operation at a time.

CN8, MOROCCO

The Bavarian Contest Club will be operating again as CN8WW from here in the upcoming CQ WW Contests. They will be a Multi/Multi team, so there is a very good chance to work CN on all bands from 160-10m, for which they kindly ask you to work them again even if you worked them in the past (even if you have received your QSL card). There will be a new picture QSL card for the

upcoming activities. Work them on 5 or 6 bands and receive a special QSL card to honor your high performance.

CQ WW Contest SSB (October 28-29, 2000):

QRG's (+/- QRM): 1840 / 3799 / 7099 / 14255 / 21355 / 28455 kHz

CQ WW Contest CW (November 25-26, 2000):

QRG's (+/- QRM): 1833 / 3503 / 7003 / 14033 / 21033 / 28033 kHz

Before and after the contest they will operate as 5C8M in CW, SSB, RTTY, on 6m and also on the WARC bands. More detailed information about their DXpedition can be found on their homepage at:

http://www.dl6fbl.de/cn8ww/

QSL cards for CN8WW and 5C8M go via DL6FBL (bureau or direct): Bernd Och, Christian-Wirth-Str. 18, D-36043 Fulda, Germany

DX HOLIDAY WEB SITE

Kenny, K2KW, informs OPDX that he has just launched a new Web site called "DX Holiday". The goal of this site is to share information on DX operating locations, and DXpedition "how-to" information. He hopes the readers find it helpful, and he especially hopes they will contribute to it! Check out:

http://pages.prodigy.net/k2kw/qthlist/

HF, POLAND (Special Event)

Now through November 6th, look for station HF6WR. The station is active to celebrate the 1000th anniversary of Wroclaw City in Poland. Activity will be on 80-10 meters, as well as 6/2 meters. Most of the activity seems to be on 15 meters between 1400 and 1930z. QSL via SP6ZDA, via bureau or direct address: Scouts Radio Club SP6ZDA, Box 41, 51-673 Wroclaw 9, Poland. A special diploma is available. For further information, check the Web page at:

http://www.wroclaw.tpsa.pl/user/sp6pwr

HQ, HONDURAS (Update, Please refer to OPDX.472 and OPDX.473)

Julio, EA5XX, informed OPDX that the Honduras Authorities have confirmed that the Spain team will be active as HQ0R from September 17-25th on all bands.

IOTA NEWS

NA-NEW. Lanny, W5BOS, will be on from Cay Sal Bank "The Bahamas" beginning October 6th or 7th for 2-3 days. This is the last unnumbered island group in "The Bahamas". The callsign will be W5BOS/C6A. QSL via W5BOS: Lanny Phillips, 8381 FM 2101, Quinlan, Tx 75474-4836 USA.

J2, DJIBOUTI

"The 59(9) DX Report" reports that Houssein, J28FH, is a new operator in Djibouti. He is using a 10 meter only rig with a small amplifier (70w) to a mobile antenna 3 meters high. He is building a 3 element beam for the HF bands. OPDX has found that he frequents the frequency 28580 kHz after 1930z. QSL via WA2VUY.

OH0, ALAND ISLAND

The Aland Islands contest station OH0Z will be active in the CQ WW SSB Contest (October 28-29th) by Ari, OH1EH, as a Single Op/ All band category. QSL via: Ari Korhonen, OH1EH, Kreetalank.9A1, FIN29200 Harjavalta, Finland.

PS0S, ST. PETER & ST. PAUL ROCKS

As this bulletin was being prepared, it would seem that that the PS0S operation has gone QRT and are headed to PY0F. All QSLs go to PY2SP. For updates, check the Web page:

http://www.qsl.net/spsp

QSL INFO AND NEWS

Martti/OH2BH and Alan/BA1DU recently teamed up to activate BY1DX. They were active on RTTY during the SARTG Contest, August 19-20th. QSL BY1DX via OH2BH, P.O. Box 73, FIN-02380 Espoo, FINLAND.

QSL info for FR/F6KDF/T is to F6KDF: RC Gendarmerie Rhone Alpe, 292 Route de Genas, Quartier Raby, F-69677 Bron Cedex, France.

QSL routes for the 2000 IOTA Contest are available at the following Web page:

http://www.arrakis.es/~ea5eyj

By the time you read this Mario, DL5ME, should be QRT as LA/DL5ME from Island of Runde (EU-079) in Norway. QSL via his CBA.

Eugene, RA0FF, reports that a "Log Search and photo gallery" is availble for the recent RK0FWL/p operation (July/August 2000) to Moneron Island (AS149) at the Web page:

http://dx.bgtelecom.ru/shams/as149.html

SV1IW and SV1TN, who were activate from the Island of Samothraki (EU-174) from Aug 11-18th, as SV1IW/8 and SV1TN/8, should be QSLed either direct by callbook addresses or via the official SV Bureau.

Dmitry, AB8CK, reports that the only good QSL route for his Kazakhstan's contest operations (1999 CQ WW CW Contest as UN7/AB8CK and 2000 AA DX CW Contest as UN1/AB8CK) is via UA3AGW CBA address. Please don't use his U.S.A. address or the ARRL bureau for QSLing.

Stefan/DH1SGS and Toby/DH1TW, both 19 years old, were active as VK9XY from August 13-26th. A web page has been set up and a log search will be available for their DXpedition at: http://www.qsl.net/vk9xy

Papo, WP4Q, reports that he has a new QSL Manager. Please QSL now to EA5RD via the bureau or direct to: Francisco S. Arnedo, PO Box 673, Elda, Alicante 03600 Spain.

VK ON 160 METERS

Bill, VK4FW, states that he is available on this band for CW skeds. If interested, send an E-mail to: [email protected]

VP5, TURKS & CAICOS ISLANDS

Frank/WA2VYA, Bruce/WA3RHW, Ken/K2WB and Jack/N2VW, all members of the Frankford Radio Club, will operate from VP5JM's QTH on Providenciales (NA-002) from October 24-31st. The arrange- ments are confirmed. They will be in the CQ WW DX SSB Contest (October 28-29th) as VP5T as a Multi/Multi category. Activity will be on CW, WARC bands and PSK31 before and after the contest. QSL VP5T to N2VW. E-mail requests for VP5T bureau cards are OK via [email protected] . QSL portable callsign to homecall CBA.

XT2, BURKINA FASO

After their Togo operation (see 5V7 above), the German team consisting of DJ7UC, DL4WK, DL7BO, DL7DF and DL7UFR will be active here October 10-15th. Activity will be on all HF bands plus 6 meters CW/SSB/RTTY with an emphasis on the low bands. QSL via DL7DF. For more details and updated information, visit their Web page (mentioned above).

XU, CAMBODIA

During the coming month of October, Toni/EA5RM and Pedro Luis/EA7DBO will be active from Sihanouk Ville in the southern part of Cambodia as XU7ADB. They plan to arrive in Phnom Pehn at 10:00 AM (local time) on October 3rd. If the customs do not delay their plans, they will be on the air that same evening and continue until the early hours of October 11th. Operation will be on 80-10 meters SSB/RTTY, with some CW. They also requested a licence for 6 meters band, but their request was not accepted by the authorities. They will use an Icom IC-736 and a power amplifier using a couple of 4CX250Bs to try to give readable signals in Europe. The antennas will be a tribander beam for 10/15/20 meters and wire dipoles for the others bands. An online log will be available on a Web page during the operation (updated everyday). The Web is active now with picture and info at:

http://www.qsl.net/xu7abd

QSL is via EA4URE at: Union de Radioaficionados Espanoles, Apartado 220, E-28080 Madrid, SPAIN

XW1UD DXCC STATUS (Also A5 info)

Charly, K4VUD, reports that he finally got a local Lao man to translate his XW1UD paperwork from Laos and will present that in person to an ARRL DXCC personnel at the "W9DXCC Bash" in Chicago next month. He will advise us later. ADDED NOTE: Charly is still aiming at a A5 operation in early December 2000. He is looking for any experienced 160m Op for this operation. His E-mail address is: [email protected].

Check out http://incolor.inetnebr.com/n0ujr for other cartoons and to purchase N0UJR’s book, “N0UJR and His Friends.”

Heard Through the Grapevine…

It is with great sadness that we report the passing of Edith Derk, beloved wife of Lamar N3AT, on Thursday, August 31. Our thoughts and prayers are with Lamar and his family at this difficult time. Memorial donations may be made to the VNA Hospice of Monroe County, RR5, Box 5169, Suite 101, East Stroudsburg, PA 18301.

The club needs an EC/RO for the ARES and RACES activities. Contact Larry N3CR for details.